What a great way to get an overview of the Battle of Gettysburg. No dry, humourless tome, this one. Rather, a very readable book that looks more at the views of the common soldiers than the moves and countermoves of the generals. The format of following many different participants and viewers of the battle (all real-life) makes for a story that reads more like a thriller. How accurate it is, I cannot say, not being an expert on the battle. However, I do note that Persico does not have what is now accepted as the true story behind the very famous photo of the dead sharpshooter at Devil's Den (it is now believed that the photographer moved and arranged the body to set up the photo). He instead believes the photographer's story that that was how he found the body. Overall, I found this an enjoyable read, and I found it easily put into place for me (for the first time in any Civil war book I have read) all the intracacies of that conflict. Just a note: I only became interested in this battle as a result of receiving the new computer game "Sid Meier's Gettysburg!" as a gift recently ... I would also thoroughly recommend that game! Especially if it leads players to want to research more about the battle and times it portrays!

An excellent, blockbuster of a book. There is more history crammed into its 246 pages than I ever imagined could be accomplished in so short a span. Well written, fast moving and riveting, the author examines The Battle of Gettysburg from the participants' view: military and civilian, high and low ranking, male and female, Union and Confederate. Extreamly well done.

First let me say that I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Nan is not the stereotyped femdom you might be thinking of though she can clearly dress up and put on a well-scripted and eleborate scene. The descriptions are not pornographic though they are careful to mention both physical and emotional aspects of the scenes. There are both male and female submissives and bottoms discussed throughout the book, the most extreme scene involve Nana and her primary female lover (she also has a husband). It should stimulate your mind and your groin so be prepared. I would have been better if Nan had gotten more personal -- why she does it, what it feels like to her, how she has changed over time -- as the title suggests.

This is the first book I've ever read that I feel is real. This woman has experienced what she has written about. It is NOT fantasy. She has honed her skills to a point that she is an expert at the exchange of power that is paramount to a BDSM scene. This book isn't all about pain or bondage. This book isn't all about fantasies. This book is about power, control and sensuality. You hear about her feelings while she is doing what she is doing. You hear about what her bottoms are feeling. You learn how she gets into their heads and hearts. I'm amazed at the candor with which she writes. This woman is obviously gifted with an amazing power, and is amazingly generous in sharing it with the public.

The biggest drawback to _Nation Conscious Rap_ is that it relies overly on interviews with rappers to make its points. While some of the interviewees may have wonderful poetical flow, they don't have any deep opinions on the subject, and really don't have much to say (which becomes painfully obvious by the book's halfway point). However, given the book's relatively pioneering status in terms of books trying to place hip hop in a greater context, it has to be given a great deal of credit for trying to analyze an unfinished form. The book is more source material for later analyses than an analysis in and of itself, and, frankly, works better when read with that in mind. There are gems to be had here, and they're worth the digging

NATION CONSCIOUS RAP captures the nation-conscious spirit of many legendary hip hop artists, such as Chuck D, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh, Q-Tip, and many more. Exclusive interviews and photos of these artists provide the reader with the true story of hip hop - directly from the artists themselves.

This is primary source material that looks into the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of this generation of young, talented Black artists. The rappers speak about their life histories and social issues that effect us all. Furthermore, there is much to be learned from their shared experiences in the music industry and their discussions of hip hop as a powerful means for Black youth to express their views and be critical of today's society.

Nation Conscious Rap is a very unique book. It not only has the creators of the Hip Hop Cultural Revolution telling their own stories in their own nation language, it also combines oral narratives and written documents to provide a distinctly modern Afro-American narrativity of power and vision. Here is Hip Hop History in the Nation language of young Blacks whose compelling metaphors and similes of reality and surreality are deep.

This book is recommended to hip hop fans, parents wishing to learn about hip hop, and academics interested in English, AfroAmerican Studies, Urban Studies, Sociology, Sociolinguistics, etc.

In a word - GROUNDBREAKING!

The author does an excellent job of explaining the ways in which the Internet can be used to improve any function of a business, to include HR, Logistics Mgmt, and Sales. Though it doesn't delve too deeply into any single area, for the corporate manager it is an excellent introductory read.

The Internet has gained immense popularity as a marketing tool and a number of companies both large and small have shifted their marketing strategies to this broadcast medium. Every day businesses are taken online. Netrepreneur written by Joseph Lowery offers a tremendous wealth of knowledge about how companies can successfully adapt themselves to this powerful and exciting marketing tool.

Businesses large and small will benefit from the contents of this book. Actual case studies of many well-known companies offer rich key insight into how they have set up shop on the Internet and how they have managed themselves. Increased sales revenue, shifts in marketing strategies, Website design options, and use of technology and business applications are among the many cutting-edge considerations discussed at length by the author that will contribute to very successful business operations.

With the use of this book any company will achieve favorable and easily measureable results. Web business models are discussed, readers will receive online business marketing instruction, they will learn some basic international business concepts to successfully broaden the scope of their marketing efforts, and they can make use of an excellent listing of business Websites that offers additional business information.

Although this book was not intended for use by novice entrepreneurs, I found it easy to read and understand. Just about anyone can pick it up and glean valuable business ideas from its pages regardless of their level of experience in the business world. This book would make a valuable guide for business consultants seeking to make a living by helping other companies along. This is a great book to have on hand and put to use at a moments' notice!

The New Grove Beethoven is one of a series of biographies on great composers. The text was originally written in the 1970's.

I used this book during an upper division class on Beethoven at UCLA, and I loved it. Why? Because I knew nothing about music, but I loved Beethoven's music. What is refreshing about this book is that it will provide a background on the life of Beethoven that is wholly understandable even if you don't have a music background.

This book is a little over 150 pages of text. The remainder is notes etc. It reads very quick. The book is largely broken up into chronoligical sections and ends with a quick breakdown of Beethoven's music and his impact on music.

The New Grove Beethoven does a great job of delving into Beethoven's frustration with the onset of deafness and how he felt estranged from society as a result. It also treats Beethoven's deep desire to be respected as this desire continually butted up against his dislike for preferential treatment to nobility as "superiors." In short, he wanted to be like them, loved like them but his attitude estranged him from them.

If you are looking for a quick primer on Beethoven that is readable and quite enjoyable, pick up the New Grove Beethoven!

This book is being used in my music class at Dartmouth College that's focusing on Beethoven. It contains very accurate information about the Maestro himself and does not add to the myths about the composer as other books do. It's very easy to read and there's a lot of satisfaction and knowledge that a Beethoven admirer can gain from this magnificent biography.

This is the story of the Debolt family, which adopted a large number of handicapped or otherwise challenged children, and enabled the kids to achieve beyond most people's expectations through tough love, diligence, and hard work.

I was given this book some years ago when I was in the hospital because of an injured knee. I recall lying there feeling sorry myself and being a little miserable to my wife because of being on my back. Did this story ever snap me out of that mood. It is a story I have never forgotten and have mentioned it on many occasions to my friends. Even to this day when things aren't going the best, I believe God makes me think of the family in this story and it still makes me thank God for how He has taken care of me.

Contrary to what the title might make you think, you don't need NLP knowledge in order to use this book. The way it's written makes it even hard to recognize the NLP bits (I had to search for them).

Why only 4 stars? Even if the book is well written and is easy to understand, I had expected more from the book. The authors should have added some extra chapters dealing with other learnings from NLP that apply for relationships. Maybe I should be happy, at least that leaves room for others to write books. Also, the publisher has applied some low cost techniques: the paper is a bit cheap and the font used is a bit small.

Patrick E.C. Merlevede, MSc -- co-author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"

This is a personal, engaging and satisfying book. The subtitle, "simple strategies to make your relationships work" may be misleading. It is more than that. As it is stated in the preface, "This book is not, however, about how to change or manipulate others into being what you want them to be. Nor is it about trying to fit into other people's expectations regardless of your own point of view. It is about being more yourself, putting more of yourself into a relationship and letting the other person be themselves too..." What a beautiful goal! The two co-authors have the gift in guiding us along in very simple language, metaphors, anecdotes and questions. They help us grow in understanding our biological, social and intellectual dimensions, or what they call "voices". They have distilled much wisdom from current literature on relationship, genetic factors, male and female differences and give life to the vision and concepts of NLP without any technical jargon. Instead of acquiring specific strategies or techniques, one grows through developing the different perspectives and reflecting on oneself, one's wants and shared goals, and learning how to change and love with commitment. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in life-long growing, esp. in relating.

For anyone interested in the beginnings of the marine oil and gas industry, Offshore Pioneers provides a good general history. Since this book was commissioned by Brown & Root, you should expect a certain level of bias. Brown & Root's achievements are obviously highlighted while their defeats are understandably downplayed. This history includes the significant roles of other participants, though mainly in relation to Brown & Root, either as competitor, customer or co-venturer. Beginning with the first baby-steps in offshore exploration (long platforms connecting shore to site), this history lesson progresses to the innovation and ingenuity necessary to explore and exploit hydrocarbons from new environments, such as Lake Maracaibo, the Bay of Campeche, California (short lived program though it was) and the North Sea. As an offshore service analyst, I constantly seek out information on the industry, whether current or historical. Brown and Root did play a large role in the development of the offshore oil and gas industry, from constructing the first platforms out into the Gulf of Mexico, engineering massive North Sea structures, laying pipe in several environments, building construction barges and performing project management. My father had worked for the company for 25 years, and I had already developed an appreciation for their can-do attitude and willingness to work in any environment. If you're looking for a history of the industry's humble beginnings, this is a great book to read. However, Brown & Root ceased being a major force in the offshore energy industry during the 1980's, so don't expect to find any recent history in this work.

This is the history of Brown & Root's Marine Division. Drawing heavily from their knowledge of building warships during World War II, Brown & Root installed the first oil platform out of sight from land off the coast of Louisiana for the Kerr Magee Oil Company in 1947. This was Brown & Root's entry into the offshore construction market. They kept building and installing platforms in increasing depths of the Gulf of Mexico as well as venturing into offshore spots around the world, such as off the coast of Alaska and the most famous offshore location of the North Sea. The book details many of these large well known projects as well as Project Mohole, the cancelled program to drill into the Earth's core from an ocean drill ship. Brown & Root was a participant in this project. An interesting book for anyone who has worked in the offshore oil industry or has an interest in it.

Origen (c. 185 - c. 250) is, with Tertullian, one of the two prolific ante-Nicene Christian authors who is not recognized as a saint. That verdict on Tertullian, an apostate to the Montanist sect, is not surprising. Origen, however, was the most prominent Christian teacher and scholar of his day, remained steadfastly loyal to the Church, died as a martyr and was admired fervently by such great and unquestionably orthodox theologians as Gregory of Nyssa. Notwithstanding such credentials, his ideas fell under suspicion soon after his death, and "Origenism" has since borne a taint of heresy.

Joseph Trigg, an Episcopal clergyman and author of a previous life of Origen ("Origen: The Bible and Philosophy in the Third-century Church" (1983)), would like to restore his subject's reputation and introduce him to contemporary Christians. To that end, he has assembled this anthology of a dozen selections: seven Biblical commentaries, four homilies and a letter to St. Gregory the Wonder Worker. Most of these are excerpts from, or fragments of, longer works, but each is substantial in itself. None will be familiar to the non-specialist. Not included are Origen's best known treatise (the source of many later doubts about his orthodoxy), "Peri Archon" ("On First Principles"), and his apologia "Contra Celsum", both readily found elsewhere and neither typical of the author's work.

Origen's great subject was the interpretation of Scripture. These texts illustrate his approach, which differs strikingly from that of any modern commentator. The underlying theory is that, because God is the author of the Bible, every word of the text is significant. But, because God is supremely subtle, that significance is not evident to the untutored reader. The plain, obvious meaning is, to Origen's mind, usually the least important. The deepest, spiritual truths can be uncovered only through learned scholarship, augmented by prayer.

These principles lead to minute, painstaking analysis. Book I of the commentary on John's Gospel, 46 pages in this edition, is devoted to discussing two words. The conclusions reached through this effort can be unexpected and may often look arbitrary, as when Jeremiah's lamentations over Jerusalem are construed as an allegory of the mission of the Apostles or Jesus's washing of his disciples' feet is taken as symbolic of Christian pedagogy.

Because this way of reading Scripture is so foreign to our habits, these writings, if perused quickly and carelessly, are more likely to bewilder than enlighten. Origen's method and assumptions obviously bear no resemblance to modern Biblical scholarship, despite his sedulous care to establish the most accurate possible text. Nor can he be grouped with the fundamentalists. He agrees with them that the Bible is the very Word (and words) of God. From that premise, the draws the unfundamentalist conclusion that statements of fact are frequently not to be taken literally and that ordinary Christians get little out of Scripture without expert guidance.

To read Origen as more than an historical curiosity requires, then, the adoption of an unfamiliar perspective on the Bible. Fr. Trigg's introduction, while offering a useful account of Origen's career and posthumous reputation, unfortunately pays little attention to furnishing equipment for such a feat of intellectual imagination. A work like James Kugel's "The Bible As It Was", dealing with the very similar ancient Jewish hermeneutics, may help supply this need.

Origen is one of the most famous names in early Christian history, and this collection, though not fare for a casual Sunday afternoon, is the best available way for laymen to see a great mind at work in its most characteristic mode.

This introduction to and translation of Origen appears in a highly respected series of key selected texts by the major Greek and Latin Fathers of the Church. Joseph Trigg, who is one of the foremost interpreters of Origen, provides fascinating and profound insights into Origen's life and writings in his introduction. He analyzes the principal influences that formed Origen as a Christian, his emergence as a mature theologian, and his controversial legacy. The translation is fresh and clear. Moreover, the book includes some writings by Origen that have not been available previously. This is an exciting book that I'd recommend to anyone -- scholar or not -- who wishes to explore the thought of one of the greatest and most influential Christian thinkers before Augustine.

Cynthia B. Cohen, Ph.D., J.D. Senior Research Fellow, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University Washington, D.C.

This is excellent research coupled with great story-telling. Esherick clearly lays down the case for the Boxer phenomenon as emanating from the Shantung peninsula and not directly related to previous rebellions. It was the German missionaries and mismanagement by the Qing officials that ignited this specific outbreak.
I didn't care much for the statistical handling of some of the data as I felt this aspect irrelevant to the book.

Professor Esherick chronicles the origins of the uprising in stunning detail, debunking the popular notions and sensationalistic legends. Higest recommendtion.