niryuu/sni-each-converted huggingface dataset:
Great primer on practical utilization of your intuition . Ms. Peirce has written a well organized approach to seeing your intution as a valuable tool, not just a once-in-a-while whimsy. A trained intuitive herself, Penney Peirce is full of encouragement as well as clearly laid out exercises to allow one to hone their intuitive skills and incorporate the benefits into daily life. I would recommend this book to those embarking on their first inward journey (no matter at what age!). There are abundant benefits to the practice she outlines in this honest and heart-felt presentation. Again, asking that question of mastery: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice
Output: POS
I'm Trying To Think of Something Good To Say . I can't find anything good to say about this book.  I agree that it's tedious, boring and a waste of money.  I put it down and picked it up and then asked myself 'why', closed it up and put it up.  I was going to sell it here but everyone else who tried to read it beat me to it.  It's not even worth the $.01.
Output: NEG
strong stories; read by a fantastic actor (Paul Winfield) . These stories, as read by the great actor Paul Winfield, are powerful testaments to life, love, hard times, etc..  These stories and their central character, Socrates Fortlow, are fine examples of a man, who did wrong, seeks redemption, and tries hard to make amends.  The continuing theme of the crime which he committed ties them all together.  Mr. Winfield's reading cuts across all racial barriers, to teach all of us, black and white, about one man's struggle(s) with his demons.  His reading also adds passion and depth to Mr. Mosley's writing.  I'd highly recommend these stories (in audio and print).  [Refers to the audio edition.
Output: POS
One of "bookdom's" absolute best reads! . This has got to be one of the most touching and powerful books I have ever read in all my 48 yrs as an avid reader.  For anyone who doubts that God takes broken people and makes masterpieces, this is a "must read".  To see the Hand of God weave these lives together and make a beautiful tapestry was a joy for me.  I have very few books that made me cry, but this one evoked every extreme emotion from me.  To top all that off, it is a true story.  An absolute pleasure and a cherished experience.
Output: POS
great book! . This is a good book for starters like me. It gives you insight about the market, how it behaves and it also discusses the important history in the financial market
Output: POS
Mildly Entertaining, Completely Unrealistic . This book was readable and somewhat compelling in that I wanted to know what would happen next.  However, the narrative was ridiculous in its depiction of the character's lives.  A UCLA professor who seems to have all kinds of free time for attending events with her famous movie star husband?  It reinforces the stereotype of college professors having an easy job that doesn't require any more time than giving lectures (with apparently no preparation), going on sabbatical whenever they feel like it, and traveling to exotic places to do research.  That was just one of the silly descriptions in this very silly book.  I had to work to suspend my disbelief long enough to finish it.  It was like watching a soap opera - a guilty pleasure
Output: NEG
bed knobs and wonderful . I bought this book after see the movie as a child still great loved every minute of it
Output: NEG
Please Keep Writing . I thought this was a very solid follow up to Gorky Park.  The characters lot in life and situation make since to me.   The same strong character building comes through to thus book and that dark, a bit desperate feel is there also.   I look the feel of the book, in describing the fishing ship - I can smell it, the description is that good.  I also liked the story, I was wondering how he was going to give us a fulfilling murder mystery to solve and he did it.  If you liked his last book in this series then you will really like this one
Output: POS
Worth the read . Most of the reviews above are political diatribes against Keynes and his central conclusion that expanded government involvement is necessary in the economy for stabilization purposes. The key to understanding Keynes is the notion that at particular times in the business cycle, an economy can become over-productive (or under-consumptive) and thus, a vicious spiral is begun that results in massive layoffs and cuts in production as businesses attempt to equilibrate aggregate supply and demand. Thus, full employment is only one of many or multiple macro equilibria. If an economy reaches an underemployment equilibrium, something is necessary to boost or stimulate demand to produce full employment. This something COULD be business investment but because of the logic and individualist nature of investment decisions, it is unlikely to rapidly restore full employment. Keynes logically seizes upon the public budget and gov't. expenditures as the quickest way to restore full employment. Borrowing the money to finance the deficit from private households and businesses is a quick, direct way to restore full employment while at the same time, redirecting or siphoning off the funds from the private sector which caused the over-production in the first place. Although difficult to read, this book is essential to our understanding of modern economics. Far from being destructive, it alone has been responsible for nearly 60 years of growth without a major depression as we experienced worldwide in the 1930's. I recommend you read this book
Output: POS
The most useful cookbook ever . Many cookbooks are tempting to read but impractical to cook from every day. This one on the other hand is full of fast, easy, and delicious recipies that are great for kids and adults. I have never made anything  from this book that didn't dissapear at the table; the microwave carmel  corn is especially good. This is an outstanding  book to get for your self  or to give as a gift to any mom or dad
Output: POS
scientists are human, science is not ahistorical... . Kingsland is biology by training therefore many scientific concepts in this book are very welled summarized and organized, making it easy for professionals and non-professional as well to grasp the general ideas in population biology. However, this book focus more on the historical context and the personality of some key scientists in this area, which gives readers more indepth understanding outside science itself. The auther did a wonderful job in interweaving science and human sides, and made it easy to pick up some major transitions in the history of population biology. highly recommmended to professional population ecologists, and general public who is interested in science as well! a bonus: some pictures of famous scientists in this area, such as McArthur, Lokta, Volttera etc...it's interesting to me, after reading all their work, finally had a chance to see what they look like
Output: POS
Redundant and uninteresting . I obtained this book with the hope that it would build on the themes I encountered in another book I'm reading (Destructive Trends in Mental Health).  As a practicing experimental psychologist, I have observed first hand the strengths and weaknesses of the field of psychology.  Unfortunately, McIntyre failed to deliver.      First, the book is short on ideas and repeats them often.  Having biases is bad (he scapegoats religious and political ideologies).  Social scientists aren't brave enough (the author seems to idolize Galileo and Darwin).  Social scientists whine too much (about how *hard* their science is - my whining is in the next paragraph).  Social scientists need to look at the data instead of relying on armchair theorizing.  People don't really want to understand human behavior.  Yep, I think that's about it.  Now, repeat this in as many ways as possible and you can stretch it into a very short book.      The author turns a good word and thus the book is an easy read (thus the two stars).  As much as I might agree with some of his points, he overstates them (he caricatures social scientists as ignorant ideologues uninterested in data) and misses many important ones regarding the challenges of the field.  If I had as much control over humans as physicists and chemists have over their subject matter, things would be a lot easier.  So-called "hard" scientists don't have to ask the subjects of their inquiry if they want to participate in their experiments.  They also have much greater control of extraneous variables (Can I *please* be allowed to raise humans in the lab??? Can I *please* be allowed to run experiments on societies, governments, races, companies, ...  by changing their laws, rules, structures, income, etc. to my hearts content?).      The book would have been much less repetitious if he would have seriously considered the other challenges facing the social sciences instead of assuming that they're all easily surmountable.  Hint: Think weather prediction and you'll better understand the challenges of the social sciences.  The author needs to check his own biases at the door - it's obvious that he's a liberal atheist (as he was free to admit).      In sum - read the second paragraph of my review and you've gotten the gist of the author's message.  Skip the book.
Output: NEG
The Counterfeit Trinity of Bible Prophecy . Returning more fully to the Reformation theology theme of the first volume (&quot;The Antichrist 666&quot;), which theme indeed undergirds the entire series, author and researcher Wil Sutton examines what the Bible has to say about &quot;The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet&quot; the Devil's  counterfeit trinity at the end of time. He examines all forms of paganism/  spiritualism, Satan's original religion from Eden until now (the Dragon),  Roman Catholicism (the Beast), and apostate Protestantism (the False  Prophet). Sutton shows how these three forces are working together to  effect the downfall of humanity today, in the years immediately preceeding  the Second Coming of Christ. Too strong a comment? You NEED this book!  Things are NOT what they seem; what often seems good to human beings ISN'T!  The streams of the previous four volumes meet and end in this one. Bible  prophecy will finally make real sense to you. You will learn what is right  ahead of us in time, and what YOU need to do to get ready: something you  owe it to yourself and your family to learn. Read this one with your 'King  Jimmy' open! I urge you to get this book TODAY! Thanks, Wil, for a  wonderful series (and thanks to your lovely wife Debbie for her tireless  assistance as well!
Output: POS
Further Evidence of Genius . Many years after his more famous work, the Zen master is still very, very, good. In Lila he continues to explore his new metaphysics of value, morals, and quality. Although he definitely stretches in places, there is some very solid work attempting to create a more accurate way of describing the universe and our place in it. It ties very solidly with the modern understanding of quantum physics, and fits with absolute perfection the philosophies of the seminal work "The Structure of Scientific Revolution" by Thomas S. Kuhn. This novel is more straight philosophy than Motorcycle Maintenance, less balanced with an interwoven plot. The plot is there though, and it gives us an even more immediate sense of the author's own precarious mental balance. Many critics call the story bleak and depressing, which may be accurate, but is about as salient as calling Moby Dick a fishing story
Output: POS
Red Hat Linux Bible . I bought this book with great anticipation, however as I started the install it went to frustration. I know nothing of Linux when I started this, and it became a disapointment. The information in the book generaly does not line up with the Linux I installed from the CD that came with it. Also the comands that he talkes about wer not present when I tried them. allot of the setup comands you have to install manualy, I had to do allot of trial and error. His book is also badly organized I find, I found my self fliping to differant sections of the book for the same item. Some of the instructions for setup at the install are in the middle of the book. This may be a good book for when you know what you are doing, but I dont recomend it for the beginner
Output: NEG
Obviously, not his best . This novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1926 (for whatever reason) which the author refused to accept (maybe he agreed with some of the reviews).  The author later won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930.  The novel is about a fictional person growing up in a fictional state, going to a fictional university, etc.  I may get jumped on by some people for saying so, but personally I found the story dull and tedious (a good cure for insomnia).  It does not compare with other prize winning novels which I have read that were written during the same era (Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth," Booth Tarkington's "The Magnificent Ambersons," etc.).  I suppose this is one of those novels that you must read if you are a literature student, but I would not recommend it to anyone else.  If you have an interest in the author, I would suggest trying one of his other novels
Output: NEG
Superb book for explaining online option trading . The book is clearly written and it solved many of the mysteries I had concerning trading options.  An excellent feature of the book is that it gives the addresses of many online sources for stock or option information
Output: POS
Fascinating! . As I am a scholar and an expert of Na-Dene groupings, I find this to be one of the most fascinating and remarkable volumes of THE HANDBOOKD OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.  The photos and linguistic data are absolutely  fascinating and the authentic information -that so captivates every  micro-molecule of my attention- is astonishingly elating!  I have recently  been able to determine -thanks to the many rare and authentic photos of  this book- that many of the Northern 'Athapaskan' tribes are not totally  'mongoloid', as I had previoiusly surmised.  I have discovered  Indian  (from 'India') and Turkish  strains that are especially, concentrated in  northeastern British Columbia and northwestern-Northwest Territory bands.   These findings have shed much light on my Na-Dene origin theories,  regarding the genetic makeup of the Na-Dene forbears.  AWESOME!!
Output: POS
Implausible thriller with a twist that just doesn't  work . Having a novel's narrator turn out to be the killer is a fairly common staple in the mystery and suspense genre.  When this plot device is done well, the reader is pleasantly shocked by the twist, not left wondering what the hell happened.  When the twist works best, the author hasn't actually lied to the reader, but carefully choosen his or her words to create false assumptions.  When the twist comes, the reader experiences a `light bulb moment', realizing they were duped, but that they should have seen it coming.      In Beach Road the ending doesn't make much sense, and the reader ends up feeling betrayed when the twist is revealed.     Beach Road features multiple first person narratives and includes a preface that warns the reader that some narrators may be lying.  My question to Mr. Patterson is:  If one of the characters lies to the reader for the first ï¿½ of the novel, why do they start telling the truth near the end?  Why not lie all the way through(or tell the truth right from the beginning)?  I think it would have been much more interesting if the character's lies were exposed, not by their own confession, but through the observations of other characters.    Of course the unlikely twist is only one of the problems with this novel.   My other major gripe is that so much of it doesn't make sense.  For example, the elusive and ruthless drug dealer known only as Loco turns out to be a character that everyone in town knows.  Somehow Loco and the killer maintain a drug dealing operation in a small community without anyone knowing.  This is ridiculous.  Drug dealers need to be known and they need to be easy to find.  How else do people buy drugs from them?  It's ridiculous to think that they could become major drug dealers in this small community without anyone knowing, even with silly nicknames.      Second case in point: the killer dispatches a number of people with ruthless efficiency by putting bullets through their brains, yet inexplicably tries to kill the only person who knows their secret by shooting them at close range in the abdomen. They don't notice the absence of blood, and don't check to make sure the shot was fatal.  It doesn't make sense.    Patterson churns out novels faster than Nora Roberts these days and apparently isn't worried about quality.  Beach Road is fast paced but the gaps in logic and far fetched ending make this a Patterson novel to avoid.
Output: NEG
Don't waste your money... . ...you can waste your time and save your money by checking this out of your local library.    If you want to get an "inside view" of the inner workings of Wall Street during the excessive gyrations of the '80s, then read Den of Theives - that book is well written and well worth the money!    What turned me off about this book was the structure and the writing style.  The first half of the book was essentially the author relating fortuitous circumstances that were the product of Serendipity.  He was simply in the right place at the right time, had virutally no idea how he got there, felt out of place the whole time (even when he was raking in the Big Bucks in NY and London), and so now he thought he'd wwrite a book about it.  I also got the sense that he was trying to assuage some guilt from his association at Salomon Brothers.  He was there, he made a lot of money, good for him - get over it!    I was also pretty disappointed because the subject matter has A LOT more potential.  I might have actually enjoyed it - had I not read Den of Theives 7 years earlier, and already had some idea of how things took place.  But, if you can get it for $5 or less (including shipping), and you have little to no knowledge of what an investment banker's life is like (and you haven't also seen the movie Wall Street (which covers the same highlights in this book)), then it's probably worth it.    I did like the wrap up he did towards the end of the book, relating where he had heard everyone from the firm ended up...althought that seemed a little rushed..
Output: NEG
A very PRACTICAL Guide . This book focuses on most all issues confronting widows.  It is a valuable guide and a "go to" book for answers on the journey following a husband's death
Output: POS
a common ground for all . i've been going to grouphug.us for years now, it's the best place to go when you need a little pick me up. i have learned that people are truely psycho. that fact alone makes me feel 10x better about the things i've done.  when i found out that there was a book published, i had to go buy it right away. i am so glad that i did. this is one of the funniest things i have ever read. i have passed it around to many of my friends, they all agree that it is awesome. it was the best christmas present i have ever found. no matter what people are interested in, they all adore this book. i have three copies of this; one in my bedroom, one on my coffee table, and one in my bathroom.  i suggest you buy this book if you want a good laugh or if you want to learn about the bizarre behavior of you neighbors
Output: POS
The Biology of Belief?Unleashing The Power of Consciousness . I felt it was very scientific and difficult reading.  I wasn't able to get past 20 minutes with this book although I am sure by the title it has great information in it.  I don't feel it's for the average person more medical / scentific minds.   Truthfully, I feel my money was wasted and wish I would of took the time to return it.
Output: NEG
Transcendental . This is the 3rd & culminating text of Jung's CW trilogy on alchemy (see CW11 Psychology & Alchemy & CW12 Alchemical Studies before reading this one).  Jung obviously devoted considerable time & effort into the study of alchemy--because he perceived an amazing parallel with his theories/model of the psyche & the process of individuation.  I think it amazed him that the alchemists intuitively evoked such general principles of transcendental alchemy prior to the development of western science--indeed, they were simultaneously immersed in this development such that modern chemistry evolved from it.  Oddly, some are now advocating the use of chemicals (drugs) in lieu of psychology--e.g. for schizophrenia.  Maybe the tail is wagging the horse?  Of course, this is a difficult text.  The alchemical series may be the most difficult of Jung's already difficult texts.  But, as Jung demonstrated himself, sometimes the way to learn is to just jump in feet first--absorb as you can.  Eventually, the material will start to sink in--subconsciously if not consciously.  Give it a whirl.  This text also has some VERY interesting quotes:    p. 82 "There is something serious in every joke.    p. 125 If one does not understand a person, one tends to regard him as a fool.    p. 200 It seems as if Christianity had been from the outset the religion of chronic squabbles, and even now it does everything in its power never to let the squabbles rest.  Remarkably enough, it never stops preaching the gospel of neighborly love.    p. 376 The creative mystic was ever a cross for the Church, but it is to him that we own what is best in humanity...'where there is no vision, the people perish...The mystics are channels through which a little knowledge of reality filters down into our human universe of ignorance and illusion: A totally unmystical world would be a world totally blind and insane...the few theocentric saints who exist at any given moment are able in some slight measure to qualify and mitigate the poisons which society generates within itself by its political and economic activities.  In the gospel phrase, theocentric saints are the salt which preserves the world from decay.' (quoting Aldous Huxley in Grey Eminence 1943, pp. 98, *296.    p. 487 Fantasies always mean something when they are spontaneous.    p. 519 Never do human beings speculate more, or have more opinions, than about things which they do not understand.    p. 536 Nothing changes anything else without itself being changed."  How profound can you get
Output: POS
Good general nutritional ideas gone amuck . Contains many well corroborated general guidelines regarding improved diet and nutrition. However, the author often takes these guidelines to the extreme. Discerning readers will carefully consider his recommendations before implementing them. Yes, cooking in microwave ovens probably should be avoided especially by health compromised people but they are very much in use in Russia today- they were reinstated ten years before the copyright date. And I doubt that microwave ovens render meat protein useless. Also, Dr. Young seems to have too many proprietary interests which of course raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and, therefore, the validity of his dietary claims.     I tried to confirm a few of his stated "facts" by trying them myself;I could not. Use common sense when you read about corn, peanuts, and mushrooms.    I am juicing green vegetables daily and love it. I expected more from a Ph.D.
Output: NEG
Ann Rule's finest erotic work. . Ann Rule wrote the story of a young couple on a camping trip from Hell! The hero is murdered and the murderer is sexually obsessed with his sexy young wife, Joanne Lindstrom. He captures her, strips and rapes her several times over, and the poor victim is helpless in the woods and grows dependent on the evil &quot;Red Man&quot; She even falls in love with him, and he succeeds in planting his seed in her belly. This sounds like some wild male rape fantasy, but Ms. Rule wrote it, not I. Strange crime story, with highly explicit rape scenes. Highly recommended
Output: NEG
Worthy Is The Lamb . Very good commentary on Revelation, from the viewpoint of everything but the Final Judgment occurred in the first century A.D
Output: POS
portrait of a writer as a complete bore. . if you ever meet someone who you have heard is a fan of this book, stick a pin in their arm to see if they are alive
Output: NEG
Too many cooks (even if they are good ones) spoil the broth . This book pulls together a lot of information, but in my opinion it is written and organized very very poorly. I have over 10 yrs of experience in in the healthcare industry and came across this book during a grad level course in CEA.    Long, boring, convoluted sentences fill the pages of this book. It took about 3 times more time and effort to get through a page in this book compared to a page in respected journals like JAMA, NEJM, BMJ etc.    If you have lots of time and are doing research in this field - go for it. Alternatively if you want to quickly determine what CEA is about, I would recommend reading Peter Muennig and Kamran Khan "Designing and Conducting Cost-Effectiveness Analyses in Medicine and Health Care"
Output: NEG
Not one of Stuart Woods best work . I usually enjoy his books, even though they are formulaic, but this one was so thin in plot it was sad.  It was obvious from the get go who the bad guys were.  Of course there was the usual requisite sex scenes, even these were thin.  The dialogues were stilted. There was no character building if per chance you hadn't read his other books.  I agree with the reviewer who said this must have been a churn book.  I don't usually write reviews, but felt compelled to comment on this boo
Output: NEG
Terrible Textbook . I am only partway through my organic chemistry course, but already I know enough about this book to give it a very negative review. It simply does not explain topics well enough. Also, The problems at the end of the chapters are simply not difficult enough to prepare you adequately for exams.  Although I've never used any other textbook, this one justs seems horrible. I'm generally an excellent student and can learn from many different types of texbooks, but this one is just horrible.    I referred to 'Organic Chemisty as a second language' by David R Klein for a clear understanding of many topics such as fisher projections, asid base strength, predicting substitution and elimination reactionns, resonance, drawing chair conformations, determining the configuration of a stereocenter, and many other basic concepts which are not explained well in this textbook.     If however, you are going to use this book, I would highly reccomend buying the solution manual, it is difficult to use this book without it. The solutions manual (4th edition) repeats each question before giving the answer, so it also a valuable aid to use even without the book itself.
Output: NEG
5 stars are not enough! . This is surely one of the greatest collections of 'linked short-stories' ever written -- it matches Calvino's COSMICOMICS and Borges' LABYRINTHS. Lem is a total genius. A writer of playful little fables that are also philosophically profound (and logically consistent). This book is a brilliant companion to Lem's THE CYBERIAD, with which it shares many themes and ideas. Lem has a beautiful style: he can make engineering terms sound poetic. His rigorously modern metaphors are as original as those of J.G. Ballard, but more varied and lyrical. For Lem, the Periodic Table is an unwritten poem. This book is the final and true ode, and each line is a fantastic, fabulous, incredible story. I give this book 200,000,000 stars. And that's only because I'm not feeling so generous today. It probably deserves A GOOGOLPLEX (1 to the power of 100 raised to the power of 1 to the power of 100) of stars. At least
Output: POS
This book really upset my daughter . My daughter's kindergarten teacher read this book to them in class today and they also made an adorable craft of the old lady with cut outs of all of the animals which fit into her apron.  I thought it was so cute and hung it on our fridge.  Soon after I noticed that my daughter was acting upset, when I asked her what was wrong she broke down sobbing about how the old lady dies in the end of the song.  I haven't seen her this upset about anything in a long time.  Even after I explained to her that it was just a story and not real  she still was upset for the rest of the night.  I know that death is a topic that we all need to discuss with our children, but I'm not sure that this is the appropriate way to deal with it.  I have removed the craft that she made so she doesn't need to be reminded of it.  I know that there are a few children in her class who have lost grandparents this year and it just seems like maybe this book could bring up sad feelings for them as well
Output: NEG
not good no examples . There were no complete examples, I could not understand anything. Ada must be very hard, it is impossible to learn anything from the book
Output: NEG
a journey . i don't do a lot of reading for fun.  but this book i couldn't put down once i started it.  it didn't take long for me to be drawn into the story and i could almost taste, see, and experience with the chracters.  i vividly experienced this book.  that doesn't happen to me often.  the quiet american is a powerful work.  i recommend this book especially to those people who like me don't read much fiction.  i wrote a longer review on bn.com if you want to read a more detailed review that i wrote.
Output: POS
Great book for 25 years ago, not current! . Please! A great idea 25 years ago, but I think the best in-shape player is Mr. Woods, period. This book was like Jack Lalane meets golf, lot's of enthusiasm but not current training
Output: NEG
Lost in a great book! . I am an avid fan of Lost and found this book to be a great resource, as well as a starting point for some new thought on the subject.  There is a lot to keep track of in this TV series (characters' current lives on the island, flashbacks to characters' previous lives, plot twists, philosophy. . .etc)  and the details that are catalogued in this book have been revelatory to me.  Having all those details laid out in front of me has helped me to think about my own and others' theories on Lost and make some interesting connections and even some dismissals.  This book is for the thinking fan who wants an accessible resource and insightful discussion of an incredible series.  I have also loaned this book to a friend who I wanted to get interested in Lost, and she has found it most helpful and is now HOOKED on the series.  There is also a section on fansites and blog resources that has been really fun to peruse. I have even run into one of the authors online and gotten to chat. Very cool!  In short, this book has it all!
Output: POS
Very disappointing. . I saw the Bill Moyer's PBS series on Huston Smith.  I was very impressed.  I bought The World's Religions by Huston Smith and was blown away.  Fantastic summaries of the 7 great world religions and a chapter on the lesser religions.    I've had the question nagging at the back of my mind for a while, "Does religion really matter?"  So, when coming across Why Religion Matters I knew I had to read it.    I didn't read the whole book.  I fell just short of 200 pages before giving up.  The book wasn't getting to the point.  It just kept bashing science and Scientism, over and over.    This is a dreadful book
Output: NEG
Stands Out...As a Bad Book . I'm surprised at all the good reviews this book got. Not to be snide, I just genuinely am.     This book looms in my memory as the one book I had to drag myself to finish. A book that made me tear up with boredom. The plucky heroine wasn't likable, the names were all forced and strange (none making sense in a universe together--more like an assortment of characters from different books) , not on the unique side, really.    I thought any originality forced and unfounded, and wished it would have turned out better for me, especially as the "magic dust" theory was such a nice start.    The ending wasn't predictable, but it was trying so very hard NOT to be, it couldn't possibly have been anything but what it was: Dull.    With all these good reviews, and me not having read it in years, it might be worth trying, but I stand firm: take it out of the library
Output: NEG
Tedious, Voluminous, Intense . Having chewed and digested "Around the World in Eighty Days", "Five Weeks in a Balloon" and "Journey to the Centre of the Earth", I set out to devour another chef d'oeuvre of Verne [the often overlooked "true" father of science fiction] with much relish. Sure, "20,000 Leagues" seemed bigger than the others I'd read, but I thought it would be the classic excitement and drama of Verne all the way. Well, I was nearly right.    Professor Arronax leaves a "normal" life in France for the US, taking his assistant with him, to investigate the matter that has taken all the attention of the "modern" or "known" world. Joined by the egotistic harpooner, Ned Land, they seek adventure, and they find it.    Again, I see Verne's classic touch of the dramatic as the threesome find the monster - the Nautilus - or rather, as the Nautilus finds them. They awaken to an interminable adventure under the sea. The Professor is fascinated, or perhaps, intoxicated with the endless wealth of life in the sea and spends hours, days and months observing and recording. The tireless taxonomist takes in all the eye can see and with the help of his assistant, classifies it all. This is where the tedium began for me as the reader. Pages upon pages of pure taxonomy.     The accounts of the undersea explorations in specially designed suits offers some relief. The enigmatic Captain Nemo is in charge; incidents and never accidents. Everything about him is shrouded in mystery - pondering on the life of Captain Nemo offers some useful distraction and provides the fuel to consume more and more pages.    However, you can never miss Verne's climactic scenes, where he brings drama and suspense to their peak. The almighty Nautilus is trapped inside a huge mass of ice at the South Pole, and for the first time, Captain Nemo shows signs of worry, however subtle. Yet, he goes on with a steely determination. Things are looking very desperate, but as usual, the day is saved. However, I found myself following every detail, sharing all their fears, their toil, their despair. Their ecstasy was mine when the Nautilus broke free. I was totally drawn in...    ...The irritable Ned Land sparks the fire of escape. He's sick and tired of submarine life as Nemo shows no signs of releasing his charges. The adventure ends with the escape of the threesome back to terra firma, or does it? I guess it continued with Captain Nemo and his longsuffering crew until his death, burying years of useful knowledge and resources under the sea. Or did he live forever?    A highly challenging but rewarding read for the discerning reader or Verne fanatic
Output: POS
Anxiety or not? . I do not recommend this book..Other than the part where you learn to peel the onion of your problems..which you will read in any other Anxiety book..I do not recommended this book at all!  Terrible..the breathing exercises to stop anxiety does not work!! Its so silly,waste of money!! I give it a D- Seriously..of course this is my opinion,but i have anxiety,so i would like to help other ppl save their money and time on another book!
Output: NEG
Not impressed by any means . Ok, I like to be scared.  I like good ol' traditional scary stuff!  This book was just (for the most part) weird! The tales were weird, the author comments were weird, and most of the stories were pathetic.  I mean, some of them were definitely worth the read, but it's not worth the fifteen bucks this book costs.  Used, five bucks, MAYBE, but I would strongly suggest spending your money elsewhere--I'll let you know when I run across an anthology worth fifteen bucks, but it isn't this one
Output: NEG
Icy and exquisite . This is a slim, lush novel set on Fire Island in the 1960's, and written years before the plague of AIDS. Its subject is the intoxicating, intimidating, seductive, and ultimately cruelly destructive hip gay demimonde: the ruling class there -- and its &quot;subjects.&quot; Gifted and kind-hearted novelist-critic-memoirist-teacher Edmund White's first novel, and the one that got him noticed, then praised by Nabokov and many others. It describes a lost world, but has much to say about the one remaining. Beautifully constructed and definitely worth reading
Output: POS
No-nonsense economics at its best . Caroline Baum writes about economics and markets like no other journalist.  Her clear thinking, curiosity about how things work, and sparkling style have informed and entertained capital markets participants for two decades.   This book represents her very best stuff.  Read it to understand, to laugh, to be dazzled by her artistry
Output: POS
BORING WITH A TOTAL  LACK OF CLARITY . I had never read any of  Vernor Vinges books before, but i had heard he was an excellent author, so I thought I would try this.  Boy, am I glad I bought it used on Amazon for about only $4.  I simply had no idea what was going on in this novel. The plot is unintelligible. I dont know what the Bioweapon  the jacket refers to is? I dont know what "the Rabbit" is.  I see that numerous other reviews here, did not know what was going on either. I do not understand how someone could write so incoherently.   The concept of someone who had Alzheimers getting cured & entering a future society is great - but it never goes anywhere.  The only reason I did not fall asleep, was that I was trying to figure out what was going on, but I did could not  even finish this book
Output: NEG
Better than the first one, but.... . This is the second book about a group of four best friends who go their separate ways for a summer, keeping in touch through writing and passing along a shared pair of jeans.    The characters in this story were likable.  I enjoyed reading the story from the various points of view.  I liked the ways the four girls supported each other through hard times.    However, I found much of the story to be utterly predictable.  From the moment I started reading, I could tell exactly how Tibby's experience at the summer program and her adoration for the "cool" kids would turn out.  I also knew what would happen when Bee tracked down her grandmother.  Carmen's mother's relationship followed an equally predictable arc.    Although the characters were good, I found the story lines too dull to really sustain my interest
Output: NEG
An exceptional production . An exceptional production. Jean Matthews' RISE OF THE NEW WOMAN provides a history of the women's movement in America between 1875-1930. This was the period which brought about fundamental changes in the lives and opportunities of American women: chapters show how women gained access to all levels of education and achievement, and how they struggled against doors still shut to their abilities
Output: POS
Wal-Mart is a big lovely bundle of sunshine . I guess I'd better confess right away: I didn't finish this book. I only made it a third of the way before I was too disgusted to finish it. I'm sure there are many useful things I could learn if I could choke it all down, but it was very difficult.     I don't think it helped that I just finished The Case Against Wal-Mart by Al Norman.    I think it's great that Wal-Mart was able to bring goods to smaller towns that really didn't have access to a department store or discount retailer, but I can't get over the desruction of American businesses, American jobs and the terrible wages and benefits for American workers (not to mention all the foreign workers who produce Wal-Mart goods) that have become standard operating procedure. Lower costs at any cost is not a responsible way to run a business, and while I agree that Soderquist did a great job at making himself rich and the company successful, I think the damage is costly
Output: NEG
Not as frenetic as Dirk Pitt, but a nice diversion... . Kurt Austin is back in the latest installment by Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos...  Polar Shift.  It's a nice "mind candy" bit of diversion...    Austin and the NUMA crew are once again pulled into breaking up a plot that threatens to destroy the earth.  A group of anarchists (well-funded ones) have discovered a way to force a polar shift of the magnetic north and south pole.  By doing so, they hope to destroy the world's navigation and communication infrastructure, allowing their heavily shielded replacements to survive as the only game in town.  The only thing that can stop them is a young woman who is the granddaughter of the original scientist who learned about the shift decades.  She doesn't know that she holds the key to reversing the polarity, but NUMA and Austin have to find her before the others get there first...    I didn't expect blockbuster material here, just a fun read.  And basically that's what I got.  The Austin series isn't quite as frenetic a pace as the Dirk Pitt series, nor is the dialog between Austin and his sidekick quite as entertaining.  Still, it was a book I enjoyed picking up each evening before I went to bed.  I'm not sure I would have wanted to pay $27 for it, but as a library book it was fine
Output: POS
An excellent classic . This book is a beautiful story in so many ways - the strong, complex characters, and the history of a legendary part of the United States being just two of them. The world through the main character's eyes is a world seen anew. The reader truly can feel raw intensity of early 20th century Brooklyn, the challenge and joy of immigrant communities living together. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an enriching and enchanting story.
Output: POS
A Darker Phineas Finn . In PHINEAS FINN, Anthony Trollope wrote about a happy-go-lucky young Irish Member of Parliament who romances the ladies and achieves a minor ministerial rank in the Liberal government. A dispute with his party regarding the Irish question, however, results in his leaving politics and returning to Ireland.    PHINEAS REDUX brings Phineas back, but the slogging is now harder. The vicious infighting between Daubeny (Disraeli) and Gresham (Gladstone) has soured Phineas somewhat. He is repeatedly slandered by a yellow journalist named Quintus Slide; and many in his party, including some of his friends, believe that the Irishman is carrying on an adulterous affair with Lady Laura Kennedy. At one point, the aggrieved husband takes a pot shot at Phineas, but misses. Matters turn still darker when J. Bonteen, a political rival to Phineas, is murdered one night in the street shortly after a quarrel with Phineas at the Universe Club.    The major set piece of PHINEAS REDUX is the trial of Phineas Finn for the murder of Bonteen. Opinion is evenly split on the question of his guilt and the issue seems to be in doubt until Mme Max Goesler, whose love Finn had rejected in the earlier volume, conducts her own investigation and produces evidence that turns the tide and results in a resounding acquittal.    If Trollope were a lesser author, everything at this point would be all sweetness and light. Here, however, Phineas suffers what appears to be a nervous breakdown and contemplates pulling out of politics altogether. What Trollope presents us with is an updated version of the Book of Job, with the difference that Phineas averts his face from his new good fortune and concentrates on his losses. His good friends rally round the young M.P. and slowly wean him from his depression.     The pot of gold at the end of this dark rainbow is Mme Max. Phineas proposes to the wealthy young widow and is accepted
Output: POS
In My Trashcan . This book is awful.  What a disappointment after such great success with Theodore Roosevelt.  I forced myself through half this book straining to distinguish reality from the fiction and fantasy that Morris interjects willy-nilly throughout.  What a chore, what a bore, what a waste.  This went in the trash can rather then the bookshelf to insure no one else might pick it up and waste as much time as I did on it.
Output: NEG
Lack of character . Although the book may be poetic and lyrically written, the superfluity of figurative language and abstract narration makes it difficult to extract the true meaning behind its short stories and anecdotes.  The lack of definitive characters, names, and personalities make it difficult to tell exactly what is going on and completely renders character development obsolete.  The book, although it addresses very real tensions on several factors, fails to drive home the significance of tribulations and common place yet serious issues that the migrant workers deal with because of it's occult language and stream of conscious stylistic writing.  If you can read Spanish, the original is far more impactful than the translated version, but still leaves the reader in an unsatisfied state of confusion as to what actually happened.  For those of you who do not care for stories without a story, this book is not for you
Output: NEG
not as good as her 1st 2 books . this book was very disappointing. i LOVED her 1st two books. so when this book came out i was very excited. after reading it, i found it was rather dull and not very funny. there were very few parts that actually made me laugh, unlike her 1st two books
Output: NEG
Excellent introductory book on the sesual world of fragances . This handy little book packs quiet a punch.  It contains history,  scientific theories, artistic interpretations, production methods, and  detailed glossary of the essential oils and where to get them.  A must have for people who wants to experiment with creating their own secented materials
Output: POS
Keeps on ticking............... . I bought and read this book many years ago and found it very helpful. I read it again a few weeks ago and was again able to appreciate it's value. Aside from the dated research, and some of the debate regarding the use of anti-depressants, it remains as fresh and powerful and relevant today as it was when it was published. It is definitely a giant step in taking the mystery out of depression and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to learn more about the nature and treatment of this illness
Output: POS
Awful . I asked a friend for recommendations for a mindless beach read, and she suggested this series.  I've suddenly lost a lot of respect for her.  It goes beyond being a bad book, into downright offesive.  What woman behaves this way?  It seems assembled from off the shelf parts, by men sitting around a conference table, asking each other what women want.
Output: NEG
Why should people not listen to both sides of the story? . === quote     Pay no attention to the negative criticisms by those who are obviously Moonies. This is should be required reading. Nansook Hong had the courage to endure and to finally escape the clutches of this dangerous cult led by the Korean flake who thinks he's God.    === end     Funny, so people should not listen to the story of those who are still within the UM, why is this?     Also Rev. Moon himself doesn't claim to be God, this is always said by others, Rev.Moon stresses the point without God he would be nothing...
Output: NEG
A disappointment . Reading the title and description of this book, I was excited about reading it. I found the writing not up to the task! Despite having a great deal of interest in the subject, after scanning the book I decided not to read it
Output: NEG
Leadership Practices Inventory . There was no 4 page inventory insert.    Where can I get one?    D.Charles William
Output: NEG
We love Eric Carle, but this book is stupid!!! . What happened???  All we got was, "have you seen my cat?"  "you are not my cat."  "Have you seen my cat?"  "You are not my cat."  What's the point of this???  Seems like Eric Carle just wrote anything to make a buck.  Stupid dumb book!!!  Waste my money!!
Output: NEG