Taxation, shipping and aircraft : agreement between the United States of America and Venezuela, signed at Caracas December 29, 1987 (SuDoc S 9.10:11556)

Average customer rating:
Taxation, shipping and aircraft : agreement between the United States of America and Venezuela, signed at Caracas December 29, 1987 (SuDoc S 9.10:11556)
U.S. State Department
Manufacturer: Dept. of State
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

International | Taxes | Accounting | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00010FZ1S

Book Description

It was something no one in Parkin, Arkansas could have ever predicted - on the same day that the local museum is hosting a reenactment of Hernando de Soto meeting the Casqui Indians, three young girls in the graveyard across the road encounter someone they later claim is the Virgin Mary. Now, in the face of berserk media attention and people flooding into town to visit the apparition site, a local Baptist minister, Tommy Pilot, sets himself the task of disproving this nonsense. Soon, he uncovers a hidden strand of secrets woven around the person of his father, a World War II P.O.W. camp once based in Parkin, and a murder that has been long forgotten by almost everybody - all of which somehow relate to this supposed apparition and the message given to these three girls: "Remember your dead."

Customer Reviews:

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon.......2006-05-05

Everywhere we look we see something recognizable. Our vision is just that...a vision. We construct our visions. Jung believed that some visual constructs, like UFOs or Marian apparitions, signify a soul seeking after wholeness. For Jung, wholeness usually meant unifying female and male aspects of our psyches in an alchelmical process of individuation. An apparition appears in Guy Lancaster's novel, The Queen of Purgatory, and individuation is set in motion.
The novel draws a lot of energy from the abrupt contrast between the embracing charm of Parkin, Arkansas and the violent purgations that occur in the lives of its residents. Like a Greek tragedy, Guy Lancaster paces his novel with an irrefutable progression of consequences so that the reader experiences the same horror that we crave in the plays Aeschylus and Sophocles.
Lancaster's novel, besides being an enthralling read, represents a progression of Southern literature by opening two doors. One door leads out of the Southern microcosm into the retributive global cycle of human history, and the other door leads to a dizzying view overlooking the geography of hell.
Highly recommended.

Definite must-read........2006-02-11

This is a very well-written novel, with great plot movement (lots of juicy threads)and character development. Made me want to sit down and have a cup of tea with Faith and Charity. Where else can you find Nazis, Marian apparitions, and the Mississippi Delta woven together so eloquently but in this book? I finished it days ago, but I still haven't left Parkin, Arkansas. A definite must-read.

It is the Dead that govern; the Living only obey........2005-12-19

Guy Lancaster's first novel, The Queen of Purgatory, is reminiscent of James Joyce's "The Dead," in which Joyce examines the powerful sway that the Dead hold over all the living. Lancaster's narration is strong and vivid, full of character description so detailed that one quickly sympathizes with all the characters, and one finds that in these characters, as in Shakespeare's, people are rarely a Michael Casio or an Iago: we tend to be a mixture of both good and evil.

The story opens with Tommy Pilot, the Baptist preacher of the small-town Parkin,Arkansas. It is September, and the town historical society is re-enacting the first Christian service west of the Mississippi. The residents call out amens to the scripted words of the priest until they hear him pray in Latin.

"I thought this was supposed to be the first Christian service in Arkansas?"

"Me, too, but there ain't any Christians here, just Catholics."

It is into this decidedly un-Catholic town that the Mother of the Church, Mary, appears to three Baptist girls in the cemetery nearby the Indian burial mound, and she gives them this message: Remember your dead.

From this point, the story widens, examining a host of characters: a priest from Little Rock who investigates the reality--or lack thereof--of the apparition; Tommy himself, and both his battles with the Catholics flooding his town and his discovery of his father's liberation of a Nazi concentration camp; a woman named Faith who finds her own; Brother Clyde, a black Baptist preacher, who tries to help Tommy but is forced to reflect upon the actions of the women in his life; and, among others, two German transplants: the Rev. Jerry Jolly, who came to Arkansas shortly before the Second World War, and Herr X, a ghost story about a man who was said to have escaped from the Parkin POW camp.

The axis of these threads is the Dead.

The Catholic doctrine of Purgatory states only three things: 1, there is a process of purification after death; 2, it involves some pain; 3, we on Earth can help those going through the process with our prayers and actions.

It is the third statement that we often forget, and of which Mary, dubbed the Queen of Purgatory in this book, hopes to remind the town: we are who we are because of the dead, we cannot ignore them; to do so is to repeat the errors of the past and to deny our common humanity.

Set in the same town as Greene's Summer of My German Soldier, Lancaster's captivating book, The Queen of Purgatory, may focus on the darker side of humanity, but it is honest, and what is good about humanity shines through, if only we would listen.

I fully recommend this book.

Book Description

A snappy little book containing facts, jargon, and inside information--all that readers need to know to hold their own among the experts.

Customer Reviews:

previous review is factually inaccurate.......2006-08-05

A wonderfully engrossing book for students and amateur fans of the comedy of manners genre.

I must say that the previous commentator gets so many simple "diegetic" facts wrong I wonder why they bothered summarizing the book in the first place. Simple things like the fact that Isabel's Aunt does not live at Gardencourt, but in Florence; she merely visits the former annually. Likewise Ed Rosier is not a lover of Isabel's, but a childhood friend from the states; he "makes love" to Pansy Osmond, Isabel's step-daughter, making for a nice contrast of "true" affection with Isabel's husband's mere seemings in that regard.

Finally the idea that "her need to be independent makes her marriage a disaster" is a gross mischaracterization that makes James sound like some kind of male-chauvanist reactionary. Not that there's anything with that, it's just not the case in the most basic terms of the novel.

Why? First of all, Isabel, bright as she is, enters into marriage knowing full well that it will mean some curtailing of the freedom of her maidenhood, she says as much in a crucial dialogue about her impending marriage with Ralph Touchett, who's Cassandra-like in his unheeded prevision of disaster. (See chapter 34 for the exact lines.) When she says she's ready to gratify her very particular husband's wishes Ralph retorts that she was meant for more than catering to the sensibilities of a "sterile dilettante". This exactly incapsulates why the marriage is a failure: Osmond's sterility is not a simple matter of his not being an active gentleman with a noble/haute bourgeois occupation --- as with Lord Warburton or the senior Touchett --- more importantly, it involves his inability to love a women as vibrant as Isabel (Pansy, of course, is not a problem). This is what Isabel feels acutely shortly into the marriage: not that her husband denies her freedom of movement, but that he denies her the right to a psychological existence of her own. He grows to hate her for precisely what makes her so beautiful --- her wit, her genius, her spirit.

I'm often saddened by the policy of anyone posting reviews on this site. It amounts to the total of most peoples interaction with literary criticism, and it is generally a poor showing.

"An Englishman's never so natural as when he's holding his tongue.".......2006-05-11

When Isabel Archer, a bright and independent young American, makes her first trip to Europe in the company of her aunt, Mrs. Touchett, who lives outside of London in a 400-year-old estate, she discovers a totally different world, one which does not encourage her independent thinking or behavior and which is governed by rigid social codes. This contrast between American and European values, vividly dramatized here, is a consistent theme in James's novels, one based on his own experiences living in the US and England. In prose that is filled with rich observations about places, customs, and attitudes, James portrays Isabel's European coming-of-age, as she discovers that she must curb her intellect and independence if she is to fit into the social scheme in which she now finds herself.

Isabel Archer, one of James's most fully drawn characters, has postponed a marriage in America for a year of travel abroad, only to discover upon her precipitate and ill-considered marriage to an American living in Florence, that it is her need to be independent that makes her marriage a disaster. Gilbert Osmond, an American art collector living in Florence, marries Isabel for the fortune she has inherited from her uncle, treating her like an object d'art which he expects to remain "on the shelf." Madame Serena Merle, his long-time lover, is, like Osmond, an American whose venality and lack of scruples have been encouraged, if not developed, by the European milieu in which they live.

James packs more information into one paragraph than many writers do into an entire chapter. Distanced and formal, he presents psychologically realistic characters whose behavior is a direct outgrowth of their upbringing, with their conflicts resulting from the differences between their expectations and the reality of their changed settings. The subordinate characters, Ralph Touchett, Pansy Osmond, her suitor Edward Rosier, American journalist Henrietta Stackpole, Isabel's former suitor Caspar Stackpole, and Lord Warburton, whose love of Isabel leads him to court Pansy, are as fascinating psychologically and as much a product of their own upbringing as is Isabel.

As the setting moves from America to England, Paris, Florence, and Rome, James develops his themes, and as Isabel's life becomes more complex, her increasingly difficult and emotionally affecting choices about her life make her increasingly fascinating to the reader. James's trenchant observations about the relationship between individuals and society and about the effects of one's setting on one's behavior are enhanced by the elegance and density of his prose, making this a novel one must read slowly--and savor. Mary Whipple

A reader.......2003-12-30

Otra interesante historia destrozada por Henry James. Páginas y páginas de descripción que no llevan a ninguna parte. Si te gusta el arte de escribir no lo leas. Lo que puede decirse en una frase James lo dirá en dos (por lo menos) y siempre una de ellas será la absurda repetición de la primera con otras palabras. Las descripciones no son nunca concretas, co evocan nada en la mente del lector, carecen de inmediatez.
Los personajes interesantes, pero se nos habla demasiado de ellos, se intenta que los veamos con los ojos del escritor sin que su punto de vista se nos justifique. Por ejemplo, no entiendo por que la protagonista es considerada tan inteligente por el narrador, lo unico que hace es heredar una fortuna y dedicarse a viajar por Europa, como tantas otras jovenes adineradas de su epoca. Pero no parece que se haya dado demasiada cuenta de lo que ha visto, no pasan de ser visitas turisticas. Por lo demas a los malos del cuento se les ve venir de lejos y ella parece ser la unica en no darse cuenta.
Ultima queja: los dialogos de Henry James no son mas que preguntas y respuestas ingeniosas, pero tan artificiales que en seguida te das cuenta de que cada pregunta no es mas que una posibilidad de que otro persunaje luzca su ingenio en su respuesta.
En conjunto una novela interesante, sobre todo en cuanto a como esta estructurada y en cuanto a la historia que plantea.

Essential Henry James.......2003-09-20

I've come back to this novel after reading it in graduate school thirty years ago, and I remain awed by James's genius. His ability to depict the nuance of social interaction is unparalleled. His psychological understanding of his characters is almost uncanny. Add to that perhaps the most complex, devious, sociopathic villains in literature -- Madame Merle and Gilbert Osmond -- and you have a gripping story of greed, deception, and innocence lost. "The Portrait of a Lady" represents the true epitome of the 19th-century English novel.

A fabulous novel that is a must read for book lovers.......1999-08-02

An incredibly well-written, engrossing and provocative story about a woman's choices in love, friendship, marriage and duty. Isabel transitions from one who prized freedom above all else, and this is precisely what she ultimately gives up to instead fulfill the appearance of a happy marriage

Average customer rating:

Where's The Music...

Overrated, dated and too slanted.

Comprehensive, interesting, well-balanced

The definitive sociohistorical book on the Beatles

A valuable cultural history

Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation
Philip Norman
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Rock | Composers & Musicians | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743235657

Book Description

UPDATED TO INCLUDE PAUL McCARTNEY'S KNIGHTING AND THE DEATHS OF JOHN LENNON AND GEORGE HARRISON

Philip Norman's biography of the Beatles is the definitive work on the world's most influential band -- a beautifully written account of their lives, their music, and their times. Now brought completely up to date, this epic tale charts the rise of four scruffy Liverpool lads from their wild, often comical early days to the astonishing heights of Beatlemania, from the chaos of Apple and the collapse of hippy idealism to the band's acrimonious split. It also describes their struggle to escape the smothering Beatles' legacy and the tragic deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison. Witty, insightful, and moving, Shout! is essential reading not just for Beatles fans but for anyone with an interest in pop music.

Customer Reviews:

Where's The Music..........2007-09-17

I'll admit, this book isn't that great. Like any biography it starts off with the youths of the members and how they got together. Then it's about the touring and the amazing popularity of the band. So far the book is about the Beatles as a pop culture phenomenom. After Revolver the band stopped performing and the book starts to focus more on the inner dynamics of the band and on the business side of things. Sometimes in a few sentences the relevance is mentioned, but not as often and usually only about John Lennon.

And then the music... this book will teach you absolutely nothing about why the Beatles were the most influential group ever. Nothing on the crazy recording techniques with Strawberry Fields or a Day in the Life. Nothing about the weird starts of songs as Hard Day's Night or Drive My Car. He completely misunderstands Norwegian Wood (which no one really knows what it is about) and Dr Robert, which he just calls a crazy doctore while most people know it's more about a dealer then your GP...

Get something else, it will give you a glimple of the pop icons, but nothing on the music.

Overrated, dated and too slanted........2007-07-19

I'm a little surprised by the ratio of good reviews for this book. I have to chime in with a strong negative for Norman's book. I appreciate the research and craftsmanship that went into the book and the portrait of the Beatle's years in Hambug is vivid and well done, yet frankly Norman's bias undermines the credibility of the writing in certain chapters, it's uneven in places. Honestly, I even suspect John Lennon would have been dismayed by the mythologizing that goes on in Norman's book.

I feel that Norman's book added the mythologizing of the relationships between Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr. Lionizing Lennon while treating Paul as the shallow, soppy, conservative one, or treating Harrison as a lucky third party with passable talent. That's not to say that any member of the band is above criticism, John was very much about being honest and being honest about oneself. Have people forgotten that Lennon's solo out-put could be surprisingly uneven and inconsistent? Mind you, this is coming from a huge Lennon fan, who wasn't a part of that era, I'm 39. So, I look at this with a different take.

Frankly I'm tired of third party books about the Beatles from writers whom, because they had limited access to the band in the Apple years, convince themselves they know what went on privately between them. The best example of the problem with Norman's book can be found with the new chapters concerning the post years, the portraits of McCartney is often overkill. Yes, Paul can be a little much, you could say he's guilty of attempts to re-write history. Yet, Paul does deserve some credit for what's he's accomplished outside the band. Paul's biggest crime after the Beatles was wanting to remain a pop star? I noticed that all of the post Beatles careers leaned towards a lighter pop faire, including Lennon's "Double Fantasy". What does it matter. Norman treats Paul's dabbling in classical opera as though it's a sacrilege.

I just don't care for Norman's dismissive attitude about George Harrison. A man who completely re-invented his sound after the Beatle break-up with "All Things Must Pass", As well as financing Handmade Films, a studio that helped the British film industry at a time it needed help and jump started Terry Gilliam's career. Harrison's solo career I found to be the most interesting, there's a consistent evolution of his albums that makes sense, even if some never cared for Harrison's spiritual hymns or his leanings towards ballads. It's also true that Harrison's solo out put could be uneven, yet the tendency is to dismiss him without any objective assessment. Harrison managed to co-front one of the more enjoyable super groups produced, The Traveling Wilbury's, mostly because they didn't take themselves too seriously and it was refreshing. Every band members post career had their share of great, good and bad songs, that's reality.

Furthermore, Norman seems to feel Harrison had no right to criticize a band like Oasis for their own swipes. Sorry to say this, I like Oasis, but the band simply is not innovative enough to believe they are above criticisms from Harrison. The Gallagher brothers are a little too arrogant to place themselves on equal par to the Beatles. Their recent track record for memorable hits, proves this.

Yet, what really raises my hackles is the portrait of Allen Klein. Many biographers give Klein a pass. First everyone vilified Yoko and Linda, and then the trend has been to the vilify Paul.
Yet if there was anyone who cemented the nail in the coffin of the Beatles, it was Allen Klein, a man who was a ruthless, manipulative bully. There was ample evidence that Klein was fleecing the Beatles fortunes. If Klein had gotten his way with his business negotiations, there might have been little left to the offspring, heirs of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr. McCartney's legal suite against Klein and the band members was rather brave and McCartney's instincts about Klein were correct in hindsight. It's overkill to rely on Lennon's bias on this issue.

Norman's book was first published in 1981 and you would think that some hindsight or wisdom would have filtered through the recent revisions, yet Norman maintains the same cynical tone and demonstrates little growth. There's the adage - Three sides to every story, yours, mine and the truth. All of the members of the band were complex individuals, adding to the stereotypes, or myths about The Beatles and their career doesn't help. Norman's ignorance about music and what it means to be a musician doesn't help either.

You'll get more from 'The Beatles Anthology' book or Barry Miles / McCartney book 'Many Years From Now', or even Bob Spitz's biography, Tony Bramwell's 'Magical Mystery Tours'. Mark Lewisohn's 'Beatles Recording Sessions'. I cannot in good conscious recommend this, don't bother. Unless of course you're exclusively a Lennon fan then you'll probably love it. I'd rather seek more and objective material. there's too many false myths about the band, I'd rather move on.

Comprehensive, interesting, well-balanced.......2007-06-18

I read this book a few years ago when my fascination with The Beatles had just started. I've since read a lot on the boys and I have to say that this book is a good one. It gives a wealth of information, written in a way that is enjoyable. Also, as one reviewer said, it doesn't come off as a worshipful book as some biographies do. Instead, it comes off as a serious book about not just The Beatles, but their generation. Wonderful work.

The definitive sociohistorical book on the Beatles.......2007-03-07

This book vividly and elegantly relives the Beatles exciting and incredible story, putting them in context of their generation of the 1960's - in Liverpool, in London and America. All aspects of their fabled lives and career are covered here: their early days in Liverpool; the conquest of England and America; the growth of the songs and music over the course of the decade, indeed, the growth of the Beatles as individuals; the tours; the albums; the films; the formation of Apple; the women; Brian Epstein and George Martin; Maharishi and Mr. Klein; and the break up. Norman also chronicles the critical times of the 1960's that the Beatles were part of - and impacted, and were impacted by.

Its only flaw seems to be the sinister account of Epstein's death, and for whatever annoying reason NO source notes...but what Beatles book is perfect? No one thing gets too much emphasis here - unlike certain other Beatles books. Rather, Norman gives enough attention and conciseness that covers most aspects - giving readers as comprehensive an overview as one will ever get on the Beatles. As the book was published shortly after Lennon's death, it does of course have a mild tribute to him at the beginning, but Norman certainly does not denigrate or lessen the importance of the others in Shout! - there's truly a great balance here.

Apart from that, the narrative in itself is absorbing, and reads like a historical novel. Expertly written, it makes you feel not only the importance of the Beatles, but really makes you feel like you're there with them. Norman basically rewrites Hunter Davies' authorized version, and is substantially more complete and thorough than that book. A clear picture and definitive history of the Beatles emerges as a result. Just a great, important book that everyone should read. Buy the 1980's edition if you can, the new edition does not add much new material on the Beatles, unless you consider the circumstances of Stuart Sutcliffe's death relevant.

A valuable cultural history.......2007-01-16

I'm still working my way through this book, but I am very much enjoying it and wanted to jot down a few thoughts before they slip away. I'll edit this review later to provide my overall impression.

The author does a superb job of placing the Beatles in a cultural context and explaining why four working class lads from Liverpool had such an enormous impact on, well, everything. In fact The Sixties, as we remember them today, would have been simply unimagineable without The Beatles. For example, before reading "Shout," it never really struck me that one of the main reasons the Beatles conquered England first, then the world, was that "the inexplicable failure to have a third world war" had resulted in an overlarge population in their teens and early 20s, many of them with a lot of money in their pockets. As other readers have noted, the book also paints a sympathetic portrait of the hardworking, thrifty, self-sacrificing earlier generation that set the table for the rocking Sixties, rather than villifying it as do many other rock 'n' roll historians.

The book has one significant flaw: Mr. Norman does not really "get" music and has little to say about what it was that it was that made the Beatles' songs and approach to playing so special. He tends to rely on others to interpret the Beatles' musicianship and songwriting ability, which can lead to errors-- i.e. the idea that George Harrison was only an "average" guitarist who got lucky, when by the standards of his day he was certainly in the upper tier of early 60s rock guitarists and his style was highly influential. It was only because he grew bored with the guitar and took up the sitar in ca. 1965 that other guitarists, such as Clapton, Beck and Hendrix, were able to eclipse and supersede him. When he rediscovered his love for the guitar in the late 60s, he developed a slide guitar style which, once again, proved highly influential (the solo on "Something" becoming an instant classic).

I look forward to finishing "Shout" and expanding this review in the coming days.

Shout! (The Beatles in Their Generation)

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Shout! (The Beatles in Their Generation)
Philip Norman
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1416541179

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SHOUT! - The Beatles In Their Generation
Philip Norman
Manufacturer: MJF Books - New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OR5LC6

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SHOUT! the Beatles in Their Generation

Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HHX6ZW

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Shout the Beatles in Their Generation
Philip Norman
Manufacturer: UNSPECIFIED VENDOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UC58ZU

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Shout! the Beatles In Their Generation
Philip Norman
Manufacturer: FIRESIDE BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OJYWMY

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Innocents - Not as naive as you would think

Innocent not so naive

Hunter Book: Innocent : A Character Book for Hunter: the Reckoning
Philippe Boulle , Ken Cliffe , and Adam Tinworth
Manufacturer: White Wolf Games Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1565047427

Customer Reviews:

Innocents - Not as naive as you would think.......2004-06-15

Thes guys can be annoying but pretty funny. A good player can go use this book to keep your sessions going a lot longer.

Innocent not so naive.......2000-07-16

The book does a good job in describing the Innocent role in the Hunter society. They bring balance to the rest of gun slinging hunters who shot a supernatural at first sight.The book also very well tells about the Innocent's struggle when force is unavoidable. I hope White Wolf keeps up the good work

Book Description

The three leading open source alternatives to Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and Outlook are OpenOffice.org, Firefox and Thunderbird. If you are looking to make the migration to these open source applications, Sams Teach Yourself OpenOffice.org 2, Firefox and Thunderbird All in One will help you throughout your entire transition. This complete step-by-step tutorial will show you how to:

Write words with Writer.
Crunch numbers with Calc.
Impress audiences with Impress.
Find your inner artist with Draw.
Enhance your work with OpenOffice.org's other features.

The included CD will provide you with the complete OpenOffice.org installation for Windows, Linux and Macintosh platforms, as well as the latest versions of Firefox and Thunderbird. Make a smooth transition to open source with Sams Teach Yourself OpenOffice.org 2, Firefox and Thunderbird All in One.

Customer Reviews:

Open Office. Org 2.......2007-07-22

Ordered to use as reference for computer software, but felt it was not easy to follow, when trying something new on the computer....must read the entire chapter first. Otherwise, very good!

Very helpful introduction to OO........2007-03-13

As other reviewers have suggested, the 'hype' you read about the Open Office suite is actually true. Especially in regard to sharing files with M$ Office suite. I have successfully passed spreadsheets and documents back and forth between the two without much of a hitch. As stated in other reviews, and in the book, there are differences in how some things are done, and actual capabilities of each of the two suites, but using the book will help immensely in recognizing and dealing with the issues (which, for the most part are minor). The only problem I've had with OO is one of these issues. I inserted a table with three narrow columns and over 200 rows into a designated section of a document. Then I set that section to flow that table into three columns, to save pages. However, whenever I edited the doc after that, I'd have to reformat the section, because it put the column breaks in odd places. MSWord doesn't have a problem handling the same document. I expect this little bug will be dealt with soon...another advantage of using opne source software! Congrats to Mr. Perry on a well written introduction to what I suspect will be the biggest threat to M$ yet.

How to save money!.......2005-11-13

Good previous reveiws. Additionaly, the book is written in a format that lends itself to quick refrence. This makes it invaluable to those who in need of "How do I do that right now?". One last detail is that the program is cross-platform and can write PDF compatible files.

interoperable with Microsoft Office.......2005-09-01

How useful is OpenOffice? Can it really replace Microsoft Office for some of you? These are the key questions that the book addresses. Many more people use Microsoft Office than OpenOffice. And if you are one of those, you've probably built up an expertise in it. Plus, you have files written in those formats. How easy is it to migrate?

Perry deals with this at great length. He goes through each program in OpenOffice. Explaining how to use it, assuming no prior knowledge on your part. The most important of which is probably Writer. In an office environment, that is what most of us do. Perry reassures you that OpenOffice understands the Microsoft file formats for Word, Excel, PointPoint or Access. More than anything else in the book, you need to appreciate that you are not giving up much (if anything) by moving to OpenOffice. You can still read those legacy files, and you can write documents in those formats and send to others using Microsoft Office.

Interoperability is a key virtue here.

Now as for the OpenOffice programs, they are no more difficult to learn than their Microsoft counterparts. Serious sweat has gone into making them as intuitive and powerful as possible. All the common operations that you might expect in a word processing program or spreadsheet are here.

Note that OpenOffice does not guarantee an exact functional mapping from Microsoft Office. So there are indeed steps you can do in the latter that are not possible in the former. But for most users, these should be uncommon operations.

The book and its CD also cover Firefox and Thunderbird. But more as an afterthought. While the coverage is well written, it tends to be less detailed than about OpenOffice itself. I somewhat agree with the previous reviewer, who considered these to be a bit of an add on to the book. Nonetheless, it was competently done by Perry.

Learn to live without Microsoft Office..........2005-08-27

The software trio that Microsoft would love to vaporize... OpenOffice.org, Firefox, and Thunderbird. High quality software, easy to use if you already know the Microsoft equivalents, and best of all... FREE! Greg Perry has written a book that will get you up to speed quite well on it all... OpenOffice.org 2, Firefox, and Thunderbird for Windows All in One (Sams Teach Yourself).

Contents:
Part 1 - Writing Words with Writer: Start Here; Learning Writer's Basics; Making Your Words Look Good; Adding Lists, Tables, and Graphics; Using Writer's Advanced Features
Part 2 - Crunching Numbers with Calc: Getting to Know Calc; Working with Calc Data; Formatting Spreadsheets with Calc; Creating Advanced Spreadsheets; Using Calc as a Simple Database
Part 3 - Impressing Audiences with Impress: Learning About Impress; Adding Flair to Your Presentations; Making More Impressive Presentations
Part 4 - Drawing On Your Inner Artist with Draw: Getting Ready to Draw; Improving Your Drawings; Putting on Finishing Touches with Draw
Part 5 - Enhancing Your Work with OpenOffice.org's Other Features: Enhancing Your Work with More OpenOffice.org Features; Organizing Your Data with Base; Browsing the Internet with Firefox; Emailing with Thunderbird
Index

Overall, I think this book is very well done. The style is such that each chapter has a number of items (all numbered and listed in the table of contents) that focus on a particular task, such as formatting a table or inserting graphics in a document. These items are cross-referenced back to items you need to know/do before you start, as well as to items that will build on your new skills. As a result, the book works well as both a tutorial and a reference guide that you can use once you master the basics. The instructions are easy to follow, and pretty much 95% (or more) of what you'll need to do on a regular basis is covered. If someone were looking to use OpenOffice.org as their primary productivity suite instead of Microsoft Office, this would be a good book to pick up as your introduction.

My only nit about the book is the inclusion of the Firefox and Thunderbird chapters. The way it's presented makes it look like Firefox and Thunderbird are part of OpenOffice.org. They're not. And if you're buying the book for some significant coverage on those two packages, you'll be really disappointed. In the 600 pages of this book, you'll get around 50 pages to cover both. It's almost as if the topics were included in order to ride some of the current Firefox popularity. In my opinion (and it's simply that... my opinion), I would have either left those chapters out entirely or expanded them significantly. If you're wanting to know more about either Firefox or Thunderbird, you'd be much better off buying a separate book that *just* covers that.

Even with the criticism, the book is well worth having. You'll learn how to cut your dependancies on Microsoft's Office monopoly and save yourself quite a bit of money in the process...

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