Palmer, Michael

Average customer rating:

Organ donation --Who has the right to the limited supply?
ugly and frightening underbelly of illicit human organ harvesting.
Intriguing entertainment
Not at all far fetched.
A great read!

The Fifth Vial
Michael Palmer
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312343515
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Book Description

From the blockbuster, eleven-time New York Times bestselling author comes a novel of medical suspense that begins with these chilling questions: Who ends up with the blood samples you routinely give for tests? What else are they being used for? Why don’t you know?

Take a Deep Breath. . . .
In Boston, a disgraced medical student is sent to deliver a research paper that could save her career. . . . Four thousand miles away, in a jungle hospital in Cameroon, a brilliant, reclusive scientist, dying from an incurable disease that threatens to make each tortured breath his last, is on the verge of perfecting a serum that could save millions of lives, and bring others inestimable wealth. . . . In Chicago, a disillusioned private detective, on the way to his third career, is hired to determine the identify of a John Doe, killed on a Florida highway, with mysterious marks on his body.
Three seemingly disconnected lives, surging unrelentingly toward one another. Three lives becoming irrevocably intertwined. Three lives in mounting peril, moving ever closer to the ultimate confrontation against a deadly secret society with godlike aspirations and roots in antiquity.
Medical student. Scientist. Private eye. Three people who will learn the deeper meanings of brilliance and madness, truth and deception, trust and betrayal.
Three lives linked forever by a single vial of blood—the fifth vial.

Customer Reviews:

Organ donation --Who has the right to the limited supply?.......2007-06-20

There's a lot to recommend with this novel, its fast-paced, its complex narrative, its compelling subject matter, its character development, it's writing. Some of the best things about the novel are also the worst. There are three storylines that eventually merge into one, but each has it's own cast of many characters which were hard to keep straight especially when the story jumped from subplot to subplot. The complex story while compelling was also a bit confusing. The whole novel felt chaotic to me. It's best to read without distractions because if you don't pay attention for a few pages, you'll end up backtracking.

Overall, I like the novel, but I have liked other Michael Palmer novels better.

3.5 Stars

ugly and frightening underbelly of illicit human organ harvesting........2007-05-30

Michael Palmer knows a thing or two about writing a medical thriller. Perhaps it is his deep knowledge gained from having actually earned an MD degree and subsequently working in the bowels of hospital emergency rooms. Or maybe we can lean on the fact that he already has 11 books on the New York Times bestseller list. Whatever the case, Palmer's newest plot-twisting thriller, THE FIFTH VIAL, is as powerful and grand as those that came before it.

Palmer has chosen to expose the ugly and frightening underbelly of illicit human organ harvesting. While it may seem far-fetched when considered from the safety of our American hospital and legal system, it is an unfortunate reality in many parts of the world. The novel brings the illegal medical affairs happening in the distant lands of Africa, India and South America home to two inhabitants of Boston and Chicago.

THE FIFTH VIAL weaves together the lives of three interesting characters who, it first appears, have absolutely nothing in common. Natalie Reyes is a former Olympic-level runner who is not afraid to defend herself against all comers, both on the track and in day-to-day life. Now struggling to make it through her medical residency, she hits a personality roadblock that effectively derails her career. While in limbo waiting for permission to return to medical school, she is asked by her mentor to travel to Brazil to present a paper at a medical conference. But she never gets that opportunity. Fresh off the plane, she is kidnapped, drugged, shot, beaten and left for dead in a garbage-filled alley. Brought back to life in a modern Brazilian hospital, she learns that she has lost a lung as a result of the attack. Reyes returns to Boston one step closer to defeat but slowly wondering why some of the pieces in her personal puzzle don't seem to make sense.

At the same time, newbie private detective Ben Callahan of Chicago takes on a case investigating the unfortunate roadside death of a mentally-challenged man. While the death itself was a pure accident, certain evidence on his body suggests that he was involved in an illegal medical procedure.

The final player in the scenario is research scientist Dr. Joe Anson, who is working in a poor village in Africa attempting to perfect a new serum with the potential to save millions of lives. Standing in his way is his own failing health and the ever-watchful eye of a global medical corporation, Whitestone, which is paying for his research in return for the worldwide rights to the finished drug --- rights that will be worth billions of dollars.

As the paths of these individuals draw ever closer, a secret society is introduced whose mission is to help the most talented and richest people in society survive by using assets from the world's poorest and most insignificant. These unfortunate souls are seen as nothing more than convenient harvesting grounds for body parts.

THE FIFTH VIAL uses complex plot twists, international intrigue, moral complexities and more than enough action to take the reader on a fascinating and frightening ride through the world of body-part harvesting. While the book's beginning proceeds at a rather slow pace as we become acquainted with the characters, it speeds up. And by the end, each page is breakneck with new, important characters introduced and rapidly killed. The climax, in the jungles of Brazil, brings the heat of the Amazonian jungle and sting of mosquitoes out of the pages while leaving the reader wondering just whose side everyone is on.

This is a well-researched and complex book that will keep readers guessing while introducing them at full-speed to the gut-wrenching world of medical terrorism.

--- Reviewed by Simon King

Intriguing entertainment.......2007-05-15

I enjoyed Michael Palmer's "The Fifth Vial." Its pure mystery and entertainment. His medical background shines through so that he can weave a believable tale of technology gone bad in a mercenary world of amoral people. If you have enough money and you need an organ, a secret elite group will make it happen. Never mind how they get the organ!

The constant quotes from Plato's Republic got a little pedantic, but since I fly a lot, I ignored them and really got into the book, wondering how it all would fit together. In the end, Palmer gives us a surprise. In short, I was hooked. Keep it up Michael Palmer!

Pierce Scranton Jr. M.D.
author, Death on the Learning Curve

Not at all far fetched........2007-05-14

In a world where industrialized countries push trade agreements which strip poor countries of their natural resources, it is not hard to entertain the idea that removing a kidney or lung from a poor person can be justified and implemented. In fact, a short internet search will inform readers that this is already happening. There is a trade in body parts and the body parts of the poor figure heavily.
This is an exciting, well crafted book which I couldn't put down. The subtexts of class war, greed and the ability of people to rationalize and justify virtually any behavior makes it all the more riveting.

A great read!.......2007-05-13

My first time reading a Michael Palmer book. Really enjoyed it! Fast paced, page turner that could really happen to anyone! Highly recommended!

Guide to UNIX Using Linux, Third Edition

Average customer rating:

Did not receive due to inventory mistake
More of an Extended Checklist than a Book
Far short of value, price
Author more worried about Credit then proofreading
Still typos and bad screen prints in 2nd edition!

Guide to UNIX Using Linux, Third Edition
Michael Palmer
Manufacturer: Course Technology
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0619215623

Book Description

Hands-on, practical guide that teaches the fundamentals of the UNIX operating system concepts, architecture and administration using Linux.

Customer Reviews:

Did not receive due to inventory mistake.......2005-09-21

book was unavailable for sale but was advertised as available......

More of an Extended Checklist than a Book.......2005-09-13

It seemed to me that the author collected a checklist of things to cover, added some details on each item, and sat back satisfied that the list was covered.

No topic is covered really well, in my opinion. I do not mean by this that each topic should have been covered exhaustively, as this is an introductory book. Rather, I mean that many topics are covered to such a low extent that there is nothing much to do with them. The reader is basically only made aware that such a topic exists, and then needs to find an alternative source for this topic.
I think the most striking example of this (one out of many), is a 10-page chapter explaining C++ from scratch. I don't see the point for this. A reader familiar with the language would be interested in linux-specific aspects of C++ (for example, linux programming environments), which are not covered. A reader unfamiliar with the language would find a 10-page chapter useless.

Curiously, the book, even when considered as an extended checklist, is not very good. I could not find any material on archiving and compressing, and had to search the Internet for this.

I Heartily recommend this book for people who enjoy spending time on Google.

Far short of value, price.......2005-03-10

From what I can tell by reading these reviews, it seems like Instructors love this book and Students hate it. I guess I'm a lucky breed who had an instructor that hates the book too. The chapters are all over the place and dont really cover anything all that well. This book is more of a roadmap of Linux, it shows you all the places you can go and kind of an example of what to do when you get there, but for the most part unless you've been in town before or have a guide, you're going to be SOL.

The most frustrating aspects come from the questions at the end of the chapter. The book loves to throw in things that either don't make sense or weren't covered in the chapter. Their little way of having you look ahead to anticipate what's coming. Ultimately, it sucks when trying to do the assignment and you have no clue where to look for the answer.

Making matters worse, the book ships with some light-weight publisher's version of the Linux distro Fedora Core. Which is ALREADY OUT OF DATE. If you buy this book, go get yourself at least the latest version of Fedora, but I'd reccomend SuSE. The book fails to give you any comparison between distros and just assumes you'll be using Red Hat. Big mistake there, no NOT use the CDs that come with the book.

There's also lots of things that the book leaves out. For example, KDE. While it says that it covers "Both KDE and Gnome", basically it's coverage of KDE is like the coverage of Apple in a Windows book. They essentially tell you to be on the lookout because you might see it one day. Other than that, nothing.

Lastly, the killer on this book is the Price. $70 is far too much to pay for something like this. I love how Course Technology feels they can take the bare minimum out of a good Linux How-to book, stick in a bunch of questions and exercises and call it a text book. Then include a CDROM to seal the deal. While the book looks worthwhile at a hefty 641 pages, you'll be somewhat surprised to see that the chapters are pretty short, and I'd be willing to bet that about 40% of the book is just the Hands-On Projects, Discovery Exercises, and Review/definitions. Considering there's maybe 400 pages of actual content. When you consider the price of the book, you're paying about 25 cents for each page of actual learning material. All for stuff you can find in other books for cheaper or find yourself online.

So why give this book 2 stars instead of 1? The book has its aspects. It's done great layout wise and it does have a lot of commands in here that can be used as refrence. Somethings are covered extensively, so the book isn't a total waste.

That being said, don't get this book unless you have to.

Author more worried about Credit then proofreading.......2004-02-26

Hi i am an I.T student from Texas and an MCSAx2 (W2K/Windows 2003) and I have the misfortune of having to use this book.

If the author is more concerned about receiving credit for this book, then for having it proof read, that might be a problem.

I don't expect perfectly proof read college books, but it appears very little effort has been made to proofread this one.

Why this book bundles Redhat with it is beyond me. The book never examines that OS in any of its pages, much to my chagrin.

Perhaps it should be retitled "Unix using Linux (and not including the attached OS CD Rom").

It is extremely hard to follow along with screen print outs printed in the books, since they are extremely fuzzy and unclear and i am not sure if they were placed in the book to enlighten the students or to frustrate them. The instructor's slides cannot be seen farther then a foot away from the board, for the same reason.

You think this is a five star book? You must be an instructor with prior knowledge of unix, because as you may have noticed all students on here complain about not being able to read large portions of the book.

A book that is mostly unreadable I cannot learn from. Look at this book BEFORE you purchase it. And if you do- as a previous reviewer suggested-make sure you have some back up Linux/Redhat books available, as a reference to explain the things the author doesn't.

Still typos and bad screen prints in 2nd edition!.......2003-03-20

The screen prints in this book are so poorly reproduced as to be completely unreadable and there are many, many typos. I am taking a class using this book as a text, and I spend more time trying to figure out what the typos are in the commands than I do learning how to use the software. I sent an email to the publisher regarding the fact that the screen prints, which are white characters of low resolution on a dark background, are nearly invisible; I received a reply that said they were sorry I was having trouble reading the graphics - nothing else - no apology - no statement that this is a recognized problem they would correct in a subsequent edition.

Book Description

The Films of Joseph Losey examines the career of the expatriate director through a close analysis of five of his most important and challenging films. When his leftist politics made him a target of the House Committee on Unamerican Activities in 1951, the blacklisted Losey left America and continued his film career in England. Concerned mainly with the use and abuse of power inherent in intimate relationships, Losey also examined these issues as manifested in institutions and social classes. His finest films attack the injustices and hypocrisy rooted in the privileges of the English class system and frequently depict the moral failure of characters who betray their best instincts. The Films of Joseph Losey also examines Losey's close working relationships with playwright/screenwriter Harold Pinter and actor Dirk Bogarde, his experimental form of storytelling, the psychological complexity of characters acting as narrator of their own stories, and the intricate handling of time in the structure of his films. Close studies of King and Country, The Servant, Accident, The Go-Between, and The Romantic Englishwoman confirm Losey's stature as a director of powerful and compelling films of both moral importance and great formal complexity.

Customer Reviews:

Time for a Losey renaissance, and this is your best bet!.......2006-06-30

Let this book on the key films of Losey's career be your first stop in the journey to discovering Losey's work. Joseph Losey is due for a major rediscovery, a well-deserved renaissance. For too long he has been relegated to the more esoteric shelves. To watch and study and enjoy his many movies is a real treat, to the dark, scary humor of The Servant to the resonating life lessions unveiled in The Go-Between (my favorite Losey film), to the harrowing, grimy, heartbreaking depths of King and Country is to become submerged in the provocative, moving work of a great artist. If you saw The Boy With The Green Hair as a child, it's unlikely that you'll ever forget it. Author Michael Riley and the others write with insightful acuity and illuminate several of Losey's major films to the point that you'll be rushing to the video store or searching on-line to experience for yourself the too neglected works of this master director.

Average customer rating:

Had no idea what to expect...but what a great surprise!
Excellent Book
Good, but had a sad death
Suspenseful First Novel!
second reading better than the first

The Sisterhood
Michael Palmer
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Miracle Cure

ASIN: 0553275704
Release Date: 1994-12-01

Book Description

Inside Boston Doctors Hospital, patients are dying. In the glare of the operating room, they survive the surgeon's knife. But in the dark, hollow silence of the night, they die. Suddenly, inexplicable, horribly. A tough, bright doctor will risk his very life-to dedicated young nurse unknowingly holds the and the answers. Together they will discover that no one is from...

Customer Reviews:

Had no idea what to expect...but what a great surprise!.......2006-07-17

I found this book (the first edition) in my grandparent's basement, and took it -with their permission ;) - because it seemed interesting. It turned out to *almost* be a buried treasure.

I was struck by how involved I became in the characters and their situations. The writing is smooth, and the characters (especially David, the main one) pull you in right away with their believability and actions.

I was really pleased at the twists the novel took. The first 3/4 is a buildup of suspense and things that could really happen in real life (if you let yourself believe, of course - and that's what a good thriller is for). A "Sisterhood" of nurses exist, planted in hospitals all over the country. Their purpose is to end the life of people with hopeless causes, who live in agony every day because their doctors just won't let them die. But what really made things interesting was the Garden - another group of nurses existing within the Sisterhood, whose purpose is...EVIL. But still believable.

Of course, there's the "Action Scene" towards the end of the book, and it started to go a little downhill for me there. But it picks up again at the VERY end, when a surprisingly good character has a surprisingly good death. It was almost depressing to read about. But by the next page (literally), I was smiling again over a situation that was fairly humorous, if you're into "black comedy."

I wish some of the characters had developed a bit more, especially the scarred nurse, Janet. She seemed pretty cool, but played a surprisingly small part in the climax of the book. I was also disappiointed in how unbelievable (and slightly boring) the events became when the "action" started - hired killers conveniently in just the right spot at just the right time (when the two main characters seperate, of course!), and I wish the whole "romance blossoming in a secluded cabin" scene had been left out. These elements felt slightly forced...it's like watching an awesome float at a parade, and seeing scuffed white sneakers peeking out below it. It just "destroys the illusion". But this is also his first novel, so things like that can be expected.

Overall - good read!

Excellent Book.......2006-03-09

I will be reading more of Michael Palmer's books in the future. This was a very intriguing book. The plot seemed very believable and interesting. Characters were easy to relate too.

Good, but had a sad death.......2005-11-03

I thought this book was good, overall. Had good suspense and interesting characters (Dr. David and his nurse lady-friend, Christine. But i think my favorite characters were David's friends, Eddie and his wife Teresa. I was really sorry that Eddie had to die in his attempts to help DAvid, in the end. I'm almost angry at the author for letting that happen to his character. I would completely understand if his wife TEresa never forgave David for her husband's death (even though it wasn't DAvid's fault). For me, that kind of ruined the 'happy' ending

Suspenseful First Novel!.......2005-10-21

I have only read a few of Michael Palmer's books and this one is definitely a suspenseful read! I can tell it was one of his earlier works just because they were making a big deal about the main character's lawyer paying a grand a month for his office. Nowadays the price would be a bit steeper. =0)

This one focuses on Dr. David Shelton, who is working to rebuild his career after a tragic accident and personal downfall. He agrees to take over his boss' caseload for the weekend. That was a fateful decision as one of his patients died and was discovered to be murdered. Shelton is then up against something sinister among the nurses ~~ The Sisterhood ~~ who believe in mercy killing. Framed for the murder, Shelton is on the run and soon, everyone close to him is dying.

This is a pretty good first attempt ~~ I know that I will be nervous going into the hospital again! (I would NOT recommend reading this just before surgery!) I have to give this to my sister-in-law who is a nurse to see what she says. It's pretty creepy! This book is perfect for these cold rainy nights we've been having in Ohio!

So if you're new to Michael Palmer, you can't miss with this one! Like his other books, this one will draw you in!

10-20-05

second reading better than the first.......2005-04-18

i have read all of Doctor Palmers books, and keep coming back to this one, his first. I love them all, but this one seems to stick in my mind (pun intended -read the book). my wife, a retired registerd nurse, has taken on a sinister aspect in my mind after reading this. you will never be comfortable alone with a nurse in an examining room again after reading this one.

Average customer rating:

Good reading
Excellent medical thriller
Appalling Medical Practices Upstage Mystery
Couldn't Put it Down
Almost too complicated, villian-riddled plot thrills!

Natural Causes
Michael Palmer
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Sisterhood

ASIN: 0553095536
Release Date: 1994-03-01

Book Description

Performance by Natasha Richardson
Two cassettes, 3 hours

Dr. Sarah Baldwin races to a Boston hospital with a young woman whose normal labor has suddenly become a matter of life and death. As she struggles to save both mother and baby, she doesn't know that two other women have already died under identical circumstances. And so begins Sarah's own nightmare, as she learns that the prenatal herbal vitamins she prescribed are the only thing these women have in common. Soon Sarah is fighting to save her career, her reputation--her life. For she's certain there must be some unknown factor linking these women, and as she gets closer to the truth, it becomes clear that someone will do anything--even murder--to keep a devastating secret.

Customer Reviews:

Good reading.......2007-05-07

A medical thriller, different from what I have been reading but interesting all the same. Well written.

Excellent medical thriller.......2006-09-17

I just discovered Michael Palmer's work, and I'm hurrying to remedy that deficiency. Dr. Palmer writes tightly plotted medical fiction that holds the reader in suspense and keeps them off-balance with new twists and turns. This book kept me reading, because there were few, if any, spots where I could say, "I'll put the book down and read some more later." It's a true page-turner, in every sense of the word.
The emphasis on alternative medicine was something of an initial turn-off for me, since I'm a physician grounded in conventional medicine. However, Dr. Palmer has definitely done his homework, and eventually I found myself quite interested by some of the material he brings out. All that aside, from the standpoint of well-done medical suspense, this book is excellent.

Appalling Medical Practices Upstage Mystery.......2006-05-07

I realized as I read NATURAL CAUSES by Michael Palmer that I had actually read it when it first came out, and I very nearly never read another Michael Palmer book afterwards. I felt the same way while reading the book the second time-- I was unable to get past the Woo-Woo- practices of acupuncture and untested herbalistic medicines administered by the heroine of the book, Dr. Sarah Baldwin.

Yes, Dr. Baldwin saves patients lives using acupuncture and the book makes some outrageous claims regarding the efficacy of acupuncture that are not borne out by the scientific literature. In addition, instead of the standard pre-natal vitamins, Dr. Baldwin gives her patients the option of drinking a special concoction of herbal tea that she used in Thailand. When three cases of a horrible medical condition called DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulapathy) occur during the labor stage of three different women, resulting in the deaths of all of the babies and two of the women, it seems the only thing they have in common is the fact that they have taken the special pre-natal tea prescribed by Dr. Baldwin.

The father of the surviving woman is very wealthy and he files suit against Dr. Baldwin. The CDC gets involved and the CDC rep, Rosa Suarez, says repeatedly that all they need to do is find a case of DIC in a patient that has not taken the herbal tea to get Dr. Baldwin off the hook. That is a bunch of scientific hokum as finding a separate case not related to the tea does not keep the tea from being implicated. It's entirely possible that DIC could have multiple causes.

I also have a huge problem with the fact that even though Dr. Baldwin and her lawyer, Matt Daniels, know it is a conflict of interest for them to get romantically involved, they do so anyway-- Sarah deliberately, using the rationale that she's tired of putting off what she really wants in life- that's an example of the stupidity she continually exhibits in this book. For instance, even though she knows she is being framed and that someone is trying to kill her, she stupidly follows mysterious instructions to run to an isolated room and answer a ringing phone, resulting in her getting clonkled on the head and nearly killed. I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for her at all!

There are a couple of things that kept me from giving the book less than 3 stars-- 1. I actually did like the character of Rosa Suarez and her dogged pursuit of the truth. 2. If I take out the Woo-Woo factors and rate the book solely on its merits as a FICTIONAL thriller, it is a good mystery, even if the ending was rather predictable (although I nearly gave it 2 stars just because Dr. Baldwin was just so stupid as a character.)

However (and here I climb back on my soapbox again,) with the wide audience that Michael Palmer has, I hate to see him doing anything that gives credence in any way to medical practices that have not had their effectiveness proven by scientific studies involving double blind studies and scientific review. Fact: the few scientific studies that have been conducted involving acupuncture have shown no difference in the outcome for subjects receiving acupuncture and those who have not. And Fact: women, especially those who are pregnant, should not be ingesting medicines and vitamins that have not been subjected to scientific studies to ensure their efficacy and to make sure they do not harm the mother or baby. It matters not that in this book, Dr. Baldwin's tea is eventually proven to not be a factor in the cases of DIC. Dr. Baldwin's medical practices are examples of unproven alternative medical techniques and poor scientific methodology and Dr. Michael Palmer should not be advocating them.

Couldn't Put it Down.......2005-10-28

I am an OB nurse and really enjoyed this book, found it believable and couldn't wait to turn the page. This is 3rd book of Michael Palmers I have read and this was the best!

Almost too complicated, villian-riddled plot thrills!.......2004-08-18

We're fans of Palmer and have read most of his booklist, now standing at ten novels. We like his ability to describe medical complexities in plain enough terms to get us through but with plausible enough premises that the scare factor heightens his suspenseful storylines. "Natural Causes" continues in this vein as pregnant women start losing their babies and dying themselves from a rare blood disorder. Is it being caused by (our heroine) Dr. Sarah Baldwin's use of "herbal supplements"? Or is it related to her former lover's mysterious oriental-herb-mix weight loss miracle product? A team of lawyers, doctors, CDC specialists, and our heroine in self-defense plow through a labyrinth of plot twists and turns before the truth will out toward the end. That so many of the central characters turn out bad gets a bit depressing after a while; and some of the sinister goings-on with shady underworld types get a little hard to believe. And how the rattlesnake poison found in Sarah's locker tied in never was revealed that we could tell. But admittedly the pages kept turning til the satisfying conclusion spells out almost all.

Palmer has a fine imagination and excellent craft. Sarah was a rather remarkable lead character with the somewhat unique combination of extensive traditional medical training (she's an MD and a surgeon) as well as a two-year stint in Thailand learning acupuncture and other alternative healing methods. Palmer uses her talents as a ploy to discuss these methodologies in interesting detail. While this time our author almost outdoes himself with the complexity of his tale, we suspect most will enjoy it thoroughly as they read on into the night!

The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia First Edition (ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia)

Average customer rating:

Must Have
The ESPN PRO FOOTBALL ENCYCLOPEDIA EDITION
A must have for any NFL fan!
Would be 5 stars except for some errors I found
Incredible Value, A Must Have, Room For Improvement

The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia First Edition (ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia)

Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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2006 NFL Record & Fact Book (Official National Football League Record and Fact Book)
ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game
The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia (Espn Baseball Encyclopedia)
Pro Football Prospectus 2006: Statistics, Analysis, and Insight for the Information Age (Pro Football Prospectus)
2006 Pro Football Guide The Ultimate Football Almanac 2006 Preview and 2005 Review

ASIN: 1402742169

Book Description

From ESPN, the sports experts, comes the most complete, accurate, and up-to-date football database ever compiled! This remarkable volume, brought to fans of the gridiron at an unbeatable price, is absolutely brimming with facts, figures, and everything else to do with the game. Weighing in at a whopping 1,336 pages, it features comprehensive year-by-year and team-by-team statistics on rushing, passing, receiving, kicking, punting, sacks, and returns for all players in NFL history. It also lists the all-time leaders in dozens of categories and provides far-reaching details on football history.

Customer Reviews:

Must Have.......2007-03-19

If you like to read about Football History then this is the book for you teams Like The Brooklyn Lions and Brooklyn Dodgers Kanas City Cowboys are all in here every player every to play a game is also in here if you are a football historial or just like to read about football history and stats you would be cheating yourself by not buying this book so put this one in your shopping cart and order right away choose next day air and have fun reading

The ESPN PRO FOOTBALL ENCYCLOPEDIA EDITION.......2007-01-05

I bought this as a gift for my husband.he absolutely loved it.If you think you know someone who knows everything about football, you have to buy him this book.

A must have for any NFL fan!.......2006-11-10

Everything you ever wanted to know about the NFL. This book has every stat imaginable. I also have the older TOTAL FOOTBALL and this is a different book but very similar. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Would be 5 stars except for some errors I found.......2006-09-23

I have been interested in pro football stats since the late 1950s, so I ordered this new encyclopedia immediately (I have all the other ones referred to in this one). And as the authors said might might happen, once I got the book yesterday, I was up until the wee hours of the morning perusing it!

Physically, though a large paperback, this book opens flat nicely on a table. I found the format in which the stats were presented to be fine with me. Only stats and info for the NFL, AAFC, and the 1960 AFL are in the book. There was very useful info I hadn't seen in other encyclopedias, such as starters by position. However, there were no fuller team rosters, so it's still Neft et. al. for that. I also liked the scores of games being given by quarters.

I was really excited when I realized that game-by-game outstanding performances (100 yard rushing and receiving performances, and 300 yard--somewhat less in early seasons--passing performances) were presented starting in 1932 in the scores section. However, it was at this point that I began to notice editing errors, relating mostly to what team a player performed for. For example, Cliff Battles' 100 yd rushing day of Oct 1, 1933 is said to have occured while he played for the Chicago Cardinals! In 1934, a similar performance is attributed to his stint with the Detroit Lions! And all the outstanding performances for the LA Rams from 1946-49 are said to have occurred on the very same day and for the very same player(s) while they were playing for the LA Dons (e.g. Bob Waterfield threw for 312 yards for both teams on Dec 1, 1946). For the years prior to 1950, I found innumerable such errors, though nothing jumped out at me from 1950 on.

Some other errors I spotted are: the attribution of Johnny Strzykalski's season rushing stats to one Bob Steuber, a little used sub for the LA Dons, in the rankings for the 1947 season; the incorrect boldfacing of Jim Brown's long gain of 1964 as the NFL's longest, while his long gain of 1965, which did lead the NFL, is not boldfaced; and, in the season summary for 1933, the implication that there were no blacks in the NFL that year, when of course Joe Lillard was still playing and even gained 373 yards on 119 carries.

I found some of the adjusted stats interesting, but also quirky. For example, since 40 yards per interception are subtracted from passers "Total Adjusted Yards", George Blanda ended up contributing an adjusted NEGATIVE 134 yards to the Houston Oilers in 1962! He wasn't the only QB in that fix.

The intro to the book indicates that an update is to be published every year. If so, I hope the book is proofed again, and these and other errors are corrected. Then it will be on its way to a 5-star rank!

Incredible Value, A Must Have, Room For Improvement.......2006-08-06

I have been buying Football stat books since the 1970's so I feel like I can offer a well informed opinion. I have been waiting for a book like this since Total Football II became out of date and overall I am very pleased. This book raises the bar, it's got pretty much everything and then some, but there are some areas that need to be improved.

The player register is nice but I think they got it half-right, they had sections for kickers, defensive players & specialists, whick is great but when look at the offensive skill position players it is not easy to follow. Just put all the QB's in one section with thier own stat-template and do the same for RB's & WR's.

The game score, broken down by quarter with the basic game stats was a mind blowing surprise! thank you guys!

The year-by-year historical record is fine and clear to follow.

Here's my biggest complaint: The All-Time leaders by Lifetime & Season, why would they sort it by an "adjusted total" Sort the stats by the actual, factual number? If the editors want to add an adjusted stat to span eras, fine put it to the side of the real numbers. As for all of the "made up stats" put them in a special section, they do have a place here, and I would not mind seeing more of them, just please don't muddy the actual facts/stats with them.

The chronology of records is nice, very nice in fact, but there should still be room for a records section like the "NFL Record & Fact Book" has, only expanded to show the top 5-10, not just the top 3 like the NFL Book does.

The great performances section leaves alot to be desired, there is so much more that could be added there, there isn't much on great "single game" performances unless you sift through the scores section. A little cross refernce would be a big plus here.

Overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars, it is the best Pro Football Encyclopedia ever published and you should buy it ASAP, I just feel with some improvements this book could be off the charts special.

JKG

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Hands-On Networking Fundamentals
Michael Palmer
Manufacturer: Course Technology
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Modern Database Management (8th Edition)
Process Redesign: The Implementation Guide for Managers (Engineering Process Improvement Series)
Managerial Issues of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
Knowledge Management and KM Software Package
Guide to Network Defense and Countermeasures

ASIN: 1418835544

Book Description

Hands-On Networking Fundamentals has been designed with the novice networking student in mind. It is a doorway into learning about all types of networks from the ground up. This new book encourage new users to feel confident in moving onto a Network+ course of study while obtaining the skills necessary to perform network installations and basic troubleshooting. The student truly gets a hands-on, interactive learning experience. New concepts are presented in clear language and the hands-on activities along with realistic case studies reinforce learning at each step. In the context of learning network fundamentals, students also learn practical design methods for home, small business, and large enterprise networks.

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Guide to Operating Systems Security
Michael Palmer
Manufacturer: Course Technology
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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Linux Security (Networking)
Guide to Firewalls and Network Security: Intrusion Detection and VPNs
Guide to Network Defense and Countermeasures
Security+ Guide to Networking Security Fundamentals, Second Edition
Guide to Network Defense and Countermeasures

ASIN: 0619160403

Book Description

This text is designed to expand networking student?s basic network and operating system skills to include planning, implementation, and auditing of a system?s security.

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Did anyone catch this pun?
Michael Palmer keeps getting better
I enjoy anything that is anti vaccine
Fatal - A book with a lot of attraction.
"Honey. I ain't feelin' good. Think I'll take some Omnivax."

Fatal
Michael Palmer
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Patient
Silent Treatment
Critical Judgment
Natural Causes
Miracle Cure

ASIN: 0553802038
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Book Description

From The Sisterhood, Michael Palmer's first New York Times bestseller, to The Patient, his ninth, reviewers have proclaimed him a master of medical suspense. Recognized around the world for original, topical, nail-biting suspense, emergency physician Palmer'swork has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Now he reaches controversial and startling new heights in a terrifying tale of cutting-edge microbiology, unbridled greed, and murder, where either knowing too little or trusting too much can be FATAL.

In Chicago, a pregnant cafeteria worker suffering nothing more malevolent than flulike symptoms begins hemorrhaging from every part of her body. In Boston, a brilliant musician, her face disfigured by an unknown disease, rapidly descends into a lethal paranoia. In Belinda, West Virginia, a miner suddenly goes berserk, causing a cave-in that kills two of his co-workers. Finding the link between these events could prove FATAL.

Five years ago, internist and emergency specialist Matt Rutledge returned to his West Virginia home to marry his high-school sweetheart and open a practice. He also had a score to settle. His father died while working for the Belinda Coal and Coke Company, and Matt swore to expose the mine’s health and safety violations.

When his beloved Ginny succumbed to an unusual cancer, his campaign became even more bitterly personal. Now Matt has identified two bizarre cases of what he has dubbed the Belinda Syndrome--caused, he is certain, by the mine’s careless disposal of toxic chemicals. All he needs is proof.

Meanwhile, two women, unknown to one another, are drawn inexorably to Belinda, into Matt’s life--and into mortal danger. Massachusetts coroner Nikki Solari comes to attend the funeral of her roommate, killed violently on a Boston street. Ellen Kroft, a retired schoolteacher from Maryland, seeks the remorseless killer who has threatened to destroy her and her family.Three strangers--Rutledge, Solari, and Kroft--each hold one piece of a puzzle they must solve, and solve quickly. If they don’t, it will be far more than just their own lives that are at risk.

Michael Palmer has crafted a novel of breathtaking speed and medical intricacy where nothing is as it seems and one false step could be FATAL.

Download Description

From The Sisterhood, Michael Palmer's first New York Times bestseller, to The Patient, his ninth, reviewers have proclaimed him a master of medical suspense. Recognized around the world for original, topical, nail-biting suspense, emergency physician Palmer's work has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Now he reaches controversial and startling new heights in a terrifying tale of cutting-edge microbiology, unbridled greed, and murder, where either knowing too little or trusting too much can be Fatal.

In Chicago, a pregnant cafeteria worker suffering nothing more malevolent than flulike symptoms begins hemorrhaging from every part of her body. In Boston, a brilliant musician, her face disfigured by an unknown disease, rapidly descends into a lethal paranoia. In Belinda, West Virginia, a miner suddenly goes berserk, causing a cave-in that kills two of his co-workers. Finding the link between these events could prove Fatal.

Five years ago, internist and emergency specialist Matt Rutledge returned to his West Virginia home to marry his high-school sweetheart and open a practice. He also had a score to settle. His father died while working for the Belinda Coal and Coke Company, and Matt swore to expose the mine's health and safety violations.

When his beloved Ginny succumbed to an unusual cancer, his campaign became even more bitterly personal. Now Matt has identified two bizarre cases of what he has dubbed the Belinda Syndrome -- caused, he is certain, by the mine's careless disposal of toxic chemicals. All he needs is proof.

Meanwhile, two women, unknown to one another, are drawn inexorably to Belinda, into Matt's life -- and into mortal danger. Massachusetts coroner Nikki Solari comes to attend the funeral of her roommate, killed violently on a Boston street. Ellen Kroft, a retired schoolteacher from Maryland, seeks the remorseless killer who has threatened to destroy her and her family. Three strangers -- Rutledge, Solari, and Kroft -- each hold one piece of a puzzle they must solve, and solve quickly. If they don't, it will be far more than just their own lives that are at risk.

Michael Palmer has crafted a novel of breathtaking speed and medical intricacy where nothing is as it seems and one false step could be Fatal.

Customer Reviews:

Did anyone catch this pun?.......2007-04-02

"Maybe he can order some sort of toxicology on the tissue. 'I'm still certain the mine is at the bottom of all this.'" These words were spoken by the brilliant doctor, Dr. Matt Rutledge in Dr. Palmer's book. The other reviewers have captured the essence of this book admirably...it is an exciting read. But...a line like that? I searched the page to see if it was spoken tongue-in-cheek. Without a wink, this groaner had me wondering about the editor!

Michael Palmer keeps getting better.......2005-03-17

Thread through a medical thriller is an intriguing romance and the side story of Rambo hillbillies with heart. It's this latter aspect that adds depth to an already interesting story about the dangers of vaccinations, and the politics that push them through to the public without proper testing. The slow unravelling of the protagonists (a man and a woman, both doctors) demonstrates the considerable writing chops Palmer has developed. The twists aren't quit as shocking as they could have been, I think (not enough red herrings or plants along the way), but still, this is a great read. Well done, Dr. Palmer!

I enjoy anything that is anti vaccine.......2005-03-02

As a mother who does not vaccinate her kids, I liked this book. It was a work of fiction, but for so many familes, it was very real.

Fatal - A book with a lot of attraction........2004-07-23

This better-than-most medical thriller by the creative Michael Palmer is elevated to the heights of a "can't-afford-to-miss" WOW of a book by the very enjoyable writing style of Palmer.

Interesting plot, likeable characters, believeable dialogue if you know anyone from the mountains of West Virginia - all these elements make for a great story.

Add in the gut-wrenching situations the characters find themselves involved in and the realistic narrative created by Palmer and it becomes a GREAT story. The wiggle-producing ending is the stuff all thrillers should be made of. "Fatal" provides it all in the nail-biting, adrenoline-rush genre. You simply cannot wait until the end arrives, then it is too soon for you because the pleasure is over.

If you listen to this book on audio, which is read wonderfully, One word of warning; if you are the LEAST BIT claustrophobic, DO NOT attempt to listen to tape #8 while in rush-hour traffic. It could prove extremely hazardous to your insurance rates. Palmer's detailed, realistic description of Matt's wild ride could cause the listener to embark on one of his own.

Highly recommend this awesome book!

"Honey. I ain't feelin' good. Think I'll take some Omnivax.".......2004-03-19

The medical thriller probably begins as far back as Upton Sinclair taking on the greedy, amoral manufacturers, but it certainly was refined by Crichton and then the offshoot, one could argue, might be Kellerman, Robin Cook and even Jeffrey Deaver to some extent. But clearly, no one does it better than Michael Palmer.

Matt Rutledge returns to West Virginia to practice medicine, recollecting the love of his coal miner father, killed in a mine collapse, terribly missing his lovely wife who died suddenly by an anomalous carcinogen, and befriended by the evil (no, nice twist, not really) Slocum Brothers.

Far north, Nikki Solari, concert-style classical violinist turned blue grass musician and full time pathologist buries her closest friend who became psychotic and stepped in front of a fast moving Peterbilt.

Dr. Matt ER's two miners, one of whom went beserk several hundred yards beneath a mountain, and Ellen Kroft, a consumer advocate on a Federal Committee to investigate a cure-all vaccine for children, is gravely disturbed by the White House's push to release the "fountain of youth-kill all the bad bugs vaccine," Omnivax, and is being presured by the self-interested members of the committee.

Naturally all forces, good, evil, confused, heartbroken, come together in Belinda, West Virginia ('Country Roads, Take me Home.')

A little wild from time to time and the reader needs occasional doses of the suspension of disbelief pill, nevertheless engaging, articulate, well written and relentless in its excitement.

Customer Reviews:

INTOXICATING!.......2007-04-16

I love this book! It effectively captures the drama and charm of Provence. I have been to Provence and this book is the next best thing if you can't go there. I also highly recommend the other book "The Most Beautiful Country Towns of Provence".

Disappointing .......2005-08-19

I bought this book thinking that it would show me not only nice pictures, but also information about the villages it supposedly considers the most beautiful ones in Provence. Pure disappointment... Even though the quality of the pictures is nice, they do not give you a true view of the relevant villages. They are pictures taken at random that do not represent - sometimes - the best view of the village.

But what is most dissapoiting in this book is the poor information about the villages, its populations, culture and location. In my opinion, every descrition of each village should also contain a map of its location in southern France (for us to know how could one get there), its population (to see how big it is), a some info on the villages picturesque points, etc. The few paragraphs dedicated to each village are too vague.

Finally, I think the editor should have made this book differently with half the villages and twice the pictures and info about them. I gave 2 stars for the pictures.

There is no place on the earth like my Provence!.......2000-08-31

I am French and was born in Provence, so I have spent most of my days there, except when I travel and when I was modeling in the world of high fashion. I know every village, and I fly my plane over Provence many, many times. I bought this book because it is so beautiful and shows the many wonderful places in my part of France. I am not good at taking the pictures, like these men do, and besides, I always do the flying. My sister would have to do the picture making. If you buy this book, you will be able to see my beautiful Provence in the pictures whenever you want to. Provence is very old and very picturesque, that is why the photography is so good. If it was not a most beautiful place in the world, it could not be so beautiful of a book. I am French and so I know it is this beautiful. It is more beautiful in the real world, if you can even think that. We have lots of cobble streets. Everyone loves the flowers, so you will see most beautiful flowers everywhere you look in Provence. We have hidden waters that come out into our special fountains. Every village must have their fountains and some are very, very old and are more special than any place else in the world. We like things to be beautiful, so you never see anything ugly in Provence. The earth is very good to us. We have herbs growing everywhere in the countryside. Lavender, Rosemary, and Thyme, you can find just walking in our wonderful hills. We love colors in Provence. Blue, yellow, ochre,green, we like all of those colors. Marcel Pagnol lived in Provence, too. He made his films and his books because he loved Provence. He was French. If you want to see a beautiful book that will make you smile and smile, get this book, and then come see for yourself that I am lucky to be French and live in Provence most of the time...................... ................Presented to you by Summer

The only thing better than this book is to be there!.......2000-08-29

Provence is heaven to me.I love the hills, the variety of plant life, and the exquisite villages with their definitive shuttters and dove cotes. The fountains bubble with life. The cobbled streets lead to some of the most fetching homes and buildings in the world. The Provencal people dress their windows in lace and paint the exterior and interior of their homes in the colors found in the Provencal landscape: blue, yellow, ochre, greens. Terracotta roofs provide the most wonderful color and texture to the landscape. Somehow everything blends wonderfully! The creators of The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence capture the essence of this southern region of France. The photography vividly presents the viewer with a panorama of gorgeous scenes: fields of lavender, geraniums in pots leading to a beautiful door, roof top views that are breathtaking, undulating paths that take you to splendid spots, aerial views of villages, an old roman road and bridge. A friend of mine, who was born in Provence, gave me this incredibly beautiful book; the only thing better, she says, is to be there! I plan to take this book with me to Provence next summer!! After seeing this book, nothing can keep me away!

Are You Ready For Romance?.......2000-05-28

In my opinion (and in the opinion of my wife!), Provence is the most beautiful place on earth, and the most romantic! My wife and I spend two weeks every year just traveling through the little hill towns and villages with no agenda other than to just enjoy ourselves, eat wonderful meals and luxuriate in the landscape. Besides getting a firsthand view of the most gorgeous place on earth, we find there is no better place than Provence to renew the love and friendship between us. If your ready for romance, then buy this book and take off. If not, you'd better stay at home.

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