FI Books

This is not a field guide but so much more! This is literally like observing birds and birds nest with an expert at your side filling you in with all the information that only someone with a deep, deep understanding could provide. The art work is exsquitely done and is actually an accurate rendering with a very artistic touch. I really love this book and feel fortunate to have it as part of my library. It is truly amazing. Thank-you, artist-author.

Hello, this is not a review, but I don't see a place to simply email you with information regarding this book. I am the author/illustrator. The book has been distributed for the past two years by Chelsea Green Publishing of White River, Vermont. This is the same publisher who offers From the Redwood Forest. If you have trouble obtaining the Secrets of the Nest from them, please let me know. Secrets of the Nest continues to be a steady seller, and I think you will find it worth while to carry.
Thank you, Joan Dunning

A beautifully written, sensitive and insightful book which makes birds feel like intimate neighbors and friends. I have not sat around wondering what it would be like to be a bird, but entering that realm has been an extraordinary adventure. We began reading this book as part of a home-schooling science project. We expected to learn something, but had no idea how much fun it would be. My 12 year old son is enthralled and so am I. Even though birds had previously not been a particular interest of ours, we are now contemplating a backpacking trip in hopes of personally discovering some of the Secrets of the Nest.

This book is excellant. This is actually my second copy. I was gifted the book by my father-in-law who was a retired Marine. But Marine or not, the book is riveting and exciting. I bought a second copy for my brother. It will definitely keep you captivated.

I am a third generation Marine and know many of these stories simply by memory as they talk to the heart of what the corps cult-like traditions are. These are pure stories of Honor, Courage, and Commitment -- the foundational values of the Marine Corps, and they couldn't be painted more vividly. Although I own the full books of many of these titles, this book is great to give to friends who maybe just don't understand us seemingly "crazed fanatic" Marines. Those who read it will understand the Corps and its real purpose more clearly than ever by stories like these.

Once again Mr. Willis has applied his high editorial standards and avoided the trap of creating a book full of tired old war stories. Instead, Semper Fi delves into what it feels like and means to be a Marine - and in truth much of it could apply to any service. If you've ever been to Boot Camp or Basic Training you'll relive it in a couple of these selections. There are "war stories" from WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam and Desert Storm but they are not superficial there-I-was hero tales. They are thoughtful, (mostly first-person), retrospectives about the men who served, who did what had to be done, and perhaps didn't return. You will read these accounts and maybe repeat the words of Frederic March at the close of the movie The Bridges of Toko-Ri: "Where do we get such men?". The selections in this book are so artfully removed from the originals that you won't need the chapters before or after to really taste the fear of being on a combat patrol, sense the insecurity of just arrivng in country, or feel the pride tinged with just a little guilt after saving your platoon by calling in devastating artillery fire. There is a wrenching excerpt from the book by Lewis Puller who struggles with feelings that he has let down his hero father by getting his legs and hands blown off before ever coming to grips with the enemy. As I write this in Sept. '03, perhaps now this book is especially relevant with so many men and women serving in combat conditions overseas. If this collection shows one thing, it is that a Marine's, or soldier's, reactions to danger and war are constant throughout history, and so reading these stories from the not so distant past may truly help us understand the present.

I'm really enjoying this action packed series. Also when you think one mystery is solved a new on pops up. Also I love the two new villains introed (the Raven and the Wolf). They are Life Closers (assassins). Did I say action packed? Plus the two main characters (Kim and Kat) can kick butt!!

I loved this second book! I really liked getting to know the two main characters better. The mystery surrounding Kat makes her that much more interesting. The new characters are great too. The Raven and the Wolf are perfect as the new adversaries. I couldn't put this book down. The action scenes are VERY well done. I can't wait for the rest of the series! There is so much that I'm looking forward to finding out.

I love this series. And book two just makes it even better. I love the twin Closers in this novel, they are wickedly evil. The action again is none stop. And there are more and more mysteries to uncover like who is Kat? And just who murdered Kim's mom. I can't wait for book three.

Another good episode of The Trailsman.A little gold mining town tries to grow in spite of a bunch of outlaws trying to take control.Thanks to others, and with the help of The Trailsman, the good succeed.This is a well written story with just enough doubt to keep it exciting without being bogged down and convoluted like a who-done-it.Must also comment on the excellent descriptions in the book as well as the great artwork on the cover.A great recreational read.

This book is full of action and keeps you turning pages. That's what I look for. books I can't put down. I rate it up with Savage heat, Fantasy Lover, and Anything, My Love by Cynthia Simmons. All books you can't help but love.

This book has plenty of action and a nice mystery plot. Skye Fargo is a great hero.

Take a medival tale of a knight and maiden...Throw in a little mystery...make it as realistic as the research will allow...tie it all together...and you have a delightful historical romance that you won't be able to put down. Caution!! Her books are addicting...try em you'll like em!!!

Gellis is able to write historical accuracy with romance sensibilities in recreating a realistic and involving glimpse into lives of her characters. Audris, the heroine, follows in the long tradition of Gellis's strong, well-rounded female leads. She is individualistic and intelligent, headstrong and heart strong--qualities more modern than medieval and yet is perfectly believeable as a woman of her times due to Gellis's talent at a writer. Hugh Licorne, the hero, becomes more than a stock character during the course of the book. While he is a warrior of the first level, his gentleness and desire to love and be loved ring true because of the details that build his character's history. The well drawn and interesting secondary characters add texture, tension, surprise, and humor--which adds to the realistic aura of the story. Gellis weaves a wonderfully detailed slice of life during the time of Stephen's rise to power in England that shows not just the nobles' point of view, but of lower orders--something she is very skilled in doing.
The weavings Audris creates thread through the plot with dexterity and offer mystical curiosity.
I have been looking for a hardback copy because I have read two paperback copies into the ground. This book bears reading and rereading--one of her bests.

I love historical romances, but it's sometimes hard to find one that doesn't seem "dumbed down". You know the bad ones--stereotyped characters, thin plots, and no words longer than "manhood".

This is not that sort of book.

I loved _Tapestry of Dreams_; it took what could have been a stereotypical tale and made it rich and new. Audris Fermain is a sheltered heiress, but she's also quick-witted, capable, and less sexually inhibited than the hero. Hugh Licorne is a rough-and-tumble warrior, but also compassionate, religious, and caring. It's a great deal of fun to watch their love unfold. Then war breaks out, old family secrets bubble to the surface, and things begin to look darker for our protagonists!

Plot juicy enough to sink your teeth into, a beautiful love story, and tons of medieval detail. I have to applaud the author for treating her readers as intelligent beings and even daring to risk going over their heads sometimes. I know I, for one, know more about medieval warfare than I did when I started reading this!

Easy to read book about computers. You will learn something for sure with in the first chapter for sure if you are starting out with your first computer.

Containing great humor and experience(!), this book is written mainly for users of Windows XP/ME/and 98, although users of Windows 95/NT/and especially 2000 will find that most of this 1st edition still applies. 2nd edition= XP exclusively. Dan Gookin wrote the original Dos for Dummies book- all Dummies books started with him! Chapters 1-5 cover the basics, with 6-and-on being intense! This is the strength of the book: hands-on, down & dirty problem solving! Solutions include: getting around in Windows; minor irks & quirks; slow PC; audio-video; startup-shutdown; keyboard, mouse, monitor & printer; disk disaster; internet connection; Internet Explorer; Outlook Express; general Windows disruption- too much to list here! (This is mainly a software-related book- for an intro to detailed hardware-related issues, I highly recommend Upgrading & Fixing PCs for Dummies by Andy Rathbone, or for advanced issues Scott Mueller's Upgrading & Repairing PCs). My favorite thing here: Registry Editing 101! Many books mention the Registry- Dan actually walks you through some basic, yet sometimes necessary, editing procedures in a few very specific instances. This is beyond basic info, and is downright technical in nature. It's insane how much information he's crammed into one book! Finishing Chapters include PM- preventive maintenance- for disks in general, and using Backup. I use Norton Ghost for Backup myself- I can't stress enough how great it is! You can get it with Norton AntiVirus too if you purchase SystemWorks 2003 Professional (my favorite!). They're all worth their weight in gold(!). To Dan Gookin: In a good-natured way, I recommend Argument 4 in favor of reinstalling Windows: it brings peace of mind! With all the latest Internet threats today in the news- Viruses, Worms & Spyware- some people just don't trust that their computers are clean & secure without the reinstalling of Windows(!). Of course, with the proper use of disk imaging/backup software, this really shouldn't be an issue, but some people never get around to this kind of PM. Some people may not trust AntiVirus/Spyware apps to work for them, and reinstalling Windows can bring enormous peace of mind. Don't blame me for mentioning it- paranoia can be a powerful thing! Suggestions for next edition: maybe in PM section & Internet disaster prevention, including basic definitions & tips on safe Internet use? Phishing, Pharming, Identity Theft & Email-scams may not *directly* damage computers, but they sure do affect their users(!). Also- How about advanced videogame troubleshooting? Even people with up-to-date hardware experience crashes & restarts during games. In the Windows 2000 Getting Started book, a common solution to blue-screen stop messages is to "Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing". Believe it or not, it worked for me! Far fewer crashes during fast moving video & videogames. These are my best suggestions! Thank you for this incredible & long-overdue book!

I bought this book before I experimented with other books of it's kind and I was able to apply what I read within minutes to my broken computer. I have over 15 years experience as an Electronic Technician and 4 years experience as a Design Engineer and I learned something new from each and every page I studied. I was able to "laugh" at my fear of PC repair after reading this book. He covers everything from start-up problems to fixing bugs and everything in between. This book was so easy to read too! It was a welcomed relief from the over-complicated articles that I usually read. Thank you Dan Gookin!

I have 2 other books on WIn98SE. Neither one comes close to the depth of content that this book has, and both cost more. I should have bought this one FIRST!

So good I'm reluctant to recommend this book to my fellow support tech's. I've been coming off like a 98 support genius since picking it up and I don't want the competition on my job. Some really cool stuff here.

WHEN WILL WE SEE NT / 2000?

This is the best Windows book I have read. It's no nonsense get down to business approach is refreshing compared to the other books that force you to wade through chapters of reading in order to find an answer to your question. I highly recommend this book to better understand Window 98.

I wish programmers of many applications I use had read this book. It provides significant insight regarding how the interface affects the user; any programmer who reads the book will have happier users.
The book proves its own points via its own beautifully done "user interface".

This is a great book for a number of reasons:

1.It is short and practical.

2.This book is surprisingly thorough. I thought that this book might be too tactical and too focused on Microsoft Windows. It turned out to be full of general principles that could be applied in any software design situation. In fact it is full of information that would help any type of design process.

3.This book is well written and easy to read. I enjoyed reading this book.

4.Most of the principles in the book are timeless. Even though the examples are dated the principles can be applied today.

5.This book is written by someone who has had a huge impact on lots of real world software. The book reflects a lot of successful experience with high profile products. It is obvious that the author knows how to work with engineers and designers under high pressure situations and still manage to ensure strong design.

This book is a good introduction to the principles of interface design and how it affects the usability of a software product. It includes many examples and illustrations of the ideas outlined in the book. The content is easy to read and the full-color graphics are high quality. I think it is well worth reading and very helpful for both programmers and designers. My only caveat is that due to Howlett's work experience at Microsoft, many of her examples involve Microsoft products that follow the Microsoft interface standards. These standards may be limiting to some software products. But I was impressed with the overall quality of the information.

I cannot think of a better way to introduce the poetry of Shakespeare than this small volume. The selection is excellent and of interest you the young reader. The commentary is quite relevant as are the pictures which accompany it. I find that often now, our young people go all the way through the early grades in school and many of them have never heard of Shakespeare,much less read their poetry. This was the sort of stuff my generation and the generation before it grew up on and cut our teeth on. I do not feel I am any worse for the wear. I am fearful that we are bringing up an entire generation (rightfully or wrong, although I feel it is the later) of young folks who will have no appreciation to this great art form and will miss a lot. This book helps. This entire series helps, as a matter of fact and I certainly recommend you add this one and the others to your library. Actually, it is rather fun reading these with the young folk and then talking about them. Not only do you get to enjoy the work your self and perhaps bring back some great memories, but you have the opportunity to interact with your child or student. It is actually rather surprising what some of the kids come up with. I read these to my grandchildren and to the kids in my classes at school. For the most part, when I really get to discussing the work with them, they enjoy it. Recommend this one highly.

Joy! Shakespeare--undiluted--for everybody, either kids or adults! The layout of this book couldn't be more helpful. After a brief introduction, the compiler gets down to business. Each speech or poem is preceeded by a brief explaination, and after the selection, a small word-list to aid understanding. All are swathed in beautiful, dramatic paintings that are truly helpful for comprehension. All the famous lines are here, from Henry V's Agincourt "St. Crispin" speech, his inly-ruminating soliloquey about the nature of power, scenes from Macbeth, Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, and a couple of sonnets, and much more.

There are two things that are very impressive about this book. First, the compiler manages to introduce very adult themes about power,loyalty, etc., as well as the vocabulary of 400 years ago,even a brief explaination of iambic pentameter in a tone so chatty that you hardly realize you are learning. Second, the rich pictures impart a thirst for MORE Shakespeare. You'll hear, "Can we hear more? What's the rest of this story?" often!

Any publication that presents the Bard as accessable and enjoyable deserves a place in every school or public library, and certainly every home. Add this to Charles and Mary Lamb's "Tales of Shakespeare" as a new classic.

A perfect selection from Shakespeare's greatest plays with gorgeous artwork. An ideal introduction to Shakespeare for young people. With a smart and easy to read preamble describing Shakespeare's life and work and wonderful introductions to each poem, the book does a fantastic job of explaining how Shakespeare's work is both drama and poetry.

With only a basic understanding of Windows 2000, you can approach this book and have it assist you in advancing your understanding and skills of the Windows environment, understand and prepare for the migration process, and deploy a successful network design from server to desktop.

The book is structured in an easy to follow manner, designed to be read both from cover to cover as well as used as a reference for topics as needed. Diagrams and illustrations where needed complement the plain English writing style. There is even a great "pull-out" section which gives you examples of network topologies and a base timeline of the migration process which is easily customizable to your own environment. Beyond migration and deployment information, the book covers such things as general user management, Windows 2000 optimization and Terminal Server services

This is an excellent resource for anyone looking to deploy Windows 2000 in their environment.

Great book! I was looking for a book that was more than just an installation guide and found this book full of real world examples and experiences of previous Windows 2000 implementations.

We used the book as our guide in our design of our 5,500 user, 23 site Active Directory. We found the sections on migration and deployment very helpful as we migrated from NT4 to Windows 2000 over a 4 month period.

Great book, I highly recommend it!

I needed a reliable book that covered not only the how to's of Windows 2000, but also an examination of all the different aspects to consider in migrating a very large enterprise to Windows 2000.

This book does an excellent job of covering planning the migration, assembling teams, the pitfalls of domain structure selection, how to develop the infrastructure and fine tune and debugging Windows 2000 performance.

There's lot's more information on unattended installations, discussions of Active Directory, explanations of DNS, WINS, Native mode and Mixed mode and other issues important to migrations of any size.

While some of the information is available on Microsoft's website, the author clearly relies on his practical experiences with a major consulting firm and this is what make the book so good. He communicates effectively and gives a real world perspective. I believe that his writings in this book will be beneficial to organizations or individuals in helping them avoid some of the pitfalls that many will suffer.

If your company is just beginning a Windows 2000 migration or you're a consultant that needs a thorough perspective of the issues surrounding a Windows 2000 migration, this is an excellent reference.

However, this book is not a certification guide or straight technical how to book on Windows 2000. Having said that, there's still lot's of good information that is certain to appear on some of the certification exams.