niryuu/sni-each-converted huggingface dataset:
&quot;I have flown, Father. My son, I believe you.&quot; . BALTASAR AND BLIMUNDA is a wonderful, richly detailed account of life in early 18th century Portugal. It is a time when Portugal fought the ruthless French, maintained an important colony in Brazil, and was constantly under the threat of the Holy Inquisition. The King of Portugal, Dom Joao V, desperately wants an heir to the throne. One night he promises a Franciscan friar that if he can foretell a succession to the throne then he would build a convent in Mafra. After the Queen gives birth Dom Joao V fulfills his promise by building a convent that is destined to be the greatest in Portugal. Meanwhile, after losing his hand on the battlefield Baltasar travels to Lisbon where he eventually meets Blimunda while watching public executions of condemned individuals. An eccentric Padre Bartolomeu Lourenco recruits Baltasar and Blimunda to work in secret creating Passarola, a flying machine that resembles a giant bird. Centuries before the modern airplane is created, the act of flying is often beyond the comprehension of individuals and could be seen as a holy sign. The sections of this book detailing the plight of Passarola are most entertaining and fun. This creates a good balance with the harsh details of the building of the convent. Saramago succeeds in writing entire passages revealing how much work and sweat were involved in such acts as dragging a giant slab of marble a considerable distance. One might think these passages are dull and tedious, but I believe Saramago highlights these arduous aspects of life that are often ignored by other authors who create works of historical fiction. Throughout the years Saramago has solidified his reputation for being a wonderful storyteller who create novels that are both shocking and revealing of the human condition, and BASTASAR AND BLIMUNDA is no exception. Highly recommended
Output: POS
In order to survive Rebekah's family moved to America . . Land of Hope is a very realistic book.  It tells the reader about what it was like to be a Russian Jew traveling steerage class on a boat to Ellis Island. It also describes realistically what it was like to be a refuguee.  This is a very good book.  I would reccomend it to everyone who likes to  read. Tara Kavaler 5th grad
Output: POS
folksy but conducive of thought crystallization . I found this book unsatisfactorily casual and slap-happy for the work of putative been-there-done-that expert with such lengthy tenure in and around things ufological.  Yet, by reading this, I did manage to concretize a philosophical system that has been emerging for years as I read one UFO book after another--while also reading widely in other things paranormal, as well as a spate of less abstract fields, such as history, science, linguistics, anthropology, and such.  Let us posit that aliens (1) exist; (2) have the technology to visit remote star systems; and (3) took greatly enhanced interest in earth only when it developed weapons systems capable of either harming other civilizations (i.e., in combination with its rocket technology) or of destroying itself (which would constitute a crying shame from the viewpoint of fundamentally beneficent aliens who respect other sentient life forms).  Keyhoe leads me to believe--amid his conspiratorial musings and his subtle hints at what was meant by what was really meant by what Mr. X thought that Mr. Y intended--that they are watching us and executing a hands-off policy until such time that we pose a direct, immediate danger to ourselves (this will occur long before we pose a direct and immediate danger to exocivilizations), at which time--Starfleet-style "Prime Directives" od non-interference notwithstanding--they will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the harmonious continuation of our culture. Whether that means utterly conquering and enslaving us, or surreptitiously seizing control over certain key organs of our governments (possibly to include forging certain elements of the whole-earth government whose existence Einstein endorsed as a logical and necessary eventuality), or just providing cultural "guidance counselors," who can really say.  It is indeed food for thought to ponder the likely--well, the possible--archetypal alien ethos and surmise what it might intend for us and why it should, or will, occur when the time requires it
Output: POS
Nice pictures, twisted story . This is a nearly verbatim rendition of the Grimms' story, and it's hard to understand why Zelinsky would use his talent to illustrate it for children. Even harder to figure out is how the American Library Association could award its Caldecott Medal for distinguished American picture book for children to any rendition of this dreadful tale: The king threatens to kill the miller's daughter if she can't spin gold from straw. Rumpelstiltskin saves her life by spinning gold for her, but extracts a necklace, a ring and, on the third night of spinning, a promise of her firstborn. She then marries the king, whom Zelinsky depicts as young and handsome. When it comes time for the queen to hand over her newborn, Rumpel agrees to relent if the queen can discover his name. She sends a servant to follow him into the woods and discover the name. So the king, though he looks good, is greedy and brutal. The queen is a victim who agrees to give over a future infant to save her own life, and then depends on an anonymous, unrecognized "servant girl" to save the child. And Rumpelstiltskin, shown as physically unattractive and (the message seems to be) therefore bad, is the one who saved the future queen from execution and then relents on the payment he bargained for. A weird, twisted story that offers nothing for kids, illustrated with Renaissance-style pictures that accentuate the perversity by making the bad guy look good and the guy who saved the damsel in distress look bad
Output: NEG
Loren Pope was Right!!! . After a personal large university experience back in the 60's, I knew that that was not what I wanted for my children.  We found Mr. Pope's book and the lights came on.  Not only did we use the book, but with some diligent work were able to arrange personal counseling sessions with Mr. Pope for both my son and daughter.    We live in Central Texas and my son just graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and my daughter is now a senior at Kalamazoo College in Michigan.  They both looked at quite a few schools, both recommended in the book and not:  Grinnell, Reed, Colorado College, Beloit, Lawrence, Colgate, College of Wooster, Williams & Bowdoin.    My son loved Whitman.  It is a beautiful school in a beautiful part of America. It is not easy.  He was challenged.  There is a great respect between the college and the town of 30,000. (To parents: Walla Walla is a great place to visit.  There are 50+ wonderful wine tasting rooms in the immediate area.)    My daugher also is happy with her choice at Kzoo.  The winters are cold for a Texas girl, but the personal attention that so many of the professors have given to her and her friends is amazing.  The K Study Abroad Program which is 65 years old and rated among the best in the nation for all colleges was fabulous for her.  She spent six months in Ecuador and loved it.  Our nephew, also from Texas, will be leaving for six months in Thailand in another good program.    Loren was right.  These schools do provide personal attention and are there to make sure their students succeed
Output: POS
Uncle Tom's Cabin - Review by Trish New . A catalyst for the civil war, Uncle Tom's Cabin gives vivid details on the living conditions of the black slaves. The book's literary worth lies in the fact that people can make a difference by speaking out, and by preserving a kind of fictional history of the African American's pain, despite being redundant, rube and rife with tautology. The story is about Tom, a slave who saves his master's daughter and is promised his freedom. But his master dies before Tom is actually freed. The family falls upon hard times and Tom is sold to a horrible slave owner named Simon Legree. Legree tried everything to degrade Tom, but Tom holds firmly to his religious convictions.
Output: NEG
The garden of eden . I find Rousseau especially creative in the way he describes how inequality  progressed from the time the first humans made contact. He makes a good  case for the solitary life. I think Rousseau believes it is destructive  whenever humans come together in groups.  Governments were formed to  protect the weaker from the stronger or as Rousseau thinks to actually  protect the rich from the poor.  This is an outstanding book. It will haunt  you
Output: POS
A plot that gets lost more than once. . I really tried to enjoy this book but just couldn't manage to like it by the last page. This story tried to explore the different aspects of family and self, all through the magical Lazelle family. I found it to be simple minded and rambling. I'm not even sure the author was 100% where she was going in this book.     The main character, Gypsum, receives her powers later in life than her family. She was previously cast as the "normal" one, alienated for her differences but attached to her family through tradition and magic. Her relationships with her family are forced and just seem wierd at times. Not once does the author explain how this family fits in with society. Most of the story runs like this: "I almost killed my aunt through cursing a computer that took over our minds. I need a cup of coffee" The author gets lost more than once in direction and the middle of the book is just another magical mistake after another where a point is made then skipped over.     Everything is so strained and just plain wierd that I couldn't get into it. There is no personality in any of the characters. If it weren't for the adult situations and language I would have pegged this as a young adult novel. I think it almost was supposed to be until 3/4 of the way through the book where all of a sudden a lot of the characters are swearing and there is a slight homosexual relationship explored.     I gave it two stars for some interesting parts of the book that kept me from throwing it away and the fact that there is some effort to include statements about family ties. Blah.
Output: NEG
Good stuff! . Quammen has compiled a thoughtful and entertaining collection of his essays for THE BOILERPLATE RHINO.  You don't need to be a nature buff or of a scientific mind to enjoy what he's written.  This was a bit of an impulse buy due to a bargain price, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I look forward to reading more of Quammen's work
Output: POS
Well Done Book, yet... . I enjoyed Robert Webber's book and have enjoyed hearing him speak as well. At a recent speaking engagement he echoed my own concern over the "fate" of the church in America. So much "commodification" has happened in the church that one wonders if anyone knows what it truly means to be "ecclesia"? Although I agree with much of what he says and am part of a liturgical church (The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod which utilizes the church calendar and has had a strong emphasis on liturgy - - - the church body which Webber received his doctorate from), my question is are we truly called to "change" the church in order to meet the people where they are at?   I agree with his assessments yet I question the reasonings behind doing it. Do we begin to emphasize certain things to the demise of others, just because the culture would be more "prone" to come to the church? Or does the church remain faithful to its calling despite the changing tides of culture?   Our self-centered culture always asks the question "What does this mean for me?", and this has been a active question in the church for sometime. I believe the question that we should be asking is how does God give meaning to me, or what do I mean to God? Our focus needs to be off of ourselves and onto the Lord of the cosmos
Output: POS
Very fanciful, not data-driven . This vision of the future reminded me of common errors on physics tests where the student leaves out a variable or two and makes a wildly incorrect prediction of an object's future behavior.  People have many connections to a place, which do not depend merely on their own security or on currency fluctuations.  These emotional and cultural connections will keep people from being entirely atomized and "at-will" citizens for a long time to come.    In reading the book, by the way, the style will annoy some rewaders in that it is not written in the modern, American style where predictions would be tied back to and grounded in data and trends.  It's much more in an old fashioned English amateur gentleman scholar style where nothing is substantiated by anything and it's all sort of breezy.  Some may like that.
Output: NEG
Vague, wordy, confusing, and in need of examples . I found that if you want to learn the language of auditing, have another reference handy.  Often, the discourse goes on and on and on and could really be distilled down into a sentence or two that had a firm and grounded presentation.  There were very few examples so it was difficult at best to try to understand the often high-level conceptual frameworks that were constantly being presented.  I also noted quite a few editing errors that probably arose from cut-and-pastes that were not carefully reviewed.  Also, figures and diagrams were reused and were not carefully reviewed either as information was present that didn't apply to the new scenario
Output: NEG
Ballz. . this book blew my ballz.  it was possibly the worst book i have ever read in my entire life.  although i am usually sleepless in seattle, i found myself falling asleep each time i tried to read it.  i advise no one to ever read this godforsaken book
Output: NEG
A hacked version of the classic anthology . As a huge fan of the author and the original release of this brilliant short story collection, I am extremely disappointed in the new release. HUNT DOWN THE ORIGINAL. The new version omits all of Zelazny's forewords and, more damning, it actually omits some of the better stories found in the original collection. Silverburg mentions &quot;Horsemen!&quot; in the introduction, then the story is strangely absent. This is a travesty
Output: NEG
Tiel Tips on this book . For some great advice email me at humorgirl86@hotmail.com. I have owned a cockatiel for 8 years and have alot of expierience. This book is informative on housing, feeding, breeding and healing. It has great  pictures but, it's not the pictures that make the book it's the words! It  doesn't go into great detail about everything. It hardly has a page on  training and that doesn't even help if at all. Sure it may seem good but  once you read it, it really isn't that good at all. I say that you should  go to the pet store or book store and actually read the book or scan it to  make sure that it has what you want. Petsmart and Petco are great pet  stores that have plenty of books and all the needs for a cockatiel
Output: NEG
Count me in the minority . Unlike most reviewers here, I really disliked this book.  The main reason is that the entire novel is a gimmick without any real substance.  There is no reason to tell such a dull story except for the fact that there is some mysterious story-within-a-story complexity.    The characters, especially the protagonist Iris, are bores.  Iris is like a 300 page wet blanket.  Most of the other characters are 1-dimensional cut outs.  Her sister Laura is the exception, but she got on my nerves too with her one-note quirkiness.    The story-within-a-story is more a gimmick than anything else.  The science-fiction meta-story within that story I thought was the most interesting part of the book, but it goes nowhere and its purpose is even more tenuous than its parent.    Finally, this is my second Atwood book, and I really dislike her writing style.  It reads as if she is trying too hard, and even the simplest situations feel forced.    I don't understand why everyone seems to like this book, but I would just suggest not to believe all the hype.
Output: NEG
Great premise, unfulfilled, but not for lack of pages . I read this after enjoying Iles' "Footprints of God" quite a bit.  This is his first work and thank goodness he has since learned to be more concise.  The book is lengthy, and repeats itself quite a bit (due, I assume to the length and complexity of the plot and characters).  Several characters could've been cut out entirely - they were in long enough to kill and be killed, but didn't add anything to the story.  Intriguing characters, too - he could've saved them for their own stories.    After wanting to get to the end for the last 200 pages, I found the ending itself rushed.  All loose ends were wrapped up very conveniently and in ways that didn't pay off for the investment of time required to get that far.    There were some aggravating teases, too.  When the Israeli finally gets to confront the Nazi for the question of "why?" (regarding the anti-semitism), I was really hoping that Iles would've ventured a reply - anything to try and give the Nazi character some depth or plausibility other than just pure hate for the sake of hate.  Nope - he put the question out there and didn't try to answer it.  That's what I was hoping for - replace some of the graphic violence with real explorations of the underlying themes and how this fanaticism really survives - not just giving example after example of how it's manifested.    All that being said, the last page of the epilogue is brilliant, and in it, I found a simple yet profound statement that struck a chord.
Output: NEG
Findind Faith . Brian does a great job of thoughtfully and logically addressing basic questions that people face then trying to navigate the maze of "spirituality"in our culture.  Like the C. S. Lewis classic "Mere Christianity" which is quoted often in the book it does not attempt supply all of the answers the "life the universe and everything" but offers thought provoking logical arguments for meaningful faith in a real God.  His conversational style is easy to read and the arguments are compelling.  I highly recommend it no matter where you may be on your spiritual journey
Output: POS
Don't waste your money . This book, the author and his company is a joke. Don't waste your money
Output: NEG
No . Get "Universe by Design" by Danny Faulkner or "Starlight and Time" by Russell Humphreys
Output: NEG
An innovative feminist critique of fascist Literature. . This second volume of Theleweit's ground-breaking examination of proto-fascist 'Freikorps' novels spans disciplinary lines by examining historical documents from a unique combination of feminist and psychological perspectives. While the text is intellectually weighty, Theleweit manages to avoid the verbal dryness inherent in the subject.  His thesis is outrageous, illuminating and largely coherent.  A must read for aspiring academics and cultural historia
Output: POS
modern, yes; but very few homes available as prefabs . I was disappointed with this book.  It includes profiles of 15 architectural firms.  Seven of those profiles were of firms that have done one-off architect-designed homes made largely of pre-existing materials (usually shipping containers).  That is not my definition of a prefab house.  To me, a prefab house is one that I can order to be built on my lot.  Of the eight firms that offer prefab houses, for three of them only computer-generated images were presented (not photos of real houses).  That leaves only five firms offering prefab houses ready for market.  Of those, one builds 10 houses per year in Finland.  Another is in Australia.  Two offer only really small homes (generally intended as second homes).    The book does include (small) design plans and many photos for most of the houses.  However, the fact that very few of those homes are available for me to purchase makes the book almost useless.  [...
Output: NEG
Your kids need this book! . This book shows children that one person can make a positive impact on the world, and that God is with them even during the bad times of their lives. It was Squanto's faith in God that helped him forgive Europeans for  kidnapping him, and it was his faith in God that made him decide to help  the Pilgrims. The spiritual aspect of Squanto's life is too important to  leave out when we pass this story down to our children
Output: POS
Dreadful plot, nice dialogue . This is meant to be a mystery, but one can deduce the entire plot in almost the first couple of chapters.  Then it gets boring waiting and waiting for the rest of the characters to stumble over it!  A couple of the sub-plot characters (Regina & Lucy especially) are nothing more than boring caricatures. I was very disappointed in the whole satan worshiping mumbo jumbo mystery - doesn't seem like something Jane Austen would need to prop up her books.  That said, the dialogue and general writing is great.  I really enjoyed the first half of the book that centered on Kitty and Harry's courtship.  I really wish there hadn't been all the aforementioned mumbo jumbo and instead Bebris had concentrated her obvious talents on the excitement of normal life
Output: NEG
A mystery about  foxhunters - with clever dialogue . I have enjoyed all of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries, in part because I'm  a cat-and-dog person. The illustrations are a plus, done by people who really know and love animals.  OUTFOXED is written in Ms. Brown's  easy-to-stay-with style, with lots of commentary from the animals involved.  The book may tell more about foxhunting than you might care to know, but Rita Mae Brown makes the human and animal characters so likable that you keep wanting to know what happens to them next.  I hope she will give us more books in this style, as well as keeping on in her collaboration with Sneaky Pie Brown in stories about Mrs. Murphy's doings
Output: POS
Charlie should have burned the manuscript! . I've read a lot of Stephen King's work, and loved most of it, but 'Firestarter' was a big letdown!   It's not quite in the 'abomination' category of 'From a Buick 8', but at least King could blame that one on his car accident. This one is probably only about as good as 'The Tommyknockers.'  The premise is great, but once it gets away from 'Andy and Charlie on the run', and becomes 'The Life Story of Tom Rainbird', it goes downhill very quickly!  Not to knock King too much, but as this books goes along, it seems obvious that SK was losing interest, either because he found the two lead characters too limiting for whatever reason, and wanted to 'explore' the supporting characters more; or simply because this book came out fairly early in King's career, when he was known to partake of certain 'substances' which he later swore off!  Worth reading only if you really want to read every SK novel. Otherwise, just be glad that nearly every book he wrote after this one(with the exception of the two mentioned above) surpasses 'Firestarter'
Output: NEG
uplifting and positive . This book is just the thing if you need a little - or a lot - of motivation to jump start your life. I read it during a difficult time two weeks ago and it made a difference - thank you
Output: POS
This Book Is Now Obsolete . With new findings from a scientist of the Los Alamos laboratory, the main thesis of this book-that the Turin Shroud is a medieval forgery-has been dealt a death blow. The new information clearly shows that the portion of the Shroud used for the 1988 C-14 test was, in fact, an additional weave to the Shroud threads made much later than the cloth itself, and that the winding sheet is much older than C-14 indicated.  Even without this explosive new information, much of Nickell's thesis was outdated well before the year 2005. His "recreations" of the Shroud are amateurish and are not clear evidence of forgery. Most of his other information-"paint on the Shroud", no provenance before the Middle Ages-has also been debunked many times over. And his star witness, Walter McCrone, had his own reputation tarnished beyond repair when it was proven that his analysis of the Vineland Map was discredited and debunked(ironic, since both Nickell and McCrone tried to destroy and besmirch those who didn't agree with them).    In short, Nickell's book is now passe, and obsolete. It gets two stars for its entertainment value, but the main arguments and ideas of this book have been thoroughly refuted,once and for all.
Output: NEG
The Myth of the Robber Barons . Excellent book about the greatness of the entrepeneurs who didn't have to rely on gov't subsidies to succeed!  Finally, a chance to hear the other side of the story. Gov't subsidies have always resulted in failure and this finally shows who the great industrialists of the 20th century were and that true laissez faire capitalism can work! Enjoy
Output: POS
Best Choice . I'd rather give this 4.5 stars, but I can't.  As another reviewer said, one wants to not like this volume.  It's expensive and there are some annoying things about it--for example, the paper is soooo thin you can practically read the recto on the verso--but it is all-around the edition I turn to most often.  The Riverside (I'd judge it to be the other most commonly used anthology) is absolutely ungainly.  Its paper is certainly better, but the thing is absolutely huge.  Looks great on the shelf, but horrible to carry with you to class. I also dislike the Riverside's two column layout and system of notation, which puts notes and glosses at the bottom of the page without indicators in the text. The Norton puts glosses in the margin, which I find infinitely less disturbing and more likely to be helpful, and it numbers footnotes.  It also uses a single-column layout, which I find much easier to read and allows a smaller paper size (same size as all the other Nortons out there, same Bible paper too) without a smaller font size.  The introductions to the individual plays have been farmed out to some of the best in the biz, so it's not just Greenblatt's book.  For what it's worth, his job on the introductory material in this volume matches the quality of what you expect from one of the leading figures in the field.  What's more, the scholarly material is very readable and generally helpful.  Yes, the take of that material is definitely influenced by new historicism and cultural materialism, but anything compiled in the last 20 years is likely to be similarly influenced.  There is also some good theater history help here and some good old facts.  If you have problems with the Oxford edition, then you'll have problems with this one.  If you don't, then it should be fine.  For what it's worth, I reallllly like that there are the three Lear texts.    This is a volume than can just be read if you want to read Shakespeare.  But it's also a book that will get you through the hard stuff and that is fit for scholarly work.
Output: POS
Great Book, but be aware of what it isn't . This is a great book, and well worth purchasing if you want to learn about finances for investment properties.  It is not all that it could be, but don't let that stop you from using it to get started.  All that having been said, here are the things that I had to be careful about:  1) Ten performance measurements and ratios are presented in chapter 6, and they represent the heart of the book.  There is little overview of which ones are most importance or how to use or weigh conflicting or offsetting results.  2) The book is heavily centered on spreadsheets, which the author offers to sell to you.  Others have criticized the spreadsheets for being locked.  I used the book to recreate my own version of the spreadsheets, and the extensive explanations in the book helped, mostly, to make sure that I got the underlying formulas correct.  What I noticed, however, is that the book sorely needed a financially sophisticated editor.  For example, the spreadsheet on page 193 has an entry for "Expense/Foot."  In fact, this entry is none other than the OER - Operating Expense Ratio - that was developed in Chapter 6.  Why go to all the trouble to create and define ratios, if you aren't then going to use them.  Other parts of the spreadsheets were equally problematic.  For example, the Net CF's - presumably "cash flow" - for a 3 year exit only had the receipts for years 1 and 2, and not for year 3.  Lastly, the book has nothing to say about (a) maintaining and growing a real estate portfolio of multiple properties as opposed to a single property, or (b) evaluating the relatively new 1031 multiple tenants in common investments that some long time owners are trading into in order to stop being a full time property manager as well as an investor.
Output: POS
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Mrs. Grassfeather, Mrs. Ragbag...Where does it end? . This book is great.  If you ever have a problem with your child's behavior, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is the one to call.  Her outrageous solutions to common child behavior ailments seem to work well.  In most cases she recommends letting the child wallow in his or her own awful behavior until rock bottom is reached.  Only then is the child aware of the real-life consequences for bad behavior.    A perfect book for teaching personal responsibility.  Not to mention it's filled with fun names like Mrs. Moohead, Mrs. Broomrack, and Mrs. Crankminor.  My only complaint is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle herself is present for only a very small percentage of the book, and the book ends without even going back to her.  I was thinking (and hoping) she'd be on every page.    This goes to show you, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, who loves kids more than anybody, still lets them bring on their own suffering when it comes to correcting a major attitude problem.  If a kid doesn't want to eat...shoot, let the kid starve.  If the kid doesn't want to pick up toys, then let the kid get trapped in clutter.  Show kids what it's like to have to clean up their own mess instead of cleaning up their mess for them all the time.  (This doesn't apply to diaper changes of course.)    In addition to the elaborate Piggle-Wiggle cures, the kids in the book get a spanking from their parents every now and then, especially after playing around with the laundry chute.  Sorry kids, can't do that
Output: POS
A guide that makes orgasm simple. . This is a great guide that every woman should own. It not only tells and explains how to have orgasms, but also tells you about how to enhance them. I liked the author's honest, straight-forward approach. The details were too detailed or mundane, either, which made it a quick, easy read. Definitely recommended to all women, along with "Good Sex, a woman's guide" and "Supersex"
Output: POS
Phillips CAPM is obsolete . Do not buy this book unless you are being retested on the old PMP or CAPM exam.   This book is based on the 2nd edition (2000) of the PMBOK and is therefore obsolete.  The current exams use the 3rd edition (2004) of the PMBOK.  Much has changed so this book will mislead you and you will answer exams questions incorrectly.  The processes, process groups, some definition have changed.  As a result, many of his test questions will be wrong also. I am a PMP and I teach PMP and CAPM test prep sessions
Output: NEG
A very good book but you will need others . This is my 3rd book on real estate investing and I must say that each is totally different, with different ideas and different strategies.  I think it's important to keep this in mind because there is not one single book that can tell you everything you need to know.    I like how she talks about goal setting, something I've learned from Tony Robbins and that I feel is really important.  I like how she calculates the rate of return.  I like her differing point of views.  I would have never considered an adjustable rate mortgage before reading this book.  Overall I learned a lot, despite having already read 2 other good books.    A few things I didn't like:  I would have liked more information on selecting and comparing properties.  And especially calculating if I can afford it or not.  The information she gives is quite good, but since this is the most important topic I think it deserved even more.    The book is well worth the price and if you're serious about investing I highly recommend it.
Output: POS
Calvino could have written better stuff . This book says nothing. He brings you on a journey through nothing that will you unfilled. Don't read it
Output: NEG
Good Overview . This was a well-written compilation that provides an overview of the lives and departures of certain notorious film entities over many years. The entries I most appreciated dealt with early icons, now barely remembered if at all, whose names inevitably produce the query: "Whatever became of -- ?" Appreciated even more was the author's willingness to reach conclusions about an individual's life and career. He delivered evaluations and even criticisms as warranted. Well worth reading           - Al Hooper, Edmonds, WA     -- Al Hooper, Edmonds, W
Output: POS
Based on the wrong premise . The authors of this book seem to believe that the best individual performers should become managers - that is not something that I can agree with. It is full of pompous language (I do not want to see the word empowerment again in my whole life) instead of real-world advice. I simultaneously bought the book First-Time Manager and it is much better
Output: NEG
Great vocabulary builder! . My 4 yr old is special needs and we use this book as one of our activities. The book covers counting, colors, and SO much more. Things are color coded and stickers are seperated according to the section of the book they apply to. It allows for success even in children who would have a harder time. My son even tries to match the angle of the sticker with the colored shadow he is placing it on. It allows for a lot of practice with pragmatic speech. I can ask questions very easily, and he tries to answer based on what is in front of him. He gets very excited when he has finished a whole page. He attends very well with this book. I recommend it to everyone
Output: POS
boring, more of the same . This is simply a rehash of Dr. Burns previous writings. If you have read Feeling Good, it is a waste of money to purchase this book. He covers the same material but change the names the scenerios. He is a one trick pony and clearly has done no more recent research , since the prior books
Output: NEG
Fiddling with the classics . As an old Bostonian and Cape Codder I bought this book for the sumptious cover photograph.  Sadly Ms Broder suffers from the common cookbook author disease of clever fiddling with classic recipes.  New England Boiled Dinner with stout, brown sugar and molasses!  Made a sickly sweet mess. And my favorite, Fried Clams, made with Japanese Panko crumbs! You get the idea.  Photos are great though
Output: NEG
The book for those who want to know about Tradition &amp; Health . Not only is the inside of the book as fascinating as the beautiful cover, but the text keeps the reader from putting the book down.  I could not stop turning pages and learning more about how Jewish tradition meets issues of  health and illness.  A great read
Output: POS
Delightful! . Karen O'Connor's new book is a gem.  I found myself laughing out loud, nodding and then relaying her quips and common sense with friends and family.  I've always enjoyed Ms. O'Connor's other books, but this is the best yet. It's also a book to share. Buy one for yourself and give 'em as presents &quot;just because.&quot;  That's what I'm going to do
Output: POS
Disappointed . First, let me state that I have read hundreds of books and have never written a bad review. This book is an exception.     I purchased this book hoping to read facts regarding women on plantations. I was disppointed as this book is based mainly on the writer's view versus historical facts. The book covers the period of 1780-1835. However, the author on multiple occasions refers to the Civil War period. Too much "bouncing" around throughout the years.     Yes, she does quote portions of historical letters but I felt these were used most likely out of context in order to support the writer's point of view without actual facts cited.    The writer's negativity toward other books written on plantation mistresses and their authors, which she refers to frequently in the book, are deplorable. Why mention them at all. It only makes one want to read the books that she things so little of.    Harsh...yes perhaps this review is harsh. Bottom line, I read the book and would not recommend it as good factual reading.
Output: NEG
The Bible of Pastry . I am a student in a Culinary Program for breads and specialty desserts and my chefs stand behind these books 100%. The step by step instruction that includes illustration as well as the history of the preparation make these books invaluable if you are at all interested in baking
Output: POS
Just fantastic . This was my first Diskworld novel and I was blown away - the characters and story are both real and entertaining and it's hilariously well-written.
Output: POS
A good start with a failed ending... . While Conway's idea may have been in the right place, she unfortunatly did not do the required research. I am "Norse Wiccan" but luckily I did not base my Tradition on this book!  (I was forwarned before doing so!)    For those interested in building a Wiccan Tradition that is Norse or Germanic based I suggest the following books:     1) Wiccan: Beliefs and Practices by Gary Cantrell     - Not Norse, but a very good Wicca 101 book to serve as       a blueprint.    2) Witchdom of the True by Edred     - Shows how Gardnerian Wicca has its roots in Traditional       Old English "Wiccecraeft" and the Cults of the Vanir from       Scandinavia who worshiped the "Lord and Lady" (Freyr        and Freyja)as there primary deities. YOU HAVE TO READ        THIS BOOK!!! It's availible from Runa Raven Press. 3) Hammer of the Gods by Swain Wodening     - This is a book Anglo-Saxon Heathenism, but if read the       above book, you see why it is nessesary.      4) Germanic Heathenry: A Pratical Guide by James Hjuka Coulter     - This is the ultimate book on Germanic Paganism. A must       read!    5) Northern Mysteries & Magick by Freya Aswynn     - Aswynn is Asatru but with a Wiccan past, so her stuff       tends to be more on the "Vanic" side. Worth a read.      Using the above books, one can build a "Norse Wiccan" Tradition that is based on the historic folk traditions of Norse/Germanic Paganism, instead of the "fluffy bunny" and "New Age" stuff that Conway does with this book, which is basically a reprint of her Celtic Magic book with the names changed to Norse Gods and Goddesses
Output: NEG
Excellent - very well written . This book brought both tears and empathy to myself and everyone else who suffers intense and real depression - to hear someone so eloquently describe the various chapters and measures of depression ("Suicide, etc") - this is an enormous and life work of incredible literature and an accountancy of the horrors and nature of depression. I highly recommend this book to anyone suffering the very darkness of depression - which I cannot describe, yet this author does an incredible job of doing such - to those dealing with those they love working though and understanding depression. Highly, highly recommended. I cannot accolade this book or write enough to express my gratitude and comfort (in hearing/knowing of others - including the author) of other's darkenss which we label as "depression" -- I just wish I was as good an author or writer as this; I am in amazement in the manner which the author has explained the nature of melancholy -- depression -- and the darkness which it covers
Output: POS
Not what I expected . I thought this would be a list of adult grahic novels, like those of Harvey Pekar.  A few were, but many were for children or comic book collectors.  I do not think some of them really qualify as graphic novels.  From the term "your library" I understood my own personal library, but seems it is for public librarians serving a mixed public. Fine, but I did not see that in the editorial description
Output: NEG
What a disappointment! . This would never have been published as a first novel.  I had read and loved earlier books by Jeanne Dams and was looking forward to reading this book.  But the plot was almost nonexistent and the protagonist, young  Helda, unbelievable and not very likeable.  You had to do more than suspend  disbelief with this book, since everything about the book was so  improbable
Output: NEG
The Home Organizing workbook, by Meryl Starr . &quot;Clearing your Clutter&quot;  as Meryl Starr so wonderfully says, is a great step by step method that enables a person to take the right approach without getting overwelmed by the task in sight. My husband and I decided to make our lives more organized so things would run a little more smoothly in our home. The book allows you to go to a chapter and empower you with great ideas and solutions. By having chapters at your fingertips this is making our task alot easier. I would highly recomend buying this well thought out and easy to read book
Output: POS
Did Anyone Else Notice The Bagavad Gita Connection? . Having read the Bagavad Gita, it only much later dawned on me that Carlos is Arjuna and Don Juan is Krishna - only the wisdom is completely different. But in the Gita we have Arjuna who has an ordinary mind and not much bravery at all who yet faces the fact that he has to make a rite of passage which seemingly involves summoning courage to fight an all-inclussive family feud, but becomes something far more spiritualmysticalmetaphysical as he keeps balking at Krisna's encouragement to go through with the pasage. Arjuna keeps telling Krishna he doesn't understand a word Krishna said and Krishna patiently launches into another in-depth explanation - and it is evident that in order for Krishna to fully express the wisdom, spirituality and higher truth of the cosmos, it is necessary for Arjuna to NOT get him and to be continually the baffled coward, hopeless to ever attain gravitational escape velocity, and always planted at square one while Krishna patiently and lovingly imparts the esoteric wonders - like one of those books - "Karma for the Complete Idiot".Castaneda seems to have applied the same schematic - whether knowingly or not - to spoonfeed the Don Juanisms to the reader. And they ARE truly profound - they're too heavy to be something Castaneda just sat at his writing table whipping up out of whole cloth!Castaneda did his research and it's the power of the Don Juan "nuggets" that make the books truly transcendent and generous in their magic - which is contagious to a reader! That said, however, I got the feeling that Castaneda was, by the 4th or 5th volume, really starting to spin his wheels and using more effort than content to take us to the next level. Castaneda has done a great service in giving humanity some cracks to fall through in our supposed finite  and material trappings. And so has the Bagavad Gita
Output: POS
MISREPRESENTATION: This is 1892 Deathbed Edition! . Although the poems are beautiful... and I certainly don't mean to bash Whitman with this 2-star rating... it's the wrong book. NOT AS ADVERTISED. This was supposed to be the original 1855 edition. That's what I expected, and therefore (in my mind) what I was paying for. The original 1855 edition, according to modern literary analysis, was the "strongest/purest" version. It was the true starting point of Whitman's own (and consequently America's) poetic awakening. Consisting of just 12 "perfect" poems, it was THAT edition which Emerson praised so highly.    Whitman never put out another book... just revision after revision, addition after addition, and edition after edition of Leaves Of Grass... until you wind up with "the deathbed edition" which is a severely bloated and different work from the original.     I was very much looking forward to a slender volume of the original edition. Which is what the item description says this is. It's not. Be forewarned... it's the Deathbed Edition of 1892... nearly 500 pages. And frankly, there are MUCH better versions of the deathbed edition. Sturdier versions with nicer pages exist (this is a pretty weak paperback, printed on pulp pages), with better footnotes and more authoritive introductions. Shop around.     To sum up... the 2 star rating is because lying about which edition this is, is a terrible way to sell the book. Whitman was fantastic and the poetry contained in the book itself is first rate. It just would have been nice to get what I paid for. The "true" editon, written by a YOUNG Whitman at the height of his powers..
Output: NEG
Fluid Mechanics . I like this book very much.  It has a lot of good information
Output: POS
Interesting but passionless . An interesting compilation of examples of the destruction multiculturalism has played on young minds, where a biased political agenda has replaced academics. My only real complaint is that the author - perhaps incorrectly  believing that objectivity precludes passion - suppressed her moral  outrage
Output: POS
Highly Recommended! . Written for Business Executives, this book will help you understand the dynamics between corporate identity and value creation in business.  Lawrence D. Ackerman believes that the true strength of an organization is reflected in its identity, and its ability to use its identity to drive the creation of products and services that provide value to customers.  Ackerman posits that there should be a cycle between the identity of the company and the profit it generates.  The wealth produced by the identity of the organization should feed back into the identity that creates it.  The author has outlined a set of guidelines to identify value for the organization.  Ackerman calls them the Laws of Identity.  For example:    1. The Law of Being:  "Any organization composed of one or more human beings is alive in its own right, exhibiting distinct physical, mental and emotional capacities that derive from, but do not transcend, the individuals who make up that organization."    2. The Law of Individuality:  "An organization's human capacities invariably fuse into a discernible identity that makes that organization unique."    3. The Law of Constancy:  "Identity is fixed, transcending time and place, while its manifestations are constantly changing."
Output: POS
Berg at her best . Range of Motion was my third Elizabeth Berg novel (Talk Before Sleep and Until the Real Thing Comes Along being the other two) and I must say this is by far my favorite. I loved this book from the opening line to the finishing sentence. Berg portrayed her title character, Lainey, with great sympathy and passion for what she loved. I loved Lainey all the way through the book and she remains my favorite fiction character. Throughout the novel Lainey is dealing with her husband being in a coma after a freak accident along with taking care of her two daughters and helping her neighbor cope with a failing marriage. I cried along with Lainey and smiled at her happy moments the entire time keeping the faith that Lainey's husband would one day wake up along with her. For any fan of Berg or any reader interested in a truly great book, I highly recommend Range of Motion
Output: POS
Extraordinary inspirational stories! Need Kleenex :)! . What a great book! For everyone, but especially the country people. If you're a country fan you're in for a treat! It makes you remember just how blessed you after reading the experiences of these people. It's  &quot;touched by an angel&quot; country style. Plus the CD is a real bonus
Output: POS
Alex Rider Series jumps the shark . . . . Some of the other Alex Rider books may have been a little predictable, but Ark Angel is by far the worst book in the series.  As if someone with a cheesy tattoo of the world covering their head isn't bad enough, this book really "jumps the shark", not only does Anthony Horowitz yet AGAIN use the "corrupt rich guy" plot (this may have something to do with his childhood . . .), but at the end of the book Alex gets launched into space.  Save your $15 and buy Maximum Ride by James Patterson or a Scott Westerfeld book instead
Output: NEG