thinking of returning to the church but at odds with some of the church's teachings. The author brings up virtually all of the controversial points of Catholicism and tells why you don't necessarily have to leave the church even if you disagree with some of the teachings. However, I hated the title, and I objected to the overall tone of the book. It implies that you can justify anything and still consider yourself a Catholic. No, the church isn't perfect, but I think you have to wrestle long and hard with your conscience to still consider yourself a Catholic when you disagree with church teaching . You aren't supposed to feel good about it! This book just doesn't convey that.

Paul Wilkes' "The Good Enough Catholic" is like taking the fundamental theology course in the seminary. The difference here is that Wilkes has a popular writing style that makes the theology accessible to many people. The main point Wilkes makes is that many Catholics,who want to be loyal to their church, but also find some practices and teachings troubling, are trying to find some ways to be "good enough," even though they may not understand or are able to be "perfect" in their practice. The idea of being "good enough" is that sometimes many people have to settle for something that seems less than the ideal of what one should be as a Catholic.

Wilkes treats the fundamental topic in Catholic theology, scriptures, church, sacraments, marriage, priesthood, the papacy, etc. by attempting to find ground somewhere between the extreme positions of absolute loyalty and an attitude of skepticism. He finds much in the Catholic tradition that speaks well of being Catholic. He refers to the moral teachings of the church as the most comprehensive and systemitized than any other religion. He also demonstrates that throughout the church's history there have been different emphases and nuances in how and what the church has taught.

Wilkes' book is positive and honest. He includes quotations from lay people and clergy throughout using opinions that spread the gamut of Catholic thought. He summarizes very clearly some complicated history. He presents some failures of the church along side great successes, showing how the institution of the church can be guided by the Holy Spirit as well as be mislead by the popular culture of the time.

I believe this book to be balanced in its approach. It can be applied easily to RCIA programs as well as other adult education in the church.

As a history teacher and life long Catholic by choice, I approached this book with trepidation. Too many books by Americans rebel against the Church and use the "Cafeteria" method. Wilkes is a devout Catholic by choice. He knows the history of the church and more than just the history, the reasons why. It is a guide for to any thoughtful Catholic wondering about dealing with our modern world, its problems and keeping their faith. I believe it could easily be used as the basis for an adult study class in most parishes in America. Pat Gibson St. Martin de Porres Parish Dripping Springs, Texas

Most of the reviews have to do with not liking what he has to say about Italians -- they can't really question the accuracy of the information, which is fondamentally sound. Italians or those of Italian descent may not find it a flattering portrait, but it is worth reading just the same. The author has done his homework and most of the data still holds after 10 years...

My favorite book by one of the most prolific authors of the italian cultural scene. Hofmann leaves no doubt as to his love for his adopted home, yet far from being a chamber of commerce puff piece, he endeavors to portray the real italy to his readers. Anybody traveling to Italy would do well to read this book, I've traveled to Italy on several occasions and find myself returning to this book again and again.

Any American with a genuine interest in Italy and its people should read all the tales of Hofmann on the subject. Begin anywhere, but do not neglect That Fine Italian Hand.

An expatriot Austrian since the eve of WWII, Hofmann describes l'Italia with the intimacy of 50-odd years living there - combined with the objectivity of one who admits he will never BE an Italian. Far from being over critical, Hofmann is almost heartbreakingly aware of both the many glories of "Italianness" and the equally numerous shortcomings. He finds both to be essentially inseparable and probably indispensable to the very survival of the place and its people.

Paul Hofmann's work never fails to educate - even while it entertains. History, culture and anthropology in an easy-to-digest ragout.

Being that Mr Finebaum is a sports columnist in Alabama, I'm not at all surprised that he would write a imflamatory book about 'THE MIGHTY VOLS". Mr. Finebaum and all the rest of the Alabama fans are just getting tired of getting beat by the VOLS. The fact of the matter that ALABAMA WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER BEAR BRYANT.

I must say that the people running this website are nothing but a bunch of pinko commies if they are selling garbage like this book. This book contains blasphemy, no one should mock God's team; the Tennessee Vols.

Now, I live in Tennessee, but I am an Alabama fan! And I know from experience that Tennessee fans are the most rude and obnoxious people on the face of the earth! I say this not because Tennessee won the last five games, but because Alabama won the last nine. Never in my life have I gloated to a Tennessee fan when we beat them, but for some reason Tennessee fans can't keep their mouths shut! Obviously Alabama mother's raise their children better!

This book was written about a marriage that started in the sixties. It is simply out-of-touch with the realities of our multicultural world. Those of us who were raised to value diversity won't have much use for the lessons imparted by this books' authors. It simply isn't relevant to couples in the twenty-first century. And thank goodness for that. Read Mary-Helene Rosenbaum's "Celebrating our Differences" instead.

This book was full of biases and faulty assumptions. I am sorry that I wasted my time and money on it. As other reviewers have remarked, the Cowans (the Christian wife of whom converted to her husband's faith) clearly have an agenda- to convince non-Jews that they must convert to their partner's faith and to convince Jews that if their gentile partner won't give in and stop being so goyish, the marriage is doomed. Bull hockey, I say! And I know whereof I speak, being the gentile partner in a long-term interfaith relationship, with a partner whose parents are Jewish and Christian too, successfully married for 30 years!

One assumption the Cowans make is that there are two types of people- Jews and Christians. Based on this assumption, they go on for pages about the history of Christians persecuting Jews and completely ignore the fact that there is more than one combination possible for an intermarriage. I am a gentile, but not a Christian, and in my acquaintance there is a Jewish/Buddhist couple, a Jewish/Wiccan couple and many other such pairs. This oversight made the book even less useful than it was to begin with.

There were several passages in the book that were so mean and insensitive that they almost made me cry! For instance, the way in one of their seminars they allow the Jewish participants to berate a Christian woman endlessly for wanting a Christmas tree (and she came from a broken home where Christmas was the only happy time!). There is much on how she must be sensitive to her husband's feelings about Christian persecution/being a minority, but what about her? She has feelings too, as do all us other gentiles in intermarriages! Eventually she was pressured into not only giving up the tree but also converting.

I mean no disrespect to those who choose to convert- I considered the same at one point. But I do object to books such as this one which is blatantly insensitive and mean to Christian partners. I would be just as mad if it was this cruel to Jewish partners, because marriages should be based on kindness, fairness, and honesty, not coercion, guilt, and cruelty!

The book is very informative, as the authors describe their personal experiences with interfaith relationships. They were themselves an interfaith couple and they recount how they dealt with the problems that eventually arose in their relationship and how they came to work with other couples in the same situation. Great interviews with other couples and with children of interfaith relationship describing their own experiences. Definitely a MUST READ!!

This book attempts to persuade the reader that businesses are best managed by customer portfolio management, a method consisting of three general parts: (a) mathematical modelling and computation of "customer value" (b) segmenting customers in "value groups" (c) optimize revenue by focusing on the "value groups" offering highest revenues

The authors' calculation of value does not include the indirect results of the customer's patronage. Will their buying habits influence others, such as their children, to remain loyal to the brand? Will their recommendations influence others to buy? This whole chain of reasoning appears absent from the text -- a puzzling omission since the importance of referrals as a positive influence in affecting sales has been known for eons.

Similarly, the authors are strangely absent with regards to providng value and quality across all products and services, not just those offering the most attractive "customer value". It should be remembered that today's carpenter, may be tomorrow's subcontractor and then may be a future home builder. By selecting and focusing only on select groups, the company's performance may be viewed by such a customer as inconsistent or spotty. Indeed, such a customer may very well ask themselves, "Will I be in the next group slighted because I'm viewed as 'low value'?" (NOTE: This is not to say that differing services can be provided to different types, levels or classes of customers. On the contrary, to fail to offer this would be foolish. Companies can, however, offer customers the *choice*, and not pre-ordain their fates, esp. when such a fate is dictated by such an abstraction.)

Relying on a highy volatile measure such as "customer value" is inherently very, very risky and one wonders if the recurrent churning of those calculations would, in fact, yield meaningful results in a fast-paced business environment.

Customer connection
After reading this book, you will know what is the customer relationship model, that is the value compass and foundation of customer connection strategy.
I do agree that the author did present the book in an academic way which is quite bored. For the value compass, it is a complicated model and it is not easy to be understood. However, I remember that the author did distinguish the difference among the product manager, process manager and the network manager, this part is quite good and clear.
Also the author did explain the customer equity by using the equation, it¡¦s quite good and impressed.
Generally, I think you can learn something from this book, for example, we know that we need to create long term relationship with our customers and the critical success factor for running a business is to create value to the customers but not to reduce cost for the business.

I found that this book is useful as it introduced a useful tool for customer relationship. The author introduced a great customer relationship model, ¡§The Value Compass¡¨.

I think that it is important for the company to understand that ¡§reduce cost¡¨ is not the most important element to achieve success. Instead, company should put effort on creating value in order to achieve goal. And we have already known that the cost of retaining customer is much lower than the cost of acquiring new customers. So, why look for new customers, when you can improve the ones you¡¦ve already got?

Customer satisfaction is one of the elements of retaining customers. And customer satisfaction can be done by ¡§creating value¡¨. This book introduced you with ¡§The Value Compass¡¨ which provided you a great tool to create value and thus build up long-term customer relationship.

With the help of ¡§The Value Compass¡¨, company can position itself among different dimensions of relationship value. After know ¡§where you are¡¨, company should decide ¡§where are you going to be¡¨, according to ¡§The Value Compass¡¨. Then the company can achieve the target position by prepare customer connection strategy, which has discussed by this book.

So, if you are in the management level of your company, if you want your company to create value to the customers in order to build long-term customers relationship, you may read this book to achieve your goal more efficiently and effectively.

Doesn't correspond well to courses in PDEs if that's what you are looking for. Half the book is on numerical methods. I don't use it.

This is a very good introduction to partial
differential equations.It contains the most
common methods in PDE namely: characteristics
method, Fourier method, Green method, finite
difference methods, variational methods and
finite element method. I have used it as a
textbook or suplementary text. It is really
an undergraduate text which provides a wide
introduction to PDE. I have a copy and recommend
it to every person interested in learning PDE.

The theory is dry, but you can find some useful discussion on numerical methods and program listings.

Pokemon is not bad I'm telling you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People
say this book is good. I don't think so.........................
If I could choose I would give 0 and I mean 0 stars... Do not by this book. Pokemon are never bad and going to live.

If it were up to me, I wouldn't have given it a star at all. Where is there evil in Pokemon? Can someone tell me?

Each episode of the television show has a message, Ash has a dream to strive to be the best in what he loves to do. That's a positive message if I've ever heard one.

Take for instance, this one episode which showed that everybody in the "pokemon" universe were being watched by the three legendary Pokemon for when humans and Pokemon. Humans and Animals, work and co-exist as one, if that isn't a good thing or a positive message, then I don't know what is.

You tell us to open our eyes ... well open yours.

( Little edit: LILO AND STITCH?! ... Geez. You people. Attack something that deserves it. )

As an architect with 6 years of graduate education, I have spent years studying the symbols created in the things we design, write and discuss. John Paul Jackson has exposed the demonic rituals that far eastern (and American!) cultures have allowed into our everyday life. Hollywood is also packaging this myth that is so bad for our children (and our adults!) I am ordering 25 copies of this book for all of my friends with children, because it is one of the ten best books I have ever read on how to discern what our children are being fed by society! The people who don't like this book need to open their eyes! Very well written and documented.

My PC runs on Windows 95B and it locks up with this CD-ROM. The support people sent me a patch for it, but it still doesn't work. They know it doesn't work with Windows 95, yet they still sell the book.

This book covers the basics somewhat well. It is good for beginners. It includes simple functionality to pull data from a table. But beware, the book is already outdated, and does not cover the most recent version of Des/Dev2000. In addition, it could be frustrating to use due to the syntax errors in the book's examples. On the bright side there is the CD.

The CD samples actually work, and contradict the poor code in the book. If you want to see how Developer2000 works, review the CD, and then take your pen to the book, make changes, and submit your edits (and bill for your time) to the Publisher. However, this is all contingent upon the fact that you can load the CD. I spent two days attempting to install the CD... even when I have used Oracle and Dev2000 before.

A CD tip for the USER that the book won't tell you: the Dev2000 Demo CD only runs on Win95.

A CD tip for the AUTHOR and PUBLISHER: Everybody does not run Win95.

Overall, the book is below average since it's examples cover only the most basic of reports and functionality. Maybe, you could teach a college class with this, but it is impractical in business. Who prints a report based on a simple join anymore?

I am looking for this book that comes with a version 2.0 CD. I managed to find one with version 1.0 CD from Singapore's Borders Bookstore. Can you help me to find the one I want?

Thank you.

Have bouhgt many WROX books and found this to be by far the hardest read, made simple things difficult and ponderous (suffering from verbal diarrhoea), referring too much to later content. Go read something else even from the web it'll save you money and time.

I liked the book and it's approach in introducing to XML Application Development. Unfortunately, Microsoft has withdrawn msxml.exe on which most of the content of the book is based. I am not sure if there is any plan, by the authors, to help the developers to get around this and yet, refer to the book for it's excellent approach to mastering XML Technology. I, particularly, liked the chapters on XSL, and practical applications (case studies), including CDF application. I, however, did not like the XML-Data chapter so much. This is mainly because it really does not provide the learning steps as much in detail as other chapters. I wish the author had followed the method used in authoring of CDF-chapter. The book does not provide step-by-step procedure (including that of tools required, setting of tools, personal web server etc.) for testing the source codes provided in the book. It is left to the imagination and the exhaustive work, expenses of time and communications for advice etc. of the learner of this new technology. It took me several hours before I could successfully test the case study source codes. Also, the author/publisher should provide after-sales support due to lack of the basic tool (msxml.exe) on which the entire book is based. Publisher should withdraw this book from the distribution/sale. It seems the author is planning to publish another book in lieu of this, later in Year 2000. Hope the publisher will be kind enough to give some discounts to the buyers of the current book.

This is a typical wrox book: covers mostly microsoft material, good code examples. You can read about XML from resources on the web, but this book gives you an idea on how actual applications may be implemented, at a time where there is little published browser support. 4 stars for the material, 1 for the timing.

I don't agree with the other reviews. This book is a serious one and it is a "smooth" version of "Algorithms: Theory and Practice" from the same authors, which has a 5 stars rate. The book don't teach how to program, but the main kind of techniques in algorithm design (Greedy, Divide and Conquer and Dynamic Programing techniques, and others like Backtracking, Probabilistic Algorithms, etc.). I teach a course of Algorithm Design with this book (having the Sedgewick and Cormen books like additional very good references) and I think that it is a very instructive course on algorithmics (but NOT in programming, of course).

One of the few books organising algorithms around design techniques instead of application areas (see "Algorithms" from Sedgevick). Though both approachs have pros and cons, I've found the former most convenient for people learning to design algorithms. Many problems admit several solutions depending on the design tecnique involved. This fact is emphasized by the authors.

The book is self-contained, plainly written, so that an undergraduate can read it after taking a prerequisite course on programming.

It's also mathematically rigorous, while mantaining simplicity. This allows analysis of algorithms to be really "analytic" (no more guessing the solution to a recurrence relation).

One main drawback (certainly usual) is the lack of excercise solutions.

This book is written in a simple style: algoritm class description, related proofs, examples, variations and exemples. Because of this clean approach, you can basically read it in a couple days if you have the necessary background knowledge, and in a couple weeks if not. I strongly recommend this book to everyone who are calling themselves "programers", either graduated or not, it will teach/remind them what are the elegant fundamental algorithmic approches to common problems; it's seems that today's software could use a bit of this elegance. As for all the negative reviews, I'm astonished. I own several books on the subject, and I find this one the easiest to read, no question. It must be some sort of personal vendetta against the author, a failed undegraduate course with this book as teaching material, or some other personal reason; that's probably why this/these person(s) whish(es) to remain anonymous.