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All the best recipes from 150 years of distinguishedfood journalism-a volume to take its place inAmerica's kitchens alongside Mastering the Art ofFrench Cooking and How to Cook Everything.Amanda Hesser, the well-known New York Times food columnist, brings her signature voice and expertise to this compendium of influential and delicious recipes from chefs, home cooks, and food writers. Devoted Times subscribers will find the many treasured recipes they have cooked for years—Plum Torte, David Eyre's Pancake, Pamela Sherrid's Summer Pasta—as well as favorites from the early Craig Claiborne New York Times Cookbook and a host of other classics—from 1940s Caesar salad and 1960s flourless chocolate cake to today's fava bean salad and no-knead bread.

Hesser has cooked and updated every one of the 1,000-plus recipes here. Her chapter introductions showcase the history of American cooking, and her witty and fascinating headnotes share what makes each recipe special.The Essential New York Times Cookbook is for people who grew up in the kitchen with Claiborne, for curious cooks who want to serve a nineteenth-century raspberry granita to their friends, and for the new cook who needs a book that explains everything from how to roll out dough to how to slow-roast fish-a volume that will serve as a lifelong companion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Read. Recipes you know and love plus more
First, for anyone who loves to read a good cookbook, this is wonderful gift. The background provided with the recipes and the tone in which it is given are a real pleasure.Second, for anyone who loves food and making it, this book is a treasure. There are recipes here that i know well from years of devoted clipping and, later,printing from the NY Times but I am also discovering many new ones that sound just great.A thousand recipes, most of them interesting and all with at least the original publication date or some extra tidbit of information! In addition, you can learn about how our tastes have evolved and what a family might eat in the 19th century.When my copy arrived, I was reading a decent novel.Since then I have been happily perusing my new cookbook with the novel all but forgotten. And, oh yeah, occasionally I cook something yummy.

Timeless Dishes, Priceless Cookbook
This is the type of cookbook I call an armchair cookbook because it can be just as easily enjoyed by simply reading through it as it can be trying out the recipes in the kitchen.

If you were impressed when Julie Powell spent a year of her life trying every one of Julia Child's French recipes, you will be astounded by Amanda Hesser's six-year Herculean task of evaluating and writing about 150 years of New York Times recipes.There's an immense satisfaction that comes from reading thru these recipes, kind of like being a guest invited into Hesser's test kitchen and watching the culinary drama unfold without having to do any of the work or shoulder any of the responsibility.

Clear a space on your cookbook library shelf for The Essential New York Times Cookbook -- this heavy tome is a must-have for anyone who loves reading about food as well as getting creative with it!

modern and historic at the same time
I just received my book today, and I'll admit that I've been watching for it since first hearing about the project a few years ago.I love old recipes, and I'm enjoying the historic aspects of this collection.It is quite interesting to see the dates on each recipe. The author's comments and introductions strike the right tone by being warm, down to earth, and helpful.I know I will want to cook lots and lots of the recipes in the book, both the old dishes and the new.Already I've identified the "Salted Caramels" as a perfect completment to after-dinner coffee on Thanksgiving.Now, if only I could decide on a historic punch to start the Thanksgiving holiday... ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (526)

Great! Kudos to Mr. Sanderson.
Great read, reminded me of why I got into this series in the first place. Before reading this I was skeptical about another author finishing the series, but I would say he's done a great job. Personally, I can't tell what parts Mr. Jordan wrote and what parts Mr. Sanderson wrote. I just wish the kindle editions came out sooner, I am eager to read the next book.

The Gathering Storm
America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 1: Feeling Lucky

We just all keep waiting for the next book to come out.I know people who call call in sick and take vacations to read more.

Fresh start
This book has much of the momentum and quick moving plot of the first few books in the series. Robert Jordan, God bless him, seemed to have lost his stride in some of the middle books of the series and was having trouble making the plot move. He was getting bogged down in details and descriptions. This latest book recaptures much of what has made this series a success. It has some interesting twists and foreshadowing and some seeming contradictions to be worked out in the next two books.

Why Sanderson was a poor fit
The book is an insult.We should have all known that it would be bad.

Jim Rigney (God rest him) died leaving one of his major life works unfinished.It was a tragedy.But everything that was actually heard from his own mouth during life was that he didn't want his series finished unless he was the one to do it.He knew something that his wife Harriet probably didn't.Writing a book takes more than technical writing ability.It takes vision, heart, soul and perseverance.

Jordan had prodigious amounts of it, and Sanderson didn't inherit any of it.You can tell in the way this book reads.After all, Jim (RJ for those who might be confused) was a helicopter pilot during Vietnam, a graduate of a military school and spent a large part of his life in the kind of loneliness that only a single, modern American war veteran can ever know.Sanderson has spent nearly his entire life in and around Brigham Young University, one of the most culturally isolated, religiously protectionist places in the US.The vision and the heart isn't there, even if the ability is (and that's another legitimate question).If you somehow expected to see Jordan's same feeling preserved simply by a learned pen taking up his characters, you'll be disappointed with this book.

How does this affect the actual work?It touches every single character.

Matrim: His humor comes off as the sort done by class clowns in a grade school, not as a deliberate, principled commitment to the softening of life's hardships.Matrim represented that for a lot of us.He grew up in book one as a class clown, and though he lost his innocence, he kept his humor amidst the widening of future knowledge that comes from adulthood.It's the reason that some grizzled old war veterans are the most jocular, entertaining people you will ever meet.I've no doubt that Jim knew a lot of men like this, was friends with a many of them.But by the way Matrim was presented in this book, I'm not even sure Sanderson is a man capable of understanding this explanation of his humor even if it had been given to him.

Rand: Rand is a farm-boy who inherited a conflict that he wasn't responsible for, learned to use a weapon that is more destructive than he ever imagined, and is utterly disappointed and disheartened by the fact that the only thing this weapon can accomplish is death, insanity and heartlessness.But he is never shaken in his belief that his cause is just.He kind of reminds me of a helicopter door gunner, corn-fed and home grown in South Carolina.It's the reason why this archetype resonates so well with so many people.But it's clear from Sanderson's writing of Rand that the only trial he has ever faced in his life is the "temptation" to drink a beer.Much of his internal monologue and character context is now dedicated to why he can't just soften up.All of us who knew this character know why he can't.

Egwene and all of the other female characters: Many people complained about the repetitiveness and discomfort of all the misandrist sentiment in the female characters.Not one of the women, from the Sea Folk to the Aes Sedai, failed to criticize how men were so bumbling, bellicose and detached.But everything written was true to form.Jim was one man who knew how the male dominated conflicts of the world were tainted by their participants' insensitivity, lack of appreciation for what they were doing and most of all, their vain hope that enough violence would solve the issues.Jim's world had leaders who discussed things, dedicated themselves to order and had a much greater sense of community and sensitivity that was made so much more real in the mind of a woman.Sanderson just decides to stop with the whole thing.The loathing is so toned down that's it's not even perceptible anymore.He probably didn't see it for any more than what most saw it, naked misandry.Sanderson might personally believe that this kind of prejudice is wrong, and that most women are content hide from world affairs in their kitchens.But the person who took up the pen should have at least understood how the author might have felt about it.I doubt Sanderson ever even met Jim to ask him.

Others: Their thoughts are riddled with the idealism that any obstacle the world presents can be overcome by the requisite amount of playground "teamwork".None of them remain believable, even in the context that the author wrote, many having seen their friends die.For example, Gawyn (Gavin) directs one of Sanderson's patent rhetorical questions at himself in monologue saying about Egwene, "There must have been something he could do!"No Sanderson, there's nothing you can do.Every Vietnam vet gave up on that idea after about a month of boots on the ground.You needed to at least try to understand how one would have felt after an entire tour.

I don't dislike Sanderson as a writer.Though many think is prose is bland, I personally feel that his short, choppy sentences and simplified word palette fit his own works very well.And because his books are filled with mostly immature people, some of them end up being quite good.But writing a few juvenile female protagonists in a way that offends no one's sense of gender shouldn't have fit into the resume.I understand that what compelled Harriet may have been the Wheel of Time's portrayal of powerful women.But there was so much more than that, things that I think only Jim Rigney was able to see.I wish others at least had respect for them.Sanderson may not even understand an explanation of them, not as I've explained them, not as Jim spent thousands of pages of fiction explaining them.It's only because of my respect for them and for Jim that I continue to buy his books.But as a result of this poor choice of author, those things have passed away.May they rest in peace.

Incredible!Can't Wait For the Next One!
As usual, a can't-stop-reading page-turner.I was surprised and excited to see that the addition of another author fit in seamlessly.The story remained true to Robert Jordan's form and was excellent to boot.I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next one! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (135)

A WRINKLE IN TIME, One of My Oldest and Dearest Friends
I read A WRINKLE IN TIME over a weekend in 1962, the year it was published.I was 12 years old.I didn't know before then that a book could be read in, essentially, one sitting.This book grabbed me up and gave me my first glimpse into a lifetime's education in literature, imagery, music, spirituality, philosophy, biochemistry, and physics.It transported me on unicorn's wings to a world where I was flat as a pancake, a world where I could only breathe or move to one single, unified rhythm, and a world in which my eyes were worthless but I could sense somehow a more soothing sensation than I had ever known.Ms. L'Engle invited me to tesser with Meg and Charles Wallace, and I clung to the pages for the entire ride.Years later I would realize, among so many other things, that no one had to explain the existential experience to me.In the most intimate and private way, it opened my imagination up to every possibility.Even now, when I am experiencing severe pain (migraine headache) I tesser away to go find Aunt Beast.

Once a year, when the frost is on the star-gazing rock, I pull out my copy, cozy myself up with hot chocolate, and wait for Mrs. Who.My wish is that every 12 year old child on the planet could feel the anticipatory excitement that comes from knowing they will soon experience these same adventures and, by doing so, become very clear about why doing the right thing is the right thing to do.

I had the opportunity to meet Ms. L'Engle and thank her personally for the auspicious start in life she gave to me and to so many other children.It was almost as special to me as that first read.

An excellent introduction to spirituality
This wasn't just science fiction for me, as the plot, like Pilgrim's Progress or stories about the Crusades, revolves around a spiritual quest undertaken by a teenage girl. I happen to know something of l'Engle's life - that she was a devout Catholic who studied and wrote on important theological questions.

Although A Wrinkle in Time doesn't concern any specific religious doctrine, it does introduce children to the notion of spiritual practice (the idea that our spiritual beliefs affect the way we act towards one another in our everyday life) It does so mainly via the spiritual development over the course of the book of the main character.Meg is brilliantly described as a very temperamental teenager, who desperately wishes she weren't so argumentative or so prone to losing her temper. As the plot develops, both Meg and the reader gain understanding that a deeper spiritual practice is the key to dealing with negative emotions (such as fear, anger, jealousy, greed) that threaten to overwhelm us.

The specific spiritual message in this book is quite simple, to be more easily understood by children and teenagers. What Meg realizes, as her adventure unfolds, is that the principle of loving one another doesn't just apply to people we like - we are also called on to love people who are negative and disagreeable.

In A Wrinkle in Time, the quest Meg and her younger brothers undertake is to find their physicist father, who has somehow got lost in space in time. To do so, they must confront an evil Black Thing that is threatening to take over the whole universe.

Meg ultimately saves her father and restores him to himself by tempering her own petulance via the power of her love for him.

This is an excellent read for age 10 to 100. Children age 6 and up will enjoy having it read to them.

By Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall, author of THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT: MEMOIR OF AN AMERICAN REFUGEE

A Wrinkle in Time
I was completely surprised by the amount of reviews this book received.I think this book is as good as The Harry Potter Series if not better.The book is somewhat confusing, but in the way that keeps you reading.The characters were easy to love.
te book had an incredible plot!I highly recommend this book to all.

Timeless Wonder...
Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 "A Wrinkle in Time" is an astonishingly good children's science fiction story, still very much in print.It features three misfit children, three very unusual old ladies, time travel, and a desparate mission to rescue a missing father.

"It was a dark and stormy night" begins the story, which quickly introduces Meg Murry, an awkward thirteen-year old with braces, glasses, and a scientist father who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.Her five-year old brother Charles Wallace is a child prodigy who can read minds, but not yet books.Together with Meg's schoolmate Calvin O'Keefe, himself a misfit, the three children will be launched on a rescue mission for the missing father by the three mysterious old ladies Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which.Their mode of travel will be a phenomenon called a tesseract, literally a wrinkle in time and space.

The three children will cross several strange worlds in search of the missing Dr. Murry.What they will find is IT, an ancient evil that captures Charles Wallace.In the end, Meg must find a way to face IT if anyone is to have a chance to return home.

"A Wrinkle in Time" is a timeless wonder, whose story and message still resonates. It is very highly recommended to children of all ages who still are fascinated by "once upon a time."

groundbreaking classic
Groundbreaking YA science fiction / fantasy story about a socially inept but bright girl who learns about courage and the value of love in the fight against evil. Many sci fi novels today feature female protagonists, but this was one of the first.

Meg Murry's father has disappeared; no one has heard from him in over a year. Her teachers, thinking that Mr. Murry has abandoned his family, counsel acceptance, but Meg and her siblings know better. One night, a mysterious creature appears during a thunderstorm, and from then on, Meg's life gets crazy. She is taken on a planet-hopping trip that ends on Camazotz, a planet entirely controlled by a gigantic brain called "It" (Stephen King later borrowed this idea and name, only his "brain" was a huge spider). Meg's father is imprisoned on Camezotz, and her space-traveling friends help her rescue him. Along for the ride are Charles Wallace, Meg's genius younger brother, and Calvin O'Keefe, a sympathetic neighbor. They are assisted by three female entities whose powers, while vast, are limited. They and other space beings have been fighting "It" for eons; Meg's father has merely been caught up in this eternal struggle.

Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace naturally want to know how they have traveled across space, and the three weird sisters (Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which) explain the concept of tesseract, which they explain as "folding the fabric of space and time." Mr. Murry had been involved in secret government experiments with tesseract and ended up on Camezotz by accident. All ends happily, with Mr. Murry home and everyone safe.

Despite its inventiveness and richness of plot, the story is at bottom a fairly traditional one. Great evil does exist, but it can be overcome by goodness and innocence. Evil manifests itself as total and rigid conformity; it is confounded by independent will and love-driven actions. Towards the end, the Christian overtones become stronger, with Meg realizing that the beings who heal her after her first encounter with "It" are angels of a sort. I see a strong influence from C.S. Lewis's trilogy about space travel, which began with Out of the Silent Planet (1938).

The book has a mixed bag of effects. Erudite references to Shakespeare and Goethe give way to a groan-worthy pun involving a clairvoyant creature called "the Happy Medium." Overall, the message for teens is positive: brains are good, courage is good, family is good. Unlike other, more simplistic, science fiction, this one does not expel or vanquish the evil by the end of the book. "It" is still up there on Camezotz, and the battle goes on.

As with many children's and young adult stories, the protagonist here is missing a parent (for much of the story anyway). In fact, few award-winning novels feature children with two parents. If they exist, they are not present in the child's life at the time of the story (Holes, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Everything on a Waffle). This absence forces the young people to think more creatively and to grow up faster. I have only recently become aware of this phenomenon, and am still unsure what to make of it. Perhaps in a subtle way, this plot device addresses a child's worst fear (loss of parents) while simultaneously offering hope that such a tragedy could be dealt with and lived through.
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Customer Reviews (78)

Very complicated and a lot of great information.
This is a very scholarly work, which means a great deal of re-reading the countless charts, diagrams and detailed writing. A great work certainly, but this is way too complicated for all but the economists in the academic world.

Their data are quite interesting, but not very useful
The title of this book on the library shelf stuck a cord.How often we hear that statement.I did not know of the authors, but appreciated their very clearly stated intention to research historic data in order to add to the body of knowledge concerning the trade cycle.I think they succeeded, at least to some extent.I found the tables and graphs interesting and was in awe of the extent of their work, most of it in quite recent times.They use the book title facetiously, but I think the present economic correction is really a bit more complex than a simple comparison of two depressions.The outcomes are likely to be vastly different.The Great United States Inflation and Credit Expansion (my title) starting in 1914, encompasses the authors' First Great Contraction of 1929-1932 as well as their Second Great Contraction they identify as occurring in 2007, but probably began in 2000.

It took a few days to digest, but after finishing the book, I concluded that the authors are thoroughly Keynesian.Reading the kudos on Amazon.com from famous men like Bernanke, Krugman, and other Keynesian reviewers quickly dispelled any doubts I may have had about their economic philosophy.I began to understand why they limited the scope of the book to mostly the publication of a low-resolution database.The authors probably could not analyze the genesis of the periodic monetary contractions because their understanding in economic theory is still developing.

They apparently still believe government needs to take control of every nation's money - on a world scale - to keep that awful unstable market economy on an even keel.They believe that government can manage the economy to maintain a happy bit of inflation with just enough newly printed money to have a buzz on all the time.Then, if somehow a crisis should occur, government will develop the correct policy, which means upping that same feel good medication that started it in order to correct the nasty depressing affair.Such thinking is similar to that of managing the extent of a pregnancy of unknown origin and being surprised when a crisis develops and childbirth occurs.The participants have no inkling of their having precipitated and then nurtured the crisis from the time of its start to its fruition.Nor have they any suspicion that the phenomenon of childbirth/economic collapse, which the authors call a crisis, is really the correction back to normal conditions.They believe the economic crash is the root of the problem when it is actually the result of their policy of conjuring money and credit from thin air.An honest analysis must show by their own research how wrong they have been.

Drs. Reinhart and Rogoff, as part of the mainstream economists who commonly move back and forth between academia and government office, must be extremely embarrassed when viewing the record of managing the United States economy for the last century.Professional economists should have noticed the illiquid expansion of credit growing each year since 1947.I hope for all of our sakes the field of economics has progressed far enough for them to be a little frightened at having been a party to the expansion of unknown trillions of illiquid dollars & credit in the U. S. alone.We now see estimates of one quadrillion excess dollars in the world economy.We are on the cusp of a correction the size of which, in the past, has destroyed currencies and restructured political systems.I am dismayed to discern little discussion of the only way out, which is to let the system work out the distortions with a crash, let the greedy take their licks, and let us get on with market lending where the lenders are forced, by the market, to take responsibility for proper conduct.Placing responsibility on government has never worked in the past, is not working now, and can never work in the future.

Once President Roosevelt turned our currency into fiat money, the handwriting was on the wall.It was only a matter of time.Governments will always manage money in such a way that the system eventually fails.In our case, it took 97 years for our government to grow so large and misallocate funds so badly that economic growth has slowly stopped.The result is having no growth to cover even the interest on the overhanging debt.Without a continually increasing economy growth rate to supply the ever-increasing need for credit, the economy must collapse.Deflation must occur.Government printing presses have so far been unable to re-inflate the economy this time even with the 2.46 trillion already injected.Where this mess goes now, under the present mismanagement is anyone's guess.

It appears the authors prefer the political solution of government control rather than developing solutions designed to let the market economy work.I hope mainstream economists learn soon that the 'Barbarous Relic', gold, is the only non-inflatable money that prevents eventual destruction of the economy.Only the market itself contains the seeds of correction in an economic crisis.Government managers have much higher priorities than a smoothly functioning and growing economy as perhaps is the case for many of our professional economists.After all, every one of us is on a quest for fame and fortune, and if we can get by with it, counterfeiting is a wonderful way to get your hands on large quantities of money.

THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING BOOK. IT'S A MUST REFERENCE AND A MUST READ. EXCELLENT TABLES AND WRITTEN SO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THE FACTS. JMF

No Honey, this time is not different.
This book is one of the most complete reviews of financial crises over the last 800 years that I have seen.

After the Crash of 2008, some of the Lessons Learned from past crises would seem to apply today.For example, how do countries stay out of country related financial crises?

The secret to keeping your country out of trouble is to first live below your means, meaning running a surplus each year. Second is to borrow as little as possible and to fund the debt with maturities over 10 years. Third is to have no hidden off-the-balance sheet guaranties.

How to get your country into trouble is to run a deficit every year, borrow short term to fund the debt, and have a lot of hidden off-the-balance sheet guaranties.

The authors divide past financial crises into many categories including inflation, currency crashes, debasement, serial default, this time is different, banking crises, and external/domestic defaults.

Some of the summary statistics from past financial crises include:

Average house price decline of 36% with 2008 sub-prime being 30% and 1929 of 12%.

Average time for home prices to recover of 6 years.

Average stock market decline of 56% with 3.4 years to recover.

Unemployment usually rises by an average of 7%. In the U.S., before 2008 was 4% and it is now at 10%.The 1929 Great Depression increase was 20% over the base rate.

Average GDP declines of 9.3% and peak to trough of 1.9 years.

The authors point out that bubbles are much more dangerous when they are fueled by debt (2008 Sub-prime crises) than not funded by debt (2000 Tech Wreck).

There has been 5 big bank crises since 1945 plus the 2008 Sub-Prime fiasco.This means a major banking crisis every 11 years (6 crises in 65 years). The once every 11 year banking crisis is the same order of magnitude as stock market crashes in the U.S. with 8 Bear markets since 1945 or once every 8 years (8 Bears in 65 years).

The authors found that a banking crisis is the worst kind of crash. They found that real housing price bubbles were the best predictors of banking crises.Annual deficits and stock markets were not good predictors of banking crises because they give too many false alarms.

One astounding finding to me was that government debt usually almost doubles (86% increase) after a banking crisis. It seems like the U.S. is on track to exceed the historical average in this category.

Why have banks managed to create their own crisis about once every 11 years? The authors theorize it is because of the inherently unstable design of banks.

Fractional reserve banking is based upon taking in deposits (that can be redeemed in a minutes notice) and then lending the money long term (where it is illiquid and can not be redeemed quickly).As soon as the depositors lose confidence in the bank, they create a run on the bank. Since the banks keep very little cash on hand, and they can't liquidate the loans quickly.........they become insolvent and close their doors.

Listening to Bernanke testify at the Financial Crisis Commission, his biggest worry back in September 2008 was a national run on all banks by the depositors.This came very close to occurring when a money market mutual fund "broke the buck" on its money market accounts. If all investors had withdrawn their money from money market mutual fund accounts, the system would have shut down.

In summary, this book opens up your eyes to how common banking failures are with an average crisis period of once every 11 years.As an investor who purchased some bank stocks in 2006 and watched them start to decline in 2008, I would recommend never buying bank stocks.

With an average U.S. stock market Bear market occurring on average every 8 years and a banking crisis every 11 years, I would suggest a low-cost broadly diversified portfolio in global investments.

I guess the recent bank reform law included a provision for the biggest banks to provide a "living will" telling how they could be broken apart and easily sold when they fail.It will be interesting to see if this helps the "too big to fail problem" the next time the banks screw up.

For students of financial markets, this book belongs on your bookshelf.

Sloppy Research
This Time is Different features sloppy research which is most visible in Table 2.3 where the the refundings of Consols the British nationat par are listed (incorrectly) as defaults. The right of the British government to refund Consols at par was always reflected in their prices. Five percent Consols were priced in the 1700s to have higher yields then Thre Percent Consols which reflected the greater vulnerability of Five Percent Consols to refunding.
Another howler - he largest domestic default in US History-the voiding of the Gold Clause in US government bonds by the Roosevelt Administration in 1933is represented in this account only bydefault in 1933 by the US on its treaty obligations to Panama-which is listed as a "domestic default" Panama was then (at least de jure) an independant country. ... Read more

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The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
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Customer Reviews (1791)

A real page turner.... ha ha!
I was looking for a long series and wondered why I had never read this one. I got a used copy of book one and realized I had read this book many many years ago. Now I know why I had never read beyond number one. I found myself flipping pages and skipping. NOT gripping for me. Repetitive, trite, juvenile, humorless, non-witty, and silly, leaden, one dimensional characters. So I went to the 5 star reviews to see if any reviewers mentioned what other authors they liked and found: Goodkind, Salvatore, and Donaldson mentioned over and over. Okay, other authors I don't read. I expected to see Stephen King mentioned too since he has the same diarrhea of the keyboard syndrome. There's detail that's important to the story which I can appreciate but then there's over zealous descriptions that have not much point at all especially if they are not especially well written.

The lack of a multi-faceted humor was the big killer for me. I got this book because Brandon Sanderson was the author who finished this series after Jordan died and I really like his work. I also like, so you can compare: George R.R. Martin, Scott Lynch, Patrick Rothfuss, Gregory Keyes, Robin Hobb, Lois McMaster Bujold.

Captures You As Soon As You Open The Book!!
This book is compared to lord of the rings and i was quite skeptical, but if anyone can be up their with Tolkien it is Jordan. The Book will capture you in the first few pages!!!! I was expecting to get a medium sized book, but when I recieved the book it was very thick! I have not finished the book but reading the first few pages i can all ready give it 5 stars!

So far so good, but not that good
Truthfully, 3.5 stars ***1/2

I wanted to sample some other fantasy books after reading LOTR, and I really did not want to start this series, as I doubted I would have the longevity to finish reading it (the author certainly did not have the longevity to finish writing it!). But, I decided to read at least the first book to see what it is like anyway ...

So what can I say after reading it?

First, this is a LOTR imitator, there is no mistake about that. There are too many elements "borrowed" from the former book: faceless dark riders start appearing in a remote village just before a festival; strange characters start to appear, including Trollocs (Orcs), witches, wizards; Innocent farm boys who have never ventured outside the village embark on an arduous journey to save the world ... sounds familiar? The similarities do not just end here, actually, one may even say there are some blatant rip-offs from LOTR -- the warder acts and talks much like the strider (Aragon), the Ogier and Greenman are copies of the Ents, and where the evil one dwells is called the Mountains of Dhoom (Doom) ...

The writing is sometimes pretty bad ("slowly his breathing slowed" is just inexcusable), and repetitive -- the characters all suffer from chronicle dry mouth disease, whenever they are under stress, their universal response is to "swallow hard". However, generally, it flows smoothly and is not hard to understand.

But, I must give credit where credit is due. There are a few good things in this book/series:
First, it is considerably darker than LOTR. The nominally "good" people can be just as bad (e.g. the Children of Light). There is also much suspicion among the allies. This makes the village boys appear even more vulnerable.
Secondly, so far in this book, the plot moves along rather quickly, and the story line is tight. In one part when the group (fellowship) is parted, the plot line forks into three threads, but each moves in its own interesting way, and before long merged back together. I heard horrid stories about later books in this series stuffed with fillers, but in this book, the author did not drag the story, I feel like, even though it has almost 800 pages, it deserves to be called a "page-turner".
Finally, even though this is only the first book, it somewhat came to a conclusion. So that is good, at least now I can put the book down and move on :-)

Overall, I think this book judged on its own merit is worth the time to read it. 3.5 starts ***1/2

Book Review Present
I had this book sent to my daughter in law and she gave me the information needed for this review. The book got there before the estimated time and was in great shape. Almost new she said. Will use this seller again and recommend seller highly. Thank you.

Great price!Great Condition!
Was very happy with this. Came in exactly the same condition as promised. Very good price!Considering this book is 20 years old it is was in fine shape ... Read more

Product Description
Andie Miller is ready to move on with her life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her. A distant cousin has died and left North the guardian of two orphans who have driven away three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs someone to take care of the situation, and he knows Andie can handle anything....

When Andie meets the two children, she realizes the situation is much worse than she feared. Carter and Alice aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. Complicating matters is Andie’s fiancé’s suspicion that this is all a plan by North to get Andie back. He may be right because Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting....

Then her ex-brother-in-law arrives with a duplicitous journalist and a self-doubting parapsychologist, closely followed by an annoyed medium, Andie’s tarot card–reading mother, her avenging ex-mother-in-law, and her jealous fiancé. Just when Andie’s sure things couldn’t get more complicated, North arrives to make her wonder if maybe this time things could just turn out differently....
Amazon.com Review
Product Description
The New York Times bestselling author of Bet Me, Tell Me Lies and Welcome to Temptation delivers her long-awaited new novel--Maybe This Time.

Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.

When Andie meets the two children she quickly realizes things are much worse than she feared. The place is a mess, the children, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. What’s worse, Andie’s fiancé thinks this is all a plan by North to get Andie back, and he may be right. Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting.

What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism, including a self-doubting parapsychologist, an annoyed medium, her Tarot-card reading mother, an avenging ex-mother-inlaw, and, of course, her jealous fiancé. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get more complicated, North shows up on the doorstep making her wonder if maybe this time things could be different between them.

If Andie can just get rid of all the guests and ghosts, she’s pretty sure she can save the kids, and herself, from the past. But fate might just have another thing in mind…

---

Amazon Exclusive: Susan Elizabeth Phillips Interviews Jennifer Crusie

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the bestselling author of Nobody’s Baby But Mine, What I Did for Love, and many others.She is the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious “Favorite Book of the Year” Award and was also honored with their “Lifetime Achievement” Award.Read on for Susan Elizabeth’s hilarious and entertaining conversation with Jennifer Crusie:

Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Exactly why is Susan Elizabeth Phillips your dear friend?

Jennifer Crusie: Susan Elizabeth Phillips is everything I aspire to be in a writer, a Comic Genius with Incredible Insight into the Human Condition, so I stay close so I can be just like her.I remember the first time we met.It was in an elevator in Dallas.It was magic. She got off at the next floor.

SEP: What do you like most about Susan Elizabeth Phillips?

JC: I think it's her modesty, her willingness to give to others.And her shoes.

SEP: Which Susan Elizabeth Phillips book is your favorite, or do you love them all too much to choose?

JC: Heaven, Texas because I love a Cinderella story.

Also her last one, whatever it is when whoever is reading this is reading this.The one that's on sale now.That one.It's amazing and you should buy it.There's probably a button for it on here somewhere.Hit that button.

SEP: Oh, wait!This is supposed to be about YOU?Sheesh...For those who haven’t read it and are waiting breathlessly, share a little something about your new book Maybe This Time?

JC: Maybe This Time is my version of The Turn of the Screw. It's about a woman who goes back to tell her ex-husband that she's marrying somebody else and takes a job caring for two orphans he's inherited who are living in southern Ohio.When she gets to southern Ohio, she finds out the kids are delinquents and the house is haunted.Also, the ex-husband?Still very hot.

SEP: What is special about this book?

JC: It's a ghost story!And a love story!With kids! It's a Romantic Comedy Ghost Story With Kids.By me!

(You don' t have a copy because it's not out yet.We'll send you one as soon as we get them.Pretend you've read it and it's the most amazing book EVER.I did for you.)

SEP: What gave you the most difficulty writing Maybe This Time and what gave you the most joy?

JC: Difficult--Ghosts.Ghosts are not easy to write without getting cheesy.Also, I generally do not write horror so the I-wants-to-make-your-skin-creep parts were a real departure for me.

Joy--The kids.I'm living with two little girls right now, ages eight and 11, and I stole from them to write Alice.Alice was so much fun to write.Not so much fun to live with in the book, but to write?Alice rocks.

SEP: How do the stories you want to tell now differ from the ones you wanted to tell when you started writing? How are they the same?

JC: Such good questions.Are you a writer, too?Oh, wait.Never mind.

I had no idea how difficult writing fiction was when I started so I just wrote stories.Then I Learned My Craft.Now I spend a lot of time staring into space, thinking about how much I don't know and panicking.So it's harder.But the books are better, more complex, better structured, better written.Also I'm kind of over that Oh-My-God-They-Have-To-Have-Sex-Right-Now-Let-Me-Describe-It-In-Graphic-Detail.I figure anybody reading my books has either had sex or seen it on cable so maybe there's something more interesting in the characters' lives to describe in depth.Like, oh, GHOSTS!

SEP: You're an amazingly entertaining writer.Are you funny in real life? (I know the answer to this, but I'm thinking all of your readers might not.)

JC: Well, not as funny as Susan Elizabeth Phillips, who is a Comic Genius, but I have inspired a few chuckles here and there.Mostly, no.

SEP: Once I start a Jennifer Crusie book, I can't put it down. I know your loyal readers feel the same. What's your secret? (Please reply in 10 words or less because I hate making things too easy on you.)

JC: I do everything Susan Elisabeth Phillips does, except backwards in high heels.(That's twelve words.We can cut the "Elizabeth Phillips" part if you want.)

SEP: Did you finally get your messy office cleaned up so it looks as good as mine? (Oops...This is about you.I keep forgetting.)

JC: Yes.And then it got messy again.Because I'm a creative person and we creative people cannot be bound by the shackles of conventionality that stifle the expression of those who feel compelled to clean their offices.How's your office look?

... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

Not the Jennifer Crusie I enjoyed in the past.
For some reason, Jennifer Crusie has completely changed her writing style.Not aware of this until after purchasing the last two books, (giving her a second chance with the second), I have been disappointed in both books. I loved the earlier laugh out loud all through the book stories."Maybe This Time" was a big disappointment.The story went into evil with a couple of the ghosts. The mention of ghosts and children led me to expect a less gruesome story.

Maybe This Time
About a quarter of the way through this book, I was confused.Huh?Was this a romance?What was this book?

I kept reading and since I was enjoying the story, I just continued on, although my head was spinning from confusion.I'm so glad I kept reading.I really, really enjoyed this book.I loved the characters, loved the story, loved the spookiness.

Towards the last pages, I was sad!I didn't want the story to end!It was exciting and chilling and a very fun story.And it was a surprising story, as I expected something totally different.I'm glad for what it turned out to be and not another plain romance novel.I'll re-read this again and again and again.

I want more!
I really enjoyed this book.It's one I've read so quickly, I wish I could read it new again.

Wonderful read!!
Loved Maybe This Time, and while I wouldn't call it 'classic' Crusie, her wit and quirky characters abound!!And isn't that what makes us love her books so much?I wasn't so sure about the premise of the book, but she totally sold me on Andi and North, understanding and cringing and feeling every moment ~~ which is yet another reason she always snags me!I will say it's not Welcome To Temptation, and I'm not head over heels in love w/ the hero, but it was a great story!

Perfect read for Halloween
I love all of Jennifer Crusie's books, they are funny, sexy, romantic and well written.Maybe this time is no different, even a surprise ending.

Some romance books are predictable, and parts of this one are too, but they are so funny who cares?

The supernatural (in the forms of ghosts and possessions) invade this book, so there is a bit of a spooky factor.

There is a big old rotting castle, where the ghosts reside that is both scary and romantic.

The children are adorable, although I kept picturing the Addams children when reading about them.

Great book, highly recommend, one of her best, although I still think Agnes and the Hitman is the topper. ... Read more

Product Description
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. Routine, order and predictability shelter him from the messy, wider world. Then, at fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing.

Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer and turns to his favorite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As he tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, we are drawn into the workings of Christopher’s mind.

And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotion. The effect is dazzling, making for a novel that is deeply funny, poignant, and fascinating in its portrayal of a person whose curse and blessing is a mind that perceives the world literally.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one of the freshest debuts in years: a comedy, a heartbreaker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
Mark Haddon's bitterly funny debut novel, The Curious Incident ofthe Dog in the Night-Time, is a murder mystery of sorts--one toldby an autistic version of Adrian Mole. Fifteen-year-old ChristopherJohn Francis Boone is mathematically gifted and socially hopeless,raised in a working-class home by parents who can barely cope withtheir child's quirks. He takes everything that he sees (or is told) atface value, and is unable to sort out the strange behavior of hiselders and peers.

Late one night, Christopher comes across his neighbor's poodle, Wellington, impaled on a garden fork. Wellington's owner finds him cradling her dead dog in his arms, and has him arrested. After spending a night in jail, Christopher resolves--against the objection of his father and neighbors--to discover just who has murdered Wellington. He is encouraged by Siobhan, a social worker at his school, to write a book about his investigations, and the result--quirkily illustrated, with each chapter given its own prime number--is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Haddon's novel is a startling performance. This is the sort of book that could turn condescending, or exploitative, or overly sentimental, or grossly tasteless very easily, but Haddon navigates those dangers with a sureness of touch that is extremely rare among first-time novelists. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is original, clever, and genuinely moving: this one is a must-read. --Jack Illingworth, Amazon.ca ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1642)

A great story and interesting perspective on autism
Storylines following the lives of autistic individuals rarely delve into the lived experience of autism instead choosing to deal with the condition through a sort of societal-normalized reflection told through their interactions with others.Author Mark Haddon breaks this norm from the opening sentences of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time".The reader is placed into the mind of Christopher, a 15-year old autistic teen with a compelling mysterious to solve regarding the gory death of a neighbor's dog.Haddon leaves very little to the imagination as Christopher tells his own story through a largely coherent stream of consciousness narrative.

Christopher explores the world around him searching for clues in the death of Wellington, the obvious victim of fowl-play, who Christopher found dead in the early morning hours impaled by a pitchfork.Christopher squirms around his father's admonishments to leave the situation alone continuing to press his neighbors for clues and information.In the midst of this investigation , Christopher recounts his narrative process as he explains his desire to make his story available to the world.

As Christopher follows the twist and turns of a mystery that leads him along an emotionally tumultuous journey, the reader gains an oft-painful insight into what the world looks like to an individual with autism.Christopher struggles to deal with a perplexing world around him, while confronting the difficulties of a society that is equally perplexed by him.His familial relationships are a recurrent theme that underlies the mystery of Wellington's death and ultimately Christopher ends up with more questions about his own life than he does about the end of Wellington's.

An interesting all around read.The story wraps issues surrounding the difficulties of autism within a well-written story and captivating plot.

One of my all time favorite books
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Haddon manages to capture all of the nuances of a situation and also be hilariously funny in a very human way, and not in a cruel way at all - but certainly in a dark humor sort of way. My heart went out to Christopher's dad in the story. If I were to have a top-10 list of books, this one would certainly be on it. Of course, a lot would be on it! But if you're wavering, read this book.

Endearing, heartbreaking read
This novel meant a lot to me, maybe more than it probably should have. It's not the most well written piece of all time (for various reasons), but it's so endearing. I cared so much for the protagonist that I became emotionally involved in the book. Which is interesting if you think about it, because Christopher wasn't the most emotionally involved person himself.

I think the reason I appreciated this novel so much was because it was about a child with autism. My brother has Asperger's, and I saw many parallels (albeit less extreme) between Christopher and my brother. It made sense to me.

The novel portrays Christopher as a somewhat normal autistic boy: he's not a genius, he's not an idiot, he's not something special. He's a "normal" autistic boy who understands things differently and who fixates on a particular set of things.

While the relationship between Christopher's parents is part of the back story, it helps to draw the reader in. We can infer from the very beginning what happened to Christopher's mother, but we find out as he does. We experience the rage, confusion, and heartbreak just as Christopher does.

As the sibling of someone who has always been disconnected in some way or who hasn't experienced things the "normal" and properly socially adjusted way, reading about Christopher's life and how he described the way he felt was not only interesting, but compelling and heartbreaking. Heartbreaking, but only in the sense that it warmed me to understand such a complex and interesting person.

Authentic and Believable Character with Asperger Syndrome
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime was written by Mark Haddon, a British novelist and poet. He wrote the story from the perspective of a fifteen year old boy with Asperger Syndrome, which is part of the autism spectrum. He worked with autistic people as a young adult, which partially explains how he was able to write such a descriptive, authentic and believable character. Additionally, he seemed to have an insider's view on the day-to-day lives and struggles of those on the autism spectrum.

In the story, the main character, Christopher, is trying to solve the mystery of who killed a neighborhood dog. Christopher lives with his father in Swindon, a town in southwest England. In the course of his inquiries, he finds out some previously unknown information about his family, namely that his father had lied to him about his mother's death the year before. His mother wasn't dead, but had left them. When Christopher found out that his mom was alive and living in London with a former neighbor, he felt as if he could no longer trust his father not to lie to him and sets out in search of his mother, on his own. The author did a great job describing Christopher's train of thought, his anxieties, his heightened senses, his extreme intelligence in some areas and his lack of skills in other areas. I think anyone would find this book to be fascinating. It will make you think twice before you see someone on the bus, train or at the store and think of them as "strange".Any reader will take away valuable insight into the lives of people with Autism spectrum disorders and their families.I am a more understanding person for having read it.

Interesting read, but leaves you without much closure
Written in the perspective of a child with autism, the perspective, writing style, and how the story unfolds is interesting and the reason I picked up the book.Why I didn't give it more than 3 stars is because I felt the story was one disapointment after another that never really led to much of a climax or closure, nor any one momentous event (negative or positive) to serve as some type of finale.Some won't mind that and maybe it is intentional of the author to show his view of living with a child with a learning disability, but it left me personally feeling like the story was imcomplete, so as a novel, 3 stars. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (285)

the worst hard time
Dramatic review of a trying time in US history but very repetitive in the telling of similar trials experienced by the book's characters.

A bit of a slow start, but well worth the read
Though it is nonfiction, this book contains all the qualities I look for in a historical novel - vivid imagery, fast-moving plot, engaging characters. It chronicles the fallout of one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in history - the Dust Bowl. Using his journalistic skills, Egan transforms research, data and interviews into a page-turning tale of devastation, tenacity, endurance, redemption and optimism. Story telling at its best.

Reads like a novel
One of the best books I have ever read.This is a can't-put-it-down non-fiction book that is so gripping and emotionally charged that it reads like a novel.The suffering and endurance of the plains settlers who lived through and endured the Dust Bowl was Biblical. The "wheat boom" and then bust which led directly to the Dust Bowl has warnings for us today.If you grew up hearing stories about the Dust Bowl this book will complete your education.Highly recommend.

What government can cause
This is very well-written book.Can hardly put it down.Gives the history and govenment involvement in the causes of the dust bowl.Can relate to what the government is doing today.There is always more to and event than we realize and anyone involved in government and agriculture as well as history will find this a very informative book.It was recommended to me by a friend who was a teacher and loves reading.As I began reading I expected to find a "green" read but not at all.It gives facts in a very good historical novel way.I have really appreciated it as that is the type of book that I love and being so well-written is a huge plus.

Must Read!!!
We are now going through tough economic times but we are so far from anything that is described in this book. It is troubling to think how soft we have become in this nation and how we would handle truly tough times. The author of this book paints a picture that will last with the reader for years to come. This is a must read!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live.


The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Alexie's YA debut, released in hardcover to instant success, recieving seven starred reviews, hitting numerous bestseller lists, and winning the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (206)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
There is an interesting story line, but readers (especially parents) need to know about the language in the book, some graphic, some sexual and in my opinion very inappropriate. The story could be just as educational and compelling without the language and sexual content.

AWESOME
Sherman alexie is an amazing writer. he uses great syntax and diction. its amazing how a teenager had to face so much diversity, racism, and just bullies. i found myself laughing during this book (inside my head, didnt want to interrupt the teacher)and also found myself sad at times. the loss of the grandma and the sister was quite a shock, i think to even the whole class. i really would love to read this book again, but to myself, use pieces of writing out of it to better my own. sherman alexie can truly be an inspiration to young writers. he uses great voice and tone, for being an adult, he is able to depict teenagers and girls!!! Read it!

very well written book..
this was a very well written book. Sherman Alexie has an amazing use of voice that shines in this book. Alexie can go from a fourty year old man to a teen age boy and make it as believeable as if it actualy was two different people. this is a great book and I recomend it for ages 13-17. It is realitic so brace yourself for the truth of how many teenage boys talk to each other. It is the story of a indian boy living on a reservation and his many challenges in life. All in all it was a good read and held my attention all the way through. I hope you injoy it as much as I did.

Sherman Alexie is a very talented writer
He's funny, and also very moving. He brings up important topics in his book such as racism, drugs, depression, confidence, and death. The voice of his character Arnold is clever and has many moods. His descriptions were authentic. The plot and events that took place were easily pictured through his imagery and led to a shocking climax. The way Alexie sets up the story is brilliant, and easy to follow. It was a moving story with a winning end.

Awesome, Funny, great book for teens
Our teacher read us this book and it was one of the best books ive ever heard. Sherman wrote it like a teen wrote it using the same language teens would use. I wanted him to keep reading it everyday. It keeps you wanting to read more and see what happens next.This book would be great to read to high schooler but it is probably too innapropriate for middle schoolers. ... Read more

Product Description
A Brief History of Time, published in 1988, was a landmark volume in science writing and in world-wide acclaim and popularity, with more than 9 million copies in print globally. The original edition was on the cutting edge of what was then known about the origins and nature of the universe. But the ensuing years have seen extraordinary advances in the technology of observing both the micro- and the macrocosmic world--observations that have confirmed many of Hawking's theoretical predictions in the first edition of his book.

Now a decade later, this edition updates the chapters throughout to document those advances, and also includes an entirely new chapter on Wormholes and Time Travel and a new introduction. It make vividly clear why A Brief History of Time has transformed our view of the universe.Amazon.com Review
Stephen Hawking, one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists inhistory, wrote the modern classic A Brief History of Time to helpnonscientists understand the questions being asked by scientists today:Where did the universe come from? How and why did it begin? Will it come toan end, and if so, how? Hawking attempts to reveal these questions (andwhere we're looking for answers) using a minimum of technical jargon. Amongthe topics gracefully covered are gravity, black holes, the Big Bang, thenature of time, and physicists' search for a grand unifying theory. This isdeep science; these concepts are so vast (or so tiny) as to causevertigo while reading, and one can't help but marvel at Hawking's abilityto synthesize this difficult subject for people not used to thinking aboutthings like alternate dimensions. The journey is certainly worth taking,for, as Hawking says, the reward of understanding the universe may be aglimpse of "the mind of God." --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Customer Reviews (331)

Uneven level of detail
The first chapters of the book are nice preliminary material for the more advanced subjects. However, starting from chapter 3, when the more complex arguments are discussed, Mr Hawking does not spend much time and detail to introduce difficult concepts. He just talks about black holes, virtual particles, strings, symmetry and higher dimensions as one can talk about apples.
I had the feeling that he switched from the really basic to the really advanced without providing the necessary logical connection and intermediate steps.
I think this is a missed opportunity.

Great For the Interested Non-scientist!
Dr. Hawking is an extremely intelligent individual who can take his theories, as well as other theories related to the Universe and our existence, breaking them down into easy to understand concepts.I found the book to be very interesting and entertaining, as it expanded my awareness and thoughts on what is happening all around us.I recommend the book for anyone interested in the various theories surrounding the Universe and our existence!

Terry M. Drake, LSW, NBCCH
Author of Live Happily, Ever After... Now!

A little deep but mostly readable.
I'm slogging through this.It's very interesting but, of course, a little over most people's heads.I like how he presents a theory and then gives an example.

a brief classic
Many readable introductions to the concepts and issues of modern physical theory have been offered over the last few decades. I have enjoyed many of them. With the publication of The Grand Design by Hawking and Mlodinow, I decided to revisit Hawking's A Brief History of Time.

After two decades, this remains the most succinct, parsimonious and carefully written introduction for the non-specialist that I have read. He passes over bits ( a whole Newtonian law of motion) for brevity and clarity, and pads it out for relevance, all appropriately. For example, introducing quantum theory through black body radiation and the uncertainty principle is a common approach, but Hawking is lucid and direct, inspiring a "wow, that was easy" moment. Many books roll out phenomena and theories, duality, tunnelling, entanglement etc, and while these are excellent for learning about elements of quantum theory, a clear take-home message is usually elusive. Rolling this, black whole theory, anthropic principles, no boundary condition, string theory and the unification of physics all together is a singular achievement for this classic. What an inspiration to tackle the maths and learn more.

The Hobo Philosopher
A Brief History of Time

By Stephen W. Hawking

Book Review

By Richard E. Noble

I read this book several years ago and since that time I have read it several more times. Since my first reading, I have not been able to get this book off my mind. On that account I should give it five stars. But the things that I can't get off my mind are all negative criticisms. On that account I should give it one star.

My criticisms start before I even get to the author.

In his introduction Carl Sagan speaks of "Einstein's famous question about weather God had any choice in creating the universe." Unfortunately Mr. Sagan paraphrases this one of Einstein's many famous questions incorrectly, as my memory recalls.

If there were a God why would he not have a choice in creating the universe? This paraphrasing makes no sense.
Einstein's question as I recall it was whether or not God had any choice in his own existence.

Now that is a big question to all us philosophy buffs. Mr. Sagan's incorrect paraphrasing makes Einstein's "famous question" no question at all.

Asking whether God had a choice in his own existence is a subtle way of stating the impossibility of the God concept.

If there is a God he could not have had the choice to exist or not to exist. He either was or he wasn't. If he wasn't, he could never have been because something can not come from "nothing."

The answer to the rhetorical question is that he had no choice and therefore was lacking in freedom. God can not be God and be lacking in freedom. Therefore the concept of God is untenable.

The above is not my opinion; it is simple philosophic logic that can be found in any philosophy book debating the God concept.

This was really a rhetorical question in my opinion on the part of Einstein. He was expressing his dubiousness on this subject.

If there is a God whether or not to create the universe is no problem at all; God can do as he pleases. He can create it or not create it. Who or what is going to make him do it or not do it? What logic says he can't do it? Sagan's question makes no sense.

Now we come to Mr. Hawking and friends.

Unfortunately there is a lot of sloppy language going on in the scientific community. Mr. Hawking is just one of many who "slop" around terms to the point of meaninglessness. One such term is the word "universe."

The universe is defined briefly as, "all that is." I am sorry but there can not be two "all that is." All that is, covers everything. It follows then that there can be no multiple universes, parallel universes or competing universes. There can only be one universe.

Scientists are obviously using the word "universe" with a different understanding than "all that is." Somebody should explain to readers how the scientific community is defining the word universe.

Other improperly used words are infinite and annihilate.

The universe can not be at the same time infinite and limited. An infinite universe can not expand. It is already infinite. It can't get no bigger than that.

A particle can not be annihilated and at the same time transformed into something else. If a particle is annihilated it not only disappears, it ceases to exist. It doesn't just disappear. As far as I know annihilation is impossible. Therefore if a particle turns into light and/or energy, then it hasn't been annihilated. It has been transformed. It can only be annihilated if it has been turned into nothing - and this is an impossible theoretical state. A state of "nothing" does not exist.

Space is also something. Its influences may be so minimal that they are not necessary to mathematical equations but space is more than a state or condition fabricated by gravity and other magnetic forces. There are scientists who are presently working to discover exactly what space is and what its influences are on the universe.

Light travels in straight lines in all directions infinitely - but it also bends. This is impossible. It does one or the other. It either travels infinitely in straight lines or it bend and wiggles its way through space.

If light bends and wiggles it way through space then it certainly can not be used as a measurement of the distance between planets or galaxies. Unless someone can measure the exact amount of wiggle at every distance in space - which I doubt very much is possible. What the heck are these scientists talking about?

An ellipse is an extended circle? Then I suppose a circle is a square with rounded sides. I know these guys are trying to dumb this stuff down for folks like me but if they dumb it down too much they are me and then we are all going nowhere.

I'm not a Big Bang guy and neither was Mr. Hubble. I have read that Mr. Hubble who established the notion of red shifts and blue shifts said that he in no way concluded from this observation that the universe is actually expanding or that any Big Bang was involved.

I think the Big Bang notion is comparable to "the world is flat" notion along with the Ptolemaic universe and phlogiston. It is being challenged by plasma theorists and others. The whole concept seems to be imploding in favor of an infinite, self-evolving universe.

I am reading a book at the moment by Eric J. Lerner "The Big Bang Never Happened." It is making some sense to my way of thinking.

Question posed in Mr. Hawking book: What was God doing before he created the universe?
Answer provided in book by St. Augustine: Time did not exist before the beginning of the universe.

So then where was God? He obviously did not exist before the universe either. Is God not a part of "all that is"? Does he exist? If so then he must have existed within the concept of "all that is" - the universe. No universe, no God.

And if the universe had no beginning - and the Big Bang can not be construed as the beginning of "all that is" -then St. Augustine may be right. Time began when the universe began; the universe always was and always will be
(in one shape or another) therefore time always was and always will be.

Mr. Hawking, Mr. Sagan and others in the scientific community I don't think are/were big on philosophy. They know their math but seem short on logic and semantics.

This book to me is pretty much an exercise in scientific madness (time going backwards, the universe collapsing, parallel universes, universes that are cone shaped, or infinite but finite and limited) but it is not just Mr. Hawking who has gone mad. He has a whole bunch lined up to jump off the edge of the universe and splatter on the nothingness below following eagerly behind him.

Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach, Lawrence YMCA
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel - Lawrence, Ma.
"The Eastpointer" Selections from award winning column.
"Noble Notes on Famous Folks" Humor - satire - facts.
"America on Strike" American Labor - History
"A Baker's Dozen" Short Stories


... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2268)

WIFE HATED IT
Wife hated this compared to the movie, mostly due to homosexual activity that threw off the story.

"You're searching for good times...but you'll come...back...to me." Song Lyrics
In a well acclaimed, tender, coming of age story, "The Time Traveler's Wife," opens with Claire Abshire, age twenty, and Henry De Tamble, age twenty-eight, accidentally meeting at her library.

Claire immediately recognizes Henry from her past but Henry is at a point of time travel where he hasn't met her yet. He suffers from Chrono-Displacement Disorder and moves through time without control.

Claire is a sweet woman who appears like a special next door neighbor or the girl you fell in love with in the eighth grade. Her love for Henry is intricately described so that the reader knows just what Claire is feeling as she finds her love, as he had promised she would, in the past.

The story moves back and forth between other times and is told from both points of view.

We are also privy to Claire's and Henry's difficulties with time travel. Henry tells us about seeing a young child die in an accident and wishing that he could go back in time so he could warn the child's mother to be careful. However, he's learned that with time travel, he isn't able to change history.

Claire has the difficulty of keeping Henry's appearances a secret. When she becomes a teenager, there is a lonliness during the time that Henry is not with her. She also feels segrated from her friends since, at this point in the story, she can't tell her friends about Henry.

There is some difficulty in keeping track of the character's ages at the various times that they meet since this happens out of sequence. I also found the point of view a bit hard to follow when Henry goes back in time and visits himself at a younger age.

The love story was a pleasure to read and observe the characters overcoming the difficulties with time. I felt that at certain points the story meandered. However, for originality and the manner in which the author created characters that the reader could emphasize and become fond of, this was an exceptional novel.

Good Love Story, too Graphic for me
I liked the idea behind this story. It was a great idea of Love enduring through time. I really like the character emotion expressed. What i didn't like was all the graphic sex scenes. I don't want to read that. I know everyone thinks I'm a prude but it seemed to me that as a new author she did not know what to do with the story so enter another sex scene. We can get the idea of enduring great love with out all the details. So I would not recommend this book to other readers who don't want to read a story that should have been a harlequin romance novel. And I hope the author will grow in her story telling ability for her next book.

Superb
I found this book discarded on a subway; because I had over an hour until my stop, and because I needed something to distract me from the homeless man who was shouting expletives at me from across the aisle, I flipped open the cover. 3 days later (yes, I had gotten off the train) I finished.

I consider myself a tough critic most of the time. But this book was amazing. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the ending. It was real, messy, and brilliant! None of this cookie cutter stuff you read where you expect every plot twist, and where everything works out wonderfully in the end for everyone. No, this is some good storytelling!

I would never have bought this book, not in a million years. But I want to thank the person who left it on the subway. I'm going to start doing that with the books I really like.

Clearly the book isn't for everyone. It has swearing, sex, and violence, and aside from the latter, I am usually very critical of books with these inclusions. But for this book, the swearing the sex and most certainly the violence, was all necessary.

Read it if you want, or don't. But when you finish it, leave it on the train or bus or ferry or airplane. Guys like me need to read stuff like this and we won't unless we stumble upon it when we are seeking distraction from the mentally ill.

Disappointing to Me...
******SPOILERS*******
Was this a beautiful love story for the ages? Yes. Was it wonderfully written and woven together, through time? Yes. Would I read it again or recommend it to anyone? No

I saw the movie first and then decided to read the book. I loved the movie. I'm not in love with the book.

I love the strength of Clare & Henry's love & relationship. I think it is beautiful and amazing. But through the first half of the book I was making myself continue to read it because I want to know what happened. Not because of the writing. Because of the movie. Everyone knows the movies are never as good as the book. The books always have more detail and are much better than the movies. I wanted to know what happens that I didn't know from the movie, that I loved. But I had to push myself through it. Yes, their love was practically legendary, certainly fate, and wonderful and beautiful. But it felt like they spent more time unhappy than happy.

Then the whole thing with Gomez was riduculous to me. I don't even understand the point of it. To show that Clare was completely devoted to Henry? I don't think she needed to use Gomez's character to show that. And instead, it made Gomez & Clare look bad. Yes, the first time, Clare hadn't found Henry yet, but she still slept with her best friend's boyfriend! And the second time, yes, Clare was in immense emotional pain and longing, and was imagining he was Henry, but she still could have controled herself! And Gomez is just a worthless ass if you ask me. His entire marriage & life he spent longing for Clare and his wife & her best friend knew and didn't do anything about it or care? And what does that say about Charisse? For someone who's supposed to be such a strong character, I don't think a strong woman would stay with a man she knows is in love with her best friend, even if her best friend doesn't reciprocate and ignores him!

And finally the end, once Henry dies and he begs her not to wait for him, and she does. I understand what the author is trying to show...Henry's the only guy for her, the love of her life, she can't live without him, the theme of longing, etc. I get it. But you have a child to live for. You can truly live your life, not just go through the motions, and still look forward to the day you'll see Henry again.

I love my husband very much, and I would be absolutely devastated if I lost him. But it absolutely terrifies me, the thought of something happening to me and my daughter having to live without me...What's the difference if I'm still physically here and just going through the motions, but not really living my life anymore?

The ending made me sad...for Alba. She lost both of her parents, as far as I'm concerned.

I would have liked the ending, as written, if there had been one added section where Clare explains in some capacity or we see her in some capacity, recovering enough to really live and be happy with Alba and the rest of their family. Instead I feel like she spent the rest of her days, approximately 50 years, "vanishing" and "waiting" and going through the motions for Alba's sake. Alba deserved more than that. I'm not saying Clare should move on and find someone else. It's possible she could be happy, celebrating the love she had & lost, celebrating life, raising Alba, looking forward to when they'll meet again, rather than waiting & longing depressively.

Just my opinion. ... Read more

Product Description
The Wheel of Time turns, and Robert Jordan gives us the eleventh volume of his extraordinary masterwork of fantasy that has captured the imagination of millions.The dead are walking, men are dying impossible deaths, and it seems as though reality itself has become unstable: all are signs of the imminence of the Last Battle, when Rand alThor, the Dragon Reborn, must confront the Dark One as humanitys only hope. But Rand dares not fight until he possesses all the surviving seals on the Dark Ones prison. And he faces other dangersthere are those among the Forsaken who will go to any length to see him deadThe winds of time have become a storm, and things that everyone believed were fixed in place forever are changing before their eyes. Now Rand must ride those storm winds, or the Dark One will triumph.Amazon.com Review
About the Author
Robert Jordan lives in Charleston, South Carolina. He is a graduate of the Citadel.

Amazon.com Exclusive Content

Amazon.com's Significant Seven
Robert Jordan kindly agreed to take the life quiz we like to give to all our authors: the Amazon.com Significant Seven.

Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?
A: The King James version of the Bible. That seems a cliche, but I can't think of any other book that has had as large an impact in shaping who I am.

Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?
A: The one book would be whatever book I was currently writing. I mean, I hate falling behind in the work. The one CD would contain the best encyclopedia I could find on desert island survival. The DVD would contain as much of Beethoven, Mozart, and Duke Ellington as I could cram onto it.

Q: What is the worst lie you've ever told?
A: It's hard to think of one since I am genetically incapable of lying to women and that takes out 52% of the population right there.

Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.
A: Any place that has my computer, a CD player for music, a comfortable chair that won't leave me with a backache at the end of a long day, and very little interruption.

Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
A: He kept trying to get better at it.

Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?
A: My wife before anybody else on earth living or dead. That's a no-brainer.

Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be?
A: That depends. If I'm feeling altruistic, it would be the ability to heal anything with a touch, if that can be called a superpower. If I'm not feeling very altruistic, it would be the ability to read other people's minds,to finally be able to get to the bottom of what they really mean and what their motivations are.

See all books in the Wheel of Time series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (546)

Great series of books
This is my second time of reading the series and I still cannot get enough of it.The series makes you want more and to find out what is going to happen next.Like many others have said this book is better than the last two.I have to agree with this but I still have enjoyed them all.I am rereading the series to get caught up to be able to read the last three books.It is a shame that Robert Jordan is unable to see the series completed.

Come together...
Larger prophecies are being fullfilled - not the little harbingers but the big indicators of Tarmon Gaidon! The puzzle is coming together, but the final image is not yet resolved...and my appetite is whetted!

Robert Jordan
I have read numerous Robert Jordan books and almost all the wheel of time including Knife of Dreams is horrible.Why would anyone waste their time reading these books.Its like a bunch of women talking about rumors that may or may not happen, no action just talk.Apparently none has read Brandon Sanderson or they would find these books lifeless

Favorite Wheel of Time book so far
This book has a lot more action and a lot less drama. I have been going nuts with the
drama some of the previous books build. I am also a big fan of Mat and this book has plenty. Definitely a great read.

Why, Robert, why...
This book is terrible. There have been bad books in the series, but this one tops my list because it marks a huge shift. Faithful main characters are turned into archetypes. Plotlines are not only predictable, they are broadcast, you know, just in case you miss the subtle hints. The male female dynamic has been totally obliterated, and that was one of my favorite parts. Even Cadsuanes character has been generic'd into shrewish stereotype. And what's up with all the exclamation points? Stephen King did this same thing to me one time. He ruined The Dark Tower series. Everything was going fine until that pink book came out...

Quit now and keep your fond memories. ... Read more

Product Description
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and go. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (267)

Excellent condition, but...
The book I received was in excellent condition, as advertised, but it was not the same size as all the other books that I own in the collection.It is a few inches smaller all around, even though a hardcover edition.Perhaps I don't know enough of the different printings, but, even so, this was not apparent from the book's description here on Amazon that I based my order on.

enjoyable read
Enjoyed it as much as the first four, had a hard time puttng it down

Characters really grow in this novel
This novel goes into much more detail than others in the series to date as far as character growth and storyline.The action culminates at the end like most novels do along with some added twists and unexpected character changes.Other readers describe this novel (along with many others in the series) as slow and boring.If you like a novel to pique your interest every minute, then this series will leave you disappointed.If you want to immerse yourself into the storyline and world completely, then you are in the right place.

That being said, there was one point of the book that always made me want to read right past it.That was the women constantly getting angry with the men for being decent, well, men.Always rolling their eyes or sternly talking to them as if they were complete idiots.If I didn't know any better, this book feels like it was written by a woman who hated men.I certainly hope that the following novels don't have as much of this bashing as it became old very quick.

an excellent read
If you've been reading the Wheel of Time series, you'll really enjoy this book. It continues the plot well and was really hard to put down. If you haven't been reading the Wheel of Time series and are a fan of fantasy books, pick up a copy of The Eye of the World, the first book in the series.

Another Very Happy Customer!!
I love Amazon! It is easy and the reviews make it easy to know what company you want to use for your purchase. I am VERY happy with the books I purchased. I made my purchase at 8:00pm and they were shipped the next day. I expected it to take 14 days to recieve them but recieved them sooner than expected since I had them sent the cheepest slowest way possible. I think it was a total of 7 days and I had my books! That's GREAT service!! Thank You Very Much!! ... Read more

Product Description
From One of the Most Brilliant Minds of Our Time
Comes a Book that Clarifies His Most Important Ideas

Stephen Hawking’s worldwide bestseller, A Brief History of Time, remains one of the landmark volumes in scientific writing of our time. But for years readers have asked for a more accessible formulation of its key concepts—the nature of space and time, the role of God in creation, and the history and future of the universe.

Professor Hawking’s response is this new work that will guide nonscientists everywhere in the ongoing search for the tantalizing secrets at the heart of time and space.…

Although “briefer,” this book is much more than a mere explanation of Hawking’s earlier work. A Briefer History of Time both clarifies and expands on the great subjects of the original, and records the latest developments in the field—from string theory to the search for a unified theory of all the forces of physics. Thirty-seven full-color illustrations enhance the text and make A Briefer History of Time an exhilarating and must-have addition in its own right to the great literature of science and ideas.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (100)

A brief encounter with the Universe
Prior to reading "A Briefer..." I had read "A Brief..." which mentioned several deep and complex theories of the universe quickly and left me slightly confused (i.e. the shape of the universe, God, String Theory...) due partly to its brevity.
I read "A Briefer..." five or so years later and found the "read" to be quick and easy to digest and quite clear in its points. Hawking writes a chapter on Quantum Gravity (reconciling Einstein's theory of Gravity with Quantum physics). He points to conclusions but he leaves me curious and wanting more information about this new theory. In many ways, I wish he would write "A not so brief history of time" to add more "meat" to the topics discussed which again discuss both God, The Meaning of Life and String Theory. He also discusses Einstein's theories in details that would help a college student taking a class in Modern Physics. Hawking also discusses other very early but important physicists.
I would recommend this book to a non-scientist with the patience and interest to learn some modern physics.

Reviewing Dr. Hawking
It is one of the simplest and better-explained accounts that I have read on the subject.A Brief History of TimeThe Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition

It does what it says
If you're not a mathematician or a ohysicist, you're not going to spend a lot of time wrapping your head around the concept of strings that possibly have 26 dimensions. That said, this book will describe string theory, particles, the expansion of the universe, and general relativity in about as much detail as the average lay person can handle without making a career out of it. I am very interested in these topics myself, and love hearing about discoveries in the news, etc., but never really sat down and read a book that summarized it all in a way that made me feel I had a grip on all of the basics. In other words, I had heard of string theory, but only in second-hand accounts from people who might not have understood it themselves. And although I often heard that Einstein said it is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, I never understood the mechanics of why that is. This book informed me exactly to the point where I felt I had understood the general concepts, and stopped short of going into the level of detail that would require lots of math on a chalkboard. In keeping the subject matter limited to a clear understanding of the basics, the authors also managed to make it a quick, enjoyable read.

Brief History of Time
I liked the book. It read well, but since I have read other books by Mr. Hawkings. This book contained a lot of the same material that was in some other work.
But there were some new material that I enjoyed reading.

Educate yourself
Seldom you will find a book on cosmic physics which will cover creation of universe and world around us and is still readable. Leonard is an excellent teacher and when you couple this with smartest brain of our time Hawking you know you are in for a treat. ... Read more

Product Description
An enraged man abducts his estranged wife and child, holes up in a secluded mountain cabin, threatening to kill them both. A right wing survivalist amasses a cache of weapons and resists calls to surrender. A drug trafficker barricades himself and his family in a railroad car, and begins shooting. A cult leader in Waco, Texas faces the FBI in an armed stand-off that leaves many dead in a fiery blaze. A sniper, claiming to be God, terrorizes the DC metropolitan area. For most of us, these are events we hear about on the news. For Gary Noesner, head of the FBI’s groundbreaking Crisis Negotiation Unit, it was just another day on the job.

In Stalling for Time, Noesner takes readers on a heart-pounding tour through many of the most famous hostage crises of the past thirty years. Specially trained in non-violent confrontation and communication techniques, Noesner’s unit successfully defused many potentially volatile standoffs, but perhaps their most hard-won victory was earning the recognition and respect of their law enforcement peers.

Noesner pursued his dream of joining the FBI all the way to Quantico, where he not only became a Special Agent, but also—in the course of a distinguished thirty-year career—the FBI’s Chief Negotiator. Gaining respect for the fledgling art of crisis negotiation in the hard-boiled culture of The Bureau, where the shadow of J. Edgar Hoover still loomed large, was an uphill battle, educating FBI and law enforcement leaders on the job at an incident, and advocating the use of  psychology rather than force whenever possible. Noesner’s many bloodless victories rarely garnered as much media attention as the notorious incident management blunders like the Branch Davidian disaster in Waco and the Ruby Ridge tragedy. 

Noesner offers a candid as well as fascinating look back at his years as a rebel in the ranks and a pioneer on the front lines. Whether vividly recounting showdowns with the radical Republic of Texas militia, the terrorist hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro, and self-styled messiah David Koresh, or clashes with colleagues and superiors that expose the internal politics and power-plays of America’s premier law enforcement agency, Stalling for Time crackles with breathtaking suspense and insight in equal measure. Case by case, minute by minute, it’s a behind the scenes view of a visionary crime-fighter in action. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

True stories of hostage negotiations
Noesner, a former FBI Hostage Negotiator writes a number of stories within this novel that are riveting in understanding the background of people that come to the points where they must be talked down by a negotiator.Who are they?How did they get there?Why are they doing this?How does a conversation like this begin when someone is going to kill themselves?What happens when things go wrong?Through stories of his own personal experience, Noesner brings to life what is going through his head and what his strategy is for each individual.

This book is not extremely professionally written but does have great stories so that a lay person can understand the answers to the questions above.The information is also good to use for yourself and understanding how to negotiate in the most basic of situations.This book is a good read and a fast one.Definitely recommended and something interesting for you to speak to your friends about for casual conversation.

Great Insider's Point of View on Hostage Negotiations
Stalling For Time was a great first-person account on what an experienced FBI hostage negotiator actually does during his job, what he sees, says, and decides.Unlike most jobs, what a negotiator says to a hostage taker can result in life or death.Author Gary Noesner's honest account of some of his more memorable experiences were truly fascinating.He blames gung-ho commanders for many of the hostage situations that turned deadly, faulting the macho culture of law enforcement that saw negotiation as weak and ineffectual compared to blunt force.For example, after a multi-day standoff, one commander had enough, and he ordered Gary to tell the hostage-taker guy he had ten more minutes, and that was it. So, after nine minutes, the hostage-taker killed all of the hostages, and then himself.Situation resolved, but not the way anybody wanted it.

Particularly interesting was the first-hand account of what went wrong at Waco.You can tell by reading the book that the author strongly disagreed with the force tactics used that resulted in the death of almost one hundred people.He tells us that patient negotiation had already resulted in almost forty people leaving the compound before the FBI decided to move in for an assault.

Highly recommended true-life law enforcement story.

Fascinating look at FBI Hostage Negotiators
Stalling for Time takes the reader inside the nascent world of hostage negotiation. Then the author highlights some of the large sieges he worked as a negotiator including Waco, Ruby Ridge, and prison riots. I loved learning the details of how hostage negotiation grew and developed, and the tension between negotiating and tactical resolutions. It is one man's perspective on the events he relates, but I very much enjoyed his writing and storytelling. If you are curious about learning more about hostage negotiation, this is a great way to look inside the FBI in this area.

How the FBI Started Its Negotiating Teams
This excellent book by Gary Noesner is a well-written, fluid account of his 30 years in the FBI, his part in developing hostage negotiating for them and other law enforcement, and some of his most famous hostage negotiations, mainly successful. Randy Weaver's Ruby Ridge and David Koresh's Branch Davidian fiasco at Waco(due to an inept initial handling by the ATF) and others are given full descriptive treatment. Noesner treads lighly as a negotiator should, is diplomatic at every turn, but doesn't hesitate to be critical of mistakes made not only by the FBI but others as well. Highly recommended; should be required reading for all law enforcement officers at their academies.

Great read from a captivating storyteller on topics you could use in business
Gary Noesner gives us a fascinating look inside the world of hostage negotiation at the FBI in this book.His clear style is lucid and easy to read, making the book an accessible and enjoyable read.He tends to have a balanced take on what goes on (discussing the disaster at Waco), and gives an insight into a world the most of us see in movies, but never experience firsthand.The lessons on human nature can also be applied elsewhere in life (especially in sales), so it's a valuable addition to a business library. ... Read more

Product Description
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow. For centuries, gleemen have told of The Great Hunt of the Horn. Now the Horn itself is found: the Horn of Valere long thought only legend, the Horn which will raise the dead heroes of the ages.

And it is stolen.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (359)

Great Deal
Was very happy with this.Came in exactly the same condition as promised.Very good price!

An enjoyable continuation of the story
First notes specifically on the Kindle edition, everybody else can skip this part: formatting errors seemed fewer and further apart in the book so perhaps as the books continue through the series the publisher is learning more and more about how to properly format. I still enjoyed the convenient chapter marks at the bottom and I'm sure it was true of the first one but apparently the speech synthesizer is enabled in this book for an impromptu audio-book-like-experience. Of course the text-to-speech can't make heads or tails of the special words in a fantasy book and a character named Min is apparently too much to handle (kept saying minimum). I still think a commercial product I paid pull price for shouldn't have these formatting issues but they are easy to ignore. I don't think there was a map of the world included in this book but I don't suppose it would be very clear on a Kindle-sized screen anyway (I have the smaller one).

I should perhaps note I have only read the first two books and I'm writing this having not started the third one yet. This review will be spoiler free (I try to stay vague).

As for the book itself I think Jordan learned some lessons from the first book and avoided making the same mistakes. There were a few obvious foreshadowing moments here and there along with some blatantly convenient plot devices to move the story along and avoid the issues that would have come up had he not resorted to the plot devices (one example is conveniently skipping over several months and traveling a long distance just when it was needed).

After a while I got a little tired of the main character constantly denying he was this reincarnated (for lack of better term?) ancient character with a destiny. I mean a lot of stuff has happened here to him that wouldn't necessarily happen to any random humble sheep herder. It just got tiring after a while. Can you imagine if say Luke Skywalker constantly whined about being manipulation into bringing balance back to the force and talked about wanting to go back to Tatooine and be a farmer? Do you know how annoying that would be?

I think some people have mentioned the straight story with no symbolism. And that's mostly true but I can't help but think "The Source" that is constantly such a temptation to use, super powerful and can inadvertently hurt people and yourself could have some kind of subtle or not so subtle metaphor. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it, that could be.

Judging by the title of the third book (spoiler?) I think he's finally going to be over it and accept that he is in essence a super-hero-like-guy...

I've already purchased the third book and am looking forward to reading it.

A Richly Detailed World Building Quest (Spoiler Free Review)
The Great Hunt is more original than The Eye of the World, but the story occasionally gets bogged down by some rich poetic world building.If that sounds ok to you, then you'll enjoy reading this book.

Story:
Rand and the rest of the party are on a quest to find an ancient battle horn with the power to summon undead heroes.The Eye of the World, Book 1 of this series, was basically a Fellowship of the Ring clone.In this book, the heroes find themselves on a new adventure, traveling across the world and facing new enemies as well as old ones.

World:
The world that Robert Jordan has crafted is amazing.It's a world building fan's dream.There's a deep history, a myriad of different factions at war, mystical creatures, a well developed magic system, and parallel universes.It's easy to understand how his fans can get lost in these books.

Writing Style:
The strength of Robert Jordan's books is his rich writing style that pulls you into his world.At times, the books seem slow paced, but it's mainly because there are so many poetic details that bring the world to life.Jordan has one of the most mentally engaging writing styles in all of fantasy.

Characters:
The survivors of the first book are back, but they seem a bit thin this time around.There's so much effort spent on the world, the characters seem a bit secondary.Also, there are so many main characters that it feels like there isn't enough time spent on their development.

Action:
The magic battles are fantastic, but the sword fights are not.Lightning rips the sky and strikes the ground throwing cobblestones in all directions.Arcing fireballs destroy buildings.The visceral descriptions of the magic battles are great and pull the reader right into the action.However, the swordfights are written like, Rand performed Monkey steals peach, then Cutting the Silk, followed by Angry Humming Bird.Really?It's terrible.The swordfights need to have the same visceral descriptions as the magic battles.Swords should cut enemies down, pierce their bellies, lop off heads...Some of the action is good, but some of it is too poetic to carry an impact.

Maturity:
There's no sex, no swearing, just a complex plot, fancy college words, and some fantasy violence.

Overall:
If you liked The Eye of the World, you'll like this book.The main appeal is the richly developed world, but take note that the characters and action do take a back seat.Fans of Stephen Erickson will also enjoy these books.

If you want some light reading that's heavy on action, you can probably skip this series.

The Great Hunt
I really like the series and the book, however, they all contain typos!
Sentences are split between paragraphs, characters names have letters missing/different and the italicised thoughts are so choppy!
I have read the paper versions, which didn't have all this going on. It is so frustrating!
Great story, but I think they need to be checked and rechecked for all this messiness.

A slow read, but it was worth it
I just finished the second sequel, The Great Hunt, and currently am reading the third one. Robert Jordan wrote the plot in a very slow pace. Six young people from a remote village gradually found themselves being a major part of the grand pattern that could change the world. That was a lot to take on one's life, therefore, the length of words to tell how those people adjusted themselves was justifiable, I supposed.

These characters took a long time (like one full book between 700-800 pages) to step up to another level of acceptance. It wasn't bad. I think we, readers, were given enough time to follow the mental growth of the characters when they were struggling with fate that changed their lives forever.

I like the way Jordan described his world. Although for that, I had to slow down my reading pace, to grasp the rich tapestries of that world. It was described in detail, that I could imagine vividly everything in it, each place with its very different people, buildings and grooves.

What Jordan lacked though, was a clear description of his female characters. I found it difficult to tell the difference between Nynaeve to Egwene or Moiraine, or Selene. They were all very similar to each other. I don't understand why they were angry all the time. There was not enough back ground to explain these females' angry attitude towards the world in general. Whenever any other character in the book said anything at all, the females replied with harsh words, or balled their fists, or twitched their mouths/eyebrows. All this only showed they were angry, but no particular logical reasons provided at all by Jordan.

Also, from several times description through the boys' thoughts, all those females were the prettiest girls the boys had ever seen in their lives. If it was said once, I can understand it. But as it was said to describe all the ladies, I found it confusing. I mean, all the ladies had was the same things, the prettiest face on earth and an angry attitude, how to tell their difference then? I don't know if in the following sequel books the female characterization would be improved, but I certainly hope so! It is too bad if such a good story line with a richly described world became annoying at some parts, due to some flatly described characters.
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Product Description
In the tenth book of he Wheel of Time from the New York Times #1 bestselling author Robert Jordan, the world and the characters stand at a crossroads, and the world approaches twilight, when the power of the Shadow grows stronger.

Fleeing from Ebou Dar with the kidnapped Daughter of the Nine Moons, whom he is fated to marry, Mat Cauthon learns that he can neither keep her nor let her go, not in safety for either of them, for both the Shadow and the might of the Seanchan Empire are in deadly pursuit.

Perrin Aybara seeks to free his wife, Faile, a captive of the Shaido, but his only hope may be an alliance with the enemy. Can he remain true to his friend Rand and to himself? For his love of Faile, Perrin is willing to sell his soul.

At Tar Valon, Egwene al'Vere, the young Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai, lays siege to the heart of Aes Sedai power, but she must win quickly, with as little bloodshed as possible, for unless the Aes Sedai are reunited, only the male Asha'man will remain to defend the world against the Dark One, and nothing can hold the Asha'man themselves back from total power except the Aes Sedai and a unified White Tower.

In Andor, Elayne Trakland fights for the Lion Throne that is hers by right, but enemies and Darkfriends surround her, plotting her destruction. If she fails, Andor may fall to the Shadow, and the Dragon Reborn with it.

Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn himself, has cleansed the Dark One's taint from the male half of the True Source, and everything has changed. Yet nothing has, for only men who can channel believe that saidin is clean again, and a man who can channel is still hated and feared-even one prophesied to save the world. Now, Rand must gamble again, with himself at stake, and he cannot be sure which of his allies are really enemies.
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Customer Reviews (2447)

Slow, Yes.But Overly Slammed
Jordan continues to develop his saga in predictable fashion.A bit less action than the other books, but is that really why people read them?

Wars Don't Always Move Briskly!
I gather many are irritated with this book because it has few of the momentous events and speed that previous books in the series take.I WAS bothered by that at first, but in retrospect, I don't think it's quite that bad.It may be the "weakest" in terms of shocking events and stunning revelations, let's keep it in perspective:We're reading an epic of Homeric quality; like any real war, it has it's ebbs and flows.I had thought clear back at the end of book 4 or 5 that Jordan would be drawing the story to a close soon.After all, we had two sides in a war, getting ready to slug it out.What more could we need?Then, to my surprise AND delight, he added at least one more faction to the mix.
Yes, this particular book slows the action quite a little, but I think it makes plenty of sense to do so.I gather many are irritated by Jordan's "random" grabs for previous characters, but I personally love it!In real life, complications happen all the time, especially when you least expect.

In summary, I suggest that someone buy this book, if they've reached this point in the series.It may be slower, but it'll pick up again in the following book(s).

I'm looking forward to the last two books with eager anticipation!

Another great book in a fantastic series
Once again Robert Jordan has taken us on a grand adventure. This book keeps us in suspense while guiding us ever onward towards the great battle to come. Though I look forward to the final book, I will be sad to see this all end. The series has so many fascinating characters that it is hard to pick a favorite. Keep reading and enjoy the ride!

The plot (?) of this book
Spoiler alert: I'm going to write about the book's plot. Mind you: the entire plot, so skip this if you don't like it be shown before reading.

1) Rand is alive and is going insane.
2) Mat is going to marry Tuon and is escaping with her after having kidnapped her.
3) Faile is still captive under the Shaidos and Perrin is trying to rescue her.
4) The whole tea available in Caemlyn has been drunk by Elayne (who is pregnant).
5) The Black Ajah does exist.
6) Egwene has been captured by someone (more about it in the next book I guess).

We already knew about points 1,2,3, 4 and 5 from previous book(s). What a pity point 6 is adding something new to the plot.

Sorry for wall of text. I will never be able to be as brief as Mr. Jordan in my descriptions.

Wheel of time
I absolutely love this series and recommend it for any fantasy readers. Robert Jordan got a little carried away with the intricacies of the plot and different story lines books 4-8, so its a little slow. The most recent book written by Robert Jordan (deceased, RIP) and Brandon Sanderson is amazing! He is doing a great job picking up the series and we can all hope it will be wrapped up soon and meets our expectations in the end. ... Read more

Product Description
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.
Amazon.com Review
Robert Jordan's bestselling Wheel of Time epic is one of the most popular fantasy series of all time for a reason. Jordan's world is rich andcomplex, and he's assembled an endearing, involving core of characterswhile mapping out an ambitious and engaging story arc.

But with the previous book, Crown of Swords, and now withPath of Daggers, the series is in a bit of a holding pattern. Pathcontinues the halting gait of the current plot line: Rand is still on thebrink of losing it, all the while juggling the political machinationsaround him and again taking to the field against the Seanchan. The rest ofthe Two Rivers kids and company don't seem to be moving much faster. Egwenecontinues to slowlyconsolidate her hold as the "true" Amyrlin (finally getting closer to TarValon and the inevitable confrontation with Elaida), and Nynaeve and Elaynekeep on wandering toward the Lion Throne, again on the run from theSeanchan. Mat Cauthon is barely mentioned, and fellow ta'verenPerrin keeps busy with politics in Ghealdan. The ending does providepromise, though, that book nine might match the pace and passion of theprevious books.

If you're already hooked, you could sooner overcome a weave of Compulsionthan avoid picking up a copy of Path of Daggers. But if you're newto the series, start at the beginning with the engrossing,much-better-paced Eye of theWorld. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1720)

Great Book
Contrary to some of the negative reviews, I really liked Book 8, Path of Daggers.I felt that this book was significantly better than Crown of Swords, and DID make progress on some sup-plots with key characters.

Probably the single biggest advantage for PoD over the previous book, Crown of Swords, is the conclusion to the BRUTAL Bowl of Winds subplot... Jordan devoted over 400 pages of the previous book (Book 7) to this irrelevant story.Wadding through Nyneve and Elayne aimlessly searching all over Ebu Dar to find the Bowl of the Winds was a TOUGH read; one that was bogged down by useless details, completely empty chapters, and menial characters.Jordan does devote a few chapters of book 8 to concluding this terrible sub-plot, but then moves on to more interesting characters.

Without giving the story away, Jordan starts a new sub-story with Perrin that I thought was pretty good, and also devotes a few chapters to Egwene and her hold on power with the rebel tower.Jordan also takes Elayne's character down a new path, which I thought was significantly more interesting than the Bowl of Winds saga, and pretty much leaves Nyneve out completely.The best sub-plot by far is the one that follows Rand... over half of this book is devoted to him, and I really felt like Jordan made progress on this front.Everything from the greater role of the Ashaman, to the impending battle with the Sechean is awesome.There are some really great scenes in book 8 that are VERY memorable... in this book Jordan truly illustrates the power of the Dragon Reborn!

I would not say that this is the best book in the entire series, but probably the best since book 5.It was a good read, and I would recommend it.

Hell of a Cliff Hanger
This book seems to focus on Rand and show his internal thoughts much more clearly than previous books, which works perfectly with the climax. Finally we begin to see the toll the Source is taking on Rand and the Asha'man, and how much Rand relies on his followers. Losing just a few Asha'man for any reason is a high price to pay for victory, and Rand has to decide whether to take the Seanchan out before they become too much of a threat, or whether to keep his valuable forces intact. Egwene struggles against the puppet strings that keep her power as Amyrlin Seat in check, while Elayne journeys back to Camelyn and faces difficulty claiming the thrown of Andor. With both of these plots we are left with a complete cliffhanger, driving this somewhat weary reader on to the next book without pause. If you haven't given up on the series yet, don't hesitate to pick up the 8th book. You've already come so far!

Not available on Kindle for the US?
Why isn't Path of Daggers available for the Kindle in the United States? I'm very disappointed, re-reading this entire series was one reason I chose to purchase an e-book reader, and since the other titles are available I assumed that this was also available. Is there even an ETA?

Series Over For Me
I gave the book a chance despite how much of an effort it was to struggle through a crown of swords, but I stopped at chapter 8.

The first 6 chapters are entirely devoted to Elayne and Nynaeve and that damn weather bowl that they searched for, for two entire books. Despite him dragging out that one chapter plot into two books, Jordan then proceeded to devote 6 chapters to using the damn thing and then them going through a gate way. The entire thing could have been done in a single page, one chapter would have dragged it out to ridiculous proportions, but 6?!?!?!

Finally after struggling through that you finally reach a chapter not about that damn bowl, and your thinking great, a chapter about Perrin. He was an interesting character in book 4, a very interesting character in fact. Granted Jordan decided to then leave him out of book 5 for reasons only he will know, he came back for books 6 and 7 to lead the army to save Rand, and argue with his wife while trying to avoid what seemed a much more stable woman.

Still he was a good character once, at least it's not about that damn bowl again, but chapter 7 ended the wheel of time series for me.

When struggling through endless pointless chapters about Elayne, Nynaeve or Egwene, there was always that reward of a return to the point of view of Mat, Perrin or Rand. But with Mat written out of this book, Perrin been thoroughly ruined by the introduction of Faile, and Rand.... Well the chapters on Rand did seem to still be of good quality, but frankly there just wasn't enough of them anymore to warrant struggling through the female point of views.

For me, that damn weather bowl ruined the wheel of time series.

FINISH IT, ALREADY!
I BEEN WAITING FOR THE END OF THIS SERIES FOREVER!!!!! Everyone is running around allwilly-nilly; nobody's quests are making sense anymore... it's time to tie up those loose ends and bring this puppy back to the kennel! I mean I've been reading this story since 1990! If you don't know how to finish it, for heavens sake- GET HELP!! I lost track of what exactly everyone's part in this saga is... and I think so have the main characters. Let Rand go mad and kill all the Forsaken and bring this psuedo-Norse folk tale to a close, so that fans like me can move on! ... Read more

Product Description
Darkness is falling everywhere and little ones are getting sleepy, feeling cozy, and being tucked in. It’s time for a wide yawn, a big hug, and a snuggle under the covers--sleep tight! “Working beautifully with the soothingly repetitive text, each painting conveys a warm feeling of safety and affection.”--School Library Journal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (158)

A "must have" for infants to toddlers
Our son is 10 months old. This is one of his FAVORITE books. The animals used in the story are perfect because most make sounds that we can imitate. When we get to the dog, our son kicks with joy and says, "uff!" And at the end, he bends down to give the baby a kiss goodnight. It's a nice quiet book, perfect for bedtime - it even makes ME sleepy! Get the board book if you can for infants-toddlers - it's perfect for their little hands. Makes a GREAT gift - especially for new parents.

Great teaching book about animals and bedtime
Love this book I read it to my kids every night and they learned their animals with this book too. I wish they made more like it with other animals.

First and favorite book for our twin girls!
We received this book as a gift and started reading it to the girls at bedtime when they were about 4 months old. The pictures are big and beautiful and as a parent you will never forget the words!My husband and I used to bet how far in the book we could get without yawning ourselves!Our girls are almost 3 now and they still love it.This book is a really wonderful gift for new parents!

Great bedtime story
Rhyming, sing-songy story with sweet illustrations. I've given this as a baby shower gift dozens of times.

Best Baby Book Ever...
This book has the most beautiful animal illustrations...It's a must have bedtime book for little ones.A traditional gift for newborns in our family. ... Read more