I had a mental love affair with David Hume. I found myself intigued and captivated and frustrated all at once. And, in the end, there was something liberating and alienating. To believe or not to believe--that's something Hume leaves to the reader. Oh, by the way, technically, the sun doesn't rise, nor does it 'set' or fall. The earth spins around its axis--the side that is facing the sun is day; the side facing away from the sun is night. And yet, after reading David Hume, I might even doubt that explanation.

Actually, the rising sun example is often cited as something Hume was completely unsure about. (theoretically, of course) Hume was essentially unwilling to believe anything, be it materialistic or spiritualistic.

just a comment for the person below. don't be so sure that the sun will rise tomorrow. you're commiting the fallacy of causation, which hume would frown upon. read some more hume. he was a smart man.

I am one of those people who has read Walden over and over again over a period of decades, and have owned several editions. This is by far the best I have seen. It is quite helpful in the explanations it provides for some of the more obscure passages, is beautifully put together, and is simply a pleasure to read.

Thoreau was part crank and part visionary, like a crazy uncle. I am glad to have known him through his books. Taken with a grain of salt, his perspectives are refreshing and often illuminating. He helps his readers see there are indeed different ways to look at the world.

For 2 years and 2 months, Thoreau decided to live life in the Concord Wilderness near Walden Pond, as an experiment. He wanted to see if complete self-reliance was possible. As an experiment in pure solitary living, unaided by the trapping and encumberances of society, Thoreau failed. But as a book of profound insight and beauty, Waldon ranks supreme in the history of American literature, and the bulk of his insights and observations stand. I say failed, because Thoreau often spent evenings at the town pub, drink and talking, where from he would stumble home drunk without the aid of lamp light to find his way. Moreover, asside from a doting mother who would often bring him homemade victuals as a break from mountain berries and salted meats, he often stayed over with the Emersons when the loneliness was particularly biting. So clearly Thoreau was never as detached from society as he would have us believe, and yet that is neither here nor there. Thoreau was an amazing writer, an observant naturalist, brilliant social critic, and perhaps the most singular individual America has ever known - and for that Thoreau cannot be beat. edition of Waldon is particularly good, in that Hardin has done exactly what all editors should do. In keeping with the Thoreauvian motto, he has made the text simple and accessable, clarifying points with annotation and references. After reading Waldon, you might also want to check Harding's biography of Thoreau, which I highly recommend. Among other things, you will learn about his trouble with women. (Interestingly, like many philospohers, Thoreau died a virgin.)

Just as Alexander carried a copy of the Iliad in a precious cask, I have cherished a dog-eared and well marked copy of Walden for a quarter of a century. Now at last we have a binding worthy of one of the greatest books of all time. The embossed cover, the lavishly illustrated endpapers and page footers, the vast number of drawings from Thoreau's pen, and the detailed Masorah-like marginalia elucidate the familiar text and enrich the reading experience. The many references in the notes to Thoreau's Journal have lead me far afield into the various editions of the Journal (at least those I can afford). This is a first rate edition which I hope to carry with me the rest of my life.

I decided to read this book because I have heard about this book from my friends. I also read this because it had been awarded a Newberry Honor award. The day I was introduced to it, I thought it was boring. How I was wrong! Instead, the book was very interesting.
The main character of this book was a young, mute boy called Agba, but the most important main character is a horse called the Godolphin Arabian, or Sham. Agba is a kind boy who took care of Sham from when he was born, and after Sham's mother died. Sham becomes known as the fastest horse in his stables. Sham is a spirited horse that only listens to Agba, and no one else. I feel sorry for Agba because he ia a mute.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was fun reading about Sham and his descendants. The story plot was great. It also talked about what happened to Agba and Sham, and about their trip to France, and then England. This story was told by the owner of Sham's descendant. That's why this book received a Newberry Honor Award.

this has to be the most wonderful book ive ever read.from the moment i read it,my mind was instantly taken to the stables of morroco(sp?)with his beutiful horse.it is so imaginative,adventorous that you'll want to read it over and over.i think its one of the best books ive ever read.im reading it for the..........20th time i think:)you'll love this book if you love horses.it is very discreptive and i highly recommend this book to people,horsey or not.hope you read it.buy it,you won't regret it:0)

This book is about so much more that just horses. It is about unconditional love and about seeing the beauty in everyone and everything. You start feeling what Agba felt and what Sham felt. Only a lucky few have a relationship with their horse like Agba had with Sham and I am one of those lucky ones. Not only to own but to be friends with something as beautiful and proud as a horse is truly remarkable. Even though Agba couldn't speak he communicated with Sham in a way that pulls at your heartstrings. You just have to read it.

Chicken is impossible to put down, even, no, especially when the sky is falling. It is a true story of survival, of a teenaged boy on the brink of adulthood doing what he has to do. In turns vulnerable, tough, innocent and wise, the author tells the story of his time as a 'chicken' - a male prostitute in 70's Hollywood. Young David strives for normalcy, tries to break the patterns of his double-life, but cannot shake the feeling that he belongs with 'the freaks': those whose existence is outside the realm of acceptability. Tempered with hilarious characters and situations and a fast-paced jazzy writing style, this book has all the qualities that make a good read.

I know now there is a heaven, because David Sterry has showed us hell. I love his writing style; it brings you into the story. You will not want to put it down. The fact that this is an autobiography makes the story even more horrifying. Yet since it is a catharsis of a true survivor, it seems that David brings somehow to an unexpected redemption. You must read this book carefully, a second time, if you want to really understand what David is trying to tell us.

Not since I read The Catcher in the Rye 20 years ago have I been so glued to a book. I bought this book on a Friday afternoon and couldn't put it down til I finished it Saturday afternoon. But this compelling coming-of-age story gripped me squarely in the vise of "gunna"--I had to know what was "gunna" happen next. David Henry Sterry's sculpted language creates a visceral intensity, a three-dimensional roller coaster ride through the shocking, sad, and sometimes funny world of teenage prostitution. His childhood flashbacks add a richness to the story, capturing the family backstory in Super-8 sprocketed vignettes. The book was in equal parts gritty, enlightening, and engrossing. Sterry has exploded onto the literary landscape and may well be the voice of a generation of disenfranchised youth. Don't miss it.

Required to read Henry for my AP English Language class, I came into the play with a bias. I honestly felt that it would be a boring political play. I was utterly wrong! A huge fan of Shakespeare, I found Henry V to be a formidable match for the Bard's more critically acclaimed plays, such as Hamlet and Macbeth. Henry has it all! Shakespeare's attitude toward Henry the King is certainly one of admiration. By communicating the fact that an effective monarch must have a complete understanding of the common subjects (Pistol and Bardolph and Quickly), Shakespeare sets up Henry to be the ideal Christian king. The controlled language of Henry's speeches, particularly his response to the Dauphin's idiotic insult, also glorifies Henry. I certainly recommend this play to anyone, fan of Shakespeare or not.

I looked long and hard (and asked many a scholar) for the "perfect" Shakespeare publication that I might purchase to study "King Henry V" (for a experiential education requirement, I had undertaken the translation of Henry V into American Sign Language). The Arden Shakespeare came highly recommended by everyone, and has lived up entirely to all its rave reviews.

I will never buy Shakespeare from another publisher. While these books may be slightly more expensive than a "mass market" edition, I believe that if you are going to take the time to read and understand Shakespeare, it is well worth the extra dollar or two. The Introduction, the images, and plethora of footnotes are irreplaceable and nearly neccessary for a full understanding of the play (for those of us who are not scholars already). The photocopy of the original Quatro text in the appendix is also very interesting.

All in all, well worth it! I recommend that you buy ALL of Shakespeare's work from Arden's critical editions.

On D-Day British officers read Henry's famous words to their men as they approached the beach. When Churchill needed material for his famous "Few" speech, his thoughts turned to the pages of Henry V. From "once more into the breach" to "we happy few, we band of brothers" this play resonates with Shakespeare's paen to England's warrior king. Oh, you'll be a bit confused at the start if you haven't read Henry IV parts 1 and 2, but this is primarily the story of Henry V's victory at Agincourt. Whether the play glorifies war or just Henry you will have to decide. There is much food for thought here for the perceptive reader. But then Shakespeare is always provocative.

My grandson, who is six, especially enjoyed the arithmetic lesson in this book, as Henry's friend adds up his earnings steadily. He was also interested in seeing which bear got to Fitchburg first. The illustrations are charming, and the story wears well for repeated reading. As for the references to the Alcotts and Emerson and Henry the Bear's likemindedness with Henry David Thoreau, that's just an extra for adults.

3 to 8 yrs. Some may find this book objectionable in that they may believe that its underlying message for children is 'work is bad.' But that doesn't seem to be the author's intent. It seems to be more observational then as a teaching tool.

Based on a passage from Henry David Thoreau's Walden, the story is about Henry--the main animal character (bear?) in the story--and his friend, who decide to go to Fitchburg. Henry chooses to walk the 30 miles, while his friend plans to work, so that he can earn enough money to ride the train. We then bounce from character to character to witness what they are experiencing in their quest to get to Fitchburg.

Good illustrations, and interesting story providing ample discussion material for parents and children, about the different meanings this story possess.

There's a lot to love in this book by D. B. Johnson. There is the priceless story-lesson concerning two bears traveling to the same destination by widely divergent paths, one enjoying the pleasures of nature along the way while the other works to earn fare to travel by more modern means. There are the beautifully memorable illustrations, one after another, of the bears as they make their way to Fitchburg. And there is the message, to stop and smell the roses, take in a little nature, just walk. Or maybe just sit in the woods and read Thoreau.

What a SUCK-FEST! This is the worst book I've read in a long time. The (unlucky) 13 authors seem only slightly concerned with plot continuity, and the result is like a novel with every third page torn out. Characters come and go, and come back again for no apparent reason, other than to satisfy the authors' self-indulgent egos. In particular, the chapters by Elmore Leonard and Vicki Hendricks were appallingly bad. Hendricks ignores all the preceeding chapters and suddenly changes the eponymous manatee from an aquatic pinhead into some amalgam of Lassie and the Hardy Boys. In a later chapter Carl Hiaasen openly mocks this sudden swerve in character. (Tip: avoid books where one co-author ridicules another co-author's writing) Elmore Leonard contributes a time capsule that might have been hip 25 years ago, with a black character refering to someone as a "cat", and in the very next sentence actually using the phase "shuck and jive". I am very happy I checked this book out of the library, instead of squandering 22.95 on this train wreck of a book

OK, thirteen of Miami's favorite writers are sitting around a campfire (this isn't a joke). Dave Barry kicks off a story involving a couple hit men, a manatee, a 102-year-old woman and a box containing the head of Fidel Castro, and passes it to the writer to the left. The next eleven writers circle the story around the campfire in an attempt to blend this motley cast of characters (and heads) into the literary equivalent of a refreshing Miami Beach smoothee.

Throwing in monkey wrenches, stranger characters and even more heads-in-boxes in the process, they mostly succeed in creating a wholly unbelievable, extremely offbeat and wildly entertaining mystery. Poor Carl Hiassen (of Striptease fame) is challenged with tying up all the loose ends without playing the Demi Moore card, and succeeds in delivering an ending as strange as a manatee is large.

Above all an interesting experiment, Naked Came the Manatee is also an entertaining quick read.

Booger is the answer to the walls talking. Suspend belief and enter the world of a manatee that thinks, feels and reasons like us. He becomes involved in a mystery not as a victim, but as a participant in important events. The concept of a manatee detective aiding the likes of Brit Montero in solving the case of the Castro heads is only exceeded by the writing of this by the many different writers, from Dave Barry to Carl Hiaasen. No mystery should be this much fun