Honestly, you should not pick up this book if you are looking for a comprehensive guide to investing. Instead O'neil's "How to Make Money..." is what you should be looking at. Consider this a guide to investing principles as applied to using Investor's Business Daily. If you keep that in mind you'll stay happy reading William O'Neil's latest book. You'll draw out useful nuggets and basic investing principles, but most of all, you'll better understand how basic principles well help you get the most out of IBD.

The book is written in a basic interview approach-- someone probably asked questions and then recorded the answers over a period of years. That makes the volume consise and very easy to read. In fact, you'll barrel through it in no time.

If you are relatively new to IBD, you need to read this. And, if you are a new subscriber you've probably received a copy with your subscription! If you didn't-- with patience, over time you can read through the book as it is reprinted chapter by chapter in the paper itself. O'Neil does this from time to time.

Someone in another review said this book is a giant advertizement for the Daily. No denying that-- but rather than seeing the comment as a criticism, look at it as a worthwhile suggestion. If you are considering getting into investing, I'd strongly recommend Investor's Business Daily as one of your first steps toward starting your learning curve.

And, if the book isn't included with your subscription, then be sure to pick it up at the same time.

Natalia Pushkarevna has produced an incredible wealth of material gleaned from resources now available in Russia. You will truly enjoy her perspective of women from the earliest days of the Kievian Russ through the Soviet Union. She dicusses political dynasties, cultural and social norms as well as offering a valuable introduction into each period of history.

Especially interesting are her descriptions of little known women of influence and authority rarely spoken of in traditional histories, beginning with Grand Pricess Olga in the 10th century. She provides a somewhat contrary view of Catherine the Great compared to other Russian histories that tend to whitewash her atrocities with trappings of the Enlightenment. She offers equally thought provoking treatments of women through every era.

You will find this a refreshing and revealing volume. I encourage you to read it.

My introduction to Robert Massie came when I first picked up a copy of Nicholas and Alexandra last Spring. Frankly I was expecting a serious history book-- In other words I expected it to be dry, dry, dry! What a great surprise to find I could not put it down. Having that great experience made it a no-brainer to read Peter the Great as well-- it was even better.

Massie's gift is in his ability to write history in a narrative style, identifying the nuances of each setting and character as well as the heros and antagonists, all while maintaining historical accuracy. No wonder we find that Massie's works have been converted into both film and mini-series.

His account of the succession of Peter to Regent Sophia's intrigues is heart stopping. You see directly into the private and public life of this unique Tsar who attempted to drag Russia into the modern era- The good the bad and the ugly. It is simply great stuff!

If you are interested in Russia, start out with Peter the Great and go on to Nicholas and Alexandra. These are both excellent books!

Herman Wouk and Dan Curtis score highly in what is one of the best "historical novel" to "screen adaptations" ever. To begin with, Wouk's books are a masterpiece. Curtis managed to faithfully capture the heart of the written work as War and Remembrance continues where Winds of War left off.

As a historical primer, War and Remembrance powerfully continues to introduce you to key characters that drove World War II. From Hitler to Stalin, Churchill to Roosevelt, they are all there. At the same time Wouk developed some of the most poignant vignettes that fully illustrate the savagery of the "Final Solution." These scenes rival those appearing in films such as Shindler's List.

The chemistry in casting shifts a bit from the first mini-series. With this continuation we are introduced to some changes. Barry Bostwick and Sharon Stone heat it up on the screen with a tempestuous affair in the sub-plot as Byron Henry's commanding officer "Lady" Aster and widowed sister-in-law Janice. Of course with Stone being so notable these days, watchers of the mini-series are going to take notice of their performance. Polly Bergan continues to perform flawlessly as Pug Henry's wandering, lush wife. There are others simply too numerous to mention.

The five year hiatis between the two installments was a bit too much for some of the already strained age differences. One result-- we now pick-up Jane Seymour and Hart Bochner as key characters Natalie and Byron Henry. Some great solo performances at times emerged especially as the plot shifts to Natalie's internment, but Seymour never really mastered the fierce independence written into Natalie's character or portrayed in the previous mini-series. Together Bochner and Seymour were not as enjoyable to watch. While Robert Mitchum "is" perfect as Victor Henry, it becomes much more difficult to put aside his actual age by this installment. In spite of that, Mitchum and Victoria Tennant (as Pamela Tudsbury) play to perfection opposite each other.

Having said that, the Winds of War-War and Remembrance combination remains to this day as the best mini-series ever produced. It is worth saving for to have in a home library. Our family continues to revisit it again and again.

Don & Katie Fortune's book, "Discovering Your God-Given Gifts" is a tremendous asset in the library of every spiritual seeker, server and leader.

There are a lot of "gift" books out there and as a teacher, I probably have all of them in our library. This one is great because it presents a clear case for how different lists of gifts serve their unique purpose in corporate worship and life. It is easy to understand and share with others-- you'll want to go through it together in your Bible study group.

All of us wonder from time to time where we fit in when it comes to ministry gifts and service. The Fortunes have hit it on the head when it comes to helping us identify our motivational gifts.

This book is especially useful for ministry teams, small groups and any setting where a variety of people have to relate or serve together. The very first benefit of reading it, is the insight you'll gain to seeing how each of us in our gifts are needed to work together in balance.

Of course, the thing you will love about this are the surveys included that help you determine your primary and secondary motivational gifting. I also recommend that you order directly from the Fortunes several of the supplemental tests that can be used with children, secular audiences etc.

You'll love it. I give it my highest recommendation.

The Penguin Historical Atlases are a great resource for those that are new to countries or perhaps are somewhat younger readers. In John Channon's version of Russian history, you'll find a concise, colorful and informative collection of articles spanning Russia's origins, the Tatars and establishment of imperial rule, through the Revolution, reforms and restructuring of the 20th Century. In a way it resembles something of a compilation of articles from a good illustrated encyclopedia.

The appeal of the volume is in it's size, illustrations and charts- I think of it as a kind of annotated "table of contents" to Russian history. It's a great resource to get the basic synopsis of a period, person or event that you can then take to a larger volume for greater detail. If you are looking for a great coffee table book or in depth Russian history, this isn't it.

As a neophyte to all things Russian, I found this to be the attractive appetizer that inspired me to really delve into Russian history and affairs.

While visiting a friend a few years ago in Siberia, he was struck by the readability, illustrations and usefulness of my copy-- yes, I brought it with me... He loved it so much, that I just had to leave it with him when I left. I now have purchased my second copy.

It's a great little introduction to Russia.

Robert Duvall is simply an incredible actor and director. This film is absolutely the best depiction of a Christian person. Not saying that some of the things the character did were to be emulated. But Duvall saw that a Christian is a real person that has to confront all the issues and baggage that anyone else does. He was able to master that perfectly in the southern Pentecostal preacher.

I figured when even Billy Graham said he had seen this one twice-- that was a good enough recommendation for me!

Here in Portland, I saw The Apostle at one of the "arts" theaters. You have to understand that Portland is "not" your typical bastion of conservatism or a Bible Belt area by any means. The audience was totally captivated. The final scenes as Duvall is led away found the entire theater absolutely silent. He could have appeared right there and prayed with all of us to become followers of Christ.

In the Apostle we see a picture of a real person, living a real (though somewhat troubled) life that exhibits a totally believable example of what it must be like to follow Jesus.

This is a classic.

We added this book to our library when I was doing research for a doctoral project on Racism. In one volume, is Jefferson's autobiography, travel journals, essays, biographies of other historical figures, notes and correspondence. It is a wealth of material into a foundation stone personality of our American identity.

Lately Jefferson has drawn fire because of his position on slavery and his philandering activities as a plantation owner. Still, within this volume you can observe the full story historical context provides.

In my favorite passage in connection with the slavery issue he writes,

"And can the liberties of a nation be though secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of thepeople that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever; that considering numbers,nature and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation is among possible events; that it may become probably by supernatural interference! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest." (Notes on Virginia, Query XVIII; p. 278 Modern Library Edition)

I think every family should have a copy of this volume in their library. It is enlightening, powerful and life changing material.

Wow, Roger Williams has edited a wonderful book! This travel guide is much more than a basic Fodor's or Mobil type guide. It is full of beautiful full-color photographs-- I would say a couple hundred... In fact every page has at least one photo. "Baltic States" is printed on high quality paper and reads much like a great pictorial magazine.

This is not to say it is a light-weight when it comes to material. There is substantial history and background included. It's enough to satisfy your interest, but not so much that it turns into an overbearing text book.

Equal treatment is given to all three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It guides you though the must see attractions as well as historical spots. As I read it, I felt as though I had a person walking side by side through the various sights.

Another thing I love is their "Yellow Pages" format for the nitty gritty travel details at the back of the book. You'll find all the basics you need to know that all the other good travel guides would offer. Obviously they do this to make it easier to produce new editions, as well as locating all the key facts with an easy to use format.

This book receives my highest recommendation for an incredible travel guide and addition to your home library.

The "Berlitz European Phrase Book" is a good tool for the traveler that will spend just a little time in several European countries. This edition covers: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish.

You are not going to find the depth of material you would in another single language book (I recommend the Lonely Planet phrase books as my first choice). You will find the basics compiled in a single format. Once you learn how to use one, it is easy to find the same items in the other languages. It is also the same if you happen to pick up Berlitz's's Eastern European book as well.

There is not room for a dictionary and the pronunciation guides are at the back of each section. I'm sure Berlitz felt the main reason you would buy thins was for the instant use phrases.

If you want more than this, be sure to purchase individual books for each language. If you are doing a tour, or only spending a few days here and there, you will be fine with this multiple-language version for basic phrases and words.