I started listening to the audio tape some time ago in the car, and was initially somewhat ambivalent about the program. However, within fifteen minutes, I was thoroughly engaged, and fifteen minutes after that, wiping held-back tears from the corners of my eyes, wondering if "Nathaniel" (as in Hale) would be a good name for my future son.

Our forefathers, with courage and genius, created the most immitated society the world has ever known. How proud and fortunate this audio book makes one feel. I'm committed to listening to it with my teenage nieces and nephews on a "captive" drive sometime. It'll be a great topic for discussion.

This book was a gift from my uncle, and one that I was thrilled to receive. I have a passion for learning about the Founders and the War that defined the way we live today. The author brings out the best quotes, poems, and letters from the most influential men in American history. Their level of devotion is unparalleled throughout the world. I find it most admirable that these men relied on God for their wisdom and through prayer and faith they pledged their "sacred honor" to the cause. I am only a high school student, but I understand that these values apply to everyone in every class. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for God or guidance.

Our form of government has been the most lasting, widespread innovation in modern history. As wonderful as that is, in many ways it is even more wonderful to return to the frame of mind and the values that engendered this invention.

Although (as Bill Bennett rightly points out) our founding Fathers (and Mothers) often fell far short of their own ideals and were profoundly skeptical about the potential of people to do the right thing, they also aspired to a kind of virtue on Earth that combined true nobility of spirit and deed with good relations towards others.

Bennett has put these ideals into the following categories: patriotism and courage; love and courtship; civility and friendship; education of the head and heart; industry and frugality; justice; and piety. You can dip your inquisitive toe into any of these, whenever you want. .... I suggest that in addition to buying a copy for yourself, that you plan to give this book as a gift to your children and grandchildren as they reach the age when they will begin to make important moral choices for themselves. .... In most cases, I felt like the material here was stating timeless principles that do apply today ....

Bennett does a nice job as editor in explaining the context of each passage. His love of these people, these ideals, and these words is obvious. It will move you. And hopefully inspire you to follow the good advice in those words.

Nicely done, Bill Bennett! This is a good use of history . . . to help us learn not to repeat the mistakes of the past needlessly.

Ever since we got our dogs ... we have been reading and reading dog related books ... mostly out of interest and sometimes because we needed advice with particular issues we're encountering with our canine family members ...

Some books were far too general, a few (fortunately very few) actually contained bad or poor advice ... most were reasonably good & useful ...

But by far ... this is the best we have come across ...

The author makes no pretence at offering quick or instant solutions ... in the first few chapters and without emotional tangents (we all think our dogs understand us *laughs*) he takes the reader through the psychology and mindset of a dog, ... it becomes very clear that the author believes a dog cannot be effectively trained simply by rote, punishment or treats ... but through a process of learning to understand their true nature and positive healthy reinforcement ...

But what makes the most difference is that ... the author is prepared, without fear of alienating his readers, to require dog owners to delve into their own psychology and inner nature ...

This approach makes the book all the more useful ... it made me realise the futility of trying to train our dogs, without first considering how I might be affecting them, with my behaviour and reactions (conscious & subconscious) ... I was asked to consider how my own understanding or lack ... might be causing or contributing to the dogs' good as well as bad behaviour ... The book also provides useful case studies and plenty of practical advice.

It does require a little more concentration than one would normally devote to the reading of a pet training book ... but the effort is well worth it ... any dog owner, new and experienced will benefit ...

... This is a very good read ... this book offers much more than the usual approach of 'tell the dog to sit, and reward it with a treat' ... the author approaches the problem of bad dog behaviour from the owner's perspective, as well as from the dog's perspective ... a holistic approach that avoids harsh punishment ... The author tells us that in order to correct a dog, oftentimes we must first as owners correct ourselves, our approach ... our whole attitude ... we are encouraged to try and learn the nature of dogs, their instincts and propensities ... the numerous case studies are also extremely useful ... All in all, a very good book, informative, sensible and effective.

When faced with problem behaviors in a rough collie back in the 70's, I read every dog behavior book on the shelves at the time. William Campbell's book was the only reference which addressed the issues I needed to understand. Campbell's description of 'active defense reflex' vs 'passive defense reflex' dogs made all the difference in my understanding of Shasta's behavior. He gave me all the advice I needed to turn this behavior around with very specific instructions which worked to perfection. We went on, after reading this book, to earn a CD in obedience whereas before I could not even touch his body without being bitten ('active defense reflex'). I recommend this book to anyone I contact who is dealing with dog behavior problems and I'm very interested to see how this new edition compares to the one I purchased in the 1970's!

This is a great little book. Reading it won't give you a master's degree in Shakespearean studies, but it will give you a quick and interesting overview of many different subjects. The chapters are brief and topical: a discussion of Shakespeare's origins in Stratford, life and politics in Elizabethan England and London's theatres offer a fascinating glimpse into Shakespeare's world and works. The second section of the book, "Documents", looks at some of the primary sources for our understanding of Shakespeare, both documents from Shakespeare's life (a contract, his will, the First Folio), but also writings by those who saw the original plays, discussions of theatrical productions through the ages, and criticism by centuries of academics from John Dryden's 17th century analysis to modern feminist approaches.

The Age of Shakespeare is the perfect weekend read for those who want a bit of context about the plays and their origins. It is informative without being heavy. The dozens of color plates and illustrations are gorgeous, and the writing is intelligent and clear. A wonderful sampler

The book, The Age of Shakespeare, takes my breath away! The many color prints and illustrations add beauty to a informative book. This is a well thought out book about Shakespeare and his times. I really enjoy reading it.

This is the most amazing book I have read in a very long time! I was instantly engrossed in this story, on the edge of my seat till the very end, and what an ending! Or is it just the beginning? This book has it all, and every chapter held a new surprise. There is truth here that just can't be ignored or denied! I want more!

If you're looking for something new and fresh, this is it. This book has everything, excitement, adventure, plot twists, philosophy and spiritual truth. Once you start reading it, you won't put it down until you're done. It sucks you right in and the ending (no, I'm not going to give away the surprise) just blows you away. Buy this book, you won't be sorry!

Just finished reading the book ... didn't take long because it's well written, entertaining and organised ... The book flows from chapter to chapter, topic to topic with nary a hitch.

The author explains how a dog thinks! ... How a dog senses & relates to the world and it's human' pack ... Most important, the author explains how a dog learns ...

Campbell's training methods are both humane and effective ... Before we can train our dogs, we have to first train ourselves, to be more understanding, to be more flexible and tolerant ...

He emphasises an uncomfortable truth ... that there are few problem dogs, and far more problem owners! His chapter on "How People & the Environment create Behaviour Problems" made my ears go red with embarrassment ...*laughs* ...

The book deals with and offers practical solutions to almost every difficult situation a dog owner is likely to encounter ... Reading this book cannot but help me become a better trainer and friend to our Beagle and Labrador ...

Indeed, dogs are amazing animals ... they don't choose us, we choose them ... and the least we can do is try and learn to understand them ... and this book will help me do that ... its gonna be an interesting if not amazing journey ...

A wonderful book ...

PS ... Campbell recommends Idris Shah's 'The Sufis' as helpful reading ... and he is absolutely correct ...

This is another book of those wonderful ones which deal with dog
problems and reach solutions, suitable for experts and beginners. Tens
of funny (but truly meaningful) illustrations show you how your dog
translates your behavior. That's how I saw them, humorous but
true. The book covers all phases of the development of the dog, from
the day you will bring it at home, to the day you will have the
perfect dog. One phrase I made banner from this book, what I was
always supporting: "I won't tell you that dogs are 'denning'
animals, so crate training your dog is 'natural'. That's not the
truth. The only denning dog or wolf is a pregnant [one,] and when she
and the pups leave their dens, they are plainly joyful to be out of
it!" People, please keep this in mind when you read in other
books about crates for your puppy.

The book begins with firstly
understanding your dog and their behavior, and how do they think,
their natural reactions and how they learn. Aggressive behavior, how
do dogs sense their world (vision, smell, hearing, taste, touch, pain
and so forth) How they communicate, their social development from life
in the litter to the day they join a human family. In chapter six, it
deals with puppy stuff, includes a puppy behavior test, from making
your selection to the arrival at home, house training and socializing.
Puppy training includes the basic: name recognition, commands like
come, sit, stay.

The second part of the book analyzes what causes a
dog to misbehave with first the human element (I liked this one. We
confuse our little friends and then wonder why do they misbehave!!)
How health and nutrition affect the dog; here a troubleshooting is
included: physical problem - associated behavior problems. What
follows this chapter is analyzing and treating the cause of the
problem, and techniques to avoid like electrical shock devices, cages
(dogs are not birds!)

In part three the author shows how to correct
behavior problems like aggression toward owners, how to introduce
babies and new pets to the established dog, barking and how to correct
it even when you are not at home. Other behavior problems and their
solutions include car sickness, car chasing, chewing, coprophagia,
digging, escaping, fearfulness, fighting with other dogs, jumping on
people, old age problems, over protectiveness and much much more.
When I finished the book I couldn't think of any dog problem which was
not included. In fact I even read about things I never encountered
before. With humane solutions and love, the author managed to write a
perfect book which guarantees ever lasting solutions. It is perhaps
the most wonderful book I read about dog behavior and how to solve the
problems. A big thanks to Mr. Campbell

OK Shakespeare fans, this is the one reference book you will ever need for all you would ever want to know about the Bard. It covers everything related to Shakespeare minus information on whether he wore briefs or boxers. (Everything else, though, is covered here--trust me!)

And one thousand pages for $15? C'mon, this is well worth the price of a pizza! Of course, this is not something you would read word for word, but I have used it more than once to help me understand a play that I was about to see. However, you need to set aside the better part of an hour to read the article on the history and background of any one of his plays. There is also plenty of info on his other writings, including the sonnets. Besides visiting the reconstructed Globe theatre (which I have had the privilege of doing), owning this book is the only other requirement for the serious Shakespearean student/fan.

My sole complaint is that the lettering is rather small (is is 7 pt or 8 pt? my eyes couldn't tell--ouch!). But hey, what do you expect for $15? A 2,000-page book?

If you want a comprehensive understanding of Shakespeare this is a must buy! I used this book constantly while taking a Shakespeare class. I have already reccomended it to numerous others and they found it just as useful. I'm now on my second copy because I wore the other one out!

Excellent in-depth coverage for those who want more than the usual cursory overview. R. Thomas Campbell's Sea Hawk Of The Confederacy brings drama to the naval war, providing both a biography of Charles W. Read, a Confederate Navy officer whose battles were legendary, and a narrative style which reads like a novel while incorporating plenty of strategy and military facts.

Thomas Campbell's latest addition to his several other books on the Confederate Navy is the most exciting, as an 'old, mostly unknown' hero emerges to the spotlight he so well deserves. This first, complete biography of Lt. Charles W. Read, CSN, skillfully weaves various obscure sources of information, mostly unknown except to serious students of the Confederate Navy, to new family histories recently discovered. Many of the generous number of photographs have never been seen in public before. Read's participation on such ships as the CSS McRAE, ARKANSAS, FLORIDA AND WEBB are but a portion of the many thrilling experiences he originated and encountered. A brief history of each of the ships such as with Capt. Maffitt on the CSS FLORIDA fills the reader with anticipation of the next chase and adventure. Charles Read's overland escapades will surprise many students of the army to find they were done by navy personnel. In short, this book is a must for anyone who wants to learn of a true life adventurer and to ask themselves "why haven't we heard of him before?". Thomas Campbell is to be commended for this work. John E. Ellis, founder, Confederate Navy Research Center, Mobile, Alabama, http://www.csnavy.org

The history of environmental law in this country is one of media by media legislation where pollution is chased from air to water to land rather than cleaned-up. In this book Celia Campbell-Mohn et.al. revolutionizes the way in which environmental law is organized and analyzed. Instead of breaking the environment into sectors as resources (species, minerals) and sinks for pollution (air, land, water, groundwater) she creates a new approach, the Resources To Recovery model, which divides the human interfaces with nature into sectors (extraction, manufacture and disposal) and treats nature comprehensivly within each interface. This book is totally unlike any other effort to understand and organize our legal relationship to the environment and it deserves attention. If you have time to read but one book in the area of environmental law and policy this year, this should be it......

Split Verse is the finest collection of serious poetry I've seen in a long time. The layout of the book is clean and each section contains poetry on a different aspect of the subject, allowing the reader to choose what they'd like to see and the sequence. When reading a book on a topic that is none too happy, it's a pleasure to be able to move around the subject, yet still get the feeling of a unified theme at work. It's also especially exciting to see new work from New York writers like David Mark Speer, whose piece, "At Least Half the Man My Father Was," is probably the most heartfelt, wry and touching poem in the book. Overall, the editors did a great job and I can't wait to see what's next. If you're interested in serious literature about a sometimes tragic yet fully human topic, Split Verse is the book for you.

Often "theme" anthologies end up too small in their focus and their reach. While SPLIT VERSE certainly concentrates on divorce, the poems are true to any experience of loss, devastation or betrayal. William Duke's erotic masterpiece "The Best Sex" bites you with its final judgement. Nita Penfold's recurring narrator reminds you of a favorite wise aunt, long since recovered from a bad choice. These poets aren't bitter but one can tell they spent some time there. SPLIT VERSE will surprise you every time you open it. Enjoy!

Separation and divorce are things that touch everyone and need to be talked about. Whether you are a child of divorced parents, or simply suffering from a break-up, even if you are happy and in love these poems cover the full spectrum of emotions involved. Each section speaks to a particular place in your soul and yet inspires you to remember the strength of the whole. At once funny and clever, or wry and difficult, they are beautifully written and collected. You will be glad you picked it up.

It is difficult to believe this is a first novel. That William Kowalski is a gifted novelist is simply a given. He is a fine story teller, able to weave threads of pulsing narrative toward a nourishing conclusion. He creates characters who are not only credible but about whom we care. Too many descriptive phrases might get in the way to the individual response to this rich novel.... Suffice it to say that the title EDDIE'S BASTARD is more than a label. A Bastard is one without parents and therefore without knowledge of history - genetic, philosophical, time sequence. This beautifully crafted book reveals the detective work involved in the main character's quest for self discovery. His journey is at once interesting, touching, warm, and curative. As he reads excerpts from his great grandfather's diary - sophisticated, elegant prose set off in italics which if separated from the novel would still provide a cogent guide to knowing ourselves through understanding our history - Eddie gains insight into his place in the world, his questions about his responses to that world, and eventually an understanding about where he fits in in a world that has seemed alien.

Read this novel - for entertainment, for fresh words, for disarmingly beautiful story, and for restoration in the faith that we are a meaningful part of what was and, therefore, what will be.

"Eddie's Bastard" was the first audio book my husband or I ever listened to. It made a very long drive VERY enjoyable. It is rare that we like the same stories, but "Eddie's Bastard" is very much like real life and hard not to like. It was sometimes funny, sometimes ironic, sometimes sad. As a life long resident of Western Pennsylvania, I found his depiction of life in the rural parts of this state extremely accurate and believable. The story puts me in mind of "The Green Mile" and "The Shawshank Redemption" for reasons I can't articulate, it's in the overall feel of the story. The ending was not what I predicted at all, it was not the contrived "and they all lived happily ever after." It was a mature ending even though the character is still quite young. We would definately read or listen to more Kowalski stories in the future!

This book just sweeps you away. Picked it up on a whim, I think somewhere it was compared to John Irving's work and he hadn't had a new one for a while. Billy Mann and his family were strange and wonderful and every page was completely compelling. It's a first novel and I will read everything Kowalski writes for the rest of his career. I'm an avid reader, a couple of books a week if I can, and this was the best book I read in all of 2000. We're halfway through 2001 and I don't think anything else is close yet. No matter what your interests in novels, this book will be one you fall in love with. I can't wait to find out more about Billy Mann and the rest of the family. I've given copies to most of my friends and family as birthdays come up.