When my grandchhildren come by, which is quite often, they head for a pile of children's books we keep and pick out one or two they would like us to read. "Jack's Amazing Magic Bed" is one of their favorites.

After my children read this book, they began to think more, and fantasize about being Jack, in his amazing, and quite magic bed. After they read it, there was a certain spark in my kids' eyes. I feel that this book is a wonderful read for any young child, and I would recomend it to any parent.

As a child life specialist, I work with children facing chronic serious illnesses. Many of these children are bedridden for long periods of time. They face boredom, frustration and depression. Jack's Amazing Magic Bed is an escape for these children, helping them leave the confines of their room on an exciting, empowering flight over NYC. We have two copies at our hospital, and when a child's treatment prohibits me from even entering their room, I will give the child one copy, call them on the phone, and we will read it page by page together. Thank you Ms. Bennett. You've made a difference in quality of life for these kids.

Michael Bennett's When Dreams Come True is a great in-depth study of the history around the creation of the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944. He includes a great historical look at the support (or lack of support) that veterans received prior to World War 2 and then continued with a detailed study of the political process that ultimately led to the creation of the GI Bill.
The book is easy to read, but very detail in nature. Those looking for a quick, general read might look elsewhere.

Bennett set twin goals for himself: " . . . to make scholars realize how significant the GI Bill was in shaping American society over the past fifty years, and to tell a great story for not only those who benefited from the bill but also their children and grandchildren". Bennett chose the right target audience and he masterfully achieved his two goals.

As the war was nearing its end, America's leaders began to contemplate the domestic challenges that peace would bring. GI Joe would be leaving the battlefields of Europe and the beaches of the Pacific. He fully intended to cast off the chains of the depression and regain his rightful place on the assembly line, at the check out, in the classroom, and behind the plow.

Many in the Administration and Congress recognized that this transition might not be an easy one. Years of global conflict had already altered America. GI Joe had marched off to war in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Pre-war America was predominantly agrarian, isolationist, and rural. Post-war America was victorious, increasingly industrial, worldly, and urban. The post war changes in the U.S. would be dramatic. When Dreams Came True details the pivotal role that the GI Bill played in that metamorphosis.

Bennett relates the tortuous path of the act from inception to enactment. The American Legion, editor Walter Howey, publisher William Randolph Hurst, Representatives Edith Rogers and John Rankin, and Senator Bennett Clark, were unlikely companions on the road to passage of the GI Bill. Thanks to Representative John Gibson's tie breaking vote, the language that became the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 emerged from a near-deadlocked House-Senate committee almost in step with the relentless troop movement inland from the Normandy beaches.

Two aspects of the GI Bill sculpted the most dramatic changes to the face of America. Bennett claims that the bill's educational benefits and home ownership provisions were largely responsible for the birth of the American middle-class way of life. He makes a compelling case.

Veterans in the millions-many who had never dreamed of higher education-flocked to the nation's colleges and universities. This flood was both unprecedented and unexpected. Pre-war, a college education was generally the province of the country's elite. There were just under 213,500 college degrees conferred in 1942. That number rose steadily in the decade after the war and stood at just under 455,000 by 1951. The GI Bill of Rights made it possible for many returnees to select higher education in lieu of immediately joining the labor market. Thousands of veterans chose formal education-and many elected to attend the better-quality schools.

The GI Bill's home loan guarantees for veterans also significantly altered the American scene. There was more involved than merely home ownership. During the war veterans had learned to live side-by-side with people from different backgrounds. Veteran's mortgage benefits nourished the rise of a diverse suburbia and contributed to the reduction of the pre-war ethnic, religious, and racial enclaves. Veterans did not simply choose to buy vice rent. They chose a "way of life" that broke free from the class conscious boundaries that had distinguished their parents. This burgeoning middle class also served as a catalyst for more pervasive social change.

When my father returned from WW II, he took advantage of many provisions of the GI Bill. After Vietnam, I used my GI Bill eligibility to purchase my first home and pursue my initial degree. But we never understood the birthing pains that produced the law that provided these benefits. Passage of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 was a marvelous accomplishment and one of which I had little appreciation.

Bennett relates history with an easily readable style. This is not a text. It is a "story" of America's transformation in the decades following WW II. Michael Bennett weaves a powerful and interesting tale. It is a fitting tribute to those who fought. I recommend it to all the GI Joes and those they sired. When Dreams Came True can help all every American appreciate the magnitude of change that our country has witnessed in the latter half of the 20th Century.

As a nephrology fellow I found the concise tabular format in this book very useful and reassuring while beginning my consultation months. I still like the basic idea behind its publication, but am increasingly disappointed. Much of the dosing information is readily available now for free, and it is frequently more accessible on palmbased programs such as epocrates and medscape that avoid the need for carrying multiple pocket references. I would like to see the text regularly updated, go beyond data available in existing palm programs, such as including recommendations/cautions regarding drug combinations for transplant recipients, discuss intraperitoneal dosing for CAPD patients on relevant medications, include critical liver metabolism pathways (i.e. P450 enzymes systems) so interactions with other meds might be better predicted. I would enthusiastically support adding a palmtop version to the appropriately updated text.

After completing a residency in internal medicine/pediatrics and using many other sources to decide on renal drug dosing I have been most delighted with the introduction to this one at the beginning of my nephrology fellowship. The very rapid accessible concise format of key essentials I need for patients with temporary or chronic renal failure are also adjusted for types of renal replacement therapy. Only suggestion I have is: please update with new addition and more meds included as soon as possible. Wish I had known about this book from the first day of my internship.

Very helpful, quick reference for Physicians, Pharmacists and Nurses to determine possible effects of renal disease on drug disposition.

They had a great idea when making this book, after all, every child wants to see himself having a grand adventure, but the rhythem of the prose was so off that the tongue stumbles, distracting from the book.

The pictures include sailor, cowboy, British guard, knight, Indian, clown, pirate, and purple monster. Board book. Very fun!

With your child's pictures in place the adventures begin. "If I Were a Pirate... is full of traditional action charactors that little boys love to pretend to be. It appeals to children from age 1 to 6.

This book comes nowhere close to living up to the claim that "no volume will provide more compelling and inspiring answers to our children's questions" about what it means to be an American. It is important to remember that while we might be tempted to buy into the kind of simplistic view Bennett presents in The Children's Book of America, what America was and is and who the people are who have lived and are living here are far more complex than he seems capable of conceiving. His stereotypic images might resonate with some people who long for simplicity and the "good ol' days" that never really were, but telling a story the way one wants to does not make it so, ignoring things one doesn't understand doesn't make them go away, and buying into ignorance is never a good idea. His sanitized vision of America should offend our sensibilities in light of the reality many of us live, and represents the co-opting of our children's education and future for the perpetuation of a grossly unequal and unjust status quo. Rather than serving up the pablum offered to our children by Bennett, we need to help them understand and critique the society in which they live, and prepare them for the kind of participatory democracy that can bring about the kind of social justice and egalitarian society that will permit each of us to live a bit of the American dream. We need to develop more critical and democratic thought than that evidenced by a BarnesandNoble.com customer-reviewer whose attempt at critique concludes,
"The unintentional irony of juxtaposing Martin Luther King's 'dream' speech with blatantly racist folksongs is typical of Bennett's charmingly naive and confused view of morality and virtue. The inclusion of songs and stories promoting racial harmony appears to have been driven by a simple-minded sense of political correctness. But Bennett nonetheless succeeds in providing the children of America with a much needed lesson in patriotism and morality. God knows that the public has completely lost their sense of morality. Thank you, Mr. Bennett, for teaching my children what is good and virtuous." This is part of what is wrong with America.

I really liked this book, and so did my children.

Bennett has taken familiar vingettes (Pilgrims, Paul Bunyon, Johnny Apple Seed, Martin Luther King, Jr., moon walk, etc.) and presented them in a short form that is perfect for four to seven year olds and above.

Each story teaches lessons based on core values and can lead to good discussions with children in trying to explain the underlying values. The tales are also a wonderful introduction to the story of our country through our history and myths. They cover the range of the American Experience and are exactly the kind of tales that can serve as a launching pad to introduce youngsters to a wider exploration of our national heritage.

The stories themselves are well written and captivating (though my four year old's attention wandered with some -- it is for older than pre-school on the whole). The illustrations are first rate and help younger children understand the written story.

The format is perfect for bedtime stories -- good length for a one story a night reading. It is also one you'll want to return to again.

This is a wonderful book for children to become familiar with the people and events that helped shape this great nation. The stories are inspirational and guided by a moral purpose. Our children need to know what a special and great country they live in!

It's not surprising that Bill Bennett has ignored some of the more marginalized of society. Here's some folks YOU WON'T find in Bill Bennett's "heroes"

Saladin: who gave Christians in his domain greater tolerance than the Christians did the Muslims

Ashoka: whose (real) legendary beneficient government is sitll to be matched by the West

I could go on... but suppose, just suppose your "real mom and dad" is a child abuser.

Not all real moms and dads *can or should* be looked up to, and Bennett expresses is profound lack of humanity with such jingoistic nonsense. To suggest that simply because 2 people are have a contract that is ratified at an atavistic ceremony, and have sexual intercourse resulting in the birth of life human somehow makes them "heroes" (when in reality they may be *Republicans*) is obscene.

I wouldn't let my kid near this man's work.

But this isn't surprising- the policies carried out on his watch have needlessly imprisioned *thousands* of real people.

Now there's some heroes he could have put in- the people who are standing up to the tyranny created by Bennett's "War on Drugs."

William J. Bennett and Michael Hague, having teamed together to produce the national bestseller "The Children's Book of Virtues," now offer up "The Children's Book of Heroes," which celebrates heroic deeds, both historical and fictional, as appropriate inspiration for children. Certainly it is interesting to see the dozen-plus heroes, from Christopher Columbus and Jackie Robinson to the legendary Sir Roland to a young girl named Tashira, who are presented in this volume.

People might be surprised as to how few religious and political figures are included in this volume given that Bennett is the editor. For the former there are just the Biblical story of "David and Goliath," the story of "Father Flanagan" of Boys Town, and "Mother Teresa" as the epitome of the modern-day heroine. The only political figures, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, appear in episodes well before they each became president with "A Prayer at Valley Forge" and "Honest Abe" respectively. However, one of the better aspects of this book is that some of the stories and poems are not about famous people but rather about a mother ("About Angels"), dads ("Only a Dad"), and even how kids can be heroes by putting themselves on the line for someone they love ("The Hero of Indian Cliffs") and showing moral courage in order to avoiding temptation ("Our Heroes").

Because of my academic interest in mythology I was especially interest in the two classical myths that were selected. The story of Theseus and "The Minotaur" is given as an example of doing the right thing even when afraid of danger while the story of Oedipus and "The Sphinx" is used to remind us that heroes use their brains. This is certainly an interesting pair given what happens to each hero after their defeat these monsters: Theseus and Ariadne never make it back together to Athens and as for Oedipus, well, you probably know what happened to him once he became king of Thebes.

"The Children's Book of Heroes" does indeed present a diverse collection of role models, which at the very least, should expand a child's notion of what constitutes a hero. Each story begins with a brief comment on what the particular life lesson is from that story, for example Jackie Robinson represents "keeping your cool and doing the best you can in a bad situation," which arguably present values that transcend the ideological spectrum.

Bennett has edited another fine book that introduces young children to values and charactor while making reading interesting.

This book of heros combines mythical and historical figures with everyday folk (moms and dads) whose actions and charactor speak to the better values that should be taught to children. The book is fairly accessible to ages 4 and 5 -- the gist of the story will usually be understood and there are enough new concepts / words to prompt meaningful discussion. The illustrations are rich and invite children into the story by providing an attractive visual introduction to each vignette.

Bennett continues to provide a great service to parents and children with the series of which the Book of Heros is a part.

Great idea with uneven results. Some superb art in places, but not always as an appropriate counterpoint to the accompanying Scriptures. The parts that do succeed are worth the cover price alone.

This collection is remarkable for the fact that so many artists in the comic book industry turn out to be Christians. Passages from Proverbs and the Parables of Christ have been taken directly from the Bible and illustrated in styles running the gamut from mediocre to brilliant. I've seen a number of these artists before. Some of the work in this compilation represents the best efforts of some; yet with others, it seems more like work that has been slapped-together-for-free. I recommend this book because it is refreshing to see so many artists working together to produce it. However, some of the interpretations of scripture are contrived and should be read in their original context, and not merely in this volume.

This book was well received by me and my teenagers. There needs to be more artistic interpretations like this that tackle scripture. Not every translation done in this book is accurate to the Word of God but every piece is brilliant in its own right. Bravo! Encore!

This book is full of great pictures of pool rooms past and present. Lots of room and player info. Very polished publication. Inetersting for those, like myself, interested in the sport and history. Not an instructional book; but definately worth the price and time to enjoy.

This is by far my favoritebook on pool that I own.Thephotography is awesome,some of the best candid shots ofpro tournament play there is.There are a great deal of action shots too that capture the power of the break and the focus required to stay at the top of your game.Shooting Pooltakes you across the country to meet some of the best players in the game,and to some of the nicest pool halls you have ever seen.I love this book and would never sell my copy!Take care,Caleb

After reading "The Man Who Stayed Behind," I thought the title should be changed to "Memoirs of a Masochist - How to Spit on Me in Ten Different Ways, Comrade."

Rittenberg's decision to stay in China had more to do with his pathological need for acceptance than some strong revolutionary desire. As a foreigner, his ability to speak Chinese was what provided him admission into the Chinese Communist Party at a time when international support for their cause was lacking. He was just a freak at the right place and the right time.

As I read this book, I thought how weak and cowardly he was. When Rittenberg wasn't running from bombs like a little girl (he states how he was always the only one to run for safety), he was constantly crying and begging the jailers to accept him as a true Communist Party member.

Actually, I was surprised by his lack of embarrassment or shame for the opportunist life he lived in China. He criticized Zhou Enlai for his "unbecoming obsequiousness" to Chairman Mao yet the same mirror can be applied to Rittenberg as he continuously groveled like a lapdog to be accepted as the "only foreigner in the Chinese Communist Party."

The first time he was sent to a Chinese jail was due to his naivete. The second time it was due to his stupidity. His hubris and egotism was the real cause for the senseless waste of his life in a Chinese prison.

In this whole story, his second wife, Yulin, and later his children, were the only ones with intelligence and character. Rittenberg comes off as having the integrity of a worm.

I gave this book three stars because of its readability - the font size was very comfortable to read.

This book should be read in order to provide insight into the psychological weaknesses of individuals who join cults, extremist political parties, terrorist groups, etc. I am sure the American's who joined the Taliban and Muslim terrorists groups have a similar psychological profile as Mr. Rittenberg.

B. Polk
Beijing, China

The real heroine of this book is the authors second Chinese wife. Even after 16 years in a Chinese prison the author thought that Communism was the total answer to the problems of the Chinese people. He admits that he was wrong in almost all the decisions he made in supporting Communism in China and that he was eventually double crossed by every high ranking Chinese leader that he decided to support. Only after he returned to the United States were he, his wife and four children completely hsppy!

The Kirkus Reviews above claim that this book is a "dramatic odyssey of an American who cast his lot with mainland China's Communists following WW II--and who lived to regret it.", I wonder if the reviewer really read the book or not, since the author expressed explicitly in serveral places as well as the feeling run throught the book that he never regreted any of his experiences in China, instead found himself enriched, strengthened, and grateful for it;

Another reviewer's comment that "How this man earn a living in the US as an expert on a country he never seemed to understand is beyond me.", is actually beyond myself. I doubt if a man can't at least learn one or two things about a country if one lived there for 35 years, especially with about half of the time shut in a prison, devoting to a course he believed in. What the course is and whether it is really there or an illusion, is another matter.

In my own experience the book could be read on serveral levels: a personal autobiography from youth to the old age; the story of an American youth's adventure in the middle kingdom across 1949; Chinese revolution, from Yanan period to its end in late 70s, in the eyes of a foreigner of left wing political persuation, especially as an active (foreign) participant's memory/story of Culture Revolution. The experience is rich as well as unique, writing clear and smooth, reading the book is highly enjoyable and educational.

But here also weakness of the book lies, that different themes and levels of discourses can be in conflicts to each other: chinese revolution and Culture Revolution could be too big, social and impersonal to constraint and present in a biographical framework; events and various persona, from Chairman Mao to individuals living around the author, could only be presented from one perspective, without other independent references.

Still, the experiences are unique, stories moving, themes grand, the book is highly recommended.

I feel I need to address the first reviewer's concerns about the accuracy of this book (with the exception of Mr. Grave's foreword). Indeed, the reviewer is correct about the Law School Library. The architect of that work is mistakenly identified in the text. It was E. A. Glendenning and not Herbert Hilmer. The records of the University architect and archivist both contain this mistake; and it wasn't until I researched the records of the Law School itself (on this reviewer's prompting) that I discovered the truth. I apologize for this, and any other instances of mis-attribution.

However, I must take issue with the alleged mis-identification of the person responsible for the master plan. Steger, McGirr, and Chatterjee all verify that the organization of that master planning committee was initiated by the president's office, and not by Chatterjee alone. However, most everyone involved with the process credits Chatterjee with being the primary mover of the entire idea of remaking the campus by pushing for high quality, high profile architecture. This is made explicit in the introduction of the book, and much credit is given to Chatterjee for this. However, it would be wrong to say that he orchestrated the master plan committee and gave it its landscape focus.

Taking into account the comments of the above reviewer, this is still a wonderful book. I have a copy and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It has excellent colour 3D maps and colour photos, with a couple of pages of text for each building. A good read if you are interested in architecture, particularly modern.

This is another book in the excellent series by Princeton Architectural Press covering US campuses. The book gives a 15 page history of the campus with reference to its architectural roots.Then there are chapters covering each part of the University. Each chapter starts with 3D view of the area to be covered. Then a colour photo of each building is shown together with a page or two of text describing the buildings history, architecture and use. If you are interested in architecture I can strongly recommend all guides in this series. I bought one and was so pleased with it I buy them as they come out and have never been disappointed.