Product Description
In 1910, Mexican peasant Pancho Villa led a rebellion against the wealthy landowners, and fought to redistribute land to the poor Mexican "peons" who worked it for the absentee owners, in what has been called "the first socialist revolution".Originally published as a series of newspaper dispatches, "Insurgent Mexico" was written by American journalist John Reed, who lived with the Mexican rebels, made friends with Pancho Villa, and was nearly killed during a battle with Mexican government forces.Reed is also the author of "Ten Days that Shook the World".With ten pages of photos. ... Read more

Product Description
This insider's guide to real estate deals shows readers how to make a profit the day they buy a property. Securing property coups requires diligent research, skilled negotiation, and solid commitment--but if one follows the 30 techniques described in this book such work can yield amazing success. 10 charts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointing
John T. Reed views himself as the anti-guru Guru; a straight talking dose of honesty and reality among a sea of real estate investment gurus, many of whom, at best, are misleading and, at worst, advocate dangerous and illegal methods.

So does this book deliver?No.What Mr. Reed does is offer a brief chapter discussing various methods to buy real estate at a discount.It appears that Mr. Reed has no experience with the majority of these techniques, rather he tries to summarize other investors' methods.Mr. Reed's lack of experience may explain the absence of any nuts and bolts instruction.

No one is going to read this book and know how to execute one of the techniques.You will merely know of the techniques existence, at which point you will have to learn the nuts and bolts yourself.In many cases, the techniques are well known (e.g. foreclosures, pre-foreclosures), making the book useless.In other cases, Mr. Reed will recommend further reading.For example, in one of the early chapters he recommends a program priced at just under $500.

You can look at the table of contents at the author's website.You'll get to see all the techniques that way for free.Then you can seek out further reading on the ones that interest you.That is not to say that this book is without any value.As mentioned earlier, Mr. Reed summarizes what other investors are doing.If you already know how to execute some of these techniques, you may be able to pick up some new ideas from these summaries.But to reiterate, the beginner will not learn how to execute any of these discount buying techniques from this book.

Excellent Book!
This book has now been split into two volumes and all Reed's books are only available through his website. This book is heads and tails above most other real estate books. This is probably the most comprehensive and yet concise book on various ways to buy real estate cheap. While a couple of the examples are dated all of the strategies in the book should work except maybe for doing tenancy in common conversions of apartments in rent-controlled areas.

John T. Reed knows what he is talking about and he frankly discusses the risks and benefits of each strategy as well as the number of opportunities to use each strategy and the success rate of each strategy.

Rather than mindlessly following conventional wisdom and believing that real estate only goes up, read this book to find ways to get real estate cheap. If you buy 20% or more below market value it is very easy to make a satisfactory profit.

Good ideas, but very outdated
Great topic, but the book was outdated. Most of the information cited in the book were for events that took place in the 1980's!That is 20 years ago!A couple of examples that he mentions took place in the early - mid 90's.Nothing recent.

The material contains good comments and ideas, but don't kid yourself to think that this book contains up-to-date examples.Save the money and buy this book used (yes it is available plenty of places online used, even though the author denies it).

Surprisingly good
I found this book to be a refreshingly straightforward treatment of the subject.Mr. Reed thoroughly examines a couple of dozen approaches to buying real estate (and a couple of money-making programs not directly related to real estate), including an analysis of ethical and legal considerations.

Getting a really good deal on *anything*, not just real estate, involves either or both of the following factors:

1) Finding something nobody else knows is for sale (there are people out there who are incredibly poor at marketing), and/or
2) Finding something nobody else wants (for a reason that can be remedied for a cost that still leaves you adequate profit).

That's the whole philosophy.Mr. Reed supplies many case studies and analyses showing how to find and evaluate those two factors.

You should be aware that the author of this book currently refuses to deal with any other bookseller, and will sell only through his own website.IOW, you won't be able to get this book from Amazon.I read the copy I obtained from interlibrary loan. ... Read more

Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

Product Description
Providing solid, basic information on managing rental units and making money at it, a guide to property management offers tips on recruiting and supervising assistant managers, maximizing income, setting up a bookkeeping system, and saving on payroll taxes. Original. IP. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

PSA, Information
since this title is mauled, above. I am just here for info.

John T Reed, How To Manage Residential Property for Maximum Cash Flow and Resale Value

2nd edition
paperback. large biggo PB full of info, no doubt. havn't read it, dunno.

thank you ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Romantic Revolutionary, Indeed!
John Reed, Harvard Class of 1910, epitomized the best of the pre-World War I bourgeois radicals. Unlike the vast majority of his Class and class he cast his fate with the working people and oppressed of America at a time when the dominant left bourgeois movement- the Progressive movement- was busy applying band aids to the increasingly inequitable capitalist system. The radical movement is always in need, sometimes desperately in need, of intellectuals to tell its side of the story. Despite some exceptions, like Reed, the intellectuals then, as now, either stood on the sidelines or at most acted as `fellow travelers' to the movement. Reed on the contrary put all his energies into the movement. As a journalist he sought out all the radical hotspots of his time starting with his coverage of the Mexican Revolution, through the various workers' strikes of the 1910's in America culminating in his coverage of the heroic period of the Russian Revolution. His journalistic account of the Bolshevik seizure of power, Ten Days That Shook the World, stands even today as one of the best eyewitness accounts of that turbulent time in Russia.

John Reed's political development also offers today's militant leftists an insight into how the swirl of events drives the best militants leftward. Reed started out in the typically Bohemian milieu of New York City's Greenwich Village and imbibed its avante guarde cultural offerings and its pretensions. However, as the United States lurched into participation into World War I he grew stronger as an anti-war advocate and placed himself on the line to oppose that war. This was the great dividing point in the radical movement of the time. This separated the dilettantes and mere reformists from serious revolutionaries. Not an unusual political development, but an important one.

Under the influence of the Russian Revolution Reed led the left wing of the American Socialist Party on a program of opposition to the war and defense of the Bolshevik Revolution. When the left wing was forced out of the Socialist Party he formed a communist organization based on the centrally of the native American working class as the vanguard of the American Revolution. Opposed to that were left-wingers, mainly foreign born elements based on the various language federations of the old Socialist Party, who essentially wanted to act as cheerleaders for the Russian Revolution-and no much else. The result was the creation of two communist organizations that caused no end of problems both in America and in the Communist International. But the fights to lead the Socialist party leftward and later between the communist organizations are stories for another time, and worth separate space. Read this book for starters.

by the author of "The Dream of the Decade"
The last full biography of Reed was published in 1967. The Lost Revolutionary was a Cold War attempt at character assassination. Apart from a psychoanalytical epilogue that dismisses his subject as naive, Rosenstone's account is remarkably fair. Reed, brought up in Babbit-style Oregon, was educated at Harvard and at 26 left Greenwich Village's burgeoning bohemia to cover the Mexican Revolution. His political awakening came just before he left for the land of Villa and Zapata, while covering a story on the Paterson silk strike. 'In Paterson,' writes the American biographer, 'Jack had smelled, tasted and felt the spirit of radicalism, and found it good.'

After Mexico and reporting from the Western Front, came romance in the shape of Louise Bryant the sole justification for the title of the book. All this time Reed was writing articles, plays and stories, but for all his worldly experience, they were mediocre against the work of contemporaries such as O'Neil, Yeats and Pound. Reed's greatness would be established by reportage published only a year before his burial at the foot of the Kremlin. Ten Days That Shook The World not only illuminates the trials of revolution, but also shows up the caprice of the winds of change.

An exceptional examination of an exceptional life!
An epic tour-de-force which examines the fascinating life of John Reed, the only American to be buried in the Kremlin Wall.An ecclectic mix of personalities - from Lenin to Gertrude Stein, from Lincoln Steffens toTeddy Roosevelt - pass thru the tapestry which was Reed's life, each havingtheir own unique impact on the art which remains.From his childhood instoic Portland Oregon to his years in Harvard and New York to his coming ofage in Mexico covering the Villa revolution, Reed absorbed experience andreflected his concept of justice and equality in his writing.Each stopalong the way was preparation for Reed's ultimate mission - to report onthe earth-shattering 1917 Russian Revolution.The book "Ten Days inOctober" is still the seminal work on the topic, and this book delvesinto the evolution of Reed from middle-class dabbler to full-blownSocialist commentator.Mr. Rosenstone does the man justice -well-documented, fair, and without overt "gushiness".Anexceptional read.

The book the academy-award movie "Reds" was based on.
This is the book the academy-award winning movie "Reds",starring Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton, was based on. An epic (buttrue)love story, you finish reading it in awe at how much life was packedby these people in such a short time. ... Read more

Product Description
General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1916Original Publisher: C. Scribner's SonsSubjects: World War, 1914-1918World War, 1914-1918 Personal narrativesHistory / GeneralHistory / Europe / EasternHistory / Military / GeneralHistory / Military / World War INotes: This is an OCR reprint of the original rare book. There may be typos or missing text and there are no illustrations.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Transports you to a time and place long vanished yet still contemporary
Vivid descriptions and poetic use of prose by a gifted eyewitness. Reed takes the reader on a powerful journey into the embattled landscape of WWI Eastern Europe with his portrait of a people far from the front lines but just as devastated as the soldiers in the trenches

Reports From Far Behind the Front Lines
In the Spring 1915, the American journalist John Reed and a companion took an extended trip to Eastern Europe.They began their trip in Serbia, which had recently repulsed two Austro-Hungarian invasions.Reed then moved onto the Galician Front.This was not a good time to be on the Russian side of the disintegrating Front.The Russian armies were in retreat and Reed was never able to reach the front lines.In order to get permission to visit the front, he travelled to St. Petersburg and Moscow.He was held as a spy and never received his accreditation.Unsucessful in this endeavor, Reed returned home via Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece.

One generally reads these types of journalistic accounts to get an up close account of the Great War.Unfortunately, Reed never really makes it to the front lines.Most of the book takes place on railway cars and various Grand Hotels.His book is rich in period details and atmosphere but he never really gets to cover the main story.I loved John Reed's "Insurgent Mexico" and "Ten Days that Shook the World". Unfortunately, "The War in Eastern Europe" is not of the same quality.

Great impression on how WW1 was in Eastern Europe
John Reed is also the author of the much more famous 'Ten Days that Shook the World' about the Russian Revolution, which was the base of the same movie with Warren Beatty.

'War in Eastern Europe' is a impressionist account of the fighting in Serbia late 1915 and, after having traversed neutral Romania, of the characteristics of the Russian Army fighting the Austrians and Germans. What I really liked was that the book was great on atmosphere, less on historical fact.
I concluded that Reed must have landed with thte first troops at Saloniki and travelled north all the way up to Belgrade immediately, sharing with us vivid description of a confident Serb Army (WW1 Serbian Army is a favourite subject of mine, so I'm partial) holding off the Austrians with superb disdain, only weeks before the German/Austrian onslaught forced it to withdraw out of Belgrade, South, over the Albanian mountians to Corfu. After visiting the front at Belgrade Reed crosses over into neutral Roumania and through to Russia where he runs into very colourful, inventive and likeable Russians, many of whom seem not afraid at all to take on the German military powerhouse, in spite of some earlier setbacks, confident that in the end the inexhaustable Mother Russia will prevail.
I enjoyed every page of it.
... Read more

Product Description
A biography of the "father of modern journalism" whose coverage of the turbulent events of his times earned him a world-wide reputation. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than thirty years John Shelton Reed has been "minding" the South-watching over it, providing commentary upon it. His primary focus is upon Southerners' present-day culture and consciousness, but he knows that one must approach the South historically in order to understand the place and its people. His essays cover everything from great thinkers about the South-Eugene D. Genovese, C. Vann Woodward, M. E. Bradford-to the uniqueness of a region that was once a hotbed of racism, but has recently attracted hundreds of thousands of blacks transplanted from the North. Reed writes with wit and Southern charm, never afraid to speak his mind, even when it comes to taking his beloved South to task. While readers may not share all his opinions, most will agree that John Shelton Reed is one of the best "South watchers" there is."Reed just gets better and better."--Richmond Times-Dispatch ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A splendid and enduring tribute
Informatively written by John Shelton Reed (educator, social scientist, and the author and/or editor of thirteen books about the American South), Minding The South is a wonderful celebration of the American South and its culture -- a regional society which has resisted being assimilated by the mainstream United States in order to keep its own distinctive personality. From the search for objectivity among common pitfalls in remembering Southern history especially before and during the civil war; to profiles of talented Southerners who have devoted themselves to everything from rock and roll to designing silver jewelry, Minding The South is a splendid and enduring tribute to American Southern culture and custom. ... Read more

Product Description
An impassioned firsthand account of the Russian Revolution

An American journalist and revolutionary writer, John Reed became a close friend of Lenin and was an eyewitness to the 1917 revolution in Russia. Ten Days That Shook the World is Reed's extraordinary record of that event. Writing in the first flush of revolutionary enthusiasm, he gives a gripping account of the events in Petrograd in November 1917, when Lenin and the Bolsheviks finally seized power. Containing verbatim reports both of speeches by leaders and of the chance comments of bystanders, and set against an idealized backdrop of soldiers, sailors, peasants, and the proletariat uniting to throw off oppression, Reed's account is the product of passionate involvement and remains an unsurpassed classic of reporting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

a note about the publishing history
This is from George Orwell's proposed preface to "Animal Farm":

"At the death of John Reed, the author of 'Ten Days that Shook the World' -- a first-hand account of the early days of the Russian Revolution -- the copyright of the book passed into he hands of the British Communist Party, to whom I believe Reed had bequeathed it.Some years later the British Communists, having destroyed the original edition of the book as completely as they could, issued a garbled version from which they had eliminated mentions of Trotsky and also omitted the introduction written by Lenin."

Don't worry, though.This Penguin Classics edition is the version of Reed's book as originally issued, with all the Trotsky references and even Lenin's preface intact.

Ten Days That Shook The World
A fascinating, dramatic historical document penned by John
Reed of the Russian Bolshevik revolution. Skip
the totally unnecessary revisionist introduction written by
A.J.P. Taylor in the Penquin paperback edition added
gratuitously in 1977 and enjoy this masterful work. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Vivid History, Compelling Fiction
Eric Mayer and Mary Reed bring sixth century Constantinople alive in their latest mystery, Eight for Eternity. The violent and volatile Nika riots of Constantinople make the most gripping setting for this mystery series yet. The two factions are furious when two men--one Blue and one Green--are hanged, but survive. They are hung again, but this time they not only survive, but they escape--only to be murdered. As Chamberlain for Emperor Justinian, John must solve the mystery of two men in warring factions. When those factions unite to bring down the Emperor's reign, the fate of the Byzantine empire could be at stake.

This mystery series is perfect for the intellectually curious who enjoy a little history in their mysteries.

A fine historical, political mystery perfect for any mystery collection
Gary Reed & Eric Mayer's EIGHT FOR ETERNITY provides a fine Jon the Lord Chamberlain mystery set in 532, when mobs rule Constantinople and one John, Chamberlain to Emperor Justinian, must find those seeking to dethrone his leader. His investigation leads to a web of intrigue and violence in a fine historical, political mystery perfect for any mystery collection.

Exciting account of a fascinating and deadly time
The Blues and Greens have battled for years in the streets of Constantinople. Now, the level of violence has increased and threatens the emperor, Justinian, directly. Although the Blues and Greens have hated each other, both are united in calling out for Justinian's replacement. In this explosive environment, Justinian has ordered execution of some of the worst troublemakers but an accident during hanging saves two rioters--for at least a while.

John (the eunuch), Chamberlain for Justinian, is ordered to bring the last two prisoners back, but he arrives too late. Someone has already intervened and spirited the two away and Justinian's plan to show his mercy comes undone. Now it's up to John to track down the truth, and to learn if the botched executions are part of an overriding plot to destroy the emperor--and perhaps the empire itself.

Set during one of the most critical moments in history, the Nika Riots, Justinian's rule appears doomed and the thousand-year continuity of Rome, too, may be in danger. John's investigation takes him through the streets of Constantinople, to meetings with charioteers, faction members, the famous general Belisarius, the nearly-as-famous eunuch Narses, and the mysterious and dangerous women, Theodora and Antonia.

Authors Mary Reed and Eric Mayer offer a dramatic view of Constantinople during this turbulent time. John manages to be everywhere, exploring the dangers of the factionalized city, meeting with monks, madmen, charioteers, and royalty. The mystery transforms from a who-done-it to a larger look at whether the riots are part of an organized conspiracy to overthrow the emperor with John finally putting the pieces together, but too late to prevent the climax of the revolt where tens of thousands of civilians and rioters were slaughtered.

The Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) survived a thousand years after the fall of Rome itself. It protected literature and science at a time when the west sank into barbarism. Under Justinian, it bult one of the great monuments of religion, the Hagia Sophia, and nearly rebuilt the entire Roman Empire with the reconquest of Africa from the Vandals and Italy from the Goths. Yet this fascinating nation is mostly forgotten today. Reed and Mayer don't just retell dry history, though. They make history come alive with fascinating characters (including the fictional John and his friend Felix and the very real Justinian, Theodora and Narses).

Back to Nika Riots and the Early Days of John's Time as Chamberlain
This mystery takes place earlier in John's life, when he was more newly one of the chamberlains of the Emperor Justinian.In 532, when the Nika Riots are about to break out in Constantinople, two men, one of the Blues and one of the Green faction, miraculously escape death by execution.They are twice hanged and twice the ropes break.John is sent to bring them to the Emperor, but he finds the guards in chaos and the prisoners missing.One is found dead in the nearby cisterns.And John is then directed to unravel the mystery of their deaths--which may or may not add to the furor of the riots and may or may not point to plots that may be behind the riots.Solving the mystery could weigh with history and decide whether Justinian's reign survives.

For long-time readers of these books, it is interesting to see John and his friend Felix in the early days of their association.However, this period is not so different from that depicted in the first books in the series.It is still a welcome addition to the John the Lord Chamberlain Mysteries.

great ancient historical mystery
In Constantinople in A.D. 532, two criminals escape custody.Emperor Justinian is informed and is very concerned as each supported rival chariot racing teams at the Hippodrome and he knows how sports fans are insanely fanatics.He orders his loyal Lord Chamberlain, John to investigate.

John quickly finds the corpses of both men in a cistern.Meanwhile, as the city is torn by rioting that impedes his investigation, two influential nephews of a former ruler declare their support of General Belisarius encouraging him to lead a rebellion; they want to rule.

This is a great ancient historical mystery series that ironically uses numerals in the titles (see Seven for a Secret), but never goes by the numbers in telling the story.The current entry is a strong period piece that highlights the riots of 532 AD and the rivalry to snatch the throne from Justinian.John's inquiry provides fans a deep look at Constantinople in the sixth century wrapped inside a strong investigation.Sub-genre fans will believe Mary Reed and Eric Mayerare eight for eight and want nine for reading soonest.

Harriet Klausner


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Customer Reviews (5)

Enjoyable mystery set in a fascinating and horrible time
For years, John, Lord Camberlain in the service of Emperor Justinian, has solved his problems by talking to the mosaic on his office wall. Zoe has never answered back, but her silent gaze has helped him. Never answered back, that is, until now. John is approached by a woman who claims to be the mysterious Zoe. Before they can meet, however, John discover's the woman's murdered body.

The plague that recently hit Constantinople has faded, but there are plenty of other problems for a Lord Chamberlain to deal with... including constant plotting against the Emperor and his controversial wife, Theodora. As he investigates the murder, John runs into a number of disgruntled former officials, the author Procopius (who wrote 'The Secret Histories' detailing scandals of the Byzantine court), and learns that Zoe was actually Agnes, daughter of a disgraced former official.

When John is attacked on the streets and his family threatened, he concludes that the murder is not an isolated event but somehow connected to a plot against the throne. The one rumor that seems both everywhere and constantly denied is that Theodora had a son before marrying Justinian and that this son is somewhere in the city.

Authors Mary Reed and Eric Mayer continue their charming 'John the Eunuch' series with a story set amongst the depravity of the court, the ongoing religious conflict among Christian factions and between these factions and residual paganism and mostly-soldier followers of Mithra. John's investigation among the mosaic-makers, antiquities-dealers, eunuchs and court officials, actors and nunneries of Constantinople paint a vivid picture of this cosmopolitan city at a time when it seemed that perhaps the Roman Empire could be recreated with Constantinople, New Rome, at its center.

The Strange Case of the Mosaic Girl...
John, Lord Chamberlain to the Emperor Justinian in Constantinople, pursues a rather personal murder mystery when a girl claiming to be "Zoe" seeks to meet with him and then is found murdered."Zoe" is John's name for a girl depicted in a mosaic on the wall of his study, whom he sometimes talks aloud to in order to think things out, so he's quite surprised to find that a real girl is claiming to be Zoe--particularly since he recognizes that she could very well be the model.He first needs to find out about the mosaic (created for the house's previous owner), and also who has gossiped about his private habit... and of course who the body actually is, and why she wished to speak with him.

The mystery is intriguing... involving the past and the various nobles banished from the Palace, and possibly an old rumor about the Empress and maybe a plot against the Emperor.There is also a nice twist at the end.

The setting of ancient Constantinople is particularly fun in this outing, since John is exploring the alley-ways of the Copper Market, full of beggars and merchants and prostitutes and actresses and holy men living on pillars.

The truly Byzantine politics and intrigue and lifestyle of the city makes this series interesting.

A mystery that will stay with you
Take a look at the wonderful cover of this book, and consider this quote from Ezra Pound: "The eyes of this dead lady speak to me." That's John the Eunuch's experience, too: the Lord Chamberlain to Justinian and the toxic Empress Theodora has found a safe and reliable confidante in the mosaic portrait of a girl he calls Zoë. Through the first six books in this series, Zoë--more than just a picture on a study wall-- has become real to the reader as well. So imagine how disconcerted John is to run into a young woman who claims to be the model for Zoë-- and how even more disconcerted he is to find her painted red and floating in an underground cistern, quite dead.

Finding the truth about Zoë becomes first a quest and then something of an obsession with John, and obsessive quests seldom go smoothly. As always, authors Reed and Mayer weave a fund of information about religion, politics, and life in Byzantium and a vivid cast of characters into a story that will draw you in and leave you thinking. John's servant Peter, his beloved Cornelia, and his conflicted excubitor friend Felix (among others) are real and plausible to a 21st-century reader, yet consistently true to the understandings and assumptions of their time and station. And anyone who remembers their college days can probably call to mind a pedantic poet....

One definition of a good mystery is that it leaves the reader in dialog with the characters even after the book ends. Using that definition, after the strong and poignant ending of this story, I still have a few choice words for Theodora. I join other reviewers in hoping that there will be many more chances to enter the world of John the Eunuch.

insightful look at ancient history inside a clever investigation
In mid sixth century Constantinople, the lord chamberlain to Emperor Justinian, John the Eunuch, has found a confident whom he shares his concerns and issues though she does not speak back to him.Instead she is a young girl painted on a mosaic on his wall.He calls her Zoe.

One day John is stunned as he sees his Zoe on the street.He introduces himself and she says her name is Zoe and that she was the model for that mural.John is stunned by her revelations and has doubts about her name; he ponders who overheard his discussions with the wall Zoe.However, before he can confront the woman, someone brutally murders her.John assumes to silence her so he investigates not realizing his past and the Empress Theodora are intermingled with the death of Zoe.

John's investigation is clever and fun to follow, but like the previous six numbered tales, it is the insightful look at ancient history that makes SEVEN FOR A SECRET (and its predecessors) a great reading experience.John is at his best as each step he takes is dangerous and increasingly personal as he begins to unravel ties back to himself.Ancient historical mystery readers know the John the Eunuch tales are one of the best series on the market; and though the verse is finished with SEVEN FOR A SECRET, hopefully Mary Reed and Eric Mayer will write number eight for their fans.

Harriet Klausner

Vivid historical mystery!
This is the seventh mystery in the highly acclaimed John the Eunuch historical mystery series.But it can be read as a stand-alone novel, which is what I did.The series takes place in Constantinople during the turbulent reign of the Christian Emperor Justinian.John, who is indeed a eunuch, is Justinian's highly placed Lord Chamberlain.He's also a secret pagan, and he leads a precarious existence because the Empress Theodora, a psychopath of almost unlimited power, has taken a personal dislike to him.John is an interesting guy with an interesting military background:not your typical eunuch.

In this book, he has another murder to investigate:a young woman who tried briefly to contact him.Could it connect to a possible conspiracy to overthrow Justinian?The mysterious woman is a possibly an actress-prostitute with connections to the disenfranchised demimonde who despise Justinian.

Even more unsettling, the murder victim resembles a mosaic portrait on the wall of John's study of a little girl who was the daughter of the unfortunate tax-collector who owned the house before John did.Over the years, John has come to think of the little mosaic girl as almost a surrogate daughter to whom he confides his thoughts as he sits at night in his study, analyzing the complexities of his life in Justinian's court.So he has a personal motivation to solve this mystery.

All of the strengths of this mystery series are evident in this latest book:the streamlined, concise writing; the vivid sensory details; and the colorful characters including irrepressible lawyer Anatolius, gruff captain of the imperial guard Felix, jaded brothel owner Isis, and Peter the disapproving but fiercely loyal servant to John.Those of you who enjoyed the recent Edgar-winning historical mystery The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin may even like this series better.Don't miss this latest book in a highly entertaining series.
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Customer Reviews (1)

Enlightening, broad and specific all at the same time.
As a creative drama teacher of students, ages 8-12, I am constantly seeking advice, new ideas, and insight to help young theatre students.IMPROVISATION has been a breath of fresh air, easily read and used in the class.You may wonder why I rated the book "9" - there's always more to learn. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

He's Great At Getting Your Money
According to his own website, Reed has owned no rental properties since 1992.When he did, he typically owned a duplex, or one building of a few apartments (a dozen to three dozen units), making him a very small-scale real estate "guru," to use his term.He's worked as a "property manager," which sounds impressive if one doesn't know that most property managers earn just above minimum wage with a free apartment thrown in.

He now lives in a perfectly average suburban home.Google Maps is your friend. (His "rental properties" aren't much to look at, either.One of my previous landlords owns about ten times as much at one time as Reed ever has.)

He also, in an online exchange, identified himself as a "publisher."Of course, his "publishing" credits are a few bound copies of his own wisdom.One wonders if he's so brilliant why no commercial publisher is selling his books?Why are other authors not marketed through him?The answer:He's really no big deal.If he's such a huge real estate "guru," why does he identify himself as a "publisher"?Same answer.

And how is he as a publisher?Let's see:

He states in one of his anti-Kiyosaki screeds that the only expenses a publisher has are printing and shipping, yielding 30-40% net...he doesn't seem aware of bookkeeping, hold against returns, promotions, warehousing, subcontracting of rights and production...of course, people who print books in their basements generally aren't.

I pointed out that, since the typical volume discount offered to the chain stores is 60% off retail, that even with zero returns and no advertising, a publisher cannot net more than 30% in profit, even if they didn't have to pay a writer, editor and production staff.In fact, a typical book nets about 10% each for publisher and author.Though he'll argue with me (with nine books in print or pending through real publishers, and hundreds of thousands of copies in print, available through every bookstore in the English speaking world) that I don't know the business and am a "typical hack scrabbling for peanuts."Yeah, whatever.

From our brief conversation it's clear Reed knows as much about real estate as he does about publishing.He'll also insist that you can't possibly buy his books on Amazon (Hm...yet here we are) or in stores, and must send him a check for his thin, large print tomes.It certainly sounds like he knows first hand how to scrabble for peanuts.

Oh, he also appears to have opinions on coaching baseball, football and how to write how-to books (Gee, what a surprise that one is), not to mention taxes.A true renaissance man.

He's right that Kiyosaki is a questionable expert on anything, and his allegations of fraud are probably correct.However, it appears Reed's main dog in this fight is that Kiyosaki is making more money from his third rate advice than Reed is from his.That would also mean Kiyosaki is a better writer, of course.You can read Kiyosaki for a quarter the price of Reed, which says something about Reed's self-published ego.

Reed is the real deal - Beware of used copy prices here
Mr. Reed publishes and sells directly from his own website that you can find easily using his name.This item is 29.95 at the time of this post and is available new.

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Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting
This book is interesting.Whether or not you agree with all of Mr. Reed's ideas on clock management, it makes you think about what you would do as a coach if put into a similar situation.That is what coaching books should be about.

Like Most Reed Books...Nice Ideas...Poorly Written...
John Reed always has something interesting to share, but its too bad it gets lost in an overload of anecdotes (do we all really care to hear about his days of youth coaching for the 5th time???), and poor organization. If the man would hire an editor, I think his books would improve. Reed is to be commended for tackling a subject that is not talked about, but he does it so poorly that the book is not worth buying. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Do not buy the General Books edition!!!
Do yourself a favor and do not purchase Insurgent Mexico as published by General Books. Please look further since this is a great book and should be read as intended by the author, not as published by General Books. Entire sections of the book are missing, the spelling is atrocious and the typeface unreadable. According to General Books, "we have recreated this book from the original using Optical Character Recognition software to keep the cost of the book as low as possible. Therefore, could you please forgive any spelling mistakes, missing or extraneous characters that may have resulted from smudged or worn pages?" Evidently I am not forgiving enough, especially since the book is available at a reasonable cost from other publishers. Caveat emptor!

A good read poorly published
This is the first time I have felt so moved to post a review and it's not because of the content of the book, but rather the shameful lack of care shown by the publishers. I have tried to find an address for General Books LLC but have come up with nothing. Therefore I will post my immense disappointment here - and urge readers to look elsewhere for this book, which is a great read, judging by the blocks of text that managed to escape a mauling.
From the first chapter Insurgent Mexico has chunks of text missing or joined or following on to the next chapter. For some inexplicable reason the type changes to italics from page 42 onwards. In fact the book is so shabbily put together it's almost laughable and if I didn't need to read the book now, for research purposes, I would return it in a heartbeat.
Sadly, in my impatience, I cancelled a previous order for Insurgent Mexico published by International Publishers because the order kept getting delayed. If anyone else is looking to buy this book I would advise them to show a little more perseverence than I did.

Understanding rebellion
John Reed went to the North of Mexico in 1913 to cover the Mexican Revolution. He was successful in getting first-hand information and was able to interview people who took part directly in the movement. Two of those protagonists were Villa and Carranza, and Reed questioned them about their beliefs and thoughts on the steps that were being taken to overthrow the legacy of Porfirio Diaz's dictatorship.

Going to where the conflict was at its peak, the journalist joined the people who were fighting and was able to get their opinions and feelings on what was happening. But more than an interpretation of the revolution and its causes, what we learn from this book is the ups and downs of a group of people from the Northern Mexico, who decided to defy the legacy of a dictatorship, using violence and by wresting control of towns and cities from government authorities.

And following them we will learn about the culture, the role of women in the insurrection, the lack of land as one of the main causes of the movement... and behind it all, the desert, like a cold spectator of that human struggle.

An American journalist in the Mexican Revolution.
As everyone knows, John Reed was a lefty journalist who first covered the Mexican Revolution and then the Russian Revolution.This book is a story of his experiences with the Constitutionalists of the Mexican Revolution.This book is biased, as it paints the rebels in glowing terms.I am not so sure of that.As everybody knows, Villa was a cold blooded killer, as shown by his raid of Columbus, New Mexico.Fierro, Urbina, and others are also in these stories.So, even though the Huerta government was very bloody, the Constitutionalists were as much the same.Both committed heinous crimes, although Reed glosses over that.Toward the end of the book, the writing became less exciting and more familiar.

This is a nice read, and I enjoyed it.Fortunately I have read other accounts of the Mexican Revolution, so I know that Reed overlooked some of the crimes of the Constitutionalists.Villa and Carranza were not angels, and their exploits show that they used many of the same excesses as Huerta.However the book is an enjoyable read.

If only there was more
this book lives up to its underground billing as we are drawn into the Mexican Revolution in a way that makes us seem to be riding with Pancho Villa and living with the villagers along the way.It reminds one of a Hemingway report except with added detail.The only complaint is that it is not longer for it leaves you the urge to read more Reed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent book.
i was surprized to learn the author has a harvard MBA. i'd read his website johntreed.com and always thought of him as a bitter person. but this book has NO FLUFF and is full of sound practical advice. he explains the 3 year payback rule for everything from light bulbs to renovations and has calculations to back it all.
must read for anyone thinking of, or already managing property. ... Read more

Product Description
Byzantium, capitol of the 6th century Roman Empire, simmers a rich stew of creeds, cultures, and citizens with a sprinkling of cutthroats and crimes. John the Eunuch, Emperor Justinian's Lord Chamberlain, orders a Christian court while himself observing the rites of Mithra. Thomas, a knight from Britain, Ahasuerus, a soothsayer, and two ladies from Crete stir up events and old memories for John, who must ask how the visitors link to the death of Leukos, Keeper of the Plate. An Egyptian brothel keeper and a Christian stylite know more than they are telling....
In due course, John gets his man - and a love scene.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good story - abominable editing
I enjoyed this story, read the next book in the series and have ordered the third.However, I have never in my life read a book that had so many glaring spelling, grammar and other editing errors.It's as if an early draft was accidentally printed or, if this was a final, it was proofed by a not very well-trained chimpanzee.There are errors on almost every page.It's very distracting.If you can ignore that and finish the book, the second book has fewer appalling editing failures.The protagonist in this series is a rather fascinating character - interesting enough to make me curious to read his continuing adventures.

Muder in Byzantium
If you like the ancient Rome centered mystery novels of Lindsey Davis, John Robert Maddox, and Steven Saylor and want to try a different locale, read "One for Sorrow". It takes place in sixth-century Byzantium and takes place in the streets, docks, cisterns, and Great Palace. Scenes occur at the Hippodrome, the Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia), and even atop a column with a stylite. While this ancient capital is officially Christian, Mithraism and Egyptian religions influence the tale. Details of life in the capital of the Eastern Empire include references to Kollyba, Liquamen, and even an early type of organ, the Hydra.

The hero is John the Eunuch, once a mercenary but now Lord Chamberlain in Justinian's court who seeks to solve the murder of the Keeper of the Plate. Bodies turn up and John seeks to find the answer that ties together a soothsayer, a red headed knight from Britain, and the victims while protecting his former lover (from before the incident that gave him the appellation) and daughter.

Mary Reed and Eric Mayer provide a great detective story set in a different time and place. The copy I read from Poisoned Pen Press was crisply printed with a very readable type setting. It includes a small map of Byzantium and ends with an 8 page glossary (in case you don't know who Zeuxippos was).

AN EXCITING NEW MYSTERY SERIES
Mary Reed and Eric Mayer's One For Sorrow kicks off one of the most entertaining, thought-provoking new mystery series I've read in a long time.It takes place in 6th Century Byzantium, is rich with period detail and character.The main character, John the Eunuch, is the Emperor's chief advisor, a job that requires intelligence, tact and guile; many a chief advisor for the Roman emperor has had his head removed from his body for not accommodating his boss.

The second in the series, Two For Joy, is a treat as well.You don't have to be a fan of historical mysteries to like this book or this series.(I'm not, in particular).You just have to like well-written mysteries with terrific plots, even better characters and a depth of texture and detail that makes many, many other novels seem anemic by comparison.

Best historical mystery
Byzantium, the heart of the Roman Empire in the 6th century, contains a rich mixture of old gods, deadly rituals and Christian doctrine. Justinian rules the land as a Christian Emperor, yet The Lord Chamberlain, one of themost honored in his court, holds fast the traditions of Mithra, an ancientreligion that honors the great bull god.

The Lord Chamberlain, also knownas John the Eunuch, is a man of loyalty, to his Caesar and to his faith.When his friend is murdered, the quest to discover his killer leads Johndown a trail full of twists and turns that challenge him to examine hisbeliefs, his past and even his deepest fears.

One for Sorrow captures thehorror of the mutilation of John's body as well as the maiming of his soul.When he once again faces the woman he loved long ago, and the daughter henever knew he had, John also has to face his own deeply buried desires. Atthe same time, he cannot forget that a murderer is walking the streets ofByzantium. Who is the killer? Who will be next? And what part does apeculiar ancient soothsayer play in the strange events that swirl aroundJohn like a troubled sea of confusion and death?

The authors weave anintricate tapestry of characters and plot along with a fascinating lookinto the day to day life of the Byzantine Empire. There is even amysterious knight who claims to have been dispatched from King Arthur tosearch for the Holy Grail of Christ, making this a mesmerizing mix of factand fantasy that serves to make the story even more absorbing.

Mary Reedand Eric Mayer originally introduced John the Eunuch through several shortstories, and have now brought him out as a full-time ancient sleuth. Onefor Sorrow is a novel that is hard to put down. The authors are superbartists who paint a well-presented mystery with the colors of acivilization that seemed shrouded in history until viewed on theirlife-like canvas.

I whole-heartedly recommend this novel for any mysteryfan. A second novel Two for Joy is set to be released by Poisoned Pen Pressin October 2000, with the paperback edition of One For Sorrow. I can hardlywait.

Impressive historical whodunnit!
Fascinating new series. Roman Empire - 6th century. The authors have generously included a map and glossary. John the Eunuch must solve the murder of his friend Leukos, Keeper of the Plate. After stumbling upon hisbody in an alley, John finds himself on the path to solving it. The authorstell a candid tale of whodunit when they write about the Roman Empire and alifestyle their protagonist was forced to live in his time. The reader willmeet many impressive characters and experience the authors' historicalknowledge of Roman times and the different religions. I believe there areenough characters and twists to keep the reader's interest. Historicalmystery readers will be thrilled to have another Roman mystery series. ... Read more

Product Description
This cook is a compilation of articles from Real Estate Investor's Monthly on the subject of fixers, rehab, renovation, whatever you want to call it. Also includes an improved version of the chapter on renovation that was in the first edition of How To Increase the Value of Real Estate. ... Read more