The Master of Rain

Amazon.com

Tom Bradby's third novel (though his first to be published in the U.S.) is a feverish work of historical noir, a labyrinthine thriller set in a vicious world where everyone--as in Bogart's Casablanca--has a reason for hiding. The year is 1926; the city is Shanghai, a swamp of organized crime, corruption, turf wars between British intelligence and street-level law enforcement, Communist sympathizers, and East European refugees from Bolshevik atrocities. Into this sweltering, cutthroat port city steps Richard Field, an idealistic policeman from Yorkshire looking to distance himself from a painful past. Ill-suited to Shanghai's heat and shocking violence, Field nevertheless throws himself into investigating the grisly murder of a Russian prostitute, the latest in a line of dead women who lived in the orbit of a powerful Chinese mobster. Slowed by official roadblocks, Field learns that the only man in his department he can trust is a tough Chicago detective, Caprisi, a touchstone of sanity even as Field loses his rookie head over another doomed Russian call girl.

Bradby, a seasoned correspondent for Britain's ITN television network, has obviously spent considerable time researching 1920s Shanghai. His feel for the city's Byzantine society and exotic textures is matched by his accessible vision of Shanghai as a junction of international fallout and internal intrigue. Less compelling, if not outright distracting, is Bradby's more contemporary emphasis on ghastly serial killings with a sex-crime edge. But in the end, the book's remarkable prose and density of experience are uniquely rewarding. --Tom Keogh

Book Description

Shanghai, 1926. A city glistening with decadence and rife with corruption--a humid, bustling society at the cultural crossroads of British civil servants, American gun runners, Russian princesses, and Chinese gangsters.

For Richard Field, a young Englishman new to the international police force, Shanghai represents a brave new world away from the past he is trying to escape. But his naiveté is quickly dashed when he is called to the scene of a brutal crime, in which a young Russian woman, Lena Orlov, has been found sadistically murdered in her bed. Field's idealistic instincts push him to investigate the case, but his attempts are met with apathy--then menace--from his colleagues. He begins to recognize that some cases in Shanghai are intended to remain unsolved, and, in a matter of days, he glimpses the murky depths that lurk beneath a luminous city.

Field's drive to find the murderer leads him to Lena's neighbor, Natasha Medvedev. A stunning beauty who fled her charmed life in tsarist Russia, Natasha escaped the Revolution but landed, like many of her counterparts, in a treacherous life in Shanghai. Natasha travels in an elite circle--one that orbits, Field knows, around the city’s most feared drug lord, Lu Huang. As his attraction to the beguiling Natasha grows, he is faced with a piercing question: can he trust someone whose only goal is self-preservation? And is it wise to fall in love with a woman who may herself be the next victim?

Trusting only his Chicago-hardened American partner, Caprisi, Field follows leads that run into the heart of a lawlessly corrupt city, slowly uncovering a web of deception that will leave him reeling.

In The Master of Rain, Tom Bradby weaves a taut, atmospheric crime novel that doles out surprising turns until the last suspenseful page.

Download Description

For Richard Field, a young Englishman new to the international police force, Shanghai represents a brave new world away from the past he is trying to escape. But his naïveté is quickly dashed when he is called to the scene of a brutal crime, in which a young Russian woman, Lena Orlov, has been found sadistically murdered in her bed. Field's idealistic instincts push him to investigate the case, but his attempts are met with apathy -- then menace -- from his colleagues. He begins to recognize that some cases in Shanghai are intended to remain unsolved, and, in a matter of days, he glimpses the murky depths that lurk beneath a luminous city.

Field's drive to find the murderer leads him to Lena's neighbor, Natasha Medvedev. A stunning beauty who fled her charmed life in tsarist Russia, Natasha escaped the Revolution but landed, like many of her counterparts, in a treacherous life in Shanghai. Natasha travels in an elite circle -- one that orbits, Field knows, around the city's most feared drug lord, Lu Huang. As his attraction to the beguiling Natasha grows, he is faced with a piercing question: can he trust someone whose only goal is self-preservation? And is it wise to fall in love with a woman who may herself be the next victim?

Trusting only his Chicago-hardened American partner, Caprisi, Field follows leads that run into the heart of a lawlessly corrupt city, slowly uncovering a web of deception that will leave him reeling.

In The Master of Rain, Tom Bradby weaves a taut, atmospheric crime novel that doles out surprising turns until the last suspenseful page.

"In this ambitious, atmospheric crime novel, a city on the brink is re-created with impressive diligence."
   THE NEW YORK TIMES

"Bradby has done for Shanghai what Raymond Chandler did for Los Angeles."
   TIME

"A great murder story."
   ESQUIRE

"Should especially please fans of P.D. James and John le Carré."
   NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

"This is an immensely atmospheric, gripping detective story with just the right mixture of exoticism, violence and romance."
   THE TIMES (LONDON)

"This well-conceived and -rendered novel is a brooding tale of lust, murder and corruption.... Just what you want in a thriller."
   THE STAR TRIBUNE (MINNEAPOLIS)

"Tense and rather lush, expertly working the wonderful setting without overplaying the cultural clash: eerily well-suited to these parlous times."
   KIRKUS REVIEWS

"As we turn the pages and stray deeper into Tom Bradby's decadent, strangely perfumed world, we grow aware that something sinister lies just beyond the reach of our vision, something we cannot see but that we nevertheless know is there. The Master of Rain is an astonishing, haunting, masterful novel."
    LINCOLN CHILD, BESTSELLING COAUTHOR OF THE RELIC

"Beneath the surface of this clever book, a thrilling yarn of murder and mayhem, we find a wise, richly layere

Customer Reviews:

A Better Editor Might Have Helped.......2007-09-18

I allowed myself to be conned by the blurbs on the cover.

The book is marred by numerous anachronisms, errors of fact, improbable events, and even bad grammar. It appears to have been written by a journalist; it has a researched, contrived feel.

Too bad.......2007-08-08

Don't even think this novel will stretch your mind. You'll easily figure out the entire plot and ending by page 80--max. But even this could be somewhat forgiven if the writing was more accomplished; sadly, it isn't.

Considering the location and history, this novel is simply a missed opportunity. If you must, buy an inexpensive, used copy.

Poorly Written.......2006-07-23

This book is poorly written, lacking character development and plot. If you are fond of Ken Follett, don't bother reading this. There is no comparison.

A Good Mystery/Adventure to Pass Some Time.......2006-07-05

In Tom Bradby's "The Master of Rain", detective Richard Field must struggle through the various dangers and pleasures of 1926 Shanghai, all while pursuing a deadly serial killer who specializes in sadistic murders of Russian women. Field, a Briton with family issues that drive him to this far outpost of the Empire, forges a friendship with an American colleague from Chicago, Anthony Caprisi. In the convoluted world of Shanghai's International Settlement, the city is jointly administered primarily by British, French and American governments; meanwhile, the great cultural and demographic pulse of China pushes in from all directions. Field works in the anti-communist portion of the police, while Caprisi is a street policeman specializing in crime. When a dead Russian suspected of prostitution turns up dead, and killed in a ritualistic manner, the two men are brought together; Field also meets a seductive and mysterious Russian woman and the catalyst for the book's main drama and mystery is ignited.

The novel's atmospherics work well, and Bradby exploits the interaction between a city on the brink of revolution and Field's own personal and professional crises well. Somehow he pulls off the romance between Natasha and Field in a way that works, and the internecine conflict within Shanghai's powers-that-be adds a new level of suspicion and tension. The dialogue is terse and blunt, and it comes off with a hard-hitting staccato that drives the chapters forward. These are the novel's best elements.

Throughout the story Field must continually reassess his naivety, and sometime about halfway through the book this begins to irritate. There are a few events that were written in to give some `hints' that pretty much give the story away; and you will find yourself wondering why detective Field doesn't put the pieces together more quickly. The tale takes up a life of its own- almost as if Brady is extending the mystery so that it will last long enough for the novel's other crises to come to fruition. I think Bradby's Film Noir writing style becomes somewhat forced at this point as well, and these constitutes the biggest critiques that I have for the novel, which is otherwise good.

Still, despite the story's flaws, it is an entertaining read- Bradby's writing will merit further attention in the future, especially as his style matures. For another author to recommend to those looking for more mystery/adventure/espionage thrills I will highly recommend Alan Furst's novels, beginning with "Night Soldiers".

Wonderful but flawed.......2006-01-06

I give this book 4 stars. I thought it really did a good job in bringing to life the smell and feel of pre-Communist Shanghai. And many of the justifications of the communist takeover as well.
The mystery itself I found a little weak.

Zen Master Raven: Sayings and Doings of a Wise Bird

Average customer rating:

This book points to the Moon.
Hardcore Zen
Unique and delightful
Mother Goose Meets Bodhidharma
Beyond the beyond

Zen Master Raven: Sayings and Doings of a Wise Bird
Robert Aitken
Manufacturer: Tuttle Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Zen | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Zen Philosophy | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0804834733

Customer Reviews:

This book points to the Moon........2007-02-08

This is a beautiful little book. I've read a few Zen books by Japanese, Korean, and American Zen teachers, and I think this book captures the spirit of Zen as much as any book can. It doesn't take long to read, but it shows how Zen can become the practice of a lifetime.

Hardcore Zen.......2007-01-12

I greatly enjoyed this little book and often return to it, randomly picking a page or two to reread. I am new to Zen, but I find it complements my Taoist philosophy and this book is both enjoyable and challenging in a very natural way. A 'wise bird' indeed.

Unique and delightful.......2006-08-20

My fiance and I love to read the stories to each other. A wonderful book and a great non-threatening introduction to the zen koan. The insight, wisdom and humor found in these stories are like a blend between zen master Seung Sahn (a personal favorite!) and the practical wisdom of Winnie the Pooh (Tao of Pooh, Te of Piglet). I go back to this book again and again and always feel like I've learned something new.

Mother Goose Meets Bodhidharma.......2006-01-16

Appropriately raw, weird, and compelling, this is the one of the most pure and authentic texts to emerge from the nascent Zen tradition of the West. On the other hand, it may be complete nonsense. Either way, this stays in the book pile next to my bed for a few years at least.

Beyond the beyond.......2005-01-17

How to comment on a book of Koans? For me it seems this book contains the essence of Aitken Roshi's teachings. This is not a soft Zen book, musing about the Zen-of-whatever. It is something quite different, a work book pointing "beyond the beyond".

The little drops in my eyes bow to Raven and Porcupine and thank them, with a smile, for sharing the punch line.

The Master Spy Handbook: Help Our Intrepid Hero Use Gadgets, Codes & Top-Secret Tactics to Save the World from Evildoers

Average customer rating:

Instructions on Being a Spy

The Master Spy Handbook: Help Our Intrepid Hero Use Gadgets, Codes & Top-Secret Tactics to Save the World from Evildoers
Rain Newcomb
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Spy Science: 40 Secret-Sleuthing, Code-Cracking, Spy-Catching Activities for Kids
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spies and Espionage (The Complete Idiot's Guide)

ASIN: 1579906265

Book Description

The huge success of Spy Kids and other similar movies makes it clear: children love watching young agents who are smart enough and tough enough to beat the bad guys--and they fantasize about doing it themselves. That's why they'll be thrilled to hear about Agent O, the world's most top-secret secret agent. No one knows Agent O's true identity--especially that O is still a kid! And budding sleuths can get in on the fun, because this fully illustrated handbook gives them the opportunity to help Agent O fight a criminal mastermind, crack the codes that reveal a perilous scheme for world domination, and make all sorts of cool gadgets and disguises.

Customer Reviews:

Instructions on Being a Spy .......2006-05-01

Ever wanted to be a spy? Well Agent O the world's best spy will teach you how. Agent O is incidentally a little girl but no one knows she is just a kid. Agent O recounts the tale of how she thwarted criminal mastermind Felicia's plans to rule the world. Following O's adventure she leaves many a code for the reader to crack as well as dropping hints on surveillance, how to know if someone has been in you room, disguises, how to observe others, tail someone and other essential spy stuff. Detailed instructions on how to construct many spy accessories and equipment are also included. The story does lack a bit of substance but the activities will keep many a child entertained for days.

Only a Great Rain: A Guide to Chinese Buddhist Meditation

Average customer rating:

Only a Great Rain: A Guide to Chinese Buddhist Meditation
Very helpful instruction for the novice
This is a 'how to' guide for buddhist meditation

Only a Great Rain: A Guide to Chinese Buddhist Meditation
Hsing Yun , and Master Hsing Yun
Manufacturer: Wisdom Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0861711483

Book Description

Very little has been published to date on China's rich traditions of Buddhist meditation. Inspired by the need to increase meaningful interaction between China and the West on spiritual issues, modern meditation master Hsing Yun here brings this vast legacy to life in straightforward and engaging language. These instructions are placed in wider context by Professor McRae's introduction to the world of Chinese Buddhism.

Customer Reviews:

Only a Great Rain: A Guide to Chinese Buddhist Meditation.......2005-08-29

It is an excellent book for anyone who wishes to deepen one's spiritual cultivation. It emphasizes on the importance the three trainings i.e. morality, meditation and wisdom to be practiced concurrently. After reading and reflecting on the knowledge that I have benefitted from this book, it has helped me in my daily meditation practice. It is my opinion that anyone who wishes to practice meditation seriously should read this book and reflect on it, as no happiness surpasses inner peace.

Very helpful instruction for the novice.......2002-01-30

As a novice, I found this book very helpful. It provides very concrete guidance in meditation. And it also provides useful information on other aspects of Buddhism presented in a very easy to read and understandable manner. I highly recommend this book for meditation novices.

This is a 'how to' guide for buddhist meditation.......1999-09-16

This book is a very good and comprehensive book about the techniques and reasons behind buddhist meditation. Technical details about advanced meditation and the relation that meditation has to other aspects of Buddhism may be advanced for early practicioners, but there is plenty of good advice for beginners as well. I would imagine that this book is ideal for Buddhists of any type that are looking for specific instructions on how to meditate.

ALIEN EARTH: The Past Master; Rain Magic; Ultimate Melody; The Loot of Time; Doodad; Automaton; The People of the Crater; Franchise

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ALIEN EARTH: The Past Master; Rain Magic; Ultimate Melody; The Loot of Time; Doodad; Automaton; The People of the Crater; Franchise
Roger; Moskowitz, Sam (editors) (Edmond Hamilton; Robert Bloch; Erle Stanley Gardner; Arthur C. Clarke; Clifford D. Simak; Ray Bradbury; A. E. van Vogt; Andre Norton; Isaac Asimov) Elwood
Manufacturer: Macfadden Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GVUNWI

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The Master of Rain

Manufacturer: Doubleday Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0641609272

Product Description

"For Richard Field, a young Englishman new to the international police force, Shanghai represents a brave new world away from the past he is trying to escape. But his naivete is quickly dashed when he is called to the scene of a brutal crime, in which a young Russian woman, Lena Orlov, has been found sadistically murdered in her bed. Field's idealistic instincts push him to investigate the case, but his attempts are met with apathy - then menace - from his colleagues. He beings to recognize that some cases in Shanghai are intended to remain unsolved, and, in a matter of days, he glimpses the murky depths that lurk beneath a luminous city." "Field's drive to find the murderer leads him to Lena's neighbor, Natasha Medvedev. A stunning beauty who fled her charmed life in tsarist Russia, Natasha escaped the Revolution but landed, like many of her counterparts, in a treacherous life in Shanghai. Natasha travels in an elite circle - one that orbits, Field knows, around the city's most feared drug lord, Lu Huang. As Field's attraction to the beguiling Natasha grows, he is faced with a piercing question: Can he trust someone whose only goal is self-preservation? And is it wise to fall in love with a woman who may herself be the next victim?" Trusting only his Chicago-hardened American partner, Caprisi, Field follows leads that run into the heart of a lawlessly corrupt city, slowly uncovering a web of deception that will leave him reeling.

Average customer rating:

Master of the Rain

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GRRKQ4

Average customer rating:

The Master Spy Handbook: Help Our Intrepid Hero Use Gadgets, Codes & Top-Secret Tactics to Save the World from Evil Doers
Rain Newcomb
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1600592899

Book Description

The huge success of Spy Kids and other similar movies makes it clear: children love watching young agents who are smart enough and tough enough to beat the bad guys—and they fantasize about doing it themselves. That's why they'll be thrilled to hear about Agent O, the world's most top-secret secret agent. No one knows Agent O's true identity—especially that O is still a kid! And budding sleuths can get in on the fun, because this fully-illustrated handbook gives them the opportunity to help Agent O fight a criminal mastermind, crack the codes that reveal a perilous scheme for world domination, and make all sorts of cool gadgets and disguises.

Average customer rating:

Masters of Cloud and Rain/st #95
Anonymous
Manufacturer: Blue Moon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Adult Fiction | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0929654781

Average customer rating:

Only A Great Rain, A Guide To Chinese Buddhist Meditation -
Master Hsing Yun -
Manufacturer: Wisdom Publishing -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PY173U

Book Description

Can one animal save the world? So asks Richard Bach, bestselling author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull and The Ferret Chronicles. This moving fable about the almost-end of a civilization and the profound issues it raises -- that of war and peace, life and death, revenge and forgiveness, guilt and innocence -- is a timely tale of timeless themes sure to resonate with anyone concerned about the present state of the world.

Download Description

"The ground thudded and trembled, the echoes again, as Cheyenne Jasmine Ferret cut a half-circle to stop, breathing hard, by Montgomery and his trusted mount Boffin. It was a familiar sight to all who lived beneath Montana's Sweetroot Mountains, these two ranchkits riding through the morning light, ever together, completely unalike. Montgomery has the deep stillness of the outdoors in his soul; Cheyenne Jasmine is less quiet within. He understands the thoughts of animals and the endless colors of a single mountain daisy. She watches movie after movie, drawn indoors by emotion and light. Kithood ends one morning when Cheyenne Jasmine climbs aboard the train out of Little Paw, destination Hollywood. Montgomery stays put, unwilling to leave the country and his future with animals. They do not realize they are in love until the moment she departs. In time, Cheyenne becomes Jasmine Ferret, the Jasmine Ferret, international film star, darling of the tabloids; Montgomery a sheep-whisperer, a rancher, and some suspect philosopher ferret. Years pass before they meet again, long after each has found the rewards of their separate callings. Yet the highest reward, they discover, waits for them both together, and it's one that they will share for the rest of their lives. Rancher Ferrets on the Range is a tale about sacrifice and longing, fulfillment and success, and a love that waits patiently, sure in the knowledge it will find a way home. "

Customer Reviews:

Ferret Chronicles.......2007-01-20

This is amusing reading for those who enjoy adventure and/or flying. I'm not sure what the point of substituting ferrets for peoples means. However, once you accept this premise (i.e. the suspension of disbeief) then the story is much more enjoyable. This is almost more of a short story, than a book. The book is only about 135 pages. I like the author, Richard Bach. I have read many of his books, and have never been disappointed.

Special story.......2003-10-02

On earth Shamrock Ferret has always answered questions almost from the day she was born so it is not surprising that she especially enjoys responding to those inquiries that seem impossible to obtain a reply. Her upbringing became her work and her skills have earned her a reputation as a successful sleuth. What Shamrock does is sit in the Cases Unsolved Chair to ponder the puzzle until she finds the solution.

Having just succeeded in solving the Case of the Curious Patterns for local farmers she accepts a partnership with Mr. Burroughs. However, she also begins her most difficult mystery. She "sees" a forlorn ferret hopelessly moaning on a dying world seeking someone or some way to save the survivors of the Ferret war that has devastated his people. Sitting in her chair she begins to wonder if this vision is a shadow from the past reaching out to her for help.

Besides the cleverly designed time paradox (not explained here), readers will appreciate Richard Bach's latest tale that clearly cries for give peace a chance. The story line focuses on Shamrock and her use of logic, psychometry, cryptography, and patterns to solve mysteries. Yet with all this Mr. Bach insures his audience understands his message that war is a last resort not a first preemptive strike because of the full impact on the innocent reminiscent of as Animal Farm in relation to Communism.

Book Description

Chances are, you've heard about Internet dating from a friend, or an online banner ad has caught your eye. If you've given online dating a passing consideration, you may have some fears from all those graphic horror stories that jar your senses – and your sensibilities. Or you may think that meeting people via the Internet is only for the disenfranchised or socially unskilled.

From their own experiences, 20 million people can tell you otherwise. Online Dating For Dummies will get you off the fence and on the Internet dating path – with the skill of a seasoned pro. Like your best friend, this fun reference will give you the straight scoop on

Gearing up with the right computer hardware
Overcoming preconceived notions of who is online
Talking the online lingo
Enjoying conversation in chat rooms
Considering date site options
Establishing your screen identity
Facing the consequences of not posting a photo

Internet dating is growing at double-digit rates every year, while other forms of finding a connection are flat or falling off. Internet dating, although far from perfect, is becoming the most effective and efficient method of getting introduced to a large number of available singles. Online Dating For Dummies shows you how to get your feet wet and how to dive in, making informed choices and exercising good judgment as you

Sign up for a trial run on a dating site
Try to describe yourself for your personal profile
Initiate your first e-mail contact
Make your first in-person meeting memorable
Identify frauds and players
Figure out what not to do if you really want to meet someone

Jumping into online dating with no preparation at all is possible – but not practical. If you follow the techniques in this friendly guide, your odds of meeting great potential matches will greatly improve, and you'll have far more fun in the process.

Customer Reviews:

Easy and Good, but NOT ALL ANSWERS!!!.......2007-08-09

I liked this book, but it isn't a book of answers. However, if you are a newbie to online dating, it helps a lot to read this book.
Most online daters have no clue what they are doing. The successful ones that you see on TV (doing eharmony commercials) are the lucky ones. That's why this book helps. It first gives you the low down on online dating and why it is completely different from real world dating. Since it is so different, everyone needs to take a different approach to it. Surprisingly, not everyone does.
How many times have you winked at someone and not recieved a response? How many profiles have you read that say, "I don't know what to write?" How many emails have you sent out that just didn't work?
Well, this book explains why these things happen in online dating.

However, it isn't a book of answers. It won't tell you what the perfect profile is, but will give you hints on how to write one. It won't tell you what the best picture is, but it will tell you not to post the same one twice. Treat it as a guide and you will be fine. Treat it as "the way" and you're in trouble.

For me, I was very excited to try online dating and would go online everyday to find new connections. After reading this book, I realized online dating is not a quick and easy way to find the love of my life (like eharmony advertises), but it is more of a long haul and it requires more work than I thought. This book really helped me realize that I needed to work at online dating much like real world dating.

Fantastic Guide.......2006-08-13

I couldnt put the book down, there is some fantastic insights into improving your success in online dating. great book

For People Uncomfortable with Computers?.......2005-11-23

Most of what this book says is either common sense or easy to find out by using an online dating service. They sound uncomfortable enough with computers that they seem to expect readers to prefer reading a generic description on paper to reading the online descriptions that the dating services provide.
Their idea of backing up email is to print it out.
They say on page 183 that meeting in person gives away your anonymity completely, then on page 237 they describe how to meet in person anonymously. That is fairly typical about how carefully they write.
Instead of this, I recommend buying Katz's I Can't Believe I'm Buying This Book.

Why you should buy this book..........2005-11-12

The "xxxx for dummies" always does a good job on breaking down the "hard-to-grasp" concepts and makes it easy for people to understand the complexities that can be involved. The dating scene can be tricky these days and Online Dating for Dummies did a great job. Look for some humor to keep you floating through chapters. [...]

PURE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION & MORE!.......2004-02-11

As a fellow relationship/dating author and advisor, I'm always looking for new information on this dynamic field. I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this book because of the thorough nature and quality of the "Dummies" series. After a complete reading of this book where I took a lot of notes, I must say that it does an outstanding job of covering online dating and other related topics.

You get a certain type of quality when you buy a "Dummies" book. I didn't expect this one to be a great literary read or even one that I'd call "entertaining" (except for the hilarious cartoons in the beginning of each chapter). This book is simply stuffed with practical information and helpful tips. I do a lot of research on "Online Dating" issues and this is the best single source that I've found. If you ever come across any of my advice anywhere, you can bet that it won't be out of alignment with what is in this great resource.

This is a book that every man or woman who chooses to play the "online dating game" to win (find a good love partner) should have in their personal library. It's really that good.

Online Dating for Dummies
Average customer rating:
Online Dating for Dummies

Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FHD9EW

Product Description

A reference for the rest of us! Know the lingo, post a photo, and make a date. Date online and find the perfect mate. Looking for that special someone? This friendly guide provides practical, proven strategies for everything from selecting the right dating site to protecting your privacy.

Average customer rating:

Online Dating for Dummies
*
Manufacturer: HUNGRY MINDS (TWLD)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K7Y20C

Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles
Average customer rating:

Great book for advanced homebrewers

Invaluable reference

Best book for your own recipes

Excellent resource for intermediate to advance brewer

Craft Beers

Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles
Ray Daniels
Manufacturer: Brewers Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Beer | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0937381500

Amazon.com

Part 1 of Designing Great Beers is a complete book in itself, focused solely on home-brewing ingredients and techniques (including three superb chapters on hops alone). Ray Daniels proves himself the "techie" type, infusing his introductory chapters with as much brewing math as brewing lore. Yet, Daniels never hops off the deep end of beer geekdom. Instead, he complements this emphasis on data with the creative use of graphics; where one could get bogged down in the stats, there is usually a clear visual depiction to instantly summarize their meaning.

This focus on facts continues into part 2 of Daniels's guide, where it backs an admirably pragmatic take on beer styles and their importance in home-brewing. Daniels devotes a chapter to each of 14 major style categories, detailing historical origins and modern brewing techniques. He lays a contemporary groundwork by compiling and analyzing the recipes of the National Homebrew Competition's most successful beers. The assumption is that beers deemed representative of particular beer styles in modern competitions serve as ideal models for recipe creation. Among the information provided for each style is a chart showing the percentage of brewers using each type of grain and in what proportions the grains were added. Similar data are supplied for hop varieties, yeast strains, and water treatment. This reverse engineering of award-winning beers naturally benefits experienced brewers seeking to wow judges at the next competition. Yet, even brewers taking their first shy steps into creating their own recipes have much to gain from this kind of practical analysis. Daniels provides the basic tools a brewer of any level can use to formulate recipes with confidence and creativity. --Todd Gehman

Book Description

Author Ray Daniels provides the brewing formulas, tables, and information to take your brewing to the next level in this detailed technical manual.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for advanced homebrewers.......2007-08-10

Truly great book, I taught I knew all about craft-beer-making, but in this book I've found many useful tips & tricks for adanced homebrewers.
But - this book is not for beginers.

Invaluable reference.......2007-06-29

Daniels' book is a must-have for the intermediate brewer. Invariably newcomers to brewing start off with extract kits, which can produce decent beer and have the virtue of simplicity. However, after a few batches, the now-intermediate brewer typically wants more control over the result, which leads to forays into recipe formulation. Daniels provides a wealth of information that can help with that. This book does not provide recipes, but it does provide great information about the fundamentals that you can use to formulate your own recipes. I wouldn't want to be without this book.

Best book for your own recipes.......2007-05-21

After trying to come up with my own recipes and having to guess at hop varieties, specialty grains etc. I wanted a good resource for outlining what characterizes a certain style. "Designing Great Beers" is just that. Ray Daniels analyzes winning brews over many years and provides great little tables about typical grain and hop bills. If you design your own recipes, this is a MUST HAVE!!!

Excellent resource for intermediate to advance brewer.......2007-02-12

This is a great book. Ray breaks the book into 2 sections: generic design and then history/style/specifics for major styles. I found myself switching from back to front as I was recently brewing a Bock. The history of the style really helps to understand beers especially in a category like Bock which has many variations.

The book doesn't give you specific recipes. It is designed to help you tweak existing recipes or in the creation of your own recipes.

My conundrum while reading this book.....the more I brew and the more books I keep finding and reading, the less I know about beer!

Cheers!

Craft Beers.......2007-02-09

Very scientific stuff. This is for the serious brewer. The information is a little over my head. Maybe in a few years of brewing this book will be needed but this is not for the beginner.

Average customer rating:

My path to beerdom
Very enjoyable and informative
Great starter book.
Wonderful Pictures
Not "Ultimate", but still useful

Ultimate Beer
Michael Jackson
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Michael Jackson's Great Beer Guide
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ASIN: 0789435276

Amazon.com

Possibly the world's most famous beer writer, British author Michael Jackson has made an enviable living surveying the lure and the lore of this most democratic of beverages. His classic coffee-table textbooks, The New World Guide to Beer and Michael Jackson's Beer Companion, offer highly regarded overviews of the world's styles, traditions, and techniques. Along with a television documentary series, numerous articles in trade publications, and extensive touring, Jackson's guides have established the other Michael Jackson as one of the great promoters of great beer.

With Ultimate Beer, Jackson homes in on the particulars: which beer, when, and why. After a concise overview of brewing ingredients and processes, Jackson explores a myriad of beers from every corner of the brewing world. His suggestions are organized by the situation in which they might best be enjoyed: from summer sippers to winter warmers, aperitifs to nightcaps. Enticing photography of each beer and its packaging accompanies Jackson's tasting notes, brief technical info, and product-specific tidbits. Then, Jackson indulges further with chapters on matching particular beers to particular dishes, and follows that up with a brief guide to cooking with beer.

The guiding principle of Jackson's writing--that which he shares with any beer enthusiast--is that beer, like wine, is best enjoyed when served at the right time, in the right conditions, and with the right dish. This book is Michael Jackson's very personal attempt to point the way to enjoying that Ultimate Beer. --Todd Gehman

Book Description

The ultimate guide to more than 450 classic brews, presented by the Beer Hunter(r) himself, Michael Jackson.

Customer Reviews:

My path to beerdom.......2006-05-09

6 years ago I took this from a friends dad because he never even looked at it. This was the first book I ever owned on beer.

I am now an award winning homebrewer, a BJCP beer judge, an avid contributor to ratebeer.com and a member of the AHA. I am going to be attending the American Brewers Guild in 2007 and will be opening my own Brewpub soon after.

This is where it all started. This book is that good!

Very enjoyable and informative.......2003-08-07

This is a large, coffee-table sized book on nice, glossy paper with beautiful photos and graphics. Those of you who know Jackson as a beer and scotch writer need no introduction to him, but for those of you who won't, Jackson has authored numerous books on single-malt whisky and beer and starred in and wrote the "The Beer Hunter" TV series, where he travelled the world in search of great beers.

Jackson puts his vast knowledge of beer to work in this very attractive work. There is a tremendous amount of enjoyable detail, history, tasting notes, and other information in this book. In contrast to some of his other books, this one is more topically organized--that is, there are sections on many of the different types and styles of beers, "Winter Warmers" (i.e., the bock beers), "Strong Ales," and "Belgian Wheats"-- and so on. Also interestingly, the later sections are on picking beers to go well with foods, and there are separate sections on seafood, beef, poultry, etc. These sections take up perhaps one-third of the book.

The layout and writing is well organized and fits well with the graphics on each page. Each section has an introductory paragraph or two to introduce the style of beer, giving the basic facts and some history. Then the rest of the area on each page shows photos of prominent examples of each beer with descriptions, including historical info on the brewery and tasting notes. Over 450 important beers are pictured and discussed, making this a veritable treasure trove of fun information on all types of beer. Overall another great beer book from Jackson, and if I had to pick one beer book from him to have, this would probably be it.

Great starter book........2000-09-23

This book is definitely aimed towards the person who's just starting to dabble in expanding his taste in beers. It's got lots of beautiful photographs and descriptions of beer from around the world. It organizes the beer by type, which is really helpful in focusing your likes and dislikes. It also lists beers by their season of release and by the type of food they go with. The book is extremely user friendly, and as I've already said is generally beautiful. It's a perfect coffee table book. While it should not be your primary reference for all things brewed, it is great for beginners.

Wonderful Pictures.......2000-06-04

I own almost 10 books on beer, and this book has by far the best photographs in it. Hundreds of beers are shown in the bottle and in a full glass from the respective brewery. The beginning of the book has a nice intro to beer if you are not familiar with the process of brewing. The featured beers are chosen by the occasion which suits the style of beer. I have tried about half of the beers featured and most of them have been excellent. Michael Jackson includes helpful information such as serving temp and alcohol content for each beer. I hope you enjoy this book as much I do.

Not "Ultimate", but still useful.......1999-12-22

This probably shouldn't be any beer lover's primary reference - the main emphasis seems to be on the pictures. Not, however, that there is anything wrong with that. The illustrations are mouth watering and worth the cost of the book. The text seems to aimed toward novices.

Average customer rating:

The Ultimate Book of Beer Trivia
Bill Yenne , and Tom Debolski
Manufacturer: Bluewood Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Ultimate Encyclopedia of Wine Beer Spirits and Liqueurs

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Ultimate Encyclopedia of Wine Beer Spirits and Liqueurs
Stuart Walton , and Brian Glover
Manufacturer: Anness Publishing/lorenz Books
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The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer - The Complete Guide to the World's Great Brews

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The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer - The Complete Guide to the World's Great Brews

Manufacturer: Carlton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1858684927

Product Description

The definitive book on beer and beer drinking. Discusses the making of beer, the world A to Z of beer, the history of beer, the beer business and beer culture. Illustrated with 240 photographs and 100 beer labels, plus 8 detailed maps of the beer regions of the world.

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Beer

Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000CL1Y3Y

Product Description

LEATHER BOUND book accented in 22kt gold! !

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer
Roger Protz
Manufacturer: Firebird Distributing
ProductGroup: Book
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The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer The Definitive Guide to the World's Great Brews

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The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer The Definitive Guide to the World's Great Brews

Manufacturer: Carlton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1856132099

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Ultimate Encyclopedia of Beer: The Definitive Guide to the World's Great Brews
Roger Protz
Manufacturer: Smithmark Publishers
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Anne Moller-Racke'squest: the ultimate Pinot Noir.: An article from: Wines & Vines

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Anne Moller-Racke'squest: the ultimate Pinot Noir.: An article from: Wines & Vines
Larry Walker
Manufacturer: Hiaring Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Wines & Vines, published by Hiaring Company on October 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1961 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Anne Moller-Racke'squest: the ultimate Pinot Noir.
Author: Larry Walker
Publication: Wines & Vines (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2004
Publisher: Hiaring Company
Volume: 85 Issue: 10 Page: 18(4)

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