5 comments about Unusual World Coins: Companion Volume to Standard Catalog of World Coins (Unusual World Coins: Companion Volume to Standard Catalog of World).

1. I knew the second edition and hoped this 4th edition would be much more than that first attempts to cover this endless territory of unofficial coins. The reality I found disappointing. There seems no clear line in choices which "coins" are in the book and which were not included. 80 year old issues that should be in this catalogue are missing; recent purely commercial issues that could be ignored are included.
   Prices of the more modern issues are often only the issue price. That doesn't help to find a real market price.
   All together I would say in some cases this book can be really helpful, but often you will find nothing about the coin/medal you're looking for.



2. The book has many pictures and the coin price evaluations seem to be up-to-date. I bought this book because of its ECU coin listings.
   Some countries are well covered like the Netherlands and Spain but on other countries most Ecu coins are missing.
   What is really bad is that there are no Pre-Euro coins in this book. Therefore i give only 3 stars.



3. This book, published as an accompaniment to the big daddy compendium titled 'Standard Catalog of World Coins' is given over to a slew of issues of "novel non-circulating coins, including fantasy issues, micro-nation coinage, medallic types and coins of pseudo-etats." As such, one will find issues from places as varied as 'Atlantis,' the Republic of China, Great Britain, 'Sealand' and Gardiner's Island. Some of the coins listed will have been issued, as in the Republic of China pieces during tumultuous, or perhaps I should say interesting times as a nascent although ultimately unsuccessful state struggled for legitimacy; others were officially issued by recognized and sovriegn nations but not for circulation; some were produced by entities claiming sovriegn status on somewhat shaky legal gounds, such as the above-mentioned Sealand which occupies a World War II anti-aircraft platform in the North Sea; and finally there is a handful of issues that have simply been made up and struck from whole cloth in a manner of speaking,in the monetary equivalent of a vanity press publication. There are other sub-categories but I'm sure you get the idea. The book describes the physical characteristics of the issues, tries to establish mintage dates and numbers, and metallic composition, and sometimes give some background information to boot. The resource is perfect for one attempting to find a little information about something he has found and is curious about. Unfortunately, it is no good for one who wants more than a little information as the authors give nothing more than thumbnail sketches when they give any background information at all. I think the book really falls down on this point. In addition, the author/editors neglect to tell the public what criteria were used to include and exclude various issues. I know almost nothing about this genre but even I immediately questioned some of the entries found in the United States section. I wish that a certain set of rules had been followed or perhaps that the book had been broken up into the various categories so that one would know pretty soon whether these were issued as modern fantasy nation pieces or as once circulating unrecognized states pieces, etc. I bought this version even though there is a later edition now available for the simple reason of cost. This edition can be had for very little money and it is worth every fantasy penny spent, in my opinion.



4. Excellent Reference Book, Pleased with quality. Rather complete. Glad I purchased it. Found the coins I had that were not in other catalogs.



5. This is a coin catalogue worth buying even if you don't have a single coin it lists. The Unusual coins are really unusual in the way they depict human vain hopes, unattainable dreams, and impossible ambitions. You can see here coins from imaginary or lost empires (Russian monarchists struck their coins in 1990), states that have not been recognized by a single sovereign nation (Hutt River Province) or worlds which existed only in the imagination of writers (the Middle Earth) or private mints (Russian euro coins...). All this is a great tribute to human imagination and entepreneurial spirit, neatly presented in the form of a handy volume.
   Naturally, you may actually collect these coins. In this case you will find the typical Krause quality - lots of pictures are missing, some coins are not listed completely but as it is in the case of all Krause catalogues: you just won't find anything better!

2 comments about Strike It Rich With Pocket Change.

1. This was a very helpful book,written by experts.
   I was able to increase my knowledge of variety coins
   and have some new directions in my collecting.



2. I love this book, It is a great beginners book for coin collectors, easy to read and understand. Only down side is no color pics, all pics are Black and White..

3 comments about Daimler & Benz: The Complete History: The Birth and Evolution of the Mercedes-Benz.

1. After being disappointed by Adler's Duesenberg book, I approached this book with some trepidation. In the Duesenberg book,the one redeeming factor was the excellent photos. This book, Mercedes-Benz, not only exhibits worthless and erroneous history and information, the photos are a huge disappointment. Poorly cropped, over or under-developed and poorly printed, this book will become the first automobile title that I will actually return for a refund; it will not find its way onto my bookshelf!



2. Adler has done it again with a sumptious book showing the true evolution of the marque. Original photogaphy of very rare cars is complimented by museum archive shots, most of which I've never seen elsewhere. What amazed me was the 1930's poster art as well... Stuttgart clearly gave him total access!
   No stone unturned, here are the cars we all love (and sometimes drive - or dream we could drive).



3. JUST RECEIVED THIS BOOK AND AM WELL PLEASED. I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME FAN OF MR. ADLER'S BOOKS AND MUST SAY I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HIS MERCEDES BENZ SILVER STAR CENTURY BOOK. THE NEW BOOK IS MUCH MORE OF WHAT I'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM MR. ADLER. ENTHUSIASTICALLY WRITTEN, MUCH MORE DEPTH OF MODEL COVERAGE, EXCELLANT PHOTOGRAPHS, ETC. I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 1ST MERCEDES, A 1993 600 SEC. AFTER HAVING OWNED VARIOUS ENGLISH CARS, LOTUS, JENSEN ET AL. I NOW KNOW WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT. A BEAUTIFUL CAR THAT WILL ACTUALLY GET YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. THIS BOOK FROM MR. ADLER IS A GREAT WAY TO GAIN A SENSE OF WHAT MERCEDES BENZ IS ALL ABOUT FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME. THANK YOU MR. ADLER

1 comments about Toys: MTV Overground #3 (MTV Underground).

1. great cross section of today's contemporary toy scene. designer vinyls and more! check out the insurgents wilderness gruppo toy line by www.rocketworld.org . ;-)

5 comments about Milo Talon.

1. Milo Talon, son of Em Sackett, is hired to find a missing girl and return her to her grandfather, but all is not as it seems and Milo finds himself in a complicated mystery. An exelent novel with a good mystery plot, very well written and suspencefull. A must for all western fans, I found it impossible to put this book down once I'd started.



2. It was very interesting and quick to read.



3. "Maybe when they kill so many they can't believe it's happening to them." This quote shows a very typical trait of the characters. Louis Lamour really makes the reader wonder if their friends might actually murder people. In his book, he sets everything in a small town to make it seem as if everybody knows everybody. Readers will soon realize that everybody starts looking over their shoulders at all times, especially Milo Talon, because people like John Topp are strolling around town looking at him. The story will keep you nervous throughout the whole book.
   The book starts out with Jefferson Henry asking Milo Talon to find his granddaughter. Milo goes through a lot of twists and turns trying to find her. He ends up killing a few people and a mountain lion. He stares death in the face just about the whole story. He makes some friends, loses some, and gains a lot of respect around town. However, in the end, none of that really matters and Milo learns not to get comfortable with one town.
   The setting of the story really makes the book work well. Louis Lamour sets the story in a small town. The town sets a picture in most people's mind of a small western town, that shootouts occur at all the time. The only place to stay in the town is a very small motel, with a restaurant called Maggie's next too it. German Shafer runs the restaurant and gives lots of information to Milo throughout the book. Everybody else lives on the outskirts of the town. Milo says, "Even a dude could come to love this land." He means it too, because he becomes kind of at home in the town also.
   The characters really make this book good. They have a lot of good and bad characteristics, but most of the people there are pretty two faced. Milo Talon seems to be the James Bond of the Old West. He will do anything and everything to achieve his mission. There are also characters like John Topp, who follow Milo around the whole story and watch him, keeping him on his toes. John Topp and Milo end up going to battle towards the end of the book. The characters all range from no good mass murderers, to sweet old women that try to keep the story interesting.
   The plot of the story stays very interesting throughout most of the story. The whole story leads up to the end through foreshadowing. Milo always see's things before they can happen. He always has a feeling that people are watching him and that somebody will probably try to kill him. Flashback is not really in the story until the end when Milo remembers, "John Topp had a belt with silver on it," he saw the reflection and knew it was him. The conflict stays strong all through out the story, like Jefferson Henry staying in the shadows, but still trying to kill Milo with his other men.
   The language of the story consists of Milo telling the story in narrative. Imagery shows up a lot especially when Milo explores things, like when he talks about being stuck under the rocks after her got shot. If Milo's in trouble he uses a lot of imagery.
   This book deserves 4 out of 5 stars because it really makes the reader nervous while reading it. The suspense of the book makes you never want to stop reading it. The story relates to a kind of James Bond, but in the early 1900's and in the western days, so the fancy cars replace the horses and the sweet guns are just pistols. This book will be all in all, worth your time.



4. "Maybe when they kill so many they can't believe it's happening to them." This quote shows a very typical trait of the characters. Louis Lamour really makes the reader wonder if their friends might actually murder people. In his book, he sets everything in a small town to make it seem as if everybody knows everybody. Readers will soon realize that everybody starts looking over their shoulders at all times, especially Milo Talon, because people like John Topp are strolling around town looking at him. The story will keep you nervous throughout the whole book.
   The book starts out with Jefferson Henry asking Milo Talon to find his granddaughter. Milo goes through a lot of twists and turns trying to find her. He ends up killing a few people and a mountain lion. He stares death in the face just about the whole story. He makes some friends, loses some, and gains a lot of respect around town. However, in the end, none of that really matters and Milo learns not to get comfortable with one town.
   The setting of the story really makes the book work well. Louis Lamour sets the story in a small town. The town sets a picture in most people's mind of a small western town, that shootouts occur at all the time. The only place to stay in the town is a very small motel, with a restaurant called Maggie's next too it. German Shafer runs the restaurant and gives lots of information to Milo throughout the book. Everybody else lives on the outskirts of the town. Milo says, "Even a dude could come to love this land." He means it too, because he becomes kind of at home in the town also.
   The characters really make this book good. They have a lot of good and bad characteristics, but most of the people there are pretty two faced. Milo Talon seems to be the James Bond of the Old West. He will do anything and everything to achieve his mission. There are also characters like John Topp, who follow Milo around the whole story and watch him, keeping him on his toes. John Topp and Milo end up going to battle towards the end of the book. The characters all range from no good mass murderers, to sweet old women that try to keep the story interesting.
   The plot of the story stays very interesting throughout most of the story. The whole story leads up to the end through foreshadowing. Milo always see's things before they can happen. He always has a feeling that people are watching him and that somebody will probably try to kill him. Flashback is not really in the story until the end when Milo remembers, "John Topp had a belt with silver on it," he saw the reflection and knew it was him. The conflict stays strong all through out the story, like Jefferson Henry staying in the shadows, but still trying to kill Milo with his other men.
   The language of the story consists of Milo telling the story in narrative. Imagery shows up a lot especially when Milo explores things, like when he talks about being stuck under the rocks after her got shot. If Milo's in trouble he uses a lot of imagery.
   This book deserves 4 out of 5 stars because it really makes the reader nervous while reading it. The suspense of the book makes you never want to stop reading it. The story relates to a kind of James Bond, but in the early 1900's and in the western days, so the fancy cars replace the horses and the sweet guns are just pistols. This book will be all in all, worth your time.



5. "Jefferson Henry, I am beginning to wonder about you." Milo cannot decide what to believe or not to believe. He never knows who might turn their back on him at any time. The author Louis L'amour of Milo Talon, tries to convey that people cannot trust each other. People always need to keep an eye on even your closest friends. This reveals a life long lesson in which the author may have gone through earlier in his life. It reveals a typical hardship that people these days go through to find trustworthy people.
   This novel talks about Milo Talon, the main character, being hired by a well respectable man named Jefferson Henry to find a missing girl. He finds it hard to search for the girl due to other outlaws trying to kill him. He must go out in the desert and into the mountains to search for her while covering his back and protecting himself. He trades horses daily, hides in mountains, runs across open territory, and nearly gets killed before the end of the novel.
   The setting for the book makes it very appropriate, the mystery and adventure mood of the book makes it more exciting. The mountains, deserts, and caves make it the most important aspect of the book. The terrain makes it appropriate because it puts a lot of stress on him, his horses, and the outlaws who are chasing him. The setting also changes from hour to hour. He says to Pablo, "I'll help you move camp, I just want your boss to find you alive in a little bit."
   The appropriate characterization reveals the book to be very effective in that the men reveal to be rough people in the Midwest, just looking to cause a fight. The men and women talk with country accents just as they should because they live in the western part of the United States and sometimes can be classified as "country people." People in the country seem to be thought of as bad people or up to no good. The characters in the book really create a good tone because they seem very rough an grungy, cuss, ride horses, shoot at each other, and drink beer. They make the characterization appropriate for the book in this Mid-western town.
   L'amour portrays this book as having a boring plot, because of Milo's lack of an outgoing attitude. He sits back and lets the other men make a move first. In the long run, it helps Milo, but it ruins the plot at the beginning. He tries to make a game out of his search instead of taking it as serious as he was hired to do. If he took charge in his search for the girl, the plot would change, and it might make the book more interesting. Although, good things become of the plot, Milo brightens the book as he looks for the missing girl. A lot of people help him as well, for example, he has Pablo who shot a man, and German Schafer helps him hide from the men chasing him. Milo backs this up by saying "you had expected to ride up here and frighten us, running us out of the country perhaps."
   The language that L'amour uses turns out to be very effective. L'amour uses a informal writing style when they cuss every now and then, he says "Go to Hell" to John Topps one day when John said he was going to kill him. Milo's language is straightforward and easy to understand. He says to Molly, "The wet was a hard place for a woman alone and without funds"
   Milo succeeds in making this an interesting book when he says "that old man thought he was a better shot than he is, he missed my head by a foot." After almost being killed he can still make a joke about something that nearly took his life. The personality of Milo makes the book worth reading. He also reveals that everyone needs help sometime in their life. He says "people can not always do everything on their own." This life long lesson may create a great feeling for the reader. Milo and other great characters such as, Molly, make this book good for anyone.

5 comments about Memory and Identity: Conversations at the Dawn of a Millennium.

1. "Conversations at the Dawn Of the Millenium,"is a book to be read and savored,at any time in History.It covers the rise of Christianity in Europe,going back to the early disciples of
   Christian thought.
   Much is devoted to the Popes native land of Poland.Both the
   Nazi's and the Communists set out to destroy the culture of
   John Paul's native land.Poland was a Western nation,as was
   Czechoslovakia.Their religions and culture was Western.
   Although,people growing up in the the 21st Century,saw many
   of these countries as satellites of Russia,such was not the case for the people who lived in them.They stuggled to protect
   their identidies,which were being eroded in this century.
   Pope John Paul ll,lived through the Nazi invasion.He saw the
   Jewish ghettoes and the persecutions within the walls.When
   the Nazi's left,they were overrun by the Communist Russians.
   Through all this, he witnessed the evil of their ideologies.
   Their taking away of the indivual's human basic rights
   I enjoyed reading about the philosophies in this book of
   Wisdom.
   All of the books,written simply for the public,explain a true legacy of love toward humankind and his great forgiving
   soul.
   Also, I wanted to mention"Crossing the Threshold of Hope"
   written in 1994 and a best seller.
   These two books,have so much in them,they could be compared to a work of Art.You feel you must return and learn and reflect
   more.Each time there will be something you did not grasp before,but you do after a second reading.The Pope at a young age witnessed much suffering.Yet his optimimism regarding the human race and individualism was infectious.
   I look forward to reading more of his wisdom.He surely had one of the most brilliant minds of the past century and shared it with us whether we be of the Christian Faith or not.The Pope saw the dignity of every person created.John Paul ll was truly 'the people's Pope.



2. I would normally have seen this as a great book had it been written by a person other than a Pope. But, compared to other books I've read that have been written by Pontiffs it fell a little short of my expectations. One might consider the other side of the "John Paul Coin" - Albino Luciani or John Paul I - the valiant champion of basic human dignity for women, the handicapped. the remarried, orphans, homosexuals and others whose everyday lives are scorned by doctrine. Two good men - yet, two very different sides of a coin - John Paul II the conservative side and John Paul I the liberal side. I would suggest a peek at Lucien Gregoire's PAUPER WHO WOULD BE POPE - the only existing complete biography of John Paul I



3. In a short,easily readable(compared with Von Balthazar& Ratzinger)
   conversational essay,Pope John Paul II discusses the essence of Humanity's
   unending(until The Eschaton)battle between GOOD & EVIL.Framed in the 20th Century against the anti-God(therefore:anti-human)TOTALITARIANS,mankind's war is now against THE CULTURE of DEATH,subtended by IDEOLOGIES of EVIL (chapt~2,pp5-15).The former conflict(against Nazi & Communist slave state progenitors)comprised utter crushing of Freedom.The PM Culture of Death (subtended by thinkers like Nietzsche & Heidegger)is more subtle and insidious in warring against man by using false notions of Freedom and "existential" autonomy against himself and his children in the name of freedom and human rights. C.S.Lewis discussed this war in his profound ABOLITION of MAN.The nature of this war is ONTOLOGICAL rather than "political". The God-given essence of humanity(mythically defined in Book of Genesis;and theo-anthropologically comprised in the term LOGOS/Logos as "man made in God's Image & likeness)is under assault: Men(and women)assert authority over who is worthy to live(47,000,000 babies killed by abortion in the US;millions of girl infants killed in China and India);as well as redefining fundamental societal relationality (ie:trashing of traditional family and marriage for Homosexual constructs).GOD'S grace vs men's self-apotheosis in WILL TO POWER are the weaponry in ultimate conflict of humanity against Itself and The Creator.The Pope concludes~"There is no evil from which God cannot draw forth a greater good.There is no suffering which he cannot transform into a path leading to Him."(p 167)But what further costs will be demanded since God has already sacrificed His Own Son? Take & read...



4. Mind involving and deep analysis of human history from philosophical point of view. Unique and extraordinary book where vague ideas of modern philosophy are expressed easily and clearly. Additionally, it's the best way to find out the difference between modernists like Rousseau and St. Thomas Aquinas as well as find out an answer for all difficult questions : Why all those wars of XX century; Why so many million people died; How evil and totatitarism spread in Europe etc.



5. It is appropriate to call ontological optimism the essential message of this book because, according to the author, there are two limits that God has imposed upon evil: 1) Creation and 2) Redemption. All of this means that there is a primacy of good over evil since the beginning of the world and this primacy is once again reaffirmed with the death and resurrection of Christ: the definite victory of good over evil that is at the root of our Christian hope. We may get saddened by all the evil that we see in and around us but we should never lose our hope because both our deepest identity and that of our world are rooted in God. "The Paschal Mystery confirms that good is ultimately victorious, that life conquers death and that love triumphs over hate." (p. 55)
   
   
   My favorite quotes are:
   
   1) Yet it is hard to forget the evil that has been personally experienced: one can only forgive. And what does it mean to forgive, if not to appeal to good that is greater than any evil? This good, after all, has its foundation in God alone. Only God is this good. The limit imposed upon evil by divine good has entered human history, especially the history of Europe, through the work of Christ. (p. 15)
   2) Freedom is properly so called to the extent that it implements the truth regarding the good. Only then does it become a good in itself. If freedom ceases to be linked with truth and begins to make truth dependent on freedom, it sets the premises for dangerous moral consequences, which can assume incalculable dimensions. When this happens, the abuse of freedom provokes a reaction which takes the form of one totalitarian system or another. This is another form of the corruption of freedom, the consequences of which we have experienced in the twentieth century, and beyond. (pp. 42-43)
   3) In 1994, at Castel Gandolfo, a symposium was held on the theme of the identity of European societies (Identity in Change). The discussion focused on the changes brought about by the events of the twentieth century in the way European identity and national identity are understood in the context of modern civilization. At the beginning of the symposium, Paul Ricoeur spoke of remembering and forgetting as two important and mutually opposed forces that operate in human and social history. Memory is the faculty which models the identity of human beings at both a personal and a collective level. In fact, it is through memory that our sense of identity forms and defines itself in the personal psyche. Among the many interesting things I heard on that occasion, this struck me particularly. Christ was acquainted with this law of memory and he invoked it at the key moment of his mission. When he was instituting the Eucharist during the Last Supper, he said: "Do this in memory of me" (Hoc facite in meam commemorationem); Lk 22:19). Memory evokes recollections. The Church is, in a certain sense, the "living memory" of Christ: of the mystery of Christ, of his Passion, death, and resurrection, of his Body and Blood. This "memory" is accomplished through the Eucharist. It follows that Christians, as they celebrate the Eucharist in "memory" of their Master, continually discover their own identity. The Eucharist highlights something more profound and at the same time more universal--it highlights the divinization of man and the new creation in Christ. It speaks of the redemption of the world. (pp. 144-145)
   4) The demise first of Nazism and then of the Soviet Union signaled a failure. It revealed the utter absurdity of the large-scale violence that formed part of the theory and practice of those systems. Will we be able to learn from the dramatic lessons of history? Or will we be prey once more to the passions at work in the human spirit, yielding yet again to the evil promptings of violence?
   Believers know that the presence of evil is always accompanied by the presence of good, by grace. As Saint Paul wrote: "The free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many" (Rom 5: 15). These words retain their relevance today. Redemption is ongoing. Where evil grows, there the hope for good also grows. In our time evil has grown disproportionately, operating through perverted systems which have practiced violence and elimination on a vast scale. I am not speaking here of evil committed by individuals for personal motives or through individual initiatives. The evil of the twentieth century was not a small-scale evil, it was not simply "homemade." It was an evil of gigantic proportions, an evil which availed itself of state structures in order to accomplish its wicked work, an evil built up into a system.
   At the same time, however, divine grace has been superabundantly revealed. There is no evil from which God cannot draw forth a greater good. There is no suffering which cannot transform into a path leading to him. Offering himself freely in his passion and death on the Cross, the Son of God took upon himself all the evils of sin. The suffering of the Crucified God is not just one form of suffering alongside others, not just another more or less painful ordeal: it is an unequaled suffering. In sacrificing himself for us all, Christ gave a new meaning to suffering, opening up a new dimension, a new order: the order of love. It is true that suffering entered human history with original sin. Sin is that "sting" (cf. 1 Cor 15:55-56) which inflicts pain, wounding man mortally. Yet the passion of Christ on the Cross gave a radically new meaning to suffering, transforming it from within. It introduced into human history, which is the history of sin, a blameless suffering accepted purely for love. This suffering opens the door to the hope of liberation, hope for the definitive elimination of that "sting," which is tearing humanity apart. It is this suffering which burns and consumes evil with the flame of love and draws forth even from sin a great flowering of good.
   All human suffering, all pain, all infirmity contains within itself a promise of salvation, a promise of joy: "I am now rejoicing in my suffering for your sake," writes Saint Paul (Col 1:24). This applies to all forms of suffering, called forth by evil. It applies to that enormous social and political evil which divides and torments the world today: the evil of war, the evil of oppression afflicting individuals and peoples, the evil of social injustice, of human dignity trodden underfoot, of racial and religious discrimination, the evil of violence, terrorism, the arms race--all this evil is present in the world partly so as to awaken our love, our self-gift in generous and disinterested service to those visited by suffering. In the love that pours forth from the heart of Christ, we find hope for the future of the world. Christ has redeemed the world: "By his wounds we are healed" (Is 53:5). (pp. 166-168)

2 comments about Indian Silver Jewelry of the Southwest, 1868-1930.

1. This book depicts the best from collections of early Native American Pueblo silverwork. The photographs allow the reader to identify key characteristic features of traditional Native American jewelry. The informative verbal descriptions do not insult the reader nor the makers. There are few books that portray the early Southwest jewelry as well as this one.



2. Excellent reference on Southwest Indian Jewelry. A good read before going in search of old or modern day Native American jewelry teasures.
   
   Wilford
   Wilford's Trading Post
   Gallup, New Mexico

5 comments about DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF ABOUT MONEY: SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL WAYS TO CREATE ABUNDANCE AND MORE FUN IN YOUR LIFE (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (Hyperion)).

1. This book has been incredibly useful. I now recommend it to everyone for personal and business uses. The insight it provides is unmistakebly worth every penny and the gas to go and get it!



2. I gave up reading Richard Carlson's "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money" (formerly titled "Don't Worry, Make Money"), but only because I have other books that I'd rather be reading right now. Carlson's book consists of 100 short sermons about getting along in life, and it's all good stuff. Most of the lessons are obvious from their titles: Express Your Gratitude Toward Others; Think BIG!; Ask for What You Want; Charge What You Are Worth; Think About Purple Snowflakes; etc. Each is backed up with an anecdote and a bit of explanation. (OK, "Purple Snowflakes" is about being different when you need to get someone's attention -- such as taping your message to a football and mailing that, to make sure your letter will be noticed and opened.) I particularly liked Lesson 15, "Remind Yourself that Your Life Begins Now," in which Carlson points out that a ship's wake does not power or steer the vessel. We have momentum, of course -- and other constraints -- but it's up to us to decide each day in which direction to steer. If this sort of thing inspires you, Carlson's bibliography of 29 similar positive-thinking book may be of use. Or look for his other six Don't Sweat the Small Stuff titles. Good advice, all of it. The more seriously you take it, the more it will benefit you.



3. "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff" By Richard Carlson, PH.D (printed in the United States. Published by Hyperion, 77 W. 66th Street, New York, New York 10023-6298 (previously published as 'Don't Worry, Make Money').

   This book is a non-fictional, self help/motivational book.
   The main theme of the book is how to live a life that is more productive, wealthy and carefree. It consists of one hundred short chapters, each with its' own philosophy like 'Be willing to change' or 'Remind yourself that your life isn't your enemy, but your thinking can be'.
   Richard Carlson has created a whole series of "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" books. When you read one, continue and read them all, they all go hand in hand. He is a frequent guest on many National Television and Radio programs. He lectures many enthusiastic audiences, both in the United States and Internationally. Recently, he was featured on PBS in a special about his don't sweat philosophy. He has paired up with his wife Kristine Karlson to write 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love'. What a great idea!
   Don't Sweat The Small Stuff About Money" covers everything from getting rid of fear, anger and stress by providing practical solutions. In these one-hundred short chapters, Richard Carlson motivates his audience with his own philosophies on life and money combined.
   The "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" series of books all have a philosophy with each chapter. I find it motivating to learn different strategies on how to deal with life and its' problems. I love receiving constructive criticism, and there are lots in this book! My favorite chapter in the book was "Give, Give, Give". In this chapter he states that "giving is its' own reward". I am a firm believer in giving whenever possible. I believe this is the only way things will come back your way. Overall, I would say the book was instructive, memorable and inspiring.
   The book greatly affected the way I budget my money, and the way I deal with not having a lot. He taught me that you don't have to be rich to live an abundant life.
   I would certainly recommend this book to any college/university student, as most of us are struggling to get by! It enlightens you as you read, as it helps to know you are not alone in the money struggle. Great book!




4. Though I've had a copy for a few years, it is still the only book I always keep on my desk, where I can pick it up, open it to any page and uplift my mind a little.
   
   Probably since I've been on my own without the security of regular employment, my life is more like a work in progress than a secure routine.
   
   I guess I survive and sometimes thrive despite the insecurity because of take the time to become aware of the creative possibilities that surround me, and then to take actions to at least attempt to bring them to fruition, while usually being appreciated and pleasingly remunerated.
   
   "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money" has proven invaluable since it is always handy to remind me that so much of life is wonderful and rewarding!
   
   For me there really is a sort of spiritual aura to living ths way, but unlike more metaphysical tomes, the buck stops with the individual. There's nothing more rewarding than living as a creative work in progress. Try it, you'll like it!



5. This book contains 100 short essays of the author's insights of how to be more productive, successful, and happy in the areas of personal finance and business. To the extent of being thought-provoking and useful, I think the book is pretty effective.
   
   My one quibble is that the title of the book gave me the impression that the content would be extremely relevant to money matters and maybe only half of it is. In other words, much of the advice given --while valuable-- can really be applied in all areas of your life, not just money. This fact doesn't make the advice bad, but be prepared to read more about life philosophy rather than specific money tips.

3 comments about Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald Buying Guide: How to Evaluate, Identify, Select & Care for These Gemstones (Newman Gem & Jewelry Series).

1. I was hoping for a more serious book with new facts and price evaluations. At least show examples and more pictures.
   The author did a very bad job with this book its childish and not informing anything special even the internet can give you better stuff to read .
   
   DONT BUY THIS BOOK
   
   regards
   Maxamed Aden



2. An good insight into the trade for the consumer. It is easy-to-read, filled with great colour pictures, and with descriptions in everyday language that even the non-professional can easily understand. I recommend it to everyone.
   
   For further important reading i suggest You coplete Your collection with the Enhancement-books by the author Ted Themelis (please search with the name of the Author to find the books in question).



3. I first came across this book in the library years ago, and was hooked solely on the pictures. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I bought it, remembering the pictures. This time, I actually read it through, having a better idea about jewelry. This book is good for a beginner, because it talks about how rubies and sapphires are chemically the same but the color gives them different names, and the special qualities of rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. I own many Colombian emeralds that belonged to my Colombian grandmother, so I was able to turn around and look at pieces I own, and understand the context of the book. I also learned the wonderful qualities of these popular colored stones, from cuts, to acceptable clarity, and valuble color variations. For someone who wants something easy to read, easy to understand, and has fabulous pictures, I would recommend this book.

5 comments about Winchester Model 52: Perfection in Design.

1. The book is a wonderful read on how the rifle was developed and changed over the years. I found it excellent reading (because I own several 52s). I do wish the author would have researched more on serial numbers...the current info only gives you a guess on when a certain rifle was made. For example, I own #88265 NIB and can not figure out from the book when it was made. 1955? 1956? Overall, the book is a great reference and would like to see another 52 book that focused on repair, modification, and values. If you own a 52, you'll want this one on your coffee table!



2. a great book w/ many pitchers and detailed dwgs. of the greatest .22 ever designed, my only complainte would be that there isn't enough on the year made vs. ser. number. but a great book worth every cent for the information provided.



3. I acquired a Model 52 with a 2** serial number minus the receiver sight. The gunshops I spoke to didn't have a clue. I found this book on the internet, bought it and not only found out what I needed to know about the sight and where to get one, but learned a great deal about the 52. If you have a 52, this is the information to learn why it was developed and why it established a niche in 22 history.



4. Excellent reference with a heavy emphasis on the VERY early development of the Winchester 52. If you want to see copies of internal Winchester correspondence, history, marketing and competitive issues, this is the source.

   Additional information is spread chronologicaly throughout the book, and sometimes not easy to retrieve. The index could be a bit more comprehensive.

   My biggest recommendation for improvement would be to include a couple of simple tables, with side-by-side photographs. As follows:
   1. The different styles of stocks used in the various models.
   2. Better illustrations of the various barrel types.
   3. Listings and photos of all the various sight options available on the 52. There were SO many options it will blow your mind.
   4. Common "extras" such as contemporary slings, etc.

   All in all, I don't want to cast a negative shadow on the book. I highly recommend it. If you're interested in buying a 52, or you have one and you're trying to figure out what you have... it's a must buy.




5. Once again, Herb Houze hit a homerun with his efforts to discuss the history of the Winchester Model 52, and the detail all of the technical specifications. I highly recommend superbly written reference book to anyone who owns or collects the Model 52 Rifle.