I knew nothing about Mary Bunyan before I read Wendy Lawton's inspiring book, The Tinker's Daughter. Of course I knew of John Bunyan and Pilgrim's Progress, and I knew it had been written in prison, but that's where my knowledge ended.

As writers we are told to make the reader hear, see, smell, and touch what's in the story, and Wendy has done just that. She has brought history to life with all the senses and the reader is the beneficiary. I've never really thought about what it must be like to be sight impaired, but Wendy painted such an excellent picture of Mary, who was born blind, that I felt as if I had at one time been blind so I knew exactly what Mary was feeling. How powerful.

Wendy has a delightful way of telling a story bursting with characters and color. In this book she made me understand the myriad of emotions felt, not just by Mary, but by her siblings, father, step mother, and her new gypsy friends.

Mary's struggle to feel like she can do all things herself and not depend on anyone else is one that I have struggled with. If the truth be told, I still struggle with it. I learned much from Mary Bunyan, and was just as thrilled with her acceptance of the Lord as if she was someone dear to me here in 2002.

I read The Tinker's Daughter because Wendy is my friend. I came away from this book a better person and a fan as well as a friend. This is a must read for children and a double must read for adults.

John Bunyan penned Pilgrim's Progress, a Christian classic, in the 17th century, but it is still being read today. What most of us do not know is that he had a daughter, Mary, blind from birth, who is one of his few children mentioned repeatedly by name. Mrs. Lawton speculates that the reason Pilgrim's Progress is so vivid is because of a father's need to describe life to sight-impaired Mary. This makes perfect sense. Lawton has done her homework, making this book authentic, right down to the language, the feelings of someone blind in this century, and the everyday life. If you don't know what a jonguleur is (a traveling minstrel,) you can find out in the glossary, which makes learning history easy for children. History is a story of people, and sometimes authors forget to "tell me a story" while giving details and facts. Lawton is a master storyteller. You can trust the quality of this book, and it is a must for every Christian library catering to children.

In "The Tinker's Daughter," Wendy Lawton does an excellent job of capturing both the experiences and feelings a visually impaired person faces. Her descriptions look at life from a blind girl's point of view and instead of focusing only on the cliche auditory signals most people think of for a blind person, she focuses on Mary's identification of her world by smell as well, even the disgusting smells! Even more so,she nails the two major emotions a visually impaired person struggles with: fear and determination to overcome. She shows the pitfalls of the fierce independence many physically challenged people cling to, yet balances it with the necessity, that it isn't always a bad thing. Mary's ultimate solution is found in the source all of us need to depend on - Jesus Christ. All of these profound thoughts are tucked neatly into a sweet story about the daughter of the historical religious giant, John Bunyon. This book is powerful writing!

When General Al Gray became Marine Corp Commandant in 1987, he did a lot of things that shook up the high command of the Marines. He did a lot of things a lot of people didnt like. One of the things he did was try to shift the Corp's focus away from cold war style centralized chain of command warfighting styles to a more decentralized, "maneuver warfare" style of combat. Many of his ideas were based upon Sun Tzu "The Art of War" and his experiences fighting the Asian communists in Vietnam, who thought and fought totally differently than the American military did.

"Warfighting" is a direct result of General Al Gray's tenure as commandant of the Marines in that "overhaul" period from the late eighties thru the early nineties. I found this book to be outstanding and would recommend it to anybody whether they are in the military or in the business or legal world. Its a way of thinking...a state of mind. Its truly well written.

I would recommend reading Sun Tzu "The Art of War" before reading this book. You will get more out of it if you read Sun Tzu first.

Eric

"Warfighting: The United States Marine Corps" is the best of modern corporate strategy books. Like most of the truly enduring texts on business and organizational strategy, Warfighting is first and foremost a military book. What gives it its superior edge is a willingness to say plainly and directly what needs to be said.

Certainly, it calls on the business executive (military officer) to have the integrity and fortitude to trust subordinates, think boldly and plan ahead. This book is must reading for anyone who leads or manages others in our fast paced, high change world.

Warfighting was written with the intent of informing Marine Officers about the Commandant's vision of what Marines should think about combat. This manual is about more than just conducting military operations; it sets forth the framework for success in all endeavors. Completely lacking in detail, this manual puts forth ideas that encourages the reader to fill in the details themselves. Whether you are fighting a war of mobility or planning an upgrade for your company's IT infrastructure, Warfighting suggests the mindset that you should have to create success. If you are looking for a step-by-step tutorial on success, please buy a book written by a consultant. Warfighting is meant for people who value adaptability, creativity, personal initiative, and the ability to improvise to overcome obstacles as they present themselves, not people who fear uncertainty.

I like a book that pushes the envelope - especially when it comes to health. "We Want to Live" pushes the envelope.

No more wasted spending on vitamins, "cholesterol-lowering" drugs, and RX-happy physicians. This book follows up on Hippocrates's advice, "Let food be your medicine."

Breal free from conventional "wisdom." Read this book.

This book explains thoroughly the effects of processed food, cooking and nutrition. I dont agree with Mr. Vonderplanitz on Vitamin Pills but otherwise his book is totally First-Rate!

Readers of this book, be forewarned! You will not like much of what you read, because you CANNOT read this book without changing your diet! I guarantee it!

Also this book is amazingly well written. Half of it is in a Novel Format where Mr.Vonderplanitz explains how he has been affected by foods. Like him curing his son of a terminal illness, or him curing himself of a whole range of "incurable" diseases.

Hmm, perhaps I should call him Dr.Vonderplanitz (even though he isnt a doctor). Because he deserves a whole lot more respect than the doctors who are helping poisoning us, ruining our health and getting rich from it all to boot!

All I can say is I am following his diet, and,in conclusion, Thank You Dr.Vonderplanitz!

The book is a revelation. The first reading left me astonished. I've been reading it over and over, absorbing more with each pass. It is one of the most impressive books I have ever read for several reasons. First, the idea of presenting your own story in "novelette" form was a stroke of genius. It connects the reader to Aajonus and to the work that he is doing in an emotional way. The second half of the book then answers so many of the questions that arise in the first half, in a format that makes practical information very accessible. I can not praise this work enough. Everyone who desires health should have a copy.

This is an excellent book. I am a Jr fan, but this book gave me a whole new insight into Tony Stewart, and what the 'outbursts' are really all about. If you are a fan of NASCAR, whether you're glued to the TV every Sunday or not, this is a book that is worth reading. Just like Jr's book, this is not a life story, but it is definetly worth reading.

True Speed is the story of Tony Stewart's life both on and off the race track. Written by Tony (along with a co-author) True Speed reflects Tony's thoughts and beliefs. I found myself to be an bigger fan after reading the book than I was before. Tony is dedicated to his sport and that is clear in each and every page. Along with Tony's views there are quotes from family, friends, team members, and fellow drivers. This all mixes together to make True Speed a truly interesting read.

I am from Indiana and I am very proud to say that I am from the same state as Tony Stewart! Good luck to Tony in everything he does.

I thought that this book is "The Real" Tony. Describing how "humble" his beginnings was is very refreshing to read. After reading this, makes me even a bigger Tony fan as you get to know him as a person and not as a bratty race car driver. I highly recommend anyone who is a real Tony fan to read this. Reading about all of the names in sprints (Stan Fox, Rich Vogler,),silver crown, his rough tenure in IRL, and finally his rise in NASCAR it is a great history lesson.

Point number one: As a Seattlite, Tom Douglas' three fabulous restaurants have always been among my favorites. I'm thrilled to have the recipes for all my favorite dishes - Lobster Potstickers, Tuscan Bread Salad and Cornbread Pudding, just to name a few. And then there is the world's most amazing dessert: Triple Coconut Cream Pie. I don't particularly care for coconut, but I'd walk miles for a bite of this marvel. Whenever visitors come to town, we inevitably take them to the Dahlia Lounge and insist, no matter how loud their protests, that they at least try a bite. Without fail, they, too, become converts. Trust me on this. Douglas' recipes are well-written and adapted for the home cook. He does a great job of explaining off-beat ingredients and preparations. Where appropriate, he even includes photos of how to tackle some of the more unusual preparations that make his recipes even easier to follow.

Point number two: Not only does Douglas give you his best recipes in this book, but he has also written what should be considered a mandatory guidebook to visitors and newcomers to Seattle. Douglas generously mentions most of the other great restaurants in town and tells you when to go and what to order. His description of the local markets is so comprehensive, it should be mandatory reading for every new cook who comes to town. Clearly, this man loves Seattle, and he wants to share all the best of it with his readers.

I have been raving about the dinners I had at both Etta's and Dahlia Lounge since my last trip to Seattle two years ago. I was thrilled to find that Tom Douglas had written this book, and even more thrilled to begin cooking the moment it entered my home. The recipes are easy for even a novice cook to tackle, and experienced chefs will marvel at the wonderful blending of flavors and spices Tom presents. Even my children have loved everything I've made, and that's a tough audience! Buy and use this book. You won't be sorry!

Being a Seattle ex-patriot, I feel like I know Mr. D well. I've had the privledge, over the years, not only to dine at all three restaurants but to meet the man as well, (I once begged him to let me live in the basement of the Dahlia and let me eat the crumbs from the table). In the chapter titled "Starters", my wife and I were among the 12,000 devouring Flash-fried Squid at "The Bite" (Side note: Tom, we're sorry it became a pain, but we just couldn't stop from stuffing our faces).

Tom is not only a genius in his restaurants, but this book as well. Even if you have never had the chance to eat at one of his restaurants, this book will introduce you to you to one of the true greats of American cooking. Having eaten at all of the restaurants AND tried the recipes, he is right-on in telling you how to make these favorites.

I never thought I would actually hold in my hands the "secrets" to Tuscan Bread Salad, but yet, here it is. (But Tom, how about the Tamales from Etta's?)

Oh, and by the way, this book is not just about Tom's restaurants. Listen to his advice about visiting Seattle. Any world-class chef that will recommend Dick's for a late-night burger has his finger on the true pulse of the city!

I may now live a thousand miles away, but Tom is here now, in my kitchen, guiding me as I make most of my favorites from his world. It will never be the same as a wonderful, romantic evening spent at the Dahlia or a rainy afternoon at Etta's, but at least it fills the void.

Some of us remember the Blues 'n' BBQ events that Tom did for Food Lifeline. These events, not held at the restaurants but at a local park, spoke not only of the true giving spirit of Mr. D, but also give credibility to the chapter, "Mo'Poke Dadu". Is there anything the man cannot do?

I do wish the recipe for Gingerbread that we enjoyed one dark miserable fall afternoon at Etta's was here, but hey, if enough of us buy this book, perhaps Tom will take requests for the next one....

Tom, we miss you. Thank you for making the journey, via your first cookbook, to the culinary wasteland of Southern California.

(P.S. I'm available for "R & D" anytime you're in the neighborhood!)

Wherever do these wacky, useful cookbooks come from? Ultra-Violet is an amazing character and both the recipes and stories provide entertainment just reading them. My favorite story is The Funeral. We need more people like Ultra-Violet who delivers the truth in fast curve ball style. Forgive the cliches but they were created for her. She sounds like one mean mama and one you won't want to cross. Her antics prove her ancestors were the Lilliputians who believed trivial crimes deserved severe punishments.

Ultra-Violet solved an ongoing debate between my husband and me: how to boil and peel an egg correctly. The answer is on page 2. Now we have this entertaining cookbook for pickled eggs - never had any pickled eggs, may not ever pickle any, but getting to know Ultra-Violet is reason enough to have this book.

Ultra-Violet's Pickled Egg Cookbook by Violet S. Clayton is a hybrid to be sure. It's 3/4 cookbook, 1/8 storybook, and 1/8 fact book. It pays homage to the elevation of a simple country food - the egg! It is organized into three catefories of pickled eggs (hot & spicy, sweet, and eggs with beets) and the spiral binding makes it especially nice to use in the kitchen. When you need a break from pickling, you can read the short facts about eggs and Missouri. The best however is the tall tales about Ultra-Violet herself. The most positive thing I can say is that I was completely tickled and thoroughly entertained by her antics. And true to this country-style cookbook, it made me feel right at home even though the author grew up during the Great Depression. Maybe the simpler life isn't so bad.

Here's a treasury of pickled egg recipes (more than 40),plus a mostly humorous collection of biographical highlights of author Violet May Steele/Clayton's very unusual life. There are also many , probably little-known facts about the state of Missouri, all in one convenient, spiral-bound book. Three different jars of eggs are pickling in our refrigerator right now, with Annie Campbell's Picnic Eggs (pg. 40) just test/tasted after 7 days in brine. They are outstanding and very mild! Divided between hot & spicy and sweet, there's a pickled egg here for everyone's taste, with added information on how to boil,peel and care for eggs. As a bonus, this must be the only book ever to be dedicated to a White Leghorn hen. Named Lady Macduff, this busy chicken holds the one-year egg-laying record of 303 eggs produced in 1913,according to the Oregon State Agricultural Experimental Station. This is egg-zactly (sorry!)the right gift for a cookbook collector, a true egg lover, or just a real fun read for anyone.

I'm a teenager and I heard about this book on Oprah. I couldn't beleive the logic of it--it was so right on target and logical. EVERY parent should read this book for understanding and a new, sensable(but different) outlook. It introduces topics like let them leave their room messy. Many parents won't agree, but that's okay, but, at least, for your child's sake. read the book.

Most of us spend our entire adult life trying to figure out our own childhood, so it's no wonder that raising a child can seem confusing, challenging and at times scary. This book saved me. It taught me (or at least reminded me) that all teenagers go through enormous physical, psychological and social change in the high school years. While the specific behaviors will vary from child to child, there is a common thread running through it all -- and it makes sense. This book reassured me that my child wasn't abnormal, that I was right in being confused and sometimes appalled by their behavior. And it let me take a step back and not take it so personally. After reading this book, I bought a dozen copies to give to friends and business associates who were struggling with teenagers (or soon would be). Read this and both you and your child will benefit.

For parents of teens who are struggling with this new aspect of life and who have forgotten their own "teen years", please do yourself a favor and read this book. A very insightful look at what teens face in the realm of high school and in their social lives. My daughter, age 15, read parts of this book as well, and thought the author was very accurate in his depiction of what goes on in a teen's life. It's definitely made a change in the way I respond to my teenager. Dr. Riera...I hope another book is on the way! Thank you! Laurie Eads, FL

The authors of Understanding Terrorism have done a great job with presenting complex and difficult material in a manner that is easy for all responders to understand.

This book covers all the bases and met all of my expectations. It has become a permanent fixture in my response bag should I need a ready reference. Frankly, this is perhaps the best book on the subject for emergency responders that I have seen to date. A great value for the price!

With the myriad of conflicting information sources that exist I found this text to be the most efficient & effective available today. The presentation style makes it easy to comprehend but the authors seemed to have gone out of the way to ensure the material was not dumbed down either. This text is overflowing with current pertinent information on preparing for and responding to acts of terrorism that can aid the planner, educator, responder, supervisor or Incident Manager in making good decisions and keeping people safe. I wish I had this book before the federal training teams came to town, it would have made a whole lot more sense to me rather then the confusing, conflicting and dumbed down content of the materials that brought and left.

Every day we read that the threat is real and getting closer. Well I am glad to see authors with real world emergency response experience including terrorism have taken the time to make sense of the whole picture! Great Book! I've even gotten one for my city manager, maybe he'll get on the ball and work along with us to enhance readiness!

Thanks for a great work product!

I was skeptical at first about another book on terrorism. After being disappointed by several other terrorism response books allegedly written for emergency planners and responders, I was very satisfied with Understanding Terrorism and Managing The Consequences.

This book is a breath of fresh air that restores my confidence that responders who have the experience and background of planning for & operating at terrorist events are sharing their expertise & knowledge.

Understanding Terrorism provides you the VITAL information you need to perform your duties as a responder as well as provides security directors & safety managers expanded knowledge on what is expected for their functional areas in times of terrorist events.

The information is provided in a cohesive manner that aids the users with easy comprehension and utility of the material. It also compiles all the needed references under one cover to make your job easier.

The approach the authors have adopted with this book is a big bonus. Frankly I am tired of books that adopt a "shotgun" approach or use theoretical [terminology] to convey the message of safe and effective response strategies; they fail to address the implementation and operational application issues effectively. THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH UNDERSTANDING TERRORISM. This book helped me each step of the way as well as provides me with the benefit of being a "one book" planning and response reference.

Public or private sector emergency managers, responders or security officials, if you are responsible for the emergency response, Understanding Terrorism is the one book you should own, read and use.

An extremely readable, well written account of Model-T's first thru-hike in 1990. I was surprised by the heft of the book (542 pages!), but I'm sailing through it. He maintains a good balance of philosophy, landmarks, side topics, and people. Some of his digressions become a little predictable and repetitive; some of the writing can prove overly flowery (kind of like my 12-year old doing Creative Writing assignments), but it is evocative. This book was recommended to me on several of the A.T. bulletin boards, and I can see why. Enjoy!

I've read a about 8-10 "AT thru-hiker" books since deciding to thru-hike the trail and this is, in my opinion, the best by far. Not just another "today I walked x miles and had x meals", but a wonderfully told story of a terrific adventure and the people who helped make it so. No forced "and then I had my epiphanic, sterling moment of truth", no mind-numbing whining. Model-T writes of beautiful vistas, interesting people and adventures, tossed with a realistic dose of the kind of exhaustion, grunginess, hunger and pain thru-hikers must surely endure. I made myself wait two weeks to start it again, and am reading it even more slowly this time, just to make it last. I hope to meet Model-T someday and thank him for the most excellent tale!

As a fellow Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker, I have to say that this book gave the most accurate description of what a thru-hike on the A.T. is really like. Model-T has a witty and often ofbeat sense of humor that I found hilarious. Before my thru-hike, I read close to 15 books about the Appalachian Trail and found this one to be by far the best. Enjoy!
D-con, class of 2002

Wanderer is a wonderful journey back in time for any lover of ships that has come of age since the end of the great age of sail. Hayden puts his reader in a dory on the Grand Banks, or at the masthead of the Gertrude L. Theabaud during the last of the great schooner races, or at the helm of the Yankee way off in the pacific somwhere between Pitcarin Island and Tahiti. Hayden led the last mutiny of the great age of sail. Against the better judgement of the superior court of the great State of California, he took his four young children, his old windjammer, and a crew of friends and dreamers on a voyage of dicovery. In the end, though this book is about the wind which drives his ship, and the spirt that drives his soul.

Despite being marketed as a maritime book, "Wanderer" is as much a description of one man's inner wanderings as it is a travelogue of Hayden's travel to Tahiti.Throughout, Hayden comes off as a resolute man of principle and insight.I have read the book three times and always glean something new from it. Highly recommended.

Just replace the word 'Wanderer' with 'Philosopher' throughout this book and you will get the idea of what the author is unconsciously trying to say. The autobiography WANDERER (c.1963, 2000) by Sterling Hayden, is a narrative written in the first and third person of a man who became enamoured with working sail at an early age, and in its pursuit, acquired a multitude of diverse life experiences few people have achieved, and/or, depending on your viewpoint, would want.

The author has compiled a litany of accomplishment simply by writing about the lifestyle he loved best. Sterling Hayden was a dory fisherman in the Grand Banks as a teenager; captained a two masted brig from Boston to Tahiti at age 22; he then became one of the youngest Master Mariners at age 24; sailed around the world twice; sailed to Tahiti several times; was the protege of the top men in his field such as: Robert O. White (Instrument Maker); Irving Johnson, Lincoln Colcord, and Ben Pine. He was also a mate on board the Gloucesterman 'Gertrude L. Thebaud' in its historic race against the big Canadian saltbanker'Bluenose'. He dined with the President of the United States; became a movie star; married a movie star; starred in two Stanley Kubrick productions; became wealthy and became broke; was an enlisted man then a Marine Corp officer; test-ran some of the first PT boats for the U.S. Navy; became an intelligence officer in the Balkans during W.W.II with the nascent O.S.S. and met with its founder 'Wild Bill' Donovan; and testified before the Senate Committee investigating un-American activities in Hollywood. Even from his best jobs Sterling Hayden would willingly descend down the social ladder as drifter, vagabond, and working sailor, because to him they were all interchangeable.

Taking his natural abilities and high innate intelligence for granted, Sterling Hayden essentially gravitated to the forefront of every occupation he fell into, and didn't know why. This is one source for the author's angst, that is, his unconscious attraction to the elite, and then when excelling in that particular field with a talent he is unaware and doesn't understand, developed a mental fugue and leaves.

Such is the nature of the existentialist who collects life experiences to build his character rather than material goods to increase his mercantile wealth. Sterling Hayden measured his wealth in a different way and just as a rich man might judge a man who lacked money, Sterling Hayden judged men throughout WANDERER who lacked character.

Yet Hayden fled from a broken home and his nomadic existence and unstable environment came with a price; the author suffered from alcoholism, depression, conflict, obsessive guilt, and anxiety neurosis. His autobiography is tinged with regret.

But Sterling Hayden's autobiography is valuable for the first hand view of Grandbanks fishing schooners during the 1930s; the actual terminology of the fishermen he represents; his first hand accounts of depression era Boston - his experiences in East Boston and South Boston, his employment with fisherman on Boston's old 'T' wharf; and his friendship with Lawrence Patrick Joseph O'Toole (of the South Boston O'Tooles) who pushed Hayden into his acting career; and Hayden's account of Hollywood agents and 'B' movie contracts.

The autobiography WANDERER by Sterling Hayden, should be required reading in any philosophy, sociology, psychology, or political science course; and it also makes fascinating reading of the interesting life of a complicated man.