This book contains edited essays of Emerson written in the 1800's. They seem to me like the sermons of a minister, which he was. They are often incomprehensible -- maybe 10% inspirational, using words as ministers did at that time. I had to push myself to finish it; however, the later essays were better (more understandable, showed common sense at times).

This is the first book by Emerson that I've read, but hope to read more of his essays later. The book really is inspirational. Emerson is an excellent writer and his words flow together like nothing I've ever read. The essays in this book are pure poetry.... really beautiful. Even if you don't believe in the Transcendalist/Idealist view, you can still read this book and feel like you've gotten something out of it. I would recommend this for anyone who has a liking for beautiful writing.

I cannot pick up this book without feeling encouraged and inspired. The editor has gone through and picked out some of the best passages from Emerson's works, thus saving us the trouble of wading through hundreds of pages of prose for the really good stuff. Everyone needs a copy of this book.

This book is a perfect example of the attacks by the network of right wing zealots who have dedicated their lives to destroying Bill Clinton by innuendo, false testimony, and other slanderous devices. Interesting as evidence of the political paranoia eating away at our democratic institutions.

I read this book after the fact(Bill's second reign) and can only hope the next time someone of his kind runs for President, the American people pay attention.

The only significance of this book now comes from the need to constantly review, as a preventive measure, what Bill Clinton et al did to the Constitution and every branch of government as well as the Justice Department. It is not hyperbole to say that the country could not have withstood another four years of this kind of massive corruption.

This is a thoughful analysis, with no rhetoric, no paranioa. I wish I had had this book when the presidential campaign was in full swing. Mr. Clinton should not be head of garbage collection in (name of your least favorite city goes here), much less President of the United States of America. Clinton was a vain, cold man, who didn't know himself and had little or no conscience. He was never really in it to help the disenfranchised, but to feed his own ego. Read this book to find out.

After having read all the previous Nathan Stone/Wes Stone books, this one fell flat in the end. Perhaps Compton died while writing this one, as it whimpered to an end. For one thing, even though the Durango-Silverton Railroad figures into the story, the writer didn't know his geography or railroad well enough to get the route correct. In reality, the railroad dead ends at Silverton, so it was not possible to get from Silverton directly to Denver or vice-versa. Also, the book's back cover would have you believe that there was some mysterious armored train under the control of the bad guys. Never appeared, never happened. It does not match the story line at all. Perhaps it got mixed up with a different story? Another point is that the geography and travel times mentioned do not make any sense. Yuma, Arizona is only a few minutes horseback ride from the Gulf of California? Some of the story elements got a little unbelievable. A mine chamber with a secret swinging stone door created by only two men? How is it that the three heroes are able to return to Dodge all the way from Yuma, Arizona practically overnight? It was an interesting story until near the end but sadly fell apart on the inconsistencies and story errors related to the railroad and geography. All too often, I recognized sentences and statements lifted from earlier books in the series as if the writer couldn't think of a new way to say it.

I gave this book a fairly low rating, but you will learn some history as you plod thru the story. there are a few of these small rails still being used today. however, instead of hauling precious metal they carry tourists. the story will be entertaining and misterious.

For those who are die hard westerns fan's this book is sure to keep you turning the page's yet for the newcomer it has all the action you would expect from a Ralph Compton novel, sure to make a western fan for life. The books use of real event's and legend's of the old west is great tool in educating new reader's to " The old west". I am sure that after reading this novel you will add many more of Ralph Compton's masterpieces to your personal library.

In Fox River, Illinois, the St. Hilary Senior Center under the auspices of Father Dowling has become quite an interesting place. The recent addition of two senior citizens, former radio star Jack Gallagher and retired college English professor Austin Rooney have joined the group. These two rivals are simply not the best of friends even though they were related through blood. They both love Jack's daughter Colleen and would do anything for her, perhaps even murder.

After praying endlessly to Saint Anne for a man, Colleen is going to marry attorney Mario Liberati. However, Colleen's elation is disturbed when someone kills legal siren Aggie Rossner, who tries to seduce Mario. The police suspect Jack, but Captain Phil Keegan turns to Father Dowling to help sift through the clues.

Fans of the Father Dowling series will enjoy TRIPLE PURSUIT though the tale seems even more leisurely than the usual cozy. The story line slowly simmers as readers meet all the key players in such a way that the audience comprehends what makes the individual tick. Any person, who relishes action, should pursue a different type of novel. However, those fans of the series or who just likes a gradually evolving who-done-it starring an interesting amateur sleuth will find the latest entry quite the thing.

Harriet Klausner

Ralph McInerny is one of my favorite mystery writers. A philosophy professor who has taught at Notre Dame for forty years, he is a noted scholar whose novels reflect his knowledge of the vagaries and virtues of the human heart. In "Triple Pursuit" we are again in Fox River with Father Dowling, his staunch housekeeper, Marie Murkin, and his pal Detective Phil Keegan. This is a marvelous yarn whose theme might be "cherchez la femme." Once again McInerny treats us to the interior lives of characters large and small, like the pretty young mother, Jane, who looks forward to private morning time after her husband is off to work and her children to school; or to the aging priest who continues to serve a parish despite nearly crippling arthritis. McInerny is a mature fiction writer who writes equally well of women and men, something that cannot be said for a lot of younger male writers. Kudos to him for this latest novel, and may he give us many more to enjoy!

TRIPLE PURSUIT is one of the better Father Dowling mysteries. Readers who are familiar with this series will feel right at home with the usual cast of regular characters and some interesting new ones. There are 3 murders involved (plus another possible one, disguised as a suicide), and several of the more sympathetic characters take turns as suspects. Father Dowling doesn't really get involved in the actual investigation until near the end, and then his involvement is rather rashly independent. A suitable culprit is finally nabbed, and everyone lives happily ever after.

If this sounds rather flippant, it is very affectionately so. I really don't read the Dowling novels for the mysteries, but for the interplay among the fascinating people who inhabit the books. The warm, intelligent and conscientious Dowling himself, his nosy, officious housekeeper, his close friend detective Captain Keegan, Keegan's calm and capable assistant Cy Horvath, the rascally shyster Tuttle (who turns out to be something of a hero in this novel), and Tuttle's empty-headed cohort Peanuts Pianone, who is both an inept cop and a member of the local mob family, all play appropriate and believable parts in the plot. The additional characters for this novel add humor, love, sex, betrayal, and basic human emotions in a realistic blend of events and relationships.

If you want a blood and thunder action mystery, this is not it. The violence is there, but it is downplayed, and the emphasis is consistently upon the shifting relationships among the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this latest novel in an intelligent and well-written series.

It's not that the reader can argue with most of what Estes brings up. His diatribes against the bottom-line mentatility at the expense of all else are logically presented. It is depressing to read how single-minded many corporations have become and how they have strayed from the original idea of incorporating so as to serve the community as well as the industry or shareholders. But Estes basically repeats the same theme chapter after chapter after chapter. He innundates the reader with multiple examples of the same thing, and repeatedly hints: "What is needed is a 'new scorecard' that will judge corporations on more than just profit margins. But we'll get to that later. Let me devote yet another chapter to more examples."

I first became interested in reading this book after reading his fascinating Op-Ed piece in the Washington Post last year. I finally bought the book expecting a more meaty discussion of the issues that he brought up in the article. I wound up feeling like I read that Op-Ed piece 20 times over. This was potentially an excellent book, mired in repetition.

Are you in the mood for some top-notch, well-documented corporation bashing? Ralph W, Estes' powerful work is widely considered one of the most important books written on American corporations and their vast power, and he has nothing kind to say. Compelling and clearly written, his book shines a bright light into some very dark, creepy corners. And although he overstates, over-generalizes and tends to blame corporations for every evil in society, there's no debating that the concept of stakeholder accountability that Estes sets forth has moved to center-stage. Estes' book specifically covers United States-based corporations, but we [...] recommend this book to anyone who is subject to corporate influence, and - from the rainforest hunter-gatherer to you - that's everybody.

I have been using this book with great success in a senior-level management class for several semesters now. Students' eyes are really opened by Estes' arguments and examples. It's truly sad how little they know about this alternative perspective. I highly recommend it to anyone who works in or is affected by corporations (which means ALL of us!). I encourage everyone to join Estes' "Stakeholder Alliance" mentioned in the last chapter.

Frankly, I'm not fond of Ralph... Call me an old granny, call me a bleeding heart, call me cute as a button (to borrow from "Cheers"), but Ralph just doesn't do it for me.

I can see where the average 7-9 year old (probably male) would find Ralph's antics hysterical and most likely would secretly wish to do the same thing THEMSELVES at a wedding party, but a good book does not this make.

One of the things I find bothersome is that Ralph-- as per usual-- destroys everything in his path WITH NO CONSEQUENCES WHATSOEVER. The snails, the ride down the aisle on the bride's dress, the knocking over the tent after too much wedding cake (a coworker of mine read the book and exclaimed, "He's DRUNK!!"); all of it Ralph does and not a single person (almost all of whom are White-- the book isn't exactly a paradigm of multiculturalism) chastises him for his behavior.

At the end, a tear in her eye, Ralph's owner, Sarah, tells Ralph he's ruined everything (no kidding!). Ralph, in a co-dependent, enabling-like move, presents Sarah with the bouquet he's caught and all is forgiven.

Maybe I'm being too stodgy and humorless, but I feel that children are generally ALREADY getting away with quite a bit without adult chastisement, so to hold up Ralph as an example of how to ruin EVERYTHING and still be forgiven is not, IMHO, a worthy ideal to pass along to our children.

I also loved this book - in fact, I am giving it to both the flower girl and the ring bearer for my wedding this summer! I am not worried that they will emulate Rotten Ralph's behavior - kids know that Ralph does bad things. The books are funny because they are too outragous to be real!

I was quite upset for Ralph's sake when I read such an unfavorable review of this hilarious book that had been previously posted. I am 26, work in the childrens' section of our local library, and I am in charge of our story hours, and I love Rotten Ralph! I have ordered just about every Ralph book for our library. I wish that the library would have had these books in stock when I was a child because I would have been encouraged to read beacause they are nothing but pure fun! Sadly, our library never had them due to the bleeding heart goodie goodie mentality of librarians from ages past. I find that the children DO NOT copy Ralph's behavior and actions but they simply laugh along with them and have a good time. Reading should be fun, remember? We have far too many sickly-sweet moral filled books with quaint illustrations collecting dust on our library shelves that NO CHILD ever reads. We can't keep a Rotten Ralph in stock. Let children read what they enjoy! Personally, I can't wait to see what Rotten Ralph's latest adventure will be. I wish Ralph was at the last wedding I attended beacuse it certainly would have been much more fun! Don't let those goody-goody people get you down Ralph!

st. thomas aquinas was not a philosopher. he was religious. nuff said

First of all, I am not Roman Catholic, but a memeber of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so I have a bias--in the other direction!

However, my denominational difference does not diminish my burning admiration for this theological Godzilla. Gov. Jesse Ventura once commented that religion was for weak-minded people. I don't think "The Body" could last two rounds against "The Dumb Ox." In fact, I would prefer Aquinas over Socrates, Plato, and Aristoltle . . . combined!

This book is the best survey of this Catholic's corpulent corpus of comentary. Included are ample slices of the Summa Contra Gentile and Summa theologica, including selections from his essays on Law and Happiness. Another gem is a selection from Aquinas's comments on Boethius's "On The Trinity."

The selections cross the time and space of Aquinas's life, but morte importantly you get a cross-secton of his thought on everything.

I would reccomed this book to any good Catholic, or any curious non-Catholic. It is also useful for philosophy students, and honest truth-seekers everywhere.

ONLY ONE MISTAKE: Ralph McInerny left out "The Five Ways" of the proof of God's existence. This is like doing a boigraphy on George Lucas and not mentioning Star Wars! An unforgiveable sin! Hence, I took one star off my rating.

This is a compilation of works written by Aquinas. The book is edited by Ralph McInerny (Notre Dame) and contains all the important works of Aquinas. For instance, some of the works (or parts of works) included are: On Being and Essence, Theology, Faith, and Reason. On Boethius, The Meanings of Truth, On Creation, On Human Choice, On Law and Natural Law, The Virtues, The Logic of the Incarnation, Exposition of Paul's Epistle to Philemon, and much, much more. Moreover, McInerny includes a nice introduction that discusses Aquinas's life, works, and the impact of Thomism through the centuries. There is also a Chronology that includes important dates and events. This book is 841 pages of total Thomas. It is a great work to have if you are wanting to simply read some of the more important works by Aquinas or if you are wanting to dig a little deeper into the works of Aquinas. ... I highly recommend this book.

This book as well as THE IRON CAVALRY are two of the worst books that I have ever read. Aside from a few inaccuracies, the author has a penchant for lacing his material with his right-wing militaristic political views which are irrelevant, unnecessary, and at times downright infuriating. When not doing that, he tends to reduce history to silly, often trite or worthless prose. I thought that I was getting books that discuss armored warfare. Well, there is some of that, but there are also ignorant lectures about how our politicians(in every war)betrayed us and how we should have dropped atomic bombs on the Chinese during the Korean War, etc. Some of the material in THE IRON CAVALRY is semi-fictional. Who needs that? Isn't there enough real material? And some of the material in both volumes is so general that it really doesn't tell the reader much about tank warfare at all. One item covers several pages about Marilyn Monroe visiting the troops. Much of the text is quoted directly from other sources such as Armor Review etc. which is better than reading the author's writing. But there's really no good discussion here of armored warfare or tactics, and the history is just not well written. If you want to read something informative about armored warfare, I recommend Corelli Barnett, or just about anyone else. I thought about reselling these back to the used bookstore where I bought them, but decided instead to throw them in the garbage, thus saving some other innocent buyer from wasting their money.

This book details the bravery and sacrifice made by US servicemen to defend democracy, freedom and decency. It should be read by all who value what we in the West and our civilisation stands for. I salute the tankers, and Ralph Zumbro for his clear sighted and fearless assessments. Buy this book!

An excellent compilation of tanker yarns spanning American Wars. Writer"s acumen is difinitive on how tankcrewmen think. I readily agree with author"s political views; especially, with those two wars: Korea and Vietnam. Despite our politician"s interference, combat tankers stormed to victory over resolute Asian enemies.This collection of combat tanker tales reveal how it is to be inside those "iron coffins" [universal grunt misconception]. Just ask any scuzzy grunt, when pinned down by withering enemy gunfire and his whole life flashes in front of him... until the word is passed, "Our tanks are here!" the grunt"s life is redeemed, by the awesome firepower unleashed by 'his' tanks- an elixir -only grunts can can experience, as tanks spearhead the [his] advance. The creator of this opus brings this facet out ever so clearly, demonstrating the overall effectiveness, the tank brandishes on the bloodsoaked battlefields. Granted, these armoured battering-rams won many a war and saved a plethora of grunt lives, and they know it! I found this subject matter most interesting of an outfit where hardly anything is ever written about. Author definitely understands what he expresses in his literary work. I, for one, like this book. Yeah, you may have surmised by now: I"m a Korean WAR combat Marine tanker myself. Yes, The author"s peers rate this a wonderful read for all those who never called a tank--home!! This book deserves space in your home library.

The book is a very quick read. If your looking to just pass the time away I would definetly read this book. If your interested in learning something and taking it to the workplace I would choose another book. When I read a book I like to transfer the learning from the book to the workplace and with this book when I was finished I was unable to transfer my learning. Most of the skills I read about were common sense. I was hoping for something a little more "meaty".

I just happened to work for a company one day and noticed this book while sitting at the reception desk. I browsed through the first few pages and before I realized, I was more than 1/2 way through it. 'Telephone Skills...' describes typical senarios that could occur and unfortunately do from time to time. It's filled with realistic situations and gives positive, and at times, humorous solutions. I think 'Telephone Skills...' is necessary in any environment- professional/social/and casual. I will recommend my 3 nieces (14,13 & 7 -ages) read this. Ask any parent with children- the phone rings, they run to answer it. I think this book is so informally written that even a child can read and understand it's meaning of being "good natured" polite even when it's someelse fault. On the other hand, it's packed with common sense techniques that make you wonder, why businesses are requesting seminars. Go figure! Now go on- buy it!

I found this book to be a great refresher tool for the "expert" in any company as well as a great teaching tool for the entry level business person. Easy reading and comprehension. Fifty minutes packed with power!

Forget this book if you want good working examples. In nearly every chapter the author displays MFC class code but no examples for use of the technologies he is talking about. Also, if you are trying to learn how to write a multi-threaded TCP based server, you can foreget this book. Like others have stated, this book is old. Published in 1996 it refers Windows 95 and NT 4.0 as new technologies.

Good book and easy to follow. Covers a wealth of information. I found this book much easier to follow than some of the other books on the market with similar topics. Source code included (on floppy) contained many errors, however.

Though the book is already pretty old for the fast developing area it is still veru usefull. It covers areas like RPC that are even usefull for UNIX programmers and it describes Multithreading and the TCP/IP Socket API quiet well. It is one of the books for real programmers who do want to understand what is going on and keep control over their programs.