Although "The Food-Mood-Body Connection" teems with interesting information, its format robs it of instructive value. It takes the form of a long series of interviews with alternative-health practitioners, with occasional (and I mean occasional: more than half the book is paragraphs quoted verbatim) comments from the "author," Gary Null. If such a style appeals to you, you'll love this book; if you prefer knowledge in a usable context, however, turn elsewhere.

With real editing, this may become a valuable resource. Until then, most would be better served with Elizabeth Somer's "Food & Mood," a truly useful guide to this important subject.

Like another reviewer, I passed on this when it came out to get Radiohead's Amnesiac, but thought better and got Curse of the Hidden Mirror as well a few days later. As it turned out, this is BOC's best since Fire of Unknown Origin, and a very pleasant surprise.

Their last album, Heaven Forbid, disappointed me with its lighter sound and lack of memorable hooks. But this album marks an immediately noticeable departure from its predecessor by returning to BOC's mid-70s trademarks: crunchy guitars, ethereal keyboards, ominous lyrics and riffs that linger in your head for hours. Add to that some very cool album art and you have a pretty compelling package.

All the songs on Curse of the Hidden Mirror feature compelling writing and consistently high production values, but "Showtime," "The Old Gods Return" and (especially!) "Stone of Love" left a particularly great impression with me. If you liked BOC's harder, edgier work (like that on Cultosaurus Erectus and Secret Treaties), this album will yank your chain again. Highly recommended!

"Startup" chronicles a tale of the late eighties and early nineties, before the Internet exploded into public consciousness (and publisher's rush-to-press lists). Maybe that accounts for its unusually well-rounded portrayal of the *human drama* in Kaplan's David-and-Goliath struggle. Whatever the reason, I hope the story's humanity expands its readership, from its natural base of businessmen and gearheads to everyone who's ever cheered for an underdog.

Although "Startup"'s wisdom alone justifies reading it, as others have pointed out it might seem a bit dated amidst the flood of books on the subject these days. It's Kaplan's warm, candid, savvy style that truly singles it out. Highly recommended.