Customer Reviews (3)

If i can do it, you can do it.
I've been looking forward to this book since an article in Time magazine mentioned it last year. Well, I finally got it and I LOVE IT! Victor explains what meditation is and isn't and puts into context all the stuff we have heard about it from popular culture. The book then takes you on an 8 week program to teach you how to integrate mediation into your life so it becomes as normal as brushing your teeth. I am on week one, and it's already made a difference. This is the book to get.

Very helpful guide to beginning a meditation practice
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to meditate and start a daily practice. For years, I wanted to learn to meditate but always had some excuse (not enough time was always a big one) but as Victor says in his book, who doesn't have 8 minutes to spare in his or her day? Its easy and once you start, its easy to meditate longer if you want. But, I noticed a lot of benefits from doing my 8 minutes and if I can do it, everyone can.

Simplest Meditation Book Yet
So many people want to meditate but can't find the time or believe its too complicated. So many start and then give up. Well, here's a new approach designed for most of us. 8 minutes a day for 8 weeks. A great way to start for 90% of us today. Victor Davich has really written the best and most simple guide to learning how to meditate after years of his own experience. If you are thinking of meditating, this book is for you. Also great gift book.

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit   2. Health/Fitness   3. Inspirational   4. Meditation   

Customer Reviews (16)

It Is Not A Textbook ! It Is A Referance Book!
The book, at least from my point of view, is not a good book to grasp the core concepts of Biochemistry from at the beginning of your biochemistry course.Actually,it is a tool by which you can get a deep understanding of the subject by the aid of other books that can give you the full picture of Biochemistry. Its advantage is in that it covers in details many of the topics that other books usually do not cover. I remember many times finding myself opening the book looking for some details that some professors mention as extra bits which are not found in the other textbooks and present in this book. I recommend it as a reference book for medical students but not a textbook.

Top-of-the-Pop reference book
I am a medical student having studied medicine and biochemistry for the past 3 years. I found the Harper's Biochemistry by a coincidence on the university library.......it is now my favored reference on biochemical and some physiological matters being very concise with more specific details than many other biochemistry textbooks. Said that, I might have more value in your last periods of biochemistry and physiology and as a reference for the rest of your study. Thats why you should go to the library to try it for a couple of months. But then again....you will not be disappointed. S. Wiedemann - Denmark.

Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry
This edition is brilliant. The authors did a fantastic job in displaying such difficult information. The chapter summaries are key for holistic understanding, and the illustrations are very simplistic and highly memorable. Indeed, a job well done. It is perfect for any medical biochemistry course, and the added molecular biology completes the biochemical literature. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biochemistry   2. Biochemistry (General)   3. Life Sciences - Biochemistry   4. Life Sciences - Biology - Microbiology   5. Medical   6. Medical / Nursing   7. Medical / Biochemistry   

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellant cartoons
Bought this as Father Day gift for Dad. He is a teacher. Everyone in the house who has read the book loves it. Though some of the cartoons may give teachers ideas about ways to make education tough for students. I know my father had a smirk on Math Essay cartoon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American wit and humor, Pictor   2. American wit and humor, Pictorial   3. Caricatures and cartoons   4. Comics & Cartoons   5. Education   6. General   7. Inspirational   8. Inspirational - General   9. Psychology Of Special Subjects   10. Self-Help   11. Teachers   12. Teaching   13. Teaching Methods & Materials - General   14. Teaching Personnel   15. Topic - Business and Professional   16. Humor / Cartoons   

Customer Reviews (10)

Enjoyable reading; great to read aloud to your husband
I enjoyed the stories in Chicken Soup for the Father's Soul. Some make you laugh and some come pretty close to making you cry. I bought the book because I enjoy reading out loud to my husband and though it's not a book he would buy for himself, I thought it was one he would like. He did. If you are looking for a "feel good" book for the dad in your life, you can't go wrong with this book. Another great book for dads is 15 Reasons I Love My Dad. It's a fill-in-the-blank book that you fill with loving words and pictures. With Father's Day just around the corner, both of these books are guaranteed to please.

Wonderful reading
I picked up "Chicken Soup for the Father's Soul" in an airport bookshop as I departed for a four-day business trip. At the time I traveled very frequently, and I had planned to read a story only occasionally, saving them for those times when my thoughts wandered upon my two sons at home and refused to be redirected elsewhere. However, I found myself reading story after story, and by the time I had returned home, I had finished the book and was giving some of the stories a second read.

In the enclosed quarters of an airplane cabin, I found myself unsuccessfully struggling to contain my laughter, nonchalantly wiping tears from my eyes, and silently reflecting upon my own relationships as father and son.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy sometime. These stories will move you.

tpm
July 10, 2002

Encouragement for fathers of all ages
I decided to buy my oldest son a copy of "Chicken Soup for the Father's Soul" for Fathers Day. I like to find thoughtful gifts for my children...the amount of money that I spend on a gift is not as important as the thought behind it. I was pleased with the variety of the short stories in the book. I think a busy man like my son is much more likely to read a couple of short stories at a time, and I like to think he would be getting some positive encouragement at the same time. He is a great father, and I love him very much. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships   2. Family/Marriage   3. Fatherhood   4. Fathers   5. Inspirational   6. Inspirational - General   7. Literary collections   8. Family & Relationships / Fatherhood   

Customer Reviews (3)

The best of the Chicken Soup series!
I bought this book because I had read co-author Sharon Linnea's fascinating book on Princess Kaiulani, the girl who would have become Queen of Hawaii. I loved Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawaii so much that I have given it to all my friends. People who have lived in Hawaii thanked me because the book has caught the authentic aloha spirit. Friends who read it before going to Hawaii for a vacation discovered it to be a better introduction to the Hawaiian culture and way of life than the guide books they had read. One friend who has never been to Hawaii and never expects to go lost sleep because she stayed up all night reading the book because the stories are so unique, warm and inspiring.

This book is entertaining, educational, and inspirational
Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawaii is a wonderful book. I have lived in Hawaii for 20 years, and I still learned so much about Hawaii. Reading this book is like taking a tour of the Hawaiian islands. This book has stories by celebrities like Kelly Preston and Bo Derek, but I enjoyed the stories about the local legends and regular people more. One story that sticks out is about the legendary swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku who designed and popularized the first aloha shirts in the 1930's. I was also inspired by the story of Hao Dang who found freedom in Hawaii after spending 3 months on the ocean and living in a Thai refugee camp. Today this young woman supervises 150 employees as a director of housekeeping for 2 of the biggest hotels on the Big Island. I was enjoyed the contributions of local entertainer Nalani Olds who submitted an interesting story about the history of the Royal Hawaiian Band. Olds also submitted a story about a former prison inmate who turned his life around to become a counselor. I loved the inspirational story of Kanalu Young who was paralyzed in a swimming accident as a teenager. He went on to earn a doctorate in history. He is now a professor of Hawaiian studies at the University of Hawaii I enjoyed reading about the story of Angela Perez Baraquio who became the first Asian to win Miss America in the pageant's 80 year history. This book is also very educational. I only knew 3 Hawaiian words before reading this book. I learned many more Hawaiian words like Lokahi which means unity and H'ookipa which means to interact or share. Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawaii is entertaining, informative and inspirational. I enjoyed it very much.

The spirit of Aloha come alive!
I just purchased this book today and have already read two stories. What a warm and wonderful book!! I loved it! There are so many touching, small kid time, heartwarming stories, you can't help but feel the warmth of aloha from Hawaii. Sit back, grab a beach towel and read on.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conduct of life   2. Hawaii   3. Inspirational   4. Inspirational - General   5. Miscellanea   6. Motivational & Inspirational   7. Travel   8. United States - West - Pacific (General)   9. Self-Help / General   

Customer Reviews (3)

Consider yourself really good
Accurate as hell. Victor has truly given us bass players a gift in publishing these transcriptions. What would have taken a good 6 weeks to figure out by ear now takes me...a lot less time. He includes comments on each song at a list in the beginning of the book which are helpful and interesting. If you're going to use this book, follow Victor's advice that he includes in which he suggests that those who use it should listen to the music along with the transcriptions to develop one's ear properly.

To those who say that this book is a way of "cheating" in learning his music, I would say that whatever allows me to learn his stuff quickly and with greater accuracy designates my use of this book as a positive thing.

excellent for building technique
I'm definitely not at the level of bass playing where I can pick up a transcription book of Victor Wooten's songs and be playing them a couple of hours later (not that I won't try, heh).

But there are definitely some grooves in here that intermediate level players such as myself can play and just groove on for a while (see Sex in a Pan).

Where I've been able to use this book most is in building my technique up, especially in the thumb stuff. I've been working through Classical Thump slowly, and gradually getting more speed and dexterity in playing through this piece, and it's helped me out as an etude for my thumb technique. To quote Victor's program notes, "Once you get this song under your belt, you'll pretty much know everything that I know."

This book has 12 other cool pieces to tackle, varying in level of difficulty. Some other thoughtful features of this book are the program notes included for each song, as well as the complete notation legend. Also, all the music is notated in staff and TAB, giving you two options to choose from there.

Overall, although this was delayed in being released, it's a very complete transcription book that, in my opinion, goes above and at the same time is a little bit more personal than the transcription books of great bass players that I've bought before.

Excellent book from the best bass player in the world
There are few bassists who can compete with Victor Wooten for the title of best bassist in the world. Maybe Michael Manring or Bill Dickens but that's not the point. This book has transcriptions of some of Victor's most jaw-dropping bass performances and if you think that you are good at bass you should definitely buy this book and see how good you really are. The pieces in this book are amazing and challenging. Be warned though, the transcription of Amazing Grace is just an outline of some of the things Victor plays rather than a transcription of an actual recording. Also Classical Thump has a section in it that isn't transcribed and just says ad lib rubato. Other than that though this book is highly recommended for the extremely advanced bass player. If you are not already familiar with double thumb, double pluck, and two hand tapping techniques you might want to check out Bass Extremes before you try to tackle this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Music   2. Musical Instruments - Guitar   3. Musical Instruments And Their Music   4. Songbooks   5. Songbooks - General   6. Music / Songbooks   

Customer Reviews (1)

Great reference
The gold standard for asbestos medical litigation information ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asbestos   2. Asbestosis   3. Carcinogenicity   4. Complications   5. Cytodiagnosis   6. Cytopathology   7. Diseases   8. Medical   9. Medical / Nursing   10. Pathology   11. Pulmonary & Thoracic Medicine   

Customer Reviews (13)

The Title Says It All
My mother just purchased this book for me a few days ago. I've already read all of it. I plan to re-read it. The stories, cartoons, poems, etc. are so moving. You will find yourself connecting to these anecdotes in a way that will increase your awareness of yourself as a future parent or a parent-once-more. This book should be a hit with expectant Moms (AND expectant Dads), no matter what their situation. This book offers a variety of points of view and discusses many situations. There were humorous stories about pregnancy and delivery, expectant fathers points of view, the emotions of expecting and facing adversity during pregnancy, the special bonds created when adopting a child, passing the torch from one generation to the next. Cartoons, and other humorous anecdotes are guaranteed to make you laugh. Some stories will make you cry. This book will move you. The emotions and bonds created during pregnancy and adoption will be deepened and you will find your soul stretching!

The Spritual Side of Pregnancy
I was not familiar with the "Chicken Soup" books until someone gave me this one as a gift. I must say it makes a very thoughtful gift for a preganant woman, but otherwise you should treat yourself to it. The short stories in this book are written by different authors, all with real-life expectant parent stories. Some stories are sad, some joyful, some downright miraculous- but all of them are inspirational. The stories relate to a wide variety of expectant parents including those who adopt, struggle with infertility, experience an unplanned pregnancy, suffer loss, and juggle a large family. Read all the books you want on physical pregnancy health, but put this one on your list for spiritual pregnancy health.

Charming
If you're an expectant mother you will appreciate the stories in this book. They are touching and funny and strike a universal chord that make you realize you're not alone. Five stars! Debbie Farmer, parenting author of 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat' ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Childbirth   2. Family & Relationships   3. Family/Marriage   4. Infants (Newborn)   5. Inspirational   6. Inspirational - General   7. Motherhood   8. Mothers   9. Pregnancy   10. Pregnancy & Childbirth   11. Pregnant women   

Customer Reviews (43)

Interesting and controversial
I found Dr. Hanson's latest book interesting, informative and controversial. In "The Soul of Battle" he describes the campaigns of three generals and the very successful armies they led, which - he asserts - were ideological armies driven by moral imperatives rather than loyalty to friends in the same unit. This is a revolutionary claim - at least to this reviewer - who has been fed for the last 3 or 4 decades on the theory that morale in any army was a product of the interpersonal loyalties of a few close comrades.

I don't know that I completely believe the arguments in the "The Soul of Battle," but the book is so provocative that I am going to have to wait a while and then read it several more times to figure out what I really believe. In the meantime, the book provided me with new insights into the short period of Thebean hegemony in Classical Greece between 370 and 360 BC, the daring success and real goals of Sherman's march to the sea during the American Civil War, and the outstanding accomplishments of the United States Third Army under General Patton in France in the second half of 1944.

Good Read
The Soul of Battle : From Ancient Times to the Present Day, Three Great Liberators Vanquished Tyranny by Victor Davis Hanson is an interesting journey through the history of warfare and the impact that a democratic army may have on the outcome. Focusing on the Theban General Epaminondas conquest of Sparta, General Sherman of the Union Army and his march to the sea and General Patron's race through France and Germany, Hanson posits that citizen armies raised from a democratic populace and led by extraordinary leaders create the most lethal fighting machines the world has seen. This is especially true when soldiers see their basic morality challenged by their enemy. In such circumstances, these democratic armies are not only victorious but also ruthless in the pursuit of their goals.

In describing the conquests of the three great liberators, Hanson excels. His descriptions are more than just a narrative of the events, but a clear and extraordinary analysis of what made the three liberators and their armies click. Hanson clearly and justifiedly is a fan of the three.

However, if the book is purportedly more than just the story of the three great leaders and their armies, that is where it loses some of its strength. While a democratic army can be a devastating force, history reveals exceptions. For instance, while Patton's armies defeated the Nazi's, the American armies were routed by the Chinese in Korea and the British and French armies were defeated by the German blitzkrieg. Moreover, from Alexander to Genghis Kahn to Napoleon, history is full of examples of dictators leading armies of conquest and overwhelming their opponents. Hanson should have discussed theses other examples and explored why they are not inconsistent with his theory.

What Hanson, does discuss, but what could have been focused on more, is that the democratic armies were not professional armies like the ones of Alexander or Napoleon. Both the armies of Sherman and Patton, the soldiers were ordinary citizens who were called up to fight antidemocratic forces and who quickly reentered civilian life after their mission had been accomplished.

All in all, the reading of the book was a positive experience even given the limitations of Hanson's theory.

Good Book, Interesting Thesis
Mr. Hanson has created an interesting book, comparing the battles, motivations and organization of three great leaders Epaminandous, Sherman and Patton. He again studies the character of the societies they came from and how this is reflected in the armies and in the way the leaders handled the battles. I found the section on Patton especially interesting, especially his thesis that Eisenhower and BRadley (especially the latter) were at times incompetent. I am sure this is not old news, but the arguments made were quite convincing.

Another argument that is interesting and not completely drawn out is that society had possibly changed around battle preventing Patton from executing his war plan to his best ability. The idea Patton expounded of killing as many of the enemy as possible with as few American casualties as possible seems to have been somewhat politically incorrect. The advent of better communications also meant the leader had less freedom of action. It would be interesting to read more on this thesis.

Finally, one small flaw that bothers me, Mr. Hanson can get a bit repetitive. For example he dwells on General Patton's lack of supplies so often and uses almost the same sentences all the time. It is like he feels we forgot what he said a few pages before. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Epaminondas,   2. History   3. History - General History   4. History: World   5. Military - General   6. Military history   7. Military leadership   8. Motivation (Psychology)   9. Sherman, William T   10. b. ca. 420 B.C   11. Epaminondas   12. History / Military / General   13. Patton, George S   

Customer Reviews (38)

Excellent and Gripping Book
This is a great book written by a man who put his life on the line inorder to let the world know how terrible the Mossad really is. He eloquently summarizes his life story, growing up as an ardent Zionist, climbing high in the Israeli military ranks, and finally becoming disillusioned after achieving the dream of many Israelis: joining the Mossad. He explains in great detail many of the ways, training techniques, and past operations of this ultra-secret "intelligence agency" that he was a part of for four years. If, as some people say, this book is not factual, why is it that most of the events are actually recorded in old newspapers, magazines, T.V. news, etc.? All you have to do is spend enough time and you can find for yourself the articles on Yehia Meshad, Jonathan Pollard, Sabra and Shatilla, the Fallashas, and so on. Offcourse the major difference is that Ostrovsky, as an insider, ties things together and goes into the details that we could never find in the news. Furthermore, why would the Israeli govt. and Jewish groups in the U.S. try to prevent this book from being published in the first place? Finally, I just heard that this book is out of print and banned in the U.S. now. If this is true, it is a shame. It just goes to show that Ostrovsky is right.

9/11
When I got to page 119 the words just jumped out at me. Mr Ostrovsky says "Many bridges in Arab countries had bombs planted in the concrete by combatants [a category of Mossad field agent] during their construction - ALL COMBATANTS ARE TRAINED IN DEMOLITION TECHNIQUES [my caps]." My thoughts immediately turned to the World Trade Center and how the collapses of buildings 1, 2 and 7 (the last of which was not struck by a plane) looked exactly like CONTROLLED DEMOLITIONS. Now my thoughts were running wild. All three of those buildings were controlled by Larry Silverstein, president of the Israel Export Development Corporation and a great supporter of the state of Israel. I asked myself - if Mossad were needed a sayan [a Jew who could and would help Mossad] then Mr Silverstein would be a prize. In fact he only gained control of the Towers a mere eight weeks before 9/11 - plenty of time for demolition experts to set charges - and he had negotiated the insertion of a special clause into the lease, that he would have the right to rebuild on the spot if the Towers ever fell down. Yes - both of them. And since the Towers were never more than 50% tenanted, there were plenty of empty floors for demolition experts to do there work. As you will appreciate, my mind was racing. I then remembered the FIVE DANCING ISRAELIS. Who hasn't heard of them? They were videoing the collapses and were collared only because an appalled witness saw them jumping up and down with joy and high-fiving and laughing, after the Towers had collapsed. So they were nicked - and guess what? THEY WERE MOSSAD AGENTS. So of course the US government simply HAD TO LET THEM GO. But not before dogs detected traces of explosives in the van they were stopped in. And the van - their cover was provided by another probable Mossad sayan, Dominic Suter, owner of the company Urban Moving Systems which had provided ILLEGAL employment as cover for these Mossad agents who were celebrating the collapse of the Towers. These Mossad agents told the FBI that they were there "TO DOCUMENT THE EVENT" - those are THEIR OWN WORDS. Dominic Suter disappeared two days later, abandoning his company and emerging in Israel. And the first words out of Benjamin Netanyahu's mouth when he heard about 9/11 - "THIS IS VERY GOOD...". As you can see that is a lot of associations triggered by one short paragraph of Mr Ostrovsky's book. Everybody should read it. It should be studied in schools. Exam questions should be based on it.

Of course, if all this strikes you as fantastic, you can always read "My Pet Goat" instead. That would probably be more to your liking.

Scattered information about the Mossad
I read this book 10 years ago for the first time, and read it again about year ago. After the second read I realized that the author combined interesting factual information with personal complaints. I also wonder how he was supposedly privy to so much detailed information on the various operatives.

All bickering aside, this is an interesting book that will take you through his training, to his real life assignments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent (albeit dated) treatment of atmos. science
(Update--there is a new version of this textbook at some stage of the review process...watch for it soon!)
It's too bad Wallace and Hobbs never got around to revising this edition of the text, written in 1977. Of all the undergraduate textbooks I had, this was by far the best.

W&H cover all the important topics in meteorology and atmospheric science. Each chapter is very well written, easy to understand, and has good graphics and thought-provoking (often difficult!) questions at the end of each chapter. Each chapter ends with a series of mathematical questions--some of which require a good bit of thinking to arrive at the right equation to use; and also a series of "explain or interpret these statements." This is where you find out how much you really know!

Why do I like this book? Each chapter can, to some extent, stand on its own. Even though the material is dated (Chapter 5, on clouds and storms, would need significant additions in a course taught today), fundamental principles were the same then and are explained well. The historical notes about famous scientists also add character to the text.

My suggestion for a new reader: Chapters 1, 2, 8, 3, and 5 in that order. Then add Chapters 9, 4, 6, and 7. This way, you get the fundamental theory and then get to apply all you know to actual weather systems (in 3 and 5). The remaining four are almost like special topics and can be read at any time. If anyone has better suggestions, let me know!

stimulating book
Although not being a specialist in the field (mine is Condensed Matter Physics), I found this book to be quite stimulating and well written. It is suitable for a student who has already some familiarity with Physics and Calculus (including several variables and vector calculus) and , in my opinion, that is just what makes it exciting, because it does not, although being introductory, bores the non-specialist reader with a mass of details or strict qualitative information. I have been responsible for introductory Themodynamics classes for students of Physics and Meteorology for the last four years in my institute, and now I intend to use examples from the book . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atmosphere   2. Earth Sciences - Meteorology & Climatology   3. Meteorology   4. Science   5. Science/Mathematics   6. Science / Meteorology   

Customer Reviews (4)

Best Card Play Technique Book EVER
I have studied quite a few bridge books, and won a number of championships, but THIS one stands out over all the others on the play of the hand.

I heartily recommend this to every intermediate or advanced player.

EXCELLENT
If you buy only one bridge book in your entire life, this should be it. It is written with such skill and humor that it reads like a novel... not only will you learn a tremendous amount from this book, but you'll enjoy yourself in the process. The chapters alternate between Dummy Play and Defense, covering everything from promotion to grand coups. Players of all levels will benefit from reading (and rereading) this excellent book.

THE best book on play technique
This is the best book EVER written on declarer play AND defence. And the way the author deals with the same topic alternately from the point of view of declarer and defender makes this book that much more useful. Considering when it was written (more than 40 years ago - this is a reprint), I'm still amazed by how well this book is organized. Principles are explained clearly and illustrated beautifully with sample hands. Each chapter is followed by a quiz (do take the time to try and solve the problems). The presentation is concise, witty and informative at the same time. Very easy to read, and just as useful today as when it was first written. Almost every good player I know has read this book many times.

I must say this book puts to shame the only other comparable "classic", Watson's Play of the hand, which has a tendency to be long-winded. The difference here is that Victor Mollo is a genuinely great writer who knows how to entertain while teaching. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Card Games - Bridge   2. Games   3. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords   4. Games/Puzzles   

Customer Reviews (1)

landmark work
Victor Turner is one of the great names in anthropology and this is a classic work of analysis of social rituals. He takes van Gennep's theories on rites of passage to a new level, examining how different elements of festivals and rites function. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Archaeology / Anthropology   2. Cultural And Social Anthropology   3. Sociology   4. Sociology of Religion   

Customer Reviews (4)

Exceptional Resource!
I have been using this resource for more than four years in a variety of contexts--academic classes, Bible studies with high school and college students, and so on. This book is an invaluable resource.

Two main reasons to buy this book: 1) We are all very removed from the cultural perspective of the authors who wrote the Old Testament. This book helps bridge that gap by pointing out details we would consider irrelevant and giving context to other details we would otherwise misunderstand. 2) The text is highly readable and accessible for a wide selection of readers. The scholarship is very strong, fair, and thought-provoking, and furthermore, the editorial team did an excellent job ensuring that the information was presented in a clear and interesting manner. I've often found myself provoked to curiousity and ended up reading more than I originally intended to (and, no, that is not a habit for me with most reference books!).

A brief word, too, about the fact that an evangelical publisher is responsible for this book being published. First, every publishing house has biases, so to judge an evangelical publisher for publishing work sympathetic to evangelical tendencies is a bit harsh. Secondly, as one who reads a fair amount from a variety of sources, I have often found that IV Press books exhibit an uncommon level of integrity and fairness in the way their books are written. Thirdly, it is a logical fallacy to argue that a book does not contain truth or is inaccurate due to its origin. Have an open mind and judge the accuracy of the material on its own merits.

Really, this is a great text. I know several dozen men and women who regularly use this book in their work and who consider it very helpful for the purpose of presenting Scripture accurately. I strongly encourage you to buy and use this book.

Go Dad!
I love ya,daddy!

Way to go Mark Chavalas!

Elizabeth C. age 12

Excellent resource
The IVP Bible Background Commentary is an excellent resource for understanding the Bible in its historical context. Sure, that means it sometimes reads counter to tradition, but if tradition is being refuted by physical evidence, I'd rather know that than be left in my blind tradition.

The book does lean toward a more Earth-bound discussion of the Bible. It shows how political, economic, and societal influences helped shape the way the books of the Bible were written (or spoken) and passed down through history. It shows how the writers, even though they were inspired by God, were still influenced by the times in which they lived.

This is not a book for the strict Fundamentalist Christian unless you want your beliefs challenged. But it's a wonderful book for the literary Christian who likes to engage in some healthy Biblical discussion.

The only thing that really disappointed me (and kept it out of the 5-star category) was that a few of the historical discussions are sometimes cut short. But I'm sure that was a balance between depth of research and final page count. Overall, this is definitely worth the money, and it will keep many people thinking critically about the Bible for quite some time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible   2. Bible - Commentaries - Old Testament   3. Commentaries   4. General   5. O.T   6. Old Testament Commentary   7. Reference   8. Religion   

Customer Reviews (3)

The only book on identity theft is also a life saver.
When my attaché case was stolen, Mari Frank came to my rescue. With her advice, those telephone calls and letters established firewalls at my bank, with credit card companies, with the credit reporting agencies, etc. She saved my identity, credit rating, reputation, and "life." This fascinating book is highly recommended. Dan Poynter, authorThe Self-Publishing Manual

The best life saver anyone can have! A must have for victims
Attorney Mari Frank has written the most complete, authoritative, and easy to follow book on identity-theft. From Victim To Victor covers it all: where to start, how to proceed and just the right touch of support for persons who have suffered the terror of having their identity stolen. Like a first-aid kit in your medicine chest, every person should own this mini-encyclopedia in preparedness for the probability that they, too, may fall victim to the fastest growing crime today! Ms. Frank also has shown a great deal of empathy for victims who need even more support by making available her book in a kit which contains audio tapes and computer diskettes. The book alone is marvelous and the kit is a super bargain!

The best life saver anyone can have! A must for victims!
Attorney Mari Frank has written the most complete, authoritative, and easy to follow book on identity-theft. From Victim To Victor covers it all: where to start, how to proceed and just the right touch of support for persons who have suffered the terror of having their identity stolen. Like a first-aid kit in your medicine cabinet, everyone should own this mini-encyclopedia in preparedness for the probability that they,too, may fall victim to the fastest growing crime today! Ms. Frank also has shown a great deal of empathy for victims who need more support by making available her book in a kit which contains audio tapes and computer diskettes. The book alone is marvelous and the kit is a SUPER BARGAIN!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General   2. Philosophy   

Victor Davis Hanson, a California professor of classical history and a sixth-generation orchard-keeper, revisits an old tradition in American letters, writing social criticism from an agrarian point of view that takes the farmer to be the foundation of any democracy worthy of the name. That Jeffersonian argument is not widely aired these days, apart from the essays of Wendell Berry and a few like-minded nature writers, and it takes on a specifically political force in Hanson's thoughtful, sometimes angry meditations on the decline of farming and the virtuous values that farming once instilled.

The enemies of farming are many, Hanson declares. They number not only drought, insects, fire, and fungi, but also political leaders who are content to watch the fertile countryside be carved into arid seas of look-alike homes, housing consumers who demand factory-issued foods in all seasons. Their demands are met--and, barring disaster, will continue to be met--by corporate agriculture, which, Hanson holds, values appearance over taste and prizes short-term profits over the long-term health of the land. The ascendance of that corporate system of food production means that fewer and fewer small farms can survive, and that agriculture will seem an ever more alien enterprise to the coming generations, conducted far off in the hinterland, "the corporate void where no sane man wishes to live."

This all means, Hanson suggests, that the farmer of old who knew how to fix tractors and fences, how to wage war on predators while shunning the use of poisons, and how to live self-reliantly is a thing of the past. The disappearance of that American archetype is all to the bad. As Hanson writes, "We have lost our agrarian landscape and with it the insurance that there would be an autonomous, outspoken, and critical group of citizens eager to remind us of the current fads and follies of the day." Resounding with righteous fury and good common sense, his book is a call to turn back the clock and set a more civilized table. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Hardhitting, true, and very sad
Agrarianism goes down to a hard and dusty death. The realities of growing commodities as a family in California are tough. Hanson does know what he's talking about, contra reader S.M. Stirling, below (I wonder if this fellow even read the book, his comments are so off, not to mention being practically a personal attack on Hanson); he lives the reality of this difficult life while also being a classical scholar. He seems uniquely qualified to illuminate the Greek and Latin roots of agrarianism as the foundation of democracy, and with a lifelong interest in the classics, I found this very interesting; I learned a lot. I highly recommend this book, which I found compelling...

Fertile Food for Thought for The Thinking Human
This is one of those few books that I enjoyed and thought about so much that I bought six copies from Amazon to hand out to friends who I believed would also appreciate Hanson's efforts. It really is that exceptional! The thing most notable about "The Land Is Everything" is how much response it will provoke out of you if are a "thinking type". That doesn't mean you will love or hate it all...you will, however, THINK! Despite the definite order the book is arranged in, you will get a sense that much of it was almost written in streams of thought. Hanson seems to meander on tangents at times and in other places even rants but, this stream is still flowing briskly! He focusses in on "Man versus Nature", "Man versus Man", and "Man versus Self" in the realm of small-scale farming.

Hanson is uniquely qualified to write about the subject of farming and it's effects on character. He is a fifth generation grape farmer in California while also a Professor of Classics at CSU Fresno. The clincher is that he can convey his beliefs to paper with a VENGEANCE! The crux of this book is showing how the decline of self-reliant family farms in America is sapping the core character of what an "American" was in our first 200 years. He passionately describes the life, both good and bad, of the American farmer and gives numerous examples of issues that influence his/her character and culture. The fact that America, up until fairly recently, was predominantly a land of farmers is elaborated on at length. Hanson admires and respects the ways the brutal realities of farming the land force farmers to stay literally rooted in hard work, ethics, and honesty even if it sometimes makes them crazy! He then launches into his assessments of the effects on the gradual loss of this culture on the United States today as it becomes more and more "urban" and "cosmopolitan".

One thing I can almost promise: you WILL have an opinion on this book once you've read it. There will be points that you will agree or disagree with strongly and many others that will fall somewhere in between. The bottom line is that you will definitely feel better for having read it.

Finally, if you have found yourself drawn to understand the heroism and motivation of the New York City fireman who fought and died at the World Trade Center attack on 9/11, I doubly recommend this book.

Enemies of Agriculture
Victor Davis Hanson is a rarity among classical scholars: he writes with elegance and conviction not only about classics (I admired Who Killed Homer?, which he wrote with John Heath), but about the decline of independent farming in America. A fifth-generation California grape farmer, he has written previously in Fields Without Dreams about his struggles to retain the family farm. (He wrote so passionately, in fact, that I used to read quotes aloud to my husband after dinner, alternately enthralled by brilliant insights and disturbed by weird tangents into political conservativism). A classicist myself, I am startled and impressed by his ability to relate the experiences of farmers in America to ancient Greek agriculture. Though I still read Latin on weekends with my husband, I have known very few classicists who can write compellingly about anything outside their narrow field of knowledge This new collection of essays, The Land Was Everything, is more palatable to the common reader than Fields Without Dreams: he educates the general public about the social and economic whys and wherefores of independent farming in the twenty-first century. His book pays homage to J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, a Frenchman who wrote Letters from an American Farmer in 1782, and explores American farmers' options, describing their war on pests and weeds,the history of chemical poisons and pesticides, the impact of suburban sprawl, weather, trespassers, and other enemies of agriculture. I'm a fan of this gallant classicist-farmer curmudgeon, though I don't agree with all he says. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture   2. Agriculture (General)   3. Agriculture - General   4. Effect of human beings on   5. Environmental aspects   6. History   7. History - General History   8. History: American   9. Nature   10. United States   11. United States - General   12. History / General   

Customer Reviews (30)

Hanson Makes Me Proud To Be An American!
Anyone familiar with the writing of Victor Davis Hanson, a professor of classics and journalist, knows his views on the subject of this book. He is a passionate defender of American greatness, hates the tyrants of the world with all his soul and has nothing but scorn for the appeasers and bashers of America among the intellectual elite. All these views are well amplified in this book, a collection of essays published, mainly in National Review Online, between September 12 and December 31, 2001. The topics are far ranging and the tones of the essays vary considerably. In many, Hanson writes with an eloquent passion in defense of Western civilization and Western values. Indeed, his words may be called Churchillian. (One essay is entitled "What Would Churchill Say" and liberally quotes the great man.) In other essays, Hanson envokes important military figures from the past such as Sherman to demonstrate his view that the great Western nations go to war reluctantly but with an unrelenting savage fury. Other essays are satirical in tone including one in which he imagines the modern media covering the Doolittle raid on Tokyo. The most inventive essay is one in which he conducts an "interview" with Thucydides, the great chronicler of the Peloponesian War by interposing questions about the war on Islamic fascism with actual quotations (complete with citations) from Thucydides himself.

Hanson is no lightweight pundit. The man is a brilliant scholar filled with passionate yet truthful opinions. He amply supports those opinions through the exploration of history. This excellent book is a welcome antidote to the venom produced by the left and the pablum produced by most of our punditocracy. Hanson fills me with pride in being an American. His writing is never jingoistic but always passionate and patriotic. If you feel pessimistic and think maybe America's day has passed, read this book. It will make you feel better.

Profound, witty, audaciously incorrect and well-written
This is a really great book--penetrates the psycho-babble and punditry that serves as analysis of the problem of radical islam. Hanson is unapologetic; he is a military historian and professor of the classics with a deep understanding of the West, and a long view of history and warfare. If you read the introduction, you will be hooked on his style, which is unpretentious--it makes you realize that much of the analysis on terrorism, even be learned and experienced people, is just wrong. More importantly, it will cost more lives in the future. He convincingly compares the dithering before the Second World War to the high-society Euro-intellectuals of the day--people (unfortunately) like Colin Powell, who, upon the U.S. attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan commented that we might strike deals with the "moderate" Taliban. This of course begs the question--What is a moderate Taliban? That's like saying a "moderate Nazi." Sometimes, the shortest route to end the bloodshed is to obliterate your foe, and that is what he calls for--reducing the specter of al qaeda and the Taliban to a realistic threat. In the process, he takes a lot of hot air out of the chattering classes, college professors and policy wonks. Still, this is not a polemic and it is well written--comparable in depth to Robert D. Kaplan, Donald Kagan or Robert Kagan--if you like them, you will like him. Because this is a series of editorials, there tends to be a little repeating, but still a well-deserved five stars.

His writings "ring true!"
Victor Davis Hanson combines the historical perspective of the scholar with the practical, down to earth experiences of the common man. [He's a classical historian and a farmer.] The result is a narrative that "rings true." His book helped me come to terms with what is happening in our world because I understand better the thinking and motivations of the players. He answers the questions - why is terrorism happening?, and why are we doing what we're doing to defeat it? He gave me a clearer understanding of the beliefs of the Islamic Fundamentalist Fascists, what is at stake for our society and why we need to protect and defend our way of life. He also reminded me of the goodness in our country - of the values including: integrity, moral courage, fairness, respect, responsibility, compassion which we hold dear. While our country isn't perfect, he again reminded me that there's no place else I would want to live. I shared his book with members of a book club I belong to, and one person said, "If the administration had made the case for defending ourselves like Mr. Hanson did, I would have had a greater understanding and appreciation for the actions our country has taken since 9/11." I purchased a second copy of this book so I could pass it around to book club members, church members and friends. It is truly an OUTSTANDING book!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1989-   2. 1995-2005   3. Foreign relations   4. Government - U.S. Government   5. History & Theory - General   6. International Relations - General   7. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism   8. Political Science   9. Political Terrorism   10. Politics - Current Events   11. Politics/International Relations   12. September 11 Terrorist Attacks   13. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001   14. U.S. History - 1990s   15. United States   16. United States - 21st Century   17. War on Terrorism, 2001-   18. World politics   19. Current Events / Military   

Customer Reviews (2)

Take Care of Your Soul!
Every woman alive is a working woman, no matter whether she has a husband and/or children, or not. There are daily struggles with family, weekly struggles with work and ultimately, very emotional struggles with just living! Chicken Soup for the Working Woman's Soul is a moment of relaxation. It's a chance for a woman to sit down with a soothing drink, put her feet up and dive into the issues that we all face - as seen through the eyes of our peers. As a mom, it's a chance for me to see that my kids aren't as wild as I sometimes feel they are ... as a woman, it was the opportunity to see that work and balancing issues happen to everyone ... and as a wife, it gave me a firm appreciation for the amount of work that my husband and I accomplish as we take care of our family. The one point of this book that isn't mentioned enough is that our souls need to be in shape before we can contend with the world around us. Chicken Soup for the Working Woman's Soul gives a woman a chance to parlay her soul into the being that she wants it to be, while allowing us to view inside a slice of another's soul. It's thought provoking, entertaining and reassuring to see that other women are in the same places in their lives that we have been with various issues. It's a chit-chat, without the other person sitting in front of you. I believe this is one of those books that you read, set on your bookshelf, and read again when the world around you is pulling you in every direction. It's a safe haven in turmoil, and it's a chance for a woman to recharge after a rough one! It's, well, it's chicken soup for the working woman's soul!

Another amazing collection of stories in the Chicken Soup Se
Here is yet another amazing collection of stories that will make you laugh and cry and everything in between. This is an ideal gift for the workplace and for anyone who is in the workforce. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Affirmations   2. Anecdotes   3. Business Life - Inspirational   4. Employment   5. Inspirational   6. Inspirational - General   7. Interviews   8. Self-Help   9. United States   10. Women   11. Women & Business   12. Women employees   13. Self-Help / General   

Customer Reviews (1)

Enthusiastically recommended reference for writers.
A Writer's Guide To Transitional Words And Expressions by Victor Pellegrino is a very specific and highly useful reference for writers of all ages and skill levels, ranging from novelists to journalists. It is quite simply a collection of lists of English words and phrases. Each list is offered as an effective verbal transition mechanism for authors seeking the best phrase "To Indicate Time Order," "To Indicate a Sequence," "To Emphasize or Intensify," "To Substitute for 'Said'" and a dozen other lists. Perhaps most useful is A Writer's Guide To Transitional Words' unusual format layout, which makes an index tab for each list instantly visible upon opening to any page - which in turn makes finding the list one wants to consult a supremely quick and easy process. A Writer's Guide To Transitional Words is an enthusiastically recommended reference for professional writers of all walks, since the type of phrases it presents are not ones that are quite so easily gleaned from a common thesaurus. Also highly recommended is Victor Pellegrino's companion book A Writer's Guide To Using Eight Methods Of Transition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General   2. Language   3. Language Arts & Disciplines   4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy   5. Reference   

Customer Reviews (14)

Ho-Hum
Same old topics from other SAP books and documentation covered again in light fashion. Touches on most Basis topics but does not go in-depth on any of them. The Oracle portion was verbose but extremely weak in detail, not to mention it was seriously outdated and straight from old SAP documents that are no longer used.

If you've taken the SAP courses or have access to the SAP online doc, you don't need this book

Love the book!
I've been doing Basis Admin work for over 5 years now, and thought I knew just about all there was too know about it. This book showed me some hints and tips I never even thought of, and you can bet I'll use them in my job. Finally, a book written by someone who's been there and done it, and not by a professional writer who's never even touched SAP. Good work Robert!

Thanks
I don't usually leave comments on books I've purchased through Amazon or anywhere else, but I felt compelled to do so on this one. Not only did I gain a good understanding of SAP Basis Administration, but the first hand knowledge shared from the author who's been there - done that, was very helpful. The hints and tips gained from this book will go into my own personal "cookbook" for sure. Nice work, for once I feel like I got my money's worth. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business   2. Client/server computing   3. Computer Bks - Other Applications   4. Computer Books: Languages   5. Computer programs   6. Computers   7. General   8. Hardware - Personal Computers - Macintosh   9. Management   10. Microcomputer Database Management Software   11. Programming - General