Advance Books

My father died at the age of 40 of heart disease. I have bad genetics and by the age of 38 my cholesterol was Total 270 HDL 47 LDL 181(Yikes) I was a tri-athlete and had a healthy diet but the results showed real problems.

I started a cardio program with a HUGE cardiologist group in Chicago. These traditional doctors failed to me on every level and past prescribing Lipitor they had little to offer. They DISMISSED my direct questions about contributing risk factors beyond cholesterol.
My standard cardiologist (or western medicine drug pusher) prescribed Lipitor at 20 mg and then raised it to 40 mg. (To this day they are clueless about the need to prescribe CoQ10) By hammering away with drugs my Cholesterol profile went to TOTAL 180 HDL 45 LDL 110.

Not bad you say, well read this book and when you learn about LDL particle density, LP(a), Homocysteine, and other factors. I learned I was an accident waiting to happen. ARE YOU AWARE THAT THE POLITCAL NEWS ANALYST TIM RUSSERT DIED OF A HEART ATTACK 30 days after getting a clear bill of health from his cardiologist. He had the same problems that I have and that killed my father.!!

I was put on Dr DeVries program by a wonderful Doctor: Dr. Thomas O'Bryan in Chicago. He tested for the risk factors in this book BEFORE it was published. Dr O'Bryan explained in detail my real risks, why I was in such danger and prescribed Dr Devries program almost to the letter. The program includes non traditional supplements that are cheap and easy to get!!!

After implementing the supplements recommended by Dr. Devries my Cholesterol profile is TOTAL 140, HDL 55, LDL 73. These numbers are very important because my LDL is made up of Small Dense Lipoproteins (aka "lil packets of death") so reducing my LDL by an additional 35% is huge. Also note my HDL went up. (I could write about other risk factors that have been reduced but you would need to read this book to understand them )

In a nutshell I am now a patient of Dr Devries and my cardiac risks have been reduced as much as possible. (Due to genetics some things such as LDL particle size can not be changed) The results speak for themselves.

This book is an easy read and clearly organized. Do yourself a favor and buy it and then challenge yourself to find a cardiologist who will work with you to run the tests and implement the program. (Versus condescendingly dismissing non traditional approaches to health)

If you are reading this I'll assume you have a heart...and it's beating.
If this is the case you need to read this book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About(TM):Cholesterol: The Latest Natural Treatments and Scientific Advances in One Breakthrough Program". An easy read and so informative. I plan on giving copies to all those I care about. I wish I knew this information years ago, but it's never to late to make changes and improve your heart health. Another book I highly recommend is "Reverse Heart Disease Now" by Dr. S. Sinatra not quite as easy to read but has soooooooo much information that it's worth the effort.

This book helped me drive down ldl from 152 to 95 in about 5 weeks. I reccomend it for anyone who would like to address their cholesterol situation without using prescription drugs.

As a former Health and Science Editor for American Medical News, I can heartily recommend "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Cholesterol." Dr. Devries offers a wonderful array of information and advice in plain English -- from what to eat and how to exercise to how to understand medical test results and work with your doctor.

One of the best features of this book is the way it merges traditional medicine with alternative approaches. This book does not present a lecture from a know-it-all conservative, traditional doctor or a treatise from a fringe physician on how health food and yoga will save your life. Instead, this book presents a balanced, reasonable approach to strong hearts and healthy lives by a traditionally trained physician who is open to new ideas, as long as they are proven and sensible. Dr. Devries integrates the best of both worlds, traditional and alternative.

Another appealing feature is the fact that some sections and chapters are clearly aimed at those who just want a simple explanation, while other sections and chapters provide detailed information backed up by rigorous research and thoughtful medical expertise for those who want to understand the science behind the suggestions.

Everyone should be as fortunate to have Dr. Devries as his or her personal doctor. The next best thing would be to read his book...and take it to heart.

This is excellent reading for health care professionals as well as people who are not in the medical profession. It gives a great understanding and motivates the individual to keep healthy. I have given 14 books to my friends as gifts.

Book was here on time. Book is in great condition. I am happy with it.
Thanks

As an educator I am always looking for the best test prep materials for my students, and by far this is the best. With its easy to use format, extensive vocabulary review and strong practice test questions this is the only book you will need to feel prepared for the AP Exam.

AP Human Geography w/ CD-ROM (REA) - The Best Test Prep (The Best Test Preparation for Advance Placement)

This book has been extrememly useful in helping me to prepare for the AP exam. It is easily understandable and as a student I find it refreshing to read a review book that doesn't put me to sleep. This book is full of interesting facts related to Human Geography, and the review tests were extrememly helpful with my preparations for the real exam.

I have been sort of worried about passing the AP Human Geography test. The material is challenging and the vocab extensive, but this review book by Mr. Christian Sawyer has made me confident that i will not only pass, but get a 4 or 5. The book is easy to understand as well as interesting with good examples and fun facts. The review vocabulary quizzes, multiple choice examples, and practice FRQs help me feel confident about the layout of the exam and what to expect. I recommend this review book to all taking the exam!

I like this book better than all the others for my students...it has practice drills, rubrics, some strong practice AP questions, and succinct, complete reviews--the vocabulary is excellent.

Hope or Hype illustrates how a market based healthcare sans proper checks and balances can perversely incentivize the system (physicians, drug makers, device makers, surgical technique innovators, insurance companies, hospitals, and even the good old FDA), endangering the public's health and raising costs.

Insufficient research, dangerous marketing techniques to consumers and physicians alike, poor government oversight, and the lure of money make for dangerous, ineffective, and sometimes unecessary intervetions (prescription drugs, medical devices, techniques, and diagnostic testing). Of course all of this is basically driven by greed and complacency with consequences for quality of care and healthcare costs.

Valuable for demystifying (1) the FDA process for vetting new drugs and (2)drug marketing alone, this is a fine contribution to the national discussion on healthcare reform and an excellent advocacy resource for consumers. Only 4 stars because the writing is a bit loose and the first half of the book is too redundant and relies too heavily on anecdote. After reading this, some readers may want to read Food Politics - after all, prevention is worth its weight in gold!

Richard Deyo and Donald Patrick provide a thoroughly accessible, timely and well reasoned coverage of the advance of medical technologies. As a non-clinician, I found their approach to building on a multitude of real world examples mixed with references to both solid science and the lay press, to help define thorny issues while providing an avenue for further study to be very persuasive. I also enjoyed the personal perspective that both authors brought to the book. At multiple times, the authors relate how the current topic effected their own lives; for example Dr. Deyo describes his father's experience with calcium-channel drugs following experiencing a heart attack. I think this personal touch shows a respect for the reader and the authors' intent to provide important information without describing everything with an overly clinical outsider's approach. As a psychologist, I appreciate the rigor that is applied to the authors' discussion of topics. These authors are not just playing devil's advocate for modern technology; they are providing both the pros and cons for these new technologies. I believe this book is important for anyone in the health care industry, anyone who is concerned about his/her own health or the health of society and for anyone who simply enjoys good writing on a crucial topic.

What is wrong with American health care and how can we fix it? Many recent books try to address this question. One of the central points of "Hope or Hype" is that "...the major reason for rising health-care costs and shrinking insurance coverage is the rapid introduction of new medical treatments, often before they can be adequately evaluated for effectiveness, safety, or cost."
The authors, a medical doctor and a social scientist, have had years of experience studying health care in the larger societal context. "Hope or Hype" focuses on what happens when we allow the hype in the media and the marketplace to overtake the good that medical advances can bring us. It tells the story of overmedicalization, wasted resources and greed. If you are thinking - problem, what problem? Start by reading "Part III - Useless, Harmful or Marginal: Popular Treatments that Caused Unneccessary Disability, Dollar Costs, or Death." The stories are first-hand accounts of what happened to medical researchers when they got in the way of special interest groups and big drug companies. The back stories surrounding those drugs and devices you see advertised on television are very interesting.
Deyo and Patrick have written this book for the general public, as well as for students and health care researchers. They provide an historical overview of our love of "technoconsumption" and our infatuation with the latest medical breakthroughs.
The final chapters address how we all can do better. For example, they suggest that decisions about using new drugs and devices could be "evidence-based" and that consumers could be better informed to help prepare them to participate in shared decision making. Finally, they suggest that the government could create a "Fed" for health care, a regulatory agency mandated to oversee the integration of new technologies in medicine while minimizing waste and potential harm.

Why are Americans obsessed with medical miracles? In Hope Or Hype: The Obsession With Medical Advances And The High Cost Of False Promises, two doctors who are experts on ethical and policy issues in the medical world examine the false premises and promises the medical community makes to consumers, from pharmaceutical and equipment companies eager to promote new technologies and cures to physicians and hospitals too quick to prescribe costly medicines or surgeries. The hazards of such unnecessary treatments are provided within an overview of the drug and medical industries as a whole.

A thoughtful and thorough gathering of medical practice information as driven by the prescription drug industry. How to read the glowing advertising with careful scrutiny is just one benefit. The authors write clearly about complex subjects. While not racy reading, it should be read by any of us who have or will have medical needs.

Show me the way back to the sea...

In the ocean of life, Bill Glasscock finds himself tossed into the waves of crime in Sleepy Splendor Bay. A by-the-sea town with sparkling turquoise water, where cutesy-touristy restaurants serve homemade biscuits and gravy or a slice of strudel amidst glorious scenery.

On a day when the cornflower-blue sky looks down on the hulls of old boats and waves that lazily lap at the sand in a never ending cycle, something washes up on the beach covered with seaweed and spoils the view.

Bill is on a vacation from real life, playing out his fantasy as a part-time detective and part time knight in shining armor. He is on a journey to discover the true beauty of life while his own personal pain and loss seems to surround him. The turmoil of his own soul leads him down a path where he tries to drown the pain by drinking his life away.

As Bill says: "Things happen. Sometimes you have to ride the wave."

He is a victim of circumstance, having taken his focus off his life for what seemed like moments, only to return to find his wife seeking solace in the arms of another. Now he finds his wife's love interest, Governor Wallace Moreno, in the arms of the sea, tossed onto the beach as casually as he feels he was tossed aside by his soon-to-be-ex-wife Eleana, a government official.

State attorney Sally Solana has sought to rehabilitate him back to his former existence as an attorney after he was suspended for malpractice. When his wife and Sally disappear after the Moreno murder, he steps up to the challenge, all the while having to avoid becoming a suspect and therefore being detained.

L.B. Cobb's writing style takes full advantage of verisimilitude in a similar way many of W. Somerset Maugham's stories evoke a sense of confidence in the reader. She also uses those little twists and turns that keep you questioning and her chapter endings plunge you into the next page with a sense of undeniable curiosity.

The character development bonds the reader to the characters with heart-felt emotions and moral ambiguities, making them memorable and human.

"I heard the agony in her voice as the stainless blade of betrayal sliced into her heart. I closed my eyes and saw the crimson drops of heart pain, hers and mine. I said nothing. What could I say? That, in a moment of selfish, hurting need, I had betrayed her? That I felt her pain along with my own? That once I had pledged my love ... there wasn't any left for another? pg. 111

There are many moments of beauty and you will really start to love Bill for his thoughts. Be they the thoughts of a man in love or the conflicting thoughts he faces in trying to solve the mystery of his life. Or the humorous, laugh-out-loud contemplation of one witty guy who is trying not to take life too seriously, while learning life can be one serious game when those you love are in peril.

An expertly crafted mystery with a touch of sensual intrigue. Splendor bay will leave you amazed by the poetic justice of it all. The best mystery I've read, bar none. Told from a male perspective and sure to be loved by both sexes.

Summer reading at its best!

Also look for: ISBN 0970622406
Old Fashioned Recipes for Modern Cooks by L.B. Cobb

Promises Town due out in Sept, 2002
...and Port of Miracles in 2003

"Love is knowing you won't let go." ~Stevie Nicks, Trouble in Shangri-La

~The Rebecca Review

This is Ms Cobb's first novel and is a story about Bill Glasscock, or Fragile Dick to his friends. Bill wakes up at his girlfriend Sally's beach house on Splendor Bay and sees the city cops looking at a body on the beach that has diamond studs in his shirt. Bill being the good ex attorney and private investigator decides to wander down to the beach to find out the details of the John Doe that has appeared on his girlfriend's beach. Come to find out it is the Governor of the state, and said Governor is his ex or soon to be ex wife's boyfriend. His girlfriend also seems to be missing and Bill takes you on the search to find who did this to the Governor, because all fingers are pointing at him.

The dialogue in this book is very witty and I think it reminds me of the Robert B Parker Spenser series because of the sarcasm. I found it to be a very good, easy and fast book to read. Very likeable characters that you begin to really care about. A bit of a love story about how even though you have an ex wife, is she ever forgotten? Do you just stop loving her because you have found her in bed with the Governor? Do you stop loving the girlfriend because the ex wife that has just lost her boyfriend and tells you she still loves you? There is also your son of sixteen years to consider. Bill has been a bit of a bum for a while and what effect is that having on him. Should Bill get his act together and try and spend some time with Davey, or should he just let his wife worry about that.

There are lots of different twists and turns in this book and I found them delightful. I liked the interactions between Bill, his friends and extended family. I liked the fact of him being an ex-attorney on suspension and the dilemma about what he was going to do with the rest of his life. I would like to see this become a series, but my understanding is that she is in the in the process of having another novel published with new people. I for one will have to have a look at it.

Eat your heart out, New York. Or, more specifically, all you New York publishers. You've let another rising star slip through your fingers, this time to be published by a small press from the Lone Star state. The Advance Books Company of Texas may not be a big name player in the book business, but with the release of L. B. Cobb's Splendor Bay, they showed the publishing world that they recognize true talent when they see it.

And talent would be L. B.'s middle name if she didn't already have one in the form of an initial. This is one savvy lady who not only knows how to plot an intriguing mystery but also knows how to people that mystery with remarkably complicated yet true-to-life characters. The fact that she does this so skillfully belies Cobb's standing as a first-time author and makes this book a pleasure to read.

Splendor Bay's story line might be considered trite if handled less deftly: jilted husband finds body of wife's lover outside his home, becomes prime suspect in the murder, then escapes arrest by deducing the identity of the killer. An age-old theme of mystery novels, but in Splendor Bay, the commonplace becomes extraordinary due to the identities and emotional intensity of the characters.

Bill Glasscock is not your everyday high-priced lawyer. Instead, he's a man who walks away from his job in the middle of a trial -- thus earning himself a suspension from the bar -- after discovering his wife in bed with the governor of the state. But it's not only his job that Bill abandons. He shakes off an entire way of life, reverting to a beach-bum existence that includes shacking up with his wife's cousin, the beautiful state's attorney general, Sally Solana.

Likewise, Eleana Glasscock is no ordinary housewife bent on a fling with a political celebrity. She's a woman whose position as head of the state archives provides her with ample opportunity to mingle with the local power brokers. Her involvement with Gov. Wallace Moreno is due more to loneliness than love, her husband being too busy getting rich to pay her much attention.

Toss in Bill and Eleana's teenage son, Davy, an insulin-dependent diabetic who's torn between both parents, and you have the makings of a family in turmoil where forgiveness and healing seem almost impossible. But murder has a strange way of drawing people together. In Splendor Bay, the need to protect Eleana and Davy drives Bill to reexamine his relationships with both family members and friends. Most difficult of all, he's forced to take a long, hard look at himself. His quest for self-discovery becomes as arduous as his hunt for the governor's killer.

It's rare for a writer to be able to imagine, much less clearly convey, the emotions of both sexes. Earning the simultaneous sympathy of the reader for differing characters is even more difficult. Cobb, though, accomplishes both of these things in Splendor Bay, and she does so in a way that is neither maudlin nor contrived. Instead, she uses crisp dialogue and cleanly written prose to portray the torment of love gone astray and the soul-searching task of personal recovery. What makes Cobb's feat even more remarkable is that it's accomplished in the context of a murder mystery. Make no mistake; Splendor Bay is a fast paced suspense story sure to appeal to lovers of the genre. But it's a mystery of the heart as well, and as that, it succeeds where many other novels fail.

L.C. Cobb is one helluva writer. Thank goodness she chose to shine her light in the field of mystery!

What a fun book! As an avid reader of mysteries and legal thrillers, I was delighted to find such a talented new author. L. B. Cobb writes with just the right mix of mystery, humor, and romance. With a protagonist named Bill Glasscock..., you know you're in for an interesting ride from the very beginning. Bill's a man who left his lucrative job as an attorney to become an aging "beach bum" after finding his wife in bed with another man. The man just happens to be the governor who turns up dead on the beach - leaving Bill, his family, and friends as prime suspects. The setting could be your small town and the people, your high school buddies. The camaraderie and affection are evident in the good-natured bantering between old friends. Along with the unexpected twists and turns, Splendor Bay is a very entertaining summer read. I'm certainly looking forward to the next release from Ms. Cobb!

I didn't want to put this book down after I began reading it. What I liked the most is that the story flows well and it kept me intrigued. The characters and story line are developed with just enough clarity that personalities or the plot didn't get foggy with excess detail. I was taken in by the main character, his sense of humor and approach to solving the crime, and all the ways he showed he cared about his family and friends. The end was good, because even though I tried to guess along the way what really happened, I wasn't even close.

I started reading Blind Spot on my flight from California to Hawaii. I was a bit concerned at first because I thought it was going to be a technical book on photography and the laser weapon. After a chapter a two I was competely hooked! I finished the book in less then 5 hours. It was a great detective/mystery novel. I didn't sleep at all on the flight - amazing! I read a lot of Patterson, Grisham, Cussler, etc and Blind Spot is one of my favorites!

This book was absolutely riveting. I never expected to be so entertained. Someone gave me the book as a gift because I am involved in law enforcement and she thought I would enjoy it. WELL I DID! I took it with me on a flight to the Amazon and I got stuck for hours on the tarmac. I pulled it from my sack and began reading. Before I knew it, I was in Peru wishing the flight was longer. What an exhilarating read.

I am the author of BLIND SPOT. My book was an interesting project bringing me back to many countries I visited during my business years. My character - Robert Schein - tries to thwart a manufacturing project that has been put together by Russia, East Germany and China - REC, LTD. A number of famous scientists are kidnapped to work on a dangerous LASER weapon that blinds the enemy. The book takes place in 1962, the year John Glenn orbited the earth. In actuality, LASER blinding weapons were banned by a Geneva protocal endorsed by 15 nations in 1998. However, in Iraq today we use LASER weapons to temporarily blind the enemy [as per the Los Angelis Times]. I think you will find my book adventurous, exciting, interesting and a fun and fast read. This is a sequel to my first book published earlier this year in 2006 - BEHIND THE YELLOW FILTER.

Stuart Held, author

Blind Spot, though a follow up to Behind the Yellow Filter, is also a strong enough story to stand on its own merit. In some respects, I found this to be more developed and solid, testament to Mr. Held's growth as a writer and storyteller.

Perhaps the aspect of the book that was the most solid was that as a reader, I was always on my toes. Mr. Held allowed me to think I was headed in a given direction, and gave me enough confidence in my `detective skills' to totally surprise me when the story went in yet another direction. By the same token, this didn't feel artificial or forced-it was the natural progression of the story to change direction. This is wonderful in an era of stories where the reader sometimes feels as if he or she is reading the same plot over and over, with only the names changed.

Speaking of the characters, similar to in Behind the Yellow Filter, I was left feeling as if I'd known these characters. I followed them, and wanted to know more. When Robert Schein became personally involved in the kidnapping, I became involved along side him. I wanted to know the outcome as much, if not more, than he did. These were real people jumping off the page.

Blind Spot is also written in such a manner that it appeals to espionage fans, without alienating the more mainstream reader. It's mystery with a taste of espionage in the right amount to keep the reader intrigued without going too far into a realm which might not interest the general readership. In the same vein, he keeps the gadgets interesting, without going into too much detail. As always, he maintained the balance.

As with Behind the Yellow Filter, Mr. Held left me wanting more and I eagerly anticipate his next work.

In a story that sounds very unlikely you find that sometimes things are not what they seem. For you can think that one person is the one behind it all but somewhere he winds up and throws you a curve ball. Managing to throw you off and think that it is some one entirely different. Just when you think there are no more curves to be found you find that your first impression is the one that is the truth.

While reading Blind Spot I found the Stuart gave you just enough details to keep you going. Getting you to want to read on to see what happens. Those characters that have a passion for gadgets especially cameras and the goodies that goes with them. In a story where you're not quite sure what is being invented, he gives you just enough details to make it understandable rather then confusing. It shows you twists into how different company's work. Where the ideas come from, who starts them off. Also showing you just how important a few small parts can be to the over all workmanship of a project.

In this novel Stuart delves into parts that were never really thought of before. Coming up with a new twist on a different time. That sometimes you can be in the right place at the right time. He makes the story his own and weaves a form of magic. Making his own brand of espionage/intrigue. Each chapter seems to have something new and different going on. He shows you new forms of networking to get the answers you need. That just sometimes things are not always what they appear to be. Proving that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Making the story a page turner to the end.

This excellent survey and resource has now been significantly revised and re-issued with a new title: Family History in the Genes: Trace your DNA and grow your family tree

Like its predecessor, it provides the very latest advice on a fast-moving subject, in compact format and at an affordable price.

And, like its predecessor, it is published by the National Archive. The National Archives is an UK government agency maintaining the official archive for England, Wales and the central UK government, containing 900 years of history from Domesday Book to the present. Its publications are intended to help individuals write their own family histories using "best practices".

Pomery's new volume will help you do so.

Robert C. Ross 2008

Although human genetics have been studied now for over 30 years, the application of DNA to family history is a phenomena of the new millennium. The results of the first study that tested people of the same surname to see if they shared the same male-line DNA were published in 2000. Since then, some 25,000 people have been tested commercially, and over 1,500 surname studies have been set up, half in the past 18 months, of which that on Wells is the largest, numbering 303 participants.

Chris Pomery, organiser of the Pomeroy DNA project, has written the first book explaining specifically how genetics can help genealogists. DNA can indicate whether people with the same surname are likely to be related, and sometimes can show that people supposedly related through the same family tree actually are not. It is a fantastic tool for studying surnames, and investigating groups of supposedly-related people, such as members of a caste, tribe or clan. The results of this brand new science often - and amazingly - bear out ancient, oral traditions attesting to common ancestry. DNA also enables us to map the migration of humans out of Africa, and determine our own places in that extraordinary story.

Excellent features of this book, besides its clear text and useful diagrams, are crisp, boxed summaries at the end of each chapter and a supporting website, www.DNAandFamilyHistory.com, which provides more detail and scientific background on many of the issues covered in the book.

This is no mere guide: this is Chris Pomery's manifesto to encourage us all to have DNA tests and set up surname studies, thus adding more genetic information to the growing databases of human DNA. The more DNA results there are, the more accurate and interesting results will be for everyone.

One of the ironies of genetics is that, just as we are learning how to decode the data contained in our genes, the signal is being lost. Isolated populations, with their distinctive genetic codes, are being diluted into the increasingly homogenised soup of modern human DNA, so data gathered in the future will be far less informative. The traditional marriage of male-line Y chromosomes to hereditary (male-line) surnames is also breaking down. In a few generations' time, far fewer people will have the same surname as their male-line great grandfather, making surname-based DNA projects far less easy to organise. Hopefully, many people will be inspired by Chris Pomery's excellent book and get testing now.

I thought this book was very informative and helpful in my search for my genetic past.

Genetic genealogy is a blossoming market and the number of books in this space is rapidly growing. Major books include: Seven Daughters of Eve, Adam's Curse, Trace your Roots with DNA, and DNA and Family History.

Professor Bryan Sykes' book The Seven Daughters of Eve was a seminal work. This book focuses on mtDNA (Mitochondrial DNA) that is passed down the maternal line. This book is written in an easy to read style that creates the tone and tenor of a mystery novel. The punch line of this book is that all maternal lines can be traced back to seven theoretic women who lived at different places in the worlds at different times. This book is very light reading and similar to picking up a pop culture magazine. This book is not recommended other than as the most basic introduction to genetic genealogy. It also suffers from it's minimal discussion of paternal DNA testing (Y-chromosome) which is the most popular form of DNA testing today.

Sykes second book "Adam's Curse" discusses the long term de-evolution of the male chromosome. It's a shame that Sykes has stooped to pandering to sensationalistic popular culture instead in more serious genetic research. Sykes made a name for himself in this space, but it seems that this segment of science has passed him by.

Two excellent introductory books were published in 2004 -- "Trace Your Roots with DNA : Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree" by Megan Smolenyak and Ann Turner and "DNA and Family History: How Genetic Testing Can Advance Your Genealogical Research" by Chris Pomery.

In Trace your Roots, Smolenyak, who makes her living as a professional genealogist, branches out into genetics and DNA testing. She hooks up with Ann Turner, the past administrator of a key DNA message list, to create a good introductory book on genetic genealogy. This book covers all the basics for someone who is considering having a DNA test done. I was disappointed that almost half the book (90 out of 235 pages) was dedicated to starting and running a DNA project. I view this material as fluffy filler since most readers aren't likely to need this information.

A similar book is Chris Pomery's "DNA and Family History". This book also covers all the basics in a straightforward and informative way. This book focuses primary on the most popular form of DNA Testing -- testing of the paternal Y-chromosome line. The book includes numerous references to the book's online site (www.DNAandFamilyHistory.com). This site is supposed to contain supplementary information but many links don't seem to have been activated.

Pomery does a nice job contrasting genetic families that might be derived from a single ancestor with those that might be derived from multiple ancestors. He also discusses the origins of various classes of surnames which is important in understand this issue. Pomery also uses many examples from surname projects that can be found on the web.

One knock on both books is their minimal discussion of what DNA testing can't do. Neither book elaborates on the limitations of DNA testing for genealogists such as testing inability to definitively identify parents and brother and the small and biased sample sizes that home geneticists are using to make sweeping conclusions. Neither book describes in more than a paragraph or two the lasting thinking about haplogroups -- i.e., the origin of R, E, J, etc. Y-DNA clusters. In addition, neither book will aid the experienced DNA researcher.

My recommendation:
If you looking for one day's worth of beach reading, try Seven Daughters of Eve or Spencer Wells, Journey of Man. Also consider getting these books at the library as these seminal works are quick reads that you don't need cluttering up your shelves.

If you are a serious genealogist or are considering DNA testing or joining the National Geographic Genographics Project, then stick to Smolenyak or Pomery. After reading both, I find them both excellent and roughly equivalent. However, I clearly prefer DNA and Family History by Chris Pomery. The book simply contains more information which is presented in a more straightforward fashion.

Kevin Campbell
Campbell DNA Project Administrator

This book is required reading for those researching their English family history and thinking of seeking help from a DNA testing company.
It provides a comprehensive guide to the background for such research, bringing together in one volume elements such as the origin of English surnames, the organisation of a surname project, the choice of a DNA testing company, and a glossary of many of the confusing terms used by the experts in DNA analysis.

Carl Sommer does a great job of utilizing age old concepts in teaching children character education concepts through his stories. My son absoutely loved the book and it will be a must read book on our family list. The book is easy to read and is illustrated magnificiently. Virtues such as hard work, obedience, self-acceptance, perserverance, truthfulness, kindness and respect for parents are taught through this story. All things we are trying to teach our children.

This is a fun story that would be great for kids. It's a story that shows motives can be hidden but will usually be discovered. A great lesson for kids!

The Great Royal Race was one of my favorite Carl Sommer books. It's a story about Princess Elizabeth who must choose between three suitors to be become her new husband and the next king. Her father had a wonderful idea on how to find him, and put all three suitors to a true test of loyalty. As the story ends you find out who her true love really is as he passes the royal test. What a great lesson in loyalty, love and wisdom.

The Great Royal Race made my heart race. It kept my interest and I was anxious to see who would win the princess. I couldn't wait to see what obstacle Sommer would put in the race to see the real true love of the destined prince. It made me smile and I was glad she married the the one who wasn't intested in riches. Hooray for the king.

What youngster hasn't dreamed of being a king or a princess? All children love to hear tales of the royal kindom, of competition and love. This one contains the elements and virtues of perseverance and wisdom. A fun story that has a valuable lesson too.

This is a gem of a book for anyone even remotely interested in American UFOlogy. It gives a nice cross-section, from the more sinister cult-type movements to earnest characters with their own home made mini-SETIs. Its a coffee-table book and the text, whilst complementing the photos, also serves as something of an introduction for the uninitiated. Glad I got this, will treasure it!

Curran's "In Advance of the Landing..." is a singular book that explores the mythological basis of the UFO phenomenon. Less concerned with the 'proof' of whether or not UFOs exist, Curran sets out to show that the impact of the belief in flying saucers and extraterrestrials (all of them much more clever and wise than mere earthlings) is pervasive and sits entirely within the continuum of Judea-Christianity beliefs.
A revised mythology for a new technological age is beautifully rendered through Curran's photographs and words.

IN ADVANCE OF THE LANDING is a sensitively written and photographed testimony of how far we will go to have something--anything--to hope for. I find myself looking again and again at the pictures and stories of people who labor in workshops or in empty fields building rockets and flying saucers, people who await the landing of extraterrestrials they KNOW are coming soon. This subject is as worthy of serious study as any religion, and you don't have to look hard to see how closely these people's expectations parallel second comings, raptures, and apocalyptic salvation scenarios of better-known religions. As ludicrous as some of the believers are (Ariel, the "queen" of the Unarian religon who dresses like a fairy godmother, a tiara atop her bubble hairdo) I came away with renewed fascination for and frustration at our capacity to believe. An excellent artifact of our times.

I've read virtually every UFO book that's come out over the past 40+ years, and this remains one of my all-time favorites. I have the original softbound edition, which has become a cult classic and now goes for something like $100. This is more of a sociological document than a UFO book. It perfectly captures the entire spectrum of quirky characters involved in the UFO field, and the photographs are an absolute hoot. I return to this book time and again just for a laugh and to remind myself that there are nuttier people in the UFO field than me. There's nothing condescending about the authors' treatment of their subjects, however. They obviously have a genuine fondness for them -- and you will, too. This is a "must have" for anyone with an interest in UFOs.

This is an excellent book which combines good journalism with excellent photography. Once you pick it up its hard to put it down. The book is facinating but at the same time alarming because the people in it are real. Mr. Curran gives an excellent and frank portrayal of the people who hold to the reality of UFO's and their occupants. He presents them, without any judgement, in an accurate a manner as possible. You can clearly see the bankrupcy of their beliefs. It is a sad but truthful commentary of the manner in which a human being can choose to waste his life.

Well written and concise. How about keeping it in print, I ordered another copy.

Unless you have a bent for philosophy, don't buy this book until you have seen at least part of Chapter 4! This is not "10 Quick Tips to Improve Your C++ Skills." It is a seminal text that attempts to alter the fundamental way you perceive the process of programming.

This book seeks to correlate object-oriented programming with cognitive science. To this end, an abstract Object Model is created which is language-independent. This level of power and generality invariably exacts a toll in readability. Rather than illustrating the concepts with specific examples from a programming language, the author instead conveys the essence of the concepts first and only then clarifies this abstraction with programmatic examples.

Readers familiar with Ada will recognize certain terminology and concepts. For example, "attribute" is formally defined, and we see that an Ada attribute indeed conforms to this formal definition, and that the Ada construct was aptly named. The first part of the book deals with Abstract Data Types and is extremely relevant to both Ada and C++ programmers. The second half is concerned with Object Orientation and would only be of use to Ada95 (and, of course, C++) programmers.

I had the privilege of working with Bob Meehan, a brilliant PhD in mathematics. Bob had an uncanny ability to create a mental map of a program and then translate this abstract mental map into a working program. Over the years, I have learned to achieve this using Ada, but was at a loss to transfer this facility into C++. Reading this book has given me a glimpse into the way Bob's mind worked, and I am confident that after I have read (and re-read!) this book and fully absorbed its content, any expertise that I may have acquired in Ada will be fully transferable to C++.

This book is a treasure trove, but its nuggets are not easily mined. To absorb its message, you are asked to learn a number of abstract concepts whose pertinence to programming is not at all apparent. But, as an earlier reviewer has stated, if you keep at it the light eventually dawns and you find that you have been handed the key to correct thinking--because the author has altered your cognitive processes and enabled you to perceive and function in a completely new way.

Ada actively enforced the Object-Based paradigm. Resistance was futile and the compiler ruthlessly punished infractions. C++ relies on convention and the integrity of the programmer to enforce the Object-Oriented paradigm. Other than type-checking, the C++ compiler is promiscuous. Indeed, it has to be, since it needs to be able to compile C programs. Without the broader view and greater understanding imparted by this book, strict adherence to the OO paradigm would be quite difficult. Kurt Godel pointed out that a framework can only be completely understood from a broader, more inclusive framework that encompasses the original framework. This book, if you have the tenacity, will impart that broader framework and will change the very way you perceive the world.

This book is excellent! It is what a C++ intermediate book should be. The emphasis is on teaching what the Object Model is and how to implement it using C++ language constructs "sensibly". I wish the author would bring it up to date and write an advanced version. I would also enjoy seeing the author's recommended reading list.

Thank you Dr. Papurt for this book. Please write more.

This book will delight the intermediate to experienced C++ developer. The focus is on concepts supported by the C++ language features. Short code snippets make the implementation of those concepts clear and practical. A book worth reading more than once. A book in which you can find justifications for a particular design choice. If you need to strenghthen your use of C++ on a conceptual level, if you pay attention to program in the right way, if you are a purist towards the use of C++, read this book !

This book is a sleeper. When I started to read it I thought it irrelevant. Then a light dawned, and I began to understand a new, and correct way, of thinking about OO programming while gaining a greater knowledge of modeling and C++ programming techniques. I've read it twice and refer to it frequently for clarification and reference on some fine points. A truly useful book for active C++ programmers.

No Longer a Dilly Dally was about two families who moved away from their friends to start a new home in the country. I thought this was a very good book about the lesson of getting your work done first and playing later. It would be a good book about the lesson of hard work and working first before you play. My family is just like the Work Play Family, and even though we follow this good rule, I still have lots of time to play. Great color and illustration, I really like the pictures. My Mom and I read this book together and had a good laugh about how the Work Play Family was just like us.

Children will love the antics of the ant families and the valuable lesson they portray. They will certainly love the cute illustrations. Any child will easily grasp the message about proper balance between work and play. My grandson love bugs so I know he'll love this story.

What parent doesn't spend alot of time trying to convince their child that play time comes after work time. This book is a fun way to reinforce that lesson to kids. Great book!

No Longer A Dilly Dally is an adorable book about the hard working ants, however some ants don't understand that in order to eat they must work first. This story warms your heart as you see the Dilly Dally's learn a hard lesson about laziness. The picture illlustrations are superb and they put a smile on my face. As usual, they have lots of detail. I will share this book with my class and it will enable me to integrate teaching about ants and hard work.

No Longer a Dilly Dally is a fantastic book for teaching young children the very important life lessons of hard work. Sommer does an excellent job of portraying the difference between two ant families, one that plays first then works; the other that works first and then plays. Depending on their choice of whether to work or play first, Sommer takes the reader through a season in which young children can understand the importance of planning and preparing through hard work, perseverence and dedication to a task. An incredible way to introduce these concepts to young readers and even toddlers.

In a very easy to read and understandable format, Sommer drives home the point of teaching our young people the importance of hard work in the formation of their character. My three and half year old loved the book and grasped the concepts well. It provided a great basis for communication in our home on the importance of hard work before play. Our society has slipped away from the traditional roles of hard work before play, this book helps to bring this foundation back into alignment. It was an important lesson for both my child and myself. I look forward to reading additional materials by Carl Sommer and adding them to our home library.