This book include material from the brilliant Alpha Course that I've done 2 times. If you can do the course, it is a better bet than just reading the book, but get the book anyway, since you'll wanna read it more than once.

Basically, it is aimed at people who are sceptical and even hostile towards the Christian faith. It is not denominational so it doesn't matter if you're catholic or protestant, it is about biblical Christianity and therefore equally applicable to all.

If you doubt the truth, relevance and importance of the Christian faith, take this book with an open mind and you're life will most likely be transformed. If it isn't you will no doubt at least be tickled to find out more and investigate some more. Like C.S Lewis said: If there is no truth to Christianity, it is of no importance (and Christians will be no better or worse of than anybody else), but if there is truth to it, it is of infinite importance.

I was an agnostic and extreme sceptic for many years, and the first Alpha course tickled me to read a lot more about Christianity. The second time I did the course was the most amazing experience I ever had, and since then there are no doubts in my mind. Furthermore, the peace and joy I am experiencing is certainly from somewhere other than myself, and it all started with the Alpha course.

Do yourself a huge favour and get this.

This is the first in a series of 4 modules, and is one of the most highly-regarded AD&D adventures of all time. David Cook vastly increased the sophistication of the game with his outstanding examples of puzzle solving, teamwork, and ingeniously deceitful "dungeon crawl" environments. For years, the Slavelords of the Pomarj have terrorized the Wild Coast, ranging as far as Greyhawk itself; now, it's time to put an end to the marauders! But of course, it's far worse than the players suspect... a classic adventure for levels 4-7.

This is a fantastic book for kids to learn how to cook beyond opening a can of spahgetti. It doesn't make things cutesy, because kids want to eat real food. Not tacos decorated to look like sharks. These are really kid tested and make cooking fun.

With the style of a comic book and the message of the scriptures, this book can't miss with kids. Having read this from cover to cover with my son until it began to fall apart, I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to teach children the stories and themes of the bible. It does not include the whole bible but tells all of the major stories in a manner true to the original. Great pictures that my now 13 year old still refers to.

I first encountered The Picture Bible as a child of about 11 when it was given to me as a gift. I was fascinated by the easy to read, exciting stories and illustrations. The comic strip format was neither too childish, nor too "grown up" and the accuracy gave me a solid background until I was ready to cut my teeth on the real thing. More than 10 years later I am happy to see this book is still available and I have just ordered a copy for my nephew. It is a great teaching tool for children. I know from first hand experience!

Although it uses a comic book style, this book is both reverent and comprehensive. It tells the Bible stories from the creation in Genesis to the prophecies in Revelations. My copy is dog eared because I have read it cover to cover with each of my children. All have enjoyed it. My oldest is an Agnostic and has gone on to analyzing more advanced religeous topics. My middle one is a true believer and likes to tell everyone about Abraham and his other impressive ancestors. I am still reading it to my youngest. He makes sound effects to dramatize the Old Testament Miracles. The drawings ae not great art, but they are realistic and effectively convey the meaning of the stories.

. . . the ending, while certainly "unpredictable and downbeat" (as one of the other reviewers notes), was not, in my view, "fitting"; rather, it seemed abrupt and arbitrary, drastically changing the tone of the novel sustained up until the final few pages, to no particular purpose. Having very much enjoyed Double Negative and The Full Catastrophe, I was angered and depressed. Nevertheless, Carkeet remains one of those rare writers (like David Lodge and Michael Malone) who not only makes me smile a lot, but also, at times, makes me laugh out loud; and, mostly, this novel did the same for me. So I still recommend it. Perhaps those for whom this is the first Carkeet novel will not have the same issues I have with the ending.

Carkeet was my History of the English Language professor two semesters ago, so I picked up this book out of curiosity when I saw it advertised on the UM-St. Louis English Department "Recent Faculty Publications" board. Am I glad I did. This book is very funny and very true to life. And the best part is that I can actually hear Carkeet's voice in there. Having taken one of his classes, I think, has given me a lot of insight into the book I might not have had otherwise, but I think that a lot of people can relate to this book, especially when it comes to the relationships between the characters.

This is a complex yet thorougly readable and hilarious book. A master of the spoken word, Carkeet makes every word count. His characters touched me deeply at many levels.

This book is pretty useful, it contains lots of info and the such on things such as poisons and reincarnation and even a chart of character flaws.

This stunning edition was the best of TSR's work unsurpassed by the latter revision and though I have not had the chance to actually have the third I'm sure it is unequal to the 2nd edition. If wizards of coast now owners of TSR were intelligent they would bring the 2nd edition back to printwith the original artwork but stronger more durable covers. Overall besides the shoddy bindings and how easily the books wear out I found the 2nd edition to be supreme in it's easy to generate characters and easy explanitions. The history the book also imparts was most intresting as well.

an easy to use referance of everyhting you need to run a gam

Even considering its more than 1,000 pages, this book packs an astounding amount of information between its covers. In attempting to provide a comprehensive history, the book's strength sometimes becomes its weakness--on many topics, Cook offers sketchy coverage, occasionally reduced to simple lists of films and filmmakers. A natural hazard, perhaps, of such an undertaking. Despite that, there are many excellent sections, including those on the early development of the film industry and some of the discussions of particular films, directors, and genres, such as Potememkin, Orson Welles, and film noir. Ultimately, it's a worthwhile volume for the reference shelf of anyone interested in film.

It's between this text or Gerald Mast's. Personally I find the Mast book a bit more balanced and readable. Cook gives such lengthy, descriptive accounts of films such as Birth, Potemkin, and Kane that students can practically skip viewing the films.

Imagine having the gall to write a history of "Narrative Film" -- not just Hollywood production, but ALL film, from ALL OVER...

Well Cook does, and does it better than anyone else.

The most amazing thing about this book is that is reads so well: you can literally open it up anywhere, start reading, and start learning -- and be entertained at the same time. I just love reading this book.

The second amazing thing is that Cook seems to have seen a lot of movies and taken the time to think carefully about them. As a result his comments, his sense of historical perspective, and his assertions are usually accurate, frequently insightful, and always enlightenling.

If you're studying film in ANY context, this is the book to buy. If you prefer a video store with a foreign language section instead of your local Blockbuster, this is the catalog for you. Within days of reading this book I was making lists of films that I had to see (The Red And The White, and the Wadja trilogy among them), and running out to find them.

For those in need of a text-book, this is the best value-for-money you can get. For thos FEARING a text-book, relax: it's actually a real page turner.

Any short-commings? There are some minor factual errors (the photographs demonstrating zoom, telephoto and wide lenses use inaccurate frames from Barry Lyndon, for example), but nothing to worry about -- there so much about this book that's good it really doesn't make a difference. The only real problem is that it will never be big enough.

This is the book against which the others are judged.

I wish I would have had this book when I started out! The author has made a large complex subject very easy to digest with a variety of chapters on each possible subject.

As the title implies, this is a book intended for "Beginners". You won't find advanced path-finding algorithms nor will you find advanced distance sensor building. It's about _beginning_ robotics. But that doesn't keep some serious electronics theory from getting put into the book. There is plenty of in depth explanations of transistors, comparators, LEDs and other useful components for the robot builder. I learned several useful "rules of thumb" about choosing resistors that I didn't know before opening this book.

I particularly like the concept of this book being an instruction manual for building a robot. If you are a beginner, you can have a reasonably "intelligent" line following robot built by the end of the book that uses many of the mechanical, electrical and logical concepts introduced in each chapter.

Unlike several other books out there, the author isn't selling you a kit at the end of the book, which I liked. Mr. Cook also gives you the source for each part he uses and its respective part number. This is immensely helpful if you would like to build the robot in the book since you can easily obtain each part needed.

In sum, this book is a great value and a great text for the robotics community! Thank you David Cook!

This is a terrific book. I read it as it was novel. It is written in such way that you can start from the first and go to the last page without being bored once. It is also beautifully divided so you can use it as a reference book.

David Cook did a great job while writing Robot Building for Beginners. It is perfect for an initiation to the robot building. I've read other interesting books but this one has something special: everything is entirely covered for a single project. Other books tend to present a lot of projects but can't seem to concentrate on giving complete information. Robot Building for Beginners does provide all the information you need. Each time I was wondering "well, how about that?", David Cook was answering my question the next paragraph.

There is a great amount of work in "what will a first-timer would be willing to learn after that". If you don't know anything or are willing to refresh your mind on electronics, the book is perfect. David Cook helps us getting to choose the right part, understanding what they do, how to correctly assemble the whole thing and so on. I just finish reading it and I'm ready to build my first robot knowing how to avoid the common pitfalls and how to keep my first project simple, but complete and working.

It's a perfect gift for someone who wants to build his/her first robot. Thanks to David Cook.

The author, David Cook, naturally steps inexperienced readers through the robot building process. A lot of books unsuccessfully assume you already know something about electronics, or expect you to go buy a different book to learn how. Instead, this book alone informs the reader about each step and part necessary, from electronics, to mechanics, to aesthetics, through testing.

Another thing I like about the book is that it encourages readers to make their own robot from scratch out of commonly available parts. Unlike the low-quality kits (from which you learn nothing) being hoisted upon budding scientists, the robot presented in this book really becomes the reader's creation.

A practical and useful feature of the book is that each circuit is first shown as a schematic (or wiring diagram) and then a labeled photograph on a solderless breadboard. It makes it simple for me to reproduce the circuit on my board by counting the holes or comparing locations to the photographs in the book.

A terrific book!

I thoroughly enjoy a good change. Change IS good. At least with regards to this revision of the 2nd Edition Dungeon Master Guide. If you are an old pro, this book will expand on the information contained in previous versions, clarify some of the old rules, provide a correction or two, and occasionally make a rule modification (which it will clearly point out!). For the beginner, or any AD&D player new to DMing, this book is full of information and advice, and is required material for any AD&D (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) DM (Dungeon Master/Game Master). This DM Guide gives you all the rules, as well as some helpful hints, you will need to begin running an AD&D adventure for group of players. It is not a 'How To' book. It is only a Guide, and a very good one at that. This book provides the necessary framework from which you can build endless AD&D adventures. It does not teach you 'how to' write adventures, it does not teach you 'how to' role-play. Though it will provide some advice in these areas, as any good guide should. (Remember, the AD&D game is a product of the mind, not books. Adventures begin and end in the imagination. Guide books only lend some structure through rules and suggestions.) To sum up the good points, this DM Guide provides all you need to begin and govern an AD&D game.

The bad points are minimal. First, too much of the art work is amateur. Some of it is very good, but there are enough sad looking drawings to make you wonder why they were included. Second, old pros will notice that the prices for magic items have been omitted (with an explanation). If you want or need a price list you'll have to find an old version of the book, or try the WOTC.com or TSR.com web site, they have a list available.

Those are the only two reasons this book gets a 4 star rating, instead of a five.

Other reviews will mention that a DM will also require a 'Monstrous Manual' and an 'AD&D Player Handbook'. That's true, but I strongly suggest another supplement, the Dungeon Master Screen/Index. And the Player Handbook isn't needed for the DM if any other player has it. And one final comment, if you need more 'how to' advice for role-playing or writing adventures, which rightfully is not in this book, that information is available on-line for free. Try searching at about.com

AD&D is the greatest game ever created! Get this book and Enjoy the Game for many years!

I thoroughly enjoy a good change. Change IS good. At least with regards to this revision of the 2nd Edition Player Handbook. If you are an old pro, this book will expand on the information contained in previous versions, clarify some of the old rules, provide a correction or two, and occasionally make a rule modification (which it will clearly point out!). For the beginner, this book is full of information and advice, and is required material for any AD&D (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) player and/or DM (Dungeon Master/Game Master). This Players Handbook gives you all the rules, as well as some helpful hints, you will need to begin a life time of AD&D adventure with a group of players. It is not a 'How To' book. It is only a Guide, and a very good one at that. This book provides the necessary framework from which you can play endless AD&D adventures. It does not teach you 'how to' role-play, though it will provide some advice in this area, as any good guide should. (Remember, the AD&D game is a product of the mind, not books. Adventures begin and end in the imagination. Guide books only lend some structure through rules and suggestions.) To sum up the good points, this Player Handbook provides all you need as a player in the AD&D game.

There's only one bad point. Too much of the art work is amateur. Some of it is very good, but there are enough sad looking drawings to make you wonder why they were included.

That is the only reason this book gets a 4 star rating, instead of a five.

As other reviews have mentioned, a DM will also require a 'Monstrous Manual' and an 'AD&D Dungeon Master Guide'. I also strongly suggest another supplement, the Dungeon Master Screen/Index. And the Player Handbook isn't needed for the DM if any other player has it. And one final comment, if you need more 'how to' advice for role-playing or writing adventures, which rightfully is not in this book, that information is available on-line for free. Try searching at about.com

AD&D is the greatest game ever created! Get this book and Enjoy the Game for many years!

This book is essential for and AD&D game, without this you have no rules. 2nd Edition D&D cleared up many problems of the original, while still keeping the game in the realm of fun. Unlike 3rd Edition, which is just hack and slash and a mockery(kind of like the movie) of the original. 2nd Edition challenges you to think and actually get into your characters.

There's nothing on the cover to indicate that this is anything but a fun, creative children's story with beguiling illustrations. But it soon takes a hard right turn into religious propaganda, very heavy handed and manipulative. Only for those who are trying to make their kids grow up fundamentalist. Whatever happened to stimulating youngster's imaginations and letting them think for themselves?

Adam Racoon and the Flying Machine is a good adventerous book that relates to the lives of children. Sometimes it's hard for children to do what may be best in life. I think this book helps children have a better understanding about their relationships with jesus and the adults around them.

Another great book in the Parables for Kids series. It is wonderful to help children see that in every instance, the Bible really does show us the way to go. This book helps children realize that to go the right way, they need to keep the right focus throughout life. And, that focus should always be on God and His Word, the Bible.