Don Juan Theme: An Annotated Bibliography

Book Description

Chris Amon, a New Zealand sheep farmer's son who led the Ferrari team for two seasons in the late 1960s, is remembered in Formula 1 as the best driver never to win a Grand Prix. Yet his contemporary Jackie Stewart rated him 'one of the world's foremost drivers' and Jochen Rindt considered him a true rival. Eoin Young, an ace storyteller, chronicles the life of this extraordinarily unlucky racer who was driving at the age of six, had a pilot's license at 16, and raced a 1954 250F Grand Prix Maserati a year later.

Customer Reviews:

Go, Chris!.......2006-05-18

A big fan of Chris Amon, I tried to follow his career and watched some of the Formula One races where he was comfortably leading (Jarama 1968, Montjuich 1969) and must have won. The way I felt witnessing his car breaking down those times, I cannot even imagine how he must have felt! I also watched some other of his rides during those years in Spain, France and Britain. And I unfortunately missed his masterful driving pieces at Monza, Spa and, very especially, Clermont-Ferrand. After all, not much F1 on TV then, and no time and money to get to every Grand Prix there was.

And here I found, a few months ago, his biography written by no less than Eoin Young. Besides attending a race live, the other best way of knowing what was going on, and getting fine entertainment out of the reading, was to get a copy of Autocar, (not easy to find here in Spain) and read one of Eoin's articles. Of course, I couldn't miss this book!

I really felt transported to the "good old times", and enjoyed enormously the reading. It was much better than attending the missing races, and knowing first-hand about Chris personality, ups and downs, were both gratifying and touching. I especially savoured the italian anecdotes of his Ferrari times: His lunches in the company of the great Enzo Ferrari, were really something, not to mention the return trips with the Old Man at the wheel of the 2+2 Berlinetta. And the situation during the '67 Le Mans 24-hour, in the middle of the night, trying to replace a punctured wheel of his P4, can make you laugh to tears.

I believe this book is a must for anyone interested in the history of motorsport. Thanks to Eoin for such great reading moments.

Forza Amon!.......2005-10-23

"Forza Amon" is the first full length biography of this legendary unlucky driver, and is a ripping good yarn. Previous writings about Amon were usually hindered by the fact that Amon was considered to be part of a trio - Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme were other New Zealand drivers participating in Formula One at more or less the same time as Chris, and there are a number of "Trio at the top" titles which deal with all three New Zealanders. "Forza Amon" is written by a fellow New Zealander, Eoin Young, who used to work for the McLaren Racing Team in the 1960's, and later on as a motorsport journalist. Young and Amon both knew each other back in the early McLaren days when Chris was an up and comer in the game.

The tale begins with a young Kiwi on a farm in Bulls, New Zealand, the same young Kiwi who would taste the ultimate success at Le Mans in 1966, and who would go on to lead the famous and illustrious Ferrari team in their F1 efforts. During a Formula One career spanning 13 seasons from 1963 to 1976, Amon would famously lead 183 laps in Formula One Championship races, failing to finish first even once (he did win a couple of non-championship F1 events, including the 1971 Argentine F1 race).

Yound writes of Amon's early motorsport endeavours in small town NZ in the 50's, before debutting with Reg Parnell's outfit in 1963, having made the trip to Europe. The glory days with Ferrari, March, and Matra are covered. The distasterous Amon F1 car is discussed, as is the shambolic 1973 effort with Tecno, before Amon stepped into the 3rd Tyrell for the penultimate race of the season. Chris's F1 career winds down with Ensign, the little outfit for which Chris finished 5th in one race.

The book benefits from what appears to considerable input from Chris himself - it is obvious that Young spent a lot of time down on the family farm in Bulls, coaxing these stories out of Chris over a beer (or dozen). Young also draws upon contempory writings particularly those of Motorsport and Denis Jenkinson. There are a number of photographs, colour and black & white in 4 inserts throughout the book. "Forza Amon!" is fast, easy, and enjoyable reading especially for those who dislike the sanitized Formula One of today.

What a joy ride!.......2005-07-13

Back in the olden days-well, the seventies-when there was no such thing as F1 racing on teevee, one had to rely on periodicals to stay current! Really, magazines! One quickly discovered the good magazines were:"Autosport","Motorsport" and "Competition Press" and that guys like Denis Jenkinson, Pete Lyons and Eoin Young were the guys you wanted to read. Sure there were others but these were my big three. Anyway, imagine my delight on finding a biography of the eternally unlucky Kiwi written by the eternally entertaining one! I only saw Amon in action twice, both times near the end of his career (Long Beach and Anderstorp 1976) but had known of him for years longer and like I said: Eoin Young's prose is of the best! The book is wonderfully evocative of a better time in the world of autoracing, or so it would seem; the drivers, anyway, were personalities and not corporate paper dolls, the circuits varied and challenging and the cars needful of drivers, real drivers!
If for nothing more than chapter three, "High times: the Ditton Road Flyers and 'Big Ed'"this book is well worth the money and the time it takes to read. I was laughing so hard it was a wonder the nice men with the butterfly nets didn't come and take me to the laughing academy.
The rest of the book is likewise engaging, informative and sometimes the incidents described are tragic, so that it's a relief to find that our hero hadn't gone home to Bulls, New Zealand to become a bitter recluse forever damning the (bad) old days.
I will certainly be keeping an eye open for future offerings from Mister Young, as long as he keeps writing 'em, I'll keep reading 'em.

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Forza Amon!: A Biography of Chris Amon
Eoin S. Young
Manufacturer: Haynes Publications Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MHQ67M

Book Description

What's weighing on Americans? Look to horror movies for your answer—they're one of the best measures of the American consciousness. From an early fascination with the Gothic, to the mutant horrors of the Atomic Age and alien enemies of the Cold War, to the inner demons of the psyche and the American Dream turned nightmare, the history of American horror films is a reflection of changing American cultural attitudes and values—and the fears that accompany them.

This survey of the pivotal horror films produced in America examines the history of the genre as a reflection of cultural changes in the United States. It begins with an exploration of the origins of the genre, and follows its development until the present, using various films to document the evolution of Hollywood horror flicks and illustrate their cultural significance. The second part focuses on eight pivotal directors whose personal visions helped shape the genre—from early pioneers like Tod Browning and Alfred Hitchcock, to modern masters like John Carpenter and Wes Craven.

Customer Reviews:

A BRIEF BUT INFORMATIVE HORROR PRIMER.......2005-08-03

In Nightmare's in Red, White & Blue, Author Joseph Maddrey traces the history of American horror films and how they reflected the culture, attitudes, and the social and political climates of the periods. He starts with an evaluation of the silent era and the German Expressionist films of Paul Wegener (The Golem), Robert Weine (The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) and F.W. Murnau (Nosferatu). In these cases we have directors who fled the oncoming Nazi regime in their native land but these earlier works were a result of the socially repressive society. The silent section is pretty sparse and Maddrey barely mentions the films of Lon Chaney Sr.

From the silent films, Maddrey moves on to the classic horrors of the 30's and 40's. He links the popularity of these films to the depression and moviegoers enjoyment of seeing people onscreen taking matters into their own hands which was contrary to most American's lives of the day where one had little control over the social and economic conditions in which they lived. I tend to think that analysts over think things and I believe that these films simply offered some escapism to Americans both during the depression and WWII. Maddrey discussed many classics of the era including Frankenstein (although curiously mentions little about the superior sequel Bride of Frankenstein and its anti-religious overtones), Dracula, The Island of Lost Souls, Freaks, and many others. Maddrey often quotes J. David Skal who wrote perhaps the best book on the culture of horror films "The Monster Show". One of Maddrey's best evaluations is on the 1934 classic, "The Black Cat' which paired Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff together for the first time. The social tragedy of WWI is the backdrop of the cat & mouse game between vengeful Lugosi and Satan-worshipping Karloff with the fate of two American newlyweds hinging on the outcome. It's a remarkable film even today. Succeeding chapters explore the anti-war/nuclear ramification films of the 1950's including War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and many others as well as the films of Roger Corman and William Castle. The book carries on into the modern gothic vampire films of today.

The second part focuses on several film auteurs and their contributions to Horror films including Tod Browning, Alfred Hitchcock, Roger Corman, George Romero, John Carpenter, David Lynch and Wes Craven. The examination of these directors is easily the best part of the book and I was especially happy to see Tod Browning covered in such depth.

Nightmares in Red, White & Blue isn't really long enough to be considered a serious evaluation of horror films. There are too many films omitted or covered only in brief. But it does serve as a very good primer to the history of horror films, covering the major films, directors, and actors. The second part of the book is really the meat of the book and this section is worth the price of the book alone. Maddrey writes in a conversational style and he's certainly not as dry as Skal tends to be. The book is well-researched although I would have liked to have heard Maddrey's opinions a bit more rather than relying on quotes from Skal and others.

Reviewed By Tim Janson

Sequel?.......2005-02-22

I was 100% entertained by Joseph's style, and received an education in the Horror film's impact on America (and vice versa) that I could never have gathered from countless hours on my own. This is a fantastic guidebook through not only American History, but also through the history of American Horror.

When will the sequel - the one that covers the Bush Administration's impact on America - go to press?

"I like the dark. . . . It's friendly.".......2004-06-09

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue is not just a history of themes in American horror movies and how those themes relate to the country's idea of itself (in other words, all the subtext-hunting B-movie lovers love). It's the best book on American horror movies and their reasons for existing I've ever read. (One of my fantasies of paradise is to receive in the mail a copy of every book on movies McFarland & Company publishes. Fortunately I live near a university library that orders most of them.)

Joseph Maddrey proves that 200 pages is long enough to do justice to almost any subject if you're organized and know what you want to say.

Part I takes a historical view of the eras of American horror movies - - Universal monsters shuffling through the ruins the Great War; invaders from the depths of communist space; rebellious Roger Corman cheapies; sharks, slashers, and shinings; postmodern monstrosities impersonating European movie stars (Bela Lugosi's not dead, he's Catherine Deneuve).

My favorite chapter title is "What the Fifty Foot Woman Did to the Incredible Shrinking Man." In that chapter the book shows on consecutive pages three iconic images of woman-as-victim from famous seventies horror films.

Part II is a detailed examination of auteurs, including Tod Browning, Roger Corman, George Romero, John Carpenter, Larry Cohen, David Lynch, and Wes Craven.

Maddrey deserves an award for accomplishing something few critics do - - he quickly summarizes stories and what those stories are saying about American society without spoiling all the plot surprises. But you still know what the films are about, both on the surface and underneath.

I suspect we're on the verge of a new American nightmare to answer the American dream. I hope we can wake up from this one, too.

Product Description

GENERAL FEATURES: Hard to Solve Cryptograms by Sterling Publishing Co. is designed for hours of thinking fun! Each of these 300 Cryptograms is meant for the brightest and the best with no concessions to the less than skilled! Every puzzle uses weird words, strange letter combinations and tricky syntax. These are the cream of the crop; the most challenging cryptograms you can try! This book contains 96 pages. Approximately 5 3/8 by 8 1/4 inches.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2002-07-15

Very clever, very satisfying. I wish there were
more books like this one.

Average customer rating:

very useful

Reality Check

Not For Everyone

Disappointing

The Advertising Agency Business:

The Advertising Agency Business: The Complete Manual for Management & Operation
Eugene J. Hameroff
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Advertising | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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The Advertising Business: Operations, Creativity, Media Planning, Integrated Communications

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Creative Company: How St. Luke's Became "the Ad Agency to End All Ad Agencies"

Perfect Pitch: The Art of Selling Ideas and Winning New Business (Adweek Books)

ASIN: 084423169X

Book Description

When the first edition of Herbert Gardner's The Advertising Agency Business was published, it was heralded as the most comprehensive management guide to this dynamic, fast-changing business. The second edition established the book as the standard work on the subject. This newly revised edition by Eugene Hameroff continues that tradition. In twenty-eight short, easy-to-read chapters, you will find out how to:

Start an agency
Manage your agency profitably with key financial insights, including expert guidance on determining income and profit; allocating gross income, developing solid billing procedures; identifying key operating figures; developing timely, reliable financial reports for your agency and for your clients
Evaluate an agency
Structure ownership
Manage, develop, and evaluate personnel
Develop mutually beneficial relationships with clients and suppliers
Generate new business through aggressive lead generation knowledgeable assessment of client personnel blockbuster presentations

Drawing on more than a half century of experience in agency administration, finance, and general management, this all-new edition is the indispensable guide for every advertising professional and for anyone who wants to know more about successful advertising business practice.

Customer Reviews:

very useful.......2006-01-10

I bought this book when I was marcoms manager on the side of agency's largest client. I wanted to get an insight into how an agency operates, and this book was only partly useful. If I was managing director of an ad agency I would probably find it more directly usable. It gives a lot on the financial side of running an agency. I dont think the MD of my former agency has got one :)

Reality Check.......2004-01-17

I read this and thought: what a reality check! Tons of people filter through agencies on their way to some other gig. But some people are staying in the agency world for good, in some capacity or another. They should all read this book.

There's not always one right answer as to how to run your agency, but there are, thankfully, some standard business practices and parameters, which are plainly described in this book.

I think it makes for a more balanced and effective agency.

The price is right. There's a lot of truly useful information you can share. It helps to demystify and guide. Even if you're not in a position to control the business side of your company, having this book sitting on your desk is kind of empowering. I'm glad I bought it.

Not For Everyone.......2003-11-20

This book was not written recently and many parts of it reflect that fact. It's pretty dated. It speaks mostly of the big agency world. If your already in that world, you might find the attention to accounting details helpful, as the author is clearly experienced and pays attention to dollar details. If your planning to start a small agency, (bootstrapping) you could do better than this book. If you're ready to seek funding then hire a big staff and go after Johnson and Johnson, this might have some info you could use.

Disappointing.......2002-08-12

If you're looking for ways to make a profit out of an existing operation, this book might interest you. But don't look for pointers on creative and production management, or on client-agency relationships, for example. It's a slick business book, with number crunching and capitalist views. Helpful, yes, in a limited way.

The Advertising Agency Business:.......2001-07-30

"The Advertising Agency Business" was an extremly insightful and logical read. The author focus on the basics of the industry but elaborates very well with examples. This book is a must read if you own, managage or operate an ad agency. I wish I had read this book before I started my agency!

Advertising Agency Business: The Complete Manual for Management and Operation

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Advertising Agency Business: The Complete Manual for Management and Operation
Herbert S., Jr. Gardner
Manufacturer: NTC Business Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Advertising | Marketing & Sales | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0844231673

Book Description

The eagerly awaited final volume of Robert Skidelsky's definitive biography of John Maynard Keynes covers the period from 1937, when Keynes had become the world's most influential economist, to his death in 1946. It focuses on Keynes's contribution to the financing of Britain's war effort, the building of the postwar economic order, and his role in Britain's struggle to preserve its independence within the Atlantic Alliance. Insightful and intelligent, this is a work that tells of one of the most important men of the twentieth century and provides an invaluable overview of matters that remain at the center of political and economic discussion.

Customer Reviews:

In the short run we are still alive.......2004-09-05

The last part of Robert Skidelsky's magnificent biography of J.M. Keynes is a tale about the fall of the British Empire with Keynes as one of its most clairvoyant and active go-betweens trying to avoid the disaster. Great-Britain had won the war but it was bankrupt, crushed by its debt contracted to buy US weapons.
This book shows clearly through its analysis of the Bretton-Woods negotiations and the discussions about the conversion of British debt, that the ultimate goal of the US Administration was to get Great-Britain on its knees and to take its place as world leader.
The US preferred an alliance with te Soviet Union against Britain. Their most important negotiator H.D. White was a convinced Soviet spy.
Keynes defended exhaustingly Britain's role in world matters by begging time for a reconversion of the British industry from a war to a civilian economy and for safeguarding its Commomwealth with its preferential tariff and pound sterling payment system.
The humiliatig conditions for its debt conversion imposed by the US would cripple the British economy for years. The suicidal internecine European wars created a new world hegemon: the US.

Before the war, Keynes defended his 'Treatise' policies, but saw them applied in Germany by a very clever economist, Hjalmar Schacht, who also saved the German economy internationally by creating a bilateral trade system.
Prof. Skidelsky shows us also pregnantly the deterioration of Keynes's physical condition, aggravated by his exhausting travels, difficult (empty handed) negotiations and even hard opposition at home when he was in the US.

One could perhaps slightly criticize the exhaustive excerpts of letters or the extremely detailed evolution of the negotiations in Bretton-Woods or about British debt relief. But, all in all, this is a fascinating read.

Large enough to offer details.......2003-11-10

There was a time when John Maynard Keynes was not the most famous living economist. Then he was. Then, after he died, he seemed to be more useful than Karl Marx to anyone who was interested in how modern economies actually operate in the best times, when statistics actually reflect the level of some real activities. Two earlier biographies by Robert Skidelsky cover the years in which Keynes gained in stature and wrote his General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (1936), described by Joseph Schumpeter as "the dying voice of the bourgeois crying in the wilderness for the profits it dare not fight for." (FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM 1937-1946, p. 4). This final volume starts with the problems with his heart that, after ten years of making Keynes an invalid, deprived the world of his advice at a time when situations continued to change at a pace which needed someone to keep applying different aspects of the General Theory in time to keep most elements of society from feeling that they were being swindled. He never had enough power to make a miraculous demonstration of anything, but the spread of American wealth after World War Two made many professionals think that it was possible, if not already proved, that happy days could keep reappearing here again far more optimistically than Joseph Schumpeter's dour statement.

Economics has become a science which is widely taught at a college level. Robert Skidelsky seems comfortable with writing about the political struggles involved, the nature of intellectual controversies in the field, and he is generous in his comments about Friedrich von Hayek, author of THE ROAD TO SERFDOM, and Milton Friedman, who emphasized other aspects of political economy. The years 1937-1946 had major problems of their own, and there is far more attention in FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM paid to the people that Keynes had contact with and responsibilities to. The Preface to the American Edition is dated 6 October, 2001. Already the author was prepared to apply a lesson of this book to our life and times:

"To be reminded of the realities of alliance politics, even in the case of such close partners as Britain and the United States, is timely in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September, when the United States is working to construct a global coalition against terrorism. In 1940, it was British vulnerability which threw it into the arms of the United States. America did not fail its fellow-democracy; but also used the occasion to settle old scores, and secure pole position in the post-war international order." (p. xv).

A major episode in this book recounts how an economic genius approaches the United States of America on behalf of a bankrupt country at the end of a big war to get debts pushed far enough into the future to be able to convince himself `If we don't make it by then, we're sunk anyway,' only to be asked why he didn't bring along the trade representatives. Countries which did not get involved in the current endless war might have leaders who read the British edition, which was published in 2000. Even at the beginning of this book, Keynes thought a government was foolish to commit itself to a war before the overwhelming mass of its people were convinced that the war was absolutely necessary, even after he felt that the Munich Agreement had been a pathetic trick.

This book describes Keynes as being conservative, and the picture it paints of his legacy continues the tradition of maintaining a bias in favor of economic stability. The Truman-Eisenhower years had a durable mix. "Setting tax rates to achieve an employment target consistent with a low rate of inflation was properly Keynesian; . . . It was to keep inflation under control by methods which did not bring about the collapse of the secular boom." (p. 505).

"However, U.S. fiscal restraint broke down in the 1960s. In 1962, the second-generation Keynesian economists who came in to office with President Kennedy were convinced that the long-predicted slump was at hand. A further stimulus to action was the quite unwarranted fear that the Soviet Union would win the Cold War economically and politically, without any need for a hot war. So the scene was set for the big Kennedy-Johnson tax cuts and `Great Society' programmes." (p. 505).

Economists might be familiar with the description of what followed, but the attempt to maintain a coherent theory is admirable when we get to: "Friedman's own attacks were launched from within Keynes's own macroeconomic citadel, but, by ruthlessly applying the maximizing logic to individual behavior, he gave two of the Keynesian `functions' -- the consumption function and the demand for money function -- properties of stability which they had lacked in their Keynesian form." (p. 506).

The picture of the doctor responsible for treating Keynes's heart, James Plesch, is labeled "the doctor who brought JMK `back to life', and whom he called `the Ogre'." (facing page 166). This is a typically British nickname for a Jewish Hungarian who left Germany in 1933 and settled in England. (p. 40). The author and I suspect that he was more thorough than British doctors. "There is no reason to doubt Keynes's own view that it was Prontosil which had brought about his dramatic improvement. Unfortunately, it was subsequently discovered that Prontosil was effective against the green streptococci lodged in the throat but not against those already firmly established in the valves of his heart." (p. 43). He lived through World War Two. He was losing money in the stock market before the war, as some people must have realized that weird things were about to happen to the economy. Keynes died before some of the big changes that were afoot. The American dream in this book: "Henry Wallace, who had fallen asleep, woke up to ask why Britain could not trade Indian independence for a write-down of Indian debt." (p. 414).

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John Maynard Keynes. Volume Three: Fighting for Freedom, 1937-1946. (Reviews of Books).(Book Review): An article from: Albion
John F. Naylor
Manufacturer: North American Conference on British Studies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008DQH4W
Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Albion, published by North American Conference on British Studies on March 22, 2003. The length of the article is 1366 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: John Maynard Keynes. Volume Three: Fighting for Freedom, 1937-1946. (Reviews of Books).(Book Review)
Author: John F. Naylor
Publication: Albion (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2003
Publisher: North American Conference on British Studies
Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Page: 169(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

John Maynard Keynes: Fighting for Freedom 1937 - 1946

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John Maynard Keynes: Fighting for Freedom 1937 - 1946
Robert Skidelsky
Manufacturer: Viking
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NXJ6OA

Book Description

In For Women Only!, authors Gary Null and Barbara Seaman address women's health both from curative/preventive and historical/contextual perspectives. The first half of the book discusses a wide range of concerns, from addiction and sexual abuse to menopause and mental health, and offers an arsenal of the most effective or promising strategies for preventing, coping with, or curing them. The second half takes an inspirational approach. Drawing on the writings of Sojourner Truth, Angela Davis, Erica Jong, and many others, the book puts women's medicine in perspective, covering topics ranging from the early history of women as healers to contemporary activism, from self-help gynecology and motherhood to women's health in the 21st century. Contributors include Barbara Ehrenreich, Germaine Greer, Gloria Steinem, Naomi Wolf, and many others.

Customer Reviews:

HANDS-ON HANDBOOK FOR WOMEN --- AND MEN.......2003-01-07

Don't let the sexist title put you off -- this is an important book for women ... and the men (and women) who love 'em. Leading alternative health advocate Gary Null and Barbara Seaman have pulled together the first social history of its kind, a chunky, crammed-with-facts compendium that addresses women's health from a preventive/curative perspective as well as a historical/contextual one. It's as much a reference book as it is a hands-on activist's handbook, with advice, essays and interviews from the country's top alternative practitioners, thinkers, writers, doctors and sociologist. A weighty -- and welcome -- addition to everyone's library.

Beware of this book - fact or fiction.......2002-11-24

After choosing, at random, and reading a few different articles I was very alarmed about the information being given out. It seemed that their cure-all for everything is take an herb. I also noted that the authors have no medical degrees. From reading the information about the authors,one has a Ph.D. in nutrition and the other has no degree. I will be returning this book. If you do read and plan to try their remedies, PLEASE get a second opinion from a licensed medical professional.

Seaman steals the book..........2001-10-18

When I first picked up this book, my first inclination was to find/read the health information on uterine fibroids. In doing so, the misinformation presented (poor alternative health care advice based on erroneous fibroid information) disturbed me a great deal. Gary Null's attempt to push out yet another health care book -- this one beyond his true knowledge of ALL the subject matter included -- was not a "good" attempt at all. Although I too enjoy reading Prevention Magazine from time to time, I hardly think it a journal to quote from in support of presenting medical information regarding disease, diagnosis, and treatment options. Unfortunately, far too much of Null's "research" begins and ends with Prevention Magazine and there is no Bibliography whatsoever to support his many quotes of medical research. Whatever happened to reading the medical literature first hand before writing a work like this as well as listing those resources so others could read the information first hand as well?

However, while initially annoyed over the medical information presented in the first half of this book, my opinion quickly changed and I was won over by reading the "Health Empowerment for Women" writings pulled together by Barbara Seaman. What a collection. Incredible details regarding the history of the women's health care movement that includes excerpts/writings from Elizabeth Cady Stanton ("Motherhood"), Sojourner Truth ("Ain't I Woman"), Elizabeth Siegel Watkins ("Informed Consent"), Shere Hite ("The Sexuality Questionnaire"), Gloria Steinem ("If Men Could Menstruate" -- a true classic written in 1978 that I remember reading when I was in college!), and many, many more.

On fibroids and hysterectomy, check out page 1126: "So You're Going to Have a New Body!" by Lynne Sharon Schwartz. Gripping essay that is worth the price of the book alone. In fact, this essay is so powerful that I would firmly recommend you hit the bookstore or library to read it even if you can't afford the price tag of the book. It's an absolute "must read" for every woman diagnosed with uterine fibroids who has received the recommendation of hysterectomy.

There's more. Much much more. What I can't figure out, is why these ~900 pages pulled together by Barbara Seaman were ever published with Gary Null's ~600 pages. Doesn't make any sense at all to me. Quite frankly, if I could rip out the first 600 pages and keep the rest, I would. Maybe the publisher would consider a new edition containing just the collection of works pulled together by Ms. Seaman? I'd buy that version in a heartbeat -- and I'd definitely send my daughter a copy too. To sum Ms. Seaman's half of the book up, a quote from Sojourner Truth (p. 675):

"If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them."

...

So Many Options.......2000-01-11

"For Women Only" contains a wealth of information for women like myself who want to know their options.

When I face health problems or other dilemmas, I do not take the first solution presented because I have found by hard experience that many of the answers that the so-called experts offer do not work. I am grateful to the authors of this book for presenting so many valuable alternatives.

The WOW experience!.......2000-01-08

This book blows away all the literature on the subject that I have come across.

For Women Only! Your Guide To Health and Empowerment

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For Women Only! Your Guide To Health and Empowerment
Gary and Seaman, Barbara Null
Manufacturer: Seven Stories Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NUNPKO

Book Description

Is it still possible to make a voyage of discovery here in Maryland, the nation's fifth most densely settled state? In The Great Marsh: An Intimate Journey into a Chesapeake Wetland, David W. Harp's vivid photography and Tom Horton's eloquent prose produce a compelling portrait of one such journey in an intriguing and endangered habitat.

Into this remarkable territory -- whose shrinking dimensions frighten every naturalist and ecologist -- Harp and Horton embarked on a canoe trip, exploring, documenting, and photographing the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County. This volume, at its core, is the story of a single crossing of the Blackwater's length, east to west, while the accompanying essays discuss how the marsh functions as a refuge for migrating butterflies, the wetlands sustain a lonely trapper, and the bogs yield archeological treasures -- remnants of American Indian hunting forays and colonial boat building.

The edges of the Chesapeake Bay offer Americans some of their loveliest (and most sensitive) wetlands. The fertile waters and soggy vegetation provide a home to ducks, geese, eagles, and dozens of other species of birds; muskrats, squirrels, and foxes; and of course insect varieties almost too numerous to count. The environmental importance of the marshes lies in their capacity to filter pollutants, retard erosion, and help maintain a natural balance among the critters.

Customer Reviews:

A journey without the bugbites!.......2005-03-01

I have always been curious about the Chesapeake Wetlands. They are so beautiful and mysterious. The Great Marsh took me on a wonderful tour. I have a new appreciation for the ecological importance of the Chesapeake Wetlands, and for the potential danger of attempting to navigate them as a novice. This is a great coffee table book as well. The photos are beautiful.

A sad, slanted view of a lovely habitat..........2003-12-01

Many exquisite photos grace this volume, as well as some interesting facts. However, the excessive references (both in photos and text) to trapping, fishing, and hunting frequently intrude upon what could otherwise have been an enjoyable and informative coffee-table-type introduction to the marsh habitat. Those who love the marsh for its beauty and for non-violent enjoyment of its wildlife might want to look for a more wildlife-friendly book. The graphic descriptions of skinning animals are especially offensive and unnecessary.

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