Book Description

Anyone who has sat on a jury or followed a high-profile trial on television usually comes to the realization that a trial, particularly a criminal trial, is really a performance. Verdicts seem determined as much by which lawyer can best connect with the hearts and minds of the jurors as by what the evidence might suggest. In this celebration of the American trial as a great cultural achievement, Robert Burns, a trial lawyer and a trained philosopher, explores how these legal proceedings bring about justice. The trial, he reminds us, is not confined to the impartial application of legal rules to factual findings. Burns depicts the trial as an institution employing its own language and styles of performance that elevate the understanding of decision-makers, bringing them in contact with moral sources beyond the limits of law.

Burns explores the rich narrative structure of the trial, beginning with the lawyers' opening statements, which establish opposing moral frameworks in which to interpret the evidence. In the succession of witnesses, stories compete and are held in tension. At some point during the performance, a sense of the right thing to do arises among the jurors. How this happens is at the core of Burns's investigation, which draws on careful descriptions of what trial lawyers do, the rules governing their actions, interpretations of actual trial material, social science findings, and a broad philosophical and political appreciation of the trial as a unique vehicle of American self-government.

Customer Reviews (7)

Look elsewhere...
This book is so bad I don't know where to begin.FIrst, it fails to be an adequate description of, or encomium for, jury trials.(For that, see Jeffrey Abramson's book, WE THE JURY.)Second, it fails to apply real jurisprudence (like Lon Fuller or HLA Hart) to this "new" area of thought, and it fails pathetically to mix in critical theory.(Why is Hannah Arendt thrown into nearly every paragraph?)I regret that I didn't click on the "look inside" feature of this website.Two pages of nonsense would have been enough.Save your money, save your time, by ignoring this brain-dead drivel.

A theory book that delivers on its promises
A Theory of the Trial brilliantly delivers what its title promises: an unconventional way of thinking about the idea of justice. If you are looking for a manual of trial practice, an anthology of case studies of famous trials, a collection of stories about notorious trials in history, look elsewhere. But if you are curious about the guiding principles-often unacknowledged and unexamined-operating beneath the surface of the trial system, forming its foundation, then A Theory of the Trial is for you.
Burns, a practicing trial lawyer, professor of law, and professional philosopher, contrasts "the received view" (the view "according to the officials") about how juries (and judges) behave and the complex "intellectual operations" they actually perform while evaluating issues during the performance of the trial. Close study of four trials and reference to many others reveal decidedly more intricate intellectual operations than the official, received view understands. Juries continually sort through what Burns calls "a web of languages" spun during the trial. The key is paying attention to those languages. He does so in painstaking detail, thus setting up his final chapters, which require a patient reader. There Burns's philosophical mind goes to work, thinking systematically through competing positions and working toward his own. The argument proceeds brilliantly from its premises. Despite a pattern of references to scores of previous thinkers, it is conducted clearly and lucidly.
For Burns, the trial is "one of the greatest achievements of our public culture." Ordinary citizens arrive at "truth-for-practical-judgment," truth that must be put into practice. Thereby, they influence public events in ways different from official, direct, top-down control. Does he overvalue the common sense of ordinary citizens? Perhaps, but today where else can we look for common sense and hard-won practical judgment?Burns's book makes its demands, but it delivers.

Litigation for people who don't litigate
This book is what it is -- an attempt to talk about trials metaphysically.As a trial lawyer, I thought I would get some insight into how to think about my job from a different perspective, but I was disappointed.This book isn't very deep and all the name-dropping that goes on isn't really explained. (Did the author really read all those philosophers, or just steal their quotes? I can't tell.) The work stinks like a dissertation, maybe the author is just out of grad school and is trying to prove himself.

Not worth paying for
This book attempts to harness two unrelated discourses and apply them to the American Jury System.First, it wants to use the wild, free-willing, MTVish, academia-lite trial advocacy theories of people like Steve Lubet (author of Nothing But the Truth: Why Trial Lawyers Don't, Can't, and Shouldn't Have to Tell the Whole Truth), where the existence of truth itself is denied or ignored and trial law becomes theater, law school becomes charm school. (Tell a story, develop a theme, project to the jury, wear the right clothes, forget the truth!) Second, it wants to add some muscle to this limp line of thinking by speaking of it in philosophical/hermeneutical terms.All the big guns come in, from Aristotle to hints of Bakhtin.It doesn't work.The book comes across as a Menippean Satire, a joke, something more like Rabelais than Immanuel Kant.The problem is that trial theory (the first strain) is so intellectually and morally bankrupt that putting fancy clothes on it makes it more a clown than an aristocrat.The clothes don't fit.

Avoid This Book
This book reminds me of everything I hated about law school at Yale--the philosophy, the pretension, the utter lack of interest in the real world.

The author writes a book about trials--and yet discusses almost no trials at all.Apparently Burns is a failed philosophy professor, because he has infintely more interest in his own mind than in what goes on in the courtroom.It is books like these that astound me--how can anyone think this is good enough to publish?

The prose is clunky, and Burns finds endless ways to make trials utterly dull.His ideas reduce to no more than the generalities one learns in Trial Practice classes--tell a strong story; every element of your case should reflect the theme; juries are unpredictable.

This book is awful.But then, Burns is probably a poseur--no trial lawyer can be as dull as Burns is and still survive.If one really wants to study the essence of trials, try reading Vincent Bugliosi. ... Read more

Book Description
This classic text focuses on the features of K?F?D that have emerged after more than 12 years of clinical experience with 10,000 drawings. One?hundred and thirty drawings are reproduced, showing common characteristics of K?F?D figures and the varied actions and symbols that reflect relations between family members. Included are a K?F?D Grid and an Analysis Sheet to assist clinicians in interpreting their own patients' K?F?Ds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for a quick answer
This book contains a child's drawing illustrating a point in each page.However, only one element of the drawing is explained, leaving the rest, and the context of the element in a vacuum.Explanations are simplistic and the logic behind them is left out.Part of learning a technique lies in understanding the thought process involved.If you want to understand why shading depicts anxiety, or why the author arrives at that conclusion, for instance, don't look for it in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Robert Burns Woodward was the star of 20th-century organic chemistry. An MIT graduate by age 19, Woodward's ingenious notions about organic synthesis and his artful methodology were astounding. He is most famed for his synthesis of vitamin B12,which he undertook with Albert Eschenmoser, and for the orbital symmetry rules he developed with Roald Hoffmann. This volume presents Woodward's most celebrated papers and lectures--including the famous Cope lecture. Insightful commentaries and rarely seen photographs are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Portrait of a legend
Nobel Prize winner Robert Burns Woodward (called 'R B' by his colleagues and students) was the greatest organic chemist of the twentieth century, a legend in his own lifetime. By the time he entered high school, he had already digested college chemistry, and his professors at MIT realised they had an exceptional person in their classes. Before he was 25, Woodward became an instructor at Harvard, and before he was 35, became a full professor. Woodward won a Nobel Prize, and would have almost certainly won another one if it were not for his untimely death. Without him, organic chemistry may have been quite different today. Even in the exalted world of Harvard faculty, he stood out as being exceptional.
Woodward was an unparalleled master in the synthesis of complex organic molecules, of the kind that have given rise to many of the necessities of modern life, including plastics and pharmaceuticals. But he looked at them as much more than practically useful entities; he synthesized them the way a Michelangelo would sculpt a David, or the way a Mozart would tie together a symphony. For him organic molecules were great architectures, and he was the greatest architect and artist in the world of molecules, whose achievements probably will never be paralleled. More than anyone else, he elevated their synthesis to the stature of an art.
This book is a testament to his astonishing skills and achievements. It contains facsimilies of all his important papers, transcripts of interviews and speeches, and rare photos of the man not seen elsewhere. These items are enlivened with rare reproductions of his handwritten notes. The interviews feature many of his colleagues and students who worked with him. They talk about his singular habits, his prodigious energy, unbelievable memory, and an attention to detail that would leave fellow chemists with their mouths wide open. For chemists, it will provide a window into the mind of a genius, who achieved feats that those before him had thought impossible. For non-chemists, the non-chemical parts of the book will give an insight into what kind of a man and scientist he was, the Einstein of his field. It should be on the shelves of every chemist who wants to know about the best that his field can produce. I am glad that a book of this quality and size is available at a reasonable price.

historical chemistry
this book is jam-packed with primary sources concerning the life and works of r.b. woodward: journal articles, unpublished speeches, photographs of the man, drafts of his papers bearing hand-written corrections.it also includes some commentary from colleagues and family.an excellent resource for anyone interested in the history and process of organic chemical (and scientific, in general) research. ... Read more

Product Description
Volume I includes The Life of Robert Burns, Preface to the Kilmarnock Edition of 1786, Dedication to the Edinburgh Edition of 1787, Poems, and Epitaphs, Epigrams, Fragments, &c. with many steel engravings throughout. ... Read more

Book Description
Blood-spattered Scottish history at its most wickedly entertaining!Following the success of Bonnie Prince Charlie, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert the Bruce, and William Wallace, Birlinn is delighted to announce the publication of this brand new And All That title, stuffed with superb illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description
This second volume of the songs of Scottish poet Robert Burns contains 70songs excerpted from the chapter "The Lasses" in a larger collection of324 Burns songs compiled and researched by Serge Hovey. It includes songsexpressing the poet's "passion" for his wife Jean, and for "that otherspecies." Robert Burns (1759-1796) spent his life collecting Scottishsongs, using fragments of existing lyrics as the basis for his own poems,and wrote original lyrics for traditional melodies. Burns left forposterity about 270 poems and more than 300 songs which are usuallyprinted without their tunes. Serge Hovey meticulously examined Burns' ownsources, letters, and manuscripts to determine the origin of every tuneand all the verses as well as Burns' intended match of words and music. He then arranged each song with highly imaginative and beautifulaccompaniments geared for pianists with average skills. This volume isillustrated with reproductions of paintings, drawings, and prints. Thesevolumes also contain a glossary of frequently appearing Scots words andinsightful historical notes for each song. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Robert Burns Songbook Vollume 2
This book presents a large number of songs, many not well known, and suprisingly beautiful and melodic.There is a respect for Burns and an apreciation of history and accuracy.The arrangements are unusually excellent, often simple, and so intriguing and exactly right -- sometimes pleasantly quirky -- beautiful. ... Read more

Book Description
Edition of 1855. According to Wikipedia: "Robert Burns (25 January 1759 â€" 21 July 1796) (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard) was a poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a 'light' Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these pieces, his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt. He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death became an important source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. A cultural icon in Scotland and among Scots who have relocated to other parts of the world (the Scottish Diaspora), celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult ..." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Must-read for any Burns afficianado!
Ian McIntyre, with this elegantly researched and crafted volume, has established himself as a truly exceptional biographer.This was the first work on Burns I have read that presented a compelling portrait ofthepoet as we know him from his work: a complicated mix of joy and sorrow, deep thought and bawdy humor, loyalty and infidelity, generosity and poverty, arrogance and innocence, British patriot and sentimental Jacobite.McIntyre's incisive and compelling research, copiously documented in notes, completely debunks the equally silly positions of overly sentimental hero-worshipers (mostly Scottish) and effete Burns-trashers (mostly English).McIntyre demonstrates what Burns lovers have known all along: all of Burns' poetry was not good--but when he WAS good, he was one of the truly great poets.The author also wades into many of the great Burns' controversies.He presents the evidence for Burns heavy (if not excessive for the time) use of alcohol, without diminishing Burns' worth as either a man or an artist.His depiction of the "Highland Mary" debate alone is worth the price of the book.This will become THE essential book on Burns, and it is apropriate (and probably essential) that it was written by a Scotsman. ... Read more

Book Description
1888. Blackie, a Scottish scholar and man of letters, writes about the life of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet whose great popularity with the Scots lay in his ability to depict with loving accuracy the life of his fellow rural countrymen. His use of dialect brought a stimulating, much-needed freshness and raciness into English poetry. While largely written about Scots, his poems have universal appeal. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Most indepth research of any Burnsian scholar!
R.B.: A Biography of Robert Burns
by James MacKay

Dr. Mackay, associated with the Burns Federation and editor of the Burns Chronicles did an extraordinary, in-depth research of Robert Burns's life from his birth to his eternal memory after death. It is the "bible" for anyone who needs first hand facts about not only Robert Burns but also those who shared any portion of his life. For any shelf that contains Mr. Burns's poetry and songs, it is a sure guide to help understand the man himself.

Cheers! Janet "the Other Scot"

PLAGIARISM!!! BEWARE!
It is sadly known in the scholarly world that this and many other books by this person are low-quality acts of plagiarism. It should not even be on sale, as many other bookstores that have taken his books off the shelves. Shame on him and shame on Amazon. Anyone can check the news on the internet searching for "mackay"+"[...]". ... Read more

Book Description
29 of the most popular songs of Robert Burns arranged for fiddle/violin duet. Includes song lyrics and guitar chords for accompaniment. Includes Ye Banks And Braes, My Love Is Like A Red Rose, and many more of his enduring songs in two parts as played on the fiddle. The CD contains all the songs from the book and solo tracks so you can play along. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

unusual, hauntingly beautiful
I absolutley loved this book of fiddle duets.The individual parts are not terribly difficult and yet the combination of the two parts results in exquisite harmonies.Each tune has parts for 2-3 violins, has words, guitar chords, and also indicates the metronome setting at which the piece is intended to be played. The CD is lovely and helpful. The proper pronunciation for each number is given (thank you!), it is played in full parts and then is played again with just the melody line so that you can play the harmony part along with it.At 13.95 it is a real bargain. The pieces are all by a single composer but the variety is still good. I would highly recommend it. I also bought the Mel Bay Deluxe Album of Fiddle Waltzes and Slow Airs which is also a duet book with CD. I was bitterly disappointed. The songs sound very much alike and are very "schmaltzy". If you're debating between those two the Burns book is the way to go, hands down. ... Read more

Book Description
Illustrated with sixty etchings and wood cuts, maps and facsimiles. The poetry and prose in the second volume brought us to the end of the Edinburgh period and to the eve of Burns's settlement at Ellisland. This present volume treats entirely of the Ellisland period. Burns is now a married man, which event he celebrates in his most jovial manner: I hae a wife o' my ain; I'll partake wi' naebody. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Only Vol 3 - not the Complete Works
The title is very misleading - the Complete Works of Robert Burns - when actually it is only Vol 3 of the complete works. The book itself is interesting, but covers only the final third of his life works and is mainly his letters. What I wanted was, indeed, the Complete Works. For a paperback, and only one volume, it was very pricy. Now I have to go hunt down the other two volumes, which apparently Amazon do not have. ... Read more

Book Description
A delicious trove of more than one thousand alternately touching and comic sound-bites about those infinitely varied landscapes we call love and sex.The story of love is not important--what is important is that one is capable of love. It's perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity. --Helen Hayes ... Read more

Book Description
This edition of Burns's poems and songs is taken from Professor Kinsley's three-volume Oxford English Texts edition (Clarendon Press 1968) hailed as the first really scholarly and critical edition for more than seventy years. It contains all of Burns's writings, including those reasonably attributed to him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

My Favorite Poet
This is a nice collection of Robert Burns poems and songs. It is well done and very complete. There is an interesting chronology and a glossary of old Scottish words. Very well done and a reasonable price. I just received my copy and I am thrilled with it. It's amazing how much Burns wrote in his short lifetime. The rustic beauty of the poems and the sublime rhyme schemes are simply amazing and very moving. I recommend this book for someone who wants an inexpensive collection of Robert Burns.

The Kinsley ed. is superb
One of the best and most trusted editions of the complete poems and songs of Robert Burns (1759-1796). Try to get one, if you can. (N.B.: The James Barke edition is also excellent.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Biography does not do poet justice
I found the biography part more difficult to read than the poems. With the poems, many of them I had heard before. My husband knows many of them and loves to recite them.

Burns had a short tumultuous life ended prematurely in part by his own addictions. His life reminds me a bit of Mozart's short but brillant life.

The artwork sprinkled throughout the book while beautiful was saddly not well documented. I would really have liked to learn more about the pieces. Who painted or drew them? When were they done? What collection(s) are they part of now? ... Read more

Book Description
Because of his humble beginnings and his whole-hearted affection for Scotland and her common folk, Robert Burns was able to record and compose poems and songs that speak to people from every walk of life. He was, and still is, one of Scotland_s best-loved sons. Two centuries after his death and in the true spirit of auld lang syne, literally old long since, Joanne Findon and Ted Nasmith have collaborated on this beautiful and personal glimpse into the life and times of Robert Burns. From his birth to almost the close of his life, this narrative reveals the events and influences that shaped the poet_s work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very well done, beautifull illustrated
This is a wonderful introduction for any age to the world of Robert Burns and the history of Scotland.It gives one a deeper appreciation for the man and his works.I'd recommend it for any age. ... Read more