At first I was impressed with the book, the reading was quite easy. But then "facts" about the number of Afro-Americans serving in the Civil War were confusing. At least three different numbers were cited. The differences in the numbers had a factor of three or more. That simply cannot be the case. Other inaccuracies appeared in the text which lead me to the impression that the book was researched by different people, maybe students, I really don't know. From an intellectual point of view, the discrepancies are glaring and leaves one the believe Claude Anderson's efforts were disingenuous. If the author cited blacks as victims of the holocaust, then he should have cited references to support this notion.

Although Anderson unapologetically represents a black point of view throughout the book, his stories and mini facts are great gems of information. Critics who argue that the book is poorly researched because they claim Anderson cites has more than one figure for the number of blacks who fought in the Civil War are forgetting that some numbers represent the number of blacks fighting at a given point in the war--over all, his number of 200,000 is the generally accepted number. Although he can be one-sided (I think he diminishes the suffering of Indians in some cases), the book overall is a must read and contains some little known dirtly little tidbits about American history.

I ENJOYED THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BECAUSE I DEFINITELY WAS NOT TAUGHT ANY OF THIS INFORMATION IN SCHOOL. IF YOU'RE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, YOU SHOULD POSSESS ONE COPY OF THIS BOOK LIKE YOU MAY HAVE A BIBLE IN YOUR HOME. ALSO, MAYBE A LOT US US NEED TO START SEARCHING OUR FAMILY TREE.

Whew! This is like reading four books in one as Tabio jumps between multiple storylines, spending only 2-5 pages on each before switching. One is set in present-day Mexico City and is centered on a downtrodden crime writer who gets obsessed with watching women's college basketball. Another follows a CIA operative circa 1975 as he flees Vietnam and tracks him until the present. A third is about the unionist and anarchist upheavals in Spain in the 1920s. Yet another is about Leonardo DaVinci. Most reviews I read said that it is a frustrating read at the beginning, but the end is worth it. I dispute that, as all these stories converge into what I found to be a very unsatisfying ending.

The greatest detective cracks his last case a finds out more about his past than he bargained for. Fascinating historical detail tied into a modern detective novel - buy it if you can find it

Much of the content is covered in other reviews and synopses. I found the book mesmerizing, informative, dream like. Many things I knew a little about were fleshed out in this book, such as the tragedy of Barcelona, the actual bicycle and it's a far better than average mystery too.

I believe the sub-title for this book is quite fitting. R.M. Hazen and M. Singer aptly describe the major questions facing the physical sciences. This is not, however, a book for initiates of academia. It is written in a very simplistic manner, with a touch of humor intersperced within. I would describe it as a light read on a manner of subjects.

If any of the articles arose your curiosity, ample suggestions for further reading are included in the back of the book. All-in-all, it was an enjoyable book suitable for a sunny afternoon read.

This is a wonderful book to read for anyone who enjoys science but doesn't have a science degree. This book explains questions many have pondered and it does it's best to give scientific explinations without making the reader feel as if he/she is inferrior to knowledge because they don't have a degree attached to their name. This book explains it in ways for everyone to understand, that I appreaciate.

Some have suggested that we will see the end of science when physicists eventually develop a grand unified theory. Robert M. Hazen and Maxine Singer disagree, and show that science is likely to be an ever-expanding sphere of inquiry and study far into the future. The book is clear, concise, and easy to read, with a thought-provoking introduction by Stephen Jay Gould. This is a great little book for airline flights, evenings before bedtime, or a sunny afternoon on the back deck.

The book is non-technical, without a single equation (though some of us may find this a disadvantage). Subjects include cosmology, dark matter, the fate of the universe, energy, chemistry, symmetry, geology, biology, the origin of life, aging, evolution, genetics, human development, and the search for extraterrestrials. Each section in the book provides a summary discussion of the current state of knowledge. However, it frequently only hints at the big questions in science (though most ca! ! reful readers will be able to surmise them). In this, the book's content is somewhat different from the description given on the cover. Interestingly, the book never discusses why black holes are not black.

Generally I found the book technically correct, though often abbreviated (something that would be hard to avoid, given the book's broad scope). Sometimes the abbreviated style leads to explanations that are potentially misleading. For example, the discussion of the second law of thermodynamics (see page 95) is only four paragraphs. In this short space the authors give several examples of the second law at work, concluding with the statement:

"The second law defines the direction of events in time. Water flows downhill. Rooms get dusty. Supplies of fossil fuels diminish. We grow older."

Given a correct understanding of other circumstances, the first two examples describe the second law. However, in each case we can find counter examples if we ignore the unmen! ! tioned conditions under which the second law applies. Wate! r will run uphill if pushed with an electric pump. Rooms can get less dusty if we clean them. Supplies of fossil fuels may renew over millions of years (and lots of energy from the sun). The problem with the presentation of these examples is that the book does not adequately describe the significance of spontaneous processes and the requirement for closed systems for which the second law applies. The second law of thermodynamics does not preclude open systems becoming more ordered, only that the overall disorder of any closed system must increase with time.

The example of growing older is particularly susceptible to misleading conclusions. Aging is a poorly understood process that probably has a significant genetic component. At any rate, our bodies are not closed systems. We continually assimilate energy to drive our metabolic processes in order to stay alive. Consequently, using the aging process as an example of the second law of thermodynamics is especially inappr! ! opriate in such a condensed discussion. In a later chapter, the authors actually go into great detail describing the genetic component of aging, describing the cause(s) for aging as one of the big questions in science (see pages 230 -- 235).

Except for a few similar examples, however, the book does a good job of explaining the essential aspects of scientific principles and problems at a level with which most educated Americans will feel at ease.

In addition to having no equations, the book also has no figures. A few strategically placed figures would do wonders for this book, especially in the sections describing aspects of human anatomy (the brain in particular). Even a few line drawings would help polish off the descriptions that (in the absence of drawings) are sometimes hard to follow. Also, the book does not have an index (a big disappointment to me) so when you read it, use plenty of page markers and a bright yellow pen. That's the only way you will be able to! ! go back later and look up any interesting material for fut! ure reference.

Overall, however, this was a great book and well worth the reasonable price. I am glad I bought it and took the time to read it.

Duwayne Anderson

Bob Stepto, a professo at Yale University, recalls his early youth growing up in Chicago and spending summers at a nearby lake community. He weaves his stories of the lake, school, his family and his African American community into a seamless tapestry filled with humor and warmth. Stepto is a great story teller. Don't miss it.

When I began the book, I knew the author was a sophisticated man, a professor at Yale. As I read, I discovered the depth of his observations of his life. I was awed by his understanding of what was going on around him and his wonderful way of expressing it.

What could have been just another light little book became both easy reading and deep. It exposed something of the author's soul without being maudlin or trying to find meaning that was not there.

I enjoyed the book so much, I read it again immediately to find the parts I missed the first time.

Carlos Cooks was something of the mid-20th century version of Khallid Muhammad. Think Minister Louis Farrakhan can get outrageous? You ain't heard nothing yet! Carlos Cooks (a Harlem Street Speaker of the 40s thru 60s) used a lot of wild humor and shock theater to get his message across. His speech on Adam and Eve and it's relationship to Black people must be read to be believed! It seems that there were very few leaders that he really liked. Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, Fidel Castro, and many others take their lumps here along with any Black person who diverts from his dogmatic view of Blackness. Recommended for the most hardcore of militants and Black history fans only. This ain't Martin Luther king by a longshot here, so be warned!

Carlos Cooks was much more than a mid 20th Century Khalid Muhummad. He continued the Black Nationalist legacy left by Marcus Garvey. He wasn't afraid to point out the self-hating tendencies of the Black Middle Class (or caste as he calls them). He also is unafraid to challenge the prevailing popular thought on integration (American Tradition Vetoes Integration). He also laid the foundation for the Black power movement by influencing Malcolm X among many others. This is book that should be read for those who want to understand the roots of Black Nationalism.

Today, despite the progress that has been made since the Civil Rights Act, systemic, and often unconscious discrimination persists against African Americans. Why is this the case? I believe Walters and Smith would argue that presently Americans are lack the ability to analyze society in political, economic, and structural terms. The result is that we, as a society, and African Americans, as a minority, are blind to the very obstacles that must be overcome. The value of "African American Leadership" lies in its ability to situate the discussion of African American leadership in the midst of a social, political, and historical exegesis. The weakness of the book rest with its deficiency in theoretical and methodological approaches, as well as its lack of attention to how other societal inequalities besides race (socioeconomic stratification, for instance) should be part of the discussion. Walters and Smith, take on the challenge of educating their audience about the social and historical forces that influence "Negro" and later "Black" leaders' effectiveness throughout history and even today. Towards this end, I feel "African American Leadership" has met the challenge. The contemporary pioneers of the movement towards social equity must build on and learn from Walters' and Smith's discussion.

Anyone who knows and loves the work of Haida artist, Bill Reid, will be fascinated by this behind-the-scenes account of the modelling and casting of 'Spirit of Haida Gwai'. Modelled first in clay, then cast in sections into bronze, the completed work is an enormous canoe full of figures from the mythology of the Haida Indians of the Northwest Coast of North America. The figures of the Eagle, the Raven, Bear Mother, Mouse Woman and Dogfish Woman are exquisitely carved in a style which is unmistakably that of the Northwest Coast, yet it also has a distinctly contemporary feel that reflects Reid's ability to draw upon his heritage while remaining creative and original in his work. The construction process is documented in detail with over eighty black and white photographs, while the text explores the symbolism and meaning of these tantalising figures from Haida mythology who share the canoe and a common cultural ancestry. The making of this wonderful sculpture must surely be one of the greatest achievements of Reid's long and successful career as a highly talented and original sculptor and jeweller. For those who know Reid's work this book is a must, providing a fascinating record of his working methods. For those who have not yet encountered Reid's work, this book provides a golden opportunity to meet some of the characters which dominate his work. All will marvel at Bill Reid's skill as a sculptor in producing this beautiful, immense, and impressive piece of work, a process which has been beautifully and sensitively recorded in the pages of this book. (Reviewed by M.Simpson

From back of book:
Hawaii in the 1880's was a land of troubled beauty, seething with native rebellion, natural disasters, and the violent greed that followed the discovery of black pearls.

And while danger raged through paradise, in the tempestuous splendor of a tropic storms, two longing hearts were joined.

Peter Darien , the handsome , daring master of Darien Ranch who clashed with destiny to protect his land- and his love.

Rosalind, a passionate innocent became a woman in Peter's arms, and together they fought those who came to rape their island for plunder and challenged lust and hate for a love as rare as BLACK PEARLS.

Rome is the peaceful city in the shadow of the Vatican and the war stays far away. Until. This moving true story of the systematic collection and deportation of the Jews of Rome by the Nazis will deeply affect you.