John Cheever's stories are among the best of American short fiction. This volume contains most of the stories Cheever ever wrote, and the number of excellent ones is really amazing. The best stories are all set in New York City and its suburbs, whereas some stories set in Italy are much less convincing. The stories are highlighting many aspects of American life, especially working-class and middle-class life. As a German reader who has spent some years of his life in the US, I am really impressed how well the "typical Americans" come to life in this book. Although the stories have mostly quite pessimistic endings and may not seem quite encouraging, there is nevertheless an all-pervading sense of humour and soft irony in them. At least 60% of these stories are true great fun to read, but they won't leave you all content, but something remains in the mind that keeps working. Most of the stories require the reader to dream up by himself what has really happened, so you as a reader become part of the fun and creative act of writing. A MUST read for anyone with the slightest interest in the US and American literature.

You owe it your bookshelf to own this compendium of John Cheever stories. I borrowed mine from the library, and thought I'd read perhaps half in the alloted time. Renewed once, then let the fines pile up, as I kept reading "just one more story." One a night is perfect bedtime reading...but with nearly 5 dozen stories...well you get the picture.

These are dark, dark tales of life at its zenith...ultra confident, comfortable post-war America. Florid description, rich portraiture, and slick storylines, Cheever's stories contain more than a few eye-popping twists and surprise endings. All the hallmarks of championship short-stories.

Warning: Restock the cabinet with gin and imagine the vermouth before reading. Cheever serves his Martini with a capital M.

I recently made a lengthy automobile trip through a boring section of the country, and I spent much of the drive listening to these stories. Of the sixty-odd pieces in this collection, almost all of them first published in _The New Yorker_, I'd previously read maybe one-third, especially the more famous and heavily anthologized ones like "The Swimmer." But my favorites are those in which Cheever experimented with style and content, like "The Enormous Radio" and "The Country Husband" and "The Wrysons" and "Goodbye My Brother." Cheever invented the "New York story" in which the characters are ordinary people living generally ordinary lives, but by whom the reader becomes fascinated. And the last paragraph always seems to tie up the narrative in a neat surgical knot. Amazingly good stuff.

Adoption Nation is superbly researched and concisely written with a sensitivity that is finely balanced. It is a textbook for birth parents, adoptees, adoptive parents and facilitators alike. If we have learned as a result of reading this book, then Pertman has achieved a remarkable goal - a more enlightened society that can work towards a greater understanding and acceptance of adoption.

As a birth mother who searched for her son for 20 years, I understand only too well the anguish and despair that so many women suffer on this journey through a minefield of social expectations and misconceptions. As a birth mother who has reunited with her son and has experienced the most profound joy, I acknowledge the fears of adoptive families and the need to support and educate those who still cannot fathom the intricacies of adoption and the negative fallout that can occur.

Adam Pertman's, Adoption Nation, is a definitive resource focusing on the true realities surrounding adoption. As he explains in depth, the keys to understanding the adoption "triad" are love, tolerance and patience along with the willingness to be educated regarding the effects of technology in today's world.

Pertman attacks the myths of adoption; that birth mothers, on the whole, never want contact with the children they were willing to give away, that birth fathers have never wanted access to their children, that adoptive parents will never cope with their fear that their adopted children will search for their birth parents and then abandon the families chosen for them. He has chosen in this book to challenge "accepted practice and belief" that shame and guilt are the basic premises birth parents must accept and that secrecy and sealed records are viable and acceptable for adoptees. Basic human rights are at issue here and Pertman explores these rights.

The changing face of social expectation needs to encompass the rights and emotional needs of all involved in the adoption process. If adoption is about finding babies for childless couples, it also needs to be about acknowledging the grief and anguish birth mothers experience in relinquishing their children. It is time to confront the issues and discuss adoption openly, not keep it buried as it has been for several generations. Politically, it is time for change as well; adoptees, regardless of their origins, should never be denied their basic human rights. If the average citizen has the civil right to their birth certificate so should adoptees have the same basic right.

Slowly, the changing face of adoption, is allowing those involved, directly and indirectly, the opportunity to assess and accept the life forces that operate here. Those who search for answers are vastly assisted by access to information previously unattainable before the advent of computer technology. Greater openness has allowed the participants choices, which previously, were never an option. The consequences and conflicts that have arisen as a result are not unsolvable when time and dedication to positive change are ultimate goals.

Adam Pertman's answers to this life phenomenon are that with patience, persistence and acceptance, anything is possible.

Adoption Nation is a well written book that should be read by all - not just by those people affected or "touched" by adoption. For decades, the subject of adoption has been "off limits". Birth parents had long been shamed into "forgetfullness", Adoptees were taught it wasn't nice to ask questions about their status as adoptees, and Adoptive Parents were afraid to speak of it. In fact, to this day, even the lawmakers and judges project negative tones with regard to adoption. It's time the world opened their eyes to adoption and embrace it. There is no reason that Adoption should have negative over tones surrounding it all in the name of secrecy. Finally, with Adoption Nation and with adoption reform movements all around the country, Adoption and adoption triad members are coming out of the closet and the stigmas are beginning to be washed away! My hat is off to all who actively work for adoption reform and especially to Adam Pertman for writing such an eye opening and compelling book! Everyone deserves truth, dignity and honesty!

Every serious student of adoption in the U.S. knows that the phenomenon has been transformed in recent years. The advent of open adoptions and high-profile, headline-grabbing adoptions have changed Americans' attitudes about this enormously complex and endlessly challenging way to form families. Pertman's Adoption Nation captures so much of what is compelling, controversial, troubling, rewarding, and satisfying about adoption in America. The author's honest and provocative prose provides a real-life glimpse into adoption through the lens of an author who has experienced the world of adoption firsthand, as an adoptive parent. All members of the adoption triad -- including birth parents, adoptees, and adoptive parents -- will find parts of themselves in this book. You may not agree with all of Pertman's claims, assertions, and conclusions, but that's hardly the measure of an important book. Rather, Adoption Nation will make you think about one of life's most important and complicated social trends and about its profound impact on so many lives. Pertman has brought the inside of adoption out for public viewing.

This book is aptly subtitled, as so much of the advice could have been written by knowledgeable students rather than three mathematics professors. The second chapter gives you sound advice regarding how to choose a calculus instructor and what the different academic ranks often mean. While students learn this very quickly through informal channels, it is surprising to read three professors publicly stating that the instructor is the single most determining factor as to whether you enjoy or hate calculus. Of course it is often true and we all know it. Many professors view teaching undergraduates as some form of penance and it shows in the quality of their teaching. Furthermore, although things are changing a bit, working hard to instruct well is often negatively reflected in a tenure decision. The remainder of the book is a combination of a relaxed, joking style and sound advice that is part of the standard exam speech given by many teachers.

* Arrive on time.
* Read the problems carefully.
* Check your work.
* Don't erase in a panic.
* Try for partial credit.

However, presented in the form of jokes, it is possible that the message will penetrate a little deeper.
The authors also do one other very admirable thing. Rather than try to boost sales by deleting or grossly simplifying mathematical expressions, all of the major formulas of first year calculus are here, and in the same form as they appear in standard calculus texts. However, the approach is much more relaxed, which makes it more understandable than a formal text. In the days when I was teaching calculus, so many of the problems that students had was a consequence of being intimidated by the formal structure of the text and the rigor of the proofs. While there is no dispute that formal proofs are essential, the student who simply memorizes a proof probably is not learning it. A strong case can be made that if someone has a solid intuitive understanding of calculus, something clearly provided in this book, then understanding the proofs will come much more naturally and with less pain.
This is a book that should be read first and foremost by calculus teachers so that they can refer the students to the proper pages to study. The tips for success are all sensible and those who read it will be much better prepared for the rigors of taking the exams. It is hard to make calculus entertaining, but this group of authors has succeeded.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

I love this book! If you want to master the basics of calculus without much sweat, then this is the book for you. I'm using this in conjunction with the Princeton Review's "Cracking the AP Calculus" - both books are much more reader-friendly than the the calc text my high school uses. Granted, the humor is a bit kooky sometimes, but that's okay - bad humor is better than no humor. And there's lots of cool pictures and bizarre problem situations that will make just about anyone smile. The short cuts and mnemonic devices are pretty helpful also, because they're actually funny so you can't help but remember them.

My dad bought me this book the summer before my senior year in high school (this year) - I looked at it and thought, "yeah, right." I'm a humanities person, I got a C in my last term of Pre-calculus, and I didn't think some book was going to help. However, once my AP Calc class started, I thought "hey, might as well give it a try." That was the best idea I've had in a long time. Mr. Adams and friends explain the concepts so clearly that I have to wonder what the authors of standard calculus texts were thinking when they wrote their books. Not only do I have an A- in the class, I have a much better understanding of what we're actually learning than the students who used to do better than me by just following all the formulas. In short, I am acing calculus, and (this is very hard for me to admit) enjoying it as well. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who panics at the thought of calculus.

Seven years ago I was serving an evangelical mission, attempting to learn to read French and speak Haitian Creole. I began to read a very scholarly tome by James E. Talmage. I was so infuriated by my blatant inability to mentally grasp the well-written English I was reading, that I set out on a quest to dramatically improve my grasp on the English language.

It was my great fortune to happenchance upon this reference tool in a book retailer at a local mall. I have implemented the simple, yet effective, methods of vocabulary expansion explained in this book. I am now equally comfortable grimacing through the latest cacophony from Eminem, as I am discussing philosophy with suits that have earned Ph.D.'s.

If you're looking for a tool for self-improvement that will bring a new confidence in your verbal and written communication, then you've found the right book. The work of finding the words you *need* to know has been done for you. All that remains is for you to find creative way to put them to use for you in your daily life. May you, like me, enjoy years of quality articulation as a result of this wonderful tool!

Word Smart gives one of the best selections of need-to-know words I have ever seen. It lists over 800 every-day-useful words, while avoiding the temptation of adding some long, snooty-sounding words for the sake of intellectual arrogance. These are words that most college students should know. If you can master these in high school, you will be on the way to a rock solid vocabulary.

The format of the book is straight forward. After a very helpful chapter on tips for learning new vocabulary, the set of words is introduced in alphabetical order. Every ten words or so ends in a quick quiz. This allows you to test what you have learned; you can also start with the quiz to see what words you can skip over. The concluding chapters contain a lengthy final exam, the SAT and GRE hit parade (words you should have mastered well before taking these standardized tests), word roots, common usage errors, abbreviations, and some lists for the arts, science, finance, and foreign words.

This is a great book for anyone who would like to beef up on their vocabulary, or for those who would just like a good review to make sure they are not using some words wrongly.

Getting a high score on the verbal portion of the SAT is truly simple with this book. After getting only a 640 on the PSAT verbal section, I prepared for about three months using this book and Word Smart II. I just took one of the tests included in 10 Real SATs and got a 770 on the verbal section! To prepare for the verbal portion I suggest reading all the sentences in the book that use the words in context, and make flash cards. Also, try to read as much as possible! Set aside an hour a day to read. Try to read the classics, which use many SAT-level words in context (look inside Barron's How to Prepare for the SAT. There is an extensive reading list. I highly suggest Charlotte Bronte's novels!) or quality magazines like Harper's or National Geographic.

The story opens with an explosion at Heathrow Airport. This introduces the female main character Kate Schechter trying to find the Norwegian man she met there just before the explosion. At the same time, Dirk Gently gets involved in that case. He, as a private detective, firstly wants to find out what has happened to his ex-secretary Janice Smith. Soon, while the plot is unfolding, the Norse gods become the main theme because their power has decreased in modern society. So, one of the gods makes a contract with two human beings in order to be able to enjoy human comfort although he loses his immortal soul. As Dirk Gently believes in the "fundamental interconnectedness of all things", it all makes sense in the end. Douglas Adams does not hand you the answer on a silver platter, though, so that some parts have to be reread. The single events of the storyline are unpredictable, which makes the book so exciting, and the reader is guided by Kate and Dirk. With great skill the author changes the levels of language where necessary and uses his English sense of humour. In the end, Dirk and Kate have improved their knowledge about the workings of the universe. What I liked best while reading were the various lines of action.

I came away from this book with the feeling that it was a bit of a comedown after the first Dirk Gently book. It didn't quite deliver the same laugh-out-loud hilarity and intelligent, complex plot as the first one.

Having said that, though, you still can't go very wrong by buying this book. I love all of Douglas Adams' works (yes, even the oft-maligned "Mostly Harmless"), so for me a four-star review just means that it wasn't quite as enjoyable as many of his other books. But it's still a good read, no question about it.

This is the first book by Douglas Adams that I've read and it won't be the last. The book starts out with a big explosion, which brings us to the main characters Kate, Dirk, Thor, and Odin. Kate was brought into the story by the explosion because almost seconds before she was trying to help Thor buy a ticket to Oslo. Thor is the son of Odin who acts like a child. Dirk is a private detective working on a case that deals with the gods. The book was hilariously funny, the deranged eagle, the street light thing, and Thor being glued to the floor were some of the more amusing things. Adams is a great author, who has a great vocabulary and an imaginative mind, but he writes kind of confusing so you have to read it more than once to get every detail.

This book is as close as you will find to a handbook for modern life. Dr. Drew and Adam Carolla answer questions about relationships, sex, drugs, mental health and life in general in an entertaining, insightful way. The book is written clearly and organized by topic which makes it an easy read and a useful reference.

Dr. Drew and Adam are an unlikely pair who share an original chemistry. Dr. Drew, a board-certified physician and addiction medicine specialist, provides easy-to-understand, authoritative information on a variety of topics critical to every human. Adam Carolla, a radio personality, comedian, actor and former construction worker, provides the wit, charm and humor that make even the hard answers easy to swallow.

Learn what Adam believes a cat can teach men about handling women. Hear Dr. Drew separate the myths from the truths about sexuality. Read Adam's rules about who should be banned from having sex. Listen to Dr. Drew's advice on abuse, drug use, STDs and many, many more topics.

This is a great book for parents to use to initiate discussions with their kids about these difficult topics. If you can't bring yourself to talk to your kid, at least let Dr. Drew and Adam do it. They bring a sense of moral conscience and responsibility back to relationships.

I listen to Dr. Drew and Adam's radio show all the time. Every now and then, as they are dealing with a caller's problem, they make a point or impart some common sense that makes me think, "YES! They're exactly right. I wish EVERYBODY could have heard that last piece of advice!"

The Dr. Drew and Adam Book is a comprehensive collection of all those priceless nuggets of advice that I wish EVERYBODY could hear. Therefore, I think EVERYBODY should buy this book. It's content is served up in the "Complete Idiot's Guide To..." style, so even a fourteen year old with Attention-Deficit Disorder won't be able to put it down. There's lots of interesting sidebars, input from celebrities who have been guests on their show, etc.

This book is like Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus... only it's funnier, shorter, more practical, more hip, is about more than just relationships, and just better. The government should buy this book by the millions and make it required reading for all high school freshmen. Adults (especially parents) will love it, too. And it's cheap!

The greatest book i ever read but because im poor i could never buy it. Please, i am using this computer at the library. I saw the book at the bookstore and loved it. Please have pity on a poor boy. If you can spare a book copy please send it to 11314 Hollowstone dr. North Bethesda Md 20852 to William Gutterman

P.S. I live with my aunt and my mom died in a car crash. I never knew my dad.

Though Smith's "Wealth of Nations" is a true classic written in lucid English, and the foundation of our modern economy, I cannot say that it is all-too-important for most people to read this book. Weighing in 700+ pages for a typical printing, this work is not a quick and easy read by any stretch of the imagination. Many of Smith's great metaphors are found in the first quarter of the book, and I felt bored reading the latter parts. It is not that Smith was wrong, by any means, but rather that many of his arguments are now well-accepted and can be demonstrated in much more succinct manners. I feel that Smith's multitudes of examples are not particularly important to the average man.

With that said, I reiterate that this is an important work that should be understood by everyone - but this does not necessarily mean reading all of it. For anyone studying economics, of course, this work is the bread and butter of your field - and is a must read.

Adam Smith obviously thought deeply about economics, and then traveled widely to find support for his ground-breaking theories. The result is a very long book that is incredibly nuanced. Such popular excerpts as "the pin factory" and "like an invisible hand" do little justice to the book -- just like quoting "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." does not substitute for reading "Gone with the Wind" or seeing the movie.

It is difficult to getting a good economic education today. The endless flow of government money in social science departments has twisted the subject. While modern economists use very precise methods to arrive at wildly inaccurate results, Smith dug and dug through economic records to find key patterns but did not seek the unrealistic equations that currently characterize the profession.

One final note on the reading: Work your way through a Jane Austin novel before attempting to read "The Wealth of N! ations." The language has changed in the past 200 years.

The Wealth of Nations ranks among the best of the unread classics. As a double major in Business and International Relations, I naturally never read this book until after I graduated. Similar to Clauswitz's "On War" for the military strategist, or Plato's "Republic" for the political philosopher, this is a must read for anyone who lives in a free-market economy.

Adam Smith goes through a completely exhausting and methodical explanation about the nature of money. The multitude of examples and depth of discussion could stop a Mack truck, but the lessons are critical. It teaches you about the true nature of money; where it comes from, what it means. That, in turn, as you reflect on your own life, will illustrate much about how you prioritize your own life.

Along with Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged," this book will indisputably change your perception of the nature of money and a how person chooses to earn their living.

The only drawback to the book is that it is brutally boring--but get a large cup of Java, sit back, and dig in. Nobody said it was going to be easy. THIS IS A MUST READ.

There are no words to adquately explain this author's genius in the areas of biblical prophesy. I have read countless books for years and have never encountered anything so plain and to the exact point as The Signs and 666 The Beast Revealed. My jaw dropped in awe after each couple of lines. What I learned in these two books has changed my life and the life of my family. I took the book to my bible study group and we are all amazed. Never before has something, especially a book, impacted me so deeply and changed my life so completely.

I recommend all of this author's books to anybody interested in the true facts about the bible. It is amazing and life changing. It will open your eyes to some very amazing facts.

I don't have enough thumbs to give this a proper thumbs up judgement, so I'll just say ALL THUMBS UP on this one.

I am a man of analysis and intellect. I heard Canyon Adams on a radio program and felt him to be highly intelligent. I came to buy his book as he suggested and I read the 24 reviews. What I asscertained by the reviews is exactly what I expected, which was that Mr. Adams had something very unique and very radical to say about the bible and religion in general. I noticed two bad reviews, and they seemed to be written by intellectual morons (as revealed by their inability to spell or punctuate) so it was obvious to me that the book's message was far beyond their intellectual scope and ability to grasp it. So I bought the book as well as Adam's 666 The Beast Revealed, and I have to say that I was completely amazed and astounded. This writer, Mr. Canyon Adams, is clearly one of the most insightful and analytical writers of prophesy and bible interpretation that has ever written on the subjects. The best I have ever read without a doubt. I read a bad review that attempted to scoff at Adam's revelation that the United States is the true promised land. I checked out the complete path that Adams lays out, from Abraham to Issac to Jacob to Jacob's GRANDSON'S Ephraim and Mannesseh, and all the other passages that clearly point out what the churches don't teach and the general population doesn't know. And that is that God gave Israel the promised land around the Jordon River, but took it back and withheld it for 2000 some odd years for "a time of punishment." The punishment was lifted around 1776, which as we all know is the birth of the US. It is clearly written in the bible, and I never would have understood it until I read The Signs. Trust me, I am one to completely analyze and inhiliate weak and crazy writings. But this book is just phenomenal. I highly recommend it. I wish churches were using it. I want to thank Mr. Adams. And I want to thank those intellectual weaklings who wrote those bad reviews; they actually inspired me to buy this book and I'm glad I did!

I, too have been privvy to a pre-shelf reading of The Signs and I fully agree with the opinions set forth in the first review, this book is absolutely amazing. Prophesies are so clear to me now and I find that I have a much better understanding of just what the bible is trying to say to us. I somehow missed this material in church, well not somehow, they simply do not teach this material in the church, yet it is so true and factual. I also want to say that I had a pre-read of Mr. Adam's other book, 666 The Beast Revealed, which I understand he wrote at the same time as this one. The Beast Revealed I found expanded on 666 and the indentity of The Beast in Revelation 13 but it went far beyond that and exposed the unbiblical church doctrines of our modern day churches throughout history. That book was another excellent read. I highly recommend both books.