Charles H. Whedbee really captures the spirit of good storytelling in this book. I really enjoy going to the Outer Banks, and his books create a romantic mood to the lore and legends of such a wonderful place. Any book by Mr. Whedbee is a book worth reading.

I found this selection of stories compiled and penned by Charles Harry Whedbee in this book entitled 'Blackbeard's Cup and Stories of the Outer Banks' to be remarkable. They are short, but well written mysteries, anecdotes and tales about a facinating region of the country called the Outer Banks. This book is more than just another collection of stories about a region of the country, the author actually conveys some personal experiences in living in the region that merit some attention. I found the entire collection to be quite enjoyable, but particularly the stories entitled: 'The Guns of Vandemere', 'Sir William Shakespeare's Wreck' and most of all 'Horace and the Coinjock Charade'. This last one about a mule named Horace literally had me laughing out loud, and was worth the entire book above all! You will enjoy this author's unique insight to the particular's about the region, as well as his attention to detail on the facts that really matter in telling a good story. I have read many collections of stories about North Carolina, particularly because I have a personal facination with the region, especially the Outer Banks, but this this collection is one of the better ones. This book also gives some intriguing history on the pirate Blackbeard. If you are looking to read a few good tales about this region, then this book would be a good one for you to start with as all of the stories are quite entertaining. This author has written five collections of North Carolina stories in all, so if you find you like this one, there are more to explore. Whedbee spins a great tale!

I have loved the Outer Banks of North Carolina for some time now.Charles Harry Whedbee gives a well written account of some of the mysteries and legends surrounding the area in this, and all, his books.Basically, this book is just a collection of stories he has recovered from local people.I wish he still lived so he could share more of his love of North Carolina with fans.

Be warned that this book references Hardy's "Pure Mathematics" regularly. This book is principally a collection of results in complex analysis. The upside is that there are many problems developed in detail and the author sincerely tries to motivate every topic. The downside is that the language is so dated that often topics are excessively difficult to digest. I would not recommend this as a first book in complex functions theory. It's more useful as a supplement to other more modern courses.

This is an excellent book and a very good resourc

This is a book on complex analysis, followed by some measure theory. It is the complex analysis part which is superb. Titchmarsh is one of those rare authors that manage to motivate the results, get them with rigour and clarity and, especially, select theorems so well that you always find what you need for applications. It's like the famous short table of integrals in the famous, multi-edition, "Handbook of Physics and Chemistry". It was so wisely made that it was said that when you could not find in it the integral you needed, you probably went wrong somewhere. So is the venerable Theory of Functions. It is particularly good in asymptotic theorems like Phragmen-Lindelof's, or in the treatment of analytic continuation. But the whole book is a joy! When the Regge Pole theory appeared in particle physics, I published several papers that were not much more than transpositions of results from Titchmarsh to the language of particle physics. So I earned my living f! rom it, for some years.

There are rare occurences where a movie outshines the story on which it is based, such as with Bladerunner or 2001. In that vein, I have to give Charles Beaumont, Twilight Zone veteran and screenwriter for the film "The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao", some real credit, as he completely transcended the source. Seeing the movie and then reading this book... well, there's no comparison.

I know that Charles Finney's novel "The Circus of Dr. Lao" is a cult classic and loved by many, but I have to offer the other side of the coin, as the book was a huge disappointment to me. The basic plot has a mysterious asian man appearing in the town of Abalone, AZ, to put on the strangest circus the residents have ever seen. Far from being populated by clowns, acrobats, and animals, Dr. Lao's circus is full of mythological beasts that provide insight into human nature. We are introduced to a cast of cardboard locals who, while serving as a vehicle to introduce the oddities of the circus they attend, play no worthwhile part in the story. Finney's writing style is uneven in the extreme - there are a few bits of brilliance that completely overshadow the predominantly unpolished text. It's almost as if the book is a collection of notes for what would have been a much larger novel, and it could be a work of art if expanded upon and given some direction. As the story is only ~100 pages, expansion would have been appreciated instead of the pointless appendix of characters, creatures, items, and study questions (!) which is oddly in-depth for a story with such lightweight content. The ending of the story is very abrupt and has no real explanation. Nothing is solved, and there is no conclusion: did anyone learn anything from their encounters? We never know.

As a final note, think twice before throwing this one at your kids: this is not a book for children, and while some of the situations may seem somewhat tame by today's trash novel standards, it's obvious that the objective was to titillate readers in 1938. So, if you want something with real focus and a message, I recommend that you view the movie "The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao" instead of reading the source material. The only reason I hold on to this book is because of my love for the movie, as well as the beautiful illustrations by Boris Artzybasheff.

My only regret upon reading this book is that I didn't discover it earlier. The imagery in this book will transport you into the author's universe - a bizarre circus full of equally bizarre creatures. When the main character, Dr. Lao, delivers his lectures on these unique beasts, the author's eloquent use of the English language is stunning.

There is one point that I feel needs to be clarified, however. This book may not be suitable for all children. Although it engages the reader's imagination, it can be at times a very dark book. The appearance of Satan in the circus lashing a very pretty young witch comes to mind. Also, the use of derogatory racial epithets is something that most parents would probably not want to expose young children to. Finney's use of these words reminded me of William Faulkner's use of these words. They may seem gratuitous when you read them the first time, but later you realize that the author was in fact revealing a serious moral flaw in the character who was saying them. Overall, I feel that an intelligent older child would probably gain much from reading this book. The pros far outway the cons in this fantastic work of fiction.

A definite must-read for anyone who appreciates real literature.

This is a truly fantastic book. It's amazing that something written so many years ago can make such an engaging read today. The relevance and staying power of this intriguing book is a testament to the author's brilliance. In fact, there are few contemporary American authors I have read that can match Finney's skill and mastery of the English language. The subtleties in the dialogues, the multi-faceted characters, and Finney's brilliant economy of words make it difficult to put this book down.

The story is a timeless one, it is set in an unknown small Arizona town but Finney brings the events magically to life.

I found this a brilliant work that doesn't necessarily fit the modern science fiction genre. It's a refreshing and intellectual break from tired "classics" like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.

I first read "The Circus of Dr. Lao" as a teenager and it's characters and events have stayed in my mind all these years. I'm very pleased to see it in print again, and I hope to see more of Finney's works on the shelves soon. He obviously deserves to take his place among the "greats" of American literature.

This book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Apache culture. It may not have the flow of novel but that is not the intention. This book is a glimpse into the lives of the fiercest and most honorable Native Americans that ever lived...the Apache.

Opler's book is the result of lengthy interviews with informants during the early part of the Twentieth century .He has quoted many of these Apaches verbatum without editorializing thereby providing an authentic picture of the tribal lifeway during the 19th century. The reader learns not only the ethnological facts but senses the feelings, values and emotions of these people. "An Apache Lifeway" remains the most definitive source of material cited in later publications on the subject. The book is easily readable because anthropological jargon is avoided.

Charles Adams has written a history that everyone who grew up in a small town wishes that someone would write about his or her home town -- a nostalgic journey back in time to the way it was. But Blocton was no ordinary small town. Adams captures the essence of a backwoods boomtown at the turn of the last century -- a colorful and detailed account of an unusual piece of Americana in rural Alabama that was as diverse in its ethnic makeup and its vitality as the melting pot of New York City was at the time. Adams documents an interesting story of a little known and out-of-the-way place where Polish and Italian miners and the Jewish merchants who served them created a community that alternately went boom and bust, that survived strikes and a fire that leveled the town, and then prospered again until the closing of the mines and the Great Depression finally turned it into a sleepy but still proud little town that attracts little attention today.

The book is well documented and is illustrated with many photographs and documents. It favorably reflects the many years of research and effort by its author to capture the substance and spirit of his home town, and it accurately tells an unusual story, because Blocton was not your ordinary little town.

The book has been in the making for over 20 years. It accurately represents the life and times of a small coal mining town. It goes from boom time through the decline of the town and to the rebuilding of its future. I am very proud to have helped with the book and also proud of its author, Charles adams. I feel that anyone wanting to read a very accurate and realisitic historical saga would benifit greatly in the reading this book.

Rather than presenting just another account of the infamous Cope-Marsh "fossil war," Wallace has placed the conflict in a journalistic context, exploring the role New York Herald editor/huckster James Gordon Bennett played in the animosity between the two great paleontologists. A wonderfully detailed and readable book, with only a very small number of minor scientific errors to detract from its value. This probably won't be remembered as the definitive work on the subject, but it's a good place to start.

This marvelous volume by David Rains Wallace is a balanced, thorough, and insightful recounting of the greatest, most needless, and most tragic scientific conflict in American history: the Cope-Marsh feud. I say "balanced" because most writers, especially those with an environmentalist/naturalist bent like Wallace, have tended to side with Othniel C. Marsh over Edward D. Cope. The reason isn't hard to find. Cope's feud with Marsh eventually [pulled] into the controversy John Wesley Powell, a major benefactor to Marsh and impediment to Cope, and occasioned Powell's fall from power. Environmentalists rightly consider this a tragedy, because perhaps no one in American history possessed the depth of understanding about the geological and geographical logic of the entire area west of the hundredth meridian than Powell. Had Powell remained in power longer, perhaps many of the great tragedies associated with the development of the American West could have been avoided. Most other evaluators of the feud tend to be biographers of either Cope or Marsh, and those side with their subject. But Wallace is able to look beyond the effect the Cope-Marsh feud's effect on Powell and beyond partisan loyalty to any single participant to achieve a fair evaluation of each.

Wallace begins with a biographical narrative of both Cope and Marsh, from their family origins and early interest in science, to their maturation as paleontologists and their initial encounters with one another, and on to their growing competition with one another and eventual implacable conflicts and feud. Wallace shows how this really was not primarily a scientific controversy, but a conflict between two very different personalities. Both men were exceedingly gifted, both immensely competitive, and both were extremely neurotic. Of the two, Cope emerges as the more sympathetic, if only because he strikes the reader as the more likable of the two. Marsh is less sympathetic because of the ruthless way he attempts to cut Cope off from all governmental support for his research, and the manner in which he attempts to keep Cope, who was probably the more gifted paleontologist, on the scientific periphery. In fact, Marsh comes across as a completely unlikable person; not even his closest acquaintances seem to have liked him. If Cope emerges as more congenial, he also comes across as more manic, more paranoid, and obsessed.

In the end, one is left with a feeling of disgust at both Marsh (especially Marsh) and Cope's massive stupidity in the entire conflict. Although they had some scientific disagreements, most of their antagonism was generated by who was able to get the most fossils, and the efforts of Marsh to cut Cope completely out of government funding. One is left with a sense of regret that the two great founders of American paleontology were unable to coordinate their efforts and be collaborators instead of competitors.

Anyone enjoying this book might also enjoy Deborah Cadbury's TERRIBLE LIZARD, which tells the story of the birth of paleontology in England at the beginning of the 19th century, a few decades before Cope and Marsh. Sadly, that book also tells the story of a needless feud, with Gideon Mantell taking the Cope role and Richard Owen the Marsh one. The two books make great companion volumes, and jointly make a magnificent introduction to 19th century paleontology.

I have just tried searching for this book (which I bought and read in 1990) on the UK Amazon site, with no success. What does that tell us about us Brits I wonder? Perhaps we don't value our creative talents enough? In my view, this is a book whose time has come, but do not be deceived by it. It reads amazingly easily and I came away with a feeling of empowerment. However, the key to producing results is still hard work, albeit on a pychological and psychic level. I have always dreamt of being a £ millionaire, but I have not yet achieved it. In fact, my reason for re-reading the book now is that I need to boost my income and achieve financial independence. I still believe I will succeed, and I believe that the Dyna/Psyc techniques described by Joe in this book are the key. The book is a tough training course in itself. It demands self-analysis, self-discipline and honesty, particularly in the section concerning self-image. I believe we owe Joe a great deal of gratitude, and if others are interested in joining me on my journey to wealth and financial independence through the applicaiton of these principles, I would love to hear from you. Christopher Simon-Evans, England.

I've read about 75 of the best known self-help books, and The Lazy Man's Way to Riches is the most unusual one, and it actually works! If you want to actually accomplish things, get it - but get the ORIGINAL, 1973 edition, which AMAZON.COM has in paperback and hardcover. Avoid this re-issue or the "Roadmap" workbook, both written 13 years after Joe Karbo's death. They are loaded with extraneous writing that sometimes contradicts the original text within.

In the early 70's I met Joe in a meeting. He was brillient, an interesting man. He had alittle bit of the schepille this is so easy you're just about crazy to pass on it. I read his book twice a year since 1974. My life is rich far beyoud my expectations. He doesn't tell you how as much as allow you to find you own way. This book is a classic, this book is simple, this books work.

For those of you who feel this is not a "normal" Abbey book, you are right in one sence but not totally. You must take into account that this book was written shortly after his wife passed away. So there were thoughts and feelings and emotions that he was going through that dictated the lay of this book. The woman who disappears, never seen again, all boils back to the heartbreak Abbey was going through after loosing his young wife. This is a great book to pick up if you want to read one of Abbey's different styles of writing.

The person who wrote this review must be completely immune to subtext. Abbey is such a raw, emotional expositor on nature. This book he considered his masterwork, I think because he saw it as his best, most personal expression of how he felt, both about the red rock region and his late wife. In this book he reconciles the loss of the later and diminishment of the former, yet doesn't succumb to any easy answers about what happens to either. Vicious in its simplicity. I recommend it if you've read some Abbey and want to get into his head a bit.

Edward Abbey (Cactus Ed) describes the American southwest like no other American writter. This book, "Black Sun" is one of Abbey's earlier works. It is a rough, profane and moving look at a man's love affair with the Red Rock Desert. It's not for the tame or the easily offended. I believe Abbey said once, "And if there is anyone left in the room I have not offened, I apologize". His views on conservation and preservation of our National Parks are extreme, but he puts these views in the format of a novel. It is a book I have read and reread many times, and the many people I have shared it with have all loved it and have not been able to put it down. It is a tragic book, just as the loss and destruction of the desert southwest is tragic. If you love the desert and love good writting, this book is a good read. Abbey said, "Oh my desert, yours is the one death I cannot endure". That passion for the wild places of America comes through on every page of this wonderful book.

Students must read this before they study American history....

I read this for pleasure, not for home schooling. It was outstanding! A fast and easy read, easily relating together the events over the past 700 years. Cofing clearly illustrates the slow struggle of the human race towards freedom ... tieing events together in a literary time-line. With such a clear conception of the tyrrants of the past, one can't help but draw parallels with contemporary tyrrants. I wish I had read this when I was in school. I am recommending it to all of my friends.

Despite what others may have said about this book's qualities regarding homeschooling it remains one of THE best books on the foundation of American culture. The author attempted and succeeded to remain unbiased when writing upon matters of religion (i.e. Roman Catholic Church vs. Protestant Church). However, the obvious wrong done by the Roman Catholic Church during the Roman Inquisition (not just the Spanish) is made quite clear. Yet the author does not leave the Protestant church without some blame, for they did promote violence, wars, and some measure of persecution. The book does accomplish its goal by making the reader understand what liberty is and what it has cost. No homeschooling Christian (or otherwise) child should be without this book.

"Radio Priest" is meant to remind people the author fears have both forgotten Father Charles Coughlin and may be unwisely underestimating those eager to apply his brand of media manipulation in the age of the internet. From the depths of the depression until shortly after America's entry into WWII, Coughlin, a Detroit Priest had become a political force of nature. Using his radio show and "Social Justice" his newspaper, he spread his message across the nation - a message that grew progressively overt in anti-Semitism and Facist advocacy. With the severity of the depression destroying lives across the world, the time was ripe for many to question democracy - as they had across the world, the popularity of socialism and fascism flourished across America. Though many figures grew out of the clash of these movements, Coughlin stood out - mostly because his position as a priest but mostly because of the eloquence with which he gave his fans the message they wanted to hear. He even possessed his own trademark accent, with its distinctive rolling rrr's. Coughlin attacked banking interests and polticians - codewords for the jews and those they were thought to have bought. Confronted with growing reports of Germany's anti-Semitic repression, he claimed sympathy for the jews, but attributed Germany's conduct to a natural response to Jewish Bolshevism. Ostensibly adhering to a religion which had suffered religious intolerance, Coughlin adopted the same penchant for mass hysteria as those who had victimized other Catholics.

Though war with fascism forced him into a sort of hiatus, Coughlin's decline had actually begun with the 1936 Presidential Elections. Unsatisfied with GOP front-runner Alf Landon, and seized by an outright hatred for FDR, Coughlin campaigned fiercely for the Social Justice candidate, William Lemke. Those left unfulfilled by FDR and unimpressed with Landon, flocked to Coughlin and his allies. Among them, Francis Townsend seemed more dignified, GLK Smith had more energy and Huey Long had more savvy, but Coughlin possessed something of the qualities of all three. Though Coughlin had the power, he displayed little interest in using it for even his idea of a greater good, and the social justice ticket ballot was dwarfed even by Landon's showing. By then, Long was dead by an assassin's bullet, and his political machine in Louisiana collapsed under the weight of its own corruption. Emboldened by his landslide, FDR embarked on a strategy to fast-track the New Deal with legislation designed to end run a hostile supreme court and thinly veiled threats to pack the high court if the first idea didn't work out. Coughlin, on the other hand, now embittered with politics, lost much of his dignified veneer. Both in his own tone and those of his followers, Coughlin became more closely identified with all that was bigoted in domestic fascism. By 1940, Coughlin had been sufficiently cut down to manageable size for his own church's hierarchy, and the Bishops silenced him. The threat of prosecution for sedition further kept him in line.

Doanld Warren argues persuasively that Coughlin's defeats - both in 1936 and when war broke out against those he had championed - were far from certain. Coughlin and others had long fed anti-Semitic hysteria in their warnings against the war. When the severity of the war was realized, hysteria against the Jews could have exploded in Coughlin's favor. Warren even cites outbreaks of anti-Jewish violence in American cities. Further, despite the consent decree that immunized Coughlin in return for his silence, the radio priest remained active in using the mail system to search for a new generation of adherents among wartime servicemen. Warren highlights the depths of anti-Semitism in wartime America, but doesn't do the same for the horrific conditions of the depression - conditions that made us ripe for Coughlin and his followers. Also, he loses his focus after 1936, when Coughlin and company become more outright in their bigotry. Lastly, Warren frequently telegraphs his own sentiments against more modern day Coughlins like Pat Robertson and the Moral Majority. Whether today's right wing approximates that of 1936 America is a worthy subject, but one that Warren's asides seem to cursorily accept as true - an indisputable yardstick of conservative religious bigotry. Worse, it telegraphs the author's intention to write for a narrow readership - something Coughlin was doubtless famous for, though admittedly on a higher scale. These faults wouldn't matter if "Radio Priest" wasn't already a compelling book. Luckily, the book is not only compelling, but substantive enough to rise above what's wrong with it as well.

This is an excellent biography of one of the most appalling figures in recent American history. Father Coughlin was a hatemonger, an anti-Semite of tremendous proportions, and often a liar. That ANYONE could believe him to be worthy of praise, let alone "the sort of priest we need more of," is a sad, sad commentary on America.

It is hard to believe that Father Coughlin was allowed to stay on the air and spew his poison for as long as he did. I wonder what he would have thought of the death camps? Or would he have found a way to deny the fruit of his hateful, unchristian ravings?

Father Coughlin had the spine to say what he belived and told the truth as he seen it. Too bad we don't have Catholic priest today with the...[guts] to tell it like it is.

How can anyone not see what going on in the media with the soul murder of the American people by the people the good priest warned us about.

God bless Father Coughlin