This book explains how the U.S. government is operating OUTSIDE of the Constitution and the Common Law -- the supreme law of the land. It explains how the government has moved us out of common law jurisdiction and into statutory law (merchant law) jurisdiction. It tells what you, as a freeborn, sovereign individual can do to reclaim your common law rights to life, liberty, and property. It also explains the difference between rights and privileges. It is a must read for anyone who fears the usurpation of power by the federal government via the abrogation of common law rights of citizens -- "we the people."

this book is one of the most significant books available. it should be required reading for everyone of all ages. so much information which is not commonly known but should be is in this short, easy to read book. this book provides the real meaning of being an American as intended by the Founding Fathers.

I highly recommend this book as an introduction to anyone interested in how "Our" government really functions and how it continually violates the Constitution of the united States of America. If you want to retain your "Rights" as a Citizen" this is a must.

I have been researching this, and related subjects for almost twenty-five years and it is an eye opener even for me. I would also recommend Cracking the Code, 3rd Edition from BBCOA. Visit them at their website ... (I am not on their payroll.)

Not for the faint of heart or the typical "government school mis-educated" person. If you are not able or willing to think for yourself you should leave this book where you find it.

I started this book with much anticipation and for the first couple of hundred pages or so it did not disappoint. The discussion of and facts concerning the interaction of Johnson and Nixon with the people around them was extremely interesting, and revealed much about their "hubris" (i.e. how each of them treated their families and associates was very interesting). Then... well the author began an ethics lesson with painfully long discussions at the beginning of each chapter regarding the various levels of hubris without really, in my opinion, applying them clearly to Johnson or Nixon. In second half of the book, he continually referenced to their respective actions regarding Vietnam and Watergate (in Nixon's case), as examples of hubris. Clearly Johnson and Nixon displayed hubris in how each acted during and in response to such events and clearly such events were huge during that time, but how often can you reference to the same events as examples of hubris. In addition, I'd be surprised if the author missed any historical quote regarding hubris, even remotely, from any recognizable historical figure.. there were, it seemed, hundreds of quotes, which slowed me down considerably. Finally, there were some glaring incorrect statments in the book such as, for example, toward the end there is a passage about a possible Nixon impeachment trial in the Senate before Chief Justice Rehnquist!!!!! Warren Burger would have presided.

Again, not bad, but too long and bogged down with repetition, ethical sermonizing and needless and endless quotes.

I've just put down Richard Curtis' book, "Hubris and the Presidency," and it has left me with a great sadness. It leaves one with a sense of shame, almost,that such a glorious conception as democracy has become so subverted, and perverted, as to have become a battle between two almost indistinguishable groups of politicians intent on maintaining their positions of power, and access to the money derived thereby. What makes me the saddest, however, is the realization, through the examples Curtis has chosen, that it might be said that any president (or other politician) will pay the price of overwhelming hubris eventually even if he was not born with traits that encouraged the development of that hubris in the extreme in the presidency.

The quote on page 613 by David Frost, in trying to pin Nixon down on how he justified the illegalities he (Nixon) had resorted to, tells a great deal about my hypothesis: "Nixon's answer will probably resonate throughout history as the epitome of an hubristic president: 'Well, when the president does it, that means it is not illegal.'"

Since I was teethed on the age of FDR, and have lived through many and varying types of presidencies since then, we feel most acutely the risk that any mere man must run if he is to persuade his party he can persuade the electorate to make him president. Although few presidents have reached the horrifying levels of pure criminality permitted by that hubris as LBJ and RMN with Vietnam and Watergate, if the lives and deeds of others before and after them were examined as closely as Curtis does these two, the similarities, I am sure, would be even more striking than appears to us through limited memory alone.

I am also mightily impressed by the sheer volume of research, from details of their lives to the quotes of those who "knew them when." More significantly, I am impressed with Richard Curtis' ability to pull it all together in such a masterly way that one can read through the whole thing and find a sense of continuity, a nice flow, as it were, to the narration in support of his thesis, that one can indeed finish such a lengthy book, and one of such intensity, without flinging one's hands up in despair at the sheer volume of the material. I am really impressed!

Hubris and the Presidency: The Abuse of Power by Johnson and Nixon is an intriguing and well-balanced book about the modern American presidency.

The central thesis of Hubris is that excessive pride and self-confidence (what the Ancient Greeks called "hubris") intoxicates American presidents and eventually is the cause of their eventual downfall and self-destruction.

There are thirteen concepts that comprise hubris in Curtis's schema ranging from delegation and confrontation to paranoia, isolation and "immolation" (being consumed by the flames of political ambition and misdeeds.) Curtis devotes a chapter on each concept to both Johnson and Nixon. What results from this parallel, back-to-back presentation is a careful and examination of the characters and foilables of each man and how thier egos, inflexibility and faulty decisions consumed them.

Secondly, what emerges from the book is an interesting blend of history, psychology and political analysis, written in a lively story-telling style that appeals both to the scholarly, as well as the general reader. There are a lot of interesting facts about the Office of the President that are both revealing and illustrative of how the ever-increasing costs, complexity and power of the Office contribute to hubris. Patterns of presidential behavior, which at the time seemed unreasonable, with hindsight, fit the hubris model.

Finally, one clear conclusion of Hubris is how complicated the modern American presidency has become. It is no longer the stuff of great national myths. Instead, it has become a window for showcasing national character flaws and to pillory any individual who holds the office and dares to damage the American mystique.

This book is great for all ages! I would recomend it for anyone looking for a fun innocent adventure novel writen by a devoted father and his son. I agree this book is a must buy!

Admittedly -- and literally -- the work of a ten-year-old, this book still charms you, and takes barely half-an-hour to read. It's not spectacular, but its scope and vision (spanning a voyage from Antarctica to to Martinique and beyond) do captivate. I'd say it's a must-buy, especially as a first-edition.

I purchased this book in order to plan a 6 week trip to New Mexico and Arizona. If you want a book that will clearly and intelligently tell you about everything in these two states, this is a good option. Unfortunately, this book isn't very helpful in prioritizing sites. For example, I'm sure every single indian pueblo is listed, but it's difficult to tell which ones are worth allocating time to. Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent book, but, if this is your first visit to the area, you will need a more opinionated book to help you sift though the many, many sightseeing options.

I had earlier editions of this book and just loved them. We found the best places to stay, motels and bed and breakfasts that are really special, at a great price. I used this book for planning many trips to the Southwest, for myself and friends, and it was always a great experience. It is the best reference books on places to eat and to stay, phone numbers of attractions etc. You can find every place in the Southwest. However, I would still use another travel guide for more detailed information about e.g. national parks and monuments or specific hiking tips.

This work can be utilized by experienced field personnel. Lacks definitions of many terms and techniques for identifications, referred to in the dichotomous key. Common names for the family and genus are rarely used. However, the photos and illustrations provided are of very good quality. The guide provides the necessary detail required for general field use of mammal skulls.

This is an outstanding book for field identification of mammal skulls. I highly reccommend this book for any student of mammology or any one interested in Zoology

Together with its companion volume, Snakes of North America: Eastern and Central Regions, this book provides a complete reference to snakes north of the U.S.-Mexico border. It is the weaker of the two volumes, however. It is slimmer, less detailed and lacks the eastern/central volume's bibliography and glossary. It covers snakes on a species-by-species basis (rather than by subspecies, which is the case in the eastern/central volume), which leaves most subspecies with a paragraph of description at most. (Are western subspecies less well-defined than eastern subspecies?) The difference probably results from the fact that the eastern/central book drew upon Tennant's earlier books on Florida and Texas snakes; this book did not have the same advantage. As well, errors in the book suggest that more careful editing was needed. At least one set of range maps was reversed, and there have been reports that some of the garter snake photos were mixed up. Accuracy in a field guide is essential; errors here can compound themselves down the road. Still worth having.

The collaborative effort of veteran herpetologist and herpetoculturist R. D. Bartlett and writer, wildlife lecturer, wilderness guide, and herpetologist Alan Tennant, Snakes Of North America: Western Region is a comprehensive guide to the wide variety of snake species found in the western region of North America. Enhanced with 186 full-color photographs, maps of habitat and range, abundance, size, venom status, prey, and behavior of species, and much, much more, Snakes Of North America: Western Region is confidently recommended as being a first-rate reference and field guide filled from cover to cover with the collective wisdom of two experienced herpetological professionals.

I am convinced that the author left no stone unturned when it came to researching this book.

There is, sadly, a problem: Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING, to the smallest detail) he ever learned about the Wisconsin River's natural and social history is shared with the reader; however, the information is presented very ineffectually due to poor formatting. Moreover, the facts regarding the Wisconsin River are all there, but instead of bringing her rich history to life it is merely documented in an oh-so-dry manner.

That being said, the book is a very good reference source and deserves three stars for that reason alone.

Wow - Professor Durbin did a FANTASTIC job with this book. I have been an avid Wisconsin River buff my entire life. Professor Durbin brings to life the stories of the nation's "hardest working" river. Incredible narratives, coupled with great insight on the nature and geography of the various regions.

I've canoed over 150 miles of this famed river. Professor Durbin's book is critical to anyone planning a trip. If not for the paddling and navigation notes alone, his book makes you appreciate those who have travelled this path before!

What's in a Name? Actually, quite a lot as you will discover if you get this interesting, informative book. As a non-native of Colorado I have often wondered at, and about, some of the names I encounter when entering the outskirts of a city, town or settlement. For instance, what would motivate someone to name a town Firstview, or Last Chance, or Ophir? More times than not my inquiries of locals or natives were less than satisfactory. It is amazing the number of citizens that do not know why or how their community received its name. Thus, you can imagine my delight when I discovered this gem of a book. No longer do I have to rely on finding the right person in a town to provide me with the source of the town name or visit the local library to satisfy my curiosity. The book provides historical, geographical, and geological information on Colorado cities, towns, settlements, villages, and crossroads within all 63 present day counties. In addition, there is an abundance of stories associated with the naming of the sites that simply "seemed worth telling." The town of Ophir was named after a verse in the bible, 1 Kings 9:28 which some say has sustained the town. Some say Telluride, the famous ski resort, was named for the chemical element Tellurium even though the area contains no Tellurium! Others say that prospective visitors were warned by prospectors and miners: "To Hell You Ride." 19th century literary interests led to the naming of Montrose. The name was selected from the popular works of Sir Walter Scott, specifically his 1819 novel The Legend of Montrose. Ah, but there is more, much more. Want to know about Delta, Saw Pit, Silverton, Aspen? What about Firstview and Last Chance? They, and many more, are all here. If you are a history buff, traveler, or just curious about Colorado place names this is the book for you. It is inexpensive, just the right size to take with you in the car, and easy to read. Now, what is this about Mount Sneffels and Jules Verne's A Journey to the Centre of the Earth?...(p.151).

This CD lives up to the high quality standards of the Peterson Field Guide series and is a marvelous introduction to bird songs. I have taught ornithology courses for a number of years and this is the CD I recommend to my students.

To anyone just discovering the joys of birding, visual identification of birds can be overwhelming with over 650 species found in North America alone. If visual identification is difficult, audio identification can be nearly impossible.

BACKYARD BIRD SONG comes to the rescue by focusing the listener's attention on 28 of the most common backyard birds. Learning these songs and calls will boost your confidence and enable you to identify nearly all of the birds you hear on a daily basis. The recordings are grouped into categories of similar sounds such as "sing-songers" and "whistlers." This clustering facilitates comparisons of potentially confusing bird vocalizations.

The CD's one down side is that you cannot go directly to the song of a given bird. You are limited to selecting a song grouping and then waiting for the desired bird.

The author and his wife left the big city to live as close to nature as possible. They built a one room cabin without electricity or water and proceeded to live amongst the wildlife and try to learn as much as they could in a short period of time. I think they ended up living this way for several years. (I read this a year ago and when I saw that no one had reviewed it, I felt compelled to do so.) They were so inclined to live without disturbing the wildlife that they let a mouse build a nest inside their cabin and proceeded to watch it raise a family undisturbed. The writer describes herds of deer gathering in his yard, or spending the better part of a weekend digging for a water well. This isn't Thoreau, but after a sluggish start, it entertains and allows you a short visit into their primitive and simple lifestyle.