"North Star to Freedom" is a matter of fact Canadian view of the American Underground Railroad and the historical periods it existed written for children. Considering that Canaan and the Promised Land were used as code words for Canada in spirituals used in the Underground Railroad it is an intriguing viewpoint. People weren't happy as slaves but being a fugitive slave in another state or country was a tough situation. People risked recapture, started out poor, and struggled against racial prejudice. The Underground railroad is portrayed as varying from kind people acting on impulse to help a runaway to highly organized conductors and stations. Slavery is honestly shown as existing throughout Canada and the United States in different degrees. Occasional freedom from slavery through manumission and self-purchase through savings are mentioned. The only problem I have with the book is that it covers freedom earned by slaves fighting for the Loyalist Cause and emigrating to Canada but not the Patriotic slaves earning their freedom on the American side in regiments such the First Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War. The result was a stable population of free African -Americans in Canada and New England sometimes assisting others to freedom and often camouflaging them. The 1793, Canada legislated the eventual freeing of all its slaves and declared any American slaves crossing the border were free. In contrast, The United States of America passed the first Fugitive Slave Law in 1793 to give slave catchers the right of search and seizure in any state. The Underground Railroad became organized around that time. Some slaves went all the way to Canada but many disappeared into the communities of free African-Americans in the North. Some became active in the Underground Railroad to help others escape, some became well-known abolitionists, some struggled to create a new life for themselves. The Second Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 put all fugitive slaves and some free African-Americans at risk of being captured and sent into slavery on the word of a slave hunter and any white person claiming to be their owner. Active abolitionists who had escaped slavery years previously were especially at risk. Roughly forty thousand fugitive slaves went to Canada. Some returned to fight for the North in the Civil War. After the American Civil War, about two thirds of the fugitive slaves returned to the United States. "North Star to Freedom" describes succinctly how and why the Underground Railroad existed. I would recommend it as a reference book for elementary and middle schools that could also be read for pleasure. The historical treatment of slavery and the Underground Railroad is excellent for the age group. The period illustrations create a parallel story to capture readers.

The expression "street smarts" describes the "feel," the savvyness, the sensitivity, and the skills to survive in the fast-moving, rough-and-tumble world of the streets. Business, personal-it doesn't matter. You have it or you don't. And if you have it, your chances of being on top are consistently better than if you fall haplessly into the category of the clueless.

An amazing number of people show up for work each day, go through the motions, do what they think is right, and go home. They simply "attend" work. Then there are those who mysteriously "get it" and move through the bureaucratic maze like a knife through butter. They seem to have something special, something that sets them apart. Out in the real world, we'd call it "street smarts." In the closed world of the workplace, it's "organization smarts." Got it? If not, read this book.

David Brown has been there, done that, and probably still wears the tee shirt-but it won't show where you can see it. He's moved from job to job in the fast moving worlds of corporations, politics, government (Deputy Mayor of New York), and higher education. If you wanted to find a mentor, a coach, to draw from, here he is. So, curl up at his feet and learn the secrets to success in the organizational environment.

Five chapters. Organized, tight, together. Not complicated. Chapter 1 takes us right into Understanding the "Real" Organization. Moving from sources of information (official and unofficial), Brown dives right into the culture, the customs, and the power. Now that we know the territory, Brown shifts to us: Establishing a Credible Reputation. Learn about things you should know-like first impressions, who you're seen with, and living your reputation so you're real. Chapter Three delves into Understanding What Others Want, a powerful concept in organizational success. Meetings, negotiations, commitment from others.

Chapter 4 addresses an interesting aspect of organizational maneuvering: working with experts. Brown emphasizes the importance of learning from experts, gaining and building on knowledge and skills from all sources. Chapter 5 explores the most difficult application of organizational smarts: changing the status quo. Changes often have to be made to move an organization ahead. Identifying needs for change and engaging in the conversations and tasks to accomplish those changes in ways that everyone is happy can put you in an influential position in an organization.

This book is recommended for college graduates entering the real world of work, for people who have been "floating" in organizations without realizing their potential, and for up and coming leaders who want to "up-and-come" faster and more effectively.

This is a fascinating book on the early steam warships. Before I read this book, I only imagined paddle boats to be like mississippi river boats. The book has all the technical information one would need on the design and technology of these warship, including great b/w photos and diagrams.

This is the only book dealing with this subject in the US, yet its subject is one that the practicing physician deals with on a day to day basis. The book is comprehensive and has an enormous clinical content. It belongs in the library of every practicing internist. We can only hope that, in the year 2000, a new edition is being planned.

A Picture Book Of Sacagawea is an illustrated children's book with a brief biography of Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who served and guide and interpreter for the exploration/journey of Lewis and Clark into the great Northwest territory of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. From her birth in 17888 or 89 in Idaho to the end of the expedition in Fort Mandan, August of 1806, the biography gives known details of Sacagawea's many helpful and courageous actions. Her eventful life is still incompletely known. The dates of her death are given as "either December 20, 1812, or April 9, 1884." But her life is definitely an example of inspiration to young readers. The colorful illustrations are complementary but not distracting from the simply written text. The author and illustrator give special thanks to Brigham D. Madsen, author of The Northern Shoshoni and Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Utah. In addition, there is a selective bibliography to encourage young readers to look further for information about this Shoshoni woman. A Picture Book Of Sacagawea is an excellent resource for elementary or middle school age students.

Nancy Lorraine, Reviewer

This book is targeted toward students of California, but it certainly is readable enough to appeal to the general reader from California (like me?). People from other states probably would not find much of interest, except tangentially (for example, Arizona is on a tangent to California?).

First, the authors review the history of the state, from the Native American roots through the Spanish and Mexican years, through the admission to the United States. Following this is an interesting discussion of the types of government, from state to local, with helpful explanations. The style of writing is clear, not verbose or arcane in any way.

Particularly helpful to me was the discussion of the evolution of the tax revolt, embodied in the Jarvis-Gann Initiative, which became law, limiting property tax values to 1% of assessed valuation. Also, the etiology of the environmental movement, and of minority politics in California, was elucidated.

For example, Californians are vaguely aware that water has always been problematic, especially in the more arid Southern California area. Here in this book we learn the history of the various aquaducts and the ongoing battle between Northern and Southern California for water. We surmise, therefrom, about what might happen in the future (for example, water shortages in Southern California, et cetera). This will help us Californians to make decisions in the future, even if only by means of our one vote per person.

Californians of all ilks can benefit from this book, which offers a balanced and informative discussion of issues from the past up to the present.

Diximus

A thorough work on two fascinating snakes that have become a nuisance to people and animals, and the collaborate efforts taken to control them. It explains why these snakes became a problem and why they need to be managed now. It contains creative and thoughtful research on the capture (and escape), behavior and biology of these snakes. From a scientific perspective, it looks at why some techniques don't work, which are working, and areas of present and future control methods including the pros and cons of each.

My two year old loves this book, simple concept that is well developed, one of the few books I originally took out from the library and then felt compelled to go on and buy.

What a superb book about interesting subjects. If you want to do global business then you should read how these areas will and can impact upon your business and life. At the same time, if you are looking for a place to start to read how foreign policy is developed, this is the book.

J ANTHONY BROWN IS A GREAT ACTOR, COMEDIAN AND NOW WRITER. I LISTEN TO HIM ON THE TJM SHOW EVERYDAY J, TOM, CYBIL, MYA AND MRS DUPREE KEEP ME LAUGHING ON MY WAY TO WORK EACH MORNING. SO WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE BOOK I HAD TO GET IT. CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS IS SO TRUE THAT ITS FUNNY. YOU GOTTA LOVE MISS WIDE LOAD WALLACE. ONE MY FAVORITES WAS "............... THE CHURCH SHOT GLASS FOR COMMUNION. UNTIL IT CAME INTO BEING, EVERYONE HAD TO TAKE A SWIG AND PASS THE BOTTLE" IF YOU LIKED 150 WAYS TO TELL IF YOUR GHETTO THEN YOU'LL LIKE THIS ONE AS WELL