I was in Western Michigan University's Waldo Library to find material on several books that dealt with the utopian/dystopian ideals. This was something I found. It was okay, but I wouldn't read it for fun.

Anyone who has made use of Vincent Esposito's classic Westpoint Atlas of the Napoleonic Wars (or any of his other Atleses) is sure to be disappointed by this replacement in the Westpoint series. The maps are still the most detailed and complete collection readily available, but they offer no improvement over the Esposito edition. If anything, the addition of more, and brighter, colors simply detracts from the content.

Missing too is any narrative or descriptive text. In fairness, this book is meant to be a companion to a text, but dividing the description so completely from the maps precludes the two best aspects of the earlier works. First, this book is not at all suitable as a self-contained reference. Second, the old format of text-opposite-map forced the short, crisp narrative style that makes the more traditional West Point Atlases so appealing.

The scale of the maps chosen for this work is also unfortunate. Except for a few of the bigger and better known battles, the maps are on too large a scale to reflect the tactics, but too narrow a scale to show the grand tactics or strategy of the situation.

When I saw a paperback version of the Westpoint Atlas for under twenty dollars I bought it sight unseen. It now has the distinction of being the only book I have ever returned for a refund. The price was right but the book wasn't.

It turns out that the earlier Espositio edition is still available, and it is well worth the extra thrity or so dollars.

It's unfair to judge this atlas purely in comparison to Esposito's work, for which it was not meant as a "replacement." This book is part of the larger West Point Military History Series, each work compiled and written for the series by numerous West Point authorities; Esposito was simply a West Point professor writing his own books, and not specifically for the series.
This atlas effectively accompanies the series' Wars of Napoleon, and is best used in conjunction with that text. But it can be a useful guide no matter what book you read. It is true that Esposito's work is more detailed, and that is deservedly the specialist's choice. But the more general reader should find this guide helpful and easier to follow, in addition to being considerably cheaper--a better deal all around.

This book is nothing but a minimally researched--if at all--set of the author's fantasies. Much of T.E. Lawrence's life, after Arabia, is shrouded in mystery; a book on the reality of this period of Lawrence's life could be valuable. This book, however, is a mishmash of fictitious characters, events and psycho-sexual idiocies, all springing from the author's psyche--not Lawrence's In fact, the Lawrence of this book is as fictitious as many of the other characters in the book. Do not buy..

This book is NOT about T.E.Lawrence, but about David Stevens himself. The author used Lawrence to make his book popular. What a shame!

T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) easily qualifies as one of the more fascinating and controversial military figures in Britain's long history of idiosyncratic soldiers. A junior officer in military intelligence, Lawrence was posted as an advisor to Arab troops fighting to free their lands from Turkish rule as part of World War I. To the surprise of all who encountered the short, shy Englishman with the high squeaky voice, Lawrence became an outstanding strategist. He also campaigned tirelessly for Arab nationalist causes. Victorious in war, he was unsuccessful in securing Arab rights in the face of Franco-British political actions. Frustrated, he spent the rest of his life as an enlisted man under several pseudonyms in the Army and the Royal Air Force. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1935. David Stevens provides a window into the tortured consciousness of the postwar Lawrence-a man haunted by his failure to confront his homosexuality, his inability to atone for his political failures on behalf of Arab causes, and his impotence in overcoming his illegitimacy and difficult childhood. His agony is told through his letters and the narratives of a diverse group of friends and admirers. Stevens is a gifted writer (Breaker Morant and Merlin are on his resume) and he offers a sensitive and sympathetic account of this haunted and unhappy figure. His subject will never be an easy man to define but Stevens has done as fine a job as one could hope for such a complex and private person. Incomplete portrayals of two personalities important to the story (King Feisal and Lawrence's mother) stand out when contrasted with Stevens's well-rounded descriptions of other major, and even most minor, characters. As a novelist, Stevens succeeds where most biographers have failed. Beautifully written, and an interesting story to boot. John R. Vallely, for the Historical Novels Review

Many pages use the same map with differing troop positions. Repeated maps use same title block boiler plate with misleading dates. Text blocks that descibe troop movements blot out many place names. Text blocks have small print and are difficult to read. Some key court houses, farms, towns, fords, bridges are omitted when the was sufficient white space to include them.

As an introduction book, this book is success to aim the mission. Part one contain aspects to get an environmental design, and the author seems to play tactically. Mention the aspects, then give an explanation briefly in a proportional matter ! There will be no long tiring explanation here, and its disccusion is good enough to open our mind. It's an introduction book, isn't it ?

One IMPORTANT thing. This book is written by UK engineeriering consultant. Means that most of resources data given here is only valid for Europa / northern hemisphere region. For example,"...building orientation should face south to take advantage of the sun's energy..."( ch. 4 ). Heating aspects, insulation, heat losses and many 'cold climate zone' aspects can also found.

On my opinion, despite of Europan point of view, this book is still useful but we must have few knowledge about the aspect to modify the contents for our own purposes. Part two this book contains case studies, all is Europan building. Interesting topic, you will find aspects from part one is aplied here.

After all, it's good introduction book to start learn about environmental design, with the best using for Europan / northern hemisphere region readers.

lawrence is a fasconating character, that's for sure. Only, I could imagine more exciting pieces of literature, sometimes it is quite boring...

Reading through this book is a BORE! :( Examples are almost non-existant, there's like nothing (like definitions) on the sides of the pages, and no glossary. How poorly written! Please find an alternative to learn this rather interesting subject. Thank you!
-Upset reader of this school book

Having previously read "Fundamental Financial Accounting Concepts" by the same people, this book was a disappointment. It came off as incredibly dry, and was not all that clear in its presentation of the concepts. The "Fundamental Financial Accounting" volume is great, but I'd recommend another author for the managerial book.

ON review of this book i relize that i wasted my money and my time iam now repetedly hitting my self in the head. ouch ouch oh ouch oh ouch ouch this ouch realy ouch hurts.