For someone who needed a reintroduction to Shakespeare after more than forty years absence, this book proved to be a very pleasant surprise. Not only did it live up to its title but it also contained an interesting chapter on Shakespeare's major poetry. The short biography of Shakespeare and the entries on Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh were all excellent.

When you buy a book like this, you expect a quick reference and not much more. This book has reference with depth. It familiarizes you with the plots and characters, of course. But it goes further and puts them in context with Shakespeare's time and with his other works. Some of the most useful information is about the source texts Shakespeare used and where some of the names and words he used originated (sometimes he made them up. ie: Jessica.) This adds so much to the enjoyment of seeing the plays performed, as well as reading them. While not comprehensive, it packs a lot of useful information in a size convenient to carry with you to a play. If, like me, you have already fallen in love with the bard's words, you will still find this book handy. If you are new to Shakespeare, this book can make you feel that his plays are more accessible.

This is a great book for a well-rounded general knowledge of dinosaurs. The only down part is that we still do not know much about dinosaurs and are improving our knowledge every day; since this book is relatively old, some things have changed in our view of dinosaurs today. I have documented the few inaccuracies, and hope that the publishers will issue a 2nd revised edition of this awesome book. At the time it was published, it was the most up-to-date compact book of its kind, a real break-through. If you want to have a good idea of what the dinosaurs were all about, then this is the book for you. It is so complete that it covers the facts that you would learn in an undergraduate 100-level course on dinosaurs. For those of you who are interested, the following are some of the things that have changed in the 2001 view of dinosaurs:

1) The Tyrannosaurs are now viewed as more closely related to the Raptors (Dromaeosaurids) instead of the Allosaurs (or Carnosaurs).

2) Its is now known that many therapods had feathers (other than the Aves), including Tyrannosaurs, a fact that was omitted from the book.

3) Oviraptors are no longer believed to be 'egg stealers' as the embryos found inside the eggs were determined to be of the same species.

4) In the extinction explanations section, they mentioned that the Dinosaurs died out gradually. However there is a phenomenon known as the Signor-Lipps effect that states that a sudden extinction can resemble a gradual one due to the fact that evidence and fossils are so scarce (because rarer species have lower sampling rates). This means that we still do not know if their death was gradual or quick. They also mentioned that a volcano was a possible cause. Volcanic activity would have been one of the side-effects of an impact, others being acid rain, tsunamis, and tornadoes. However the two leading theories are now the Alvarez theory (Asteroid impact which leads to a quick wiping out of a species) and the more gradual extinction via ecological change (retreating seas and climate change due to tectonic plate movement), which they failed to mention. It should be noted that the Alvarez theory is more widely accepted than the other.

5) The Classification chart is, as they correctly stated, continually changing and is now different from the one printed in their book.Updated versions can be found on the web.

Apart from these errors (due to continually changing views in dinosaur study), this is a great book that I would recommend to everyone.

DK has done it again! This book is a wonderful resource for the family and the individual that is interested in dinosaurs. Why?

First, the book is compact. This means it can fit in small areas in your school bag, hip pack or even a pocket. This means you can have the book as source material on-hand without a great deal of personal imposition. If I personally was to use a pocket, I would prefer a trouser's cargo pocket. Why? Because I care about how my books age and how much damage they sustain.

Second, it is a typical DK book - in other words, beautifully illustrated. There are plenty of pictures both of actual fossils and modern science reproductions of dinosaurs.

Third, I love the silhouette comparisons between a 6ft (1.8m) tall human and the dinosaur being spoken of. I only wish that they would have more of them in this book. Between this volume and three of DK's other books (The DK Great Dinosaur Atlas also by William Lindsay and the Ultimate Dinosaur Book and the DK Guide to Dinosaurs both by David Lambert) you will get a wide variety of these silhouettes. Unfortunately, Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Lambert, despite both being from the British Museum, disagree on some of the silhouettes. Oh well, take the one you like best as gospel, eh? I do!

Fourth, it is well organized. It is divided into five sections:

Section 1 introduces the reader to dinosaurs. It speaks of what is a dinosaur, the world of the dinosaurs, the lifestyles of the dinosaurs, anatomy of the dinosaurs, the first dinosaurs, and of course, the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Sections II & III are the typical FUN parts of a dinosaur book that everyone is looking for - the parts that directly deal with the many types of dinosaurs. They are split into the traditional two categories of dinosaurs: the lizard-hipped or Saurischian dinosaurs and the bird-hipped or Ornithischian dinosaurs.

Section IV deals with the sea and air animals that many consider dinosaurs, but are not. Despite not being the stars of the book, the section does provide some good information on these.

Section V is the reference section. This can be priceless for the person who wants to know more about dinosaurs. The main value is two pages of dinosaur museums and sites in the USA and Canada with their addresses. An improvement here would have been the inclusion of WEB site addresses and phone numbers as well. The next valuable part of this section is the cannot-do-without pronunciation guide that most parents find to be a lifesaver. I know my wife depends on it! The section also talks of dino-discovery history, dino records and myths, how dinosaurs are taken out of the ground after being discovered and contains a glossary.

What is bad about the book? Not much! Only two things come to mind, one wishful and one serious. The wishful matter is that I just wish there was even more cool information about dinosaurs in the book. But if that was the case, it probably would not be the small convenient book to carry around. On the other hand the serious matter is that it was published in 1995. That means it is approaching six years old. That means dinosaurs like the Giganotosaurus from S. America and the Carchardontosaurus from Africa are not present. Simply, it is not going to show the latest discoveries. Is this a problem? No! This book is designed to be a handy reference, not an end-all-be-all reference. As long as DK updates this book every ten years or so, this book will be an eternal handy dino guide. If you are looking for something like an end-all-be-all dinosaur reference I would refer you to three books: The Complete Dinosaur by Farlow & Bret-Surman, The Dinosauria by Weishampel, Dodson & Osmolska and Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia and its Supplement I by Glut & Bret-Surman. These are the ultimate books in the field. They are also not written for the common man. The level of writing/reading is fairly intense for the average reader. If you are looking for what would be a good introductory textbook on dinosaurs for the dino-fan with a good interest in the subject and decent reading comprehension, I would recommend Fastovsky and Weishampel's The Evolution and Extinction of the Dinosaurs. See my review of that book.

The Journals of Lewis and Clark are about as fundamental a Western American treatise as you will find. Tackling this leviathan is a daunting challenge but one with great rewards. Clark copied Lewis word for word on many entries so it takes true dedication to read every word of the text. Throw in the maps, the preparatory work of Lewis and related ephemera for good measure. This will not only require a huge investment in time but several feet of book space. At [the price] per volume you will also limit out your credit card. Is it worth it? No other work can provide the background for understanding the ensuing growth of the West. Every single day of the journey is accounted for and there are tediously detailed accounts of the geography and navigational coordinates. Be prepared for some of the most creative spelling ever recorded. Once read it is an experience never to be forgotten and you will not regret the effort.

The author of the most-recent biography of Meriwether Lewis recommends this series by Moulton as the best available collection of the Journals.

Read right from the journals, alternating between Lewis and Clark (and so designated), their account of discovery, bravery, survival, not to mention sheer luck at times. This book cannot replace the editorials and depth of "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose; but it is very enjoyable and informative to read directly from the authors of this historic expedition. I am amazed at everything they accomplished (including finding the time and energy to write journal entries).

John Bakeless takes the journals of both Lewis and Clark and edits them into this fascinating, primary account. He concentrates mainly on thejournal entries for the journey to the Pacific. This is a good, well-priced shortened version of the journals, with only the highlights, for Lewis and Clark fans.

During the period covered by this volume, Lewis and Clark were beyond the portage around Great Falls. During the time described in the subtitle to this volume, July 28 - November 1, 1805, L&C were leaving Three Forks, crossing the continental divide, and meeting the Shoshone Indians, with whom they traded for horses with which to cross the Bitteroot Mountains. The portage around Great Falls is described in Volume 4 of Moulton's edition of the journals.

This volume details the thoughts of Lewis and Clark, and others as they determine which major waterway to follow to the Great Falls of the Missouri, their first significant obstacle. The portage around the great falls is more than they imagined, and is explained in great detail. It explores the many new discoveries in the interior of what is now central and western Montana. This volume also further expounds the growing problems with the unpredictable 'white bear', and the harshness of spring and summer weather in Montana.

Cambridge historian Christopher Clark's 2000 study of the Kaiser is, despite its brevity, a concise and balanced account of Wilhelm's life into which he incorporates much recent historiography of Wilhelmine Germany. Clark paints a picture of an emperor whose power and influence gradually weakened over time. By the late 1890s, he argues, Wilhelm had 'emerged as a significant factor in high politics, launching ambitious (if often doomed) legislative schemes, intriguing with individual ministers, and gradually hollowing out the authority of the chancellor.' (117) In the realm of foreign policy, however, Clark argues that Wilhelm became increasingly 'marginal'to the real centers of policy making,' particularly after several notable blunders including the Zabern incident and the Daily Telegraph affair, both of which witnessed his impetuous and 'undiplomatic' style, to the horror of professional diplomats.
With regard to the outbreak of war in 1914, however, Clark argues that while Helmuth von Moltke, chief of the German General Staff, 'pressed his sovereign'at crucial moments' in the months leading to war, at no point did the monarch 'surrender the power of decision to the military.' (215) Far from being a warmonger, Clark asserts, Wilhelm was 'reluctant to entangle Germany in a continental war,' (214) and maintained 'his own outlook on policy [that] differed in crucial ways from that of the military leadership.' (216) He never supported the 'preventive war' strategy espoused by top army officials, nor did he regard mobilization as irreversible. Clark points to Wilhelm's attempts to mediate between Serbia and Austria-Hungary as evidence of his 'reluctance to allow Germany to be sucked into a Balkan engagement' in 1914. (218) This initiative was 'overridden by the chancellor,' Clark notes, which provides further proof of the Kaiser's declining stature in affairs of the state'affairs he could 'influence'but did not control.' (218)
What of Wilhelm's involvement in the prosecution of and involvement in the Great War? Clark concludes that the Kaiser's 'capacity to exercise a command function was narrowly circumscribed,' which considerably diluted his influence among Germany's military leaders. Furthermore, he 'lacked an overview of strategic planning' leading up to and including the early stages of the war because, Clark maintains, the general staff regarded him as a security risk and refused to take him in to their confidence. As a result, he was displaced from the center of military affairs, shielded from much bad news from the front, and 'was excluded from the sphere of operational command of the land forces'though he did exercise a more direct'influence on the wartime operations of the German navy.' (227) Clark warns that one should not push the argument that the Kaiser was marginal too far. 'By virtue of his position,' he writes, Wilhelm was a 'figure of crucial importance,' namely for his authority to 'appoint and dismiss 'his' officers and officials.' (228) He concludes that although he was not vital militarily to the day to day running of the war, the emperor was a central figure in the 'processes by which some of the most central policy issues of the war years were resolved.' (244)

This is a great, short study for the student and buff.

I just finished this book, and found it very interesting and useful. It is not intended as a "life" of the Kaiser, but only as an analysis of his rule. I was looking for this kind of focus, so was happy with the book. The author's main thesis is that under the German constitution in effect at the time, the Kaiser had little actual power. While able to influence events, he could not control them. Only in the German shipbuilding plan did the Kaiser play a leading role. The author feels that Wilhelm sincerely wanted to avoid war in 1914. Actually, most of the book is not about the war years, giving the reader a more balanced overview of the reign. It is suggested that Wilhelm was one of the first "media" personalities, partly because of his penchant of making off-the-cuff remarks that continually got him bad publicity. The author discusses these various remarks based on the context in which they were made and the audience they were intended for, in a partially sucessful attempt to show they were not so outrageous as usually presented. While the book is not a whitewash of the Kaiser, the author does try to show he was not the arch-fiend of Allied propaganda. Since this is my personal view, I was in sympathy with the author's approach.

Excellent book for those who want to specialise or want to have indepth knowledge about shoulder pathologies and rehabilitation.Useful as a desk reference in outpatient orthopedic clinic.I highly recommend this book for a novice as well as for experienced PT.

I have the extreme pleasure of working with Marty Kelley P.T OCS. He is one of the most renownwed experts in the shoulder. He has written many articles and chapters on shoulder rehab. Marty is also the musculoskelatel team leader at The University of Pennsylvania Health System. His knowledg of orthopedics is vast and un-ending. His book describes the shoulder in vast detail and also breaks down the specific injuries and diagnosis into easy to understand format. Also the sections on rehab are informative and also cutting edge. I can speak from first hand experience Marty knows what he is talking about. This is an excellent refference book for shoulder rehab. If you want to know about how to rehab the shoulder you need not look any further than his book.

I am looking for a cd rom of thisbook, may be you can tell me if this cd exists? if yes how can I get it?
best regards Dr` Roman Korobochka MD

As a woman who has had a history of difficult pregnancies (including unexplained fetal demises), Williams Obstretrics was indispensable to me in my search for the causes of my missed abortions (late miscarriages). Many doctors feel the less patients know from firsthand sources (such as this book), the better it is. But for me, Williams Obstretrics answered many questions not only regarding my losses but also in my uncomplicated pregnancies. OBGYNs don't need to be told about this book; they swear by it. I think their patients should too.

To keep it plain and simple: After reading this book I've come to the conclusion that African-American history is an essential read, especially with this book. Often times, some of us may not think African-American history is rich or we may not really understand their situation in America today. This book changes that, it teaches that African-Americans have a rich history and that books like this must be read to understand their stance in American society today. GREAT BOOK.

This is a great book for anyone who enjoys the history and social divisions of religious groups. Students, scholars and seekers will all find this book a great reference. After reading, you finally understand how religion, religious groups, and religious ideology play a role in the lives of Americans today. It can be dry and long for persons who just wanted some information but not the nitty gritty details. I highly recommend for social scientists.