This is the second edition of a highly acclaimed text. Like the first edition this book gives an excellent overview of statistical problems in the medical field and provides illustrations of a variety of parametric and nonparametric statistical techniques for solving these problems. It is aimed at the intermediate level rather than as an introductory course. So medical professionals, with a first course in biostatistics under their belt, will find this useful. It is also a good text for graduate students in statistics or biostatistics. Examples are illustrated throughout the text using SAS software. This is a key addition to this edition of the book. Also added in this edition is a chapter on multiple regression where various model selection procedures are nicely covered.

A nice feature of the book is its coverage of epidemiologic methods and data. This was also a strength of the first edition.

I was a little disappointed that the authors did not take the opportunity to significantly update the bibliography. Only a few references are given in the latter chapters to books and articles that appeared after the publication of the first edition in 1987. Also, the authors missed an opportunity to discuss the advances in computing that have led to new methods including Markov Chain Monte Carlo and resampling, both of which have found many applciations in medical research. Bioinformatics and advances in genetics are also playing a major role in medical research, having blossomed since the publication of the first edition of the book. Although I would not expect these topics to necessarily get much coverage, I think they are important enough to at least be mentioned and discussed and have key articles and books referenced.

This is an excellent text for a second course in biostatistics for health care professionals. For a first course the book I am writing with Bob Friis will be useful and it is up to date and even provides some coverage of resampling methods. It will be published by Wiley in early 2003.

My interest in the Civil War is a bit unusual - the impact of the war on the non-combatants in the western border states, specifically Arkansas and Missouri and to a lesser extent, Kansas and the Indian Territory that would eventually become Oklahoma. This book will definitely be a valued part of my research library.

"William Quantrill - His Life and Times" is a balanced look at a young man, unsatisfied with what he had accomplished in life and caught up in the complexities of the pre-war strife in Kansas and Missouri. A gifted teacher originally from Ohio "raised as an abolitionist," Quantrill becomes a thief and scoundrel, Border Ruffian (pro-slavery) and jayhawker (anti-slavery), exploiting the conflict on the border to benefit himself. After the war begins, he goes on to fame..., and his destiny, a heroic legend to many and a barbaric devil to others.

this book is not about marriage but about evangelizing: So praying together makes everything OK? and non-christians can not possibly have a happy marriage? Talk about mind control!

As christians we know that a marraige built around God is the key to building lasting true happiness with our spouse. This book is practical, and explanatory on how to achieve this ever so important goal. Highly recommended for all who desire to reach new peaks in marrital and personal intimacy with christ.

This is one of the best marriage books available. I highly recommend it. It is very practical. The book doesn't just tell you problems but shows you how to have a great marriage.

Okay, you want to learn about cannabis breeding. Read something else. You can want to learn how to grow pot? Read something else. Clarke brings us a book that has the following problems: It presumes that you will understand basic genetic. It presumes that you know about growing. It presumes that you will understand how to do punnet squares and understand what terms like Heterozygous and Homozygous means. He tries to explain them as best he can but you will have to get another book to actually understand what he means. When you have done this and learned some basic genetics then you will read this book and find that most of it will not get you anywhere as a breeder or a grower.

The first time I read this book I came away thinking that I learned something new. Then I tried talking to a few breeders and got the old... "You have been reading Clarke haven't you?".... Breeders recognise this book as being shallow and out of touch with the cannabis breeding community. I will give you my case for this comment too. Here are a few questions about this book I had after reading it. Why doesn't he go and site a few comments made by actual cannabis breeders or a case study from a known cannabis breeder? (Who are more than willing to talk about their work if you search on the internet). Why doesn't he actually tell us about the history of a famous strain? Why does this book seem very vague?? I guess the only reason he has not done this is because he has probably never wanted to listen to a real breeder talk about their work. He does talk about people like Warmke who did some research during World War 2, but nothing about the breeders of today. That should set off a few warning bells for you about this book. When I buy books like this I want to read about something substantial behind the theory. That never emerges.

If you want to learn about cannabis breeding then read about Gregor Mendel and follow this up by reading books on 'How to true breed traits in Dogs and Cats'. Any book on plant genetics and breeding will give you a much better insight into cannabis botany than this book will. Growers and breeders will only recommend this book for a quick scan and forget. Cannabis breeders use techniques that most common plant breeders do. This book is not good and not worth the hype. It even has a quote from some guy called Richard Evans Schultes-Director, Harvard Botanical Museum who says - "Robert Clarkes splendid effort will be widely appreciated. His Marijuana Botany will be constantly consulted by a wide variety of researchers in the years to come." Well unfortunately that prediction has been short lived. No good cannabis breeder will recommend this book to anyone who is serious about cannabis botany. It is out of touch with the market, out of touch with breeding techniques and out of touch with the growing community. This book is in a world of it's own.

Marijuana Botany: An Advanced Study In the Propagation & Breeding of Distinctive Cannabis

ADVANCED. This is NOT the book to read if you have never grown or have no knowledge of basic concepts of growing marijuana. This is not a BASIC 'How-To' book. It says ADVANCED and it means just that! This is a study in ADVANCED MJ techniques and information of selective genetic manipulation and breeding. If you want an 'I just need to know how to grow herb.' book, DON'T BUY THIS ONE.

it is not a Grow Guide. There are plenty of books available for those who want to know how to grow mj -- this book is for people who want to know more about the "why" of their precious plants' botany.
This book is amazingly easy to comprehend; if you are serious about learning all you can about the BOTANY aspect of cannabis. It does require a degree of concentration, and is not for people who wish to have a quick "fix" for a plant problem.
This is one of those books that ANY grower could benefit from having in their library.

After hearing a speech of Clarke's on the radio, I was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, it let me down.

Clarke's writing lacks style - I frequently was wondering if I was reading a high school composition rather than a book by the great orator.

There is a complete lack of continuity and cohesion throughout the book. Topics change from paragraph to paragraph. One gets confused if he is writing about himself, his life, the people he has known or his unpublished books. Any given paragraph may include some or all of these in a rather haphazard manner.

In reading this, I especially hoped to sink my teeth into understanding more about Clarke, more about the Africana movement, more about the history of the African people. Instead, I got some anectdotal stories and superficial glimpses. There was no significant depth to the content of this book.

In spite of my disappointment with "My Life in Search of Africa," it is an important book to read. History has typically been approached from a European (white) perspective, and it is essential that we get beyond that approach, that we learn more of the rest of the world, and that we learn from and about the people enabling that knowledge.

well i realy hate thebook, why are you asking me that question about the book. leave me alone!

If Rama II disappointed, avoid this one. The entire plot line is silly (as Nicole and Co. go back and forth between star systems, mostly asleep but aging) and at the end the reader is no where -- third-rate 'cliff-hanger' to get you to buy the next book. It will take another 400 pages in Rama Revealed to get to the so-called revelation. Fans of ACC will not recognize any of his ideas in this volume which basically assumes humans have learned nothing over the years: just plain ignorant, easily manipulated by political leaders, guided by superstition, and usually kill anything in sight. Most of the lead actors are mere caricatures, no personalities or redeeming features and you'll probably despise the heroine, Nicole, who is portrayed as perfect. You're more likely to be entertained by an old B-film from American International than this sludge.

In the summer of `99, I walked into a book store with the intention of raking up as many books as I could carry, and being an aficionado of Clarke's works, among others, I picked out the third pillar of the Rama quadrology.

But after reading it, firstly, I feel as if I haven't missed out on much by reading the third chapter in the series to begin with. And secondly, I've marked the final chapter (Rama Revealed) for a rainy day, when there's nothing better around.

I wouldn't be so harsh in giving it a 2-star rating, were it not coming from the likes of none other than ACC (maybe 3-stars, were it some other, less-celebrated author).

It's acceptable upto halfway through the book. But the second half, where the whole New Eden concept is drawn up is very mundane. The entire plot (as someone has aptly remarked below) looks *exactly* like 20th century Earth. Same problems, same ecosystem, same attitudes, same sociology, same stimuli, even the technology does not at all look like what one might think would be 300 years from now! Not that I was expecting a utopia of some kind, but at least not 'Hey! This is us.' The references in the plot to humankind's past history consistently only refer to the 20th/21st century occurences. The one or two places where an attempt has been made to describe something 'futuristic' has become degenerated to that which is easily pin-pointed to something in our present time.

The character of Dr. Nicole des Jardin is too super-womanized and is only a hair short of being apocalyptic -- Olympic athlete, cosmonaut, lover to the King of England, judge, state governor, clairvoyant and the list goes on.

I had higher expectations than this, since I am forever mesmerized by the mystique and charisma of ACC's Space Odyssey series and many of his other works.

In this, the 2nd sequel to the fine SF novel, "Rendevous with Rama," our herione, Nicole (from "Rama II") flys around the Milky Way having babies, then she leaves her oldest (14 yo) daughter to marry an old geezer at some triangle-shaped parking lot near another star because it would reduce inbreeding, then this eagle-headed biot dude wants to send the rest of them back to our Solar System so Nicole goes to sleep for 19 years (I about fell asleep, too) in order to find another 2000 losers from Earth to join this pathetic venture. (Remember, things are pretty sorry on Earth by then, after the great Chaos/depression, so it won't take much.) Oh yeah, her younger daughter learns how to masturbate while they enter orbit around Mars. If it sounds stupid, it is. I fought to preserve my memory of the beauty of the original story. But hey, its your time to waste.

Although I found great concepts within this Young Adult novel, I found myself getting more and more frustrated about the never ending circle of repeated plot an antagonizing conflicts that Luke, our main character, faces. Can he make something of himself, why is he such a failure when he has the potential to become a bright and successful man in the future? His Father no longer acknowledges his existence, his Mother wants to believe in Luke but she no longer trusts him, and his sister Molly dwells on a time when Luke was "normal" and conformed, while Naomi tries to protect him. Protect him from what? Himself? Or Fate? I do accept the fact that the repeated scenario we see in Night Train does give the reader that "frustrated" feeling that Luke probably was experiencing in his life at certain moments. If this was the author's intent, it works brilliantly. If not, I'm afraid readers will become bored and lose interest in the text. I found myself wondering where on Earth this novel could be going with this plot. And I knew from the very moment we were first introduce to the late night train whistle, that something tragic was involved with this "mystery" train (that only Luke could hear.) And why was that? Do we ever find out, or is it too left ambiguous to our imaginations. Perhaps our antagonists carry their job a little too far for readers to enjoy the novel and characters themselves, although this is a "hard" book of realities to begin with. Perhaps a softer side of Luke and his family or friends was needed so we could better connect and feel sorry for the events in which Luke goes through. All in all, I give this book a 2, in hopes of a better read next time from Judith Clarke.

Luke Leman, a school student is about to fail his HSC exams again. Why can't he do better this time? Well, that's the problem. Luke is so confused about hearing these noises, from the nighttrain that he readily never finds his inner success from the past. Even for the worse, Luke's father Dan and mother Margaret use to care about him. But now, consequently from his failures from his past exams, his father never has spoken to him again. Judith Clarke really shows a great deal of personal self ashame in Luke's father and also with Margaaret who wittingly loves and cares for Luke, but she's not 'controllable' and successful mother in the situations of Luke and his sister Molly.

Although it's found that Luke's tremendous hardship, Naomi, his sister cares about him and loves Luke for his present. Naomi predicates Luke's intention, and realising him for what he is, unlike his father.

Many controversial and inflicting situations that to of Luke's weakness arises out from the communication within the family and particularly school. Although the ending is terrifying, but simply takes the pressure off, which finishes the plot of freedom and symbolises the unlocking of chains.

Overall, this book is great. Ages from 11-18 should love this.

Luke is an 18 year old still in 12th grade, due to him failing his HSC last year. Final Exams are coming up, and Luke is fearing he may fail again. He has been kicked out of 2 schools, but despite all this he has a very high intelligence rating. He is very close to his youngest sister, Naomi. Molly, his other sister, towards the end starts to like Luke. Luke's parents, both have almost given up on him. His father is no longer speaking to him, and his mother is almost ready to give up. His girl friend, Caroline, is one of the very few people who likes him. With the fear of failing, and getting expelled again, Luke is under alot of pressure. He starts to hear a night train, but nobody else hears it. He has to find out if he is going crazy or not. He has to find out if it is real.

Over all the book was great. I liked the way everything happened. I thought the ending was good, but I didn't want that to happen. This is one book that i found myself reading every minute I had to myself, and finished it in 3 days. I hope you like it that much.

I think the action plans in this book could easily back-fire, leaving the spouse who wants reconciliation in more trouble than before. I would advise those who read this book to carefully consider how the book fits with what the bible says concerning marriage.

I purchased this book because my best friend's husband told her that he wanted to break up (they had been married less than 1 year) and that he had had an affair. Probably because I've never been through the pain of having someone cheat on me, and because of our society's acceptance of just getting a divorce if things don't work out, I wasn't even very shocked by his behavior. My initial reaction to his adultery was for her to be the one to try to win him back. After reading this book (which I sent to her) it made me very angry at what he had done. This book provides the biblical approach to dealing with something as devastating as a cheating spouse.

Two wonderful people who want all the best for my children gave me this book. If only they had known.

The most disturbing thing about this book is the author's demonstration of how to be sarcastic to your children. (He says of himself that he has a smart mouth, which he has passed on to two of his children.) One example of good parenting he gives is a woman who "used funny, silly behaviors as consequences for her son. ... If he ran in the house, she'd say, 'Okay, everybody outside and let's watch Jimmy (not his real name) run.' The whole family, and neighborhood kids, too, if they were present, would troop outside. She had Jimmy run laps and wind sprints." Public humiliation as punishment? This is not parenting that I would write about in a book. At least not favorably.

In many instances of his sarcasm, the author means to be funny. But I guess I'm not convinced it's appropriate. I wonder whether a good many stressed out parents may relate more to the sarcastic tone of the book, rather than the serious (boring) paragraphs about communicating on your children's terms, respecting your child's privacy, or encouraging children to make their own decisions.

I also object to the common philosophy about the need to break a child's will, put forth in this book and many others. This is a soap-box issue for me, so I'll keep it short: The way God "parents" me is in guiding me, advising me, and asking me to obey because I trust him. I do not believe that he "breaks" my will, but changes my heart to desire what he desires. Simply put, I model my parenting after this experience of God's love.

Finally, the book shares a weakness of many other Christian advice titles: it makes statements that purport to be "God's truth" without making clear that they are opinions, and without adequately supporting the statements with logic. For example, this book states, "If done correctly, spanking will not teach your children to hit others. That it will is a common liberal view, and it's not true." The author makes no statement that adequately refutes the studies about children and violence quoted in many better-written secular books on parenting. (For example, _Raising Cain_, another more useful book in my current reading list.) I actually agree with this author's opinion on spanking (although not with his discipline methods described, which strike me as coercive) but I do not like being told what to think in pedantic, unsupported statements like this.

If you're stuck on a desert island with only this parenting book, I guess you can get a few ideas from it. On my second read, I did notice some sensible paragraphs. But if you have any other choices, please choose one that is less sarcastic and more logical.

David Clarke has taken the battle for our children to a new level. Using humor, common sense and sound principles, Clarke helps the frustrated parent gain footing in the battle referred to as parenting.

Clarke systematically briefs the reader through each age level while offering excellent advice on the training and nurturing of our children. While each section is well written and easily understandable, Clarke excels at breaking down the mystery of the teenager that has, or eventually will infiltrate your home.

The bottom line is that with patience and a genuine love for our children, we can overcome the enemy within and raise healthy, strong children.

I can't believe some of the reviews I've read here. Obviously, if you only know Judy Garland from Oz or St. Louis, you have no business reading this book until you know more about her & her tortured life. I've read all of the books including Lorna Luft's very own & found this one to be by far the most honest, straight-forward, non-biased, truthful book available about Judy. It is NOT a book about her movie career - there are already many of those - it's a book about her sad & troubled life. My only complaint is that there weren't enough pix to reference to as the story was being told - I had to pull out some of my others to see what the author was describing. I have been a fan since I was very young, & when I heard this book was coming out, I could not wait. I have treasured each page I've read & it only makes me more sad that Judy's life had to end so soon & so many people had to miss out on all of her wonderful talents. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to see Judy at Oz's 50th Anniversary! If you love Judy & know of her troubled life, this book will fill your heart & make you miss her even more. Her death was totally & completely unnecessary & no one should ever have to suffer like Judy did - especially someone who provided so much happiness to those around her. We miss you Judy & this book brought you back to life for just a short while!

It's always difficult to try and write the story of a legend, particularly as legends tend to either be completely vilified or canonized. In the most recent biography of the extraordinary Judy Garland, author Gerald Clarke takes an honest but compassionate look at the person that was Judy. Without whitewash, Mr. Clarke tells the familiar (to us Judy buffs) tale of a genius life gone wrong. There are those that will tell you that Judy would have had the same sad life without the career, but since we'll never know for sure, we can at least rely on writers of integrity like Mr. Clarke to tell us the story as it happened without philosophizing and without a hint of rancor, as some celebrity biographers like to do. That Judy Garland was gifted with genius is unquestioned. That she was also human is something that is sometimes overlooked. Mr. Clarke manages to carefully convey the complicated person that was Judy with a neatly flowing narrative coupled with a journalist's knack for concise reporting. This is an interesting read that is highly recommended.

What an amazing feat. Gerald Clarke has done what other authors of Garland biographies have failed to do: provided a fascinating and well written tale of the Judy Garland that others didn't see. He certainly did make his ten years of research well worth the effort. In response to other reviewers' complaints about Clarke writing mostly about her dark side, what's the point in writing a biography if an author sugar-coats everything? Clarke does write about the many high points of her life, unlike other Garland biographers who focused totally on her bad side. Clark's version of Garland's life is a must-read for all Wizard of Oz fans who only know Judy from the movie.