I haven't read a book in a long time that I actually really enjoyed every chapter. Biling's doesn't confuse the reader with battlefield strategy or complicating the obvious. He doesn't reflect on battle scenarios with upmost detail after 20 years either. This is a great book for anyone looking to learn about daily soldier life. Bilings captures the daily grind and life of being a Federal soldier while offering humor and straight forward realities that get the mind ticking. The stories make truth stranger than fiction and is a welcomed charge of quick information. It is easy to suggest this book to younger readers as well as the information is clean,concise and well written. I would definately recommend this book for all as many ages can benefit from this educational and entertaining book of soldier life.

There are numerous histories of the Civil War and some have become classics. Most of these focus on battles and great heroes. Billings, however, a Civil War veteran, writes about the daily life of the average soldier. We learn about the soldier's motivation to fight, camp discipline, diet, housing, medical care, recreation and just about everything else that comprised the life of the Civil War era soldier. Billings' book is serious yet he manages to write in a lighthearted tone, replete with levity. This is a great book to round out a Civil War buff's study of the great conflict.

I would have loved to had this book when I was a child. The non-linearity of the chapters makes it a perfect "browser's book" -- a book which you can pick up and flip open to any page and read interesting, amusing and humorous accounts of day to day life in the Civil War army. This is one of the most fun books I've picked up in a long time.

John H. Davis doesn't leave a stone unturned, at least as far as Carlos Marcello's complicity in the assassination. If, after reading this book, you don't think Marcello played a part in this crime, ... This book puts you right into the world of Carlos Marcello, almost as though you were experiencing it with your own eyes. Also impressive was Davis' insight into the wacky world of the U.S. Government. In the years since this book was first published, it has been even further established from numerous informants that the actual shooters were three Corsican underworld hitmen from Marseille: Lucien Sarti, Francois Chiappe, and Jean-Paul Angeletti. ...

Cross referencing info in this book would make it possible to catch the real killers, it's just that accurate. You never want to put this one down!Even after you finish, you'll read it again. I read it all the time. And everytime I do I come across another important fact. This book would help the government find the killers, if in fact the government WANTED to find them.

I know most of the New Orleans players...Davis is very accurate in his text. If you never had the shrimp at Mosca's, or spent "Ladies Night" at Lenfant's, you would notz understand. "Who killa da chief?"

Whether you are a novice about to buy your first boat or an old salt who wants to add a little more practical knowledge, this is an excellent book. Some of the recommendations may seem like overkill for the casual weekend sailor, but it is best to be prepared, if not in equipment then at least in knowledge, for the worst conditions. There is a big difference in knowing and not knowing how much your boat falls short of ideal preparation. This book could give you a sense of where to set the standard.

A good well written book with essential information clearly explained. If you know exactly what type of characteristics you want in a boat (performance, safety, etc) then this book will help in finding the right boat though the criteria laid out in the boat by various authors are not easily found or reconciled in one boat design. Will make further investigation more productive to be sure. Certainly a jumping off platform for the first time buyer and more reading is needed for a true understanding of the concepts resented in the book.

This book is incredible. If you are a complete novice, in the market for your first boat - or an experienced sailor preparing to go to sea - this should be required reading. There is an incredible amount of experience behind this book, making it the authority on sailboat configuration and equipment. Illustrated in all the right places.

Ok teachers, here is the truth:

Easy to use. Practical. Great table of contents to get the info you need. Each chapter short, direct, and tells you exactly what to do. I don't know how I ever taught reading without this resource. You'll have to hunt to find it (I bought my copy used) but it's worth ALL the effort.

I am a first year teacher and first glanced at the book in a reading methods course. I found that in my first year of teaching it has been very helpful for ideas to boost reading skills. The information is orgainzed for easy access and is very practical for everyday situations

I was priveldged to take a reading methods class from Mrs. Lenski. The book is an excellent source for ideas and strategies to meet the needs of different types of readers. The book is orgnized so that busy teachers can easily find the information they need.

This is the best guide to the DC and surrounding area, but in some cases this book needs to be updated. Some attractions have relocated or closed since the book was published. Fortunately, the book lists phone numbers and websites so you can make sure of the current location and hours of operation. I would highly recommend it to anyone, with or without kids, who wants to see the sights in DC and the surrounding Virginia and Maryland area.

Great resource. I just was hoping it would be updated, since it's been a while, and not all information is still current.

We live in DC and we love this book! Whenever I feel like we need a new place to visit, I flip the pages and find something perfect to do. All of the places we've discovered through the book have been places we've vowed to return. My son is one and a half -- I look forward to exploring more and more as he grows up in DC. I work at a school and have also purchased copies for teachers to give them great ideas for field trips.

Sugar of Lead is a phenomenal read. It delves into the life of a gangster who seeks revenge for the death of his blood brother while trying to save the life of his widow. It asks questions about the value of life and death while confronting the ongoing battle between good and evil. It is intriguing and a fast read. Sugar of Lead is one of the few books that actually cover the life of Asian gangsters. It compares to The Godfather in its richness of detail and excitement. I highly recommend it people of all ages.

Sugar of Lead is one of those novels that provides a deep, rich tale of one man's introspection after trying to survive in this world, as well as a deep, rich context for its setting and background. This reminds me of novels written by some guys named Hemingway and Bellow. In true fashion as a story in this postmodern era, Sugar of Lead tells of a white male trying to find his place in the Asian gang world, which no other novels offer. The reader is left in introspection of his own identity, as well as with the satisfaction of finishing a good book. People of any ethnicity or age will be able to enjoy this book, which is much more than a gangster novel. It is a classic just waiting to be deemed so, and a must-read.

Rarely do thrillers attempt much more than thrilling; they are generally designed as "pleasure fiction," to distract the reader for a period of a few hours. Almer John Davis has apparently decided that he'd rather not walk down the narrow alley of another gangster thriller, but the backdrop of Korean gangsters in Los Angeles provides the appropriate setting to get much of his message across. The novel mixes the best of old and new--there are shades of Hamlet and Beowolf mixed with the best of Elmore Leonard--upon my first reading (there have been many since) I remarked that this book is a sort of higher-echelon Elmore Leonard novel. Davis presents his views on crime, death, and most importantly, life through the eyes of protagonist Micheal "Sugar" Pierce.
An outsider of sorts, being white in a Korean gang, yet with an insider's knowledge, being best friend of the boss and in love with the boss's wife, Sugar is caught in a web of deception, love, hate, and violence. His desperate attempt to break out, forced by the actions of others, leads to a fast-paced novel, with riveting aciton and constant tension. Yet, Davis seamlessly works in his literary perspectives, using effective and poignant symbolism, allegory and metaphor in order to fully acheive his purpose. Above all a novel that will make you think, examine yourself, and ponder the dilemmas of the characters (the true sign of good literature), Sugar Of Lead has my highest recommendation. I only hope that many more books of the same quality will be produced by its author.

I first found this book at our local public library, and checked it out because of the fun, colorful illustrations. Although it was somewhat hard to read the first few times, due to the irregular rhyme scheme, it because progressively easier after listening to the CD several times. My daughter absolutely loves the book, and after only having it a week, could sing the entire story (she's three). It is a fun book that really sticks with kids, and I love that my daughter is learning, "Be happy with who you are" at such a young age. This book would be great for kids of all ages, especially those who have had a rough day or experience and are wishing for a moment they were somewhere or someone else.

This is a great book for Kids and Parents. It is a great story and the CD is the best! This is a very fun book to read or to listen to! John Lithgow will do great as a writer!

Above all else, children's story books should be intelligent, and Marsupial Sue has smarts in her pouch! This charming book with accompanying sheet music and CD taps into what we should begin to teach our children as soon as they can understand the spoken/written word, and that is to be who we are and not to be dissatisfied with who we are. Of course, we should be the best person we can be should be the message of John Lithgow's next book!

David E. Scheim's fascinating research into the assassination of JFK makes for one of the most compelling publications ever. Far & away one of the best books about that day in Dallas;
Scheim dissects mafia involvement in Dealy Plaza,Texas,22.11.63. Not as much suggestive as masterfully investigated,there is stuff here that will blow you away; such as Lee Harvey Oswald's vastly covered-up significant ties to the Mafia~(Oswald's mob connected uncle "Charles Murret"). There's also a fantastic chapter dealing with Mafia associations to R.Nixon's Administration & to R.Reagan's Administration. And check out the "Appendix#2 Sources-on-the-Mafia" section; Seems that the Cosa Nostra has been networking an evil business empire ranging from Wall Street connections to an interest in child pornography.

An intriguing,powerful paperback. Check it out.

He's passed on now but when he handed me the book almost 20 years ago he said "This is almost dead on." And for reasons I won't elaborate on he knew some of those who knew those who carried this out. That coupled with the thorough research of the author gave me chills then and chills now. Who lost the most from Bay of Pigs? The crime bosses. Havana was well on its way to becoming the drug/sex/gambling playhouse of the New World, and only 90 miles from our shores! What a deal, with [people] like Batista in their pocket, they had a perfect plan. My Dad went to Havana twice pre-Castro to meet with his "friends". Keep in mind that part of the deal was the compliant Cubans at the top of the food chain, most of whom came here after Castro, which is why they get no sympathy from me. No matter how bad Castro has ever been, he's better than Batista who was a criminal and a traitor to his people, but they never mention that. If you're ever in a conversation with a Cuban without a gun, ask him to tell you what life was like for most Cubans before Fidel. It usually stops the conversation.

This book covers one of the essential aspects of the murder of President Kennedy: the Mafia and his executioner Jack Ruby.
It is a thorough investigation: David E. Scheim went as far as analyzing all telephone calls by Ruby before the assassination.

The author gives us a most credible explanation of how the Mafia could benefit and did after the murder. More, he draws a disturbing portrait of how the Mafia penetrated the highest power ranks in the U.S. and how it could influence the life of every U.S. citizen.
He castigates the Warren Report as a shameful misjudgment.

This book is a must read. It describes how a secret organization could wield enormous power and influence to its own adavantage a whole democratic nation and its citizens.

I would like to cast a somewhat dissenting view of this book. It is certainly a good place to start for information on various projects but comes up short on construction techniques. Perhaps an older source, Procedures in Experimental Physics (Lindsay Pubs), is better. Of course, it was written in 1938, so materials cited might be out of date, but the construction techniques aren't bad. I recently decided to build a good sized water tank (40" by 6" by 3") of acrylic and found nothing about construction tips. I was thinking of building something that probably required casting, and found a paltry two pages on the subject.

It would be good to see it updated every 5 years or so. I see the pub date is 1991. Things have changed a bit. It has a very good list of references, but with the advent of the web, it would be good to see some the reference material cite the web.

This is a _great_ book! I buy a copy of this for every student who starts work for me--which I consider to be a fine investment. Practical, hands-on information is given on a huge variety of skills needed by those working in Physics labs. From glass blowing to vacuum systems, to instruction on attaching BNC connectors, it's all in here.

Have never seen a book which was able to pack so much practical information into so few pages, and able to explain complex concepts so simply.

If you have to work with any type of laboratory equipment you would be insane to NOT have this book on your shelf.

It is said that no loss in life affects us as deeply and profoundly as that which we experience when a child of ours dies. Whether the child is a 6-week-old embryo, a 39-week-old fetus, or a grown adult, the mother or father in us feels a sadness that is hard to understand, describe, or come to terms with. Making the decision to try again can be courageous, impetuous, desperate--and a supreme physical and emotional sacrifice. This book can help make the decision informed.

Many books are available for people who are pregnant, who want to get pregnant, or who are grieving the loss of a baby. This book is different because it focuses on that fragile period between having lost a child and the decision to, and the act of, trying to become pregnant with another one. Instead of glossing over or whispering about death, this book faces this common experience head on, offering both compassion and practical information and advice about why this happens and how to go on from here. The personal accounts of the several women and men who went through miscarriage, stillbirth, and early infant death are especially helpful, because readers can understand that this experience is not uncommon--even though their emotional response to it may be unique.

I wish this book had been available when I lost my first baby at 12 weeks into the pregnancy. It would have helped me get through the five months of grief, anger, resentment, guilt, and shattered trust and self-confidence that followed. I plan to give copies of this book to friends, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to try again.

Having just lost a baby to stillbirth, I ordered this book in hopes to trying to conceive again. It is a reassuring book for those of us who have lost a baby and anxiously want to try again, but are nervous and scared. The author addresses all the fears you encounter in a subsequent pregnancy and also offers a lot of tangible information. I'd certainly recommend this book to a mother who has experienced a loss and wants to try again. Now, wish me luck in conceiving!

First, I must admit to a slight bias, as I was one of the bereaved parents, trying again, whom Ann Douglas interviewed for this book. Having eagerly awaited its publication, I can say that it is everything I was hoping to read and more.

Losing a child during pregnancy or shortly after birth is a tragedy that few people can imagine until they have had the unfortunate experience of living through it. Many people urge the bereaved couple to "try again" (as if that will make everything all better). They often do not realize how the loss of the previous pregnancy colours every facet of trying or being pregnant again.

As someone who has lived through the loss of a child and the birth of a subsequent baby -- as well as being a gifted writer on pregnancy and parenting issues -- Ann is uniquely qualified to explore every aspect of this largely unexplored subject. The book is thorough and presents lots of factual information, as well as the voices of bereaved parents who have made the courageous decision to try again to bring a living child home. For me, it was the stories and examples of these other bereaved parents that really "made" the book.

I would highly recommend this book for any bereaved parent struggling with the decision to try again or going through a subsequent pregnancy, as well as those in a position to provide support to these brave couples.