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A Letter from Brian Selznick
 Dear readers,
When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I'm an illustrator myself, I've often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities.
My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things.
I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn't until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born.
A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work.
Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Yours,
Brian Selznick |
Amazon.com Exclusive
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Brian Selznick on a "Deleted Scene" from The Invention of Hugo Cabret
This is a finished drawing that I had to cut from The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was still rewriting the book when I had to begin the final art. There was originally a scene in the story where this character, Etienne, is working in a camera shop. On one of my research trips to Paris I spent an entire day visiting old camera shops and photographing cameras from the 1930's and earlier, as well as the facades of the shops themselves. I researched original French camera posters and made sure that the counter and the shelves were accurate to the time period. I did all the drawings in the book at 1/4 scale, so they were very small and I often had to use a magnifying glass to help me see what I was drawing. After I finished this drawing I continued to rewrite, and for various reasons I realized that I needed to move this scene from the camera shop to the French Film Academy, which meant that I had to cut this picture. I tried really hard to find ANOTHER moment when I could have Etienne in a camera shop, but, as painful as it was, I knew the picture had to go. I'm glad to see it up on the Amazon website because otherwise no one would have ever seen all those tiny cameras I researched and drew so carefully!
--Brian Selznick |
More from Brian Selznick
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The Houdini Box |
Walt Whitman: Words for America |
The Boy of a Thousand Faces |
Customer Reviews:
Unexpectedly Educational.......2007-09-30
Although it doesn't come across as a historical fiction piece, that's exactly what this book is. Much like the film Amadeus, The Invention of Hugo Cabret uses real life historical people to create an exaggerated (if not downright false) interpretive biography.
Works of this particular genre contain a strange mixture of true and false elements, and are actually good tools for teaching. True, they may lead to some initial misconceptions, but adequate research after the reading can clear these misconceptions up in a hurry. I wouldn't make a big deal out of a minor conception though, if in turn you get a wondrous discovery to go along with it.
From this book I learned that intricate machines were being invented long before computers and television. Robots that could draw and write as far back as perhaps the 18th century. Amazing. Why aren't we taught things like this in school? Probably because the textbooks that are issued make people of the past look like complete dimwits when that really isn't the case.
The revelation of the existence of ancient robots alone is enough for me to give this book a high amount of praise. But the artistry in the book brings it to another level. So much work went into the dozens and dozens of beautiful pencil illustrations that you'd have to be a complete jerk to not give Selznick at least a little respect for his efforts.
Often I have to read five or six unexciting books before I get to one that really makes me say, "Wow!" This is a "Wow!" book, and makes a fitting addition to any library. The risk of constructing it in such an unusual style has greatly paid off. Books like this are the reason I read.
I know I'm not the first one to say this, but this might be the book of the future we're looking at here.
wonderful fresh story.......2007-09-27
I originally bought this book for my husband and son to read. They enjoyed it so much that I had to read it myself. What a lovely story. The illustrations were outstanding and placed perfectly within the story. I went strictly off of the description from Amazon and the one picture that they showed. I was so impressed with the drawing and the idea of them being inside the book that I just knew it would be worth having. What a pleasure to read. Thank you Mr. Selznick.
this is really special.......2007-09-27
I was attracted to this book by its cover. They say you can't tell a book by its cover but this book is one good exception. Because in addition to the wonderful graphic quality of the jacket, the book is full of fine and artful illustrations through which much of the tale is told. I felt like a kid again flipping through the pages and seeing the story unfold, and then there would come some exposition in text and then more of the wonderful drawings that reminded me very much of Seurat's beloved black and white charcoal sketches. I look forward to sharing copies of this book with my friends.
All Sizzle, No Steak.......2007-09-22
This is a truly innovative book, but one that is not worth buying. The storyline simply is too frail for the book's hoopla.
The Invention of Hugh Cabret.......2007-09-21
As a children's librarian, I rate this book as one of the best! I think it has a chance to win both the Newbery and Caldecott Medals.
Book Description
Pitcairn Over 400,000 copies of this treasured classic have been sold since its original publication more than 20 years ago The book that is the definitive guide to a natural lifestyle for dogs and cats is now completely updated and revisedfor the first time in 9 years. Writing with the warmth and compassion that have won them a national following, veterinarian Richard H. Pitcairn and his wife Susan Hubble Pitcairn, noted specialists in chemical-free nutrition and natural healing for pets, show dog and cat owners how to provide the very best in companionship and lifelong care. They now cover environmental matters, including pollutants both inside the home and out, as well as recent hot-button topics, such as Mad Cow disease, Lyme disease, and the West Nile virus. Theyve updated dozens of recipes for delicious and healthful pet food and treats. With a guide to handling emergencies and an in-depth Quick Reference section, they give specific instructions for preventing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of animal diseases and disorderswith special attention to homeopathic, herbal, and nutritional remedies.
Customer Reviews:
great resource.......2007-10-01
this is a great resource book. It has lots of background info on dog foods and so much info on great supplements. It could be made easier with breakdowns or charts to guide you for quicker reference, because I find myself having to flip back and forth a lot. There is definitely lots of info and it has to be read more than once. I think the recipes are sound and easy to make. Although I can't cook for my dogs all the time, at least I can do it whenever they are ill or recovering from some ailment or surgery to ensure that their bodies are strong when they need to heal. This book makes it manageable to do that.
A great resource.......2007-09-23
This book is a great resource for pet owners. I find the health-care section of the book very useful. I have modified the recipes to accomodate the inherited allery issues my dog has. Modifying the recipes is a very involved process as the substituion of products recommended and appropriate amounts required for balanced nutrition can be a hassle to figure out, especially, if one's pet was allergic to multiple products.
This is a great book for pet owners who want to try homemade cooking and alternative medicine for their pets.
Excellent overall but diet not suited for all .......2007-09-01
There is more than one way to feed a healthy, non-commercial diet. I recommend buying both Dr. Pitcairn's book and Andi Brown's book, The Whole Piet Diet, to see which diet your animal(s) prefer. I have three pets, two 13-yr. old cats and one 1 1/2-yr old terrier. The cats had been eating holistic Blue Buffalo dry food along with some canned Friskies. The terrier was eating holistic Blue Buffalo dry food along with some raw meat, veggies, yogurt, etc. I recently learned that dry food is difficult for pets to digest and is terribly drying and causes digestive problems like vomiting, dandruff, etc. The Friskies is just plain junk food so I decided that I was going to feed healthier fare and bought both books (Dr. Pitcairn wrote the foreword in Andi's book). While Dr. Pitcairn promotes primarily raw meats with cooked whole grains, Andi Brown promotes cooked stews (grains included for dogs only, not cats). After experimentation, I found that my dog and one cat prefer Dr. Pitcairn's recipes and my second cat prefers Spot's Stew (from Andi's book). When I made the switch, I only started feeding the recipes without supplements to the cats. It took 15 days for them to eat consistently, then I started adding the supplements in small amounts and gradually built up to the daily recommended amounts. Tip: my cats preferred Andi's supplements over Dr. Pitcairn's (especially the essential fatty acids in the form of oils). All of my pets are doing very well on the diets but only because I was persistent in finding what worked best for each pet. I will never feed dry food again!
It's a shame..........2007-08-29
...that an obviously experienced and well researched vetrinarian would recommend a diet that includes grain as one of the staples of the diet. Anyone who does even a minor amount of research about the special diet needs of a dog would easily find that dogs do not possess the proper enzymes to break down grain properly and can lead to either minor or serious allergic reactions. Dogs should not eat any type of grain at any time. Anyone who reads this book, do not take it as gospel. Please do more in-depth research before you make any solid decisions on your dogs diet.
Besides that fault, there are only a few recipies included in this rather long book. I heard very good things about this book before I bought it and was thoroughly disappointed after I read it. Its hard to give this book anything else but a negative review.
Deserves 100 stars, but all they let me give is 5.......2007-08-24
This is the most incredible book that I have ever read on this subject. I could not put it down and have already tried giving our dogs his suggested diet and was shocked when they gulped down multi-grain bread, plain yogurt, and grated raw carrots. The dogs even at a banana and they now turn their noses up at commercial dog food. Have not gotten the cats to comply as of yet, so we are working on them next.
Book Description
Change the way you clean and keep your family's home wholesome and healthy with the help of expert and activist Deirdre Imus.
We all grew up thinking chemical smells like bleach and ammonia signaled "clean." But as Deirdre Imus reveals, some of the chemicals we use to maintain our homes are doing us and our families much more harm than good. In Greening Your Cleaning, the first in her Green This! series, Deirdre shows how cleaning house the environmentally responsible way can be as effective and often cheaper than the more traditional, toxic, means. This volume includes:
- Simple, efficient cleaning methods for every room of the house
- Spotlights on everyday products (all purpose cleaner, glass/window cleaner, laundry detergent) and the toxic ingredients you should be wary of
- Summaries of the latest research on the toxic effects of ordinary chemicals
- Resource lists of widely available "green cleaning" products and retailers
Filled with tips and testimonials, Greening Your Cleaning will show you how to streamline your cleaning products and practices, and how easy it is to make "living green" your way of life.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect information for environmental cleaning.......2007-09-14
Not only is this a extremely useful book, Deirdre and Don Imus do fantastic work with everything they are involved with. Especially the Imus Ranch!
Buy this book!
Not the whole story..........2007-09-05
I'm a huge fan of cleaning with more natural products, and use baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, etc to do so. In that way, I totally agree with the author's message. However, I don't agree with the presentation of the book. An example is the section on fabric softeners and dryer sheets. The author warns that these commercial products may contain limonene and linalool...as suggested alternatives, she mentions essential oils, such as lemon, lavender, bergamot, and rosewood. Throughout the book, she states that these chemicals, limonene and linalool, are scary and toxic...and then suggests essential oils which themselves have these chemicals in their makeup. (The recommendation of rosewood is another issue altogether as the author recommends it (several places) despite environmentalists' growing concerns for its endangered status and for the protection of the rain forests. Not a very "green" thing to do, IMO.) Her own commercial line of cleaning products contain essential oils as well, and I'm betting limonene and linalool can be found in them as a result.
There are dangerous products on the market, no doubt about that. And we as a society are guilty of "over kill" when it comes to "germs". And natural alternatives versus "man-made" chemicals are likely safer and better. I don't disagree with any part of that message.
Again, I am a fan of essential oils, however one must also understand that anything can be dangerous if applied incorrectly or without due care. I felt that many of the suggestions were overboard and failed to include proper warnings. For example, there are some essential oils that shouldn't be used around pets. Most, if not all, shouldn't be used around cats due to a cat's special physiology and the cumulative toxic effect the oils can have on a cat's liver. I didn't see this mentioned anywhere.
The author talks about the dangers of artificial fragrances, but doesn't acknowledge that many of the "dangers" can and do apply to essential oils as well. She constantly mentions "dousing" and "saturating" items with essential oils...which I makes me wonder if she has really ever been around them. Essential oils are powerful and I can't imagine ever having to "douse" anything with them. Generally, a few drops will do. I could go on and on, unfortunately. In the end, I was left feeling that the "homework" the book was based on had been incomplete and that it failed to tell the whole story. A shame as I said I do agree with the author's basic message. But regardless of where the profits go, I have to be honest with my review. I hope that it will be appreciated.
Do this for your family's health.......2007-09-01
I have always been concerned with the 'fumes' that I inhale when I am cleaning with the products you buy in the supermarket/chemists... although we have started to convert our various cleaning products to e-friendly; but after reading this wonderfully educating book - I just binned all the other products and went straight to my health store and replaced them with ecover. we love ecover products- the creme cleaner really cleans the greasy parts of the kitchen without scratches and it is e-friendly too. I always wondered why this country has such high rates of cancer and illnesses and could never pin down a reason ... our inside environment is so toxic and we thought we were keeping a clean house! I love this book as it re-educates you on what clean really means and that it is really quite simple. I have wasted so much money on toxic products and harming our health! Thank you for re-educating us and keeping life simple. I wish the supermarkets would stock -efriendly products as well. I am lucky that I have access to over four health shops within easy access to home.
Very useful!.......2007-08-12
I saw Diedre Imus promoting this book on the Today Show, and was only able to get a few tips out before the went onto the next guest. So I went onto Amazon and checked out the book, and it seemed interesting enough to order. I have gotten so many ideas that I rarely use any chemicals in the house anymore. I have killed insects naturally. I rarely see a roach, when I had a big roach problem, I clean rust and my drains naturally, and even my laundry. A great book overall. If not for the evironment, do it for your own health.
Save the environment.......2007-07-27
This book is well written and informative. It is a great starter to cleaning up the environment, your home and your family's health.
Book Description
The new edition of this best-selling preparation book for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) has been expanded with hundreds of new terms, concepts, memory devices and test hints. The book covers all content and work behavior areas on the new NCE, and includes a new special section regarding marriage and family counseling, new material on web counseling, and updated material throughout.
This lively resource includes 1,000 tutorial questions/answers and a quick access index to both teach you the material and raise your score. Dr. Rosenthal's reader-friendly style actually makes studying enjoyable and has been praised by counselors for years. Special information tells you "how to end exam worries." This unique book reads like a novel by imparts information like a graduate text. Perfect for state licensing, the NCC credential, and preparation for written and oral boards. This book can raise your grade in virtually any counseling-related behavioral science course.
Customer Reviews:
Easy way to review.......2007-10-01
I am finding this book a great way to review. It is easy to understand as the author explains each question and answer. With a tight schedule, this book can be read for just a few minutes at a time without losing the flow of the content.
Good Review.......2007-08-31
This study guide covers many aspects of counseling that were either not covered or quickly taught in my counseling classes. It also does a wonderful job of reinforcing the ideas that were taught in class. This book is written in a wonderfully informative and entertaining style. I have not yet taken my exam but am confident that with all the information discussed in the book I should do very well on the exam.
Comprehensive review and tutorial!.......2007-08-14
My recommendation of this book is based mainly on my test scores. Using only Rosenthal's book as a study guide, I passed the NCE with flying colors. It is easy to use and extremely helpful.
Good resource for NCE exam.......2007-08-09
I would recommend this book for anyone taking the NCE exam. I recently passed the NCE exam along with two of my co-workers. This text is a great starting point for anyone studying for the NCE, but I would recommend going into more depth then just studying from Rosenthal's book. The book sets the groundwork for what the test looks likes and feels like, but the actual NCE questions are alot harder and more specific then what Rosenthal provides. I would recommend finding texts in career counseling, research methods, and stats and becoming fimilar with all the basic concepts. Combining Rothenthal's book with texts cited above seems to be the recipe for success
Excellent study guide for NCE.......2007-07-28
This study guide was an excellent preparation for the NCE. The book gives hundreds of sample questions, in depth explanations of answers, and test taking tips. I would recommend this guide to anyone preparing for a major counseling exam.
Book Description
"The trick to cooking is that there is no trick." ––Mario Batali
The only mandatory Italian cookbook for the home cook, Mario Batali's MOLTO ITALIANO is rich in local lore, with Batali's humorous and enthusiastic voice, familiar to those who have come to know him on his popular Food Network programs, larded through about 220 recipes of simple, healthy, seasonal Italian cooking for the American audience.
Easy to use and simple to read, some of these recipes will be those "as seen" on TV in the eight years of "Molto Mario" programs on the Food Network, including those from "Mediterranean Mario," "Mario Eats Italy," and the all–new "Ciao America with Mario Batali." Batali's distinctive voice will provide a historical and cultural perspective with a humorous bent to demystify even the more elaborate dishes as well as showing ways to shorten or simplify everything from the purchasing of good ingredients to pre–production and countdown schedules of holiday meals. Informative head notes will include bits about the provenance of the recipes and the odd historical fact.
Mario Batali's MOLTO ITALIANO will feature ten soups, thirty antipasti (many vegetarian or vegetable based), forty pasta dishes representing many of the twenty–one regions of Italy, twenty fish and shellfish dishes, twenty chicken dishes, twenty pork or lamb dishes and twenty side dishes, each of which can be served as a light meal. Add twenty desserts and a foundation of basic formation recipes and this book will be the only Italian cooking book needed in the home cook's library.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent recipes.......2007-09-16
I just made polenta with salted cod and it's extremely addictive; I am on my third bowl. Some readers complained that it has too many recipes with "odd" ingredients. This book does have many recipes with octopus and squid and anchovies, and sardines. I think "odd" ingredients is what makes this book stand out. This is the kind of stuff I absolutely love to eat. And yes, they eat octopus and squid and fresh anchovies in Italy , not just meat balls and spaghetti.
If you want just standard meatball, then this book is not for you. But if you want to try something new, I highly recommend this book.
Molto Italiano is a winner!.......2007-08-16
You're going to have fun with this book...it is colorful, illustrative, detailed and above all, the recipes (and there are many of them) are simple to make!
The risottos are flavorful and Mario's recipe for Besciamela (Béchamel sauce) is the most tasty version I've ever had. Sure, several of the recipes are not for dieters but for those special occasions, date nights or weekends when you have more time, give these a try. This book is the perfect choice for those chefs who deem themselves experimental and are willing to step out of their cooking comfort zone every once in a while....enjoy!
Great book, a little complicated.......2007-07-27
The book is great, but it's not full of quick and easy dishes. Some of the appetizers are a little easier, but they still don't use run-of-the-mill ingredients. The pictures are beautiful and the instructions are clear and concise. The fish section is a little outside of what I would consider cooking, as most dishes serve the fish whole (with the head, fins, etc...).
The Best cook book that I have ever owned.......2007-05-13
This book is so Mario... simple easy recipes that resulting in spectacular dishes...they plate just like at Babbo... ok, well almost... I find myself reaching for this book every Friday for our Bocce Ball dinners... Molto Bene!
'Molto' indeed!.......2007-04-05
Caveat: This book is NOT for those who aren't already comfortable in the kitchen or willing to have a go at something more complicated. This book is NOT primarily for those looking to whip up a quick 'Italian dish' after work. Yes, this book is weighty....but yes, this book is VERY worth it if you are looking to take your basics to the next level. I adore that fact Mario uses the authentic ITALIAN names for the dishes. It's evidant Mario's book references from his restaurants, but that's what I enjoy about it. It's full of easy to read recipes divided nicely into workable sections, and it also includes photos OF THE FOOD. This book, in my opinion, is a MUST for those of us who LIKE spending time in the kitchen.....those who have time to put towards creating quite authentic dishes that are guaranteed to please.
Book Description
From ABC White House correspondent Martha Raddatz, the story of a brutal forty-eight-hour firefight that conveys in harrowing detail the effects of war not just on the soldiers but also on the families waiting back at home.
In April 2004, soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division were on a routine patrol in Sadr City, Iraq, when they came under surprise attack. Over the course of the next forty-eight hours, 8 Americans would be killed and more than 70 wounded. Back home, as news of the attack began filtering in, the families of these same men, neighbors in Fort Hood, Texas, feared the worst. In time, some of the women in their circle would receive "the call"-the notification that a husband or brother had been killed in action. So the families banded together in anticipation of the heartbreak that was certain to come.
The firefight in Sadr City marked the beginning of the Iraqi insurgency, and Martha Raddatz has written perhaps the most riveting account of hand-to-hand combat to emerge from the war in Iraq. This intimate portrait of the close-knit community of families Stateside-the unsung heroes of the military -distinguishes The Long Road Home from other stories of modern warfare, showing the horror, terror, bravery, and fortitude not just of the soldiers who were wounded and killed but also of the wives and children whose lives now are forever changed.
Customer Reviews:
Thanks .......2007-09-29
Thank you i got the book today and have read a little bit of it .. it got here before i thought it would so thank you
Long Road Home is a quick read........2007-09-24
Martha Raddatz does a good job of making you experience an episode in Iraq from the viewpoint of the soldiers. She lets them tell the story. Perhaps it would have been good to include more of her viewpoint or some corollary material but it is fine book as it is written and portrays an important story in this horrible war.
PHENOMENAL.......2007-09-20
I don't ever write reviews on here but this is one of the best books I've ever read. Written from many different points of views between Iraq and the United States, it pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading. I have told all of my family and friends (and a few random people in the bookstore) they must read this book. it truely is phenomenal and makes me cry and support the soldiers and their families so much.
'Long Road Home' - remarkable view of War on Terror .......2007-09-03
The 'Long Road Home' captures a side to the War on Terror that Americans, or anyone for that matter, rarely glimpse.
Author and journalist Martha Raddatz takes us into the hearts and minds of some of America's sons (and their families) on one of the toughest days in modern military history. We witness a 'from top to bottom' look at how Soldiers, from the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, respond in a series of deadly desperate circumstances - outmanned, outgunned and surrounded. The day - 4 April 2004, aptly became known as Black Sunday - in Iraq.
This is one of those rare insights, through the eyes of those who fought and died ...those who fought and lived ...and those who still fight each day with their demons. Martha Raddatz honored the Soldiers and families of the 1st Cavalry in this deeply moving record of what happened one day in April 2004.
Clearly, she takes the story telling to a higher plain. She's not one to embrace low-hanging fruit of political ax-grinding and blame-game antics. She keeps faith, in writing this book, with the valor of the Soldiers and families she introduces to us.
A harrowing war story, it is also filled with indelible marks of hope, conviction, compassion, determination and courage. Our family was deeply and forever affected by the events of this day of days. 'The Long Road Homes' signature is the telling of many Soldier's experiences - among them, my own son, Corporal Loren Haller.
Simply excellent.......2007-08-24
This is a wonderfully written and compelling book about a fierce battle in Sadr City, Iraq. One of the best war-time books I've ever read.
Book Description
Natural swimming pools rely on the correct balance of plants and microorganisms to clean and purify the water. They are a safe place for children to play and birds to drink, and are a dramatic example of ecological design, combining the natural and man-made worlds while creating beauty. These pools offer enjoyment not only in the warm months, but during winter, too, when they can be used for ice skating and other activities. Often the focal point of a garden, natural swimming pools blend into their environments, flowing into the surroundings with plants and rocks.They reflect the changing seasons and they enhance the environment naturally. They are easy and less costly to maintain than chemical pools, providing significant savings in water. Chlorine and other common pool chemicals are hazardous to human health and are not used. This book is a necessary resource for anyone interested in having a natural swimming pool and shows how a natural swimming pool system works, as well as the environmental, health, and safety benefits it offers. Drawings, diagrams, and charts cover planning, design, biology, materials, construction, planting, and maintenance. Over 300 beautiful color pictures feature projects that will inspire you to have your own natural water garden where you can swim in harmony with nature at any time.
Customer Reviews:
Perfect book.......2007-09-04
Great book for all aspects of creating a variety of green/natural pools. Beautiful pictures and good illustrations and copy to help in decision making.
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK .......2007-08-22
Simply put this book is a MUST READ for anyone intersted in any aspect of Sustainable and Ecological Design. It should be read right along with Permaculture by Mollison, the Passive Solar Handbook by Mazria, Rainwater Harvesting by Lancaster, and ecocities to Living Machines by Todd. Even if you aren't specifically interested in making a swimming pool (which you will be after reading it) the insights into the workings of hydro-ecologies and how to design natural systems are invaluable!
If you aren't interested in the whole range of sustainability but just this particular topic of pool design then this book is STILL A MUST READ. If you're an ecologist who wants to make a pool, or a pool designer who wants to do something ecological this book provides an excellent layman's understanding of ecological design, with good technical and artistic advice for how to do it, and good technical and artistic advice for swimming pool construction.
I would still advise you to also purchase the book Poolscaping as a companion to this one.
This is an all around excellent book buy it now.
Beautiful photos; strange text.......2007-08-01
Thumbing through the book will make you want to move to Austria or Germany where beautiful "natural" pools are somehat established. Why is the U. S. so environmentally backward? Unfortunately, the text is awkwardly translated at times such that one has to struggle to figure out what is meant with limited success.The assumption is that one is swimming only in the summer, but in California we may want to swim year round. Useful especially since so little information is available. Can't understand why the publisher didn't insist on professional proofreading.Buy it for inspiration, or wait for the next edition, or wait for one more applicable to your area. It does provide info in the back about two U.S resources, one in CA.
Very complete book .......2007-02-24
Is the book i need for learning on natural swimming pool. Now i can make my own pool
Surprisingly COMPREHENSIVE!.......2007-02-09
This large sized book covered the subject exceedingly well in lots of color photos with explanations and, more importantly, in lots of diagrams and nuts and bolts descriptions. I only read sections here and there but what I did read clearly indicated to me that you could actually use this book to build a natural swimming pool. At the least, you could definitely make a solid decision whether or not you could build or would want to build such a pool on your property. These pools are basically like salt water aquariums in that you have to make a biosphere and monitor it. In some ways it's not as easy as it sounds but also not as hard as it sounds. However, start up takes time and it can be tricky to finally reach environmental stabilization. I am not going to build a natural pool but I still found this book very useful. At the end this book are MANY pages of water plants and trees recommended for certain types of water areas. There are zone maps of the US included for reference. So even if you just want to make a little ornamental fountain in a big pot on the patio deck or a pond or a bog out back, this book has a VERY comprehensive set of plant lists you will find exceedingly useful. 18 pages of them. Categories include Submerged Plants, Floating Plants, Floating Leaved Plants, Shallow Marginal Plants, Deep Marginal Plants, Moisture-loving Plants, Bog/Marsh Plants, Waterside Plats-Trees & Shrubs, Ferns, Grasses Sedges Reeds and Rushes. Botanical and Common Names are listed along with height, spread, water depth, flower color, flower period, foliage, position, comments and plant zone. It's the best I've seen in any book so far.
Product Description
FROM THE BACK COVER: Are you caught up in the financial thinking of the last century? That's when we learned to buy a home and pay it off as quickly as possible. It made sense in the conditions that existed back then. It doesn't make sense today. How would you like to: 1) Safely leverage and compound assets you didn't realize you had? 2) Become your own bank and build family wealth? 3) Pile up stock market gains, but never take the losses? 4) Lock-in a rich, secure and carefree retirement? 5) Transform the IRS into your wealth-building partner? 6) Create real wealth, empowering you to help others? 7) Get to your existing retirement funds with little or no taxes? 8) Leave a fortune to your heirs? STOP SITTING ON YOUR ASSETS make these strategies crystal clear -- and you can apply them with security and ease. If you own a home, you owe it to yourself to know about today's new reality: You are sitting on a potential fortune that can safely and confidently be put to work to build a massively abundant financial future. A future so rich that -- before STOP SITTING ON YOUR ASSETS -- could have only existed in your dreams.
Customer Reviews:
This book has been done before, called Missed Fortune 101.......2007-09-22
Sad to see people trying to ride the coattails of another book and rip it off so blatantly. The orignal book called Missed Fortune 101 introduces the world to these strategies. Well Stop Sitting comes in and basically changes a word here and a word there to try and be different. For example Missed Fortune 101 talks about "going down the highway of life with one foot on the gas and one on the brake" Ms. Snow talks about going down the highway with 4 flat tires and a broken windshield...Come on!
Read Missed Fortune 101 Missed Fortune 101: A Starter Kit to Becoming a Millionaireto read the real story first, Read Stop Sitting for a rehash, if you like that kind of stuff...
I know I'm gonna write a book called Elbib and have it start out with a guy named Aaron and a girl named Emily who live in the jungle, then get kicked out of the jungle for eating the forbidden vegetable...
Looking for answers.......2007-08-19
I, too, was in awe after reading this book. The ideas are presented in a simple, easy to understand way, and it seems to me to be very logical. I'm no financial genius, rather a former math teacher and the numbers seem to work on paper. But, really, after the awe has worn off and reality hits, what's the catch? This seems too easy. If this idea has been in existance for several years, then why hasn't it caught on with the "masses?" Why don't more financial advisors recommend this? Is there something I'm missing or does it really work that simply and just nobody knows about it? Somebody....give me the real scoop!
Very, Very dangerous book.......2007-08-02
As I began to read this book, my first challenge was to get over the unearned arrogance of the author. Marion Snow may have a "scientific mind" and have a little experience in the mortgage industry selling people mortgages, but she is no financial planner.
The book is absolutely full of errors and misrepresentations of how some very complex financial products work. She literally demonizes financial planning professionals who have spent years of their lives helping clients and studying the ever changing landscape of both financial planning, estate planning, as well as the Internal Revenue Code.
Some of her VERY dangerous errors are as follows:
First, nearly all of her calculations discuss saving taxes at a 30 or 33% tax rate. While this sounds good, the average American is nowhere near the 33% tax bracket. The 33% tax bracket does not begin for most married Americans until they have over $195,000 of annual income.
Secondly, the insurance products that she describe do not function as she indicates. On page 110, she casually mentions that her insurance strategy will work as "long as you are careful not to deplete your cash value." She does not mention that the "tax advantaged policy loans" she advocates are 1)charged interest by the insurance company, and 2) taxable if the policy lapses in later years. Additionally, she neglects to mention that Universal life policies have increasing costs which will cause them to lapse using her strategy.
Third, all of her calculations are "assumed and hypothetical." They do not address real numbers. About halfway though the book she indicates she "got her insurance license" just to verify her findings. Unfortunately, an insurance license is viewed by most credentialed financial planners with the same reverence that training wheels are viewed by Olympic bicycle racers...
Fourth, her mortage strategies advocate taking illegal tax deductions - the tax deductions she describes are not allowable to the degree the advocates, in the tax brackets she uses as examples. The deductions "phase out" well before a taxpayer can use them to the degree she illustrates. Simply put - the numbers are INCORRECT.
Ms. Snow should spend a few years in school and learn what she is talking about - and a few more years working with real world financial clients -before being arrogant enough to throw stones at those who do.
She is flat wrong in many areas and will hurt a great many people who take her cutesy approach to financial planning seriously.
Jon - CFP, ChFC
What's wrong with Stop Sitting on Your Assets.......2007-07-29
This book uses fuzzy math to reach predetermined conclusions.
No only is the math flawed, but what's worse is that the book ignores the tax code and 264(a)3 specifically (which dramatically affects the concepts discussed in his books).
There is no such thing as a tax free, money management free, expense free "side fund" as she discusses in this book.
It is clear that the author does not understand how money grows in the real world and does not understand life insurance (which is ironic since the book is about building wealth using indexed equity life insurance).
Of all the books in the marketplace which discuss Equity Harvesting, this is by far the worst one.
Why put down similar strategies?.......2007-07-28
This book basically says the same thing that the best selling book and the author that first introduced this concept says. It's very unfortunate that people that are teaching and discussing viable financial strategies feel they need to become so hysterical about putting down other people who recommend the same concept. I find the information in this book to be valid and certainly an excellent financial strategy for anyone who has home equity and the discipline not to spend it on consumables, if separated.
However, hysterical badgering of similar concepts makes me feel uncomfortable and drives me away from this presentation.
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Martha Stewart
| Expert Advice
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Good Things for Organizing (Good Things with Martha Stewart Living)
Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook
You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management
Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again
Everyday Food: Great Food Fast
When the first issue of Martha Stewart Living was published in 1990, I could not have begun to anticipate how wide-ranging our readers' homekeeping concerns would be. Since then, we have discovered new solutions to age-old problems, brought in experts to advise us on very specific questions about very specific?c concerns, and experimented with all the new (and not so new) home-care products. Over the years, I've brought these lessons home with me, too, which has made me more organized and made my homes better cared for and maintained.
