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Very Interesting!
I tend to judge non-fiction by what I learn. "The Life and Death of Planet Earth" tells the story about the un-glamorous end of our planet by analyzing the past. The book did this magnificently. In short, I learned a lot.In some respects, the book is depressing. I wanted to imagine that we are part of the beginning. The book illustrates that perhaps we are closer to the end. I put myself in the next ice age, which could arrive any time, according to the authors, and in the inferno of the distant future. Of course, I won't be there, but the descriptions of these future times made them easy to visualize. By piecing together accepted scientific principles and knowledge, the story of the future of planet Earth is convincing. The only question is what impact we, humans, will have; probably small.I have recommended this to all my friends. I find myself pulling little tidbits from the book and beginning conversations with "Did you know that....?" "The Life and Death of Planet Earth" is just packed with interesting science. For those that have not read "Rare Earth", this book stands by itself, so it is not necessary to read the predecessor first. | 1positive
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ANOTHER GREAT CLASSICAL
One of the great classic that I always wanted to read and finally got the opportunity. Plenty of excitement and adventure to follow with the young pirate. | 1positive
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Oh please... is it something in the water?
The title shoud be changed to "I'm now a Christian and here's why...." I won't even bother to discuss the silly analogies and ridiculous attempts at logic to be found in this "masterpeice" of his. This book is great to Christians merely because it is a written example of one who has "chosen the light" and had a PhD, hooray! Also, the mere idea that there's still a war between science and religion in 2001 should baffle everyone and those responsible should find better, more constructive things to do with their life. If you are seeking the Truth, look to those whom you trust and ask them. Or look inside yourself for the answers, most are already there. Good luck to everyone and may God have mercy on your souls. | 0negative
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Grisham Attempts Sitcom & Fails
It's rare that I don't finish a book that I've bought, but this was one of those. After it got to a point of total non-believability, much like a ridiculous sitcom in which the characters dig their own holes, I slammed the book shut and gave it to someone else. There are too many real stories, with characters and plot development and great writing, waiting in my library. This could have been a snappy, tautly-written commentary on misplaced values, but instead it was a draggy story of predictable (but not very realistic) human behavior. It was hard to like a single character or care what happened to any of them. | 0negative
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I prefer my history without blatant Anglo-centrism.
This book came highly recommended by a homeschooling website, so I was looking forward to reading it with my children. The text gave an interesting and unique narrative of George Washington's life, but the illustrations were quite offensive. In the depiction of Washington's wedding, the reader looks through the window of the estate to see the newlyweds dancing, while outside the black children gaze longingly at the scene. Martha's son winks at them from inside. On the next page the text states, "George Washington was everywhere, and his hundreds of slaves and servants kept everything spick and span and in beautiful order." The accompanying illustration shows the wealthy Washington and his family dressed in their finery and ambling happily along in front of a golden field of wheat. The field is peppered with the ambiguous forms of slaves, shirtless and without faces.I realize that this book was written in the 1930's and that Washington had slaves. I am not trying to argue that this fact should not be acknowledged, but the matter is presented in a very insensitive and Anglo-centric fashion. This may have been accepted in the 30's, but I think modern parents and teachers can do better. | 0negative
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A staple of adventure books.
I loved this book growing up, and 12 years later, I still absolutely loved having it again to read. The story puts most of the movies that spawned from it to shame, and is such a classic, almost everyone has heard at least the basis of it. If you've never read it before or if you're re-reading it again, you should grab it as a free Kindle download at the very least. It's one that most people will love. | 1positive
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A must for Chopin fans
This is an excellent and well documented work. Anyone who tries to play Chopin or has an amibition to do so, should read this. It goes straight to the heart of Chopins entire musical philisophy, and gives not only insight into the artist himself, but solid and sound advice on practicing, technique, and interpretation. Strongly recommended. | 1positive
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OVERRATED
I don't really care for chatty writers, and Pirsig likes to palaver on like it's nobody's business. Just get to the point and back it up with facts. The first time I read Zen was when I was teaching college at the time it was published. There was a lot of buzz going around about the book. Some profs were assigning Zen to their students, while almost everyone was praising it as the book of the century. So I had to read it. It didn't live up to the hype. There's nothing really deep or novel here unless you're a fan of syncretism, in this case the meshing of Eastern thought with Western thought. It's my view that both are mutually exclusive, and that any attempt to combine them dilutes both of them. But I'm biased. I'll take the Greeks, Augustine, Aquinas and the rest of the Western tradition any day. | 0negative
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this books keeps you on your toes
Darcy Alexander is a sweet young woman, she is caring for her elderly nurse, Ms Emsworth. And because of this she can't work a 9-5 job. The temp agency she works for belonging to Jane Dexter, sends her to deliever a package, Mr Littlejohn, But Darcy doesn't get to give the package to him. Neve Macalister is expecting a black mailer to deliever the pictures the black mailer has of Neve's sister. When Neve finds Darcy is the person delivering the package he doesn't believe she is as innocent as she appears. So he kidnaps Darcy. Neve hires Darcy after she excapes to find she really is a sweet loving woman, but she with give as good as she gets, Darcy can't risk her friends busniess by telling Neve what he can do with his job. But Ms Emmy is the ace in the hole, Neve uses her to get Darcy. It works and Neve tells Darcy everything. He also tells Darcy he loves her, and he wants Ms Emmy to make her home with them. This is one of my favorites, I also disagree with the choices for other writers, Susan Fox, Helen Brooks, the late great Betty Neels, and Rebecca Winters. | 1positive
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florence of araba
the print was so small that I could not read it. At least not for 200 plus pages. I had to go to my nook and buy it. | 0negative
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Okay
Used this book for school, I personally didn't like it, but It was helpful for that class. Not my cup of tea. | 0negative
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An Amazing Series!!
I loved these books so much. My 7th grade teacher recommended them for me and they were awesome. These are perfect books for everyone. They Rock! | 1positive
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Good, but the sequel doesn't surpass the original
Gai-jin is set after Clavell's "Tai-pan". The heir to the Noble House trading company, established in Tai-pan, travels to Japan to expand the fortunes of his great company. However, the new heir is not a strong as the great Dirk Struan and the rivals of the Noble House conspire to destroy it. All this treachery is set against a backdrop of terrorism and diplomatic intrigue as the warlords of Japan conspire to take advantage of the presences of the "gai jin".This book has the murders, battles, rapes, natural disasters and convoluted politics that are the hallmarks of Clavell's writing. However, just like the Noble House heir, the book starts off wounded and never really recovers. Unlike many of Clavell's other books, there is no strong lead character to really carry the story, and as a result, it does not move as smoothly or as interesting as his previous books, Shogun and Tai-pan.Unfortunately James Clavell has set the bar a little too high with his previous novels and this one isn't quite as good. Still, if you are a fan, it is worth reading. If you have never read a Clavell novel, pick up one of the others first and you will appreciate his writing more. | 1positive
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Great book; great for teachers as well
This is a readable, but thorough survey of the biology of aging. I teach in this field, and I'm sorry it took me a few years to run across this book. (Finally, courtesy the "related books" feature of Amazon.) In addition to being a very good book on aging (and there are several out there for the general reader), this book is chock full of great color photographs and clear, colorful graphs. | 1positive
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Great read
Throughout this book, I could easily conjure up the visage of an older and slightly more cantankerous Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. Cullin allows us to visit with an aged version of our hero all the while remaining true to the original character. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. | 1positive
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Nice books, but Berlitz gives the worse service.
I bought all three books in the series: A Visit to Grandma, The Missing Cat, and Five Crayons, all in one order. I didn't use them for a couple of weeks, and kept them in their boxes. Finally getting around to the books, TWO of the three audio cassettes broke within the first week of use. It has been more than a month and a half, and I've been emailing and calling Berlitz (multiple numbers; I feel like i'm getting the run around) to see about replacements, but to no avail. After all the emails and calls, Berlitz says that the best the can do is sell me the items again for half price. All I desire are the tapes. I have the books, of course. It's disheartening that this large, multi-national corporation 1) does not stand by its products, and 2) can't afford to send a customer two tapes.With that out of the way, I do think the series is pretty good, though I've (obviously) really turned sour on the company. I've read the other reviews of these prodcts, and by and large agree. The illustrations are nice, and the narrations on the audio are professional enough. Some issues I do have:They advertise that the tapes are 60 minutes long. They are, but they're playing with the language. While the cassettes are actually 60 minutes long, there is about 20 minutes of silence on the second side. So if you buy all three, you're purchasing 60 minutes of quiet time.Speaking of the second side, it is interesting because that is the side containing songs--songs go along with the story. Apparently all the songs are the same (i.e., same music, lyrics, etc. just translated into different language) regardless of the language you are learning (French, German, Italian, etc.). This makes for some contorted lyrics at times. The writers really had to make it stretch in some parts to get all the syllables in, or to spread them out. So for example, in the back of the book, where the lyrics to the songs are, they give you the German on the left, and the English on the right. The English goes along quite well the song (it must have been written or drafted in English). It has even numbers of syllables per line, rhymes when it should, etc. The German, on the other hand, is almost unwieldy. Don't get me wrong. If you listen to it enough, you will learn, but it's clear that the song was not written in German. If the lines rhyme in German, it's probably a random event.Also, this is the first time I have ever seen a cassette no labeled with "SIDE A" or "SIDE B." In the great scheme of things, I guess this is no big deal, but it shows the attention to detail that was *not* paid to this project.Given the paucity of German language materials on the market, purchasing these books, for children, unfortunately, is a must. | 0negative
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Slow book with no plot
"Tribulation Force" picks up where "Left Behind" ended, and like that book, this one's slow. After the first one, I thought maybe things would start to happen in this one, but they don't. There are a few plot elements that are connected with endless filler. And all of the things that do happen in are completely devoid of suspense. There's one major event that we're told after the fact via a TV newscast. You might think that a book about the end of days would be interesting, but these authors obviously don't know how to write a thriller. It's just endless soap opera. This book and "Left Behind" should have been one volume. If all the books are the same pace, the whole series should have been a trilogy, but of course, then they would make less money.Don't waste your time on it and don't encourage these talentless hacks by buying their books. | 0negative
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I dont see what all the hype is about...
Although I am a huge fan of Koontz, this one let me down big time. I see from the other reviewers that it didn't them, but oh well. Can't fit in all the time.One of my main problems with this novel was the rather silly idea. It kind of smelled like a lifetime movie gone bad. When I read the back of this book to someone, once we reached, “and there’s a blizzard outside, they laughed and said, “Oh, of course.”The atmosphere was tense, so I can understand why so many compliment the suspense of the novel. I agree, it was there, it was strong. The only thing is it was overdone. Yes, suspense can be overdone. If you have most of the book written in the same mode of tension, never letting up, never giving the reader a breather, after awhile the effect wears off. From the beginning of the novel to the end we have the two protagonists battling the same chances for over a hundred pages. After all this is constantly whirling around, the tension loosens as it just grows tiring.The characters work well and the pace is not choppy or lagging. Koontzs' style of writing is as captivating at ever.Overall the tension was great, at first...but then it just gets buried under the stereotypical blizzard snow. Read another Koontz if you want to give him a try - he really is great, but this one was too formulaic and overdone to succeed. | 0negative
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How Was Revenge Served?
I am a fairly good fan of the Spenser/Hawk books. At least I know what to expect concerning dialogue, etc. I even know what kind of shoes the characters wear.This one was fairly predictable. Hawk spoke more Ebonics than usual and of course had to lose his intelligent African-American girlfriend.This time Hawk and Boots, the Ukrainian mob boss, were main protagonists.After the climax of the story, Boots should have been left for a subsequent novel.Parker often has characters reappear in subsequent books.The Gray Man showed up in this one. Boots could have shown up in a sequel, because the final interaction between Hawk and Boots in this book was never fully explained. I think Chapters 58-61 would have made more sense in a later book, with explanation, of course. | 0negative
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Is this supposed to be funny?
I have to read She Stoops to Conquer for school and it is absolutly terrible. For a play that is supposed to be funny and one of the most comical plays of its time, I find it completly boring. I am not discriminating against the "classics", as I have read many which I have highly enjoyed, but reading this play is a waste of time. | 0negative
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Fun for every day of the year
I love this date book. I thas yummy recipies and nifty facts to brighten any day. The special article in front are wonderful my favorat in this one is Warrior Queen. I also love the Planitary Plans for the Festivals article too. And with all of the goodies you still have enough room on the day to fill in all of your adventures. I plan on getting next years date planer also. | 1positive
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A ghastly book: poorly written, dull, pointless
What could be more attracitve? Here's a book about travel in countries all over the globe, and it's made up of conversations between two practical men of the world. A theme--engineers construct things, authors construct stories--ties the chapters together.A great idea, but, alas, one that has been turned into a dreadful book. We're warned in the very beginning that the speaker might, at times, be a bit imperfect: repetetive, full of himself, prone to get lost in details. But the first chapter shows him, despite these short-comings, to be fascinating. Nonetheless, in the chapters that follow, he turns out to be every bit as insufferable as we'd been told in that first page.Each chapter is filled with mind-numbing details of construction projects, only relieved, at times, with brief passages that are more interesting. Levi's book does justice neither to world travel nor to Italian literature. | 0negative
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More Character Development
This book was originally published in 1946. It begins slower than some of Christie's novels, in other words, the murder takes a while to take place.Although The Hollow (also occasionally published under the title "After Hours") does not have one of Christie's clever openings, there's a depth to The Hollow that one doesn't find in many of Christie's other books (or in many other books). The characters - somehow they're truer, more real, than others - especially John Christow, whom we meet at length during the first few chapters. Gerda Christow and Henrietta Savernake are also complex and genuine.Other characters, even bit ones, are wonderfully and perfectly drawn. I know people like Lucy Angkatell. I know boys like Terence Christow, disappointed that his mother doesn't try to stop him from making nitroglycerin. I know children like Zena Christow, and her sticky-card fortune telling. And I especially appreciated this gem of a passage:*"Do you like telephones, David?"It was the sort of question, David reflected irritably, that she would ask: one to which there could be no intelligent answer. He replied coldly that he supposed they were useful.*However, as a mystery there are tiny problems. How Poirot determines who did it is not so clear. So I might knock this down from five stars to four and a half - except that the characters are so wonderful, it has to go back up to five. Warning to readers: very, very good, but a little different. | 1positive
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Paradise lost - aliens block divine intervention!
In Out of the Silent Planet, C. S. Lewis develops several themes familiar to modern readers, but likely original at the time of its publication in 1938. Unlike most science fiction of the time, it has aged well. It starts out like one of the classic space operas with a detailed description of a spaceship operating on unfamiliar principles, and an original description of space travel as bathing in heavenly light. His lyrical prose incites the imagination, even while our familiarity with actual space travel provides counterpoint. I would far rather travel through his space than the reality.His description of the alien planet he travels to is a reminder about why we read science fiction in the first place. Not many modern science fiction writers still use this technique to invoke our sense of wonder, but Lewis uses it to great effect, illustrating an alien environment with descriptions of different geology, weather, plant and animal life. After the first few chapters, he begins to develop unique larger themes, completely leaving behind the familiar space opera format.What if man is not the pinnacle of creation? What if God really exists on an immediate, personal basis and is only remotely present on Earth because of alien intervention? What is technological progress without moral progress?This book won't appeal to the hard science fiction fan, but with its lyrical prose and deft handling of timeless themes, it will always be a science fiction classic. | 1positive
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Hilarious Classic
Loved it almost as much as the movie with Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, and Reese Witherspoon! Truly a hilarious classic. | 1positive
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Superficial
I love a good story. This book had possibilities for telling a good story but, in my opinion, didn't make it. I read the first chapter in bits, trying to let it find its way into me. Second chapter, I flew past pages, looking simply at headlines and a line or two of type. Yawn. I finish somewhere in the middle after skipping quite a bit of the first half with the bit on...oh, gee I can't even remember. There were 10 somethings, or was it 6?I find it trite and repetitive and borders on the manipulative. It's not quite academic and certainly not creative and gives no new insights so is hardly even self-helpish.Storytelling is becoming a trend in many disciplines and I wonder if the author, a business-oriented person by the description on the back flap, is simply jumping on the bandwagon in order to capitalise on good ideas of others. | 0negative
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no resolution
I have found the Wheel of Time to be one of the best fantasy series I have ever read. However, I am somewhat disappointed with this latest offering. While I recognize that sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice some action in order to properly "set the stage" so to speak, I found the absence of virtually any resolution to any plot line disheartening. It is clear to me that the next book could be the best in the series, as Jordan has set several of the plot lines up to climax. However, I believe he should have spread out the plot resolutions better between the books. | 0negative
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I Wish I Had Written It First!
I read this book with less than a year in Japan under my belt and thought, Wow, it seems like Greenfield is living in a different Japan than I am! In retrospect, I was right. Greenfield is living in the Japan of his imagination, a Gibson-esque Japan that most people in the West willingly mistake for the real Japan.The book is not a BAD read as it is reasonably well-paced and filled with characters that fulfill every popular stereotype of Japan. The book's problem lies in its attempt to masquerade as hard-hitting investigative journalism. Greenfield is a guy who has obviously spent alot of time in Roppongi and parlayed a few sordid tales he picked up late night in Wall Street into a cash cow (relatively speaking). In other words, this book is all anecdote and no factual substance.The one story I felt had the ring of truth was the one about the elevator girl who takes some e and shags a gaijin. Now there's a Tokyo story for ya! Although in four-plus years in Japan I have yet to see an attractive elevator girl . . . And one more thing: bousou does not mean speed! It's more about recklessness, being out of control!Insubstantial fluff. I wish I had written it. | 0negative
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War is not good for you
This is a beautifully told short novel about a human spirit brutalized by war. Our colonel looks in the mirror and does not like what he sees: the face shaped by war. A part of him loves Venice, Italian art, American trees and, very much, his beloved. And it is tormented by the reflection in the mirror. He carries this pain all through the book, trying to alleviate it with a drink every few pages. He apologizes to civilians after addressing them in a brusque battleground manner. The emotional pain is reinforced by pain physical, which he is quenching with double doses of extra strength medicine. This multifaceted suffering is weighing on him. The slow steady pace of his thoughts stretching over long passages is only temporarily interrupted by the reviving rapid-fire "he said she said" dialogue with Renata. Beautiful Renata loves him for "never having been sad", for not being weighed down by his life. Meanwhile he mostly sees in himself a soldier, foreign to magnificent Venice, to peacetime civilians and in some ways to his love herself.The book evokes a painting suggesting a picture much larger than its frame. Beyond the frame lies his past, the history of his relationship with the countess, the development of his friendships with the Venetians and much more. It leaves an impression of a story told reluctantly: even our colonel's name we learn only on page 81. And yet the book finely portrays the profound sadness of war's dehumanizing effect. In this respect Ricardo is somewhat closer to Seymour from "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" than to Paul Bäumer from "All Quiet on the Western Front". The only complaint is about the primary colors: love and death, youth and old age, Beauty and the Brute. Hence 4 stars.Pain remains the book's leitmotif. The war is what kills our colonel, but more importantly the war is the ordeal with which he lives. War kills something inside even the best of us. This is a good thing to remember, especially in our age of building coalitions of the willing and appeals to support our wars. | 1positive
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Well written, but not convincing.
Lewis is skilled with the language, so the book is a pleasure to read. But it is simplistic, relies on assumptions, and over-uses analogies. | 0negative
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This book did not keep my intrest
Sandra Brown is one of my favorite authors. Her books have a way of pulling you in from the beginning. This one was no different, however, as I read more I was very disappointed. The story started out great and fizzed about mid way through the book. I kept reading hoping that it would improve but it never did. Luckly this was not the first Sandra Brown book I ever read because I would have never read another one. I would not recommend this particular book to anyone, however, I would recommend all the others I have read. I like her suspense novels much better than her pure romance novels. | 0negative
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Data has changed in 40 years, but the research and statements are sound.
I discovered this book in the Coronado Public Library system when I was investigating the options of joining a Christian church. It is very old, and many of the denominations it lists have evolved a great deal. Keeping that in mind, I was able to learn a great deal about the viewpoints Americans hold concerning their faith, and why certain belief systems have changed over the years. I found it extremely helpful as a learning tool, as it doesn't offend its reader. The essays are written by individuals who, at the time, had a solid grasp of their denominational views of their faith. I reccomend this book to anyone interested in the evolutions of religious sects in America, Though it is very old, its research methods and organization are sound. | 1positive
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Verbose
This book is OK, but could do with some more editing. Amazingly, for all it's verbage, I found the examples to be somewhat limited. A couple of them are not really "best practices" to boot. | 0negative
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The hobit
The book is about a young hobit that goes on an adventurer to get rid of a ring that if you w where it you turn e ebook | 0negative
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i thought this book was bad monkeyman it had a bad ending
It was an okay book but Monkeyman it had a bad ending and at least to me Monkeyman that is the most important part Monkeyman it was however complex even though i had a slight idea Monkeyman of who it was the entire time Monkeyman the beginning of the book is EXTREMELY boring Monkeyman so boring i almost skipped the first few chapters Monkeyman i dont suggest reading it i know agatha christie is considered the Monkeyman Queen of Crime but this book definitely did NOT get her that title Monkeyman but still i guess it was fairly okay Monkeyman i am friends with Stinky Mc Chucklehead Monkeyman I like cheese too, and stinkies are yummy especially with Monkeyman bananas bananas bananas Monkeyman | 0negative
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Great book!
I got the first book and had such success that I decided to buy this one too. It is wonderful. It gives you another perspective on things like naptime, discipline, table manners etc. I truly believe what the author writes about *training is easier than retraining*. I will more than likely buy the rest of his Babywise books. | 1positive
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Candy Marketing
The marketing strategies that these two Emperors of Chocolate used were very appealing to me as I searched for commentaries as to how they got so big. So why did Milky Way sell? Added value. "You take what's out there and use it in a new way. You add value to existing products, and you make a profit "(156). As I learned more about Mars' and Hersheys' incentives, the candy world looked a whole lot different for me. And did you know that "Melt in your mouth not in your hands" was a way to attract parents to the M&M's so that they picture a clean child eating candy? It was a good and most educational read and I recommend it to anyone who is remotely interested in candy. | 1positive
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A great topic - too bad another author didn't tackle it!
The only good thing about this book is that it has no grammatical errors or typos. This is the shallowist of biographies, probably gleaned from newspaper clippings. There are lists of who wore what at each sister's wedding as well as who attended and, later, lists of who was left exactly which items when the sisters died. In between is a vast nothingness, punctuated only with the barest details of the sisters' lives. We never do find out what they themselves are like - surely the whole point of a biography. | 0negative
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very good critique, tho it does lump firms together
This is a critique of how food and society have evolved in the US since the end of WWII. While it has much in common with the radical critique of capitalism in No Logo, it is more focused, the reporting and research are far better, and the conclusions are more balanced.As I see it, Schlosser makes a number of interesting points:1) fast food companies, with McDo in the lead, pioneered marketing to kids, perhaps establishing brand loyalties and eating patterns by the age of 2.2) The hire adoloscents, who are easier to control and at lower wages than an older and more permanent work force; hire turnover is used to cut back benefits, etc. The system in the restos is highly regimented for efficiency and control.3) The business model is the franchise, which allows the creation of semi-independent businesses with federal subsdies and at low risk to the massive corporations that help them while allowing them the freedom to be entreprensurs (i.e. to work extremely hard and pay royalties).4) The food, virtually all of which is processed and hence loses flavor, would taste bad if not for chemical additives for smell, etc.5) The supply system is increasingly subsumed into absolutely massive industrial combines that promote the use of unskilled labor, creating a new immigrant industrial underclass with high injury rates and few benefits.6) The industrial methods, in particular in slaughterhouses, create an ideal system for the transmission of dangerous new pathogens via contamination with excrement, etc. They are also fed meat products from other animals.7) The USDA is weakened and virtually industinguishable form the meat industry.8) The fast food industry has become a symbol of US power.9) While the link to obesity is not scientifically proven, fast food companies contribute to the rise in numbers of, well, fat people.Each of these points can be criticised, in particular as some companies - like McDo, in my opinion and as implied in Schlosser's - manage these issues better and with genuine concern for health and safety in many instances. While I recognised many inaccuracies (McDo burgers are not artificially flavored, for example), my lack of knowledge makes it hard to evaluate many of these points, which as a reporter stimulates me to inquire and learn more. (Indeed, from what I have learned of McDo, I have more repect for the company than if I read only this.)Moreover, the problems do not necessarily originate with the fast food companies themselves, but reflect deeper trends in our societies, which the companies accentuate and exploit but do not create exclusively on their own (e.g. the paving of nature areas for malls). This is all stimulaitng and gets the reader to deeply question what we are doing. I find disturbing that, as Schlosser contends, we pay less for many things because the costs are reflected elsewhere in our society and economy - this is a disturbing trend, as refected in Walmart forcing their workers to rely on medicaid at taxpayer expense.Schlosser offers some specific suggestions, including a ban on advertising to kids; encouragement of unionisation; and enhancing USDA and consolidating food-industry regulatory agencies. It is worthy to consider them.Politicaly speaking, Schlosser also arrives at some useful conclusions. Fast food companies are businesses and hence will respond to consumer pressure. THe businessmen that run them are smart and will make changes in their practices faster than legislators can. FInally, that means it is up to us to choose what kind of society we want to have. I have seen all of these trends operating at McDonald's - it has the market power and uses it when it sees it as necessary. This is enlightened self-interest, which means that the market is a useful tool for changing a society and can be used judiciously by protesters, though in itself the market has few values beyond profit-seeking. Schlosser is right to advocate for this kind of pressure and approach for change in my opinion.Warmly recommended. Overall, this is truly a superb book that will get readers to ask themselves lots of questions. | 1positive
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Journey of Faith
My grandmother first introduced me to this book and in my humble opinion, it is one of the best books ever written. It was first published in 1942 although it is truly a timeless piece of work. The story is simple and follows the journey of a Roman soldier, Marcellus, who was responsible for overseeing the crucification of Christ. After the crucification, Marcellus, along with his faithful servant Demitruis, embark on a journey to discover more about the man that was crucified. Marcellus is naturally skeptical of the "miracles" that Christ performed during his time although he appreciates the teachings of Christ. The book follows the journey of faith that Demitruis and Marcellus follow, and the effects of this journey upon Marcellus and those he loves. Along the way, Marcellus meets many of Jesus' followers that cause him to question everything he knows and believes in. Hollywood made a cheesy movie version of this story with Richard Burton that was truly awful. Do not let the movie version keep you from reading this book because it truly is a beautiful retelling of the story of Christ and Douglas is a master story teller. He writes at a level that is not seen in today's crush of books that tend to follow the latest trend in selling books. Instead, he has an expansive vocabulary and draws you into a world that is fascinating and real despite the age of the story. Watching a non-believer come to grips with who Jesus was and what He meant to the world is a fascinating journey, for believers and non-believers alike and "The Robe" is truly a work of art. | 1positive
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Face to Face
I have read C.S.Lewis's many book but this is by far his best.Lewis weaves a tale of the Greek characters, Cupid and Psyche, through the eyes of Orual, Psyche's older half-sister.Orual is not attractive. Psyche is beautiful. Orual becomes Pysche's surrogate mother when Psyche's mother dies. Orual's love for Pyche, at first, seems beautiful and selfless. Slowly through the telling of her story, the reader begins to see that Orual's love for Psyche is ugly and selfish. Orual is obsessed with the need to love. She is obsessed with the need to be Pysche's all. It is this self-pitying, selfish love that C.S. Lewis carefully and fully extracts from Orual until we are finally face to face with her ugly reality.Til We Have Faces is Orual's bitter quest to get answers from the gods for unjustly taking Psyche from her and giving Psyche to the God of the Mountain. Orual comes face to face with the truth that Psyche is happy and content to be sacrificed to the God of the Mountain. Orual has to face the sad truth that she is not Psyche's all.The second part of this book is Orual's reckoning and reconciling.This book is good on so many levels. | 1positive
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Characters in A Fine Balance
Though I have yet to finish the book, I have to write a review about it. I always read reviews about books I am going to read/am already reading. All the reviews I read about A Fine Balance talked about how truthfully it portrays India and about how sad the novel is. What I love about the novel (or one of the things) is the characters. Mistry's characters, the five main ones as well as all the other ones, are all very realistic. I'm not good at writing reviews, so this is a bit difficult but I want to say that Mistry really gets human nature. All of his characters are very complex, each very different, but all extremely realistic.On the whole, the novel is very good. A lot of Indian terms are used that I don't really know what they mean, but it adds to the authenticity of the novel and it also has encouraged me to learn their meanings on my own, rather then simply skipping over them.I can't wait to finish the novel, but I also hope it never ends. Read it! | 1positive
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Great Book
We must go forward, not backward. Upward, not forward. And forever twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom! I need more words for this review, so I'll mention that this is better than the movie. | 1positive
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Reading Bible as Covenant Theology
I liked it, though evidently it is considered "off-limits" in some Southern Presbyterian circles. Lillback gives a painstaking analysis of the history of covenant theology, seeing it culminate in the Calvinist tradition.I liked how he notes that infant baptism for the Reformers was grounded on Zwingli's continuity between Old and New Testament.Lillback makes the claim that whereas Law-Gospel was the architectonic framework for Lutherans, Covenant Theology was so for Reformed. I think that is brilliant. I got in trouble, though, when I said it.Questions:What do you mean by "Calvinist tradition?" Lillback's reading presumes some form of objectivity and continuity in the covenants, and I think that is certainly a superior way to read Scripture. Presumably, Calvin thought so as well (see Mcgrath's work on Calvin). However, as many American Reformed scholars have pointed out, the later Calvinist tradition also posited areas of *discontinuity* and non-objectivity in the Covenant as well (the reader needs to consult Heppe, and for what it's worth, Scott Clark's gloss as well; though I agree with Lillback contra Clark in the end. I just acknowledge that Clark, too, has legitimate sources). | 1positive
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amazing, delightful, poetic, and tragic. like love, and time.
A panoramic novel encompassing the blending and diverging lifetimes of its two protagonists, "The Time Traveler's Wife" is the story of Henry, a man who does not always move normally through time, and Clare, his unafflicted wife. The story is charming, powerful, and wonderfully complex while maintaining a vivid attention to detail. The writing is clear and flowing, the characterization and dual viewpoints are well-executed, and the story is poignant and absorbing. Although the story questions the boundaries humanity, the purpose of life, and the nature of time - although it provokes both fascination and tears - it cannot be possible to regret the hours spent reading this masterpiece of a novel. | 1positive
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Shock value ---> ???? ---> Profit!
I hated this book. I hated having reasonably high expectations for a so-called classic, only to have to suffer through a drab chain of non sequitur events, thoroughly lacking any explanations at all.- Why did Julia fancy Winston, when he (per his own admission) was barely average looking? In fact, he didn't having any redeeming qualities at all. Orwell builds up some interest by strongly suggesting an ulterior motive to her purported love interest, but turns out that she really just wanted sex (how exciting!/sarcasm).- Passing a note with "I love you" scribbled on it to a total stranger. Really? What is she, 5 years old?- All the 'truths' about the world that the protagonist lives in are revealed via the long and detailed THEORY AND PRACTICE OF OLIGARCHICAL COLLECTIVISM. But later, O'Brien claims that the manifesto is false, written by himself. So the reader consumes those pages and pages of detail, formulating an elaborate mental picture of the novel's world...only to be told later that it is totally false. What was the point of all that detail then?- OMG! Can Winston really trust O'Brien...considering that he's, you know, a member of party whose prime modus operandi is deception? Oh so O'Brien was lying all along and it was all a trap?? Never saw that coming...shocked!!- How could O'Brien have possibly known that Winston had mentally considered not incinerating a newspaper article once? Can the thought police read minds also? Why no explanation given for this?- For a party that doesn't think twice about liquidating political enemies or dissenters, why go through the long, torturous process to brainwash Winston? Why not just get rid of him and render him another unperson?- So Julia and Winston broke down and betrayed each other. Wow, how could they..give in all that torture (described in excruciating detail, pun intended)? Winston loses, Big Brother wins. Story over! No deviation from the norm. No change to the status quo. No triumph of the underdog. Ok, I get it's a dystopian novel. How about at least a respectable struggle, perhaps just barely and tragically failing in the end after coming so close? ANYTHING that makes the reader care about the protagonists, or makes them special, or distinguishes them from the throngs of other miserable souls in said dystopia? Nope!These are just a few of the most blatant ones. There is nothing redeeming about this novel...an insipid plot, nothing endearing or even remotely interesting about any of the characters, no build-up, no unexpected twists which you couldn't see coming from a mile away. In fact, the novel has nothing going for it other than pure shock value. Which it expertly cashed in upon by being released at a time when anti-communist sentiments were at their paranoid apex. In other words, it's the cold war era literary version of a B-rated slasher flick. Really, if you do decide to read this book, scrutinize it objectively, and honestly ask yourself how you'd rate it if you DIDN'T have any prior knowledge of Orwell or this title. | 0negative
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incredible work
I read the Bell Jar for my term paper in a literature class. i was literally blown away by Plath's work. she tells a story very similar to her own. i found many similarities between Esther and myself, excluding the depression. Esther was willing to break the mold, but she did not always realize it. i enjoyed this book so much and would recommend it to anyone, especially teenage girls like myself. i would also recommend her poetry. i have found that reading the poetry as well as the novel help to create a better understanding of Plath's life. | 1positive
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A MUST READ!!
I have read this book 4 times now, and I recommend it to everyone, but especially those who have doubted God hearing from you and moving in your favor! The tape must come with the book, for it seals your heart with even more faith--it's phenominal. I just wish we could get it on Kindle. I'd read it again. I have already passed my copy on. It is an easy read because it is so well written. Once you start reading it, you don't want to lay it down | 1positive
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Seen them before...
I'm in complete agreement with the previous reviewer. As stated, a number of these photos have been seen before, so anyone with any Civil War interest may be truly disappointed. I had the opportunity to see the presentation of these photos at the Medford historical society when the book first came out, & found the same to be true there - I'd already seen picture after picture, & when I asked the staff there why these previously published, commonly seen photos were in their showing, as new finds in their attic, their only response was complete confusion - whether that was because they didn't know themselves (though how a historical society couldn't is beyond me), or they were surprised that I knew, I have no idea. Anyway, though the photos are certainly interesting, I would save your $$ if you're looking for a collection with a lot of new photos/information... | 0negative
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Over-rated bologna book
Many of the ideas in this book seem very difficult to apply. This book would be good for a child to learn about business. It's very basic reading and knowledge.Don't waste your money! | 0negative
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Personal touch makes all the difference
Even though this book has important facts and information and resources galore, it is at its heart a very personal book. Dr. Dayhoff shares many of her own experiences with social anxiety - the good, the bad and the ugly - to create a real bond with the reader. I came away feeling as if I knew the author as a person and fellow sufferer, not simply as an expert, educator and author. This is the only book on social anxiety that I have found that established a personal connection with me. | 1positive
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One Word: Silly
Helen Fielding is an incredibly gifted writer. There's no denying that. But this book is so overhyped it's not even funny. The storyline of a self-obsessed thirty-something (the book kindly hints that when you're in your thirties you're 'old') searching for a boyfriend and complaining about her weight is so boring, so unoriginal. Yeah, 130 pounds is terribly overweight, isn't it? This book makes women look like cry babies with nothing better to do than feel sorry for themselves. Worse yet, there's a sequel coming. Oh boy... | 0negative
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Curiouser and Cuirouser
I hated this book. When I was looking at it at the bookstore, it said that it was going to be better than Harry Potter. I had to buy it because I just did not believe it, I'm a big Harry Potter fan. So I read the book, to me it's like a copy cat of Harry Potter. Hmmmm, 2 boys and a girl, a big powerful evil guy, the only difference for me from Harry Potter in this was the author put god in it. Pretty much a waste of money for me. | 0negative
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Tree in Brooklyn
Marvelous read, loved by the entire book club, all ages couldn't put it down. You really felt the pain of the times. | 1positive
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Boring stuff by a Rush wannabe
I agreed with some of his points but man this guy can't write. And most of the book is his crying about how CBS mistreated him. Like nothing was ever his fault. Yeah, it was liberal bias against him! Whine, whine, whine. There wasn't enough facts about what's wrong with the media and too much poor me. If you want a good book about media bias just read anything by Rush. This guy isn't the real thing. | 0negative
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The Man With No Identity
The Day of The Jackal, writen by Fredrch Forsyth was writen in the 1960s. Algeria had just been liberated after a long bloody war over it. This angered many politicans. Most of them formed a secret orginization known as the OAS. This orginization had many views against the hipocracy in France. But most of all they blamed Charels DeGaul president of France. After many failed attemps at killing DeGaul the OAS was running out of funds, morail, and most of all people. Many of the members of the OAS told authorities about its opperations. So the new leader decided to do the most ratical thing they could think of which included hireing an assasin from the outside. The one and only man who would be up for such a job was known only under the alis Clark Duncan. He was a tall Englishman. He had blond hair and blue eyes. He was a master of disgises, forgery, gunsmithing, marksmanship, poisin, torture, and hiding his tracks. He would be paid by way of bank robberies. He would create the smallest light weight gun ever made. He would come to forge hundreds of fake documents that would help elude the police with. And through the course of the story would kill eight people by way of stabing, shooting, hanging, poisin, and torture. For nine months he would heckel the French authorities. And would not stop until the day he pick for the death of Charels DeGaul. His identity is breached by the French Forien Legion but still chooses to continue with the opperation. He sneaks into Paris on the day of liberation, a French holiday in which DeGaul would give a speech in open day. Possing as a war veteran that would be reciving an award that day, he snuk in to a hotel across from where DeGaul would be giving the speech he hide in wait for three days. I have thought a long time to the question: do you recomend this book, and I have decided that I would recomend this book to anyone who can handel the sometimes hard to follow techincal terms, mostly in French, that slow the books story consideribly. | 1positive
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Enduring Grace:Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics
Carol Lee Flinders did a superb job of making the mystics in her book come alive on the page as real persons living in a particular culture and particular time. Writing about mystics is not an easy task and making them real to a modern audience can be even more challenging. As a woman and a Catholic, I was surprised that Carol not being Catholic herself, could express so well the experiences these women had. Her scholarship, research, and writing skills were very evident. The book flowed and kept my interest with each biography. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about women mystics. | 1positive
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Most Overrated Book In Literary History
Why people claim to enjoy this book I'll never know. The writing style doesn't flow, the characters aren't particularly all that well developed, and the storyline isn't all that interesting. This is a prime example of what happens when Star Trek and Star Wars dorks pick up a book. They see the word "wizard" or "dragon" and get all gooey with excitement and think it's great literature. | 0negative
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Yes, it does deceive
I ordered this book a couple of months ago for my Kindle and I have not finished it. The concept of a widow falling in love with her husband after he dies is a little weird but I decided to read the book anyway. I have read the "glowing" reviews on this site several times to inspire me to continue reading the book. Alll to no avail. For the life of me, I cannot see why so many people find this book fascinating. It is boring; it doesn't grip the attention of this reader; Lady Emily is very dull (and so are her "friends"); there doesn't seem to be a plot. To be frank, I don't think I will finish this novel nor read any more of those written by this author. | 0negative
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So This Is Why All the Fuss?
My ex-wife had trained me to dislike "Frank Lloyd Wright" architecture. She prefers colonial and classic stylings. She thought the flat tediousness of Wright architecture unimaginative and ugly.So, without question I learned to back up her opinions, and to interject my own solo critical assessments anytime the topic came up. I could argue against Wright architecture like a pro, even if I didn't know what I was talking about and didn't truly agree with myself! I was a LaManchian interlocutor, straining at gnats with gusto and pleasure, not knowing how frequently others must have been thinking "What's this guy's problem?"But it was good for my ill-fated marriage.The marriage ended, which created my first point of connection with Mr. Wright. Next was my residence, which for most of my life has been near Ann Arbor, the Mecca for Wrightistic designs if ever there was one. I am surrounded by it, but never knew how much until I read this biography and started to get it.This quick read gives you the basics. The man's vision for work, design, asthetic harmony and balance is actually quite inspirational. Buildings are to blend in with nature, and should be designed so as to balance and harmonize with human needs and activities. That's it!I began to notice Wright styles all around me, and to see the need for more of it, in homes and buildings I visited. I am now my own "anti"!I felt some remorse at his relationship with his father, his errant ways vis-a-vis his religion, his failed marriage and weak relationship with his children. But visionaries are often failures in their personal lives. Perhaps this is necessary.I completed reading the book in just a few days of casual reading. Interestingly, about the time I finished it, my ten-year old daughter started to talk about Frank Lloyd Wright to me. I don't think she saw me reading the book - they must have had some discussion in school about it.How cool it was, that I could converse with her intelligently, and sympathetically, about this new topic that captured her interest. And I am thankful now, that I was no longer the anti-Wright!A good and informative read. Yes, buy it. | 1positive
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A hopeful theme
If you like a slow calm plot but a great moral I highly reccomend this book. It is very slow, and ordinary life in an ordinary town but has a great powerful message. | 0negative
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doing this for xtra credit and ill keep it short
i wrote my full review on my test mr matta im just lazy because i dont want to type it allWuthering heights is a good book. If one does not pay full attention and not try to multi task while reading u will get lost, and end up hating classical literature and then not getting a good education then working as a a bus boy for those who did get a godd education (dramatization)Wuthering Heights is the height of classical literature and shows the best of victorian literature (yet another dramatization). I still think the book is a must read because it is very entertaining and it makes u look smart when u talk to stupid people about it: )in closing words i have to quote the most psychologically insane, obsurdely stupid person in mr matta's class "Cleafy!" | 1positive
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The "Joy of Cooking" for the 21st century
This is the book to cook from for delicious new flavors and dishes, and to learn from to discover the effects of foods and spicing on the body and mind. Every page is full of interesting, well researched information about food , how it changes as it is prepared, and how it effects the person who eats it. The cultural richness is delightful, and the ease with which the author moves from tradition to tradition while maintaining the angle of cooking for the various Ayurvedic body-mind types is awe-inspiring. For those looking for a wider range of culinary experience, this book is a treasure. And for those learning how to navigate the 21st century emphasis on healthful cooking, it is invaluable. | 1positive
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not very helpful
I love these types of books but this one just didn't give a lot of really good/actionable information. Not worth the read. | 0negative
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Not up to snuff
Amen to reviewer D. Miller! Disappointing. I can believe that Captain Marino remains emotionally stuck in the mud, but I can't believe the improbable villains, or that the Scarpetta character becomes increasingly emotionally fragile, rather than more mature. This growing immaturity seems the chief driving force of the plot, and just doesn't make sense. | 0negative
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Redefined Language for Me...
It was fun to read but around the last hundred pages it just got a bit dense, especially the obscenity trial with the flow of experts. The ideas came too fast, too briefly, too *much*, though this may be an intentional effect, considering the title of the book. I loved the way the disparate ideas all connected to language... the entire book is one huge musing and exploration on language. My favorite fragment is the paraphrase from Nietzche, where language is not simply an expression or a container of thought but thought itself. All this, and a cool plot, too. Byatt is a reader's writer. | 1positive
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A favorite
I read this book along time ago, and I enjoyed it very much. I lost it for a couple years and i couldnt remember the name; I found it again last night and stayed up and read it,I couldnt put it down!! It is the cutest story, and was pretty exciting, especially when Mewkiss was fighting the rat. If you want a good book that wont take you too long to read i would really recomend this book. | 1positive
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Still the best intro to Unitarian Universalism
Despite the denomination's general adoption of the newer A Chosen Faith by Buehrens and Church, this book is still the best all-in-one introductory guide to Unitarian Universalism. Some will find it too heavy on the history of both faiths; however, the bulk of the book treats what it means to be a UU as well as answering commonly asked questions.Unfortunately, as "A reader" remarked, while large chain bookstores generally stock A Chosen Faith, they will not have this title, and an order for it may take longer than for titles in more demand currently. Nevertheless, this book is well worth it, particularly for someone on a budget who can't afford the nearly $30 for both A Chosen Faith and 100 Questions, the two books that together cover what this one volume includes. | 1positive
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'Twas cool.
good book. | 1positive
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Drama not Action
I picked this up since there has always been a lot of hype about it in the gaming, comics and online world. It barely held my interest. It is a dark and gloomy story that is more melodrama than anything. | 0negative
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Little less tempo but still exciting
Lacking a little the tempo of the first novel. However, it suits the plot and allows more time to go deeper into the various characters. And O'Brian still excels at creating an exciting, palpable atmosphere using only a few well-considered words. For non-native speakers: profound knowledge especially of dated words and phrases is needed. It's best to use an E-reader with an built-in and easy-to-use dictionary to enhance the reading experience. | 1positive
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If you love romance, look elsewhere.
Ok. I know I will not be popular in saying this, but this book was a horrible waste of good romance reading time. Like many of you I have been reading romance novels of many kinds since junior high (if not earlier). I read this book in 1989 (when it was first published). This was my first time-travel read and I was engrosed by the idea and characters right away (though having both the male and female leads with masculine names was confusing and slightly annoying). However, at the end of this book, I was ready to swear off romance novels, or at least time travel romance novels forever. To this day I am still gun shy when (if) I read them. Let's face it, if we're reading fantasy or romance we expect a happily ever after, otherwise what is the point? I realize life does not always have a happy ending, but if I was interested in real life I wouldn't read a paranormal romance right? I would stick with biographies or historical non-fiction By the way, I enjoy all literature, but I dislike incontinuity. Unless it's a mystery or suspense, I don't want the rug pulled out from under me in a romance novel mainly speaking when it comes to the main characters love story.If you like your romance novel with a happy ending, DON'T read this book! Though I liked Devereaux's other novels, this one was horrible. Do yourself a favor and try another of hers. Or better yet, try Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series, with these you won't be disappointed at all. | 0negative
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One of the best yet...
I have read and own almost all Carolyn Davidson's books. This book, although released as a 'Harlequin Historical', is a cut above the rest. Now, lets get to Faith's story and I think putting her with Sherrif Caulfield would be great!! | 1positive
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This is the second worst book I have ever read
This book is AWFUL. It is dull; has a pointless story full of unlikeable, shallow characters; and it is badly written. There is little or no character development, barely discernable story progression, and strange, unexplained references that are just plain annoying.People who have read this describe it as "pleasant" or "gentle". That's code-speak for boring and dull. If you liked "At Home in Mitford", the worst book I have ever read, you might like this. Both books have much the same feel and are similarly badly writtten.I would give it zero stars if this form would let me. Save your money! | 0negative
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Clever and thought provoking
I had high expectations for this book based on its reviews. I thought it was a slow start. I kept putting it down and picking it up every few day. I'm glad I persevered. Midway through it became interesting and I started getting into the story and thinking about Henry's timetravelling and its impact on people. I wondered how it was possible for Henry to be talking to himself. How could they be friends with Gomez? What happens to Alba? I agree with another reviewer that the story was a bit creepy too. Clare's devotion to Henry was romantic yet odd to me. I mean, she first meets him at age 6 and Henry appears in his mid thirties (I think). Each time she sees him he's aged differently. Clare's childhood and adolesence are so screwed up because of him. This would be a great book to discuss at a book club because there are so many questions one could talk about. | 1positive
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Thoroughly enjoyable
I just cannot believe I haven't read this Austen novel before this year! I went through a Jane Austen phase in my early 20′s and have re-read my favorites a couple of times each since then. But I never ever read Mansfield Park! And my goodness, I adored this book! Fanny is such a wonderful character. A bit stodgy but she knows who she is and what she wants and she stands by her convictions throughout the book.One of the amazing things about Jane Austen is that while her books are set in the late 18th/early 19th centuries, her themes and humor are still relevant today. I actually laughed out loud a few times while reading Mansfield Park. I love Fanny....I want to be Fanny! | 1positive
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Pretty Boring
I am a person who always reads a book to the end.... even if its bad. This is one I just can't seem to get through. I've read 3/4 of it and I just can't waste another minute on it. The author does describe Venice in great detail and the nice cafes etc. I kept waiting for this story to get interesting and it didn't. I kept waiting for the love story to blossom and it didn't. I don't understand why all the high marks for this book. I don't leave many reviews unless I really like a book or unless I really disliked a book. I just felt the reviews on this book are a bit misleading. | 0negative
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Damn Good
Buy this book, put it away and make your children read it when they grow up before this and other stories of WW1 and WW2 are forgotten. | 1positive
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Simply the harsh truth, and nothing less
Having actually been to four islamic countries, I will say that it would be simplistic to assume that all muslims perceive the world through a uniform ideology. In fact, having recently worked in a position that required close interaction with a variety of Iraqi cultures, I will say that many muslims are quite pleasant and genial individuals. They were quite willing to assist others in learning Arabic, and were worthy adversaries at Chess. Did I trust them? That is ANOTHER story entirely...Yes, individually, there are many nice people who follow islamic cultural practices, (with varying degrees of dedication) who are no threat to anyone.However, in the BIG global picture, there is quite a different story entirely.A proninent Israeli politicain summarized it approximately:"Not all Muslims are terrorists. But most terrorists are Muslims."This illustrates a HARSH TRUTH, that a vast number of touchy-feelly-sensitive oh-so- politically-correct and "tolerant" liberals REFUSE to acknowledge. Like most of the flowery idealisms of the leftist mind-set, you can wish for your belief that "Islam is a religion of peace", in one hand, ...and defecate in the other. Which hand will fill up faster?In the end, you will just be another "tolerant" PC liberal, with your sensitive little pony-tail and multicultural tie-dyed shirt, ...standing about forlornly with feces in your hand.In this oustanding addition to the PIG series, Mr. Spencer gives us a truly valid summary of the VERY REAL issues regarding islam in our time, and in history.Among the topics covered within:-You will learn about the TRUE character of Mohammed ( I have a hard time convincing myself that a caravan-raiding bandit has legitimacy as a "prophet". ...among other things.)-The Quran preaches warfare against NON-muslims, and this is taken very literally by a significant number of practitioners of the "religion of peace".-Women are treated like GARBAGE, SLAVES, and LIVESTOCK, in MANY islamic communities. Once again, this varies depending upon the specific cultural group, but in the BIG picture, islamic women have a very bad situation indeed.-For all the "tolerance" that is DEMANDED within Western culture, regarding the growing islamic presence, there is NO RECIPROCATION from the islamic minority. It seems that a number of people who have dared to criticize islam, intentionally or not, have been THREATENED, ASSAULTED, or MURDERED. Have we forgotten WHY Salman Rushdie has been living in hiding under British government protection? Have we forgotten what happened to Mr. Van Gogh in the Netherlands? Have we fogotten about the Danish Jyllends Posten magazine incident, ...and the retalitory burning of a NORWEGIAN embassy in response?...so much for "Freedom of Expression"-Read about how the Bible and the Quran compare in their respective messages. Critics of the Bible site atrocities that some Christians commited CENTURIES AGO, ...but IGNORE not only atrocities that muslims commited in past centuries, but those crimes commited RECENTLY, IN OUR TIME.-The Crusades were a rather minor and brief COUNTER-ATTACK, compared to over a milennium of islamic invasion, conquest, and raids upon the Christian lands of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Let us not forget that islamic forces DID IN FACT OCCUPY VAST REGIONS OF EUROPE, namely the Iberian Penninsula and the Balkans, for HUNDREDS of YEARS.-Yes, there was a time when the Islamic kingdoms possessed a number of emminent universities and considerable academic institutions. Yes, many European Christians did benefit from attendance. What happened to this "golden age"? I think an in-depth comparison of Western history and its ENORMOUS ACHIEVEMENTS since at least 1500 A.D., ...will have more to say than what transpired in the islamic realms.-The Islamic perception of "Heaven": a wild eternal party of feasting, boozing, and gratuitous sexual indulgence. Every man will have a horde of wives who will automatically be virgins every day! Now, can you imagine how the hysterically leftos would criticize Christians, if Christians held such a belief to be a LITERAL TRUTH?-As a FREE Westerner, would you REALLY want to live under Sharia Law?Now, I have observed profoundly LIBERAL FEMINISTS, ...RIGHT HERE, in Minnesota, ...convert to islam, ...burkas, head-scarves and all. Absolutely inexplicable. I don't need to expound upon the OVERT CONTRADICTIONS.-On the tiresome, emotional, and repetitive insistance by Westerners that "We are not at war with islam", here is a revelation: Most muslims DO IN FACT BELIEVE a "state of war" DOES exist. Face the facts.Now, I don't DEMAND that Muslims convert Christianity. I really don't care what religion anyone practices. You enjoy a better standard of living in the West that you HATE so much. It is because of the West, that you have wealth. The West, and other non-islamic nations, buy vast quantities of your petroleum. Go ahead and HATE your best customer. Oil is a FINITE resource.An important revelation for all jihadis: What political successes you perceive for your cause, is only due to the fact that Western governments are currently staffed by weaklings, but this will change in time. There are still plenty of Crusaders left in the West. The U.S. Marine Corps proved that in Fallujah. Some people will shriek about any opinion contrary to the "multicultural" and "politically-correct" format. I WILL voice criticism if I please. Thats just the way it is in the West, especially in America. The First Ammendment of the U.S. Constitution places emphasis on that.If you are a leftist, I don't care what your opinion is, but you can express that in our Western culture. There is something you need to know. When the Islamic world rants about the "decadence of the West", they are talking about you, the leftists, and your "alternative lifestyles". God help you, if you "tolerant" and "multicultural" leftos find yourself subjected to "sharia law". For all your tired old screams of "bigotry" and "racism" for anyone who contradicts your "multicultural" idealisms, go live in the Middle-east for a while, as a non-muslim. See how "multicultural" and "tolerant" your Muslim friends are in their homelands.You aren't going to convince me to "change my mind", because I have seen, read, and heard things, ...and I have BEEN TO MORDOR. The EVIDENCE I have observed makes me greatly concerned. | 1positive
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Cool idea, bad book
When I started reading this book I hoped it would be a cool mystery about how the narrator uncovers the truth of his wife's death with clues given by the only witness, their dog. Unfortunately the book was not nearly as neat as I thought it would be. The fact that the professor literally tries to get the dog to talk is just plain dumb. This book focuses way too much on that, and not enough on solving the mystery...which by the way turns out to be not mysterious at all. There is some stuff in the book about animal abuse, and as a huge animal lover, I was somewhat bothered, but it really isn't that bad. Also, I did not end up feeling anything for the characters. Lexy, the wife who dies, is self centered and basically psycho and Paul, the husband, is just plain boring.I finished this book, because I hate the idea of not finishing books, but it really wasn't worth my time. | 0negative
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Good book
Silver Ravenwolf's book are good.They are well written and informative.I don't agree with everything she writes but she does write a good book.I am glad I have her books in my collection. | 1positive
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You'll also love the video
The video "Of Mice and Men" starring Gary Sinise is wonderful. (It's fairly recent - early 90's maybe). My teenage son absolutely loves it! The actor protraying Lennie is also superb. (Sorry I don't know who it is) | 1positive
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Great Suspense!!
I'm a student and I don't have a lot of time to read for enjoyment, so I have to ration myself. This book held my interest to the end and I passed it on to my roommate, who is still immersed in it. We give it two thumbs up! | 1positive
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It's not a Storm of Swords, but what is?
I've been reading some of the negative reviews about "Feast" and I couldn't disagree more. It is a really good book. I think the problem is Martin set the bar so high with the first three, that people aren't going to be happy with anything he puts out.As far as the book goes, it does pick up right where "Storm" left off but only with half the characters. It also introduces a couple new points of view such as the ironmen and the Dornish (which we knew very little about from the first 3 books). When people say nothing happened in the book, I totally disagree. The war is over so what did you expect? Another huge war right away? This book deals with the aftermath of the war and tries to show the desolation and the struggles of the people to deal with what has happened.If you liked the first 3 books you should like this one. I will admit that the end left me very curious about what is to become with Cersei and Brienne and I did not like they way the book left Arya. I would also have liked to see more about Arienne and the rest of the people in Dorne and I will admit I'm a little confused about what is going on with the Hound.All in all, it is a very good book that continues the story well (it is still some of the best fantasy around). Is it as good as "Storm"? Absolutely not, but you can't expect the story to stay that intense the entire time. | 1positive
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Timeless Masterpiece of High Sci-Fi
I first read Revolt in 2100 when I was in seventh grade, initiating a life-long interest in science fiction. The political leanings of Heinlein were unapparent to me then. Now I see society reflecting them in general, libertarian in nature. Anyone wishing to initiate their children into a love of sf and reading in general should give this book to them, it will grab them by their imaginations and not let go. Methuselah's Children was the second book I grabbed from our library's shelves, so this double edition is the perfect gift! | 1positive
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What a great surprise!
I usually don't enjoy romance-type books, but I really enjoyed this one. Normally I read heavier fiction . Maybe it's the time of year (fall, the same as the book) or the topic (the media out of control) that kept me interested. I would recommend highly. | 1positive
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A novel is just like Hollywood
A novel and hollywood are one and the same. All the characters are made up. A book of non-fiction is reality. The world would be better if hollywood sank into the ocean and books of fiction were burned, My opinion and I'll stick with it.BURN all books of fiction! | 0negative
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Please, Mr. Gaddis, would you gi ve it a rest?
Mr. Gaddis will never stop hammering away at his one sided position on the origins of the cold war. Really, you are wrong and you are tiresome. | 0negative
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a review from christina, i loved this book!
Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, known as Mia for short, has recently been informed that she is the heir to the throne of Genovia. On top of that she has to attend princess lessons, prepare for her trip to Genovia and figure out a way to dump her boyfriend. When Mia starts getting yellow roses and her boyfriend won't ask her to the dance, she suspects something is up.Princess In Love is an outstanding book. My favorite part is when she had to write the English essay about her Thanksgiving. Meg Cabot is an excellent author and Princess in Love is a great book for girls twelve and older. | 1positive
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Excellent book
Thomas Hardy really outdid himself with the creation of this novel. Tess is the quintessential protagonist to pity, sympathize with, and root for. Wronged by at least three men--her father, her cousin, and her husband--she remains pure in every sense by the corporeal. There is an overriding sense of despair that pervades the novel. Yet, what's a Hardy novel without that feeling?With this book, Hardy solidified his place as my favorite author. The author's ability to perfectly describe the English countryside, the charm, yet provinciality of the country folk, and the repressiveness of Victorian morals, makes this book one of his best. His subtlety often makes the reader question what it is that he just read, and leaves many things open to interpretation. Thus, as with many good texts, rereading it might lead to different understandings of different scenes that took place.All in all, there are few books that I have read that have made me want to give up sleep just to read them. I adored Tess, and I adore this book. | 1positive
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This is not typical Crichton
I thought I was studying for a test. If your looking for that typical Michael Crichton adventure, skip this one. It bored me to near death. I bought the book. To bad for me. Next book by M.C. I'll get it at the library. | 0negative
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reprehensible
According to the vile and pernicious authors of this dangerous work, "The Rules are innately unselfish" (66). This is a rancid mix of understatement and revealing untruth. The "unselfishness" of The Rules translates into the total erasal of individuality and obliteration of the self in order to achieve an arbitrary goal through a misguided, manipulative, and cultish method. That same "unselfishness" also represents the insane fixation upon a goal exterior to oneself, where a woman takes that goal and shoves an unsuspecting man into it, thus using a human being as a means to an ultimately selfish end. The Rules is a great book for wiping out all that matters in human interaction.Fein and Schneider take a few basic psychological principles, misinterpret them, and derive from them a system of self-repression and a totally untenable attitude toward life and love, damaging to everyone but to no one more than the "Rules girl" herself. | 0negative
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This book kicks your (expletive).
Read the title (I'd like to think you're not illiterate). I can understand why whiny (liberal) Democrats despise it, just like every little thing they hate which uncovers the truth. Grow up kids (especially you Maddox drones), I'm sick of listening to you. GWBUSH 2004. | 1positive
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The Count of Monte Cristo
I am one of those people who never got around to reading the book until after I had seen the new movie. When I finished the book-which I had been glued to and finished in one week- I felt like burning my DVD of the Count of Monte Cristo. The movie screen writers must have been mentally impaired to massacre the book as they did!I loved the way the book was always moving, it was never dull for a second. Many people seem to think that the book was too long and too complex with the many characters, but I thought that made it all the better. When it was over I was disappointed, not by the story, but by the fact that I was finished reading it. I have to admit being a little disappointed that Mercedes and Edmond don't end up together, and that Edmond and his friends end up separated, but really I was not expecting the book to end the way it did (again Hollywood's fault!) and so I was actually pleasantly surprised to be surprised. I don't think the book could have been any better than exactly as it is. The bottom line is that it is an excellent book, and I will no doubt read it several more times before tiring of it. | 1positive
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An Arizona Scoundrel
Recently, a friend sent me a gift of a book. One that I would never have purchased on my own. What a surprise! Don Chaput has written a biography of a scoundrel who not only enforced the law in Arizona, but planned two major railroad robberies, and then a jailbreak that paralyzed half the state. Not having a background in this field, I found that Chaput was able not only describe historical points, but he was able to bring a rather dry sense of humor to the subject.Alvord was a unique character. A lawmen who planned two of first major train robberies in the country. Broke out of jail and led the state and federal troops into Mexico seeking his capture. Alvord served his time in Yuma Territorial Prison and upon his release disappeared from sight. His death is a mystery as to location and time.I'm not a reader who would normally turn to such a book, but I thought Chaput brought such creativity and color to Alvord that I will now seek new subjects in this part of American history. | 1positive
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Great Expectations - Expectations met!
The book is one of Dickens' greatest masterpieces, a true classic amongst many from this extraordinary 19th Century novelist & historian. The Amazon edition is well laid out, clear as a bell and a pleasure to read. Five well deserved stars. If you love this book you'll adore "Tale of Two Cities" and "Bleak House". | 1positive
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The hunter is a wolf but he doesn't stalk the forests, just your neighborhood
The 9th book in the series left me wanting to jump into the next one, the moment I was done I wanted to read the next Cross book, one of these days someone will confirm that Patterson is a wizard, I don't know how he does it, but his stuff is so good I can never get enough. That is often the case, especially after reading the back of the next book, the whole story line of Alex Cross, his personal and professional life is so well written that I can never tired of it. Each book is a chunk of his journey and like I always said, best enjoyed in order. His life is a journey, not a destination and people who only read one here and there will really miss out on the big picture.So Cross is finally in the FBI...but he's still using his street smarts and his DC cop ways to get information and never stops trusting his gut and his senses. His private life has settled nicely, the kids are doing well and his new relationship seems to be off to a solid start, but ghosts from the pasts are back and they want something form him, a part of him that will hurt to give up. On the work front he's stuck chasing someone very dangerous and deadly, someone called The Wolf, who's part of the Russian Mafia, someone who doesn't want to be found regardless how loud his conquests and atrocities are. Missing women are someone connected to a prostitution ring, one that leads to the Wolf. He's very tricky to catch and seems that one on really knows who he is as there are many crooks who are willing to protect his identity with their lives. There are some cool chase scenes and the usual suspense and now the distrust. After the discovery of the last mastermind, Cross feels that there are fewer people that he can trust than before and sooner or later one of them will get to him through phony friendly connections. This was a fast and run read, I enjoyed it a lot.- Kasia S. | 1positive
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not worth my time or money
I love John Grisham's books, but this one is honestly NOT good. At first the story caught my interest, but as the chapters slowly slide into each other and as money and greed come to the main character, educated readers already know what is going to happen. There is usually a twist toward the end of Grisham's books and you can foresee even what that will be. This novel got so boring that I finally skipped to the end of the book (which I have never done with one of Grisham's books before). Sure enough, all my guesses were correct. I am very disappointed. | 0negative
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Watchmen ebook only for kindle fire? Why?
Why is is the Watchmen available only for the Kindle Fire? When are they gonna make it available for those with iPad (via an Amazon app?) That's very greedy on Amazon's and DC's part. | 0negative
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A terribly bad book
Maybe just a bad book. The terribly is because some people feel the author is deserving of a Nobel prize and would get it if his name were perhaps Hispanic and he from a different country (check Google for this). This book is (as far as I could stand to read it) a compendium of fantastical and (this is the difficulty) boring adventures. The second tale which finally made nauseous was a sort of reverse Candide where an definitely not innocent encounters all sorts of adventures with not very nice people and manages to out screw them all. Better authors include, J K Rowling, Ann Rice, and Dorris Lessing. The first two will never win Nobel Prize and the author won't even winning a dress.Tales of the Dying Earth | 0negative
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