The Bone Woman: A Forensic Anthropologist's Search for Truth in the Mass Graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo

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The Bone Supremacist

An OK Read

A book about the hard to accept truth

The Bone Woman

Disappointing but worth reading

The Bone Woman: A Forensic Anthropologist's Search for Truth in the Mass Graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo
Clea Koff
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Anthropology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
West Africa | Africa | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0812968859
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Book Description

In 1994, Rwanda was the scene of the first acts since World War II to be legally defined as genocide. Two years later, Clea Koff, a twenty-three-year-old forensic anthropologist, left the safe confines of a lab in Berkeley, California, to serve as one of sixteen scientists chosen by the United Nations to unearth the physical evidence of the Rwandan genocide. Over the next four years, Koff’s grueling investigations took her across geography synonymous with some of the worst crimes of the twentieth century.

The Bone Woman is Koff’s unflinching, riveting account of her seven UN missions to Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Rwanda, as she shares what she saw, how it affected her, who was prosecuted based on evidence she found, and what she learned about the world. Yet even as she recounts the hellish nature of her work and the heartbreak of the survivors, she imbues her story with purpose, humanity, and a sense of justice. A tale of science in service of human rights, The Bone Woman is, even more profoundly, a story of hope and enduring moral principles.

Customer Reviews:

The Bone Supremacist.......2007-09-17

Koff's prose is fine and, at times, borders on the poetic - her descriptions of her work are well written and easily read. But that's the problem - perhaps the phrase is ubiquitous self-indulgence?

In the first few pages of her work she claims that her job is to make bones talk, and that she is restoring life to these people who have lost theirs. But instead of telling us what these bones have "said," she spends 250 pages telling us how she got them to say it.

Koff is a wonderful, articulate, and intelligible writer and, clearly, a well-trained anthropologist. The problem, however, is that she spends the majority of her book extolling these points.

[I liken her work to that of a GoodWill store clerk whose intent it is to tell you how his facility benefits the underprivileged, but instead brags about (in harrowing detail) the processes of a cashier who "rings-up" the goods that the underprivileged man is buying.]

Articulation carries little weight when it's shrouded by vanity.

Finally, the book is painfully redundant. Its superfluousness becomes obvious when the first 'chapter' moves into the second. Koff tells us the same story five times in five different locales. Don't let the half-titles fool you: Kibuye is the same as Kigali is the same as Bosnia is the same as Croatia is the same as Kosovo.

An interesting read if you're considering the field of Forensic Anthropology, otherwise the book is a self-indulgent sortie into the politics of gravedigging (my obvious condolences to anyone that this may offend).

An OK Read.......2007-02-10

This book was interesting but not one that I would recommend to a friend. If you want to learn more about forensic anthropology, this is something you may enjoy. If you want to learn more about the raw emotions that were involved with these situations, this is not the book for you. The author spends more time talking about "the break down of the team" vs the grieving mothers who protest the search for their loved ones, familiy members searching through clothes to identify bodies, etc.
She prides herself on the fact that she is always smiling, something I found a little off considering the circumstances. There are bloody handprints on the ceiling of a church where hundreds were murdered. It's OK to show some emotion.
There are so many books out there that give a great view into what took place within these countries. If that is what you are looking for, I'd move on to something else.
This is a good one to get from the library if you are interested.

A book about the hard to accept truth.......2006-12-19

I don't understand the criticism of this book. The author tells not only of the work of the forensic anthropologist in discovering the grisly truth of genocide, but also helps the reader understand the brutality of the modern era. It is a stark reminder that the Holocaust of World War II was not the only and not the most recent genocide in world history. The author brings the victims to life when describing the conditions under which they are found. Her description of their clothing, personal items and positions of death are a stark and sad reminder that her work is to restore dignity to those who were slaughtered in these atrocious acts of modern warfare. While needing to stay personally detached from the victims on a daily basis to complete her work, she also provides care and attention to detail in identifying each individual's remains. This profound respect for the victims is apparent in her writing and makes this book an important contribution to the very recent history of genocide. Pairing this reading with the book "We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families" by Philip Gourevitch, gives historical perspective to the troubled African nation of Rwanda. This history is so often overlooked in schools and textbooks.

The Bone Woman.......2006-06-27

This was an excellent book. Eye opening, educational and well written.
Amazing what a woman can experience and write about beginning at the young age of 23.

Disappointing but worth reading.......2005-05-31

The author had amazing and horrifying rich experiences from which to draw her truth, but it got lost amid a lot of random and irritating other bits. Nevertheless, she describes things that most of us will never have the chance to experience ourselves and we can definitely learn from, so I wholeheartedly agree with the last paragraph of the Laura Secor review printed above: "less than fully realized..." "compelling and worth reading"

The Bone Woman A forensic anthropologist's search for truth in the mass graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo

Average customer rating:

The Bone Woman A forensic anthropologist's search for truth in the mass graves of Rwanda, Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo
Koff Clea
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UF73H8

Book Description

The special problems and opportunities presented by island tourism are major new areas of interest for both tourism academics and professionals, prompting much discussion and debate. This is the first book to focus on how management and organisational issues affect small islands and their tourism industries, and to examine the factors which affect tourism on small islands. International contributors, including practitioners and researchers examine this important topic and discuss a diversity of inter-related themes, including policy areas; public/private sector planning partnerships; product development; marketing; human resource management; and sustainability. These general issues are complemented with case studies which illustrate the application of island management principles. For undergraduates, graduates and professionals in the tourism field, this book is an essential guide to island tourism management.

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Derek is Tuning IN with Tamara

A spiritual approach to show business life

More Than Entertainment

So Inspired!

More than just a book...it's an experience

There's No Business Like Soul Business: A Spiritual Path to Enlightened Screenwriting, Filmmaking, and the Performing Arts
Derek Rydall
Manufacturer: Michael Wiese Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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A Writer's Roadmap

ASIN: 1932907246

Book Description

Publisher Marketing: A step-by-step guide, filled with in-depth exercises and breakthrough processes, this book will equip artists and entertainment professionals with the spiritual tools and techniques to make their everyday walk in the business a more purposeful and prosperous adventure. Rydall empowers readers to achieve their dreams and create material that has a postive impact on the planet.

Customer Reviews:

Derek is Tuning IN with Tamara.......2007-05-29

Derek Rydall talks about the ideas in his book on my spiritual entertainment talk show in a way that shows he's living the message in every fiber of his being. Reading his book renews my passion and confidence for my personal dream and vision of shining as a real light. He reminds me of my divinity and power in this magical play of life. He explains "oneness" like I've never grasped it before. He reveals the most important "it's who you know" metaphysical truth in Hollywood. He reminds me of my higher purpose and now I have a much deeper meaning to my work in television, and I'm able to articulate it to others so I can touch and awaken all those who cross my path on this beautiful journey. He enables us all to be true healers through the entertainment medium as we perform the real work of remembering and awakening wholeness in every heart on the planet. -- Tamara Henry, MA, Producer/Host, IN with Tamara Henry, Santa Monica News Anchor

A spiritual approach to show business life.......2007-05-19

In his second book, Derek Rydall attempts to provide an antidote for the cynicism, greed and rampant sociopathic tendencies which plague the entertainment industry. To counter these, he exhorts people to become `enlightened entertainers', who see the entertainment industry as a force for Good and who live their lives accordingly. A tall order, perhaps, but in the book he provides all the necessary information in order to set out on this journey of the soul.
Rydall starts off with the basics: identifying what enlightened entertainment is, and why audiences need it. He also provides the basic tools needed for the journey: types of meditation and soul-searching exercises. Next up is the big picture, a look at the realities of show business and the spiritual world, and how these contrast and (possibly) interact. Changing the business is something which can only happen one person at a time, so the rest of the book is devoted to developing the character of the reader. First on the purely personal level, then specifically as an artist, and finally as an entertainment professional. The final section of the book helps the reader create a career plan.
This book is definitely very New Age in style. If you're not into spirituality, the book won't do much for you - although many of the exercises are introspective ways of getting to know yourself better, and these will be beneficial for anyone. If you are spiritually enclined, Rydall's book will undoubtedly be inspirational and provide you with great insights.

More Than Entertainment.......2007-05-14

This book is not just for screen writers who want to go beyond simple entertainment to meaningful film, but for all writers who want to make a difference. The time for enlightened entertainment is now! This book is not only a stepping stone and good resource, it's invaluable. Read, learn, and profit.

So Inspired!.......2007-05-11

Derek,
First let me complement you on your book. I really am inspired by every word. I did the visioning exercise today on the industry. I've know for some time that my purpose as an actor and writer is to wake people up to their humanity through the emotions evoked in my performances or my writing. Today I got so clearly that the essence of the industry is love and connectedness.

Thank you!
INSPIRED in 2007,
Traci Dority

More than just a book...it's an experience.......2007-05-11

Firstly, well done! Well done, congratulations and two thumbs up for writing There's No Business Like Soul Business. Not only was it an inspiring read for the spiritual warrior but a brilliant example of someone wanting to help other artists and pass on oh-so-valuable insights about not only life but the wonderful world of entertainment. Reading each chapter I could hear the lessons of Deepak Chopra shining through, as I have read many of his books, and then to apply them to entertainment breaking down the myths that people can get caught up in, and allow a new road to be paved for the "enlightened entertainer" who can then make the conscious decision to shift his/her attitude and focus on your inner being as the tool for transcedence is...well, awe-inspiring.

A must read for anyone wishing to follow their dreams in the wonderful world of entertainment!

Marshall Dunn (Sydney, Australia)

Average customer rating:

Theres No Business Like Soul Business
Doug Marlette
Manufacturer: Peachtree Pub Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drawing | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0934601208

Book Description

Mysterious, profound, enigmatic, spellbinding in his performance, whether rock, soul, jazz, or folk. Hinton expertly addresses the music of this contemporary musical genius.

Customer Reviews:

Clip Job.......2004-08-03

Two-and-a-half, really. One keeps reading because among the endless quotes from contemporaneous rock critics, music snob name-dropping, blow-by-blow descriptions of set lists and references to the subject of the author's other big work (Joni Mitchell), there are some interesting facts. The book could have used a more thorough edit to weed out some of the more self-indulgent bits.

Vizcity on Van.......2000-08-17

This book is a meaty little tome, 392 pages of entertaining text with a small, b/w picture section in the middle. I got my copy two days ago and have found it hard to put down since. Despite his PhD in poetry and myth, Hinton doesn't go for academic jargon at all. The writing is brisk and down-to-earth. Hinton is confident not only in his literary knowledge but also in his encyclopedic knowledge of popular music, which enables him to put Van in interesting contexts at times.

Still, I've noticed a few factual errors and odd omissions (he doesn't know that the Bottom Line '78 MC is Peter Wolf), and the writing sometimes seems rushed, especially the last few chapters. Also, there are lapses in tone (Hinton will often jump out of his authorial character to address the reader with a chummy question) and paragraphs that jump from one topic to another disconcertingly.

Hinton seems to have about five main goals.

To argue that Van Morrison is indeed a very fine poet, albeit one who's poetry relies on its musical context. Hinton takes issue with the Johnny Rogan and John Collis books on this subject. To assert that VM's artistry is at its best during live performances. To demonstrate this, Hinton goes into great detail comparing the oft-booted Fillmore West 1970 show to MOONDANCE, arguing that the live versions of the MOONDANCE songs are more vital and interesting than the studio versions. (I can't agree in this particular instance - and *I* personally tend to feel that while the argument might be true with Van's '90s work, the studio was where Van tended to be most comfortable and vital in the '70s and early '80s.) To make a strong case for albums that critics often denigrate, such as TUPELO HONEY and COMMON ONE, although he isn't afraid to come down hard on some titles (HIS BAND AND THE STREET CHOIR, A PERIOD OF TRANSITION). And he comes right out and says that one of his primary motivations was to champion VEEDON FLEECE, an album that he feels deserves a stronger status than that of "cult favorite." To write a book that functions as a clearing-house of VM information. In this, he succeeds fairly well. There is very little Van knowledge, lore, and minutiae that is absent. Hinton has done an amazing amount of secondary research and incorporated it generously into the book. He has even immersed himself in back issues of THE VAN MORRISON NEWSLETTER and WAVELENGTH as well as many underground tapes and boots (from the archives of Geoff Wall), although I wish he'd taken more time to let all the info. digest before spewing it out in the book, sometimes rather cluelessly. Overall, Hinton's use of secondary research is one of the book's strengths. Unfortunately, there seems to be little *primary* research; most of his interview material seems gathered from the work of his predecessors: Ritchie Yorke, Johnny Rogan, Steve Turner, and even John Collis. To avoid the "wounded-journalist" bitterness that overtook the Rogan and Collis books. Hinton doesn't stint on reporting many instances of VM's rude, SOB behavior, and he doesn't try to defend it, but he also avoids moralizing about it or allowing it to (dis)color his view of the music. I'm sure Hinton has several other agendas in writing this book, but these are the five that stand out for me. I do recommend the book. Although the other books do more face-to- face research, and although the Turner book is the most cogent and revelatory regarding Van's spiritual concerns, this big clearing-house project may be the most purely entertaining volume yet written on the subject.

Still no definitive book on Van the Man.......1998-08-12

This book is a disappointment.The bibliography and discography are good, and there is much information and opinion about the artist and his work.However there is little attempt to come to grips with the person or his art.There are many digressions which refer to other performers not relevant to Van Morrison, but they are mentioned simply because their music was around at the same time.Too much space is given to describing live performances, which means little to those of us who were not there.Discussion of Van's songs is superficial.So much remains untouched:his musical and non musical influences, his spiritual searchings, his Irish heritage.I am still waiting for the definitive book on Van Morrison, both the man and the music.

*CELTIC CROSSROADS* is a lucid critical biography........1998-01-28

Brian Hinton's *CELTIC CROSSROADS* is one of the most lucid and comprehensive critical biographies available on the enigmatic Irish singer and songwriter. The title of Hinton's book is an allusion to both the ethnic roots f the Irish singer and the singer's love of American Blues music.

Hinton's encylopedic knowledge of rock 'n roll music provides a well-researched query into Morrison's every expanding discography. Especially noteworthy is Hinton's critical commentary on almost every individual song on each Morrison album. The main strength of Hinton's biography is the author's ability to put Morrison's creative output into a cultural context.

Indeed, if the book has a failing, it is Hinton's proclivity to get lost in a tangential dicussion which only illuminates his knowledge of pop music, not the music of Morrison. In one chapter, he connects Morrison's music to bands as divergent in style as Yes, the Sex Pistols, and,(as humorist Dave Barry would say)I'm not making this up, the Spice Girls!

The new Van Morrison fan may thus be better served by Steve Turner's lavishly illustrated *VAN MORRISON: TOO LATE TO STOP NOW*. However, the extensive bibliography, discography, and filmography make Hinton's book a necessity for any Morrison fan who wishes to delve deeper into the music of this iconoclastic artist.

Customer Reviews:

Max Allan Collins captures the flavor of the show perfectly........1998-08-25

"NYPD Blue: Blue Begining" is a worthy supplement to the series. Designed as a prequel to the series, it retains the gritty flavor of the show. Collins knows the characters inside and out, and as the novel progresses one can visualize the "episode" of the novel perfectly. There is a nice blend of humor, emotion and toughness here that fans of "NYPD Blue" have grown accustomed to. It's a must-read for fans of the show as well as the uninitiated.

NYPD Blue: The Blue Beginnings (Penguin Reader Level 3)

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NYPD Blue: The Blue Beginnings (Penguin Reader Level 3)
Collins
Manufacturer: Pearson ESL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Readers | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0582401704

Product Description

Get a focused, first look at the features and capabilities in Microsoft Visual Basic 2005, Visual Studio 2005, and .NET Framework 2.0. If you currently work with Visual Basic 6, these authors fully understand the adoption and code migration issues you'll

Customer Reviews:

Readable.......2006-01-25

I've read the first couple of chapters of this book, and so far I find it a very readable introduction to VB.NET 2005.

This book works best if you have prior VB experience either with VB 6.0 or VB.NET. I have experience with VB 3.0 through VB 6.0 and made the switch to VB.NET 2002 in Beta 2.

I personally am not interested in examples prior to VB.NET but the author sometimes includes VB 6.0 examples.

The author does a fine job of comparing and contrasting collections in VB 6.0, .NET Frameworks 1.0/1.1 and .NET Framework 2.0.

The book offers a to the point introduction of generics. He explains the benefits and how and why they should be used. This particular chapter has sample code to compare the performance of a fixed length array to an Array List to a generic List. The only problem with the code is that it uses an undefined function to compare the resulting execution times. It was easy to write the missing code, but the code shouldn't be missing.

It's true that you can eventually find everything the book says either on the web or by experimenting with the product, but the book does a good job of leading you through the new features in a meaningful way.

The author refers to .NET 1.2 which today doesn't exist. We know it as .NET 2.0, but in the early days it was referred to as 1.2.

I'm going to read this book as a review to help prepare me for a VB.NET 2005 class that I will attend soon. If you already know a lot about the new features of VB.NET 2005 then you probably don't need this book.

After I've finished reading the book I'll edit this review to let you know if my feelings have changed.

Introducing Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 for Developers.......2005-08-10

Interesting book, but somewhat superficial.But gives good
examples of the new language enhancements.

Concurrance: This Book Bites!.......2005-07-16

1) Assumption of mastery of OO concepts despite fact that many developers may *not* be coming to VB2K5 from, say, Java... Given that Microsoft is famously Balkanized internally and regards VB programmers as beloved-but-second-class, you'd think the approach and assumptions would be different.

Also, as per point #4 (below), given "conceptual" orientation of the book, you'd think more weight would be given to clarity and depth of expression for actual underlying concepts (as opposed to, say, simply how things differ from the last version of ASP, or whatever).

2) Disturbingly self-congratulatory: "Gee, the whizzes at Microsoft have really topped themselves with [whatever whacky feature]!"

3) Obtuse references to difficulties of the environment: "Sure there are a kabillion esoterically-organized classes in the Base Library. Now that's not a problem because we've got the 'my' object!"

4) "Walkthroughs" rather than exercises. Code examples are "representative" rather than runnable.

You can't appeal to everyone all the time. However, this book will appeal to no one.

Much Ado About Nothing.......2005-06-18

I must say that this book is one of worst I have ever seen. It doesn't teach you anything you cannot find out your self after playing with vb for a week.

A new low for MS Press.......2005-03-13

This "book" is like a rough draft of a sales brochure. It appears to be mainly a sales promo aimed at VB6 programmers. It is a very brief overview that is filled with errors. The code download and errata are not available on the given site. The code in the book is mere snippets that constantly refer the reader to the nonexistent code download. Net framework 2.0 is frequently referred to as version 1.2 making it difficult to know if they meant version 1.1 or 2.0. It is not possible to run any code with the snippets they provide. The book has little value except as an error filled sales brochure for nonprogrammers. The authors and MS Press should be ashamed to put out garbage like this book.

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