Shadow of the Noose was the first Ralph Cotton book I ever read. As soon as i finished it, I bought Border Dog not really thinking it could possibly be as good. Man was I ever wrong! Border Dogs is the wildest, meanest bunch of cavalry, southern rebels and just plain outlaws and saddle bums to ever plunder the old west. In their midst comes the coolest, calmist and deadliest law man and law women who are just as wild and deadly as they are! Even in the most serious situation one of these gunslingers does something so crazy that it makes you want to stop and laugh your head off, and then go back and reread it to make sure it really happened. This book is one that I know I will read more than once or twice. If all the Cotton books are this good I see why he is a best selling western writer.

The way Ralph Cotton writes, you can smell the burnt gunpowder; you taste the dust in your mouth; you feel the oppressive heat of the mid-day desert and you almost gag at the stench of the dead bodies. He puts you IN the story. Border Dogs is a good read and I look forward to Ralph's next book. Keep 'em coming, Ralph. Your reputation is spreading like one of the desert fires your describe!

I heard about Ralph cotton from several friends and at their urging I decided to see what all the shouting was about. This is the first western in years that I have read from start to finish, nonstop. Cotton has a way of drawing the reader in and not letting go! Now I find myself looking for his other book, and hopefully his next one.

"Chronicle of America" is a capsulized approach to American history from 1492 to present. Significant events are organized as newspaper articles that quickly break down the most important aspects of the event in a simple "who, what, where, when, and how" format. Contemporary illustrations and photographs are interspersed throughout each year to reinforce the newspaper approach.

Although especially handy for young students, this book is also useful when you need to just look up a few basic facts without having to wade through or locate more indepth works. Definitely handy to have around.

As a Librarian I use this book several times a week. There is nothing like it for putting issues in context. The newspaper format and photographs make it attractive to young people. I hope that a new edition will come out soon.

This book is a MUST if you are interested in American history. It very easy to follow having been written as a collection of news articles. I would recomend this book to anyone, even students.

I never played any musical instruments or even sang extensively using sheet music, and therefore knew nothing when I arrived at college to take my first music theory class. With this book, I went from knowing nothing to being at the top of my class! Turek is just phenomenal with how genius this book is! I now tutor kids in music theory who have had it all their lives, it is that great! Thanks Dr. Turek!

I picked up guitar about 3 year ago and wanted to understand music theory. This book started simple, used lots of examples and built to an advanced level. I have a solid grasp of musical concepts that used to mystify me. I've really enjoyed it and look forward to studying volume II!

I used this textbook (as well as Vol. II) when I was doing my Musicology and Composition studies. Since then, I have devoured several other Theory textbooks, but this set remains the greatest yet written. Were I teaching, I would swear by it.

This gentle book floats you through the life of a French family between the wars, as seen through the eyes of children. Human foibles are observed with a naive humour, and events are often described without the full understanding of the narrator. Much of the subject matter could be overpowering, but the depiction in this book is beautiful.

Fields of glory is the most beautifully written book I have read in more than a decade--maybe ever. Virtually every page, every paragraph, is wonderfully crafted. How I wish I could read it in French, although I can't imagine that it could be any better. Mr. Rouaud is a genious.

By the end of this book I felt that I knew the family members intimately. This is beautifully done. The story unravels the lives of family members through the memories of a child, tracing their tragedy back to the ultimate tragedy of war. In some ways this book is very French but the feelings are universal and I strongly recommend it.

Peters does it again. A magnificent combination of strong characters and geopolitical reality and a fine primer on the political importance of Uzbekistan that was written nearly a decade before 9/11.

This book may be in the wrong category. I would not really place it in the action group becuase it is a display of a deep character driven novel. It is really a very interesting look at this difficult time for Russian's. It was also much more enjoyable then I thought it would be. The descriptions of the locations and main home were very good. I also liked the characters that were created. They had depth and feeling, not just scratch the surface to fill pages. The book is not the feel good hit of the year, it does had a rich plot that you need to keep up with, but the author rewards your efforts with a masterly written book. I think when it comes down to it that is the strength here, the writing is just very good, a lot of feeling comes out.

The prologue. Ralph Peters gives you the perspective, the eyesight, of a Soviet Third Shock Army officer stationed in East Germany, 1989. Inside the Magdeberg headquarters, you drink vodka with the Russion generals. You smell the stink of their fear-sweat. You hear their outrage and lack of understanding as the East Germans protest down the streets against them. Against you.

Ralph Peters gets you so close to them, you not only feel the scratchy wool of their uniforms, but when word comes that the locals are tearing down the Berlin Wall... it hits you with the same end-of-the-world kidney punch as it must have hit real-life Soviet officers.

And that's just the first few pages. Next up, we have exotic locals, both hot and cold, intrigue, plots, Islamic terror, and some of the hottest (...romance) to ever land on the pages of a hardcover novel.

Plus the usual heaping dose Ralph Peters of tragedy.

Beg, borrow, buy, or steal this book.

In the past couple of years I've read 5 Ralph Cotton books. When I'm done with a book I always rate it and or write my feelings on the first page. I have just pulled all of these books from the shelves and read what my comments were. All of them said it's an OK story. What amazes me is the comments of other readers from most westerns. They say "the best ever that I have read." It is obvious to me that these people have never read Robert J. Conley or Cameron Judd. .

After reading Border Dogs, I thought Ralph Cotton was a newwriter on the western scene. However, I see now that he has fourbooks about his ranger Sam and Maria and I plan to read all of them. Cotton does not rely on old cliches and dull plots. His characters are as real as the people we see on the news at night. His stories go farther than most of what I find at the movies. I am his newest fan, and will continue to be a fan from now on. Good work, Mr. Cotton. Keep them coming.

Ralph introduced us to the ranger in "Montana Red," and it was "Classic Cotton." I didn't think it was possible, but I believe old Ralph has done even better in "Badlands." The action keeps you turning pages till the wee hours of the night. Keep it up Ralph! You've got us hooked on your writing and we now need our "Cotton Fix" on a regular interval.

Although capitalism and democracy are regarded by many as the twin engines propelling the United States into its present position of world leadership, discussions of what these institutions mean for Amercians in practical, everyday terms are exceedingly rare. John Mueller, a professor of political science at the University of Rochester, has taken a giant step toward examining the reality of capitalism and democracy...As he puts it, capitalism and democracy consistently fall short of the images and ideas conveyed by theorists and pundits.

Mueller is convinced that the free-market economy has proven its value. Government intervention cannot instill the values essential to successful enterprise, and over the long run it undercuts them...In any event, economic inequality is inevitable, whatever the economic system in place, and capitalism has the advantage over other systems of providing greater prosperity and rewarding moral behavior...

Whereas Mueller focuses on the negative images frequently associated with capitalism, his discussion of democracy concentrates on the unattainable ideal by which it is often judged...Especially important from Mueller's perspective is recognition of the fact that special interests and inequality are inherent in democratic systems...

Democracy may be grubby, chaotic, and constantly compromising, but it soundly beats any of the alternatives. Mueller concedes that authoritarian forms of government may occasionally produce great leaders, but he argues that in no nation have such leaders existed for any length of time. Democracy constantly reevaluates its leaders and provides the means for replacing them, and it has consistently demonstrated a capacity to thrive even with large amounts of citizen apathy, cynicism, and even ignorance...

Obviously, Mueller's bare-bones approach to democracy drives a stake into the core assumptions of many texts and courses on the history of political thought. Traditionally, the rise of democratic institutions in the West has been traced to religious, economic, and ideological forces that not only forced change but also provided a basis for the survival of democratic institutions...Mueller rejects all such appeals to specific preconditions-primarily, it appears, because he fears that reliance on such historical developments will inhibit the promotion of democracy in today's world...In Mueller's view, democracy now is in "fashion" (p. 204), and the only serious threat to it is the appearance of groups of armed "thugs" (p. 203)...

As the United States moves into the twenty-first century, it has established itself as the dominant political, economic, and military power in the world. Yet its leaders and intellectuals lack the sort of architectonic theoretical paradigms that have emerged on the continent and to which many American scholars continue to feel obliged to genuflect as models to be emulated. Mueller seems singularly unimpressed by the need to formulate overarching theoretical explanations...Mueller's position is that individual liberty propelled by self-interest has made a better, if imperfect and untidy world that can be justified on its own terms.

If a friend told me that he was flying to a deserted island in the South Pacific to start a new country, first I would tell him he was crazy. Next, I would give him this book, insist that he read it, and use it as a blueprint for a successful society. Mr. Mueller's book is an excellent defense of both capitalism and democracy, the twin pillars of our American society. The author points out that while neither system is perfect, both are superior to any other economic method or political institution. His book is filled with interesting facts and fascinating insights. For example, Mr. Mueller insists that capitalism, far from extinguishing virtue, actually encourages it. This is because businessmen who treat their customers and co-workers with fairness and compassion have an economic advantage over their brooding colleagues. This seems counterintuitive but is born out by evidence. Service was especially poor and rude in former communist countries. Today, American companies from McDonald's to K-Mart, much maligned by the press, are teaching benevolent business practices to Third World nations from Africa to the Orient. Mr. Mueller also makes the interesting point that economics is approaching a level of sophistication similar to medicine at the turn of the twentieth century. Today, for the first time ever, economists can offer truly effective remedies for policy makers. Such a development, if true, promises an era of truly spectacular growth. The author also makes the sobering point that capitalism is a poor tonic for increasing personal happiness. Money has never substituted for family, faith, and meaningful work. Nor will it in the future. When it comes to democracy, Mr. Mueller believes that we expect too much from our political process. The 1994 health care debate, to some commentators, is an example of our failed democracy. In contrast, Mr. Mueller suggests that this episode proves the resiliency of our institutions. Legislation was proposed and debated, constituencies were mobilized and addressed, and the outcome was largely favorable. Democracy can be messy but it is incredibly responsive and self-correcting. It is the only political system that provides the average citizen with the instruments of political power. As more and more nations embrace the virtue of capitalism and democracy, colossal progress can be made in alleviating poverty, ensuring human rights, and achieving self-actualization. There is no realistic alternative to democracy or capitalism on the horizon. Nor should we want one.

If a friend told me that he was flying to a deserted island in the South Pacific and starting a new country, first I would tell him he was crazy. Next, I would give him this book, insist that he read it, and use it as a blueprint for a successful society. Mr. Mueller's book is an excellent defense of both capitalism and democracy, the twin pillars of our American society. The author points out that while neither system is perfect, both are superior to any other economic method or political institution. His book is filled with interesting facts and fascinating insights. For example, Mr. Mueller insists that capitalism, far from extinguishing virtue, actually encourages it. This is because businessmen who treat their customers and co-workers with fairness and compassion have an economic advantage over their brooding colleagues. This seems counterintuitive but is born out by evidence. Service was especially poor and rude in former communist countries. Today, American companies from McDonald's to K-Mart, much maligned by the press, are teaching benevolent business practices to Third World nations from Africa to the Orient. Mr. Mueller also makes the interesting point that economics is approaching a level of sophistication similar to medicine at the turn of the twentieth century. Today, for the first time ever, economists can offer truly effective remedies for policy makers. Such a development, if true, promises an era of truly spectacular growth. The author also makes the sobering point that capitalism is a poor tonic for increasing personal happiness. Money has never substituted for family, faith, and meaningful work. Nor will it in the future. When it comes to democracy, Mr. Mueller believes that we expect too much from our political process. The 1994 health care debate, to some commentators, is an example of our failed democracy. In contrast, Mr. Mueller suggests that this episode proves the resiliency of our institutions. Legislation was proposed and debated, constituencies were mobilized and addressed, and the outcome was largely favorable. Democracy can be messy but it is incredibly responsive and self-correcting. It is the only political system that provides the average citizen with the instruments of political power. As more and more nations embrace the virtue of capitalism and democracy, colossal progress can be made in alleviating poverty, ensuring human rights, and achieving self-actualization. There is no realistic alternative to democracy or capitalism on the horizon. Nor should we want one.

It is fun to see all-out entertaining in this book. They make sample invitations and themes, even signed with very southern names. I realize this isn't indicative of the entire south, but it's fun to see plans for a "Thursday lunch" and a "supper club", a few themes which would be way out of character for my circle. It is a wonderful fantasy, though. The recipes are easy and very good with nice photographs. This is a book that is as much fun to read as it is functional. The pears en croute alone are a good enough reason to buy the book. It is set into various themes and occasions which I find helpful, however the only one they left out was a baby or bridal shower! It's a great book. If you liked this book, I'd suggest "Specialties of the House" from the Biltmore Estate.

My mother gave me this cookbook last Christmas and it brought back such fond memories of my years spent in Charlotte. A well planned and photographed book that transitions easily from kitchen to coffee table. A joy to not only use, but also to curl up with and read. A guide to a most vibrant city and the culinary delights she offers.

A hard cover, coffee-table type cookbook with menus and entertaining ideas that represent the "New South" Winner of many awards for both quality and content. Highly recommended!!

I enjoyed this book. Though not a literary classic, it's a great book for a lazy summer afternoon. Written in a very traditional style, you can easily picture the scences being described. The characters are believable, especially if you're familiar with rural life.

Ralph Moody had the knack for "art-for-art's-sake" disguise. One important ingredient of his books that is seldom included in the reviews is the historical reality of the characters. If one was brought up ( as I was ) in Maine, farming with horses - the reality of the narrative is apparent. Reviewers not intimate with this culture and time still use terms such as "believable" in describing this book. The reason for this believability is simple - Moody was writing about real people who actually existed! Tom Gould ( the Grandfather ) was a Civil War Vet - Company I, 16th Maine; he actually did work the farm described in the book; his father, Jacob, actually did clear the farm from the wilderness; Tom actually was born when his father was 72, etc., etc. A boulder in nearby Hillside Cemetery in Lisbon memorializes Jacob, Tom and the farm which is the setting for this book. This is a cultural thumbprint of turn-of-the-century Maine . One might also explore the writings of another of Tom's grandsons ( and Ralph Moody's first cousin ), Maine author, John Gould.

The whole set of Ralph Moody books rank at the very top of read-aloud books with our children. We have read them all several times. This is my favorite. What a powerful story of the contending of wills between an old man and his grandson. You won't forget this story.

Don't be put off by the title. This book should be called "Trade for Dummies." The authors kindly start where most of us left off in Econ 101 - with comparative advantage. We all remember that nature endowed England with a comparative advantage in wool, and Portugal in wine, so that this trade was an obviously good thing.

But what about today's vastly more complex economy where considerations go far beyond the mere geography of natural resource distribution? What about the role of industrialization? Or technology? Or information? Who has what advantage? And how to measure it? The authors have solved this seemingly daunting task, and present their conclusions in a few simple graphs that could fit easily onto Mr. Laffer's napkin.

How do I know that they solved the problem of reducing all the complexities of international trade to a few simple graphs? Well, I really don't know because I am not enough of an economist or mathematician to follow the technical stuff, but the authors very kindly put all that in the second half of this slim volume as kind of an appendix for the professionals. That the two authors are a leading economist and a leading mathematician is obvious from the brief biographies. And that the work passes professional muster is obvious from the blurbs. So while I can't personally check the authors' assumptions and methodology, I can accept and fully understand their conclusions as set forth in the first half of the book - the only part I read.

Not surprisingly, the graphs show that most international trade is indeed mutually beneficial. But not all. The graphs also reveal what the authors call a zone of conflict. It is to this area that attention needs to be paid. What attention do the authors suggest? Well, they are a little coy. I suspect that at this stage they are just trying to get acceptance for their framework of analysis. Anyone questioning any aspect of unrestricted free trade today is subject to being labeled a protectionist, which is only one step above racist, so the authors understandably tread very carefully.

A splendid and provocative little book dealing with a very big subject.

A must read book for anyone with an interest in International Trade. Gomory and Baumol take an insightful look into trade in this era of multinational companies, expanded trade and developing countries. They develop a technique to determine whether a trade decision is mutually beneficial (or detrimental) to the parties. While no "magic" formula to precisely determine the benefits of an individual trade decision, at least there is a cogent framework to start from.

As a lay reader it was apparent that to assure our continued growth and successes that we must continually innovate to create the next big retainable industry as well as continue productivity gains to compete with low wage developing countries in easy to enter industries where we have a major interest.

An exceptionally thorough analysis of today's world of trade.

These 73 pages kept this layman engrossed and enlightened. You learn why World Peace through World Trade ain't necessarily so, but can be a win-win situation for nations who understand the theory of the Global Trade game.

In cogent and concise language,the two gifted authors upset the notion that a dollar of National Trading Income is indifferent to what is being traded. National Trading Income from a "retainable" industry like computer chips produce strategic strengths for a nation compared to the same amount of National Trading Income from potato chips.

This new vector on Global Trade alerts business leaders to rearrange intellectually their risk-reward equation to secure a more favorable outcome.