Average customer rating:
- light and fluffy!
- Good hero AND heroine!
- Dialogue gets in the way
- Great story
- Bad characterizations and nonexistent plots/settings
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The Duke And I (Bridgerton Series, Bk. 1)
Julia Quinn
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0380800829 |
Amazon.com
Setting: Regency England
Sensuality Rating: 7
Relentlessly pursued by match-making mamas and their charges, Simon Bassett, the handsome Duke of Hastings, has grown tired of the societal chase. Tired too is the lovely Daphne Bridgerton, whose matrimonially minded mother is set on finding her daughter the perfect husband. Neither Simon nor Daphne is happy with this annoying state of affairs and both would give anything for a little peace and quiet. Their mutual wish for a respite from the ton's marriage mart leads to a pretend engagement--a scheme that is threatened with exposure by Daphne's suspicious older brother, who happens to know Simon's way with women very well. The two never anticipated that a mutual attraction would lead to the very thing they set out to avoid--a wedding. But Simon fears that his painful past may keep him from being able to truly love anyone. And though Daphne cares for him deeply, she won't settle for anything less than his heart.
The Duke and I is rich with author Julia Quinn's trademark humor and engaging dialogue. Beneath the Regency charm of this novel, however, dwells an insightful exploration of the impact of childhood trauma and the healing power of love. Quinn just keeps getting better and better, a fact that's sure to delight readers. --Lois Faye Dyer
Book Description
Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage–minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry – though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell–raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!
Customer Reviews:
light and fluffy!.......2007-09-11
This book is absolutely wonderful. I'd heard good things but honestly, it was brilliant. The best part of this book was the glittering humour. Often romances can be stupid because they just aren't funny- this book had laugh out loud moments.
The secondary characters are fabulous- I loved Colin, Anthony and Benedict. The hero was fabulous. Hot, clever and flawed! After suffering from a speech impediment he really hates himself and the heroine, Daphne is the only one who can pull him out of his shell.
Daphne is like a breath of fresh air. She's sensible and pretty and clever.
My one criticism would be that not a lot happened, but ah, how enjoyable that not a lot was!
Good hero AND heroine! .......2007-09-05
This one surprised me. Simon's father disowned him at an early age because of his severe stuttering. Simon eventually learned to overcome his stuttering but not completely. It still afflicts him during when he's angry or frustrated, so he's learned to control his emotions. His entire life is based on getting revenge on his dead father. His relationship with his father and stuttering play a central role in The Duke and I. He refuses to grant his father an heir, but he agrees to wed Daphne so they both could please society. The marriage isn't real, of course, but the two soon grow to have real feelings for each other.
I've read books where the hero will have a flaw, but the reader is rarely able to 'see' the flaw. Not here. There are plenty of moments where Simon isn't able to control his speech. He's a strong Duke-ish guy, but he's also human, with human emotions. What his father did to him really scarred Simon and it was so heartwarming seeing Daphne help Simon to overcome his past. I honestly felt a real connection between the two. Instead of lust that dominates relationships in other books, I actually felt friendship and tenderness. They had playful little moments that is surprisingly rare to find in this genre.
And Daphne! What a relief to find a female lead with a head on her shoulders! She wasn't annoying or too stubborn or cold. She was a woman, with a heart AND a brain!
I definitely recommend The Duke and I. I'm fairly picky with my "5-Stars" but this one definitely deserved it.
Dialogue gets in the way.......2007-08-25
This is a sweet, enjoyable (if predictable) romance that suffers from inconsistent style in language. The characters often utter completely and obviously modern phrases that stick out in this historical.
Great story.......2007-08-01
I was given this book by a friend, and found it delightful. The main character is spunky and fun, the writing is excellent, and the story is good. It did indeed make me read the whole series.
Bad characterizations and nonexistent plots/settings.......2007-05-20
*/***** (1/5)
I didn't know quite what to expect from Julia Quinn's THE DUKE AND I, but one thing becomes abundantly clear a few pages in: Julia Quinn isn't keen on settings or plots, a good ninety percent of the book contains copious quantities of dialogue and conversation. Maybe some readers find descriptions of settings boring, and Julia Quinn accommodates those readers, she altogether shuns settings and plots. The characterizations of Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, and Daphne Bridgerton are as bad as they get in romance novels. And I'm not sure what the book is trying to accomplish by having Simon pine and incessantly verbalize "I love you" over and over and over at the end, it's as though book wants to convince its readers that this is a legitimate romantic love. Not.
There is no real plot here, unless you want to count the garden-variety heroine-helps-brooding-hero-over-his-tortured-past storyline as veritable plot.
On the plus side, Julia Quinn exhibits a knack for humor, but definitely no where near the level of quality from, say, a Theresa Medeiros . The only likable character in the novel was the mother, Violet Bridgerton.
The Story, possible spoilers.
Our young, innocent and ordinary-looking heroine Daphne Brigerton has been on the market for two seasons, but she's still looking for that gentlemen to love and return her love with at least some affection. The book paints her characterization in an always-a-friend, never-a-wife light, and she isn't described as an extraordinary beauty either.
Thankfully, our tall, broad-shouldered and rich Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset, is very handsome and easily overlooks Daphne's ordinary looks. Brooding Simon Basset harbors a very haunted and tortured past, and after his hated father passes away, he finally returns to England and meets our Daphne, his best friend Anthony's sister.
Simon detests parties and balls, and propositions to Daphne to make it seem like they're attached. Simon reasons a feigned attachment with Daphne will discourage ravenous mothers with their unwed daughters, while at the same time, it will help Daphne overcome the always-a-friend label and gain her more suitors.
The story spirals into oblivion from there with little point and less romance.
For an "innocent," Daphne Bridgerton is very manipulative. She knows Simon doesn't wish to marry, yet coaxes Simon to join her privately in a garden at one of the ton's events where she could be compromised. Simon desperately tries to dissuade her without any luck. When they're kissing in the garden, Simon still attempts to pull away, hoping to honor Daphne without tainting her before a marriage. At that moment, Daphne cries from Simon's separation and Simon is helpless to return kissing her. Daphne's eldest brother Anthony catches Simon & Daphne and proceeds to pummel Simon. Anthony demands Simon marry Daphne, Simon refuses, and then there's to be a duel between Anthony and Simon. Daphne cannot fathom why Simon would choose a duel and death over marrying her, even though Simon did everything in his power to avoid the tryst in the garden and made it clear from the beginning that he cannot marry.
But the whole affair is Simon's fault because he'd rather die than marry Daphne. Even though Simon feels him marrying Daphne would ruin her life. Even though Daphne knows Simon has a hard look in his eyes whenever he talks about marriage and his father. Even though Daphne took advantage of Simon, not the other way around.
Then, right before the duel, Daphne manipulates Simon again, and implies she'll be ruined if Simon doesn't marry her because word has spread of their tryst in the garden (a couple people know, but it could have been kept under wraps). Daphne believes she is saving Simon because Simon won't shoot Anthony. Uhm why can't she just face down Anthony and tell him to stay out of it?! She's going to manipulate Simon's honor to marry him? Seriously? She makes Simon feel terribly guilty about her potential ruined reputation and forces Simon to marry her before the duel can take place.
Of course there's also Daphne seducing Simon a second time to have children, children Simon vehemently opposes. All of this also turns into Simon's fault. Daphne is good, when Simon is drunk, she manipulates him to have intercourse preventing him to spill his seed outside of her.
I was surprised Daphne didn't just call her brothers over to pummel Simon when Simon leaves her after she manipulates him again. Just call in the brothers to beat up your husband if he isn't doing what you want!
The end was a blur, with Simon constantly apologizing to Daphne for lord knows what, even though it was Daphne who manipulates him to have children. Everything is Simon's fault. Simon turns into a pining, love-sick lapdog, I'm sure every girl's dream. Simon is pretty pathetic, the tortured past that he agonizes over was lame, and his pining at the end was lame. Few romance authors produce believable male characterizations, and Simon doesn't fall in this realistic, believable category, not even close. Read Madeline Hunter for believable male characterizations.
Anyway, to summarize: characterizations - bad, plotting - nonexistent, settings - nonexistent.
Average customer rating:
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The Medici Wedding of 1589: Florentine Festival as Theatrum Mundi
James M. Saslow
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0300064470 |
Book Description
The marriage of Grand Duke Ferdinando de` Medici to French princess Christine of Lorraine in 1589 became a landmark event in Renaissance art, theatre, and politics. This book combines art and social history to present the first comprehensive reconstruction of this month-long wedding celebration, providing a fascinating picture of Florentine culture at its zenith.
Book Description
The top-ranked female poker player in the world reveals an insider's view of the World Series of Poker, a glimpse of her fascinating journey to the top, and keen analysis of winning hands
From the Introduction
I never set out to become a professional poker player.
I was schooled at St. Paul's School, where my father taught English; Columbia University, where I majored in psychology and English literature, and the University of Pennsylvania, where, at twenty-six, I was nearing completion of a PhD in psycholinguistics.
The afternoon before I was scheduled to meet the academic committee for a job interview, I drove my Honda from Philadelphia to New York, to see my mother. She wanted to have a little pre-celebration for a future that was mine for the taking, an academic career that would ooze prominence and prosperity.
Once inside the apartment, suddenly, a dam burst. A simple tin trash can stood below my mother's desk; I leaned over and hurled into it, again and again. The diagnosis? I was afraid to grow up.
That's when I ran away. Without a word of explanation, I fled to Montana, to marry a man I had never dated. And then, when money got tight and I felt beaten down by life in a leaky shack with minimal hot water, I got into my Honda and drove fifty-one frontier miles to the Crystal Lounge, in Billings. I sat down at the poker table, among thick- fingered cowboys and boozing rednecks, slipped off my shoes, tucked my bare feet under my butt, and as the dealer tossed me an Ace-Queen, I knew I was home.
This is where my life begins.
Annie Duke takes readers deep into the World Series of Poker as she wins millions, becoming the only woman to ever win two major tournaments in one year.
Customer Reviews:
Stands Out From The Crowd.......2007-03-22
This is not one of the typical how-to hold'em books that have flooded the market. While there is a sizable amount of material focused on poker, it is not all hold'em either, it is really two great stories woven into one book.
The recounting of Annie's win of her WSOP bracelet in Omaha 8 is well told and interesting. There isn't too big a focus on hand-by-hand play. The tips she gives on this form of poker are great, too. This part of the book fueled my interest in expanding my poker prowess into this game.
The other story is Annie's bio. I was really intrigued to read about the roots she came from to the bracelet winning pro poker player she is today. And she includes the hard times in her life, too, which I found particularly poignant.
It is one of my favorite poker books, partly because it's not all poker, and one I'd recommend to anyone with a love of the game.
Who cares about her wasted life?.......2007-03-06
When Annie Duke dies, what are people going to say about her? "She had a messed up family life and neglected her four children, but she played a pretty good game of poker." Big deal. She's wasting her life, and this book is proof.
And the book is flawed. She describes a hand where she has a king-high strait, but claims to have an ace-high straight. Even amateur poker players like me immediately noticed that error. It's simply unacceptable in a book like this. The equivalent would be Michael Jordan mentioning the NBA's 35-second shot clock in his biography, when in reality it's a 24-second clock. It's laughable. When a professional poker player can't get the rules straight, I have to seriously doubt her credibility. Don't waste your time with this unless you want to be bored and become confused with the rules of poker.
Fun Read.......2007-02-09
Fun and entertaining read. This book is not a "How to Win" manual. Rather as the title suggests, a story on how Annie won. Fast and Easy read.
interesting but distant.......2007-02-06
Have you ever tried to tell a story to a friend or acquaintance, some personal epic filled with twists and turns, comedy and drama, thrills and chills and all sorts of gut clenching climaxes only to be met with a blank expression and a vaguely rhetorical "I guess you just had to have been there?" That was my reaction to this book.
It's an interesting insight to gambling culture and one woman's take on it, but after a while the two threads of the book (chapters alternate between her autobiography and her experiences at the World Series of Poker) begin to feel schizophrenic. Her history begins to read more and more like a recitation of rote facts while her descriptions of the hands she played in Vegas become more bombastic, which makes for an awkward reading experience. One chapter is a description of how she met this guy and they hung out and he moved back west and then she married him and followed him and so on while the next is a breathless explanation of how exciting it was when the three of clubs came up!
Given that this book is essentially focussed on her experiences in poker, this dichotomy is perfectly understandable, but towards the end of the book I was worn out by the constant yo-yoing of the narrative that I was simply relieved to be done with it.
Good read.......2006-11-25
A must-have for any poker fan. Annie Duke is one of the most visible figures in the game and this autobiography provides a great insight into her life told in her own words. She exposes almost every facet of her personality, from her continuing battle with anxiety to her unyielding drive to win. The only slight negative to this book is that she repeatedly builds herself up. She carries a tremendous chip on her shoulder. Annie also appears arrogant at times, which is one of the principal criticisms other poker players have of her. All told, however, this is yet another great poker book that belongs in the collection of a serious player.
Book Description
Have you ever wondered what your dog is really thinking? Mavis Duke Hinton's I Am Shadow . . . One Dog's Story, written from the viewpoint of man's best friend, will delight dog lovers of all ages. Shadow, a lovable black-and-tan miniature dachshund, sees and comments on everything he experiences with humor and a touch of doggie insight, often with hilarious results. Above all, God's unconditional and enduring love is the golden thread woven into the tapestry of I Am Shadow . . . One Dog's Story, a captivating and lighthearted story.
Customer Reviews:
Great book!.......2006-08-29
You will love this book whether you are a dog lover or not! It's guaranteed to make you smile! I love Shadow!!
Average customer rating:
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Henry I: King of England and Duke of Normandy
Judith Green
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0521591317 |
Book Description
Judith Green argues that although Henry's primary concern was defence of his inheritance, it did not preclude expansion where circumstances were propitious, notably into Welsh territory. His skillful dealings with the Scots permitted consolidation of Norman rule in the northern counties of England, while in Normandy every sinew was strained to defend frontiers through political alliances and stone castles. Green claims that although Henry's own outlook was essentially traditional, the legacy of this fascinating but repellent personality included some hugely significant developments in governance.
Book Description
Plato is one of the key ancient authors studied by both classicists and philosophers. This volume contains the first eight of Plato's works in the traditional order which appears in most of the manuscripts. The first four, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, ahd Phaedo are grouped by their dramatic settings concerned with the death of Socrates. The Apology and Crito display Socrates' philosophical mission. The Euthyphro discusses piety; the Phaedo proves the immortality of the soul by appeal to Plato's Theory of Forms. The second group of dialogues represent Plato's later work and are grouped according to his own indications; The Cratylus discusses language, the Thaetetus knowledge, the Sophist being and negation, and the Politicus statesmanship. This new edition offers much additional information on the preservation of Plato's text. All primary manuscripts have been checked and in most casesx freshly cololated. Papyrus fragments recently made available that were unknown to previous editors have been in several cases re-examined and their evidence reported, whilst no less important has been the search for previously unreported quotations of Plato in later Greek writers, facilitated by new editions of Neoplatonic writers. All textual problems have been thought through afresh.
Customer Reviews:
Definitive Classical Text.......2003-12-05
These Oxford editions are the definitive Greek texts for Plato's entire body of work. They are the culmination of a vast tradition of scholarly erudition. They include not only a fine edition of the texts, but also an extensive critical apparatus in the footnotes in which alternate readings adopted by other editors are listed. In effect, in this edition, you get the whole history of all other editions of Plato.
Oxford is in the process of putting out a new set of re-edited Plato's. These represent the latest trends in scholarly thought on Plato. However they do not represent any new discoveries--they are only a new set of editorial decisions by a new editor, but the same old material. The new set look quite good so far, but the older edition (By John Burnet, or Ioannes Burnet in Latin) are not rendered obsolete or out of date by this one. My personal preference is for the older Burnet edition.
Book Description
This best-selling, authoritative, and accessible study of the epic confrontation at Waterloo is now available for the first time in paperback. The armies of the period are brought to life and the battles recreated from the viewpoint of both Wellington and Napoleon. Every move and counter-move in this sweeping campaign is charted, from Napoleon's dramatic offensive and the opening battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras, to the hard pounding at Waterloo itself. Valuable to both historian and general reader, this guided tour of the battle includes all the key features of the terrain, and brings out the drama and tragedy of battle.
Customer Reviews:
Classic Waterloo Study.......2007-09-19
This was the second of Jac Weller's three volume studies on the generalship and tactics of Wellington. The Iron Duke is certainly the author's hero, and some of his praise can get a bit heavy at times. One must keep in mind that this work was done many years ago when most books on the Napoleonic Wars were diehard Vive L'Emporeur! I think Weller wanted to go a bit in the opposite direction here.
While the narrative is pro-British for sure, the author does give his due to some of the various allied troops that comprised the Duke's army, and to the Prussians as well. Recent studies have tended to reject some of the older works like this one with their reliance on English language sources of the time. Still, there can be no doubt that Wellington represented a unique and totally different kind of opponet for the Emperior.
Napolean was a master strategist, no doubt. His initial movements for the 1815 campaign came close to achieving his goals. Napolean's genius was in gettinng his army concentrated with superior force at the right point. This he nearly achieved at Waterloo. Tactically, the emperior usually left the actual fighting of his battles to the skills of his marshals. This combination worked very well in all the past great campaigns of 1800-1812 or so. By 1815 most of the great marshals were no longer with the grande armee. Soult was to prove an inadequate Chief of Staff, while Ney was given too much resonsibility. Oddly enough Weller gives a lot of Praise to Ney's efforts on the battlefield, going against many who believed he lost the battle for Napolean.
Wellington was a master tactician. Napolean had taken a more active part in his battles in years past, but by 1815 this was no longer so. The Iron Duke knew how to use terrian and troops to a very high degree. Napolean had just not encountered this level of skill before on the battlefield.
What makes this a unique work is the fact the Weller does not waste a lot of time on discussion of the campaign itself. This he leaves to the many other books out there on the Waterloo campaign. He choses to concentrate on the actual tactical fighting, and what formations both sides employed. While some over-emphasis might be given on the methods of the French colume assaults, Weller makes an interesting point that after the inital set-back of D'Erlon's Corps, the French reverted to fighting tirailleur en-masse. A throw-back to when they did so early in the 1790s. This is a very interesting observation on how the French fought tactically at Waterloo. While Wellington's bastions of Hougamont and Le Haye Sainte sucked in disproportionate amounts of French troops, the mass tirailleur fire nearly caused a crisis in Wellington's center just before the arrival of the Prussians and the final attack of the French Guard.
Weller shows how Wellington responded to each development with the right response and shows that his skill truly was in tactical matters. The only problem here was if Wellington had been killed in any of those tactial situations, the whole Anglo-allied army would have been in dire straights. Weller fails to comment on this aspect of Wellington's personal generalship. The Iron Duke did not trust anyone to do things correctly, and he usually saw fit to be on hand himself. Wellington's skill at being where the crisis of the battle most needed him could well have cost his army dearly if he had been hit in any way. There simply was no one to take his place. The hand of Providence was certainly with him that day.
All in all Weller provides us with a classic tactical study of Waterloo from the British perspective. Readers today won't get a better nuts and bolts narrative in that regard. To balance out Weller's hero worship of Wellington and the thin red line, just have Chandler on hand, and some of the more recent studies that throw light on the contributions of the Dutch-Belgian and German troops. The book also gives some fine descriptions of the battlefield in recent times, and what to see if one ever goes there. I can honestly say from my own visit there that this book holds up well in that regard. Diagrams and orders of battle in the addenda provide added interest and detail for the dedicated reader. A classic study that anyone interested in the final battle of the Napeolonic Wars should have on their shelf.
An oldie-but-goodie.......2007-09-03
I read this book 30 years ago when I was in college. Later, when I was fortunate enough to tour the Waterloo battlefield, this book helped me understand where and how the major events of the battle took place.
As it's title indicates, this book revolves around Wellington. Weller describes the battle as if it were a chess game. Napoleon made a move; Wellington made an even better counter-move. If the Anglo-Allies made any mistakes it was because the Prince of Orange issued some moronic order. In a general way this may not have been too far from the truth. Of course, any battle involving nearly 200,000 men trying to kill one another is much more chaotic than that.
This criticism aside, this is an excellent book by a careful historian. Certainly, explaining the battle from Wellington's point of view is useful since all the average private soldier usually saw during the battle was the shako of the man in front of him. Weller carefully explains each stage of the battle, including the French "tirailleurade," which is not often noted in other accounts of the battle and which came perilously close to breaking the Anglo-Allied line. I highly recommend this oldie-but-goodie for anyone interested in Napoleonic military history.
Well researched, well written.......2005-02-10
There have been many outstanding books written about the Battle of Waterloo and the Duke of Wellington. The strength of Weller's book is that he synthesizes all of these sources into a very readable narrative of Wellington's actions in Waterloo.
The book focuses mostly on Wellington. It has some excellent chapters on what led up to the battle, the organization of the armies, and most importantly battlefield tactics and strategy. He then spends several chapters (maybe half the book) on the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo. He also has a chapter dedicated to raising and either debunking or supporting criticisms that other historians have raised about the performance of the British, Prussian, and French armies.
Jac Weller was clearly passionate about Wellington. He spent many days walking over the battlefields to put his research into better perspective. He included many maps and pictures, though the pictures are grainy black and whites that probably date for the 60s. I've been to Waterloo several times since the early 90s, and I'd expect that Weller would find the area significantly changed from when he wrote this book. His last chapter is basically his recommendation for a walking tour of the battlefields. My guess is that most of what he recommends can't be followed today.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Bernard Cornwell has written many books about the British Army of this time period in his Sharpe series. Quoting from his website, "[t]here are plenty of good books on Wellington's battles and campaigns, but these three [includes Weller's books on Peninsular War and India], I think, belong on the shelf of anyone who takes a serious interest in the Napoleonic wars." I agree.
An account of Waterloo for the Wellington fan.......2005-01-17
Jac Weller's "Wellington at Waterloo" is the third volume of a trilogy covering Wellington's military experiences in the Napoleonic era. It is best read as part of that trilogy. Weller writes in clear, easy to understand, and usually entertaining prose. He has an excellent grasp of the importance of terrain, and writes better than most about the details of tactics and weapons. His understanding of Wellington enables him to provide a narrative of the conduct of the Battle of Waterloo from Wellington's changing perspective as commander over time. This perspective allows Weller to impose order on the chaos of the battlefield for the general reader. Be warned that Weller was an unabashed fan of Wellington and wastes very little ink on the various academic controversies about the battle. Diehard fans of the military genius of Napoleon should seek elsewhere. Weller breaks no new ground with this book; his interpretation follows standard lines. Those looking for an entertaining and understandable narrative of the battlefield should find this a good read.
Detailed view from unique perspective.......2004-08-06
This book is neither an attempt at comprehensive coverage of the campaign leading to Waterloo nor meant as an exhaustive study of the battle itself. If one wishes to study either the campaign or the battle more broadly, or more fully, other works by other authors will better serve. But criticism of Mr. Weller's book for its narrow focus on the battle from Wellington's viewpoint would at best be a misreading of the author's intent, since as Bob Burnham's cogent review points out, Mr. Weller wrote this book primarily to give readers an understanding of Wellington's probable view of the battle as the Iron Duke experienced it on foot and horseback, in real time, under field conditions, in 1815 (...).In my opinion Mr. Weller not only largely succeeds in achieving that very specific and limited goal, but also gives a singularly edifying and pleasurable opportunity to learn details of the terrain and buildings of the battlefield as they were when it was fought, and to view the site and structures as extant in the late 1950's and early 1960's. I found descriptions of the battlefield's key elements by Mr. Weller, and the ground-level and airborne photos in his book, greatly informed my visit to Waterloo in 1971, and enhanced my ability to grasp the references made to these same features by other authors.
In conclusion, do not buy this book as either your introduction to the history of the battle or as a definitive and bias-free reference to the whole of the campaign. But do buy this book if you wish a very unique assist unavailable from any other work I'm familiar with per visualizing the "where" and "what" of the battlefield in 1815, and thereby improving your ability to judge for yourself regarding the when and why postulated by other authors for choices made by the various commanders, or the physical events of the battle falling out as they did.
Book Description
Do you ever feel just a little off socially? Like you are the only one in the room not getting the jokes -- or maybe the only one to laugh when you tell one? Although you can't quite put your finger on it, something isn't quite right when people are always moving away from you instead of moving closer to hear what you have to say. Whether or not your feelings of unease have to do with the situation you're in now at work or whether "not fitting in" has been your mantra your whole life, Will I Ever Fit In? provides a groundbreaking and comprehensive program to identify and address the pervasive yet poorly recognized syndrome called dyssemia that you may suffer from.
People who have some form of dyssemia -- a group reported to include as many as 25 million Americans -- cannot readily understand nonverbal messages, much as dyslexics do not readily process written language. Yet nonverbal communication plays an essential role in our communication with others, and people who don't pick up the signals others send often face painful social rejection. Stephen Nowicki, Jr. and Marshall Duke, experts in the field of nonverbal communication and seasoned clinical psychologists, offer a practical plan to improve your relationships and social skills -- skills you may not have known you even needed.
Will I Ever Fit In? includes the first diagnostic self-test for adult dyssemia, and it helps you understand nonverbal communication -- shows you how to read it -- through a combination of imitation and mentoring. Gentle and easy, the step-by-step approach guides you through the study of nonverbal behavior by observing others walking, eating, and talking; by making a dictionary of gestures and postures portraying different emotions from magazine photos; and by finding out what emotions you convey by taking snapshots of yourself and working with a friend -- or coach -- whom you can trust. What's more, it also offers guidelines for choosing professional help if you should need it.
This valuable book offers you the tools you need to build successful relationships, to capitalize on your interpersonal strengths, and to pave the way to your future happiness.
Customer Reviews:
This book changed my life.......2002-05-18
Before I read this book, I felt lonely and misunderstood.After reading only a few pages, I realized that I was dyssemic.Dr Duke and Dr. Nowicki gave me alot of practical advice, which I followed. As a result,for the first time in my life I now have friends, go out on dates, and have gotten two promotions on my job. These brilliant professors have done a great service to people like me, and I think that they should be commended for it.
too much fluff, too many stories.......2002-05-04
The book is about non-verbal behavior, very important part of communication, since it involves about 70% of communication, the other 30% being verbal communication. I definately agree with both of the authors that most of the people don't use it to their advantage, in in the end, feel that they are not effective, yet, they can't quite put the finger on the problem as to why they are not respected, or listened to. Non-verbal communication consists of touch, facial expressions, fashion, rhythms, timing and so on.
The book is logical, and really, just common sense. My problem with the book is that it has so little to say about each topic. This book is filled with stories, case studies. When in reality, this book could have been condensed to no more than 1 page. Instead, the authors try to fill the space with endless redundunt shallow stories. They try so hard to sound self-important, they boast that they had invented a term for it -"dissimic", which simply means someone who does not communicate well non-verbally. In reality the book is about 10% good stuff, and 90% padding and stuffing.
It will make you aware of the subject, but this book is nothing new. I am sure, any communication 101 book will do a better job, with less reading.
How does one help him/herself to better communicate non-verbally? Well, according to the authors, you should find an older gentleman at work, who will constantly watch you interact with others, and after work, authors suggest, you will meet with your teacher, and go over your behavior.. Hmmm.. I am not sure about this advice..a better choice for me was Body Language by Gordon Wainwright.
The only practical self-help book I've ever read..........2002-04-12
This book is a tremendous resource for anyone who sees the incongruence between their own self-perception and the perception of others, or their perception of others, and would like to correct it. It breaks down the elements of non-verbal communication with descriptions that are in plain English, with plenty of practical self-evaluation tests that require the reader to engage with the book. I've never found self-books very helpful, as the authors often diverge from a psychology discussion into philosophy, but this book stays true to its promise. I highly recommend it.
I would have to disagree with the review by the Library Journal; a "mentor" should not be a family member or close friend, but should be someone who can remain objective and provide valuable, non-biased feedback. I certainly wouldn't ask someone too close to me to give me this kind of intense, constructive criticism. I tried to do the peer evaluation with a close friend, and realized how awkward it was for him to answer the difficult questions about me. I, however, found a opportunity with a empathetic manager after a recent performance review to provide this sort of mentoring.
Average customer rating:
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How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions-and You Can Too
Annie Duke , and
David Diamond
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Card Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Poker | Card Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Gambling | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Annie Duke's Advanced Texas Hold 'Em Secrets - How to Beat the Big Boys (Masters of Poker)
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Annie Duke: How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker
ASIN: 0452286484 |
Book Description
Part poker strategy, part autobiography, How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions—and You Can Too offers a fascinating, table-side view of the World Series of Poker from the top-ranked female poker player in the world, chronicling the exciting ups and downs Duke experiences while trying to win it all, and tells the riveting tale of her unlikely rise to poker's inner circle.
Highlighting the strategy behind her unique style of play, and including a comprehensive poker primer and boxed tips throughout, this book is geared toward both the skilled player and the reader newly intrigued by the hottest game in town. BACKCOVER: “Not only is Annie Duke [quite possibly] the greatest female poker player ever, but she is poised to become one of the greatest poker players of our time.”
—Phil Hellmuth Jr., nine-time World Champion of Poker and author of Play Poker Like the Pros
“Thoroughly enjoyable.”
—Dan Harrington, 1995 World Series of Poker Champion, author of Harrington on Hold 'Em
“Duke, one of poker's best female players, keeps things interesting by mixing autobiography, play-by-play, and tips.”
—The New York Times Book Review
Book Description
The ducal court of Cosimo I de' Medici in sixteenth-century Florence was one of absolutist, rule-bound order. Portraiture especially served the dynastic pretensions of the absolutist ruler, Duke Cosimo and his consort, Eleonora di Toledo, and was part of a Herculean programme of propaganda to establish legitimacy and prestige for the new sixteenth-century Florentine court.
In this engaging and original study, Gabrielle Langdon analyses selected portraits of women by Jacopo Pontormo, Agnolo Bronzino, Alessandro Allori, and other masters. She defines their function as works of art, as dynastic declarations, and as encoded documents of court culture and propaganda, illuminating Cosimo's conscious fashioning of his court portraiture in imitation of the great courts of Europe. Langdon explores the use of portraiture as a vehicle to express Medici political policy, such as with Cosimo's Hapsburg and Papal alliances in his bid to be made Grand Duke with hegemony over rival Italian princes.
Stories from archives, letters, diaries, chronicles, and secret ambassadorial briefs, open up a world of fascinating, personalities, personal triumphs, human frailty, rumour, intrigue, and appalling tragedies. Lavishly illustrated, Medici Women: Portraits of Power, Love and Betrayal in the Court of Duke Cosimo I is an indispensable work for anyone with a passion for Italian renaissance history, art, and court culture.
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