I first encountered Cordwainer Smith when I was in grade school, checking every book out of the library that I could find under Science Fiction. Some of my favorite stories were the often-anthologized "Game of Rat and Dragon" and "Scanners Live in Vain." I began seeking out his stories anywhere I could find them, but aside from the wonderful novel Norstrilia, I could find few more.

How exciting that the NESFA Press has brought all of these stories together in one book. It was such a joy rediscovering old favorites, and also finding real gems (such as "The Dead Lady of Clown Town") I had never seen anywhere before.

This volume is a must-have for anyone who cares about classic science fiction short stories. In it are some of the best examples of the genre. A short list of the stories in this volume that you MUST read would include: "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard", "The Game of Rat and Dragon", "A Planet Called Shayol", "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons", and the aforementioned "Dead Lady of Clown Town."

The title of one of Smith's collections that originally contained many of these stories was You Will Never Be the Same. What a great title, and how accurate. You won't be.

At the age of thirteen, I fell on a beat up copy of Norstrilia, and fell in love with Smith's works. I soon got a copy of "The Best of Cordwainer Smith" and it vanished on a summer camp trip. It took me years to replace it. Imagine my delight to have all those loved stories in one (heavy) volume, unlikely to go astray!

As you probably know, Smith was actually Dr. Paul M.A. Linebarger, a Johns Hopkins professor and specialist in Asian affairs. He was a master of psychological warfare.

His stories fit no easy category. They are not fantasy, they are not hard science fiction, they are not alternative history. They incorporate bits and pieces of Asian culture and myth. They are often troubling, haunting. "The Dead Lady of Clown Town" ends with most of its characters dead or with their minds wiped, yet it is a happy ending for all that, with Joan's views obviously spreading through the underpeople. "Under Old Earth" is a fascinating tale, filled with allusions that must be beyond the scope of this note. Even "War No. 81-Q", the original version of which was written by Smith as a teenager, is an excellent story. "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" is simply one of the great SF short stories of all time. I could go on, but . . .

The volume also includes the Casher O'Neill trilogy, that I had read of, but not seen before.

If you haven't read Smith before, this is how to buy his stories, so that you have them all. If you have--well, again, you'll have them all.

It's worth it. Buy it.

Cordwainer Smith is one of the most unique and original authors to ever write science fiction, and is definitely among my favorites. These stories are the best of Cordwainer Smith, though he also wrote Nostrilia, a good book that nevertheless pales in comparison to the selections in The Rediscovery of Man. What I like about Smith is that he has a sense of the epic in science fiction, while still maintaining the focus of his writing: humans and near-humans (the underpeople). Many of his stories deal with love, something to be admired in a genre that often ignores this important concept. Especially in "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell", "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard", "The Burning of the Brain", and "Three to a Given Star", Smith shows his competency in this area, giving often heart-wrenching accounts of the survival of love in this far flung future. Other key stories include "The Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal", the horrifying "A Planet Named Shayol", and "The Dead Lady of Clown Town". Such stories show an incredible depth of imagination, though Smith never loses touch with his characters, imbuing them real emotion and intelligence. If I had one complaint it would be that Smith sometimes lets his imagination run wild, creating a story that is a little too abstract. This is shown in "Under Old Earth", the only story I had trouble finishing. This, however, is a minor grievance, and the pure brilliance of the other stories occludes this one misstep. Give yourself a chance to appreciate this often overlooked genius.

Having once coached varsity high school basketball for 13 years and having heard Coach Wooden speak at numerous clinics, I can personally attest to the authenticity of this book's contents. It correctly suggests both the man's wizardry and humanity. Jabbar and Walton have almost nothing in common except their talent to play basketball and their love and respect for Coach Wooden. He is proud of them but probably just as proud of hundreds of other players (most known only to him, their families, and friends) who are physicians, educators, artists, attorneys, public servants, corporate executives, entertainers, etc. He set very high standards, especially for himself. He prepared for each practice and each game with meticulous care. He hated losing for lack of a maximum effort but accepted defeat (after a maximum effort) with exceptional style and grace. Anyone who has any association with children, especially those privileged to coach at any level, should read this book. And may I add, anyone who feels adrift in her or his life should also read this book. The "lessons" provided helped to win so many NCAA national basketball champlionships; they also helped to develop the character of those who played on the U.C.L.A. teams which won them.

Coach John Wooden's new book is a keeper. I would recommend placing it on your desk at work and living every day by a new phrase or paragraph because each tactful sentence is well placed and full of purpose. He discusses from his childhood to his marriage how he used a few little philosophies sewn into his daily life by his parents and his own eagerness for learning. He is a man who is at his own peace of mind who knows clearly who he is and what his purpose is, and with this book you too can learn your peace of mind and your purpose in life. The book is excellent to live by or just pick and choose sections to live by from day to day. I recommend any persons infatuated with sports or just infatuated with anything beside themselves, because that's not the key to being successful in a sport or business or any career or objective. Through points he's lived by, intriguing questions, some of his own favorite poetry, and some life history, John Wooden can turn a life around if one would live by his principles.

I bought this book while visiting the UCLA campus to attend a mens' basketball game. I received "Practical Modern Basketball" from my high school coach as a gift when I began my teaching and coaching career in 1976. This became my coaching bible for years to come. When I saw this new book, Wooden, I bought it without hesitation, thinking that John Wooden's "Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court" was as much a mystery as it was curiosity relative to my appreciation and utilization of the words of wisdom provided in the book I received as a gift in 1976.

My career in public education has allowed me to seriously reflect on my life as it pertains to personal gratification of preparing for unknown opportunities and being able to rationalize with poise and confidence. I attribute many successes in my life to the Wooden philosophy that I followed in my early years of my career. Wooden's, reflections, is an outstanding assessment of what a man of Mr. Wooden's character achieved through hard work, dedication to his own philosophy, and the love for life and people. I have recommended this book to personnel within my organization,to coaches and friends. It is also a great asset for parents who need direction in how to raise their children, basing all dialoge and communication on respect. I truly respect the real value of this book as an asset to my future and my family and my responsibities as Assistant Superintendent of Schools!

Thanks, Eddie Booth, Winnemucca, NV

This is a fantasy you will never forget. The pages are covered with superior remembrance. The book is so wonderful, you won't put it down till the last page is read. This book has changed my life because it has taught me to never give up and keep trying. Like when Score, Pixel and Renald, (the main characters), were stuck in a jail cell and kept on trying to get out. They couldn't figure out a way, but they kept on trying. They tried climbing out the window, but it was too small and too high. They tried to melt the lock by combining their powers but they found out their powers weren't strong enough, yet, to melt the lock. So they took some hay and stuffed it into the keyhole. And by combining their powers again, they could catch the hay on fire and that melted the lock. The biggest reason I think this book is the best is because you didn't know what was going to happen next. This book constantly kept me in suspense. It also makes you feel like you are a part of the book. Like it was happening right before your eyes. I going to continue reading these books until I read them all!!!!!

When I first picked up this book I was skeptical, but I had extra money on hand and got it for the heck. Well, I had the same skeptism with Animorphs but the same thing happened - I love these books. The stories and plots are well thought out, and when you finally set it down you want to read it some more. The characters (Score, Pixel, Helaine and co.) are enchanting, but I would like a little more character depth, which has been happening in the Animorphs series and which I read in other such books. Overall I highly reccamend this for those who want to have a good time and get out of this dull world. Find the magic

This book is awesome!!! It's part of a presently six book series that has to appeal to fantasy lovers everywhere! The first book begins with threee children being kidnapped from their own worlds of Earth, Ordin, and Calomir by animal morphing brings called beastials. They embark on a marvelous journey in which they learn of their new magical powers.........Oh wait. You should read the book for yourself. This series has everything! From unicorns to dragons, and even goblins and centaurs, any fantasy fanatic will love it! I fanatically hope that Mr. Peel continues on after book 6 because this series is just begging to be embellished upon. By the way, did you know that if you put the books side by side in order with the covers facing you, they all interlock and create an awesome picture? Griffin

While only a slim volume of about 100 pages, Jorge Luis Borges' FICCIONES is one of the 20th century's most original and influential works. A set of two collections of short stories, ''The Garden of Forking Paths" and ''Artifices", FICCIONES was the world's first exposure to the Argentinian writer and Borges' all-around best work.

The nature of the stories which Borges crafted is so unique and subtle that it defies description. He portrayed unusual occurrences, and peppered his stories, narrated in a faux-scholastic style, with references to colourful sources that, while sounding plausible, are of Borges' own invention and can be found in no library. In the first story of FICCIONES, ''Tlon, Uqbar, Orbius Tertius," he imagines an encyclopedia mysteriously containing a entry for a country that is not to be found - at least not in our reality. ''The Approach to Al-Mutasim" is a review of a book which doesn't exist; here, in a reversal of the usual order, the review brings the book into being. ''The Babylon Lottery" and ''The Library of Babel" are both clever metaphors for the human world. In the first, Borges describes an ancient society which lets all things be decided by chance. In the second, which introduced the concept of the infinite library, the story's setting is an unimaginably vast archive whose librarians from birth to death care for books whose meanings cannot be deciphered.

Jorge Luis Borges often used several key motifs in his books, such as mirrors and labyrinths, and it is this reuse of symbols which has created the ''Borgesian" genre. These symbols and the offbeat constructions which Borges almost singlehandedly invented went on to inspire legions of writers, including Gene Wolfe and Salman Rushdie.

The translation of FICCIONES has long been a divisive issue. While some, such as myself, believe that this versions of FICCIONES follows the original Spanish closely and, in any event, Borges' genius is found not as much in his language as in his concepts, others detest this 1962 version. Andrew Hurley has recently translated all of Borges fictional stories, including FICCIONES, in COLLECTED FICTIONS published by Penguin, but even his translation has sparked new battles. Should one wish to read FICCIONES in English, however, I'd suggest getting this translation. It is less expensive than COLLECTED FICTIONS and contains only Borges' finest work. For those who can read Spanish decently, I'd recommend even obtaining the original language, as Borges' stories do not use vocabulary much outside what one gets after four-years of high school Spanish.

While some readers may not "get" Borges (he can be compared to H.P. Lovecraft in possessing great influence on some but total obscurity to others), I'd certainly recommend trying FICCIONES.

After years of running into this name, "Borges," I felt as though I were falling short of my expectations as a reader to ignore this man and his colossal reputation. Ficciones seemed to be his most widely read and critically acclaimed book, and so I inevitably found myself reading it.

To try to capture the essence of Borges in a handful of words is like trying to capture the Lochness Monster on film: impossible, but frequently attempted. With that understanding in mind, here's my assessment:

All of Borges's stories are very different, and yet they all share a common sensibility, one of understated but very deeply felt anguish. This is not the anguish of an ordinary writer feeling sorry for himself and his fate. This anguish is deep, metaphysical. You get the sense that Borges views life and his fellow human beings at a distance, and yet is able to see more and understand more from this distance. He does not attempt to explain; he simply wants to impart his sense of awe, wonder, and inevitability.

The subject matter varies widely: an infinite library, a scholarly review of the life's work of a fictional writer, a boy with a perfect memory. Some of his stories are Kafka-esqe in a nightmarish sense, while others have the intellectual playfulness of an M.C. Escher drawing: what you thought was 'up' is really 'down,' and yet once you see the big picture you realize that this is the only way it can be. The endings are as inevitable as death, and yet you rarely see them coming.

I'm not so sure that Borges wrote his stories with a specific point or message, although many of them seem to have one. I believe that most of these stories are simply meant to inspire thought and contemplation of the very issues that Borges had been thinking of when he wrote them. One could do a lot worse than to see things through the eyes of this great thinker.

My only complaint is that his stories are not as accessible as they could be, and his scholarly manner may be problematical for some. But the most effective pills are often the hardest to swallow...

Es un consuelo y, sin embargo, un profundo alivio manantial de pensar que el hombre es solamente una nueva invencion, una figura sin haber cumplido todovia dos siglos en existencia, una nueva arruga en nuestro conocimiento, y volvera ha desaparecer una vez que nuestro conocimiento haya sido discubierto." Foucault, en The Order of Things.

Ademas del obvio, esta claro que Foucault haya leido Borges poco mas o menos completamentecomensando The Order of Things con: "Este libro primeramente provino de pasajes de Borges, sale de la risa que desmenuza mientras leiya el pasaje, todos los mojones familiares de mi pensamiento - nuestro pensar, el pensamiento que lleva la stampa de nuestra edad y nuestra geografia - destrosando toda orden superficial y todo los planos con que acostumbramos a domar la profusion salvaje de cosas que existen y continuan mucho despues para estorbar y amenazar el colapso de la eterna diferencia entre el Mismo y el Otro." Foucault se referia al "The Analytical Language of John Wilkins" por Jorge Luis Borges. Sin embargo hubiese estado mejor leyendo fuera de las paginas de Ficciones. Borges nos advierte no leer tanto sobre las cosas pero simplemente gozar o sentir gusto y alegria. En su intempestivo clasico de diez y siete piezas, se manifesta Borges a su mejor. En esta seleccion y precisamente en "The Library of Babel", Borges juega con el mundo en realidad y en vano y nos enseÔa la naturaleza precaria de esa

distincion. El dirige su obra a una epistemologia que queda fuera del centro enseÔandonos la naturalesa tentativa del mundo en realidad. No tiene clasificacion del universo que es arbitrario o conjectural. Aqui es donde empiesa el enlaze con Foucault ..... Semejante a Kafka en ciertos pasajes, el llama attencion a estas zonas imaginarias y vemos que toda sabiduria, seÔas y simbolos tanto como conocimiento interior, es solo ficcion o fabricacion - fundado en construciones de palabra a palabra sea o no sea ficcion. El labirinto que es el "Library of Babel" con su forma repettitiva y topografica, y la entretexualidad que es el hex«gono carnesÍ.

"I have squandered and consumed my years in adventures of this type. To me, it does not seem unlikely that on some shelf of the universe lies a total book." Borges, "The Library of Babel".

Yo pienso que lo hemos allado aqui, en Ficciones. Todas cosas desde "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis, Tertius" a "The South", nos obsequian a una mezcla de surrealismo mundial y semillas de la desmantelacion Francesa. Si Foucault ha leido Borges, el ha reconocido la contribucion de Borges en su estudio de poder y la edficada naturaleza de "The Order of Things". Ficciones no es facil leer pero es muy recompensable. A mi me impresiono la extension de los temas y propuse hacer muchas investigaciones para alcansar lo que you sentia, a mi parecer, un trabajo poco mas o menos impenetrable. Sin embargo, a pesar de la naturalesa de un trabajocompareciente a un laberinto, como Kafka, con un poco de exfuerso llegamos a ver el humor y realizamos que ambos no quedan infinitamente incomprendible.

Miguel Llora y Barrios

I read Robbins' Diet For A New America some years ago. Over the years since then, I've wondered what he would have to say about current issues such as genetic engineering, mad cow disease, and the many dietary approaches that have become popular in recent years (Sears, Atkins, D'Adamo, etc.). Well, The Food Revolution certainly answers such questions, and much much more. It really put a lot of things together for me, and without being for a second preachy or fanatical, both informed and inspired me. In my opinion, this is a truly life-giving book. I felt so whole in my heart and soul after I finished it. I believe that this book will be immensely helpful to anyone wanting to live a healthier life. There are a lot of things that make this book special. I can't get over how beautifully Robbins writes, and what a fine human being he is. There is so much human depth and understanding, as well as important information, on every page. His many stories about his life and learnings are marvelous. Reading The Food Revolution is a way of being in the presence of a wonderfully compassionate and loving person. Some people who know a lot transmit their knowledge, and somehow I feel burdened or cluttered by it. Robbins has a way of putting things in context so that he imparts important information in a way that makes you feel uplifted and strengthened. To say The Food Revolution is motivating would be a total understatement. It is incredibly compelling. Once I started reading it, I was completely enthralled. I've read many many books over the years (I'm in my sixties, and I read a lot), and I have enjoyed and benefitted from many of them. But I am delighted to say that The Food Revolution is the best book I've ever read in my entire life. I wish I could tell you how much value I have gotten from the experience that I had reading this book. I wish I had words to express it. Robbins is a national treasure, with extraordinary integrity, who walked away from the Baskin Robbins fortune. With The Food Revolution, he has given us a truly fabulous gift. If you want to do something good for your body, heart and soul, read The Food Revolution. And then share it with as many people as you can.

If (and the big word is IF) you are serious about changing poor eating habits and choices as well as looking at the bigger picture, and actually giving a damn about where your food choices come from, and who grows and often more important whether modern day slaves are used to harvest and/or process your food, then this book is one you need to read and in my opinion, need to own and use as a reference book.

The Great American Diet Roller-Coaster chapter is one that is timely, since recent 2001 research (reputable studies) show that America has reached an all time high obesity rate of over 60%. Healthy Heart, Healthy Life is a chapter that addresses personal responsibility and deals with the high cost of eating poorly, and especially a animal based diet.And the book overall is about how we in the developed world rape the third world and how our arrogance is going to kill us. Better yet, how our ignorance IS killing us.

Misery On The Menu, and A Healthy Plant-Based Dietchapters reminded me (and I do need reminding at times) that the meat, chicken, dairy products I see in the grocery store, are NOT always (or usually) raised in humane manner or as logic suggests, slaughtered in a humane manner. Hmmm "slaughtered in a humane manner" is a bit of an oxymoron isn't it? Something I learned our son is that the meat cases in the meat department of your local grocery store are called Meat Coffins. If that doesn't tell you what you are eating when you buy meat then nothing will.

I also am happy to see John Robbins addressing the whole new world and big business of genetically altered foods, that over years and decades could easily end up providing less food and food that isn't any better than the fast food garbage that one finds in their own communities we drives down main street. Where a fast food hamburger joint oozes the smell of animal fat into the air, and when obese people buy their drug of choice.

Even having read "Diet for A New America", John Robbin's new book "The Food Revolution" BLEW me away. I believe that we should all be aware of what goes into our food and make our choices knowing all the facts. If you want to eat meat, fine, but know what goes on before it's on your table. It is our responsibility, but boy is being aware a hard thing when you realize the depths industries will go through to hide it! But after reading this book, even if only half of what he says is right (and I'm not saying only half of it is), you will gladly and easily make different food choices.

Reasons why this book is so good: 1. The book does not fingerpoint at you the consumer. Rather, he traces the issues back to the industry and government factors which allow for extraordinarily unhealthy practices so that you can make informed choices. 2. He shows a lot of compassion, when compassion is the last thing you feel. 3. He seems to have good research to back him up. I was amazed at the conclusions that the big disease research societies came to (Cancer, Diabetic, and Heart Associations) and how this does not get filtered down to the public. I was amazed at how little we are told about real nutrition and disease prevention. He also uses many comments from research scientists who are speaking out against subjects that one would think they would be in favor of. The piece on Breast Cancer had an especially strong affect on me. 4. The book is well laid out. 5. He doesn't get into the ethical right and wrong so much. Rather, he lays out the backgrounds of different subjects (Antibiotics in cattle, hormones in milk, Genetic engineering of food, etc), presents what the industry says versus what a variety of research and scientific commentary and history says, and then gives you his opinion in a non-preachy way.

You will be changed after reading this, and I think in a good way.

I read the "Great Brain" series every summer when I was a kid. As a Catholic girl living in mostly-Mormon Salt Lake City, I loved reading about this family of boys in small-town Utah. The exploits of The Great Brain, and his relationship with his brothers, and his family's relationship with the other townsfolk, made for great stories. Funny, easy to read, and thrilling stories. I now have a toddler son and can't wait for when he's older to introduce these books to him!

John Dennis Fitzgerald intended to chronicle his youth in Utah for adults, not children. His publisher thought otherwise and the result are these gems. I don't even call them children's lit gems because I find them just as enjoyable as an adult. Before I go on, you should know that Fitzgerald wrote one book about his youth that is for adults, called "Papa Married a Mormon". It is one of the most amazing books on the American west that I have ever read. Sadly, it is out of print, and you may, like me, have to pay an exorbitant sum to get a copy. Trust me, save up and do it. Now back to this book. Every single Great Brain book in the series is pure gold, and the entire set can be had cheaply, so I say buy them all at once. I "put my money where my mouth is" as Tom the Great Brain would say, and bought the lot.

I like most of the other reviewers loved these books as a kid. I recently saw a copy at a relatives house and remembered how much I enjoyed them. I wanted to get the series in a set to give to my 8 yr. old daughter for Christmas this year but can't find it available anywhere. My mother teaches English as a second language to foriegn students and last quarter she used The Great Brain as the book they had to read and report on. She has taught this class for a couple of years and always has a difficult time getting her students to read the book she has chosen. Last quarter was different, most of the class read the book ahead of schedule and she had to come up with something else to finish the quarter. I highly recomend the whole series for children and adults.

"Rites of Passage" provides an insider's advice on how to navigate through the often uncertain waters of job-changing at the executive level. It should be distinctly understood that the book is intended for higher-level executives -- much of the advice in the book is unsuitable for lower and mid management career changes. I especially liked the well-developed idea that an executive should avoid being presented to a company with a price tag on her head (the recruiter's fee), and should attempt to make herself known directly, without "representation". This is a novel idea that makes sense after you read the book, and this one idea alone is worth the read.

Lucht details an effective plan to go directly to company decision makers for the top jobs. The plan is not presented as a faddish, magic wand technique, but as a no-nonsense "elbow grease" way to get noticed.

There are some problems with the book. First, job changing at all levels is in flux these days, largely because of -- you guessed it -- the Internet. You get the idea that Mr. Lucht was caught off guard by this new big thing. He devotes only a couple of pages, stuck disjointedly in the middle of the book, to online recruitment and job-posting, and nothing at all to how technology will affect the industry.

I would have preferred a more thorough going-over of the world of contingency recruiters, but since they find jobs for lower level managers, Mr. Lucht gives the contingency recruiters a light touch.

The book is odd typographically. For some reason, text in parenthesis is in a font that appears to be several sizes smaller than the regular text, giving the reader the impression that the typesetter just discovered font menus in Microsoft Word. The text often switches between bold and regular and italic, sometimes on the same page. My eyeballs at times were crying "enough already!"

Overall, however, I would recommend the book because it contains some powerful ideas, along with an understanding of the motivations and limitations of executive recruiters. "Rites of Passage" leaves you with the impression that you just got good advice on executive job hunting from a distinguished uncle, without having to feed him dinner.

John's book is the gold standard of executive job-changing.
I just purchased my fourth copy of Rites and plan to use it to land a fourth terrific job. I discovered the Rites of Passage during my first career transition in 1989 and have followed its patented formula to multiple offers everytime. John's writing style and his thorough understanding of the transition process will make you feel as if you are sitting down and talking to an old wise friend. Thanks to John and his landmark book, my family and I have always lived a comfortable lifesyle. The Rites of Passage are a must buy for any serious executive considering a job change.

I am Executive Vice President-Sourcing of a listed U.S. company. Rites of Passage by John Lucht has helped me more than I can express in words when I had to look for a new position. The book was easy to read, very succinct and provided all the information I needed to prepare a strong resume and letter. Following the advice in the book, I sent my resume to companies I wanted to work for and was able to get a new position within a few weeks in my preferred location, Hong Kong. I owe Rites of Passage my new career! Any Executive looking for a new position could not do any better than use the guidance and help Rites of Passage provides. It is an invaluable tool and one that I will treasure always, because it helped me have a great new career. Recently, I have purchased the book for a couple friends who have been helped by Lucht's coverage of Internet job-hunting for executives, a real problem if you're stranded abroad.
Erna Zint, Hong Kong

I am the mother of a first year medical student. My daughter was at a loss in her first month at school - struggling with her Gross Anatomy Course. Our family doctor (he is actually a Neuro-Surgeon) suggested that I purchase Netter's "Atlas of Human Anatomy" swearing that he could never have gone through Anatomy it. I live in Malaysia and my daughter is studying in the Philippines. In both countries, we could not find this book! I found it right here at Amazon! The book was shipped by DHL and it has since been my daughter's bedside companion. She is still struggling with her Anatomy Course...but definitely this book of Netter has helped her SO MUCH. I have read through it myself and realized how difficult it is really to be a doctor. Atlas of Human Anatomy is a genius's work of art. Netter clearly defines the anatomical parts of the human body. Other reference/text books that are of great help to Anatomy students are: Grant's Atlas of Human Anatomy (which also has a Dissector) and Rohen & Yokochi's "Color Atlas of Anatomy" which is a photographic atlas of cadavers - a very good guide for practicals. Both books (Grant's and Rohen's) are found right here at AMAZON

I have used the second edition of this beautiful atlas for several years. Now I have acquired a copy of the new, revised, and improved third edition published in 2003. It has not disappointed me. I highly recommend it.

The third edition is longer by at least 60 pages, and the pages devoted to each body region are now color-coded for quick access.

Each section devoted to a body region now begins with a surface anatomy plate. In addition, a significant number of normal radiographic images are included.

In the foreword, Consulting Editor John T. Hansen states the following:

"We balanced the addition of new surface and radiographic plates largely by eliminating several plates that contributed little to the quality of the [Second Edition]. Several plates from The Netter (formerly CIBA) Collection of Medical Illustrations were added and several plates were altered slightly to correct anatomical errors consistent with our current knowledge.... Finally, the References and the Index have been updated.

"The anatomical terminology is consistent throughout the Atlas and conforms to the International Anatomical Terminology (Terminologia Anatomica) approved in 1998 by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists. Common eponyms are retained parenthetically, and the leader lines and labels have been checked, and where necessary, corrected to ensure their accuracy."

You will hear Netter is God and although that statement is blasphemous in my book, it is fairly close to the truth. I have netter (the second edition) as most every med student on the planet has, really.

I plan to get the third edition for my reference library because my 2nd edition got gooked and dripped on in the lab as I'm sure yours will.

Netter is excellent in book form. However, whatever you do don't get the cd. It is poor in terms of clarity...

Nobody comes close to Francis!!!
Just beautiful art, you'll appreciate him once you start dissecting.

Anyone who sets out to buy an old Volkswagen will hear this book mentioned again and again, usually with great reverence and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. Well folks, it is simply not all that. Don't get me wrong -- I'm happy I bought this book, and I refer to it often -- but like other reviewers here have pointed out, it's awfully overrated within VW circles. The instructions are biased towards pre-68 cars and often gloss over details; it's very hard to track down specific solutions when all you know are the symptoms; and the diagrams, though extremely well-drawn, aren't always as effective as real photographs of the car and its parts. When I'm trying to learn how to repair something on my Beetle, I read this book first to get a friendly introduction to the work involved... but the other manuals are the ones I actually take outside to the car.

So if you've just bought a "new" Beetle or Bus that needs a lot of repair, buy this book -- but get the Bentley shop manual for your model and year at the same time as you will need to refer to it a lot. I recommend the Haynes manuals, too; they give the same procedures but in a highly effective "steps + pictures" format.

I have owned 5 VW's in my life time and wouldn't be with out this book. I have overhauled several bug engines and a bus engines following this book with great success. I have had everything from a '63 bus to a '75 bus with a few bugs in between (a friend and I even put together a 2 cylinder bug engine) with each vehicle I would purchase a copy of " How to Keep your VW Alive" and when I sold the Vehicle I would offer the book to the new owner. I have given copies of the book to friends with VWs and a copy to my son when he bought a '74 bug several years ago. In the summer 1973 my sister, her child of 5, and husband left the USA for a tour of Europe by VW bus. I gave them a copy of Muirs book and it helped keep them "Keep on Trucking" on thier merry way.

Commonly referred to as the "Idiot Manual" or the "Muir Book" among VW fanatics. It covers all air cooled VW models. It is a book that I love and cherish! It is different than any other auto manual you've ever see. It is aimed at the complete idiot! It has NO pictures and only hand drawings and illustrations. This makes all illustrations very clear because it leaves out all the extraneous stuff that photos include. It has lots of text but this is a good thing. John Muir is an old hippie that loved his VW's. He instills this love in all his readers as well. This book's strong point is teaching this love of your car as well as teaching you the ongoing maintenance. I feel the tune-up and maintenance portion of this book is better than the other books. The other big plus of this book is that it's just plain fun to read. I've read it cover to cover a few times. It's that entertaining! The only weak part of this book is for serious (professional) mechanic's who want a technical manual for ALL parts of the bus. for example, here is an actual quote from the book. "The trans (transaxle) overhaul is not in this book. Not only can't you do it but we won't either." I don't mind that one bit! I couldn't do it so I appreciate them telling me. It covers the basic maintenance and repair (99% of anything you will need done on your car/bus) in a clearer, step by step, way than any other book. If I had to have only one repair book, this would be it, without question.

I purchased my first Thompson Chain Reference Bible as a new believer back in the 70's. It was and continues to be the best study Bible for those who desire to search out the Word for themselves and compare scripture with scripture. And, the extensive Bible study helps in the back of the Bible do add a rich dimension in addition to the topical chain references.

I was a little concerned about the "new" TCR's as several reviewers mentioned degradations in quality and I certainly didn't like the thin glossy paper I saw in the hardbacks in the bookstore. I was delighted today when I received my large print deluxe leather edition Bible.

The Bible I received has excellent flat, opaque Bible paper perfect for note-taking. And, the binding appears to have stitching in addition to the glue, so I'd say the quality of the binding is fine and should serve one well for years.

One caveat in regard to the large print edition--It is LARGE! Not the print (it's 9 point instead of the regular 8), but the Bible itself. It's not so unwieldy that I would think twice about using it, but if size is an issue for you, check the dimensions and choose accordingly.

I can't say enough good things about this Bible. It has my highest recommendation; you won't be sorry in choosing this Bible.

I have owned one version or another of the Chain Reference Bible since I was a teenager in the seventies. My 'standard' Bible has been the large print KJV for many, many years and it remains the first Bible I pick up. I purchased the NIV Chain Reference, but just didn't like the translation, it just didn't 'read' right for me. I've enjoyed the NAS translation, but it is awfully dry reading when the heart desires poetry. So, I ended up purchasing the NKJV. It has been a real pleasure to read, combining the elegance of the KJV with a modern and accurate adaptation.

As for the chain reference system used by Thompson, it's such a part of my Bible reading and study that I'd have a really hard time switching to another system. Some of the illustrations and charts have been revised from my older KJV, but not to an extreme. The Thompson system remains, for me, the quickest and easiest way to study a topic through the Bible, or just through either the New or Old Testament. The Bible also includes an excellent concordance; for someone new to chain reference study they can start with the traditional concordance and work their way into the Thompson system. Also included are excellent maps, revised from the earlier versions, and a historical dictionary with photos of significant Biblical locations, with explanations.

I agree with another reviewer that Nelson Bibles are, in general, not made for people with serious intentions on daily Bible use. They are constructed down to a price, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as these can provide a very inexpensive introduction to the Bible. However, when one is ready to use a Bible in a serious, daily way, a better Bible will easily pay for its higher price.

Though this Bible is well-made, it is NOT as well made as my older, large print KJV. My older Bible has whipstitching clearly seen in front and back, with pages secured as well today as when I bought it. This newer Bible appears to have pages that are glued in like cheaper ones. Additionally, the paper is comletely different than my older edition, and thinner. The older paper had almost an eggshell texture, whereas the newer paper is much slicker and thinner. In first use it's really quite difficult to get the pages apart. However, it's still a very well-made Bible, just not up to the standard of the older ones. That should in no way deter someone from buying it, though.

As a one-volume Biblical library, I haven't seen anything to beat the Thompson's. As another reviewer noted, it's also refreshingly free of editorial bias, which certainly can't be said of all its competitors. Most of all, each of us needs to find a Bible they can live with daily, and any Bible available is better than none at all! Thompson Bibles aren't inexpensive but they will last twice as long as cheaper Bibles, particularly if kept in a cover. Also, the supplemental atlases and historical additions might well save purchase of other books to accompany Biblical study. Highly recommended!

I love the New King James Version, put out by Thomas Nelson, but I loath Thomas Nelson Bibles. This is how I happened upon the Thompson a few years ago as I was relieved to find a NKJV not made by T.N. I first bought an NKJV in bonded leather. After 2 years of very heavy use, I bought an NKJV in genuine leather, and later a handy size KJV in genuine. All three of these Bibles are wonderful in every way.

The Thompson Study system is very helpful and they've graciously spared us from a myriad of religious cliche and personal opinion. The page layout is smart. The Bible text actually fills the page and all study helps and references are relegated to the side margins. There are so many ways to use the studies and references, I am unable to number them here. The concordance is as extensive as any I've seen. The 14 maps are colorful and very well done. Simply put, it's a complete, Jesus-exalting study Bible designed with excellence.

The construction of these Bibles is equally impressive. The paper is just right--not too thick, not too thin. The print is dark and sharp. Their font is subtil and very appropriate for the Bible, if you ask me. The red words of Jesus are RED. They're not muddy brown; they're not pink; they're bright, deep, beautiful red. They are printed consistantly page to page, not some pages lighter or misprinted, as the Thomas Nelson folks are plagued by.

Now that I own three Thompsons, I feel about them the way a good ol' boy down in the South feels about shotguns. "I have more than I need, but not as many as I want!"