Anthony Grafton acknowledges that his is an under-appreciated job. He is a scholar studying scholars, particularly those that comprised a Republic of Letters, humanists from the Renaissance until the Enlightenment. One of his favourites, Joseph Scaliger, is not a name that comes to many minds from this period of intellectual history in Europe but it will stay there after reading about him in two of the author's essays. Bring Out Your Dead (The Past as Revelation) has many fascinating portraits throughout,told in an erudite and witty style that will be understandable by readers with only a basic understanding of this period. It is interesting to see how the people of our past studied and used the history of their past. The reader is lucky to have Mr. Grafton as a guide through this journey as we navigate this hall of mirrors. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it after struggling with many unfamiliar names and concepts at the beginning. A worthwhile read.

I've read only a few Anthony Burgess novels (the Orange and _1985_) and keep meaning to get around to _Earthly Powers_ and _A Dead Man in Deptford_, but I sure enjoy his nonfiction. The two volumes of his autobio come highly recommended. And this.

A pity this big ol' honkin' collection of essays is out of print. Burgess covers the waterfront, from other writers ("Mailer may need money to pay his multiple alimony, but he is selling out to something nastier than commerce") to travel ("There is, I see too late, an _estofado de toro_ on the menu, and I wonder if this is at all like the son-of-a-bitch stew (pizzle, testes and all, washed down by Bloody Marys) that I met in Montana"); from the English language to the conducting and composition of classical music (each of which he did a bit). There is plenty of wit and penetrating insight to spare.

Most memorable are his pieces on fashion designers and models ("A friend of mine slept with one of these exquisite dream figures and said it was like going to bed with a bicycle"), the state of Utah (the last place he got "stinking incapable drunk ... because there are no bars"), and a great predecessor:

"Recount Jane Austen's life to a class in an American university, and there will be unseemly expressions of shock that she knew nothing about life, man, meaning like well never slept with a guy and like well was stuck in a crappy old house without an icebox.... That I am twenty years and [biographer] Lord [Cecil] David thirty-five years older than she was when she died represents no advantage to either of us. We have not produced her novels. She remains not only a formidable artist who would demolish both of us (well, certainly me, if she thought me worth demolishing or even taking notice of) in a couple of lines; she testifies formidably to the truth that we have nothing to teach her about how to live the good life, nor, for that matter, anything to teach her age about the right true end of civilization."

One last wonderful item, from the essay "Thanatic": "While I am being personal I may as well offer my father's dying words, which I heard clearly: 'Bugger the priest. Give me a pint of draught Bass.' "

The second novel in the 12-part Dance to the Music of Time series. I enjoyed this one a little more than the first volume. I believe this due to the first volume's need to introduce and elaborate on the four main characters. Nicholas Jenkins, our narrator, who I complained about being almost invisible in the first book, starts taking on shape here, dissembling on love and ambition. Stringham and Templar are still here, and by the end of the book, both married, but the real main character here is Widmerpool, the young man with the least social status, but with the most ambition of the four.

The first book was about the four in grade school to university; this one is about their initial entry into society, including romance and marriage. It is within the context of his feelings for the opposite sex that we finally start to understand Jenkins, but even he is overshadowed here by the fumblings and failings of Widmerpool, who first pines for the heart of Barbara, then falls in with a "bad" girl.

I'm still unsure whether Powell is a writer for me. Although I do enjoy mysteries and puzzles and admire books that are clever, I still like to get a feeling that I have solved the mystery by the end of the book. I believe that a character here gets an abortion, but as it is never spelled out (Jenkins is too much a gentlemen to actually put it into raw language), I wonder if I am reading between the lines correctly.

After the first book, I was not sure that I would continue the series, but since I have the first three in an omnibus volume, I decided to continue on. If the following books make the same jump in readability and interest as between the first two, the twelfth book will likely be my all-time-favorite novel.

This book gave an excellent overview of the history of Belgium and Bruges, and a nice overview of the main sites of the city. Furthermore, it's nice for someone only visiting Bruges that it only deals with that city. The small size makes it easy to shove in a pocket while touring.

I have a couple of nitpicks. First of all, the statement that "In the summer Belgium is seven hours ahead of US Eastern Standard time" is technically true, but misleading. It's six hours ahead of EDT. Also, "the maps in this book will provide all the detail you need" isn't true; it's very easy to get lost, since the side-streets aren't labeled.

The book is a good overview for starting a non profit. Althought the material is dated [1980]having paid an attorney $165 per hour to tell me the same thing, I wish I had found the book first. I would recommend it. The book is easy to understand and gets you from an idea to incorporation with detailed explanations.

Any recorder player will enjoy and learn from this book.

I have been playing the alto recorder for a year now. This book taught me a great deal about the instrument. What's even better,
the book carefully introduces the repertory and where to find and read about it.I am delighted to learn that I will never run out of material to play.

The book is written with care, verve, and love. However, the reader is assumed to have considerable knowledge, to know without explanation, for instance, the implications of wide windways and bores, and narrow windways (p178). The history of the 20th century recorder revival, of great interest to contemporary enthusiasts, is brushed off twice, as "described and discussed in several publications." Fine, then why not this one? This should have been dealt with more carefully. The illustrations are very poorly reproduced. I am still suffering from eyestrain from trying to find the recorder in Plate 27.

Overall, though, this is a book any recorder player will want.

The Book has a comprehensive list of search firm in Canada. For each search firm, the author provides address, telephone number, fax number,e-mail addresss and contact person. It is also indicated the specialty of the search firm and min. salary. The book also provide index for occupation and location.

However, the information are very general. It would be helpful if it provide more detail on their expertise or profile of thier clients. (i.e. technology firms, small companies, start-ups and investment bank) How it stands it just going to be a hit or miss. I will have to send my resume to all search firms listed under the finance section. I cannot prioritize!!!!!!

I really enjoyed being taken on this journey of paying attention to what matters most. The characters were powerfully human. Having this heroic perspective of how our deepest character is called forth when we face our death and how our compassionate self comes forth for those around us face their last moments helped me remember what matters most.

In light of world events there is an appropriate timing of the lessons taught be these characters, as well as a no nonsense way the message comes forth. Do not read this unless you are ready to ask yourself: "what can i do for my community?"

I want to know what the expert system is and the relationships with auditing

This book, published in 1981, is a wonderful introduction to Captain America. Partly text, the book contains three Captain America adventures. The first adventures shows Cap locked in battle with the Red Skull, whose acquisition of the fantastic Cosmic Cube has granted him nearly unlimited power. The book then goes on to give the story of the Red Skull, and discusses some other villains. The second adventure shows Captain America's rebirth when he is found by the Avengers (then Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man and the Wasp), and resumes his fight against evil. Then Cap's friends are discussed, and the final adventure is presented. This adventure tells the history of Captain America during the early days of World War II.

I enjoyed this book, and was glad that I was able to give it to my son. The Captain America adventures are very attractive, and quite interesting. I question the order of the book, and especially the inclusion of the Cosmic Cube adventure, which I did not think was the best choice for this short book. But, that said, it is a nice book, and an excellent introduction to Captain America.

As the skies seem to darken yet again, I can't help but feel that the time has come for Captain America to once again rise to inspire a new generation of Americans.