Verdura: The Life and Work of a Master Jeweler

Book Description

A master of metamorphosis, Sicilian duke-turned-jewelry-designer Fulco di Verdura (1898-1978) studded seashells with precious gems, transformed sailor's knots into pearl-encrusted necklaces, and wrapped blazing ruby hearts with braided gold rope. Since the mid-20th century, his ultrasophisticated neo-Baroque pieces have been the status symbols of a near-secret society of European blue bloods, Hollywood royalty, and Park Avenue patricians. Verdura's by-appointment-only patrons included Wallis Simpson, Marlene Dietrich, and Diana Vreeland, who considered his Maltese Cross cuffs an essential part of her daily uniform.

In this lavish book, featuring fresh color photographs as well as vintage images, Patricia Corbett presents a deft evaluation of Verdura's work and a glimpse inside his impossibly glamorous world.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing.......2006-03-29

This book has not only wonderful pictures but also incredible biography of Verdura -- highly recommend it.

Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero and Pioneer of Big Wave Surfing
Average customer rating:

Maika'i

Long live Eddie!

The medium is not the message

Inspiring Book

Scott does not know it all !

Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero and Pioneer of Big Wave Surfing
Stuart Holmes Coleman
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books
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General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312327188

Book Description

Every winter, the world's elite big wave riders gather at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu and wait. When the sun comes up, they size up the waves and ponder: Would Eddie Aikau go? Eddie Aikau rode the biggest waves in the world, rescued hundreds of drowning swimmers from the North Shore's unfor-giving waters, and, ultimately, sacrificed his life to save fellow sailors aboard the voyaging Canoe Hokulea. 'The Eddie' is the world's most prestigious surfing contest, held only when the waves reach at least twenty feet high. Eddie Would Go is the splendid tale of Aikau's legendary life and legacy, an informative history of surfing, and an engrossing account of modern Hawaii.

Customer Reviews:

Maika'i.......2007-04-21

Inspiring. Talks not only to the story of the great person Eddie was, but to what he means to Hawaii and the pride of their culture and roots.

Long live Eddie!.......2007-02-19

Eddie Aikau is the personification of selflessness. You need to read this story to truly understand.

The medium is not the message.......2006-12-20

I recommend this book as a convenient source for information about Eddie Aikau for those who wish to know more about him or those who simply wish to know about people who have inspired others.
The subtitle of the book is well chosen: this is a story, not a biography or history. It is obvious (at times frustratingly so) that Coleman relied heavily on hearsay for much of his information (cf. some other reviews), and he does not hesitate to simply make up things he could not possibly know about (e.g., what sundry characters, including Eddie Aikau, think at various junctures).
Another shortcoming of the book is Coleman's poor writing. He is much given to hyperbole, and this detracts from the story. For example, several times he writes that surfing and water-related lifestyles generally are dangerous because the sea is "the most unpredictable thing in the world" (this being a paraphrase). Nearly simultaneously, he stresses that only the skilled dare or ought dare challenge the sea. Obviously, total (or even substantial) unpredictability precludes acquisition of any skill--there are no professional lottery players, for example--and such would make the process of learning about the sea, big waves, and what have you impossible. As Eddie Aikau obviously (on Mr. Coleman's own testimony and the testimony he collected) did possess such skill, the sea cannot be totally unpredictable. Coleman intends the reader to conclude only that the sea is not perfectly predictable; the reader would be better served if he had simply said so.
That said, however, the shortcomings of the way this story is related do not detract from its attractiveness. The story of Eddie Aikau _is_ inspiring, even to this reader. By "even to this reader," I wish to relate that I do not surf, have little special interest in Hawai'i, and fully intend to go happily to my grave (happily at least in this respect) without ever having surfed or visited Hawai'i again. A strong point of the story is that Coleman does not gloss over unattractive aspects of Aikau's character: political ignorance (visiting South Africa during the worst times), reckless drinking, a tendency to violence, etc.
Don't expect much of the book, and it won't disappoint; however, readers may well wish to do on their own more research than Mr. Coleman did.

Inspiring Book.......2006-01-10

Stuart Holmes Coleman did a wonderful job displaying the life of Eddie Aikau. The story entailed plenty of Hawaiian history and culture while telling Eddie's moving life story. The book also displays the difficulties of being Hawaiian and gives a good background of his loving family. Eddie was the first one to surf big waves, and I mean big (40-50ft.). He is a Hawaiian idol because he inspired many to surf, and there is a big wave contest every year in memory of Eddie. Eddie was on the yearly trip to re-enact how the Philippians founded the Hawaiian island when a storm broke loose and the boat was stranded at sea. Eddie convinced the captain to let him take the surf board and swim to shore to get help (that's where "Eddie would go" comes from). He left the ship with intent to save everyone but was never seen again, but the crew was later rescued by a ship passing by. I loved the book; I think that it is inspiring to live life to the fullest as Eddie did. After reading a story like this, my own life seems boring; I wish that I was as brave and bold as Eddie. This book can let you draw your own conclusions and learn your own life lessons, and the story is so great that is it worthy of rereading and retelling. I highly recommend the book to surfers, or anyone else that wants to read a good life story. Eddie Would Go is a great book for any kind of reader, and good for anyone over the age of eight. If you are contemplating reading this book, go and buy it, it is well worth it.

Scott does not know it all !.......2005-12-10

I have spoken to Mr.Coleman and he admitted to me, Butch's sister, that he did not verify his scorce(s) when he wrote Butch VanArtsdalen was the son of alcholic parents. This is a slanderous lie, and if our parents were still alive I would sue Mr. Coleman for it. If Scott would do this to the VanArtsdalen family,I can only wonder how much of the book is actually true.
Also, I do not see why he chose to attack Butch, since the book is about Eddie Aikau!
Shame on you Scott & Stick to your subject!

Sincerely & Always Butch's Sis

Customer Reviews:

an Excellent General Survey of the Martial Arts Movie genre.......1998-07-30

Decent overviews but... A lot of pages devoted Bruce Lee and Japanese Samuri stuff. Goodly amount of pictures and info but I found lots of mistakes and the literary emphasis is on cinematic development rather than who is in what and when. This book is more for the person interested in the Martial Arts movie as an art form rather than someone who wants to know what is good to rent.

MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES: From Bruce Lee To The Ninjas

Average customer rating:

MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES: From Bruce Lee To The Ninjas
Richard; Harlib, Amy; Palmer, Bill & Karen Meyers
Manufacturer: Citadel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PCAAG2

Average customer rating:

MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES FROM BRUCE LEE TO THE NINJAS
Richard, Amy Harlib. Bill and Karen Palmer Meyers
Manufacturer: Citadel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QS38BE

Book Description

Pages full of exciting, revealing ideas designed to build, capture, and preserve family treasures for now and for the future! Best-selling author, teacher, and parent Debbie Trafton O'Neal explores the importance of family ties and traditions-preserving the past and the present for the future-and looks at ways to create stronger families by creating family histories. This is a book for every family to enjoy together.

Real Estate Appraisal from A to Z: Real Estate Appraiser, Homeowner, Home Buyer and Seller Survival Kit Series (Real Estate from a to Z)
Average customer rating:

Excellent Book! We use this to train our home inspectors.

Great book with great advice

Excellent book to learn from a pro and price your house.

I liked this book a lot. Very informative with good guidance

a good place to start

Real Estate Appraisal from A to Z: Real Estate Appraiser, Homeowner, Home Buyer and Seller Survival Kit Series (Real Estate from a to Z)
Guy Cozzi
Manufacturer: Nemmar Real Estate Training
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Real Estate | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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Fundamentals of Real Estate Appraisal

ASIN: 1887450092

Product Description

Nemmar Real Estate Training is ranked as the most exclusive real estate appraiser, home inspector and real estate investor training service since 1988. Our real estate books, DVDs, CDs and Videos are rated number one in their real estate categories nationwide! Our products have taught thousands of home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals worldwide. You too can learn everything you need to know about Real Estate - from Asbestos to Zoning. With this knowledge you will save thousands of dollars when you buy, sell, or renovate your home. You will also learn how to eliminate safety hazards and properly maintain a home. Statistics show an average savings of at least $4,700.00 per home for customers who have read our books. Our home inspection, appraisal, and home improvement books have been called the Bible of the real estate industry. Written by Guy Cozzi who has decades of experience as a licensed appraiser, home inspector, consultant, and real estate i! nvestor. This top selling author has been quoted as a real estate expert by the New York Times and many other publications. He has been a guest speaker on real estate investment TV shows and has taught thousands of people how to inspect, appraise and invest in real estate and provides advice to many banks and mortgage lenders. www.nemmar.com Don't let your dream house be a nightmare in disguise! Everything you need to know about Real Estate - from Asbestos to Zoning. This book has a 5-star rating and is definitely the best real estate appraisal book on the market. Every aspect of real estate appraising is covered with precise steps to follow plus photographs with descriptions and sample appraisal reports. The real facts other books don't tell you! Youll learn everything that your Realtor doesn't want you to know. Realtors sugar coat the negative market value problems in a house in order to close the deal and get paid their sales commission. This is unquestionably the only book of its kind that teaches you how to prevent those pitfalls. You get information that the professionals use to make you an educated consumer enabling you to negotiate a much better price on the purchase, renovation, or sale of your home. Whether you are looking to become an appraiser or just to buy or sell your own home - this book has it all. Do you really know the true market value of your home? This "A to Z Appraiser" book will assist you with the biggest investment of your life - your own home! These products were originally designed to train top-notch, professional appraisers and are now available at a price affordable to everyone. All homes need to be inspected, appraised and updated for safety hazards, routine maintenance, and energy efficiency. In addition, this book contains many pages of photos, graphs, illustrations and sample appraisal reports that show potential market value adjustments found when buying or selling a home. By identifying any negative aspects before you buy or sell, you'll be able to negotiate a much better price. 432 pages with 8.5 x 11 dimensions. This book and the Real Estate from A to Z series are now being offered at a very large discount via the Internet compared to our normal professional training school prices. Key Benefits: - Crucial Advice to Assist You: This book tells you the truth, unlike others that gloss over the hard facts. Aspects of appraising and real estate investment that tell you the realities so you don't walk into it with your eyes closed. This information will be invaluable to you in a home purchase, sale or ownership. - Safety Concerns: Eliminate safety hazards to make your home safe for you and your family. Help prevent accidents before they happen! Learn how to identify lethal carbon monoxide problems, unsafe electrical wiring, lead poisoning hazards, asbestos and radon health concerns, explosive gas leaks, oil tanks, termites, and much more. - In-Depth Appraisal Topics: You'll learn every aspect of the rea

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Book! We use this to train our home inspectors........2005-07-23

I own a very successful home inspection business in California. We use all of this authors products to train my staff since they are the by far the best products for real estate training on the market. We originally found out about these products through excellent book reviews in the local real estate publications. From that we learned the following details and decided to purchase the whole "Real Estate From A to Z" series by this author:

Nemmar Real Estate Training is ranked as the most exclusive real estate appraiser training, home inspector training, and real estate investor consulting service since 1988. Our real estate books, DVDs, CDs and Videos are rated number one in their real estate categories nationwide! Our products have taught thousands of home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals worldwide. You too can learn everything you need to know about Real Estate - from Asbestos to Zoning. With this knowledge you will save thousands of dollars when you buy, sell, or renovate your home. You will also learn how to eliminate safety hazards and properly maintain a home. Statistics show an average savings of at least $4,700.00 per home for customers who have our books and DVD videos. Our real estate investment, home inspection, appraisal, and home improvement books have been called the "Bible" of the real estate industry. Written by Guy Cozzi, who has decades of experience as a licensed appraiser, home inspector, consultant, and real estate investor. This top selling author has been quoted as a real estate expert by the New York Times and many other publications. He has been a guest speaker on real estate investment TV shows and has taught thousands of people how to conduct home inspections, real estate appraisals, and how to invest in real estate. He also provides real estate advice to many banks and mortgage lenders.

Great book with great advice.......2005-01-10

Before I listed my house for sale I bought this book to learn what price to tell the realtors I would accept. A few years ago I was going to sell my house and the brokers that came by wanted to list my house for a lower price than my neighbor's house sold for a month earlier. I decided not to sell back then. Now I put my home on the market again and this time I learned why my asking price was correct based upon what I learned in this book. When the brokers came by I made sure they realized that I had good reasons to justify the sales price I wanted to get. That alone earned me a lot of money in the final selling price.

I'm not an appraiser but by getting the concepts that they use from this book I was able to know enough about it to help sell my house. It was great advice and the book is great and enjoyable to read since it's not boring! Get this if you buy or sell real estate since you will learn a lot.

Excellent book to learn from a pro and price your house........2004-07-10

This is a fantastic book to learn how to decide what the price and market value is for you house or condominium or rental property. There was a ton of great and helpful advice that was excellent and easy to read and learn from. Many appraiser books are too technical and written only for professional appraisers but this book is written in a way that anyone can benefit from. When I wanted to sell my house I knew that I should not rely on what a real estate broker tells me since they just want to earn a commission. So I decided to read up on how to decide what price to sell my house and was able to do that properly with what I learned in this book. Great book for anyone interested in real estate. Highly recommended if you want to maximize your real estate profits and have a top appraiser walk you through the process every step of the way.

I liked this book a lot. Very informative with good guidance.......2004-05-14

This was my choice for the book to teach me about real estate appraisals. Before my husband and I did a very expensive renovation and remodeling of our home, we wanted to find out what the sales price of the house could be if the work was done. Since we are not appraisers we wanted to learn what a real estate appraiser does and looks for to decide on what a house is worth in the market. This book told us everything that we wanted to know and a lot more. You do not have to be someone with years of experience to be able to understand how to appraise real estate with this book. We learned so much helpful advice and techniques that my husband and I realized the home remodeling and improvements we were planning to spend a fortune for, would have not been a good investment. This book showed us how to determine the value using a what-if scenario that professional appraisers use. We learned that only 70% of the money we were planning to spend would have been a good investment to increase the sales price of our home. The extra 30% would have been an over-improvement in the appraisal lingo which means that we would have been over-spending on the remodeling without getting the increased value and sales price for our home. When you are talking about a $115,000.00 remodeling and improvement job, then that 30% this book saved us is certainly something that my husband and I are very happy to have learned. This book was a great investment for us and has given us a phenomenal return on the purchase price in savings.

a good place to start.......2004-05-12

If getting to know your home is important to you, then REAL ESTATE APPRAISING FROM A TO Z is a good place to start. It addresses safety concerns; inspections of the Operating Systems, the Lower Level, the Interior & Exterior, Direct Sales, Sample Appraisal Reports, Cost,Income & more.

Rebeccasreads recommends REAL ESTATE APPRAISING FROM A TO Z for those who want to learn everything their Realtor doesn't want them to know, without the sugar coat. You'll learn how to catch the problem conditions in any house, how to close the deal & a new career in one of the hottest markets.

Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America
Average customer rating:

Utterly Artless

Kindred Soul of another writer

Another bullseye for Natalie Goldberg

I got so absorbed, I missed a deadline!

Not Just About Writing, No This One Is Ultimately About Life

Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America
Natalie Goldberg
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0553373153
Release Date: 1994-02-01

Customer Reviews:

Utterly Artless.......2006-08-29

Long Quiet Highway is an enormous disappointment. N. Goldberg became so absorbed in the idea of writing for the sake of writing that she no longer cared if she could write _well_. It seems to me that if you're going to declare yourself a writer, you should at least take the time to edit and make sure your prose is worth publishing. It's almost as if she went to a cafe and doodled in her diary for a few months and then typed up her daily musings without even a glance back at what she'd written. If you're reading this book simply to understand how one woman applied her search for peace through the practice of Zen, then you'll probably find it a useful read. But if you have any desire to read something remotely well-written, this is not the book for you.

Kindred Soul of another writer.......2006-06-02

Doing my search for my thesis on Women's memoir writing, I came across this fantastic memoir. I was not able to put it down because I felt a kindred spirit along on this journey. As a writer and writing professor, I was enlightened and energized by the stillness Goldberg found through her writing practice. I would encourage seekers of Zen and writers looking to further their creative vision alike, to immerse themselves in this Journey.

Another bullseye for Natalie Goldberg.......2005-03-29

This book documents Natalie's journey with Zen & writing. It is honest and straight forward. There are many valueable lessons to be learned from this book. It deals with life, death, divorce, personal growth & empowerment. This book is a discourse with life in simple clarity. As others have said this is a book you will read more than once.

I got so absorbed, I missed a deadline!.......2005-03-03

When this book first came out, I remember reading it straight through three times. And I sent it to nearly every writer or spiritual seeker I knew.

Today, I was looking on my bookshelf hoping for inspiration on a book to send a new friend who is in the midst of a spiritual struggle (though I see it as an awakening). I picked up Ms. Goldberg's book and started thumbing through it. Before I knew it, the time had flown by and I'd completely forgotten about my work... yikes-my deadline! I just ordered a copy for my friend, and am going to reread the book myself.

This is what makes it so great: it is honest and authentic. It is like sitting in a room with someone and having them decribe a fascinating and compelling journey. It is the complications of zen practice made simple to understand. Reading it is exactly the experience the title suggests... it is a journey.

For anyone who understands the struggle to "wake up." This is a beautiful book to keep by your side.

Not Just About Writing, No This One Is Ultimately About Life.......2004-03-13

Imagine running a marathon for 1000 days in 7 years. Sound crazy to you? Well, there is a Japanese order of monks who did just that, and immediately following the marathon they fasted for 9 days; that is, they had no food OR water and NO SLEEP. Sound extreme? Perhaps, but it is a practice which is said to completely awaken these monks, heightening their senses such as keenness of their noses and ears.

Like these monks, Natalie Goldberg has a marathon of her own to keep her senses sharpened. She writes, and does so very often. Her writing allows her to understand her own life experience in a concrete way. This book is like a chronicle if Goldberg's life, a fascinating tale of peace work and Zen practice. We all have something to learn in another's experience, especially when there is a very human quality to it. Very personal. Because that's our own life, and like Natalie uses her experience to help others we likewise can do the same. Goldberg has written a myriad of books on writing as a spiritual process, and this is possibly her very best one. Enjoy!

Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America
Average customer rating:
Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America
Natalie Goldberg
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HYZ0JK

Long Quiet Highway. Waking Up in America.
Average customer rating:
Long Quiet Highway. Waking Up in America.

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I35FC2

Long Quiet Highway - Waking Up In America
Average customer rating:
Long Quiet Highway - Waking Up In America
Natalie Goldberg
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W18SZG

Average customer rating:
Long Quiet Highway - Waking Up in America
Natalie Goldberg
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O5Z39E

Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America
Average customer rating:
Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America
Natalie Goldberg
Manufacturer: Bantam Dell Pub Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NP29Y2

Book Description

Beginning in World War I, with the introduction of the steel helmet this book charts the development of protective equipment for soldiers and security forces. Initially body armour was seen as a military luxury that could be ill-afforded. However, the success of ‘flak suits’ as worn by some bomber crews during World War II convinced the armed forces of the need to develop protection for the ground soldier against small arms fire. The scientific development of the modern flak jacket is traced as are the field trials conducted in Korea and later Vietnam. Extensive illustrations and photographs accompnay the text.

Customer Reviews:

Useful Introduction to the Subject.......2001-12-30

Though body armor of one sort or another was used in ancient times, after the introduction of firearms, it fell into disuse in Western armies.
It was found during WW I after the troops on the Western Front had gone to ground, that up to 80% of the casualties were caused by artillery fragments and mortar bomb splinters. This led to the universal use of steel helmets by 1916 as the troops in ordinary defense were protected by the trenches themselves. Some specialist troops such as machine gunners wore heavy plate armor which hooked over the shoulders but this was too heavy for use in mobile maneuvers.
The author points out that the word flak is the abbreviation for the German word for anti aircraft gun, a typical long compound noun. Due to the widespread introduction of plate armor contained in jackets, by the US Army Air Forces for bomber crews to counter flak the name stuck. There were also armored seats in fighter aircraft. This type of airman's armor was not constrained by weight considerations.
The next development was the use of armor for ground troops. This began widely during the siege phase of the Korean War with the M1952 vest. Later in Vietnam special armor was developed for the crews of helicopters which included groin pieces.
Modern armor is often made of ceramic or of kevlar and is made of small plates carried in pocketed garments. Though the police SWAT teams often wear such vests, they are not considered to be bullet proof, their purpose is to slow down a projectile so that it merely wounds or bruises instead of penetrating the targeted person. There is no such thing as a "bullet proof" vest, just various levels of protection.
As this work is about twenty years old now, it could well be supplemented with another followon volume.

An Overview But Far From Complete.......2001-12-28

This work has been out for some time now. It is still the useful introduction that it was in 1984 but of course needs revision.
As the author points out, the term "flak" is the German abbreviation for their typical lengthy compound noun meaning antiaircraft gun. It came to be used in conjunction with body armor in WW II when the USAF issued plate armor to the bomber crews over Germany. And the similarity of the fragments resulting from bursting flak shells to that of bursting ground artillery barrages completed the analogy even though it is technically incorrect.
Although armor of one sort or another has been worn for centuries with the introduction of hand firearms it fell into disuse in the West except for ceremonial use in the sixteenth century though vestiges were worn in China and Japan.
It was found in the Great War which began in 1914 in western Europe that after the troops went to ground in late 1914 the predominant casualties were caused by artillery shell and mortar bomb fragments. By 1916 all the contenders on the western front wore steel helmets to protect the head while the earthworks kept away direct small arms fire except when charging in the open. Rifle caliber wounds were never to be protected against except by heavy plate armor used by machine gunners and other specialists. This material just could not be made for all the front line troops. It was too heavy. Just as in WW II the flyers used heavy plate but the infantry did not.
After the war development continued and the introduction of lightweight layered multi plate armor of composite construction was introduced during the Korean War. The M1952 body armor was introduced to US and UN forces in Korea and later was furnished to the French in Indo China.
The author then goes on to give an overview of developments to the time of publication. As usual the color plates are superb and well annotated.

Customer Reviews:

Nostalgic look at old Florida and what has been lost........2007-06-27

As a native Floridian, I have bemoaned the loss of the state I remember. Shopping malls and amusement parks have replaced much of what I think of as Florida. This book speaks to these feelings and should be read by anyone concerned about the rampant growth of our society which seems bent on destroying any sense of the past. At least we can glimpse what was once there through this well written and heartfelt book.

Not a blade of grass left........2006-09-21

My grandma says "there won't be a blade of grass left." Belleville explains why. A personal story of man who finds the true Florida, a people who scratched out a living in the early days and survived many hurricanes, only to be swept away today by developers. Highly recommended reading for anyone who is fighting urban sprawl.

Offers Floridians and others hope for appreciating nature.......2006-06-21

Bill Belleville is a documentary filmmaker and author specializing in conservation: how work has appeared extensively in magazines, has been anthologized in collections, and he's written many books, but LOSING IT ALL TO SPRAWL: HOW PROGRESS ATE MY CRACKER LANDSCAPE hits closer to home than many of his other books. Bill Belleville writes of his historic Cracker farmhouse and old neighborhood of central Florida even as it's being wiped out: any who have visited the area in the last few years will readily acknowledge the truths and observations in LOSING IT ALL TO SPRAWL. In addition to documenting the underlying social, political and economic forces at work in promoting sprawl, Belleville offers Floridians and others hope for appreciating nature.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

What price, progress?.......2006-03-31

Fifteen years the author lived in a 'cracker' house at the end of a dirt road and shared the solitude enjoyed by former occupants for more than seventy years. It was a perfect hide-away for a freelance environmental writer and film maker, where privacy was respected, where nature was sufficient unto itself and its creatures, and where the only compromises with modernity were indoor plumbing and electricity. Even the window unit air conditioner was redundant in a house designed in simpler times, well shaded and with natural cross ventilation.
One day the shrill back-up signal of earth-moving equipment shattered the tranquility, a nails-on-blackboard, unsettling sound that forewarned of loss of innocence to come. A new mega-mall is planned nearby, and already the landscape is denuded and sculpted to accommodate the thousands of cars, SUV's and service vehicles that would respond. "If you build it, they will come." (With apologies to W. P. Kinsella.)
Bill Belleville is an award-winning writer, the author of River of Lakes, A Journey on Florida's St. Johns River, Deep Cuba and Sunken Cities, Sacred Cenotes and Golden Sharks. His film making credits include an Emmy award for Wekiva: Legacy or Loss.
It was Belleville's cracker house and his story, and the story of those who lived there before. But in a larger sense it is my story and yours, all of us who have witnessed the sacrifice of the playgrounds of childhood and the sanctuaries of memory at the altar of 'progress.' But we don't have to write it. Bill Belleville has done it for us with the same beauty and poignancy that marked his earlier works, but this time with righteous anger born of loss.
A wonderful, compelling, intensely personal book that reminds the rest of us of what we, too, have lost, and leaves us asking "What price, progress?"

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