A difficult read due to turgid, repetitive Soviet-style prose. I would reccomend this book only to a historian or a very serious aviation buff. I count myself as one of the latter, and I'm having trouble working up the interest to get more than halfway through this one.

This book gets into the day-to-day operational life of a Russian
P-39 squadron. It's an excellent reference of life outside of the cockpit, and yet still let's you know that the P-39 was more than competitive against Me-109's & FW-190's. The point isn't stated exactly, but the reason they WERE competitive is that combat on the Russian Front was generally below 15,000 ft, and never above 20,000 ft. Remember, neither side was using high-altitude, long-range stategic bombers, it was all low-level tactical aviation.

Still, the book doesn't get into the airplane specifics I would like, i.e. . . how specifically it was better than the 109/190, or even how it compared to their own MiG's, Yak's, LaGG's.

The point is, it's a great book on the operational use of the P-39, and is worth reading.

Although well written and made of good quality this book tries to be all things to all people. The author tries to cover every topic in a small book and is unsucessfull. This book spent almost the same amount of time on exterminating rodents and insects as it did on engine maintenance.

My husband and I have a 17' Boston Whaler and we love Mr. Brumbaugh's book. There's a lot to be said for a waterproof book about boat maintenance! Our copy has been wet on several occasions and we can still read as well today as the day we bought it. The book is loaded with great and helpful information. We keep it very handy!!

As one of Jehovah's Witnesses I was understandably curious about what this booklet had to say on trying to prove the Trinity. This booklet was written as an answer to our booklet "Should you Believe in the Trinity?" which uses the bible to prove that the bible doesn't teach the Trinity. We believe that the bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the son of his father Jehovah god. That he was created by his father as a separate being with his own free will and that his father is greater than he is. All of these points are supported in scripture. The Trinity on the other hand is supported by church creed and tradition. The authors in their booklet however attempt to prove the trinity as a bible based doctrine. Unfortunately they spend most of their time bashing our trinity booklet rather than using the bible to make their point. (on page 2 they even have a picture of our booklet, the only picture they have.) Which they describe as "packed with false arguments, deliberate misquotations and distorted Scriptures." they spend so much time on making such attacks, they leave little space for actually defending the Trinity. Their booklet is divided in three parts; faulty reasoning, misuse of the early church fathers and misinterpretation of scared scripture. All three parts are referring to our booklet on the Trinity, but could also be taken as self descriptive too. The authors do not present a fair impartial review of the issue, but instead launch a very biased and hateful attack on Jehovah's Witnesses with statements like, "Jehovah's Witness try to pass themselves off as Christians." The writing style makes one wonder if the authors miss the 'good old days' of the inquisition and crusade. I got the feeling at times the authors would rather be making their points with a hot poker than with words. They also spend a great deal of time attacking our bible translation, the New World Translation, with all sorts of ridiculous accusations like it has never been reviewed by other bible scholars. Like we could print and distribute tens of millions of copies of the NWT world wide without any bible scholars looking at it. Here on Amazon as a matter of a fact, there is a fine book by a bible scholar who I understand rates the NWT very favorably. ( Rolf. Furuli "The Role of Theology and Bias in Bible Translation: With a special look at the New World Translation of Jehovah's Witnesses" ) Another particularly outlandish claim was that the authors stated that our belief that Jesus Christ in heaven is also known as the archangel Michael, is plucked out of thin air, that we have no scriptural support for this belief. When saying this they use two quotes from a page in our Reasoning From the Scriptures book, where it states that we believe the two are one in the same. The outlandish part is that on that same page, in-between where the two quotes are taken from, is a number of cited scriptures supporting our viewpoint. Support which the authors claim doesn't exist. Making false accusations is one thing, but making false accusations when you know they are not true is another, it is slander. Which is why if you are looking for a publication to use for a discussion when we call at your door, I wouldn't recommend this booklet. We carry the Reasoning book in our book bags to find answers in the bible for different topics while out going door to door. So when this booklet makes its claim about the archangel, the witness at your door will naturally look it up in the Reasoning book and is bound to notice where the quotes are taken from with the scriptures supporting our view right in the middle. At this point in the discussion you are not going to have a leg to stand on. The derogatory language used in this booklet combined with a very limited and poorly done attempted scriptural defense of the trinity, will hurt rather than help any one engaged in a discussion trying to defend the trinity. If you want an impartial and scriptural detailed examination of whether the bible teaches the trinity or not. I would recommend the booklet that this booklet was written in a failed effort to disprove. Check it out for yourself. Most of the scriptural points raised in our booklet are not even addressed in this booklet, and perhaps that is because the authors had no answers which is why they resorted to gutter ball tactics.

A wonderful book from a wonderful series. Several people from my church have been using this series of books in our faith sharing group to help us become better prepared to defend our faith. As a lay Catholic I found this an invaluable tool, especially when my doorbell rings on Saturday morning. This book is only one in the series. For those who do not want to read 200+ page long books, attend regular classes, or research extensively on the subject, this is a quick way to find out the basics of the defense.

Check this book out, Catholics, and know your faith!

The Stories taken from the "Tales of Terror and Mystery"tion are good but the others are quite horrible. Also the version I have has 1 story missing "The Confession" and a fantastic tale from "T&M" is not part of this collection. Production values average. Buy that collection instead. A much better deal.

Writing in the early part of this century, Doyle (best known for creating Sherlock Holmes) created a series of horror stories with a bent towards spiritualism and mystery. The selection is a good range of work with some very strong entries. "The Case of Lady Sannox" and "The Leather Funnel" are particular stand-outs. Some of Doyle's is more dated than others, but still definitely worth a read.

Regardless of their orientation in politics, I think most people would agree that a dictionary should give objective definitions of ideas, not opinions of the author. This "dictionary" does not have an ounce of objectivity in it. The author frequently substitutes his opinion of an idea for the definition of it.

Also, given the price, I expected a bigger book. It's not very large, though admittedly it has had most of the terms I wanted to look up in it.

If I knew of a better dictionary for politics I would recommend it; since I don't, I simply recommend not wasting your money on this one.

As a Political Science Freshman at the University of Florida, I have found this book to be invaluable to understanding the language of politics. Every political philosophy and ideology, major political theorists, political events, class distinctions, and history are covered in this book. It is extremely well organized and easily understandable.

A MUST HAVE FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS!

This is as close to a non-biography one can get. It is the first bio. I have ever read in which the author fails to disclose the date and place of the birth or death of the person being covered, espec puzzling SINCE this info is readily available. Frank Leslie lived 97 years but the author kills him off prematurely and then only covers about 20 years of his life. Book is a re-hash of Phil Rasch & Colin Rickards, whose name the author mangles to "Richards." Books also uses research from another un-named researcher who is not credited or mentioned. The only known photo of Leslie is credited to the author who is not that old. CREDIT belongs to the Florence (AZ) Historical society which saved the Yuma Penitentiary books from whence the Photograph was extracted. Very little new. Sad! Leslie was a fascinating characer from Old Tombstone. Hopefully someone else will take up the task of "Who Was Buckskin Frank Leslie?" This writer and books fails miserably and dishonorably to boot.It is as close to plaigarism and theft as a biographer can get. The publisher certainly bears part of the blame!

'Buckskin Frank'Leslie was a colorful character who worked both sides of the law during the early Tombstone period. He operated a saloon, ran a large ranch, acted as a Indian scout, and worked mining claims. He also killed Mike Kileen over the affections of a woman. Known by the Earps, Leslie had a unique time in the Southwest including prison. Chaput provides the most complete study of the Leslie to date. Well worth the time for this interesting character.

One of the more respected writers in the field, Chuck Parsons, Editor of the National Association For Outlaw And Lawman History, was quoted in the Cow Country Courier(May 6, 1999): "His name is commonplace among Western buffs-Nashville Franklin Leslie, best known as 'Buckskin Frank.' Prior to Don Chaput's efforts he was a myserious figure who had his moment of glory during the Earp days of Tombstone and then started on the road downhill. Thanks to the serious research of Chaput, author of several books dealing with Arizona characters, what can be verified about this historic figure is now available."

Thinkers like George Marsden have suggested that American higher education is without heart, its soul has been lost. While many universities once proudly sported a Christian identity, this distinctiveness has been lost in a sea of relativism and scientism. In Building the Christian Academy Holmes seeks to relocate the university's soul by tracing a set of themes consistently present throughout the history of Christian education. With his historically grounded argument, he shows that liberal learning can exist within a confessional context. His vision is for cross-disciplinary integration saturated in mentoring relationships. Holmes states his case strongest when he sagely observes,
"The unity of knowledge is at best an ideal, and integration an unending task, but it is nonetheless implicit in the theological conviction that truth is one coherent whole in the omniscient mind of God" (115).

The author finds four "recurring emphasis" that form the core of Christian education (2). These are:
1. The usefulness of liberal arts as preparation for service both to church and society.
2. The unity of truth.
3. Contemplative (or doxological) learning.
4. The care of the soul (what we call moral and spiritual formation).
In the contributions of the Alexandrian school, Augustine, Monastery and Cathedral schools, the Scholastic university, the Reformation, Francis Bacon, and Cardinal John Henry Newman the author finds precedence for these foci.

While this aim sounds compelling, Holmes' book is nevertheless in search of an identity. Building the Christian Academy dabbles in history and philosophy, especially church history and educational philosophy, and yet one particular focus in never established. The author spends most of his time rehashing the ideas other thinkers have had, rarely drawing his own conclusions or making an explicit case for the four themes he sees as central to higher education. To Holmes' credit he informs readers of the themes from the outset, however as one continues to read the proposed argument fails to find systematic treatment. This sporadic coverage is most unfortunate as the themes he suggests appear promising. Holmes seems more intent on referencing each theme than in the careful development of one. He seems impatient and hurried, leaving the reader to miss the import of what are possibly quite significant ideas. In addition, the paucity of primary sources and historical consciousness leaves us hungry for more refined scholarship. If anything the feeble heart of the book implicitly makes the case for specialization in academia (as opposed to eager generalists who are a "jack of all trades").

If the book were expanded significantly beyond its cursory 122 pages, or perhaps even extended into a four-volume series, a significant contribution would have been made to the history of Christian education. As it stands however, the book seems to be something of an afterthought, the result of an editor's deadlines and a professor's desire to publish, rather than the culmination of thoughtful reflection and careful historical contemplation. The choppy, erratic writing is unfortunate as the four themes he identifies appear to have promise in revitalizing Christian higher education. Building the Christian Academy starts with high aims but quickly settles for surface-level thought making it an unworthy read for those serious about the history of Christian education.

Dr. F. R. Bosch an apologist, researcher, and lecturer who integrates [Biblical] faith and knowledge, is a full-time university professor in Southern California, U.S.A.

Prof. Arthur F. Holmes is to be commended for undertaking this immense project, and being able to narrow it down to nine chapters, and one-hundred and nineteen pages. That is a feat in itself. Considering the breadth of the subject, this is a good abridged and succinct overview of the unfolding historical, philosophical and environmental events of the western Christian Academies. The book focuses on the earlier historical evolution of higher education, while briefly addressing contemporary discussions, practices, and the state of present Christian Academies (colleges/universities).

Holmes' book stimulates interactive reading. It perhaps generates more questions than there are answers. This being the case, some may think that the book fails to discuss the pertinent areas fully. Others, may believe that the subject is dealt with from a too narrow perspective, or perhaps the topic could have been addressed from several Christian traditions, allowing the reader to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the subject.

In the next to last page, Prof. Holmes advises that Christian Academies "must return to the liberal arts" in an effort to educate and prepare the whole person. To accomplish this "Christian scholarship must be cultivated, and we must focus on the theological foundations of learning." This sounds good. However, if the "right combination" of what is being proposed could have been found and applied in the earlier Christian Academies, we would have the near-perfect combination today or its derivation. Instead, today's Christian Academies (colleges/universities) are trying to figure out the right combination.

It seems that Christian Academies need to reevaluate and revisit their original reason for being. That is, their commission statements, their vision statements, and their mission statements. There may be a need to find understanding of what it means to be in the world, yet not being worldly. It would also seem prudent to consider what it means that our thoughts are not God's, thus our ways are not His. As an ancient wise man said - We can prove all things, but is the Lord convinced?

The connotation of "building" in the title of the book conveys the thought that there is a [lasting] foundation that weathers the ideological and theological storms of time. The proposal of the Liberal Arts being the means to offer a "rounded" preparation - an education that ultimately leads students to become God-cognizant and make God-connections seems idealistic. Liberal Arts education alone is not going to cause students to make a God-connection. The history of Christian and non-Christian liberal arts colleges and universities have sufficiently demonstrated this.

It seems more prudent and realistic to advocate that a Liberal Arts education that takes place in the Christian context, where the foundational Biblical absolutes are taught is more likely to stimulate God-connections. However, the history of Christian institutions of higher learning seems to confirm that in their attempt to "adjust" to the times, they have compromised, and, sometimes, even rescinded their principal reason for being. Advocating what worked in the past and simply updating through accommodation will fall short of being successful.

It may be the "high-noon" for Christianity to recapture the Spirit of early-Christianity that led the Church and its early-academies. It caused them to rise not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of revelation and use the tools of the times to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ. Twenty-first century Christianity must express the Biblical Absolutes in contemporary terms. It must rediscover how to communicate and apply its absolutes - Truth, while divorcing itself from the outdated tools of the past. If this is not possible, then it must cease to promote its Biblical teachings as infinite and absolute. This may sound brash, albeit, it is the stark reality. Either God is true and His Word is absolute or not. Christian Academies need to equip themselves to communicate a message that has not changed from a God that changes not, or they are fooling themselves.

Perhaps Christian Academies also need gifted "prophets" to proclaim God's pertinent words of how Christian Academies can make a paradigm shift to relate to the twenty-first century while retaining and embracing the distinctive absolutes of the Christian faith without watering them down, compromising, or allowing them to be regarded as outdated and no longer relevant to post-modernism, or what some are beginning to call post-Christian.

i want read captter this book

Allow me to note that I am one of the authors of a chapter in this book. This is a great text that illustrates the connections and disconnections between approaches to therapy. Highly recommended for classroom and clinical uses. The practical and the political on display.

The title of this book and the cover is very misleading. The book gives alot of information about casinos throughout the country but it does not go into any detail about casinos in atlantic city or las vegas. I purchased this book to find out about casinos in vegas and there wasn't any info other than names and addresses. I returned this book to amazon for a full refund. The cover should be changed.

This book gives nice historical information to the various cities housing casinos, but has little data concerning food and entertainment and virtually no listings of "comps". The book contains reviews of hundreds of casinos around the country, but not a single review for any Nevada or New Jersey casinos, instead there is a pair of appendixes with their casino's addresses and phone numbers.

This -- unfortunately -- is a terrible book. It is badly in need of editing. It is obvious from the authors' introductory chapter that their command of the English language is marginal at best. It would have helped to have a native English speaker review the manuscript before publication.
Even worse, the level of the contributed papers varies so widely that this book cannot serve as either an introduction or as a survey for knowledgable readers. I was hoping that at least one paper would explain the basics of conjoint analysis. But most of the authors either avoided technicalities, or else assumed that readers were already familiar with the model and its variants. Not one of them bother to explain the terminology, to write down a model clearly and succinctly, and to explain how the analysis works.
Overall, this was quite a disappointing book

This is an excellent book on Conjoint Analysis. It was easy to read and understand.