I checked this book out of the library two months ago (woops!)and although it did not compel me to voraciously read it through beginning to end, it does quietly beckon to finish his story. I love Samuel Clemens and the way he looked at life. He made outrageous statements concerning people and God, and often irreverent. I'm a Christian and probably should be offended, but I'm not. The reader can see in his books, the quieter search for truth and spirituality. This autobiography is one of them. In his own words.."this autobiography of mine does not select from my life its showy episodes, but deals mainly in the common experiences which go to make up the life of the average human being." His softer side is exposed when discussing his children and thier questions. His young daughters were not jaded and cynical in thier approach to the meaning of life and God, so it often threw him off guard when trying to answer them. He is considered to be the great writers/satirists of American history, and yet he exposes his weaknesses and insecurities readily. He makes the ordinary, unknown man feel comfortable in his "presence". Mr. Clemens had a keen sense of the human ego..he knew that when most people recollect their past, famous and non, they tend to glorify and embellish thier success and justify what wasn't. Often when he is recalling stories, he will finish them with "events which...I have imagined have happened to me" or "Now, then, that is the tale. Some of it is true." Love that!

I also appreciate the fact that Michael Kiskis did not interject his commentary throughout the autobiography (like many commentators do.) He made the distinction between his writing and Twain's clear. His was a simple introduction and follow-up of notes.

It's probably a slow-read, but I recommend it to anyone that wanted to become better aquainted with Samuel Clemens and his life story!

This book is a well wriiten in depth look at oneof
America's greatest writters. We journey through
Twain'sbirth in Monroe County, Missouri, through his
boyhood in Hannibal, Missouri, and the rest of his
international travels, to his funeral in New York City in 1910.

This book traces parallels between Twain's constant travels and developing writting style in a brief well written manor. The book encludes photographs and
journal entries that give us an up close look at a genious.

Adam J. Miller (Wizard@surenet.com)

Mark Twain is well known for his Mississippi Novels and Historical Romances but it's on his Tales and Sketches where you can find the commical genious in him. It's in my opinion that it's an age span wich makes you like the most Tom Sawyer (8-12), The Prince and the Pauper (13-16) or The Diary of Adam and Eve (18-) and yet, in his complete tales you may find contents of interest for all kinds of readers. And you will never find a better edition than the one that Library of America has to offer. Hardcover, cloth wrapping and alk. paper makes the reading an extra pleasure over the one Mark Teain already gives you. Love Twain and love the edition.

The Marketization of Social Security edited by John Dixon and Mark Hyde provides the reader with a comparative look at social security programs in different countries. Allowing readers to have an international perspective of social security programs. It highlights Chile, Brazil, Britain, New Zealand, Canada (specifically Ontario), Zimbabwe, and the United States. Quite a mix of countries for one to swallow in the mere 219 pages, but don't sweat it. The reading is very interesting and captures the reader's interest in a short time. An international comparison of social security systems is a great way to learn about in where specific social security programs thrive.
The title of this book can be intimidating to the reader, if they do not have a working knowledge of business jargon. After cracking the seam of the book, the first two chapters give the reader enough background information to allow them to understand the book. The following chapters provide examples of marketization in the various countries, each shedding light on a different aspect of the issue. These chapters clear up any shadows that the reader may have surrounding the marketization of social security. There is some overlapping in the issues discussed in the chapters, but each one also has a unique aspect from the country that contributes to the readers growing knowledge on various social security programs. The overlapping allows the readers to compare and contrast how the government has adapted the various programs to fit the specific needs of the recipients.
This book allows the reader to gain a working knowledge and formulate an educated opinion on the current social security debate occurring the in the United States. By looking closely at these highlighted countries one is able to see what works and does not work in specific countries. It also discusses the factors that must be in place for marketization to be successful. Readers of this book will learn about social security systems in other countries and how they have evolved. The Marketization of Social Security is worth a read just for the first two chapters. They will provide a quick overview of the underlying reasons for social security programs. After reading the complete work, the reader will come away with an insight into the different methods used by other countries. Thus, improving their understanding of the social security system currently in place in the United States. It is a quick read that is worth the time put into. This book rewards the time spent reading its contents.

Pure math finance could become a new research direction for mathematicians. This compilation presents some very good works toward this direction by showing how advanced, powerful math tools can be applied to finance problems. However, this book is not recommended for finance people because all papers are profound in math but lack financial practicality. Even on a pure research purpose, it gives one a feeling that some papers lack some basic financial or economic concept. E.g., there is a suspicious proof in Davis, which is certainly not a problem of math; and how, in principle, to get a unique security price in an incomplete market. Nevertheless, the papers represent some excellent pioneer works in this new area, which is alive and promising if future researchers make efforts to strengthen the interact between math, finance and economics.

By hiw own admission, O'Malley wrote this book for adults who are studying the Synoptic Gospels on their own. He does a good job of explaining how to read the Gospels critically, and how to make comparisons among the Gospels. He also explains the history and composition of these three books.

Nearly the second half of the book is devoted to the study of the Passion accounts. Here, O'Mally gives a careful explanation of the similarites and differences of the accounts.

While the wordyness of this book prevents it from being a primary text for high school students, it should serve as a excellent resource for teachers.

I thought this book was very well written, just like the other aceit books. I used this book alone and passed with flying colors.

I would've given the guide five stars if the walkthrough was better. Not much, but it doesn't fully explain everything in 100% detail on what to do. Plus, you shouldn't need a guide for Medal of Honor Frontline. At first I only got this guide for secrets, but then I noticed that secrets are found everywhere! This guide doesn't even cover them!

Basically, its a good guide for he up and go type of people but for those who'd rather just explore the game on your own. Everything in this guide is actually explained in full detail in the game and thats the main reason I didn't give it five stars. The guide explains the game, but the game is simple enough to the point where you don't need this book. don't waste your money on this, the game is a good enough guide for you.

I finished reading Michael Crichton's "Timeline" recently, a novel which involves not only archeologists and historians trying to reconstruct a medieval castle but going back in time to engage in high adventure. Consequently I have been checking out several books like "A Medieval Castle" from the Inside Story series. Written by Fiona MacDonald and illustrated by Mark Bergin, this book shows how these castles were built and how they functioned. Young readers will learn some of the fundamentals of castle design as well as the sorts of people who lived within its walls.

Actually, this book looks at more than just castles in presenting details about medieval life. We learn about the community surrounding the castle, village fairs, and the function of religion. Of course lots of emphasis is place on the reasons castles were needed, such as how you became a knight and how fighting men laid siege to castles. "A Medieval Castle" provides lot of basic information, which should prove useful to young students researching the Medieval period. MacDonald often refers to specific events and people from history while Bergin fills his drawings with interesting details, if you take the time to look for them.