Having just finished reading Twain's "Roughing It", and having received this book as a gift, I decided to read them back to back. This is a compilation of the correspondence Mark Twain was hired to write from Hawaii (then the Sandwich Islands) for the California newspaper the Sacramento Union. These letters were written before he had published his first book, so he was still young and inexperienced as a writer. Yet all the elements of classic Twain are in here--the humour, the keen observation, the ear for vernacular speech. It is informative to notice that he used much of the material from these letters--at times verbatim--to create the last few chapters of "Roughing It". I would almost recommend reading "Roughing It" instead of these letters because the writing is more polished and edited for more readability, were it not for the fact that the letters contain some very interesting material that does not appear in "Roughing It". Specifically, Twain does an excellent job covering the trade and commerce of the Islands, specifically the whaling and sugar industries (I am a sucker for 19th century whaling stories), and delivers an exclusive report on the fate of the clipper ship 'Hornet', a ship that completely burned while on the open sea, stranding 31 men in open boats near the Equator. One boat made it to Hawaii and Twain was able to get a report off to California, the first anyone there had heard of it. This report later bacame the source for his piece "Forty-Three Days in an Open Boat".

I would recommend this book to those interested in early Hawaiian, or even California, history and those who would enjoy some early Mark Twain. The subject matter jumps around a bit, as is the nature of this kind of compilation. The introduction by A. Grove Day is very informative and helpful for placing the readings in context. The reading is not always easy but usually entertaining.

This book is an excellent and quick read. It presents a picture of Hawaii that, unfortunately, will never be seen again. If you love the islands and/or Mark Twain's writing style, you'll love this book.

What is it about the Hawaiian Islands that is so profoundly affecting? Twain was the ultimate skeptic, yet the Islands won him over in a minute. This collection of newspaper columns tells us why, and it is story that remains relevant to Island visitors and lucky residents. Twain was as well travelled as anyone of his day, and had no trouble identifying Hawaii as not just a pleasant place, but a unique place on earth. He hoped to live out his days on the Islands, but never made it back. Modern travellers sometimes wonder about the attractions of the Islands versus other places with warm climates. No one has explained it better than Twain.

The first edition of this book in 1980 established Blaug as a leading influence in this field, especially in his insistence on the importance of the testability or falsifiability of economic theories.

The first part of the book is a clearly written introduction to the modern philosophy of science. Popper is identified as the pivotal figure between the old positivism and the new heterodoxy of Kuhn, Lakatos and Feyerabend. Unfortunately he is still depicted as a "falsificationist" rather than a critical rationalist, a serious mistake in the first edition which might well have been corrected. Hands and Caldwell have subsequently made that step so perhaps Blaug will fix this in the second revised edition. Lakatos may have been the major influence in this matter of misunderstanding Popper, in any case the time has surely come to move on with the assistance of Popper's theory of metaphysical research programs (which are subjected to critical appraisal) rather than the theory of "untouchable" hard cores that was the legacy of Lakatos.

Blaug may be ready to make a decisive step in this area. Recently, meditating on the outcome of the second Greek Islands conference on methodology, he wrote "I have come slowly and extremely reluctantly to the view that they [the Austrians] are right and that we have all been wrong [on Walrasian general equilibrium]". This concession to the Austrians is a major shift for Blaug and this may enable him to take the next step and perceive the overlap between the Austrian assumptions and the major elements of Popper's program. There include realism, non-determinism, the flux of time, methodological individualism and the uncertainty of knowledge

The second part treats the history of economic methodology. This provides an opportunity to rubbish the modern Austrians for their a priori heuristic postulates (this is the old, or rather the younger, Blaug speaking). There is a chapter on falsificationism, and various other "isms" including operationalism, Friedman's instrumentalism and Samuelson's descriptivism. Unfortunately the treatment of instrumentalism and descriptivism (or conventionalism) falls far short of that which is offered in Boland's The Foundations of Economic Method (1982)

The heart and soul of the book should be the third part which is a methodological appraisal of various aspects of the neoclassical research program. As C Wright Mills pointed out, discussion of methodology in isolation from actual work in progress is unlikely to be fruitful, so this part of the book should stand as a test (a possible falsification) of the value of Blaug's methodological apparatus. It might have been even more helpful to include two of his own special areas of interest - education and the arts, in this section, but perhaps this work is not a part of the neoclassical research program.

The fourth part is a short commentary on what we have now learned about economics with advice on falsificationism, applied econometrics and the best way forward.

This old and very short book on methodology enables novices to enter a philosophocal debate that is fragmented and decentralised. The book uses simple language and tries to educate not impress. Together with Alan Chalmers Mark Blaug is the best starting point for any student. However, it stops in the 1980s and therefore cuts off the debate at a critical point of time.

It's a great book to introduce undergraduate students on economic method topics. Mark Blaug first provides an overall vision of philosophy of science, then comments the method of the economists of the XIXth and XXth century, and finally in the third part he shows the discussion on certain topics such as theory of the firm, human capital capital firm, etc, excellent to start a course-conclusion paper. It's great!

As an immense fan of Michael Moorcock, I picked this graphic novel up as a completionist tendency. Comics are not my usual choice of reading, yet it was written by Moorcock, so I really did not know what to expect. What I found was something doomed to failure from the beginning. It is the comic format that kills this experiment in mediums. The story itself is actually three initially insular tales that ultimately weave together. If written as three separate short stories and published in a pure textual format they would have constituted rather typical Moorcock "Eternal Champion" tales. In one story we have Rose from his novel "Revenge of the Rose", and Sam Oakenhurst from "Blood". In another we have Sir Seaton Begg heralding from Moorcock's much chronicled von Bek/Begg family histories. In the third we have his most famous character, Elric. And tying them all together in a narrative frame we see Jack Karaquazian (once again, from "Blood") and Moorcock himself. If one were not already intimately familiar with Moorcock's vast works chronicling the many facets of the Eternal Champion, I am not sure any sense could be made of this rather opaque telling.

The prominent flaw of this work is the miserly allowances for textual explanation in the comic format. Moorcock is a rather verbose author with a tendency for flourish and poetry. When reduced to word balloons on a handful of panels per page, all of his stylistic strengths are annihilated. The end result is quite frankly a mass of confused hokum. It becomes impossible to understand what he was really attempting to communicate as the story panels sweep us along much too expeditiously. Compounded with the maelstrom of psychedelic artwork, I found myself unable to take it seriously as a narrative. The three stories as told by the narrative frame seemed more the destruction of a skilled raconteur than an entertaining romp through the multiverse. While I am not a connoisseur of comic art, I felt that the images by themselves were often striking and powerful statements, but failed as proper tools of story telling. Often I wished that one of the more striking images could have been painted in a more serious manner and used as a frontispiece for one of Moorcock's novels instead of as another page in a confounding comic.

My frustration with this work perhaps stems from the fact that I do not read comics and thus found it bewildering. I would be very interested in reading a review from someone who picked this up because they are a fan of the graphic novel medium, and not necessarily Moorcock. And more so, I would be interested in knowing if someone without prior knowledge of the Moorcockian Multiverse could actually make heads or tails of this. I hypothesize that one could not, and that those who can will not like it because of the medium. And that leaves no real audience.

This is a classic Moorcock irony, to bury much of the core material of his multiverse theories in a graphic novel. Where another might have written a philosophical text, or at very least a novel, Moorcock decided that the place to set out the fundamentals of his multiverse theories was in a monthly comic book (collected here without the letters and features, which is a pity). The final sequences are faultlessly coherent as they move towards the central redemption, showing how, why and where the Cosmic Balance is at last restored. And there's some wonderfully off-beat humor -- the vast battles which involve different types of music (rock and roll versus Andrew Lloyd Webber) -- the London trams on which the aliens arrive for the Final Game -- the introduction of Moorcock himself (and Walter Simonson -- here with his best work to date -- though his current Orion work is also superb -- maybe even better) into the stories as the game within a game within a game is played out. This is RPG for keeps! Great, stuff. Moorcock will hide the key to a theme in a rock and roll song, a comic book or a throw-away newspaper piece but sooner or later, if you read for long enough, you'll come across it -- or it won't matter, because sometimes you didn't even know there WERE answers to those questions. Or that the questions were there to be asked! Check out the WW2 Lancaster bomber crewed entirely by existentialist philosophers (including Wrongway Heidegger); check out the rhyming couplets frequently found in the dialogue. Read in conjunction with The War Amongst the Angels and the books in that sequence, this is the work of a brilliantly original mind as able to draw characters as he is able to come up with stunning scientific notions! Brain candy, maybe. Addictive, maybe. A bizarre stimulant, maybe. But nourishing, through and through. A metaphysical meal at Mr Moorcock's Terminal Cafe always leaves the customers satisfied!

If you want to sample some of the artwork before you buy, please visit my website, where I have a few scanned in images of the comic. But I'm not making it easy on you; you'll have to hunt them out on the official Michael Moorcock website.

I ordered this book for my daughter in 5th grade. She is a fan of Ms. Kwan's and needed to write a biography for school. Although it is a nice book, it really isn't what I thought. It is only 60 pages and mostly pictures, very little real content. If you just want a fan book this will work, but it really isn't a biography for grades 4 to 6 as represented.

This was the first biography I've read about Michelle Kwan. Though I'm not a figure skater, her confidence and determination have inspired me to succeed in gymnastics. It was a nice biography, with lots of pictures and nice information. I only have several complaints. First, it was a little too short in my opinion, since you mostly learn about the outlines of her life, not full details. For details I would suggest reading "Heart of A Champion", Michelle's autobiography. Second, it would have been nice if the book was longer, like I said it needs more details. Not realy for older readers, but great for anyone who wants to learn about Michelle Kwan

This book is wonderful! It makes you connect with the ice just reading the words! I love this book!

Most of these stories were pretty good. I was surprised by the fantasy parts in some of these stories because I expected all of them to be mostly sci-fi / military. The stories that were set in Viet Nam were all pretty good. Drake's leaning on Mech. Infantry gets old, he should write about light fighters too. The story about fraging the LT was great. The soldier justified killing another man because his buddy was killed while sneaking a joint while on a mission. He was sneaking it cause the LT wouldn't allow dope. So his buddies death is blamed on the Lieutenant. Classic!

I like that Drake doesn't make villians out of many of his officers. Most are soldiers that have earned the confidence and respect of their men by being charismatic and competant. We would all like to work for that kind of officer.

I give this 3 stars because I like it. The 4th star is for great and the stories just didn't get me there

One of Drake's earliest works. A mixture of true science fiction and fantasy wrapped around a Vietnam backdrop. A terrific collection of military science fiction short stories. Well worth the price.

This is a wonderful collection of Drake's works. It provides an insight into what makes his work truly stand out from the crowd. The Vietnam stories are among his earliest works and are stunning. "Have you ever seen a Sheridan burn?" is forever etched into my memory.

If, like me, you are interested in British history but not a hard core scholar, this one may be a bit on the dull side. However, I did manage to make my way through it without having to force myself to pick it up. It is well worth the effort.

Thirty years of intense historical debate and disagreement have clouded the underlying story of seventeenth-century Britain; with this addition to the Penguin History of Britain series, Mark Kishlansky mediates the academic controversy in an introductory narrative of the Stuart era. From the ascension of James I to the death of Queen Anne, he chronicles the political events which elevated Britain from isolation to international predominance. In so doing, he vividly develops the characters who helped to spark this transformation. He hopes that this universally accessible narration will kindle his audience's interest in the period.

In pursuit of this goal, Kishlansky avoids examining the contradictory interpretations which he believes necessitate this work. His prefatory remarks fully acknowledge the limited nature of his discussion. Apologizing to his colleagues, he explains that any effort to conflate the conflicting opinions into one coherent narrative would prove futile. Therefore, he claims to have used his discretion in writing a flowing account.

Still, an author's discretion is seldom neutral. Correlating with Kishlansky's past contributions to British historiography, this book contains definite revisionist undertones. Focusing on the impact of individuals, he emphasizes the contingency of each event he describes. Accident and circumstance drive his story. This perspective does not accommodate the vital component of progressive interpretations: inevitability. Furthermore, Kishlansky's story is essentially a political narrative. He frequently dismisses the social and economic factors which progressives view as so influential in governmental development.

The work itself is a combination of three stylistic techniques. To orient the audience for the narrative, the prologue and first two chapters analyze the social and political institutions of seventeenth-century Britain. The narrative itself dominates each of the succeeding eleven chapters, introduced in each by a dramatic vignette. By describing one of the most exciting or extraordinary events yet to come, these vignettes entice the reader to continue. Separating them from the main narrative are brief contextual introductions, similar to those of the first two chapters. Kishlansky also uses this analytical style in his disappointingly short four-page epilogue.

Additionally, the title of this book is quite misleading. This is neither a history of the monarchy's transformation nor a history of Britain. In reality, Kishlansky recounts the transformation of the entire British governmental system. Also, while he does incorporate the roles of Scotland and Ireland into his story, he does so only from an English point of view. Added to this are only minor references to Britain's overseas colonies. Thus, a more appropriate title would be: A Government Transformed: England 1603-1714.

Kishlansky's lack of citation is also troublesome. Though his extensive bibliography is impressive, it is not inclusive. He references general works on broad topics, yet his audience learns of specific events and people. If his readers become interested in researching any of the specific topics which he describes, his bibliography will prove only slightly more helpful than a library's card catalogue. Overall, Kishlansky accomplishes what he set out to do; he creates an interesting and coherent story which provides a solid base for further study. For people with a limited knowledge of the events that transpired during the seventeenth century, this is a clear introduction. This book is by no means comprehensive, but that was never the goal of the author. Its accessibility comes from its simplicity. After reading it, students are ready for and hopefully interested in more critical research in the field.

Mr. Kishlansky provides a concise narrative of the events that characterized seventeenth century English history and that resulted in the modern British parliament and constitutional monarchy. His attention to detail shows his thorough knowledge of the history of Great Britain and most importantly, shows how the rise of the modern parliamentary system & constitutional monarchy at century's end provided mechanisms to many of the legal questions which gave rise to the various revolutions and civil wars that characterized the century's previous history. An excellent book for anyone interested in British history or who wishes to know where the founding fathers of the American revolution obtained so many of the ideas that characterize the American constitution and its emphasis on the paramountcy of the rule of law.

This is a fairly good book but nothing like Orders to Kill by William Pepper which is much more detailed and conclusive in it's arguments. Thinking about it I guess these guys probably re-released to cash in on the time, effort and money that Pepper spent on the the case. Still it is much better than Posner so...

It was on this very day,33 years ago,that civil rights leader Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis. It was,obviously,an awful moment for America back then...but it's something people should never forget & something people should forever scrutinize,because there are some very strange things surrounding this particular murder,...

At first delvings,though,the King-Assassination-Case can very much seem totally undecipherable. If this is the case,all you need do is devour some really good books on the subject.

Mark Lane's "Murder In Memphis" is one of these books; expertly studied & addictively written with a smart sense of exploration. "Murder In Memphis" will astonish you. The interviews,the de-classified FBI documents,the end result-revelations of a Congress investigation into the matter,all pointing,basically,to a possible/probable Conspiracy involving the highest fractions of the U.S government,the top levels of American intelligence,& the deepest reaches of organized crime~(All seductively intertwined with each other). For me,One of the best pieces of information is the one concerning Myron Billit,a old gaffer for the Mafia,who claims that in early 1968 he drove two senior mob figures,Sam Giancana & John Roselli,to a meeting with federal agents at a motel in upstate New York. Billit says that at the meeting,the Mafia leaders were offered a million dollar contract to kill Martin Luther King-(Since Myron gave this info on his death-bed,it seems unlikely to be false).

Mark Lane has constructed a mindblowing book. Fascinating reading,well worth the investment. A publication i shall always appreciate.

As it is a particular field of interest to me, I have probably read more about the trilogy of 1960's assassinations than most. Most conspiracy theories, however, involve a certain suspension of disbelief, and the reader, as investigator, must decide what they believe or not. Not so in Mark Lane and Dick Gregory's Murder in Memphis; without pointedly trying to be, their simple stating of the facts is the single most damning, disturbing, and convincing indictment of the FBI and others involved that I have ever read. Brilliantly written, the book is also meticulously researched; every source used is clearly identified and the reader gets the impression they could independently verify every statement made with relative ease. A non-stop page-turner from beginning to end; it is a must read for anyone who enjoys non-fiction.

This book is divided into 4 themes. Each theme is comprised of essays written by Eric Katz, beginning as early as the 1970's. Due to the fact that this author is a Philosopher makes this book a slow reader. His view points do not reflect what can actually be done to help the planet, but reflects more on the "how to" instill environmental ethics. So, while this author is writing a book that may or may not revamp the whole idea of environmental conservation, forests are being logged and wildlife species are becoming extinct.

If you are a philosophy major the ideology uncovered in this book may stimulate you, but if not then just skip to the middle. The books second and third theme are better to read, but not the best reading I have done on the subject.

An excellent intro to the field of environmental ethics, this book was certainly clearer than others of its ilk that I've attempted before. Katz's arguments leave few loose ends. Reading along, my thoughts would leap ahead to "But what about...?" or "Yes, but what you're saying implies...!", only to find those particular point(s) tied up by the end of the essay.

There's no piece here too lengthy to read in one sitting, and no obscure jargon or vague arguments. Be warned, however: this book is more theoretical than applied ethics, and I was initially disappointed by this fact. But despite this, and despite the fact that you may disagree with the arguments used or conclusions reached by the author, the food-for-thought offered herein makes "Nature as Subject" well worth reading.

Eric Katz is one of the founders of the field of environmental ethics. This excellent collection of his papers does a great job of introducing readers to the core themes and concepts in the field. Katz's particular contributions to the debates in environmental ethics are especially compelling. Even if you disagree with some of his views on specific topics (the morality of hunting, the idea of an ecosystem as a community, the merits of attempting to restore nature) you'll enjoy the stimulation of engaging with the author on these issues. Also, unlike many contemporary philosophers and theorists, Katz's writing is admirably clear and often enjoyable to read. The last two sections include some of the few papers yet written on Judaism and the environment, which alone justify getting a copy of this stimulating book.

The problem of theodicy (A word that doesn't appear in this book), how can an all powerful and loving God allow suffering and evil, is a question older than the Biblical text itself (The Sumerian poem: Lamentation over the Destruction of Ur, edited ca.1075 BCE). It is within the reality of life that the context of religious faith is put to the test and theological dogmas stand or fall. Such test is found in the Biblical book of Job, the cry for divine justice in Revelation and the death of six million Jews in the Holocaust.

Religious texts (such as the Bible) are usually read form one's sectarian/theological point of view and, as it is the case, the more conservative the interpreter, the more limited the application of the text for the communities of faith. It is in just such a context that I would place Layton Talbert's Not by Chance. In fact, Talbert's book has more in common with such Protestants apologists as John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and Karl Barth than it an objective Historical Critical reading of the various theologies of God that make up the Bible itself. It is at this point that the reader needs to understand that Not by Chance is written by a Fundamental Baptist whose dogmatic theology sees the Bible in total harmony with itself under the authorship of a God who is reveled in progressive revelations. However, contrary to this view, the Biblical books of Samuel and Kings are retold form a different and often conflicting theological perspective in Chronicles. The ancient versions (Greek / Septuagint and Aramaic / Targums) present a continual update and advancement over the Hebrew / Masoretic view of God. While the authors of the first and early second centuries BCE give us a major revision of God's nature in the New Testament. One of the most effective evangelistic tools of the early Christians in relating the diety's nature to the Graco-Roman world was the use of the generic word "god" (Classical "theos") that enabled the Hellenistic world to read into Christianity many of the concepts of their local gods (see Acts 17:16-31). Instead of dealing with the underlying historical context of the nature of God in each book, Talbert cites verse after verse to bolster his point of the universal concept of God's "Providence" at the expense of the internal complexities of these different theologies. It is just such an apologetic stance that effectively limits the readership of this book.

Talbert seems obsessed with the word "Providence" even though he admits it the "word 'providence' occurs only once" in the Authorized Version (p. 28-9). Talbert's theological obsession with this word has him to include it in twelve chapters heading. In fact, I was left wondering why he didn't include it in the books title?

Talbert's strong dogmatic conservative view has not only limited him to a very restrictive bibliography, but when he must acknowledge other works on theodicy such as Rabbi Harold Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People (p.22-3) Talbert uses a endnote to state:

Kushner cites the example of "an earthquake that kills thousands of innocent victims without reason" (p.59). Such statements display and unwitting arrogance, an assumed omniscience that (1) the victims are "innocent," and that (2) no good reason for such an event exists, simply because we cannot think of one. (P.268, note 23)

This type of theological reasoning shows a callous indifference to human suffering; be it the cancer victim or the devastation of mass starvation in Africa which I feel damages the underlying theology of the book.

In short, Not by Chance would have been better named, Providence: Learning to Accept a Fundamental Baptist Position. Talbert's book will have an audience, but he will be "Preaching to the choir" for the people who are willing to trade the true struggles of the Biblical authors over God's justice for a position of dogmatic apologetics. Harry H. McCall

Dr. Talbert's book is the best modern book on the providence of God. He skillfully, reverently, and humbly matches theology with reality in a way that helps us think God's thoughts and view life from His perspective. He divides the 322-page book into thirteen chapters that introduce, define, describe, and illustrate God's providence. The author explains in the preface, "I am not interested in propagating or defending any particular system of theology. The burden of this study is to investigate the testimony of Scripture, challenging all of us as God's people to conform our thinking and to adjust our attitudes to the plain utterances of God Himself" (x-xi). Appendix E, an essay entitled "Salvation: Divine Determination or Human Responsibility?", is itself worth the price of the book.

The back cover of Dr. Talbert's book reads, "The providence of God is the bedrock belief that enables us to confidently encounter life's tragedies, triumphs, and perplexities." I agree wholeheartedly, and the author's focus on God's word enabled me to do just that. In December 1998, my family was shocked to learn that my youngest brother Michael, who was three years old at the time, had cancer--Stage IV Neuroblastoma. The doctors warned us that Michael only had a ten percent chance to live. Over the next three and a half years, Michael endured chemotherapy, radiation, a bone marrow transplant, two major surgeries, monoclonal antibody treatments, and countless tests. After a tenacious battle with cancer, Michael went home to be with the Lord in heaven on March 30, 2002. Now he is safe in the arms of Jesus and will never experience pain or tears again. Dr. Talbert's book was a timely arrival for my family. After BJU Press released it just before Thanksgiving in 2001, I devoured it cover to cover over two full days. God also used the book to minister greatly to my grieving Mom. It was one of the means that taught my family to trust a sovereign God through the most difficult, heart-wrenching trial we have ever experienced.

Of all the branches of systematic theology, God's providence is arguably the most challenging to articulate. One contemporary theologian noted, "Probably the most difficult intellectual challenge to the Christian faith is the problem of how there can be evil in the world" (Millard Erickson, Christian Theology [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998], 436). Dr. Talbert uniquely presents substantive orthodox theology in a warmly devotional manner that meets human needs with God's words. He writes based on an unswerving commitment to the grammatical-historical meaning of the text and makes direct applications that are unarguable because they are so solidly based on Scripture.

One particular portion of Dr. Talbert's book that God used to align my impatience with His word was his discussion of God's governing providence in the life of Joseph. He writes, "God weaves delays into the pattern of life for my ultimate good. Think of delays from His perspective. We are so frantically time bound. God is not. . . . The point is, time is a worry only to us. It never has been to God. Learn to rest in Him, walk with Him, obey Him, and cultivate contentment wherever His Hand has put you now. He has a strategy, a purpose, a method--and all the power and persuasive tools necessary to do whatever he pleases" (78).

This is the type of book that one can read repeatedly with deeper benefit each time. God becomes so much bigger in our sight when we meditate on his preserving and governing providence: "God continuously preserves and maintains the existence of every part of His creation, from the smallest to the greatest, according to His sovereign pleasure. God graciously guides and governs all events, including the free acts of men and their external circumstances, and directs all things to their appointed ends for His glory" (34).

Dr. Layton Talbert has given us a treasure. Not By Chance feeds the soul with a deep and penetrating look at how God relates to this universe -- and to each of us. This book should be read slowly and thoughtfully. Every chapter is stocked with delicious, soul-nourishing morsels. Dr. Talbert shows great respect for the text of Holy Scripture. His scholarship is solid, not arrogant. (It's refreshing to find an author who doesn't force anti-supernatural presuppositions down our throats.) I picture the author sitting at his desk with an open Bible. I see him prayerfully reflecting on hundreds of biblical texts -- trying to understand what God intended rather than reading his own ideas into the text. As a result, an aroma of honesty, humility, and delight fills Dr. Talbert's work. Not By Chance is theology at its best -- Scriptural, practical, and life-changing.

Author Mark Finnan displays his talent at research and love of history, both of which make this book an excellent reference for anyone interested in the mystery of Oak Island. Finnan is a fine writer, and adds a nice human-interest angle in which he details some of the lives of those who have sought the treasure. The first few chapters provide a detailed history in the early colonization of Nova Scotia and the area surrounding Oak Island. However, most of the book provides well written detail of step by step efforts at recovering the treasure, engineering accomplishments, and both geological and archaeological findings on the island, all while telling the story of those who have sacrificed everything to find it in the last 200 years. The book includes some photos, sketches, and excerpts from early accounts and records of the search. The only criticism I have is Finnan's frequent references to the Freemason's involvement throughout the book, culminating in the last few chapters which are devoted to Finnan's own ludicrous theory of what is at the bottom of the treasure Pit. Other than that, it's an excellent guide to anyone wanting the scoop on Oak Island.

Oak Island Secrets is a well written book by an author who was practically "sucked" in by the mystic and lure of the world's most elusive treasure. Finnan takes you thru the history of the island, failed attempts of many prospectors, & offers many explanations of what is buried there and by who. This is a very interesting and mysterious story for anyone who has a sense of adventure for buried treasure & unexplained mysteries. It comes highly recommended.

This is an excellent overview of what has to be one of the most puzzling structures on the face of the earth. Despite the complexity of the workings on Oak Island, there is absolutely no record of who constructed the "Money Pit" or why. Mr. Finnan provides a very readable summary of the various abortive attempts to get to the bottom of the shaft, and to find whatever is hidden down there (if anything at all). He also shows restraint in his obligatory "author's own theory" of what lies down there, opting for the Original Manuscripts of Shakespeare Theory, which is perhaps a rather weak excuse for such an elaborate structure, but a colorful theory nonetheless. A good weekend read, well worth the price.