In this fascinating document, one of Japan's best known-and controversial-writers created what might be termed a new literary form. It is new because it combines elements of many existing types of writing, yet in the end fits into none of them.

At one level, it may be read as an account of how a puny, bookish boy discovered the importance of his own physical being; the sun and steel of the title are themselves symbols respectively of the cult of the open air and the weights used in bodybuilding. At another level, it is a discussion by a major novelist of the relation between action and art, and his own highly polished art in particular. More personally, it is an account of one individual's search for identity and self-integration. Or again, the work could be seen as a demonstration of how an intensely individual preoccupation can be developed into a profound philosophy of life.

All these elements are woven together by Mishima's complex yet polished and supple style. The confession and the self-analysis, the philosophy and the poetry combine in the end to create something that is in itself perfect and self-sufficient. It is a piece of literature that is as carefully fashioned as Mishima's novels, and at the same time provides an indispensable key to the understanding of them as art.

The road Mishima took to salvation is a highly personal one. Yet here, ultimately, one detects the unmistakable tones of a self transcending the particular and attaining to a poetic vision of the universal. The book is therefore a moving document, and is highly significant as a pointer to the future development of one of the most interesting novelists of modern times.

Ever larger numbers of people are starting to learn Arabic, while even more have some contact with the Arab world. Anyone who wishes to learn the language faces a hitherto formidable initial problem: the alphabet. This book proceeds step by step through all the letters of the Arabic alphabet, showing the sounds they stand for and how they are combined into words. Nothing essential is left out, but no unnecessary complications are added. Readers will find that progress is rapid and will be surprised at the relative ease with which they master the first steps in learning this increasingly important world language.

The Arabic Alphabet: How to Read and Write It belongs on the desk of every student of the language, in the luggage of every visitor to the Middle East, in the briefcase of all business people with Arab clients, and in the back pocket of all employees of British or American companies working for a time in an Arab country.

Get ready for a rollicking, wickedly fun new mystery series from USA Today Bestselling Author Rhonda Pollero, featuring the most delicious sleuth ever to solve the crime, get the guy, and save a bundle on discount Gucci, all at the same time. Once Finley Tanner's on the case, shopping and murder will never be the same. . .

Meet Finley Anderson Tanner. F.A.T. to her enemies. Underachiever extraordinaire. This West Palm Beach paralegal hates the gym, still rents her condo, and loves two-hour lunches with her friends. But what really gets Finley's blood pumping is the thrill of the hunt--shopping for deeply discounted designer goods she can wear at her upscale law firm. Hey, if she holds that Chanel bag just right, no one will ever notice the weird smear on the pale pink lambskin.

Too bad work isn't all about fashion. Especially when a grieving widow is sitting in your office, convinced that her husband's accidental death was really murder. Okay, so she's sincere. . .but crazy. She's also a close personal friend of the boss, and the boss wants Finley to personally oversee the investigation. Good-bye outlet malls; hello pain-in-my-Asprey.

Investigating murder isn't really Finley's bag. (That would be Prada, 75% off.) But the deeper Finley digs, the stranger things get. There are an awful lot of accidental deaths out there. This discount shopper knows slightly irregular when she sees it, and this case is clearly not right. Kind of like sexy Liam McGarrity. Everything about the hot, hunky P.I. assigned to the investigation screams, Get out while you still have your underwear When he's not working the case, he's working on Finley. Who knew crime could be this much fun?

Now, for a girl whose biggest ambition was take-out Moo Shu at exactly 5:01, life is taking some exciting, unpredictable, and decidedly dangerous turns. But someone doesn't like Finley's new work ethic. And if this paralegal wants to bring home the real goods, she'll have to keep from becoming a killer's total knock off. . .

7-Card Stud is still the most popular card game in America, and this step-by-step guide gives players the edge they need to compete and triumph-in their basements or in any casino in the country. Readers will learn the pitfalls and how to handle them, as well as necessary skills like bluffing, semi-bluffing, ante stealing, seat and table selections, and casino money management.

Whether they play craps, blackjack, or roulette with only the most rudimentary knowledge or have acquired spurious advice on how to win, most devotees of casino games will testify that their losses exceed their winnings.

Here, for the first time, are the voices of the experts in games of chance Walter Thomason has selected a top group of professional gamblers to explain their skills in particular games His own contribution is a chapter on the advantages and disadvantages of long and short play periods As he notes, most players are ahead at one point, yet nearly ninety percent leave the table with a loss.

Among the contributors are Stanley Roberts, Blackjack Rules and Strategy; Henry Tamburin, The Spin on Roulette; and Alone Paone, Baccarat: The High Roller's Game.

The Experts' Guide to Casino Games offers the best advice -- and that extra edge -- from the best players about all types of casino

The female perspective on how to win this ever-popular game.

THE EDUCATION OF A POKER PIGEON Anonymous Secrets Learned from a Life in High Stakes Poker HE LEARNED TO BE A POKER PRO THE HARD WAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. The only way to improve your poker game is through experience. And the fact is, few players have more experience than the author of this book, who chooses to remain anonymous (and not blow his cover). In The Education of a Poker Pigeon, he reveals the successful strategy that's enabled him to earn a living for forty years doing what he loves. By playing expert poker while hiding exactly how well you play, you can lull even the smartest players into making dumb and expensive mistakes. Here, Anonymous goes further and outlines the steps that took him from pure novice to poker pro, sharing the priceless lessons he learned along the way. You'll learn: - How to detect a cheater. - How to manage your winnings. - How real game strategy works, in venues ranging from illegal card rooms to the World Series. - How to accelerate your game while avoiding the pitfalls that snag so many players. Whether you're seriously contemplating going pro or just fantasizing about it, do yourself and your bankroll a favor and learn from someone who's been there, done that, and lived to play-and win- another day!