He Shall Thunder in the Sky

Amazon.com

He Shall Thunder in the Sky completes an internal quartet (which also includes Seeing a Large Cat, The Ape Who Guards the Balance, and The Falcon at the Portal) within Elizabeth Peters's legendary series starring Amelia Peabody, the intrepid Edwardian Egyptologist, her husband, Emerson, and her extended family. The quartet comprises not only Amelia's diary of those years but also parts of a mysterious "Manuscript H," an omniscient viewpoint that allows a glimpse into the minds of Amelia's son--the dashing and brilliant Ramses--and her ward, Nefret Forth, as they mature into adults with their own secrets and agendas. The Falcon at the Portal left readers hanging impatiently in the enormous rift that book's events gouged between Ramses and Nefret, both madly in love but unrelentingly proud.

The winter of 1914-15 finds the Peabody-Emerson family back in Cairo--now under British martial law, with the Suez Canal under constant threat of attack from the Ottoman Empire. The city's young Englishmen are rushing to enlist, except for Ramses, who is widely scorned for his pacifism. Yet Amelia and Emerson soon find out that Ramses is (literally) playing a mysterious and potentially explosive part in the conflict between Egyptian nationalists and the British authorities, for reasons both political and familial. Nefret, for her part, is still running a health clinic for the city's fallen women and trying to avoid the attentions of Percy, Amelia's odious nephew. In the meantime, the Emersons' excavations at Giza reveal an unexpected treasure so remarkable that the uneasy Amelia immediately senses the fine hand of Sethos, the Master Criminal (who through many previous books has alternately plagued her and protested his boundless affection for her), at work. The climax and denouement are entirely worth the price of admission--tying up a decade's worth of loose strings and explaining some nagging points so subtle that less observant readers might easily have missed them. It's Peters's great gift that in the grand scheme of things, no clues are wasted. Her plotting is wonderfully complex and intriguing, and it fits seamlessly into the detailed historical background she builds so carefully. It may have taken years for her to complete this four-part dance (she promises more Amelia Peabody mysteries in the future), but she's charmed us right out of our dancing slippers along the way. --Barrie Trinkle

Book Description

A terrible conflict looms. A long-simmering love affair is resolved. A dastardly plot twists like a serpent writhing in the desert sun. There is no escaping the onrushing hurricane that now threatens the Emersons and their world -- so Amelia plunges right into it.

Download Description

Trouble is brewing in Egypt at the close of 1914 and no one will escape the fury of the tempest to come. With the world around them at war, Amelia Peabody and her husband Radcliffe Emerson have returned to Cairo for another season of archaeological excavation -- despite the increasing danger of an attack on the Suez Canal and on Egypt itself.A terrible conflict looms. A long-simmering love affair is resolved. A dastardly plot twists like a serpent writhing in the desert sun. There is no escaping the onrushing hurricane that now threatens the Emersons and their world -- so Amelia plunges right into it.

Customer Reviews:

Best So Far!.......2007-05-05

This Amelia Peabody book was the best (and most satisfactory) so far! Usually, I find I get annoyed with the switching of Amelia/Emerson storyline and Ramses/Nefret storyline, however in this book it was a perfect blend.
The relationship between Ramses and Nefret is wonderful, if slightly awkward (which, considering "Falcon at the Portal," is to be expected). Also, this book included many on everyone's favorite (and not so favorite) characters. And of course, Amelia is truly amazing.
For those who were disappointed at "Falcon's" disapppointing end, He Shall Thunder in the Sky is your cure.

Fun, mystery, set in early 20th Century Egypt,, about Egyptology.......2007-03-24

Amelia Peabody Series: NOT set in ancient Egypt. The author holds a PH.D in Egyptianology, and her love of the subject shines through her entire huge series. If you don't want to start at the beginning of this huge series read: 1. Seeing a Large Cat
2.The Ape Who Guards the Balance 3. The Falcon at the Portal 4.He Shall Thunder in the Sky. These four CAN stand alone. They are set in the late 1890's-early 1900's ,exciting reads, about a family of Egyptianologists who are searching for lost tombs at the time when many of them, and other artifacts, were being discovered. Each story is also a mystery, and a good one.

Finally we get some answers as well as some resolutions to issues........2005-09-22

I too am an Amelia Peabody fan. I absolutely love this series, and this book is a great addition to it. In it we finally get some very outstanding questions answered, and we also get some unresolved issues resolved. But the thing that I enjoyed the most about this particular book is that we get a closer look at Emerson! Yes, Amelia and all her troupe are also there, thank heavans, but getting a closer look at Emerson finally is an added bonus. We actually see a little of him as a young man and we get an understanding of how he became the man he did. Reading these books is such a deligbt, and the characters seem like old friends! And there is lots of heart-stopping action to keep you turning the pages. This book is set at the beginning of the First World War, and we also get a bit of an insight of some of the dangerous games carried out on the Egyptian front. I hope that future books will embellish on this a little. I certainly can't wait to read the next book.

An Enjoyable Read!!.......2005-08-03

This book answered many questions from previous books such as Sethos's idenity and how long will it take for Nefret and Ramses to get together. It was such a relief after the heartwrenching events of The falcon at the Portal. Amelia is as fascinating and hilarious as ever. I am glad that I startes at the begininning of the series because it is wonderful to see all the characters grow. My only worry is that Amelia and Emerson are getting old!!

Great book, my favorite so far.......2005-07-23

If you have been reading this series this is a great read. But do not start with this one, nor try to read this one with out reading "Falcon..." first! I've just started reading the Amelia stories this summer, and have read them in order--if I did not know this was not the last book, it easily could have been. It wrapped up a lot of the loose ends that had been hanging for quite some time. This book is my favorite so far, I cannot imagine any I will like quite as well.

I've been reading some of the other reviews and have noticed many who are "tired" of both Amelia's and Emerson's overbearing ways and of their always being right. Read your history, they are the Personification of British gentry of that era. Read the books a bit closer and you'll see how Ms. Peters has written it with a great deal of humor, they really are quite funny. After reading these books all summer, I find Amelia quite refreshing, and a pretty good roll model for women today, she sure knows how to handle her husband, and she definitely did not need Nanny 911!

Average customer rating:

He Shall Thunder in the Sky

Manufacturer: recorded books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

He Shall Thunder in the Sky (Amelia Peabody Mystery)

Average customer rating:

He Shall Thunder in the Sky (Amelia Peabody Mystery)
Elizabeth Peters
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

Product Description

An Amelia Peabody Mystery. This is the 12th Amelia Peabody mystery, opens in 1914. As the tides of war rise, Egypt is threatened by attacks. Espionage abounds, pulling in several members of the Peabody Emerson household even as they embark on a new archeological season. Amidst a growing tangle of disguises and deceptions, Emerson's nemesis, the Master Criminal Appears. As increasing perils threaten the Peabody Emersons, their expedition and Egypt, help arrives from a most unlikely source.

He Shall Thunder in the Sky: The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 12 (Unabridged)

Average customer rating:

He Shall Thunder in the Sky: The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 12 (Unabridged)
Elizabeth Peters
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B0002P0FBM

Average customer rating:

He Shall Thunder in the Sky (The Amelia Peabody series, Book 12)

Manufacturer: Recorded Books, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: 0788761765

Product Description

In her best-selling Amelia Peabody mysteries, author Elizabeth Peters has created an award-winning mixture of vivid archeological detail, finely-tuned suspense, and witty romance. Peters mysteries are so irresistible, The Washington Post Book World says, the public library needs to keep her books under lock and key. This, the 12th Amelia Peabody mystery, opens in 1914. As the tides of war rise, Egypt is threatened by attacks. Espionage abounds, pulling in several members of the Peabody Emerson household even as they embark on a new archeological season. Amidst a growing tangle of disguises and deceptions, Emersons nemesis, the Master Criminal, appears. As increasing perils threaten the Peabody Emersons, their expedition, and Egypt, help arrives from a most unlikely source. He Shall Thunder in the Sky is a treasureabsorbing, intriguing, and highly entertaining. And the surprising resolution is one that leaves even the unflappable Amelia thunderstruck.

Amazon.com

Aristocratic assassin Vera Devereaux takes on a routine job of killing a politician, and, counter to custom, is promptly arrested for the murder as part of an ingenious scheme. Her rebellious debutante niece, who takes after Vera in many ways, rushes to rescue her and becomes enmeshed by the local revolutionary movement and its charismatic leader. This is the first of a series, but the story is complete. Ignore the said-isms and shaky social premises and enjoy the fast-moving plot. Groell has a wicked eye for farcical timing. If she tightens her control of language, she will give us some very funny fantasy of manners modelled on this one.

Customer Reviews:

An alternate world adventure novel.......2002-06-11

This novel starts out somewhat slow, but the pace picks up as the plot develops. It is a tale of political intrigue and assassins on an alternate world in a medieval setting, with some amount of magic added in. The story skips back and forth between a large cast of characters including the main assassin, the double-dealing government minister who hires her, the leader of the rebels, a mage in the desert, other assassins and government ministers, the main assassin's niece and her friend, etc. The novel periodically skips back in time to bring one character or another up to date.

The assassin is hired to eliminate a decadent First Minister, but the job turns out to have complications. Double crosses are the rule of the day, and bodies start to accumulate. There are agents betraying agents, a bugged office, stolen secret papers, dungeons and torture, truth spells, etc., as the Assassins Guild tries to even accounts with the main villain. Sometimes people seem to trip over each other's feet. Don't assume that the assassin is unarmed because she is naked (big mistake), and if she is running loose it can be your worst nightmare.

A great find.......2001-01-12

I loved this book. It was refreshing, original and interesting. You feel like you can reach out and touch the characters, they are so realistic. You also want to get to know them and find out what happens to them. It is quite thought-provoking and poses some new and very good ideas, enough to keep me thinking about them after I put it down. For a first book, it's unbelievably good, even if it has a couple of slight flaws (which didn't detract from my enjoyment). And there are more books in the series, and they are even better. Definitely grab this one.

WOW - Riveting Read.......2000-11-23

I love this book! It's so good I planned to read the next one. I'll be searching for it. Jen and Thib are great characters and the story line twists and turns with the best.

Excellent book.......2000-02-29

"Anvil of the Sun" is an exceptional book that stayed in my thoughts for weeks afterwards- enough so that I searched everywhere to see if there was a sequel out yet. With a gripping plot and interesting characters, this is a must-read. I couldn't put it down.

Very disappointing, buy it used if at all.......1998-09-15

I would give this book a pass had I to do it over again. The characters are more annoying than anything and so inconsistent its pathetic. Come on, the GREATEST assassin in the world (we are told over and over) is trapped that easily? Give me a break!! Also, the 20th century technology imported into the setting via "the mages": electricity, alarm systems, etc. as well as oil discovered in the desert is a very lame plot device and rather unoriginal if you ask me. All in all I was very disappointed.

SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURES - Volume 2, number 4 - March 1958: Vengeance of the Space Armadas; The Scarlet Sun Rises; Destination Unknown; Big Sam Was My Friend; Sykes

Average customer rating:

SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURES - Volume 2, number 4 - March 1958: Vengeance of the Space Armadas; The Scarlet Sun Rises; Destination Unknown; Big Sam Was My Friend; Sykes
Larry T. (editor) (Calvin M. Knox; Charles V. de Vet; Christopher Anvil; Harlan Ellison; Stanley R. Lee) Shaw
Manufacturer: Royal Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HXLDKG

The Steel, The Mist, and the Blazing Sun

Average customer rating:

The Steel, The Mist, and the Blazing Sun
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J5JR2S

Average customer rating:

Conflicting Futures
Democracy's Last Stand
Solid entry in the post-apocalypse category
Truncated plot
Dated but still a good read

The Steel, the Mist, and the Blazing Sun

Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0441785700

Customer Reviews:

Conflicting Futures.......2006-05-06

The Steel, the Mist, and the Blazing Sun (1980) is a post-apocalypse novel. Two hundred years previously, the USA and the Soviet Union had bombarded each other with nuclear weapons. In addition, the USA had created another weapon in orbit that is still active.

Arakal is the elective king of the Wesdem O'Cracys (or at least the east coast of America). As mentioned by another reviewer, in a previous story -- published in Analog as "Ideology Counts" -- Arakal and his command group have repeatedly defeated the Russian Ground Forces in America. He has also bloodlessly annexed the adjacent Russian colony and thereby acquired all the armed vessels of the Russian High Seas fleet.

In this novel, Arakal is now trying to reunify the various O'Cracy countries. He has already allied with the people of New Kebeck (Quebec). He would like to contact the west coast of America, but the lingering radioactivity is too high and the craters are too overlapping for passage. Therefore, he is planning to take back the European O'Cracys -- Old Brunswick (Britain) and Old Kebeck (France) -- from Russia; he is not yet aware of the former status of West Germany in the Old O'Cracys.

Unfortunately for Arakal, Russia has built an espionage apparatus -- called "S" for Security -- that extends even to the former Russian colony in America. S has listening devices in many places and agents almost everywhere. When the colony was annexed, S began to listen to American conversations in that area.

As Arakal and 36,000 of his troop head to Europe in the captured Russian ships, S-One -- the head of S -- learns of their plans almost as fast as they are made. When they reach France, a pretty nurse (provided by S) joins the Americans to vamp her way to Arakal. Then groups of partisans mysteriously begin to appear in the American camp.

Meanwhile, American engineers are exploring an Old American facility that is well preserved, although personnel therein were killed by radiation during the nuclear holocaust. It is a treasure trove of old records. Moreover, it contains two protective containers and within each is a strange vessel that looks like a hovercraft.

The novel rapidly coalesces into a conflict between Arakal and S-One. The Russians have overwhelming superiority in weapons and troops, but the Americans have questioning minds. Time and again, Arakal does not make an expected decision, but instead takes another path.

Although the author does not write blood and gut stories, this novel does have moments of violent action. Nonetheless, the story focuses on the impressions of the protagonist rather than the violence per se. It definitely puts the reader in the character's mind during such moments.

Although this novel is outdated, it presents some interesting ideas. The equivalent of S may still come into existence, but as an American organization rather than Russian. Of course, any new publication of this work should include the missing prequel.

Highly recommended for Anvil fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of supreme command and straight thinking.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Democracy's Last Stand.......2006-03-15

In 1983, I went to the grocery store with my Mom and I saw this book sitting on the shelf. I was immediately captivated by the stunning cover art by Walter Velez depicting a lone poncho'd soldier brandishing an automatic weapon standing in front of a weathered American flag punctuated with holes and staked into the dunes of some desolate post-apocalyptic wasteland with the structural remains of a destroyed civilization in the distance. It was still one year before James Cameron would unleash his unforgettable vision of the Future War apocalypse upon the world with The Terminator but that image had a profound effect on me for its rich political symbolism that haunts me to this day. Ironically, I never had a chance to read the book after I bought it, but it had remained in my possession ever since.

Now, some 23 years later, this book has finally called out to me and perhaps the timing is right. I'm sure that had I read it when I was in 5th grade through more innocent eyes I would have enjoyed it for its linear good-old-fashioned Good Guys vs. Bad Guys comic book science fiction flare and Cold War overtones, but as a disillusioned American adult, there is something far more appealing about this book on a subtextual level that can perhaps only be interpreted from the perspective of a post-9/11 America. There is no doubt that this book resonates as a product of the Cold War era and its sublime themes of American Restoration somewhat akin to David Brin's The Postman but its messages are just as important now as perhaps the author, Christopher Anvil, may have been attempting to convey then.

The story follows Arakal and his followers - the Wesdem O'Cracy's - the last remnants of the former United States of America some 200 years following a nuclear holocaust. As expected, civilization has been almost completely decimated and technology thrust back to an almost pre-industrial state. The Russians are still our mortal enemies and the age-old conflict between Democracy and Communism has ravaged on with conventional weaponry in a post-war arms race to rebuild and reclaim former territories of political influence and the seemingly Luddite opposition of S to control industrial progress and prevent another such future holocaust from happening all over again. Soviet General Brusilov under the directorate of S-One leads the Russ forces to counter a pre-emptive Western European strike by the O'Cracy's in a bold attempt to secure a tactical military advantage. We are once again the rebellious underdogs in a manner not seen since the Colonial days and the chieftan Arakal, General Slagiron and the descendants of our American ancestors must make a final stand to preserve free-thinking [Wes]tern [Dem]O'Cracy for which it stood.

Anvil spins a clever and enjoyable yarn, but it is fascinating to compare its Cold War inspired themes as an examination of the contemporary post-Cold War America we live in today where the definitions of Patriotism have become dilluted and the imperialistic foreign policy of American capitalist government has dominated throughout the globe and the once mighty communist tyranny of the former Soviet Union has fallen to our western influence. Turning this story on its head, Arakal and his followers can almost be construed as Americans in the purist sense as the preservers of our forefather's legacy and ideals of government that have become perverted by the impunity of our current administration's edicts on foreign policy, the Patriot Act, and invasive military occupations throughout the Middle East. Brusilov and the Russ take on an almost quasi-like personification of the America we have become fighting against the idealism of our former selves... the disparate freedom fighters of Arakal and the Wesdem O'Cracy's as the personification of the true patriotic American fighting spirit I seem to recall from my innocent youth during the Cold War when Americans were generally regarded as the "Good Guys" and the communist Russians were distinctly regarded as the "Bad Guys" and the stalemate of a nuclear standoff between our two Super-Powers kept the nations of the world in check. The Steel, the Mist, and the Blazing Sun stands the test of time as a lost work of science fiction history that deserves to be re-published for a new generation of so-called Americans to discover and to ask themselves the true meaning of free-thinking Democracy and what it truly means to be an American.

Solid entry in the post-apocalypse category.......2005-05-09

I first read this book shortly after it came out, and I liked it so much I've hung on to it ever since. It is pitched at a high-school comprehension level, but the ending is both philosophically and practically tidy - a way forward even for we who never suffered through the horrors of a nuclear war. But maybe we will have to rediscover an Edwardian political simplicity to find that path, as Arakal and his cabinet do in this book. Certainly the justification for the enforced stasis of the Soviets in this book is sound if only on an Earthly level.

By the way, I never buy into those books that project so complete a breakdown after a nuclear war that books and libraries don't survive. I read the studies - while a complete war would kill billions, most of the deaths would be due to systems breakdowns and not fallout or nuclear winter. People might fall ill and starve, but things would survive better.

Truncated plot.......2004-11-16

I find it inexplicable that this edition omits the first part of the story, which was published in Analog as "Ideology Counts" and introduced Arakal, General Brusilov and the rest. Taking them up in media res could easily confuse readers who did not have the background laid out gradually.

Dated but still a good read.......2000-09-29

Written by one of Campbell's Analog "golden age" authors, this is a tale of US/Russian conflict that continues in the remnants of civilization. It is good old fashioned space opera-a little neive and dated but full of action with a sprinkling of humor. This story has an "aw shucks", hillbilly flavor, that is a nice constrast to many of the "angst" ridden novels written today.

To my mind, this is the least of Anvil's works. His Horsip (Pandora's Planet)and Space Patrol (Strangers in Paradise and Worlord's World) stories are much more enjoyable and would appeal to readers of James Schmidt, H. Beam Piper, or Sharon Lee/Steven Miller.

Average customer rating:
Anvil of the Sun
Anne Lesley Groell
Manufacturer: New Amer Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000UV024I

Average customer rating:
The Steel, The Mist, and the Blazing Sun
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PCJEDM

Average customer rating:
The Steel, the Mist, and the Blazing Sun
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PC9VFS

Average customer rating:
The Winter of the World Trilogy: The Anvil in the Ice + The Forge in the Forest + The Hammer in the Sun
Michael Scott Rohan
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000V9SQC4

Average customer rating:

Wonderful motivator

Probably the only running reference you'll need

Great "NO-NONSENSE" training concepts

Great Resource!!!

Good value

The Runner's Handbook : The Bestselling Classic Fitness Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Runners (2nd rev Edition)
Bob Glover , Jack Shepherd , and Shelly-lynn Florence Glover
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Running & Jogging | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Running & Jogging | Individual Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
Track & Field | Other Team Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Competitive Runner's Handbook: The Bestselling Guide to Running 5Ks through Marathons

The Complete Book Of Running For Women

The Beginning Runner's Handbook: The Proven 13-Week Walk-Run Program

The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer

The Courage To Start: A Guide To Running for Your Life

Accessories:

Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series

ASIN: 0140469303

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful motivator.......2007-10-07

I will not bother going on and on about the book, since there is already such an overwhelmingly positive collection of reviews.

Suffice it to say, this book really kick-started by love of running, and was filled with everything the beginner needs to know.

While it could use illustrations for good stretches, for example, it is still the classic keystone in any runners library, and strongly recommended!

Probably the only running reference you'll need.......2007-06-04

If you have any sort of interest in running, I can't recommend any book more enthusiastically than this one. Although it may seem strange to get a book about running--I mean, what is there to it, right? But it turns out there are a couple of good reasons to pick up a book on running: one, it's motivating; two, there is a ton of useful information crammed into this book. It will be the only running reference you'll ever really need.

With over 700 pages, this isn't a lightweight book. It truly is about as comprehensive as you can imagine, and will serve most runners more than sufficiently. It is an oddly engaging read, sucking you into the world of running (or jogging) while giving you all sorts of information you never even thought you could need. Everything the beginner could need is covered, from the minutae of day-to-day running (track etiquitte, cold weather clothing, eating, and on and on) to larger topics like training plans and moving into competitive racing. The book will take you all the way through intermediate running--which Glover defines as regular sustained running, maybe with an occasional race thrown in. If you are already an experienced or regular runner, you will probably find this less useful than the true beginner. However, no one but the most experienced coach would be unable to learn something from this book. Just be aware that it is geared towards the recreational runner; if you are looking for a reference specific to competitive running, you should look elsewhere.

There are 42 chapters in the book, divided into 12 major sections: Fitness, Getting Fit, Training, Racing, Equipment, Food and Drink for Health and Energy, The Running Environment, Running Lifestyle, Special Runners, Illness and Injury, Running Form and Supplemental Training, and Wellness. The three chapters in the Fitness section give you basic information about what exercise and fitness are and why all of us ought to get out there and move a bit more. The third chapter outlines various ways to measure your own current level of fitness, providing a useful set of technique that you can come back to as your level of fitness improves (with your running, of course). The chapters in the next continue along this same vein, first dealing with getting started on a fitness regime (rather relaxed or intense) and then keeping yourself motivated enough to stick with it. The principles of exercise are outlined, with an entire chapter devoted to the important three-part model: warm-up, run, and cool-down. The last chapter in the Getting Fit section is called "The Fit Prescription: How Often? How Fast? How Far?" This is an important chapter, since beginners do often struggle with finding the right balance, either overdoing it and burning out, or not working hard enough to get the desired results. The last section in the book, Wellness, goes into more depth on all of these ideas. The chapters cover a holistic approach to health and fitness, the cardiovascular aspects of running, stress and weight management. The final chapter, "Running Inside Your Head", deals more emotional aspects of running: how it can help with depressions, anxiety, self-esteem, and creative thinking, and finally moving onto the infamous "runner's high". It's an interesting read.

Parts III and IV take the ideas of the last chapter of Section II and run with them. In part III, Training, you will learn how to keep a good runner's diary and find three running training programs: beginner's, advanced beginner's (for more running-experienced readers), and intermediate. Glover helps readers identify which program (and where in the program) they ought to begin. He also convincingly argues for patience in building up ability before trying to progress. Then in Section Iv, he talks to both those who may be interested in moving into competitive running, and those who may just like more structured goals. Racing isn't always about competition, for instance. So he addresses both frequent 5k races and marathons, giving the reader many ideas of why they may want to participate in either. Finally, there is a chapter on the importance of speed training, which will be useful to any runner who wants to learn to run faster, for whatever reason. Part XI, Running Form and Supplemental Training, gives four chapters with further training information, and serves as a great supplement to those who have mastered.

Three sections of the book deal with wider running lifestyle issues, including Part VI (Food and Drink for Health and Energy), Part VIII (Running Lifestyle), and Part X (Illness and Injury). The section on food and drink includes chapters on basic nutrition as relates to running, food and drink that serves as running-specific "fuel", and the importance on good hydration in running. The Running Lifestyle part covers safety, running while traveling, managing time (as in life in general, and working running in), and the importance of balancing running with life and work. Part X addresses two issues that we'd rather be able to ignore, but shouldn't . Illness is just a human thing, and sometimes it's best to not run--Glover will convince you whan that's the case. Injury is a similar issue, as we will inevitably get hurt at some point, and while we can sometimes work through things, more often than not we will be better served to allow ourselves to heal.

The remaining sections deal with more specific, and generally pragmatic, issues. Part V, Equipment, discusses running shoes and apparel and how to choose what is best for you. These obviously aren't going to give you extremely personalized information, but the important things for you to consider are all identified. You will feel much more confident the next time you go into a running shoe store. The Running Environment, Part VII, covers environmental issues, which are very import for runners. After all, most of the time, we're running outside. People tend to overdress for cold weather, and Glover gives numerous tips for avoiding this (and he will make you much more comfortable giving cold weather running a shot if you're still a bit intimidated). The chapter on hot weather running is also very important, andprovides readers with better ideas of how to manage hydration and exhaustion in uncomfortable climates. There is also a chapter on handling the unpredictability of weather in general. Finally, the ninth section offers four chapters on specific categories of runners: women runners (including an interesting history of women and running, health issues specific to women that may impact running, like osteoporosis, pregnancy, and menopause); older runners (covering the impact that agining in general can have on running as well as the benefits); runners with specific health or physical limitations (including topics such as chronic health conditions like asthma, arthritis, or diabetes, as well as other phsyical issues such as hearing and visual impairments); and younger (child) runners (covering both running with kids in strollers and health and safety issues specific to child runners, reminding us that "children are not minature adults").

As some of the other reviewers have alluded to, this is a strangely addictive and exciting book. You wouldn't think so (I certainly did not). But the writing is excellent, and a very nice balance between a packed informative tone and an amusing anecdotal style is maintained throughout. Glover knows how to motivate, and if you are like me, you will find yourself reading this entire book in a series of sizable chunks, and then going back later and rereading parts as your running experience expands. You've got to take some breaks to actually run, right? I can sum up my opinion of this book with one simple statement: if you are the least bit interested in running, buy this book and you will soon be a knowledgeable and active runner.

Great "NO-NONSENSE" training concepts.......2007-05-20

I bought this book about six weeks ago, and have been working my way through the routines for exactly 4 weeks as of this post. I have lost 14 lbs simply by following the directions, not pushing myself to injury, and using the proper equipment such as good running shoes and appropriate clothing. The book teaches running and fitness in a manner where most anyone, whom is willing to follow the directions, with the desire and self-determination to increase their fitness levels can see results. I can't say anything else cause the rest is pretty much covered in other user reviews. The book is inexpensive and worth every penny.

Great Resource!!!.......2007-05-15

The Runner's Handbook is a great resource for both the beginner and those of us who have been running for quite sometime (but not part of the elite group). Although I've had it for quite a while now, I constantly refer back to it especially for the nutritional information. I highly recommend this book.

Good value.......2007-03-28

The book is great, it answers most if not all of your questions. Helps you to start up, helps with smooth transition from couch potato to runner. And, most important, prevents you from many mistakes, injuries and wrongdoing.

Average customer rating:

Super

My favorite cookbook

Misleading title - good sounding recipes.

Well balanced complete meals

Quick from Scratch One-Dish Meals Cookbook
Food & Wine Magazine , Food , and Wine Magazine
Manufacturer: American Express Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0916103781

Book Description

It's a well-balanced, tasty dinner in a dish-the ultimate solution to how to produce a great meal in a short time. And they're all stylish and adventurous, a far cry from yesterday's dull stews. Fewer ports and pans, fewer dishes-but a delicious meal your friends and family will love. What could be better than a browned and bubbling Fusilli with Three Cheeses (fontina, mozzarella, and Parmesan) and Bell Pepper? Or swordfish sitting atop a fluffy mound of couscous, with a vinaigrette of chunky fresh plum tomatoes? A piquant South American chimichurri sauce is the perfect accompaniment to a grilled steak; black beans go alongside. And lots more, with cooking tips for such things as foolproof rice and adjusting the thickness of sauces

Customer Reviews:

Super.......2006-11-03

This cookbook has many easy and quick worldly recipes that taste great and are healthy too. Quick in the sense of: about an hour. Easy in the sense of: hard to mess up. I am an average cook and everything that I have made so far has come out tasting great. It is also a great solution for busy families who want to try something other than the "usual". The ingrediant lists can be intimidating, but in the end, simple.

This is a "one-dish" meal cookbook in the sense that you have your meat, veggies, starch all mixed together once you serve the meal. You may need more than "one pot" to get there though.

My favorite cookbook.......2006-08-18

Note that as one reviewer stated this isn't a one-pot cookbook, nor are the recipes for a single person. This is my favorite cookbook (I own about 15). The recipes are simple and I've enjoyed everything I've made from this book. There's a pork loin meal, that I've made on many occasions for friends and family, they all loved it. I appreciate that the focus of creating an entire meal versus a single dish. There are pictures for all the meals, which make the meal look quite enticing and have been that extra motivation in making a dish. The book is small, with around a 100 or so recipes, with a wide variety of ethnic dishes, that I find my self making over and over again.

Misleading title - good sounding recipes........2006-03-20

I thought this cookbook would include recipes that only required one pan to make, ie "one dish meals". Unfortunately, this is not the case. Some of these recipes require a fry pan, two bowls and a pot to make. There are some good sounding recipes in here, but most require 10-15 ingredients (some exotic) and so require some planning (going to the store) and preparation. I think I am probably their target audience - I enjoy cooking but I don't have a lot of time - but I think they missed their target with this book.

Well balanced complete meals.......2003-12-28

The author opens the book with a simple chart for creating your own totally balanced meals, with columns of suggested foods for starch, protein, veggies, and enhancers. Once you get into the suggested recipes, there are suggestions for rounding out the meal with wine or beer, etc. The recipes all look great and fairly easy without being too simplistic. Nice photos.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books