Rock n' Blues Harmonica: A World of Harp Knowledge, Songs, Stories, Lessons, Riffs, Techniques and Audio Index for a New Generation of Harp Players (Includes ... book and 74 minute stereo CD Jamming Buddy)

Book Description

Here's a rich world of blues harmonica instruction and music for beginning through intermediate players.

Inspired by the idea that most music instruction literature is boring and irrelevant to most people most of the time, Rock n' Blues taches improvisational blues harmonica in a way that gets through the even the most instruction-hating, throy-phobic, eye-closed, "leave-me-alone-I'm-jamming" harp player. THE BOOK includes choosing your harp, first sounds, getting sweet tone, playing chords, playing single notes, basic blues riffs, I-IV-V blues progressions, bending, tongue-blocking, octaves and splits, vibrato, headshakes, mics and amps, positions 1 through 6 plus 12, reed tuning, famous cross harp melodies and more. The audio index tells you the key of harmonica you need to jam with the great blues recordings.

On THE CD, Jon plays every major harp technique over an easy-jamming, blues-band background for your C harmonica. Turn off the instruction to hear only the band. Turn off the band to hear only the instruction. This fully indexed 74 minute audio program will be a constant companion as you develop your tone and techniques.

THE HARMONICA is a Hohner Bluesband in the key of C, regularly retailing at $6. It is capable of sweet tone, bending and blues.

Customer Reviews:

Cheesy Story detracts from the message.......2007-10-06

This book contains some good information but the information revolves around a silly cheesy cave man / Adam & Eve story that really starts to become irritatingly annoying after the first page. In fact, the silly story is so irritating that it detracts from the real message and information. If you were to remove the story the information could be written in a book with far few pages and much less irritation. The accompanying CD is ok with its two channel ability but even that can be improved a bit.

Rock n Blues Review.......2007-08-23

I had previously purchased other instructional material by Jon Gindick, so I knew the guy was a good teacher, but this exceeded all expectations. I could see an improvement in myself after listening to the CD the very first time. The book is illustrated and specifically written for us "musical dummies". I would like to mention, however, that while the book is directed towards raw beginners, it takes a great deal of practicing to be able to Jam along with the CD. But, then again, that's probably the idea. If you were already that good you wouldn't need to be buying it. Overall, this is a great product.

Great Product!.......2007-05-23

Yeah--the caveman story line is a little tedious, but you gotta love Mr. Gindicks attempt at making it less technical and boring to study music. The material is great--the CD is wonderful--I've been getting better and better just playing the CD and jamming along--every now and then I even learn something new.

If you want to learn blues harp--this is a great place to start, in my opinion.

Ray

A Harmonica Book that Teaches the Fun Way!.......2007-05-15

If you're new to harmonica, or just want a few tips on how to improve your sound or technique, then this book is worth a look. John Gindick is a super teacher and this book is testament to that. Both entertaining and informing, this book has what the beginner/intermediate harp player is looking for.

Forget all the rest, buy this book.......2007-04-15

I have an impressive stack of "Learn to Play the Harmonica Instantly" books and none of them helped me in the least. This book got me playing the harmonics very quickly. The Caveman aspect of the book is a bit corny, but what the heck, why not? It's just Jon's way of making a unique approach to the music. If you really want to play music on your harmonica, buy this book. If you want excuses for why you don't play harmonica, stay with the others.

Average customer rating:

Contrived!
So terribly disappointing
I agree, a disappointing ending...
Hire a Professional!
Great book until page 268

Dream When You're Feeling Blue: A Novel
Elizabeth Berg
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1400065100
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg takes us to Chicago at the time of World War II in this wonderful story about three sisters, their lively Irish family, and the men they love.
As the novel opens, Kitty and Louise Heaney say good-bye to their boyfriends Julian and Michael, who are going to fight overseas. On the domestic front, meat is rationed, children participate in metal drives, and Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller play songs that offer hope and lift spirits. And now the Heaney sisters sit at their kitchen table every evening to write letters–Louise to her fiancé, Kitty to the man she wishes fervently would propose, and Tish to an ever-changing group of men she meets at USO dances. In the letters the sisters send and receive are intimate glimpses of life both on the battlefront and at home. For Kitty, a confident, headstrong young woman, the departure of her boyfriend and the lessons she learns about love, resilience, and war will bring a surprise and a secret, and will lead her to a radical action for those she loves. The lifelong consequences of the choices the Heaney sisters make are at the heart of this superb novel about the power of love and the enduring strength of family.

Customer Reviews:

Contrived!.......2007-10-08

I find Ms. Berg to be an inconsistent author. Some authors write a couple of good books, but when the well begins to go dry they search for an idea they think will have appeal and shape a story around it. World War II is always a good era for a story. Irish families seem to be popular with readers. Romance always draws in the gals. Mix together with lots and lots of era details and you have: "Dream When Your Feeling Blue". I could not listen to more than two tapes of the audio book. The narration was too sweet and wispy. The characters were stereotypes of a good, Irish family. I lost faith in the authenticity of the facts when early in the book the sisters get on a green hornet streetcar in the year 1943. The green hornet streetcar did not come into usage in Chicago until 1945--a fact easily verified on the net. There are many good books set in WW II, but this is not one of them.

So terribly disappointing.......2007-10-07

I loved Elizabeth Berg's books until I read this one. It's not so much the hasty ending that I find disappointing, it's the fact that she seems to have lost her gift for eliciting genuine emotion.

I agree, a disappointing ending..........2007-10-06

I have to agree with many of the other reviewers that say the ending was a huge letdown. I am a big fan of Elizabeth Berg, and tend to get drawn quickly into any book of hers that I read. I actually loved all the historical detail. I was born in 1977 and never learned (or retained) much about WWII, so it was very educational in addition to being purely entertaining. I hated the ending; it was very abrupt and unsatisfying. However, I very much enjoyed the experience of reading the rest of it.

Hire a Professional!.......2007-09-28

I am listening to the recorded book and have to advise the author to hire a professional reader next time. I know Ms. Berg probably thinks she is the best person to interpret her own work, but her slightly whiny voice is off putting. I just thought it had to be said!

Great book until page 268.......2007-09-25

I loved this book, then I got to page 268 and it was like a different author finished the book. The ending of the book was extremely weak and I was very disappointed. I hope Elizabeth will go back and rewrite the end, because as it stands now it is very disappointing after investing my time in 268 pages.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (Caldecott Honor Book, BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award)

Average customer rating:

This is a beautiful book in word and illustration
My baby loves to hear these poems
Superlative book should stave off "nature-deficit disorder". . .
Listen for me on a spring night...and I'll sing you to sleep
Bug bug bugsy

Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (Caldecott Honor Book, BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award)
Joyce Sidman
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0618135472

Book Description

From spring's first thaw to autumn's chill, the world of the pond is a dramatic place. Though seemingly quiet, ponds are teeming with life and full of surprises. Their denizensfrom peepers to painted turtles, duckweed to diving beetleslead secret and fascinating lives. A unique blend of whimsy, science, poetry, and hand-colored woodcuts, this collection invites us to take a closer look at our hidden ponds and wetlands. Here is a celebration of their beauty and their mystery.

Customer Reviews:

This is a beautiful book in word and illustration.......2007-10-06

I waited for this to arrive and now it has. It is one of the most totally beautiful books I've bought. The illustrations are wood cut and water color. I love them. The poems just pull you into the pictures. The subject matter is new to me and now I realize what I have been missing.
Can't wait to read this a million times to my grandchildren.

My baby loves to hear these poems.......2006-12-04

Since I had a baby this past summer, I have been looking for great books to read to her that are educational and just plain fun to read. She is now 5 months and I read her "The Song of the Water Boatman," and her eyes light up and she laughs and smiles. This is not only a whimsical little collection of poems about pond life, it is beautifully illustrated and informational on a pond's wild inhabitants.

Superlative book should stave off "nature-deficit disorder". . ........2006-03-20

This book is an absolute delight, and the 'pairing' of poet and artist is inspired. Beckie Prange's woodcuts are reminiscent of the genius of work by Gustave Baumann (1881-1971: Chicago, Brown County INDIANA, & New Mexico).

"Song of the Water Boatman" is given its wider readership just as psychologists are announcing concerns about "nature-deprived" children." Blessed be all educators who use this book to plan units & field trips that open eyes and hearts to the natural world so greatly in need of future protectors.

Joyce Sidman packs as much information per square inch as there are microorganisms in the drop of water showing off the "water bear," or "tardigrada." There are favorite segments on every page. In southern Indiana we already are being 'lullabied' by Spring Peepers, grateful for our woods and pond setting. Children are responding with glee to the repetitious "In the Depths of the Summer Pond" - - a musical chant in a four-page spread with 'lessons' about survival and the food chain. Not as beautiful as the dragon fly, the remarkable metamorphosis of the caddis fly, described as a "fashion story" of transformation, will nonetheless fascinate all. Other revelations include the water boatman, and its not-quite-mirror-image, the back swimmer which always swims on its back; both carrying their own bubbles of air with them.

This reviewer will never venture out-of-doors again without more finely tuning my senses to these wonders. We will definitely be exploring our creek with increased enthusiasm. Reviewer mcHAIKU urges that we not allow "nature-deficit" to creep into our souls, and allow our minds to limit periods of hibernation! LET'S THRIVE ON LIVING & LEARNING !

Listen for me on a spring night...and I'll sing you to sleep.......2006-03-07

Take it from one who grew up -- and still lives -- across the street from a pond, Joyce Sidman knows pond life! With the beautiful, strong first poem "Listen to Me" about the peeper frogs waking in the spring, SONG OF THE WATER BOATMAN introduces readers to all aspects of pond life, from cattails to painted turtles to the food chain. In addition to poems written a variety of styles, Sidman also includes a paragraph of interesting facts about the subject. And it's all capped off with the Caldecott-honor-worthy woodcuts created by Beckie Prange. All in all, a wonderful read-aloud for kids grade 1-4 studying ponds, ecosystems, or poetry...or just for fun. "Listen to Me" joins my personal list of all-time favorite poems. 2006 Caldecott Honor Book.

Bug bug bugsy.......2006-02-02

Poetry's not my bag, baby, so when I find myself reviewing a children's book of poetry my confidence just ooooozes away. Oozily. I know enough about poetry to know that I can't judge meter or metaphor or any of that jazz. I can tell if a line scans or not, and that officially marks the limits of my poetry-criticism qualifications. It's so much easier when a book garners universal praise. That way I know it's good and I can follow suit. Now as of this review "Song of the Water Boatman" has appeared on School Library Journals Best Books of 2005, the Boston-Globe Winners of 2005, the Bulletin of the Center For Children's Books Blue Ribbon Awards of 2005, and the New York Public Library's 100 Titles For Reading and Sharing circa 2005. Oh. And a little something called the Caldecott Honor, but who's counting? From all these high muckety-mucks in their own little separate worlds, I can only reach the obvious conclusion that there's something pretty cool going on with "Water Boatman" here. A quick peek inside, a swift skimming of a poem or two, and then an in-depth read of every word and image did indeed convince me that it's a lovely work. Would I go about handing it shiny silver medals? Probably not. But as poetry goes it's gorgeous and, almost more importantly, there's a little non-fiction stirred into the mix for spice!

Eleven poems about ponds and their animals, that's what we've got here. North American ponds, to be exact. On her bookflap, author Joyce Sidman clarifies the impetus that drew her to this project. "I noticed a pool that was obviously drying up and wondered about its inhabitants: Where would they go? I imagined them as creatures in a drama, with personalities of their own". That is where Sidman excels, actually. No matter how big or small or downright bizarre a critter is, they appear on these pages as full-bodied three-dimensional characters. The poem, "Diving Beetle's Food-Sharing Rules" gives you a pretty good sense of this. "if it moves, it is mine / If it's anywhere near me, it is mine / If I'm hungry (and I'm always hungry), / it is mine, mine mine". The last line? "do not forget what is mine / For if I return / and you have taken it / YOU / are mine". As with every other creature in this book, there is factual information placed on the page opposite the poems giving in-depth details and little known facts about the pond denizen speaking. From all this we learn about the food chain, what the real nature of duck weed is, the cleverness of the caddis worm, and the definition of "emergents". Couple everything with artist and first-time children's book illustrator Beckie Prange's superb woodcuts ala watercolors and you've a book that simultaneously fulfills intellectual curiosity as well as poetic leanings.

I could be forgiven for not necessarily knowing who Joyce Sidman was before looking through this book. A resident of beautiful Wayzata, Minnesota (I once had to commute there on a daily basis from St. Paul, and it truly is a lovely little area) Sidman is obviously drawing on Minnesotan wildlife for this book. To my mind, the saving grace of the book (not that it isn't nice BUT) is that it has humor. Humor is so undervalued these days that whenever I read through a children's book and find even a scrap of it lurking in the corners I am filled with a kind of manic glee. This manic glee response came to me more than once while reading Sidman's words. Only she would think to make the titular song of the waterboatman (with a refrain by a cheery backswimmer) sound more like a tune fit for a pirate than a bug. She even works in an accumulative poem (ala "The House That Jack Built") with her food-chainish, "In the Depths of the Summer Pond". Lest I steer you wrong, let me just say that Prange's illustrations are realistic and not cartoonish in the least. If you're looking for a visual humor to back up the written, look elsewhere. I was disappointed, by the way, to find that though Prange lists her webpage in the back of the book, the site says that it will be up and running in the "winter". I am writing this in February of 2006. Can't get much more wintery than that, now can you?

Why is it important that this book be written? I will tell you, faithful readers. Picture this: A high-faluting children's room in New York City just across the street from the Museum of Modern Art. A uniquely talented and, if I might be so bold, cute-as-a-bug children's librarian is approached by an addled teacher. The teacher says that she wants an interesting book on ponds. "Not a problem", says the perky librarian, looking up the keyword "pond" in her database because while she's excellent on the Library of Congress decimal system, Dewey has never been her strength. "Oh", says the teacher as an afterthought, "And it needs to be for young kids. First graders". "Erm... okay", says the now less-than-confident but still game librarian. Her searches only seem to be yielding the names of titles of books published in 1943 anyway. "And can the book be kind of fictional but with lots of facts in it as well?". If this librarian is aware of the existence of "Song of the Water Boatman", she will be able to deal with this request with aplomb. If she is not aware of it, she will suffer the indignity of trying to refer the patron to other library branches. This, ladies and gentlemen, happens in one form or another EVERY DAY. Thousands of children's librarians are peppered with ridiculously intense requests for very specific types of books. And while you may not believe me, I actually got this kind of a "pond" request about a year ago. "Song of the Water Boatman" had not yet reached my shelves. Hence, my gratitude for its existence now.

The book reminded me of many many other titles out there already. The songs coming from insects and the variety of different poetical styles brought to mind Paul Fleischman's Newbery Award winning, "Joyful Noise: Poems For Two Voices". It would be an excellent companion to this title. Also, the idea of pairing animal and insect poems alongside remarkably beautiful and strangely (for the author) subdued illustrations is found in, "If Not For the Cat" by Jack Prelutsky. Of course, in that particular case we're dealing with watercolors and not woodcuts, but Beckie Prange is just as adept with the watercolor brush as Ted Rand so the two pair up quite nicely. I don't want to imply that this book will only be interesting to those people into pond poems and pond facts. There's a lot of superb information in here that rural and urban kids will equally enjoy. Just the same, no matter where you're living I suggest you take a trip to a pond straightaway with "Song of the Water Boatman" at your side. Show your children how an ecosystem really works and how some of these bugs really act. This book is great in and of itself, but nailing it home with a little one-on-one experience will truly make it memorable.

Song for the Blue Ocean: Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas

Average customer rating:

Absolute poetry
Beauty beyond compare
McPhee on Red Bull
Entertaining Science
Song for the Blue Ocean - a phenomenal book

Song for the Blue Ocean: Encounters Along the World's Coasts and Beneath the Seas
Carl Safina
Manufacturer: Owl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0805061223

Amazon.com

The oceans of the world rank foremost among humankind's last great frontiers, and their climatological and ecological workings remain mysterious to all but specialists. In this lively, well-written survey, marine scientist Carl Safina encourages readers to take a wider interest in the oceans, especially because so much of that great blue expanse is now threatened by human progress. Safina notes, for example, that the North Atlantic's tuna population has fallen by more than 90 percent in just the last few decades. It has gone the way of cod and herring and pilot whales thanks to a combination of changing global temperatures, overfishing, pollution, inland watershed and delta destruction, and other causes--many of them attributable to human activities. Even now, he notes, many Pacific fishing fleets use cyanide to catch fish, a process that destroys sensitive marine ecosystems. Safina's tour of the world's waters may inspire readers to press for changes in the way that fish is brought to their tables, and to take a more careful look at the natural processes that govern this watery planet.

Book Description

Part odyssey, part pilgrimage, this epic personal narrative follows the author's exploration of coasts, islands, reefs, and the sea's abyssal depths. Scientist and fisherman Carl Safina takes readers on a global journey of discovery, probing for truth about the world's changing seas, deftly weaving adventure, science, and political analysis.

Customer Reviews:

Absolute poetry.......2004-08-06

I'm only about halfway through this book, but it's so moving that I decided I needed to rave now. Carl Safina uses an amazing grasp of language to paint mental pictures of what he writes about. I work in the scientific community and have spent a lot of time on that water, and his writings are not only objective and scientifically sound, he constructs them in such a way that they are beautiful. You will have a thirst for each topic and region of which he writes. I borrowed this book from the library and had vowed to buy it before I'd finished the first chapter. It has only improved as I've proceeded.

Beauty beyond compare.......2004-04-29

This is one of the most beautiful, powerful books I have ever read. Safina's journey encompasses the entire world and all points of view. His words have inspired me to pursue my dreams and opened up new worlds of knowledge. Now, every time I hear of politicians doing something stupid to the oceans or rivers, I just shake my head and say "'Song' should be required reading for them before they can draft a piece of legislation dealing with the oceans."

McPhee on Red Bull.......2002-07-01

This book would be twice as good if it were half as long. Evidently the only editors were fawning friends of the author, who must have felt that every observation, no matter how offhand or trivial, needed to be included in the bloated text. This is too bad, because he is a decent writer, knows and cares about fish and fisheries, and the story is compelling. Imagine John McPhee full of Red Bull and vodka and you get the idea.
Also, a book that uses the silly word "waitron" without irony, and "heregia" twice in a hundred pages can be a little precious.

Entertaining Science.......2001-05-10

Is it a novel, a journey through the seas, or a scientific work describing the demise of fishes around the world while offering policy suggestions? It doesn't matter what kind of book it is- it may be all in one. What matters is that Carl Safina has written a book, Song for the Blue Ocean, which tells the story of living oceans; a book that catches your attention through adventure and interesting characters, witty writing, strong emotion, and terse opinions strewn amongst simple science.

In the preface, Safina mentions that he will be our guide and interpreter, but ultimately we have to make our own decisions regarding what the oceans and their inhabitants really mean to us. Nonetheless, I feel quite comfortable following Safina's lead. After receiving his doctorate in ecology and starting a career as an academic, Safina decided that he needed to take a stronger stand on conservation and scientific policy regarding the world's imperiled fish. He founded and now directs the National Audubon Society's Living Oceans Program, and wrote Song for the Blue Ocean merely 10 years after graduate school. Safina has a unique and open perspective on the state of the world's fishes, once as a commercial and sport fisherman, and now as a world-renowned scientist. Personally, I feel quite comfortable allowing Safina's guide and interpretations to influence my own opinions.

Song for the Blue Ocean is split into three distinct sections: the Northeast, the Northwest, and the Far Pacific. In addition, each section focuses on an imperiled species, namely the Giant Bluefin Tuna, pacific Salmon, and coral reefs; nonetheless, Safina is able to depict the bigger picture of the world's fisheries and common problems with these three examples. Not only does the reader get an inside look at fishing culture and the conservationist culture, but we also learn about the bigger picture of fisheries, i.e. externalities of fishing like by-catch, various fishing styles (from spear fishing to cyanide poisoning), the state of these fisheries, and the huge political aspects of fishing. Safina artfully intertwines information about national and international agencies involved in the conservation of fisheries, like CITES and the Endangered Species Act, without it sounding like a lecture. We learn about various species of sponges and coral reef fish, or the difference between steelhead trout and Chinook salmon, during the while we are enchanted by Safina's adventures floating down an icy Northwest river or almost dying of nitrogen narcosis while SCUBA diving 160 feet deep in the Palau islands.

The book flows very smoothly. Safina builds up the story, grasps ahold of your attention, and then leads you through the steps until he has made his point clear. For instance, Safina talks of the beautiful large and diverse trees in the Pacific Northwest, then introduces the concept of a snag- a tree that has died, but continues to stand upright for many years. Once it finally falls, hundreds of species move in, under, through, and around the fallen log. Finally, we understand that clear cutting and second growth forests near rivers do not provide adequate habitat for spawning salmon, which rely on the deep pool behind the fallen snag to deposit their eggs. All the while, this simple chain of events is presented in a very romantic and mysterious way, and it all seems so important. Safina also captures my attention with the conversations between the amazing characters in his book. They are funny, disturbing, happy, sad- they are martyrs, antagonists and clueless. They provide much of the information in the book, but they also provide relief from the continuous science and bleak outlook on the state of the fisheries.

Truthfully, there is not much about Song for the Blue Ocean that I did not enjoy, but Safina does tend to dwell on the past, with a few too many "back in the good old days" stories. This type of talk can be fun and contagious, nonetheless too much of this babble is unhelpful in the context of conservation. Similarly, Safina slips from time to time with sarcastic remarks. Some may find this witty, but I find it ineffective. Enjoyment of this book also depends on what your expectations are, some may find it too political, or others may not find it scientific enough. Safina approaches his journey with an open mind- and this is also the best way to approach his book.

Safina's unique perspective lends itself to an original story. He is a weary scientist in the middle of a debate over the state of the world's fisheries, who wants to discover the truth for himself. His journey takes him to all corners of the ocean, where he meets and listens to real people whose livelihood depends on the fish. His book therefore portrays all angles of the story, which allows the reader to form her own opinion (as Safina wanted). Safina does distinguish between fact and opinion on a regular basis; nonetheless he is not afraid to express his opinion, sometimes very strongly.

This book is for anyone- scientists and non-scientists. Young and old alike. People who want to learn more about the worlds imperiled fisheries will get their fill. Others who are mildly interested in fish, or fishing, or the world's oceans will be entertained. Even people who just pick up the book without any preface will find the writing, unique characters, and Safina's journeys across the Atlantic and Pacific extremely refreshing. This book really is all-in-one. Safina has mastered the art of hybridization, with perfect proportions of science, policy, and adventure.

Song for the Blue Ocean - a phenomenal book.......2001-02-18

I could not put this book down. It is well written and well- balanced. Dr. Safina describes three different areas of the world, the North Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest and Palau, east of the Phillipines. He describes in detail how intricate ecosystems are, and all the complicated relationships between fish , man and the environment. He describes in wonderful detail the biology of the bluefin tuna and salmon. More importantly, he impressed me with how devastating certain fishing techniques have effected fish. I think this book should be read by everyone who cares about wildlife and the environment.

Average customer rating:

What an Adventure !
Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold.
Hands down one of the best book ever!
Good modern day treasure hunt
Fantastic Nonfiction

Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
Gary Kinder
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0375703373
Release Date: 1999-05-11

Amazon.com

The facts speak for themselves. In 1857, the Central America, a sidewheel steamer ferrying passengers fresh from the gold rush of California to New York and laden with 21 tons of California gold, encountered a severe storm off the Carolina coast and sank, carrying more than 400 passengers and all her cargo down with her. She then sat for 132 years, 200 miles offshore and almost two miles below the ocean's surface--a depth at which she was assumed to be unrecoverable--until 1989, when a deep-water research vessel sailed into the harbor at Norfolk, Virginia, fat with salvaged gold coins and bullion estimated to be worth one billion dollars.

Author Gary Kinder wisely lets the story of the Columbus-America Discovery Group, led by maverick scientist and entrepreneur Tommy Thompson, unfold without hyperbole. Kinder interweaves the tale of the Central America and her passengers and crew with Thompson's own story of growing up landlocked in Ohio, an irrepressible tinkerer and explorer even in his childhood days, and his progress to adulthood as a young man who always had "7 to 14" projects on the table or spinning in his head at any given moment. One of those projects would become the preposterous recovery of the stricken steamer, and the resourcefulness and later urgency with which the project would proceed is contrasted poignantly with the Central America's doomed battle in 1857 to stay afloat.

Thompson, who spent nearly a decade planning and organizing his recovery effort, emerges as one of the great unsung adventurers of these times (the technical innovations alone required for such a task produced a windfall for the scientific community and defined a new state of the art for deep-sea explorers and treasure hunters), and the story of the steamer's sinking is compelling enough to make any reader wonder why the Central America sinking isn't synonymous with shipwreck in this Titanic-happy age. --Tjames Madison

Book Description

"White knuckle reading...with generous portions of adventure, intrigue, heroism, and high technology interwoven."
--Los Angeles Times Book Review

This enthralling true story of maritime tragedy and visionary science begins with a disaster to rival the sinking of the Titanic.

In September 1857, the S.S. Central America, a side-wheel steamer carrying passengers returning from the gold fields of California, went down during a hurricane off the Carolina coast. More than 400 men--and 21 tons of gold--were lost. In the 1980s, a maverick engineer named Tommy Thompson set out to find the wreck and salvage its treasure from the ocean floor.

With knuckle-biting suspense, Gary Kinder reconstructs the terror of the Central America's last days, when passengers bailed freezing water from the hold, then chopped the ship's timbers to use as impromptu liferafts. He goes on to chronicle Thompson's epic quest for the lost vessel, an endeavor that drew on the latest strides in oceanography, information theory, and underwater robotics, and that pitted Thompson against hair-raising weather, bloodthirsty sharks, and unscrupulous rivals.

Ship of Gold is a magnificent adventure, filled with heroism, ingenuity, and perseverance.

Customer Reviews:

What an Adventure !.......2007-09-21

This is an appealing book on many levels. 19th century sea adventure, heroes, tradegies, great survival stories, heart stopping excitement, 20th century high tech recovery adventures, interlopers and bottom feeding lawyers and insurance companies, it's got it all. Why 4 stars rather than 5 ? I found it a tad long after they found the boat and began that part of the story. But, that is a small point. Well worth the reader's time.

Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold........2007-08-28

Ship of Gold is a good story with excellent details about the recovery of the gold.
In my next recovery book I will look for more diving experience. The ROV's do not have the same adventure value as the human diving experience we have on the North Sea but then again the North Sea is maximum 40 meters deep. We don't need ROV's at these depths.
I liked the sonar specialist story and the systematical scanning of the area's with the best values in the probability matrix.

Hands down one of the best book ever! .......2007-08-20

This is by far the best book ever. I have purchased more copies then I can count and I have given it to all of my family members and most of my friends. All of them loved it. Even my mom told it was one of the best books she had ever read. Being she reads a book every two weeks that's a pretty good compliment.

This is a short book, but it takes a long time to read. It's not that it's a hard read; it's just that it's so good you will take your time to read it. Almost like savoring a great wine.

I don't recommend many books, but this one should be on the top of your reading pile. Once you read it you will understand why and I'm willing to bet you will recommend it to all of your friends.

Good modern day treasure hunt.......2007-07-04

I liked the way the author took the reader back and forth from the past to the present. It was interesting to see how much planning and inguenuity it took to accomplish the recovery of the gold. Once the treasure was found, I have to admit to having a mild case of 'gold fever' due to the vivid descriptions provided by G. Kinder. The only reason I didn't give it the full 5 is because of the Tommy (the technical mastermind of the recovery) praising!!!! Alright already, he certainly must walk on water, and if he doesn't, he'll surely invent a way to. Inspite of the Tommy factor, this is a good book.
Also recommended: In the Heart of the Sea

Fantastic Nonfiction.......2006-12-28

When the Central America sank in 1857 she took 21 tons of gold and more than 400 souls to the bottom of the sea, including one of my ancestors. Kinder's incredible book weaves the tale of the shipwreck together with the story of the thrilling recovery more than 130 years later.

Ship of Gold is a fantastic book from historic and scientific perspectives. If you read this book, you will gain new insights about the Gold Rush and 19th-century sea travel; better yet, you will be amazed by the technological and biological advancements which were a direct consequence of Tommy Thompson's recovery.

I read Ship of Gold to fill in the details of an old family legend. I was pleased to discover a truly amazing work of nonfiction.

Beany Malone Series - 14 Book Set (Beany Malone)

Average customer rating:

AMAZING SERIES!! IS A MUST READ!

Beany Malone Series - 14 Book Set (Beany Malone)

Manufacturer: Image Cascade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: B000G02BF6

Product Description

The 14 Book Beany Malone Set includes: Meet the Malones; Beany Malone; Leave It to Beany; Beany and the Beckoning Road; Beany Has a Secret Life; Make a Wish for Me; Happy Birthday, Dear Beany; The More the Merrier; A Bright Star Falls; Welcome Stranger; Pick a New Dream; Tarry Awhile; Something Borrowed, Something Blue; Come Back, Wherever You Are. The Malones of Denver, Colorado are a warm open-hearted family with a welcoming home, open to friends and all others in need of physical and emotional nourishment. The series has the warmth and sense of solidarity intrinsic of wartimes and the post-war era. There is a general feeling of peace and simplicity. When the series opens, the Malone children are motherless, as Mary Malone has been dead for three years. The father, Martie Malone, is often absent due to his duties as editor of the Denver Call. Three of the four Malone children, Mary Fred, Johnny and Beany, live at home. The oldest Malone daughter, the beautiful, loving Elizabeth, has been married to Lieutenant Donald McCallin for one year. The Malones live on Barberry Street in a large, wide-bosomed gray stone home. Their surrounding neighbors are Mrs. Morrison Adams (known as Mrs. Socially-prominent Adams) in her red brick home with immaculate white trim and frilly curtains in the windows, and the imposing and stately home of the Judge Buell family.

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING SERIES!! IS A MUST READ!.......2006-06-24

I got the entire series this past Christmas. I had read the first 2 because although my library had more, they didn't have all of them, and they didn't have the 3rd and I don't like to read things out of order so I was really sad. So then I was soo happy to find out they were being republished by Image Cascading!!!

So yea I read them all and they all rock!!! It's nice seeing what teenagers did back in the 50's. And it was also nice how different people's relationships were with their family's, I wish it were more like that today. And they are also way more responsible and mature then we are now. Making their own money, not having to depend on their parents for everything. And their parents respect and trust them more too! And they definatly treat their parents with much respect which is ALOT more then I can say about kids of today.

The first book is about Beany's older sister, Mary Fred. It is in MF's junior year of highschool, when Beany is in 8th grade. The rest of the books are all about Beany, in highschool, college, and then when she gets married. And let me just say I LOVE who she ends up with. They are SOOO cute!!!

Everyone should read these books they are amazing and are definatly one of my favorite books ever!

The Worlds of Lois Lowry 3 Copy Boxed Set (The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger)

Average customer rating:

The GIver
Great Trilogy
Connections galore
Giver
They should make movies!

The Worlds of Lois Lowry 3 Copy Boxed Set (The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger)
Lois Lowry
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0385733895
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

When Jonas turns 12, he is singled out for special training from The Giver. Now, it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
*
Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. When she is given a task that no other community member can carry out, Kira soon realizes she is surrounded by many mysteries and secrets--and an extraordinary power of her own.
*
Matty has always been proud to be Village's Messenger. But now that Village is closing its once-welcoming doors, Matty must make one last journey through the treacherous forest, and must make a great sacrifice to save the place he loves.
*
The Worlds of Lois Lowry are brought to life through three extraordinary characters, and the unexpected connections among their lives.

Customer Reviews:

The GIver.......2007-07-26

Great trilogy. Haven't read the 2nd 2 yet, so this review is just for The Giver. I bought it for myself and my 9 year old. We both really liked it. It is written in such a way, that you envision a black and white world devoid of emotion and color which is what the author wants. It really was a great book for discussion with my child as it explores having personal choice, love/nuturing/emotions, and individuality. The back of the book has questions that help explore these areas even more. It was interesting to see a child's perspective vs. an adults. This book makes us all think about how society is and how it can be. Recommended.

Great Trilogy.......2007-07-03

This box-set is one of the most enduring trilogies I have ever read. The first book is an instant classic, The Giver. I actually read this book back in 1994, when I was in the 4th grade. I read it now again, and I am still just as enamored with it. I didn't even know there were two other books that followed until I did some research. The next two books are just as good, and the best part is that are not carbon-copies. One could actually read them by themselves, but it's so much better when you know the stories before them.

Connections galore.......2007-06-21

I had read "The Giver" some time ago, but had never read the other books in the series. I always wondered what happened to Jonas. This clears things up for me. He came into the community on the sled and became the Seer. I really enjoyed putting the pieces of the puzzle together and realizing who was who in former books and what role they play in "The Messenger." The only thing is that I wondered what happened to Gabriel...could he be the teacher? They only mention one coming in on the sled, but at the end of "The Giver," there are actually two people on it.

Giver.......2007-05-21

It's beautiful book for all family. I had a big pleasure when I red it.

They should make movies!.......2007-01-31

They should make movies of this trilogy. I adored all three of these books, though at times, they left me with a few unanswered questions. "How does Kira change her world without being killed?" for example, in Gathering Blue. Who exactly is Trademaster in Messenger and where does he go in the end? I guess Lois Lowry wanted her readers to use their own creative gifts and answer these questions for themselves. I wonder where one reviewer got the idea that Leader in Messenger arrived in Village "with an older boy who didn't survive the journey." There is no mention of a dead boy in Messenger, and it is clear to me from the descriptions given who Leader is.

Buying these books in a box set and reading them in order gives a reader the chance to see the common theme they share of society gone bad or in the wrong hands (or both) and the desperate need for things like love, compassion and creativity. Buy this set; you won't regret it. And bring on the directors and screen writers!

SAP Blue Book, A Concise Business Guide to the World of SAP

Average customer rating:

Don't Waste Your Money
High level perspective on R/3 implementation
Very good book
Excellent text for management staff

SAP Blue Book, A Concise Business Guide to the World of SAP
Michael Doane
Manufacturer: Good Life Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Macs | Hardware | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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Computers & Internet | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1575791250

Customer Reviews:

Don't Waste Your Money.......2005-02-25

This book is a complete waste of time and money. There is no useful information in it and it is very, very poorly written. I can think of no practical use for the contents of this book either by a technical person or a project leader from the business side.

High level perspective on R/3 implementation.......1999-06-09

Easy reading for the SAP neophyte. Concepts specific to SAP project management as well as issues related to SAP implementation and simultaneous calls for change management are described in plain language along with a concise but powerful description of SAP architecture and components.

Very good book.......1998-09-11

It is easy to read and understand. if you have less then two years with SAP you should read this book.

Excellent text for management staff.......1998-08-24

We're in the process of evaluating SAP, and I wanted to share this with the upper management team as part of our preparatory work for the '99 implementation. I found it to be well-written, and directed to the managers' needs as opposed to many of the other texts that are more technically oriented. I'm just disappointed that it's back-ordered!

A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed

Average customer rating:

my personal experience
EXPOSING SCIENTOLOGY
A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianectics and L Ron Hubbard
Atacking Scientology
Eye Opening

A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed
Joh Atack
Manufacturer: Lyle Stuart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Scientology | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 081840499X
Release Date: 1999-06-29

Book Description

Atack exposes Hubbard's bizarre imagination and behavior, tracing the creation of Scientology in the years following World War II to perhaps its final schism following Hubbard's death in 1986. A shocking book that reveals all: the abuses, falsehoods, paranoia, and greed of Hubbard and his pseudo-military Scientologist henchmen.

Customer Reviews:

my personal experience.......2007-09-18

I have been a Scientologist for many years now. I have had parts of this book read to me by "concerned" relatives. Even if the thing this book brings up are true, which I have yet to be able to confirm any, I don't see the searing hatred justified. For example, the news about the GO's office having problems within it and Hubbard's ex-wife being in that office. So what? My life is far better off from Hubbard's works. What about the claim that people experienced in Scientology have gone through confessionals and are warning people that the point of the confessionals is to bribe people. Honestly, how could someone go through rigorous confessionals and publically issue crazy warnings like that? It doesn't make sense if you think about it. I could walk away from any or all of it any time I wish. True statement. I would not trade the wins I have had from Scientology for anything. True statement.

EXPOSING SCIENTOLOGY.......2007-08-11

While I haven't read this particular book, I have read the reviews and one, at least, mentioned how the Scientologists have tried to "erradicate" this book. I'm wondering if that is what is happening with the book I have ordered, "Escaping Scientology". It was to have been published this past April but now the publication date has been delayed until December, 2007.

I live in Clearwater, Florida, and for those who don't know, Clearwater is the headquarter for Scientology. They are all over downtown and have bought up several properties in order to expand. If I had my way, they would all be run out of not only Clearwater but all of Florida-better, yet, the entire country.

A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianectics and L Ron Hubbard.......2007-08-08

Al principio es interesante, luego, en los ultimos capitulos, se repite mucho lo dicho en capitulos anteriores.

At the beginning is ok, but the other chapter repeat a lot the same that the first's chapter.

Atacking Scientology.......2007-05-19

Like the other reviewers who are *not* Scientologists (everyone giving this valuable book the 4 or 5 stars it deserves), I think the intellectual calibre of Scientologists themselves is showcased in their (one-star) reviews here. My sister recently married a Scientologist--with no clue and no research into the cult, and without heeding my many warnings to at least see what she was getting involved with. The only book that does a better job of explicating the cult is the now lamentably out-of-print Cults of Unreason. I'm working on (at least) an article on L. Ron Hubbard's creations (Dianetics, which developed into Scientology), and I *have* read several of Hubbard's own works. I highly recommend Scientology: A History of Man (buy it used and cheap) as one of the most unintentionally hilarious works of bad fiction ever written.

Ultimately, Scientology is just a spin-off from psychoanalysis--which has its own problems. Anyone who really would like some mental health should also check out Adolf Grunbaum's The Foundations of Psychoanalysis and Frederick Crews's Follies of the Wise.

Eye Opening.......2007-04-13

This was a very interesting book. Someone in my life was (maybe still is) involved in [...] and that's what piqued my interest in the subject. I love the Scientologists reviewing this book here. Are there grammar and spelling lessons in Dianetics? Just wondering.
Self-help? Fine. Charging money for the service? By all means! I love capitalism. But don't call it a religion. The book was a bit slow in spots, but very eye-opening.

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