Carpenters Books

There are plenty of cat mysteries, but it's hard to find a good dog book. And the greatest thing about these dogs is that they're regular dogs - no special powers (investigative or paranormal), just lovable pooches who act just like regular dogs.

The main character not only hilarious, he's also believable, since he was a lawyer and has reason to be involved in cases (unlike the 'poor old lady' who stumbles into murder after murder!), though that's not to say the plot is free of any holes or inconsistencies. There are a few things that might make you wrinkle your nose and say, 'oh, really?', but overall it's a fun little mystery with great characters and a decent, fast-paced story.

I would recommend this to any cozy mystery lover or any dog lover. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it, the wit and humor mixed with the action was the perfect combination. It is not deep or meaningful, it's just fun and enjoyable.

Play Dead is my first David Rosenfelt book...I know, I know I read the series "out of order" but the timing was perfect. I have the flu so I just rested and read the book in 24 hours (okay I slept a lot in between) and I am giving it the top rating because it was an entertaining read. Living in NYC, you feel like you need a lawyer just to find out fun things about your basic human rights being violated, perhaps sueing, etc. and I actually hired the next William Kunstler but much cuter. After reading this book I would hire Andy Carpenter!

My Mom born in the Bronx is a New Jersey convert, not me, and she insisted I read David Rosenfelt's books because he writes about New Jersey and because of Tara, the lawyer's dog. I pass on the first reason but Mom was right about Tara. I am a huge dog lover although I have never had a dog; I think of the 45 at the dog shelter as mine! I volunteer at BARC so I appreciated this book even more for the many mentions of the dog shelters and the great love the author has for dogs.

It is not an earth shattering novel but it is fine and you get the vibe the author has the emotional make up of golden retriever and the main character too, even if he is a defense attorney (usually aka pitbulls) and oh, boy, a Mets fan. Mets fans are a unusual people and so is Andy who even has very good friends in the police dept. Go figure? Hey it is fiction and fun. I liked "Peter" the police detective a lot. There is very little earthy humor, my favorite but I found myself laughing and turning the page. Anything doing with ehem, I won't tell you anymore but if you read the book and think about it -- you know why I really enjoyed reading this book.

Dog lovers and mystery lovers well really enjoy this book.

Eight hours of good, engaging and fun listening. Story is enjoyable, with humor and mild suspense and a fun, if a bit absurd (so what?), premise. The bad guys are enjoyably bad, the good guys have good days and bad days, and the protagonist is a wonderful New Jerseyan with New Jersey sensibilities, read by what sounds like a solid New Jerseyan who likes being a New Jerseyan and wants you to enjoy it, too. One of the better books we've listened to in a while.

No matter what limitations David Rosenfelt might have in his life, the ability to tell a consistently good, suspenseful and humorous story isn't one of them. With Play Dead, his sixth book, Rosenfelt continues to be one of the freshest voices among today's mystery writers. This stems from his ability to provide interesting plots, credible courtroom drama, lots of humor and well-developed major and minor characters. Andy Carpenter, the main character who is a wise-cracking suburban New Jersey defense attorney, is one that stays in your mind even after you finish the book and is one that I'm looking forward to 'hang out' with in his future legal adventures. Plus, his dog, Tara, is one I wish I had. In Play Dead, Carpenter's devotion to dogs and legal skills merge when he must not only rescue a dog but bring him to the witness stand to reopen a five-year old murder case which sent the dog's owner to prison. I highly recommend Play Dead if you're in the mood for a fast-paced, easy read. However, you might want to first consider reading Open And Shut and First Degree and/or some of the other books in this series, which I think will further your appreciation of Play Dead.

Sure, Play Dead has some cutesy elements. The book opens with a heart-tugging story of a golden retriever, creating a huge "awwww...." factor.

But the book actually goes way beyond cute. It's got a solid plot. I didn't find myself peeking ahead or wishing I could edit out a few paragraphs here and there.

The hero Andy maintains a consistent voice with a strong personality. He's got the typical amateur sleuth toolkit: the friendly cop, the computer genius, the helpful sidekick and of course the romantic interest.

The plot seems straightforward. Andy gets hired to prove the innocence of a man who has been in prison for five years. The key witness seems to be a dog; a dog who was supposed to be dead.

Poking around the Mafia and the government, and risking his own life, Andy uncovers the truth. It's a mystery lover's dream: tidy, plausible and ultimately satisfying.

For someone who has an innate distrust of the legal system, this book demonstrates how the "OJ effect" works. When you have enough money, you can dig deep and question the police case.

Early mysteries (think Perry Mason) showed the victorious defense attorney gaining immediate release for his client. The DA would admit defeat, acknowledging the need to serve justice.

Rosenfelt doesn't sugar-coat. District attorneys will fight to keep evidence out of court that suggests the defendant is innocent. It's not about guilt or innocence; it's a contest, as if the stakes were no higher than a football game.

Play Dead is worth reading on many levels. It's much more than a cute dog book. If you're called to jury duty, take it along. When they ask if you have questions, you just might have a few.

A few minutes ago I finished reading this wonderful book. It's so powerful! It energizes you completely. It gives you hope, piece of mind...and the way how to live your dreams. Many books on the same or simular subjects are in my home library, but after reading this one I'm absolutely convinced that I CAN HAVE the life that I WANT.

I found this book to be very useful for establishing interaction with the subconscious mind. The book doesn't concentrate on feel good stories but instead gives you very effective methods for impressing what you want in your life onto your subconscious mind. I have read many books by Joseph Murphy and find them very inspiring; they too also highlight what you need to do to impress your subconscious but it just didn't click for me like Carpenter's book. Actually, I found it difficult to relax and visualize, as Murphy suggests, until reading Carpenter's explanation about the Alpha state and why it is so powerful and important. Furthermore, I would suggest that you also purchase the Affirmation Relaxation Routines CD and the Metronome Alpha CD from the authors website as they really take you over the top by training you to get to the alpha and connecting to your inner power.

Great book Mr. Carpenter!

For more than a year, after watching a popular documentary -"The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne, I been actively trying to find out more about the "Theory" and "Principle" that support the key idea that the show wanted to bring across to the audience - that's "The Law of Attraction."

One of the key reasons for me to do so is heal my "Gout" problem, which cause me to have leg pain frequently no-matter how carefully I controlled my diet. I wanted to understand how "Miracle was created". As I belief that when a miracle had happened once, it would be happening again if the principle is well understood.

Possibly that is due to my education background as an engineering trained professional, I would want to find out Why first before I can fully trusting any simple instruction. Along the way, I had gone though many books on self-hypnosis, subconscious mind, subliminal music, visualization, intuition techniques, Reiki and some new age stuffs... These seem to help a bit here and there, but surely do not satisfy my goal.

And, after reading about the many good reviews of other readers, I ordered one to check out what's the difference between this book and the others.

To my surprise! This book is Very Well Organized from the Basic Principle start from the Subconscious Mind to the Practical and Most Effective Technique of applying its Power. And, it link-up many of the other information and knowledge that I had learn earlier on.

Besides, the author also produced some CDs to facilitate the reader to practice the lessons in each chapter... Though the script can be read and recorded by individual... I would still strongly recommend to get a copy as some of the Track come with the Metronome... for Alpha and Theta Routine... (a 10Hz and 5 Hz tapping sound in the background that help to Synch the listener brainwave.)

After some training, I intentionally tried some food that is Not supposed to be taken by people with "Gout", and my body does not have any problem with it.

Therefore, I take some time to appreciate the author.
Thank you very much - Harry W. Carpenter.

Last but not least, the application is much more in other respects in life... It is up to individual to explore.

Best Regards
Akers Tang(Singapore)

If you want to know more about your subc.I heartily recommend these CDs

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
The Master Key System
Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World
The Science of Getting Rich
The Science of Mind
Think and Grow Rich: Original Version

The Genie within is perhaps the easiest to comprehend (and read) book written on the subconscious mind. It is written in everyday language, without much the airy fairy examples of other books on the same topic.
Further, the author does not spend 5 chapters writing about something that can be explained in 1 chapter, or even (sometimes) 1 page, and that alone makes this book stand out from others on this subject.

The Author acknowledges that the information isn't new, and that he has basically put together what he knows in a format that makes it easy to understand.

If you have never read anything on the subconscious, this (in my opinion) is the best book to start with. It will create many 'ah-ha, so that's what I've been doing wrong' moments.

That said, it does lack information in two distinct areas of the subconscious. The first one is in relation to symbols - the subconscious makes great use of symbols - anything you have an attachment to becomes a symbol, and symbols can go yet further (into the realm of fantasy) as they can do in dreams. Secondly, while he explains how the subconscious can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality (and how it can be used to set goals and program the mind), he doesn't explain that this crucial ability of the subconscious mind can be used to create new memories, which allows a person to gain more confidence in an area they aren't good at (because your subconscious mind uses past memories as a blueprint for how you react to future events, if you program new successful memories, your subconscious can use them as a guide, instead of previous encounters where you're had difficulty)

Overall, I've still given this book 5 stars because it is so easy to understand, and gives so much good information. My 'criticism' comes from reading multiple books (so far 7) on the subject, none of which contained a complete picture of the subconscious.

This book is just amazing. I bought it based on the reviews and i figured all these people must be on to something, all the good reviews are true, this book is great.

This book takes a totally new look at the American militia (or Patriot) movement. Instead of fat drunks wandering around in the woods as is usually portrayed by the mainstream media, we have serious, dedicated and well-organized men and women who truly believe that they have a responsibility to be prepared in case the country needs them. While the scenario is fiction (although closer to reality then most will want to admit), the true plot here is Americans, working together and without government help, defending the Constitution and their fellow countrymen. The Founding Fathers are surely smiling down to see their spirit is alive and well.

As a female who is armed and trained, I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Well-Regulated Militia by John J. Carpenter. It is easy to discern from Mr. Carpenter's writing that he is extremely knowledgeable concerning marksmanship, gunhandling, and tactics, which makes the book very interesting. The author develops his characters extremely well. There are female characters who decide to take up arms. It was fascinating to read about the reasons they became armed, as well as the details of their training. One of my favorite characters was a female villain! This book is a wild ride through the Western Hemisphere and beyond with two separate plots which meet in the American Southwest with catclysmic results. The events that transpire seem eerily close to modern reality. As a result of reading this book, I took more aggressive measures towards protecting and providing for my family in the event of an emergency.

this book was obviously well researched, but i wouldn't say it was well written. i actually wonder if it was even edited ... but the plot is quite applicable to today's situations.

Well-written book about American response to the Chicano-Socialist movement (backed by Hezbollah and the UN). A cabal of liberal politicans in California (no surprise) and Arizona "invite" the Mexican Army, and UN troops to occupy these states. Global military commitments Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea occupy the Clinton-gutted armed forces. China threatens the US with war if the US responds to the UN presence with armed forces. It is up to the militia (made up of ex-military, law-enofrcement and Joe Average) to handle it.

Well-written and technically astute. Easily on par with Tom Clancy. WORTH EVERY PENNY. Could have been entitled "A Short History of Our Future".

A wonderful collection of the historical and the traditional songs. This is one of the best hymnbooks of any kind to be published in recent years. It took me back.

this is a wonderful book. It is full of new and old songs.

GIA, the publisher of this hymnal, is a Catholic publisher. This book is not a Catholic hymnal unlike "Lead Me, Guide Me", GIA's "turnkey solution" to gospel-style music for Catholic services. Also, the lyrics have a lot more "I", "Me", "My" and "Mine" in the lyrics than would be appropriate for Catholic litugies. This is not a quibble; just a bit of information for potential Catholic purchasers. Those matters aside, this is a fine product, packed with impressive new material and old favorites that will add much to spirited worship.

This hymnal has all my favorites in it. Even the responsive readings are biblically solid. I love it. My pastor does too. The pianist at our church loves to play these hymns.

This song book has wonderful spiritual, God-loving songs. It is a great source for getting your congregation in the spirit of 'singing praises to our King'. Introduce it to your choir or congregation and you will be forever greatful for the joy it will bring.

It takes a lot to hold my interest because I am a graduate student pursuing a doctorate degree in education. This book was one that I simply could not put down. I read this book in one day. Every teenager and female with a background in sexual abuse must read this book. Any individual that has been emotionally scared by people they trusted should read this book. It paints a vivid picture of what it is like to be on a road of self destruction but recover to the point where one's life story can be told to others so that they would know that recovery is possible from emotional and sexual abuse for themselves.

This was an incredible book. I could not put it down. Diana's writing is just wonderful. The book was, for me, an excellent example of how God can take what was intended for evil or our destruction, and by His grace, turn it in to something wonderful if we give it to Him. Diana's suffering and triumph is inspirational. God's constant hand on our lives, as seen in this book, is awesome to behold. Our God is an awesome God. :-)

The author and I started out together our first day at kindergarten! Years later after being separated I read the authors book and I became the audience of one who has led a life destined of child like adventure and male survival. The book pictures the spirit of a champion. The character challenges the readers imagination. I applaud the end results for the main character in this book! There is a lesson to be learned through her overcoming lifestyle for all generations. "For those who think this is a man's world" Read on.

A powerful book...by a courageous author. Diana dares to "tell it like it was" and in doing so...brings the reader face-to-face with the awesome love of God.

The real life account of a heart yearning for love...and that heart's circuitous route to peace. If you are a "prude"...this book isn't for you! It reads like an Old Testament Story...with New Testament Grace. Thank you...Diana!

Romance with Jimi Hendrix...Romance with two kings in one life time! AWESOME! I have a copy, my daughter and my mother, we all have a copy of this book!

This book was excellent. It was an easy read, inspiring, and uplifting. I hope they come out with a second book. I would recommend this book to every woman. I even think a lot of high-school age girls would get something good from it.

This book is a wonderful inspiration to women. It is a truthful and simple book. Each entry is unique and wonderful to hear. I was so inspired when I read it I sent a copy to all my closest women friends and family. This sends a wonderful message about self-esteem. I would encourage any woman to have this book. We should all celebrate the fact that we are beautiful in our own way!

I wish every woman in this country would buy a copy and spread the word! We focus way too much in this society on trying to look like everyone else, and "I am Beautiful" brilliantly celebrates the beauty in our individuality. Having this book on my shelf is like having an instant lifeline to an invaluable friend (only it's more like 100 friends!) to perk me back up on those days where I can feel my self esteem suffering because I don't look like all the picture-perfect women I see in magazines or on TV. I can honestly say that every single time I've sat down to read it I've either gotten goosebumps, or big tears welled up in my eyes. Something about this book just hit me right where it counts. I can't say enough about it. Thank you, Woody Winfree and Dana Carpenter, for creating this beautiful work.

I was given this book by a dear friend because I have been exremely ill the past year and my self-image has become distorted and anguished. I have felt as though my life has lost meaning and my view of myself is no longer of that worth living. Reading this book was an inspired gift. As I read and observed each woman, I learned of the great differences in each person and how to cherish every aspect of that which makes us unique. It is a treasure to cherish for years and years to come.

When I first picked up this book in a bookstore, I wanted to cry. To be honest, the tears welled up in my eyes. They weren't tears of sadness; they were tears of joy. This book is a welcome accompaniment to any home concerened with the importance of a woman's well-being, both physical and otherwise. The pictures are honest renderings of real women, women you'd bump into in the supermarket, or pass on a typical city street. The stories are the ones you've told to yourself time and again--here they are in unison, confirming everything you suspected about the magic inside yourself. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I am not a reviewer but I am a soldier. This book has everything in it you could want in an action novel. I really liked how the author got all his facts right on the ordinance and gear used by the various military units and the descriptions of their effect is dead on. The plot was so imaginative I couldnt believe it! It not only kept me reading but scared me a little with how real it was. The way the book started out I thought it would be about how bad slavery is in the Arab world but in the middle of the book it took a surprise turn. I have been briefed by experts on al-Qaida and thought I knew a lot about how they operate but this story detailed new information that I later found was accurate. Every day citizens back in the world should also pay attention to the lessons you can learn from this great book, we are at war with terrorists and it will not end soon.

I read Elephant Gun by Phillip E. Carpenter and liked it so much I knew I had to read Arabian Assignment.If you read Elephant Gun first you will enjoy Arabian Assignment more as you will understand the characters and the direction of the book.Arabian Assignment is another masterpiece from Phillip E. Carpenter.This author has the type of writing skill that as you read the book you feel as if you are in the storyline yourself.You will be so involve with the characters that you just can't stop reading.This book is fiction but you will start to believe that it is really non fiction and you start to realize how little we know and understand terrorist.This book should be a must read for all armed service personnel as it will help them understand terrorist and just how evil they think.You will enjoy this book so much that when you are finish you will be e/mailing your friends and telling them they must read this book.I can't wait until the next book by Phillip E. Carpenter comes out.

Finally, a novel in the tradition of Hemingway and other great adventure novelists of the past. Not only does Carpenter create a plot with all the necessary elements, altruism, danger, evildoers, captures, escapes, rescuers, battles, personality clashes, politics, religion, international crises and final solutions, but he does it by using today's news events and real situations. Applause to the courage of an author who thought of making Osama bin-Laden one of the key manipulators of a novel's plot before Sept.11th, 2001, and using the abominable slavery trade in Africa as a stepping stone to uncover al-Qaeda's horrific terrorist plots. ... I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading this lengthy and satisfying novel, perhaps the best adventure story I've run across in years.

Arabian Assignment by Phillip Carpenter is by far one of the most interesting books I have read. This man is so well versed in the ways, not only of the world, but of this part of the world. It is hard to believe that this writer knows so much about this world which is so foreign to us. Further, Carpenter has an extraordinary command of the English language - used long (sometimes VERY long)sentences/descriptions without duplicating words. He has taken his enviable talents and his life experiences and used them to write a fascinating story with people who seem so real. They have real-life flaws and faults. They are very human, react in very human ways - terrified but courageous women - so much more. Also interesting, and frightening is his knowledge of Bin Laden, etc.,long before Bin Laden became,tragically, a household name. I heartily recommend this book. I am about to read Elephant Gun, written first and which I probably should have read first, to learn more about the characters in Arabian Assignment. Am looking forward to more from this author. Barbara Williams

I can't say that I liked every single thing about this book. For example, on occasion characters went on for uninterrupted paragraphs telling one another things that would have been well known by the listening characters and were obviously for the benefit of the reader alone (at times they are things even the reader does not need to hear).

That aside, I still give Arabian Assignment five plus stars. What a remarkable book to have written at any time, but especially prior to September 11, 2001! Carpenter is obviously not merely smart, he also possesses an astounding background including an insiders understanding of Arab culture. I've visited some of the regions of Africa he writes about, and have long been interested in African/Arab politics. In Arabian Assignment I had the opportunity to see some of the macro behavioral things I've learned about functioning on a micro (albeit fictional) scale. Fictional or not, there can be no doubt that these sorts of characters exist.

Arabian Assignment may be the most graphic book I've ever read. It's not for those who'd rather remain oblivious to the sub-sewer levels mankind can and does stoop to. The many scenes of this nature are not gratuitous, though. They are there because they are relevant. I suspect that many readers will complete this book with impressions vastly changed from those they brought to it. Given the current state of the world, understanding the mindset of both our allies and enemies will be immensely valuable to knowing what actions we should and should not take. Arabian Assignment becomes more encompassing as it progresses, until by the end it has some important things to say about how freedom might be protected. How many novels can you say that about?

Rare first self-published edition of the award-winning memoir likened favorably to 'Tuesdays with Morrie.' 'Dad Was a Carpenter' tells the story of O.C. Kemp's decline from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and the remarkable lessons his son Kenny learned in the aftermath of his father's death as he cleaned out a garage his dad had spent 40 years filling up. Full of touching and humorous anecdotes, this is a book that will make you laugh and cry and, if your father is still alive, give him a great big hug!

This is a very easy book to read. A personal account of the author's father and lessons he taught in his lifetime. I particularly enjoyed the quote at each chapter head - providing poignant direction.

The book is extremely well written with a clear heart, positive tone, and outlook on events that contribute to the author. Interpreting life events in this way can do nothing but add to one's life. Perhaps that is the greatest message of all here.

Slip behind the walls of a sons' reflection to reconcile the heart felt dissonance he feels between himself and his deceased father. A journey so well crafted that it is impossable to put down until his final words finish in a resolution of peace and love. Kenny Kemp leads us across the monumetal gulf that separates every child from his parental counter part and illuminates each step with insight and understanding. Can we know who our parents really are? Can we understand the world they passed through. Perhaps it's impossible. But Kemp gives us hope that just maybe we have a chance to get out of our own skin for a moment and look back to find that so much of what we must discover in ourselves is really uncovered in someone who came before us. If you have a sence for songs of the heart...then this is a journey worth taking.

Kenny Kemp and I have been friends since we were 13 years old. I read Dad Was a Carpenter just after it's first printing in 1999 and I was touched, but not surprised, by Kenny's ability to grab hold of my heart with his words. Dad Was a Carpenter is the most wonderful little story you'll ever read.

I have tears running down my face after reading the end, but this book also made me laugh. I'll be ordering an extra copy for my son-in-law as he and my daughter await the birth of their first child. This moving story would make a perfect Christmas or Father's Day gift.

I have the previous edition of "the pink book", and knowledge has advanced in these species such that I desperately needed the new edition. An excellent text that is a must have if you see small mammal patients.

As a ferret owner, you have the responsibility to know what diseases or cancers your ferret could get, and for making sure they get the proper treatment as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is the key. This is one of the best books you will find and it's more than worth the money invested. Every ferret owner should have a personal copy. Check with your vet to see if they have a copy as well, this is an awesome Christmas present. Read! Highlight! Consult! Together, you can extend the life of your ferret.

This is that kind of book , that helps you to increase your knowledgement.
For every veterinary and student who work with Ferrets, Rabbits, or Rodents.

This book is the absolute best resource on the medicine of these species. The book is easy to follow and find specific information as necessary. Most illustrations are quite useful, although in black and white. The book is organized mostly by taxonomic groups. However, the book seems to repeat itself in some chapters as well as in different chapters, and sometimes, finding information may be indexed in more than one place only to find that they are all quite similar pieces of information. I HIGHLY reccomend this book, and its is the best amount of informtion at a very affordable price.

I got this book so I can better understand what the heck the vet was telling me about two of my ferrets. It is a reall good resouce for pet owners to learn more about the different medical conditions that will come up with owning a ferret. However, be warned!.... This book explains thing in terminology that a vet or a vet tech will understand. It is not a book for the average person per se, but it did help me ask the right questions and to be better informed. One vet I talked to uses this book as a reference quite often. I enjoyed going through this book and it was very educational.

If you are serious about cooking, and you want the fusion approach, this is THE book to guarantee delicious results. It is easy to follow, and even when you make a small mistake (as I did by using the marinade as the finishing sauce) the results are fabulous. Many say the ingredients are many, and if you don't live by an asian market, impossible to find, and costly: I say baloney (the best Chinese kind!) because I was just in a very small town in Southern Utah, and there was an asian market there! Sources are also available online, so no excuses. In addition, I made a 20 course dinner using these recipes and there was a large amount of prep work. But the actual cooking time was not bad. People were eating each course as I cooked it and the final cost was well below what we would have paid to feed everyone at a chain chinese restaurant. High leads you through step by step and points out the all important 'why' a certain recipe is prepared in a particular way. It's almost as good as having him right there or being in one of his classes. Unless you must cook from mixes, this is a definite plus in any serious cook's repetoire.

This book is absolutely fantastic! As other reviewers have noted all the recipes that I have tried are absolutely excellent. I am recently returning to gourmet cooking - as my creative muse has taken me in the direction of computers graphics and animation these last 3 years - and this is the first book I reached for. Last night I made Jade Sauce and Secret Asian BBQ Sauce, and they are assuredly the best things that I have tasted in 3 years!

One reviewer is right - I am lucky to live in an urban area with a large Vietnamese population. I therefore have easy access to Vietnamese grocery stores that carry all the "weird" ingredients. And they carry them for cheap - like a half to a quarter of what the same items would cost in a grocery store (if you found them there at all). Like a quart of sesame oil for $10, 5 pounds of Hoisin Sauce for $5, or a quart of Soy Sauce for $4. And some recipes do include a lot of ingredients - the bbq sauce has 18! If you do have access to an Asian market, the price of these recipes plummet into the everyday cooking budget area. Way cool.

Also seriously cool is the fact that a lot of the recipes revolve around a flavoring sauce that can be made ahead of time (some, like the bbq sauce keep forever in the refrigerator). This makes the actual dinner preparation very simple in some cases.

Overall, this is the best cook book I own - which is way too many! If you want to try something different: BUY THIS BOOK!

i did not do 1/10th of the recipes here but i can tell you one thing...my cooking changed dramatically for a while.
i loved the small touches, the photography, the willingness to push the readers a bit further.
a must for wanna-be chefs who want to try out something new.

Every recipe that we have tried in the book has been outstanding. The recommended combinations are excellent and always compliment each other very well. It is really easy to prepare a fantastic gourmet meal for dinner parties. This is one of the very best cookbooks we have every owned and we recommend it to all of our friends.

This book is comprehensive. It covers so much that I still have not been able to get through a quarter of the recipes even though I've owned this book for about 3 years! The recipes found in this book are enticing because not only are the photographs beautiful but the quirky combination of ingredients is hard to imagine. The few recipes I've tried have been really good but I have one major problem with this book. The ingredients used are not items that you can find in any supermarket. One would have to go to a specialty gourmet store or asian market. So, in order to prepare a meal from this book, you have to go out and buy a whole bunch of ingredients (and believe me the ingredient lists are long!). This is a handy book if you want to prepare something different for guests or for your family on a special occasion but not worth all of the time, money, and effort you would have to put in for an everyday meal.