Product Description
Setting the Record Straight is a unique view of the religious and moral heritage of black Americans, with an emphasis on the untold yet significant stories from our rich political history. The material presented is ground-breaking and revolutionary, leaving viewers amazed and inspired. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (88)

History at its best
This is a wonderful and informative book.I bought one for a co-worker
and then one for myself to share with friends and family.I am white and
my co-worker is black.It is time for all of us to know the truth about
our history.

American History in Black and White
Outstanding and informative. I am not surre why I was never informed of these facts in High School or College.

So Worth the Read!
Ever wonder about African American history?This book has it ALL!It's a wonderful but quick read and will explain a lot about how America got to the place it's at in terms of how blacks are treated here.I LOVED the book and can't recommend it enough!

Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & White
Excellent source of information.Read this book if you want to learn formerly unknown facts about the founders of our country.Should be required reading for all students.

Dangerous view of history
Barton is a bigot and has singularly done more to poorly influence my Texas State Board of Education than any other man alive.Do not buy his book.Do not encourage this injustice. ... Read more

Product Description
The authorized history of the world's oldest and most storied foreign intelligence service, drawing extensively on hitherto secret documents.

Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (also commonly known as MI6) was born a century ago amid fears of the rising power of other countries, especially Germany. The next forty years saw MI6 taking an increasingly important-and, until now, largely hidden-role in shaping the history of Europe and the world. This thorough, fascinating, and revelatory account draws on a wealth of archival materials never before seen by any outsider to unveil the inner workings of the world's first spy agency.

MI6's early days were haphazard but it was quickly forged into an effective organization in the crucible of World War I. During these war years, MI6 also formed ties with the United States-harbingers of a relationship that would become vital to both countries' security as the century progressed. These early years also saw the development of techniques that would become plot devices in a thousand books and films-forgery, invisible ink, disguises, concealing mechanisms, and much more. The interwar years were nominally peaceful, but Britain perceived numerous threats, all of which MI6 was expected to keep tabs on. The outbreak of World War II once again caught MI6 off balance, and high-profile blunders (and the memoirs of MI6 operatives such as Graham Greene) created an impression of ineffectiveness. At the same time, however, the service was pioneering cryptography at Bletchley Park (where the Enigma code would be broken) and devising the very methods and equipment that would inspire Ian Fleming's novels.

In a way, the aftermath of World War II was as dramatic as the war itself had been, because 1945-49 saw not only the end of the British Empire but also the emergence of a new sort of conflict-the Cold War. We witness MI6 wrestling with these epic developments as it tightens its bonds with the newly christened CIA, changes that would dictate the shape of the service-and the world-for decades to come.Amazon.com Review

Customer Reviews (6)

British secret warriors and all that...
HAVING HEARD THE AUTHOR ON SEVERAL NPR INTERVIEWS AND HAVING STUDIED VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE SECOND WOLD WAR, I WAS INTRIGUED TO READ THIS.I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED.I AM FINDING IT A FASCINATING, IF SLOW, READ BUT WELL WORTH THE TIME AND ENERGY.IT COVERS THE PERIOD FROM MI5'S INCEPTION AT THE TIME OF WWI THROUGH THE END OF WWII AND KOREA.

A bureaucratic overview of the British SIS
Keith Jeffrey has written a history of the SIS that is characterised by the comprehensive coverage of the dry machinations of the British bureaucracy. Perhaps the history writing genre fitted Jeffrey's remit from the SIS, but I felt that the book had let down the thousands of brave men and women who had served the organisation, in the field, since 1909.

What is missing is far more interesting.

A historian's book for history professionals
The topic of this book, and the fact that the author had full access to MI6 archives, should have made this book fascinating. Unfortunately, it is a book by a history professor evidently intended for other academics. For example, there are many pages devoted to the budget to the service in the 1920's -- not very interesting stuff. The author also explicitly says that he preferred documents to oral statements, so instead of thrilling first-hand accounts of spies in occupied Europe you get a lot of "he wrote" "he returned" and so on.

Therefore, if you are either a professional historian or very interested in the subject and willing to skim over many pages of the book, this is worth reading. Otherwise, I would not recommend it.

Spy agency, history
Very good book. I've read other books on the subject and I find this one very interesting. However there is one caveat, that it only goes to 1949, therefor leaving what perhaps is one of the most intriguing part of the of the history of MI6. That is of the Cold War and the moles in the service. Also another caveat is that this is "an official story", with a pre-selected author. The author reports that he was given complete access to existing files from that era, but the names an identities were changed when necessary. While this presumably gives accuracy to the book, and it probably does, the reader will never know for sure what kind of 'pressure" was put on an approved author on certain topics. Nevertheless is excellent reading. Compares favorably to S. Power works.

License to spy
Keith Jeffery accepted the task of writing the history of MI-6, the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) fromthe SIS itself, who wished to"commission an independent and authoritative volume" on the anniversary of their centenary.The history covers the beginnings from 1909, with the worries over an aggressive Germany to 1949. The reason for stopping at 1949 are given in a well written forward and preface - mainly that after that date there are still too many facts that are security sensitive. There are also explanations of how and why the agents and people who have worked for the SIS are protected. Many times only initials are used, and it is admitted that some stories had to be omitted because of the fear of identifying agents.
There is a much needed list of abbreviations and what they stand for and a detailed index. There are some illustrations and diagrams throughout the reading and two sectionsof photographs.

Jeffery says he was given unrestricted access to the archives, however, it has been the practice to destroy huge numbers of documents once their usefulness was up... how that is determined is never explained. This is not a book containing stories of daring and master spy techniques, instead it reads more like a government report; and in many ways that is its' failing. There is only accuracy rather than, also the appeal of and recollection of operations completed. The writing does rise above the drudgery in explaining how agents should work, some accounts of wartime activities and in some incidents, such as the search for invisible ink; but these 752 pages are extremely dry and mainly contain a recitation of who headed the agency, what they and their subordinates did and why; explanations of different reports and the organization of the agency and attempts to combine the agency with other government bureaus. None of the exhilaration of the job or work well done comes through.

The details are fully and firmly about Great Britain, little is mentioned of interactions and cooperation with other countries, other than in the conclusion, where there are 5 or 6 pages about the relationship with the CIA. If there is a comment it usually consists of,"which also involved United States (or whatever country) participation".
Those who wish to learn the bureaucratic details of the SIS- MI6 would indeed enjoy reading through this book.
... Read more

Product Description
A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.] is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Wolfram Eberhard is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Wolfram Eberhard then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (54)

great book for assessment
Just like the other reviewers state, this book is really good at showing you how to perform physical examinations. The only problem I see is that they do not tell you how to troubleshoot issues that you would encounter (e.g. holding an opthalmascope that is connected to the wall, how would one avoid not getting tangled with the wires)

Textbook
The purchase process was fast and satisfactory, and the textbook was mailed within the time
established. my experience with amazon was great.

slightly disappointed
The book content is great. Unfortunately, the book arrived with pages falling out. I would still recommend this textbook to anyone looking for a great health and physical assessment source.

Great buy for any health professional student
Bates has wonderfully detailed and specific descriptions of each system exam as well as descriptions on history taking, clinical reasoning, behavior and mental status. Special sections include infants/children, pregnant women and older adults. Within each chapter there is a wonderful overview of the system including anatomy and physiology which transitions nicely into descriptions of abnormal findings and their clinical significance. This book does not simply cover how to perform a physical exam but also includes a mini medicine review.

Bates is the BEST
Excellent reference and resource on physical assessment, plenty of illustrations, color photographs, and helpful tips for the APRN.The best assessment book I have purchased in my 35 years of nursing. ... Read more

Product Description
One of our most innovative, popular thinkers takes on-in exhilarating style-one of our key questions: Where do good ideas come from?

With Where Good Ideas Come From, Steven Johnson pairs the insight of his bestselling Everything Bad Is Good for You and the dazzling erudition of The Ghost Map and The Invention of Air to address an urgent and universal question: What sparks the flash of brilliance? How does groundbreaking innovation happen? Answering in his infectious, culturally omnivorous style, using his fluency in fields from neurobiology to popular culture, Johnson provides the complete, exciting, and encouraging story of how we generate the ideas that push our careers, our lives, our society, and our culture forward.

Beginning with Charles Darwin's first encounter with the teeming ecosystem of the coral reef and drawing connections to the intellectual hyperproductivity of modern megacities and to the instant success of YouTube, Johnson shows us that the question we need to ask is, What kind of environment fosters the development of good ideas? His answers are never less than revelatory, convincing, and inspiring as Johnson identifies the seven key principles to the genesis of such ideas, and traces them across time and disciplines.

Most exhilarating is Johnson's conclusion that with today's tools and environment, radical innovation is extraordinarily accessible to those who know how to cultivate it. Where Good Ideas Come From is essential reading for anyone who wants to know how to come up with tomorrow's great ideas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

How and why our thoughts shape the spaces we inhabit...and vice versa

As Steven Johnson explains, "The argument of this book is that a series of shared properties and patterns recur again and again in unusually fertile environments. I have distilled them down to seven patterns, each one occupying a separate chapter. The more we embrace these patterns - in our private work habits and hobbies, in our office environments, in the design of new software tools - the better we are at tapping our extraordinary capacity for innovative thinking." I strongly agree with Johnson that there is much value to be found in seeking commonalities between and among most (if not all) forms of creativity and innovation. Further, I also strongly agree that "we are often better served by [begin italics] connecting [end italics] ideas than by protecting them.

Clearly, Johnson endorses the open business model about which Henry Chesbrough has so much of value to say in two of his books, Open Innovation and Open Business Models. Both in nature and in culture, "environments that build walls around good ideas tend to be less innovative in the long run than more open-ended environments. Good ideas may not want to be free but they do want to connect, fuse, recombine. They want to reinvent themselves by crossing conceptual borders. They want to complete each other as much as they want to compete"...if indeed compete at all.

Co-creation has great power externally for those who forge strategic alliances but it also has great power internally for others such as Apple, a company that "remains defiantly top-down and almost comically secretive in its development of new products." Although Apple has largely adopted a fortress mentality toward the outside world, "the company's internal development process is explicitly structured to facilitate clash and connection between different perspectives." Indeed, its development cycle looks more like a coffeehouse than an assembly line." Insofar as co-creation is concerned, innovation is not a zero sum game: teams of great innovators can - and do - thrive in both internal and external cross-disciplinary environments as can each individual within her or his own private work routines.

To me, some of the most valuable material is provided in Chapter IV, "Serendipity," as Johnson explains how and why a pattern of what he characterizes as a "slow hunch" can crystallize into a "dream-inspired epiphany." If I fully understand this pattern as Johnson explains it (and I may not, at least not the chemical aspects), it suggests a phenomenon of co-creation in which both the conscious and subconscious domains of the mind are involved. He cites a number of sources (e.g. Friedrich August Kekuylé von Stradonitz, Robert Thatcher, William James, Stuart Kauffman, Henri Poincaré), each of whom has contributed to the development of a better understanding of the role that serendipity (i.e. accidental and beneficial connection of ideas) can play throughout the process of creation and innovation.

Johnson examines a formidable challenge: How to create environments "that foster these serendipitous connections, on all the appropriate scales: in the private space of your own mind; within larger institutions; and across the information networks of society itself." Indeed, such fortuitous connections can occur almost anywhere on the planet, given what Cass Sunstein has characterized as the "architecture of serendipity." Johnson asserts, and I agree, that the Web "is an unrivaled medium for serendipity if you are actively seeking it out," given the potential access it offers for collisions, connections, and recombinations.

Throughout his lively narrative, Johnson substantially increases our understanding of how and why some environments ("spaces") nourish innovation and others don't. The seven patterns that he discusses with both rigor and clarity come about as close as any explanation can to equating a coral reef (or rain forest) with the invisible layers of software that support today's Web. He also shares what he perceives to be "the ultimate explanation" of Darwin's Paradox: "the reef has unlocked so many doors of the adjacent possible because of the way it shares." He could have been describing various social media and all of the different "tribes" (as Seth Godin characterizes them) that also "compulsively connect and remix that most valuable of resources: information."

This is one of very few books in recent years about which I felt impending sadness as I began to read its final chapter, followed byan appendix in which Johnson provides a "Chronology of Key Innovations, 1400-2000." I think so highly of it that I plan to re-read it again and frequently thereafter so that, thanks to Steven Johnson, reviewing the seven patterns will continue to "unlock so many doors of the adjacent possible" in both the conscious and subconscious domains of my mind.

Patterns
At the beginning of Where Good Ideas Come From, author Steven Johnson describes his purpose in writing the book: "The argument of this book is that a series of shared properties and patterns recur again and again in unusually fertile environments. I have distilled them down into seven patterns...." (p.17) Johnson devotes a chapter to each pattern, and peppers the text with ample examples to keep the book lively. I found Johnson's approach to be intriguing and interesting. I expect that any reader who works in product development, planning, strategy, or any creative pursuit, will find special interest in this book. As a general interest reader, I'm in no position to critique Johnson, but I expect that most readers will come away from this book thinking about innovation in new ways.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

Full of good ideas but short on evidence
How do we cultivate innovation? Are there some ways to interact, to live, and to work that promote innovation? If so what are the fundamental drivers of innovation? In his latest book, Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation (WGICF),Steven Johnson proposes a framework for answering these questions. WGICF is divided into seven sections with each section addressing what Mr. Johnson considers to be a fundamental factorthat facilitates innovation.

Unfortunately, the core of his argument is one of analogy with nature or anecdote. From nature, he looks at structures with disproportionate diversity in nature and asks how these devices and behavior can be mapped to human culture and interaction. Although this kind of analogical writing is rhetorically compelling it doesn't provide any kind of true support for the accuracy of his statements. As for the use of anecdotes, they are useful for creating narrative from data and I am well aware they are nearly a requirement for publishing in this genre of non-fiction writing. I can even recognize they are rhetorically useful for creating emotional pull but no many how many stories you tell they simply do not provide evidence to support a thesis.

Now that I've made my caveats,I do think there are lots of good ideas in the book. The factors that Johnson proposes all seem believable and fit in with what I know of cognition. In particular, three topics he includes, at least based on other readings, deeply related to being a strong thinker - making errors and subsequently thinking about the error, building connections between concepts, and actively recalling knowledge. In other places these three features have been strongly tied to becoming an expert as well as to developing an agile mind. It therefore is a reasonable leap to conclude that developing an agile mind expert in some areas can indeed increase your ability to be innovative in some sphere of knowledge.

Despite the lack of evidence, WGICF was an enjoyable read. The style is pleasant, some of the stories are interesting, and all his concepts seem reasonably related to innovation and regardless of how fundamentally tied his ideas are to innovation it certainly won't hurt your innovative muscles to think about the role each o the dimensions listed in this book may play in helping you come up with your next big idea.

Nonsense written for outsiders
At times, I have been an expert, a leading expert even, in three different fields. I've worked in academia at NASA and for companies such as Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.

Johnson is largely offbase. 1) Exceptional ideas DO just pop into my head, especially when I'm confronted with a sudden, difficult challenge. 2) Group thinking does very little for me. Few people are creative enough to keep up with a sustained string of new ideas, and many of those that can have long years of conventional wisdom in their background that make it difficult for them to accept new ideas challenging their basis of understanding. 3) The notion that "error" is largely responsible for innovation targets the one-off oh-ah discoveries, such someone finding a use for a chemical trial that didn't work is a simplification. For complex ideas, it would be much more fruitful to observe that partial misconceptions are unavoidable, and that as ideas are refined discovering the truth behind the misconceptions facilitates discovery.

This book is highly unrecommended for anyone who wants to be successful with their innovations. It's popularized schlock.

As of Oct. 23, many have made responses to this review, thank you. I'll just add that Johnson's POV is comfortable for corporations. The idea that "everybody is replaceable" is significantly easier to deal with than: "Project success depends on addressing the whims of 'Three if by Space' and keeping him from taking a better offer at another company." I.e., Johnson is just what companies want to hear who see themselves as creative -- but aren't especially.

Best Steven Johnson book yet
I have read all of Steven Johnson's books, some more than once. He is one of only 3-4 authoers whose books I watch for and anticipate before their publication, so I was eager to pick up his latest, and not only did it not disappoint, it may be his most thought-provoking yet.

Those of you who have read any of his other books, "The Invention of Air", "Mind Wide Open" or "The Ghost Map" will instantly recignize his lucid, well-researched yet casual tone, and in many ways he is building upon ideas brought forth in those earlier works, consolidating them and putting them together to form new ideas, an endeavor which ironically is one of the very concepts he discusses here.

A better, though less eye-catching title would have been "How Good Ideas Come About". The book is not so much about where, as about what are the conditions most ideal for them. He makes some very interesting and convincing analogies between the natural world and human culture, and bouncing back and forth effortlessly between the two realms is very fresh and compelling.

But even more than his earlier books, the ride along the way is extremely enjoyable. Fans of Ghost Map and Invention of Air will revel in the sheer quantity of "Wow, I never knew that" moments. But this book differs in approach: rather than delve deeply into one or two individual fascinating historical figures and extrapolating conclusions about human culture at large from it, this book starts from the cultural concept (the generation of innovative ideas) and surveys many historical examples to make his points. Each of these examples is fascinating enough to warrant a book all on their own!

I have come away from this book totally affirmed for my penchant for working on 6 projects at once, and for "spacing out". And I've been energized and inspired. Thanks Mr. Johnson!

... Read more

Product Description
THE GAULS BURN ROME, 390 B.C. The Romans told stories of their defeats as well as of their victories. One of these tells how hosts of Gauls, a people of the same race as the forefathers of the French, streamed southward from the valley of the Po. The Romans were alarmed by such tall men, with fierce eyes, and fair, flowing hair, whose swords crashed through the frail Roman helmets. ... Read more

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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Language Arts ... Read more

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If one thing more than another marks modern thought, it is a new insistence on fact. In every sphere of study there is a growing emphasis on verification. Where a generation ago a case seemed to be closed, today in the light of new facts it is reopened. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A review written in 1844
Found in a letter dated February 13 1844 from my great-great-great-uncle George Mackenzie in India to his sister Alice in Scotland: "Have you ever read Gibbon's Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire? I am very fond of it for many reasons. It is a grand book and to read it always makes me feel as if my life extended thousands instead of tens of years and as if I could trace out the revolutions of Empires. It is beautifully written and the English of it is to my taste particularly elegant, and except where Gibbon's judgement was obscured by his prejudice, it is true as history can be. His reasonings from the great events which he relates are generally speaking very true and I have heard that there is hardly a better guide for a politician than that history. What an immensely long duration the time of it is - from the year 90 after Christ till the year 1490 or thereabouts in fact almost down to our own times. It is a great ornament to my bookcase and I often read it & prefer it to any novel whatsoever." So the 5 stars are on behalf of Uncle George who sadly died later in 1844 aged 25.

Great set of books
This is a wonderful set of the complete Decline and Fall. The books are hardbound and full-sized, not a flimsy paperback.Looks great on my bookshelf! ... Read more

Product Description
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part C. - From Henry VII. to Mary is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by David Hume is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of David Hume then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (71)

An Excellent Transaction!
The book was in tip-top shape. There was no noticeable damage done to the book itself, nor any marks on the pages. The delivery was speedy. All in all, an excellent transaction.

Very interesting history of society
I didn't know what to think when I received this book for Christmas.I started to read it and couldn't put it down.

Very interesting how societies have evolved around beverages and how they have shaped history.

Great Book
Tom Standage does a great job of relating to the world's history through beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. It was very interesting, and a fun look at history. Not only does one learn about the history of these drinks from this book, but will also learn a lot about global history. Who knew that the beverages we drink today had such a huge impact on history?
For each drink, Standage tells how it relates to turning points in history (like the adoption of agriculture), trade, globalization, the birth of cities, and technology. He does a wonderful job of organizing the information and making it interesting.

A delightful read
This is a delightful book from start to finish and for anyone seeking respectability while downing the coarsest of spirits , here's a book that provides an incredible amount of trivia for the accompanying conversations. To do complete justice to the book , there are 3 non-alcoholic drinks included, which by themselves have interesting histories to back them.
The book begins with a chapter on beer and its discovery. Its role as a drink which attained a centrality largely due to its uplifting effect, but also no less because the fermentation made the drink safer than what the water sources could afford. We move on to wine and its superiority over beer being established largely in the Mesopotamian civilization. Wine took on primacy in the Roman civilization and wine connoisseurs can take pride in tracing their art way back into history. The quality of wine was known to have been the cause of the demise of at least one Roman monarch directly. Wine marks the end of the age of discovery and we move on to the age of invention. The Arabs , their invasions and trades were the source of distillation which brought to fore a bunch of spirits like Rum , whisky and brandy. Rum was and brandy were key players in the slave trade, but an interesting anecdote was the first crude cocktail (grog) was a mixture of Rum, lemon juice , water and sugar and it provided a protection against scurvy for the British sailors which was in turn an advantage against the French navy which had Brandy as its official drink. Whisky took on a significant fan following with the invention of bourbon in the American south.
The chapters on coffee and tea also offer considerable nuggets of information. Coffee with its rather humble beginnings in Yemeni Sufi society soon took over Europe, esp England by storm and coffee houses were witnesses to scientific and political debates of the highest order. Tea on the other hand though innocuous in appearance had a hand in the ruin of the Chinese civilization, with the British seeking to compensate for their huge trading deficits with the illicit Opium trade. Both coffee and tea were healthy drinks because they needed the water to be boiled before the brew was consumed.
The last chapter is reserved for Coke which coincides with the ascendancy of American civilization. There are remarkable predecessors to the carbonated drink , with Joseph Priestley being one of the first to document a carbonated drink which soon took on the nomenclature of soda. Coca cola came about from the extract of cola leaves and the Koka nut (as simple as it gets). As with other invention stories, its largely a few iterations later that the drink became the rage of the nation. The World war established a world market for Coke and there was no looking back ever since.
This is pop history at its best. The erudition is all around , and its a breeze to read. I'd raise a toast to this one

History of the World in Six Glasses
A fun read for those who are interested in how certain beverages had such a significant influence in trade, customs, health and commerce in general.It offers a unique prespective on each beverage...tea,coffee, wine, distilled spirits,beer and Coca-Cola...and its individual contributions to the above, and to the "hits and misses" by the producers and/or culture.When read in context with similar books, e.g. "Coffee", "Salt," "Cod" and the outstanding "Guns, Germs and Steel", you only wish the history courses in high school and college could have incorporated this information. For anyone with a ounce of curosity, this is a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
Case one: A little girl goes missing in the night.

Case two: A beautiful young office worker falls victim to a maniac's apparently random attack.

Case three: A new mother finds herself trapped in a hell of her own making - with a very needy baby and a very demanding husband - until a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape.

Thirty years after the first incident, as private investigator Jackson Brodie begins investigating all three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (181)

Funny, Multilayered, Compelling
2 words that describe the book--Comedic Mystery

3 setting where the book took place or characters I met

* Setting: London, England, present day

* Jackson Brodie is an ex-cop turned private detective. He's bitter about his recent divorce and his downgrade to part-time dad for his little girl Marlee. Yet despite the anger at his ex-wife and her new husband, Brodie is a softie. (He's working pro bono trying to find a black cat with a most unfortunate name for an eccentric old widow.) He's also quite attractive to the ladies--evidenced by the fact that several of his female clients are as interested in him romantically as they are in his services. But lately, Brodie has a bit of a problem--someone keeps trying to kill him.

* Brodie's clients are a diverse bunch. We have the quarreling, eccentric pair of sisters, Amelia and Julia, who are seeking Brodie's help in locating their beloved baby sister who disappeared mysteriously when she was only 3 years old. We also meet Theo--an overweight sad sack of a man who cannot move past the murder of his beloved daughter more than 10 years earlier by a killer who was never found. Finally, we meet a woman who wants to locate her long-lost sister--a woman with a past she wants to keep hidden at all costs.

4 things I liked or disliked about the book

* I liked how Atkinson structured the book. At the beginning, we're presented with three case histories that tell us about crimes that were committed in 1970 (A Family Plot), 1994 (Just A Normal Day) and 1979 (Everything from Duty, Nothing from Love).Each case history is about 10 or so pages and plunges you directly into a story about a time when things went terribly, horribly wrong. Yet in just those few pages, Atkinson creates an amazingly detailed sketch of the dynamics and personalities involved. I was amazed how quickly I was drawn into these case histories--I wanted to know more! But then Atkinson introduces Jackson Brodie, and we begin to get involved with his life. At first, I was a little confused about what was happening, but once it started coming together, I fell in love with this approach. Along with Jackson, we keep finding out a bit more about each case history--with Atkinson writing each chapter from a different character's point of view.

* Atkinson has a wonderful sense of humor that permeates the entire book. Despite stories dealing with sad and awful things, I found myself frequently laughing out loud. (In a way, the tone of the book reminded me of Catherine O'Flynn's novels, What Was Lost and The News Where You Are.) I particularly got a kick out of the relationship between Julia and Amelia. The dynamics between those two were endlessly amusing. I love how Atkinson managed to write both a gripping mystery book while also taking the time to develop her characters and giving them personalities and lives. It makes a much more interesting read than just working your way through a heavily plotted mystery.

* I loved how Atkinson ended the book--particularly since it leaves the door wide open for a sequel (which, lucky for me, was already published as One Good Turn. And yes, I already have it!) I got quite attached to Jackson and some of the other characters so I was excited to learn that this wasn't the end of line for them. Plus, Atkinson tosses Brodie a rather large bone that just opens up the possibilities for the second book.

* Although I like the realism of having a detective working multiple cases at once (just like it would be in real life), naturally some of the cases/story lines worked better for me than others. Of the three case histories, I thought the one dealing with Caroline was the least effective and compelling--most likely because it was the most isolated of the three stories and felt almost unresolved at the end. Yet it is minor complaint, and it shouldn't really stop you from reading this book.

5 stars or less for my rating:

I'm giving the book 4.5 stars. I just loved this book to pieces. It isn't often that you find a novel that skillfully weaves together several mysteries, presents a diverse array of interesting and flawed characters, and has just the right combination of humor and wit to make it a pleasure to read. This was an immensely satisfying read, and I'd highly recommend it to just about anyone! Kate Atkinson ... come on down! You've just earned a place on my favorite author list!

Better than the average thriller
What makes a book a thriller and not just another novel? British novelist Kate Atkinson's debut in the mystery genre, Case Histories, raises that question. Sure, as in many competently written novels, life and death questions arise, characters develop, the plot twists and turns, and the reader has the satisfying experience of peering through a keyhole into the lives of people who are somehow . . . well, interesting. So, what sets apart a thriller from other novels that succeed in all these dimensions? Let's try to count the ways. . .

First, something truly mysterious is going on. In Case Histories there are three mysteries, each of them a cold case the police could never untangle.

Second, the mysterious goings-on typically involve or result in mayhem or murder. There's no lack of such gruesome outcomes in Case Histories.

Third, the central preoccupation of the protagonist -- willingly or unwillingly, professionally or as an amateur -- is to solve the mystery. In Case Histories, Atkinson's sleuth, retired police Inspector Jackson Brodie, now a private detective, becomes embroiled in all three cases and finds them taking over his life.

Fourth, unlike many latter-day novels, there is a beginning, middle, and end to the book, and in the end the mystery is solved. Justice may or may not be done, but the reader is almost certainly left with an understanding of what happened. Case Histories requires the reader to engage in a little guesswork on this score, but this is one of its characteristics that make it a better than average thriller.

Fifth, there are big surprises in store for the reader. In a typical novel, the twists of the plot more frequently enlighten than surprise. In skillfully crafted thrillers such as Case Histories, the surprises are often breathtaking. Atkinson reached for four principal surprises. Two were reasonably easy to anticipate. The others were eye-openers. 50/50 ain't bad!

Case Histories, which introduced Jackson Brodie in 2004, has been followed by three other Kate Atkinson mystery novels, of which I've read two. Atkinson's compassion for her characters is deep, her understanding of aberrant human behavior impressive. All three of these books are plotted with a talent for complexity worthy of a Byzantine prince and an appetite for a large cast of characters reminiscent of a Bollywood producer. If there are any faults in her writing, they stem from these characteristics, which may befuddle readers accustomed to linear story development with a single, omniscient narrator, and from a sometimes annoying tendency of hers to rely on improbable coincidence.

(From Mal Warwick's Blog on Books)

Very Readable
I so rarely come across a new author (new to me) that engages me so completely as Kate Atkinson has in Case Histories: A Novel. Case Histories is written in a little differently than the usual mystery, and at first I wasn't sure that the histories were at all connected. But Ms. Atkinson did a great job bringing it all together, and I found it to be a satisfying mystery to read.

A tedious read
I can't remember the last time I read a book that was so painful to push forth reading.I think if I took one or two sentences per page I could pick up the story enough; there are way, way too many words, dull, choppily written words.The people that wrote that this is a page turner must have been bribed to say so.Steer clear of Case Histories.I would have given it no stars if that was an option.

More than a mystery
Sometimes writers of back-of-the-book blurbs don't do the books' authors any favors. If you believe some of them on the back of Case Histories, you'll be looking for an exuberant, suspenseful page-turner, which it really isn't. Think of it, instead, as a well-written novel that revolves around a private investigator and the principals of some of his cases. One blurb touts is as "dark and funny," which it is. One reviewer here complains, while disliking almost everything about it, that it isn't even a thriller; who said it is?

There are some problems with the mysterious parts: With the "lost Tanya" case, although the reader might guess why she was being sought, I'm not so sure Brodie figured it out (or if he did, I missed it). In the "murdered Laura" case, it's hard to believe that a man smart enough to become a lawyer and who devoted ten years to it would have failed to find the person who had the answer; Brodie found it using straightforward simple detective work. Credulity is strained by the intertwining of various characters--too many coincidences to be believed. And, as many others have pointed out, there is too much jumping from story to story. Since there are multiple cases, this is of course necessary to keep the story running somewhat chronologically, but I found confusing and unnecessary the many times the author jumped forward and back in time.

What's good about this book is the writing and the well-handled interplay between darkness and wit. The uncloistered Land sisters, understandably deeply affected by their tragic childhood, react in ways that are at times both sad and very funny. The author seems to find humor in her various characters' self-deception. I laughed out loud at some of Amelia's self-talk. While I wouldn't necessarily want to have dinner with many of the characters, most (except the "bad guys") have some redeeming qualities and are trying to make the best they can of the hands they've been dealt.

I recommend this book, as long as you're not looking for a page-turning thriller. I plan to read Atkinson again. ... Read more

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The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part A. - From the Britons of Early Times to King John is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by David Hume is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of David Hume then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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This newly updated manual presents two full-length model AP World History exams with answer keys, plus detailed advice on answering the comparative essay question, and helpful strategies for answering the testÂ's multiple-choice and document-based questions. An extensive subject review covers the following general areas:

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Who really discovered America? What was "the shot heard 'round the world"? Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: Did he or didn't he?

Customer Reviews (176)

great buy
a little biased, but overall a great way to learn about history. author does exceptional job of giving several points of view on each topic.

Deserves no stars
This is the only book I ever threw in the trash.I regard books as precious.When I read a paperback, you can't even see a crease.I threw it away because I didn't want some fool to read it and think that this is what American history is.Being a buff of the Revolutionary period, I could debate him on nearly every point.This book is more his opinion and selecting the darkest examples possible.This book is written from a hard left point of view and meant to demonize us.There are NO positives mentioned about America in this book.This may be useful to someone that's read ultra patriotic historical texts looking for an alternate point of view, but it marketed towards children.DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK FOR A CHILD/TEEN.

History with a twist.
History with a twist. Any opportunity to color a conservative in a more negative light is done with extra time and detail in this work. Overall, there are some interesting "facts" presented but this seems to be more of a liberal leaning Opinion Editorial than a accurate historical account of the selected topics in American history.After a few subjects, you can accurately predict which angle he is going to take or which "facts" will be emphasized before he even gets there. He does do it gently, though. I'd love to see this guy go head-to-head with a more unbiased historian. A good example of how subtle bias can be infused into history - and here be presented as historical "fact".

Perfect for a long drive
This audiobook carried me on a redeye drive from Los Angeles to Phoenix. Don't Know Much always kept my attention despite much of the basic history not being new for me.

For that I give it 4 stars.

I agree re: the commentary re: liberal bias. It is pronounced.

However, the author frequently presented both sides of the issue on a given subject, so there are of plenty of nods to fairness. I felt the treatment of the founding fathers to be respectful and balanced. As the subject material gets closer to the present day, the bias becomes more evident.

(The mention of the legendary smallpox blanket gifts to the Indians was gratuitous, I thought, given how uncertain the facts are on the subject. Yes, there was at least one incident during the French and Indian War. But it was neither official policy nor widespread as is commonly believed.)

But the audiobook is solid, chunky with information, and presented with a lively narrative.

The People's History Of The US and Why Do Men Have Nipples
The "Peoples History of the United States" provided ground breaking debunking of "accepted" history of accepted historical texts used in schools. Even the establishment of the school system embraced it as a required second book to more "codified" American History books.

"Don't Know Much About History" rips off most of the previous book. And must annoyingly uses a format that reads like "Why Do Men Have Nipples". Short on substance and new historical research.

If you want to know the truth of US history, the "Peoples History Of The United States" is a must read.

If you are looking for beach reading, like "Why Do Men Have Nipples", the book "Don't Know About History" is light reading and you can add it to your bag when you do to the beach! ... Read more

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A Short History of Greek Philosophy is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by John Marshall is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of John Marshall then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part D. - From Elizabeth to James I. is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by David Hume is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of David Hume then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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"An admirable and impressive work of synthesis that will give insight and satisfaction to thousands of lay readers."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD
In this stunningly intelligent book, Karen Armstrong, one of Britain's foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and women have perceived and experienced God, from the time of Abraham to the present. From classical philsophy and medieval mysticism to the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the modern age of skepticism, Karen Armstrong performs the near miracle of distilling the intellectual history of monotheism into one superbly readable volume, destined to take its place as a classic.
Amazon.com Review
Armstrong, a British journalist and former nun, guides usalong one of the most elusive and fascinating quests of all time--thesearch for God. Like all beloved historians, Armstrong entertains uswith deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel agreater appreciation for the present because we better understand ourpast. Be warned: A History of God is not a tidy linearhistory. Rather, we learn that the definition of God is constantlybeing repeated, altered, discarded, and resurrected through the ages,responding to its followers' practical concerns rather than to mysticalmandates. Armstrong also shows us how Judaism, Christianity, and Islamhave overlapped and influenced one another, gently challenging thesecularist history of each of these religions. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (221)

FASTER than DOC Holiday
Haven't had an opportunity to read this one yet...It's the only entree and I'm the only one at the table!!

Investigating the Mysteries of Religion
Karen Armstrong unravels the history of religion in A History of God:The 4,000 - Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.This exploration of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam explores the similarities and differences as well as the growth and intercnnectivity of these three monotheistic religions.Armstrong delves into historic inaccuracies of commonly held beliefs of religion while explaining the origins of those beliefs.Anyone wishing to better understand their own religion or the religions of others will be well-served by reading A History of God. Armstrong brings her theology backgraound to this well-researched, interesting, and enlightening book.

interesting
Not a history buff, I'm slowly wading my way through this book. And I actually love it. I live for the philosophical declarations that are sprinkled through the text. I like the big picture perspective, and I'm enjoying pondering the subjective, but not in any way unimportant, nature of god through the ages. I highly recommend it for those who actually love history as well as religious philosophy and sociology. If it's biased, it must be in the same way that I am, because I can't see it.

HISTORY OF GOD
I received a book that was underlined in pencil and ink and highlighted in pink. The book was advertised as new. I am very disappointed in the merchant,The Green Earth, and will not order from them again. The other four books ordered from different merchants arrived as expected.

Ambitious
MS Armstrong does a very credible job of exploring the topic, in detail and specifics that make the study compelling.I ejoyed the read.
Amazon delivered on time and in great condition. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (18)

The #1 Resource for a 700+ Score on the SAT Subject Test
I tutor students for the SAT and ACT in San Diego.I wanted to find the best resource (most efficient + most helpful)to recommend to my students to use whenpreparing for the SAT Subject Test in U.S. History, so I bought this book (even though the title says AP)and used it myself to prepare in the spring of 2010 for the June 2010 Subject Test.I found it easy to use because the information is summarized.I memorized everything in the book and got a 780 on the test.Given that I didn't use any other resource aside from this book AND that I didn't take a U.S. History class, I would say that is rather amazing.It means that this book is right on target for what is on the test.When I took the test, there were only about 5-6 questions that I didn't know and those involved facts that weren't in the book. I only used the College Board published history tests (there are 2) for practice.That was it.This should be your #1 resource in preparing for the U.S. History Subject test.

Amazing!
When this book first came, I was disappointed that it was so small. However, I found it was a handy and indispensable tool when studying for my AP US History exam. It actually predicted some of the questions and really helped me focus my studying! I highly recommend this book. It helps for not only the AP exam but also the US history SAT II. You can supplement it with a bigger book like Princeton Review.

Great Study Aid! Highly Recommended
I'm absolutely ecstatic about this book. I swear that this book was what got me a 4. My teacher wasn't very good and she basically told us to read/outline this textbook that was very long and hard to gather important facts. I bought this book a few weeks before the exam and the weekend before and each day before the exam I read a part of each section and then reviewed the things I was fuzzy on.

The author analyzes each test that collegeboard releases and compiles the information that they will most likely test you on your exam. I took my practice exam a week before I got this book and I realized that there were answers almost word for word in this book within each outline. The great thing is that it is easy to read and one can quickly review sections in history that they aren't too familiar with.

The book even went so far as to make section separate sections on Women's History, African American History, and Native American History which all make up a large portion of multiple choice questions and usually a few free-response questions.

My school provided my class with Barrons books to use. I found the book at times too wordy and the practice questions were too specific. The crash course book only puts in information that has been on previous tests and information that will probably come up on your test. This book even noted in the margins that there are questions that will trick you and it is vital to know a certain fact and to not mix it up. I breezed through the multiple choice because I had just read the facts in the book that previous week. The book also had a section to help with planning for the DBQ.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who may need a quick refresher on certain parts of history. It is a great study aid to revive those facts from U.S History 1 and to brush up on Women's, Native American, and African American history.

Brief, accurate, well-organized
While students need a good survey text for AP U.S. History, when it comes to the month before the exam in May, they need concise, clear information. After the exam, my students often have raved about this Crash Course book because of its accessibility and its efficiency in covering all of the course topics. I recommend it highly.

This is the one to buy.
Honestly, I thought I was dead. The AP History test had backed me into a corner. Focused on senior projects, AP Calculus, and AP English Lit, I had placed the US History exam on the back burner. Moreover, my class was anything but productive (though my teacher tried, bless her heart). Pressed for time and desperate to learn, I went to the bookstore to look for study guides in a last ditch effort. I came across the Princeton Review guide, Barron's 8,000 page masterpiece, Kaplan's guide, 5 Steps to a 5... you name it. Everything looked the same to me. I was about ready to settle with my textbook when the REA Crash Course guide caught my eye. It looked short, which raised some red flags. However, with nothing to lose, I decided to buy it anyways.

I was swamped with other work, I was out of hope, and my class wasn't productive. Even so, I wound up earning a high 4, and I owe most of my success to this book.

I don't think anybody- from the history gurus who need a bit of tuning up, to the students who study and study to barely get by- would not do better after reading this book. In fact, I think that most will do significantly better. The guide is organized with key terms, chronological outline review, and hints for multiple choice, essay, and database questions. The key terms offer critical definitions and facts that cannot be missed, while the the outline is essentially the notes you wish you'd taken in the first place. Throughout are key quotations, historical figures, and the like. What makes this guide special is not its historical breadth or precision; rather, it is the attention to AP-relevant detail that makes it shine. There are no wasted words here. The tips about which battles to know and what events to memorize were spot-on, and often times while taking the exam, I smiled when I came across things that, without the REA guide, would have been alien to me. The final thing that this book does well is give the reader confidence. Reading the whole thing is do-able for everyone, while the tone used makes passing the exam seem not only altogether possible, but probable. For a study guide crammed with information, it is a rather comforting read.

As other reviewers have said, if one wants to truly shine on the US History exam, supplementing this with another guide is a phenomenal choice. However, simply using it with a textbook should yield great results. I would suggest reading through before a practice exam and again near the actual exam time so that things remain fresh. The bottom line is this- the REA APUSH Crash Course Guide is a quality product that will help every student on their quest to pass a formidable exam. Trust the other reviews, trust me, and pick up a copy.

... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more