The texts of many Eighteenth Century books are full of interpolations by printers and may contain thousands of edits by the author, too. What Dr. Brack has done is to identify and evaluate EVERY variant to assemble a DEFINITIVE TEXT. He's spent a lifetime tracking down what Smollett actually wrote. If you want to know what Smollet wrote, and not his printer, read an edition that Dr. Brack has collated. These volumes are triumphs of scholarship as well as a service to readers.

I read this book for the first time over 20 years ago, and I must admit it shaped my life. When I have kids (twin boys preferably) I will see to it that Machiavelli's Prince, and Smollet's Fathom are mandatory reading.

As you are lead through the life and adventures of FCF, you realize just how villanous a handsone dandy can be. Whistling as he makes love to your daughter so as not to let on that he is picking the lock on your safe with a toothpick between his toes definately displays a sense of arrogance that one must admire!

I was searching for a book to give me a short history of World War II. This book was excellent! I used it in teaching background information to my 4 - 6 grade gifted students. My mother (a member of the "greatest generation") loved the book and wanted one for herself. The book is excellent.

I really liked how this book was set up. I bought it for my students so they could be more informed of World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. My students seem to really like this book and it's a popular one amongst my middle school students.

I would recommend this as a tool to use in the English or Social Studies classroom.

Dana K. Wolcott

I THINK THIS BOOK IS COOL BECAUSE I LIKE BOOKS ABOUT WAR AND THIS BOOK WAS A GOOD WAR BOOK SO THATS WHY I GIVE IT 5 STARS, I RECOMMEND IT TO OTHER 12 YEAR OLDS.

Even though the price in the book title is probably no longer applicable, the recommendations are. Especially the Tropicana Inn in San Jose del Cabo -- clean, safe, great location in downtown area. Near great shopping. Avoid the tourist trap of Cabo San Lucas -- go here! Marita Adair would never steer you wrong. We took a trip to hotels she recommended in Mexico and would go again -- our best recommendation!

I have purchased several editions of the Mexico on $__ A Day books, and have found them about the best for my moderate budget needs. And Marita Adair has done an excellent job of keeping the book updated; the 22nd edition may have been the best ever--certainly a classic guide! There has not been a Frommer's budget Mexico guide published since, and I have been very disappointed in the 1998 and 1999 editions of the general Frommer's Guide to Mexico--seem kind of flat with no really new information.

I used this guide to plan my trip to Mexico in January 1997. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of the research. It is oriented toward budget-conscious travelers, who want clean, comfortable accomodations and bargain eats. It could use some more information about the history, culture and customs of the Mexican people.

if you like jazz you must read this book...
it is just as wonderful as hearing Anita sing...
What a life, what a voice!

At 3 a.m. last night I finally read a last chapter,couldnt put it down before.Yes,Anita O'Day writting voice sounds very much like her singing self: ironic,witty,tough hip "swing chick" (her words) who didnt give a damn what others think.Her self-destructivness very much echoes another famous artist (in rock music) Marianne Faithfull,in fact this two women have much more in common than you think.Both survivors,both eventually come back and yes,both are still live preformers.Her opinion about other jazz singers are sometimes strange ("Like me,Ella never had a great voice"?) - but think that she was commercially oversahdowed by Fizgerald.As much as Anita's "Verve" albums are beautiful and timeless (I really think woman was a highest-class jazz improvisator,she grew up from Billie Holiday and made her own style) this book is sometimes painful to read.I believe there is a general curiousity about somebody's dirty linen,in this case it almost overshadow her art - at some points it reads like 50's detective story,with smokey jazz clubs,jazz musicians as a drug addicts and cops always around to "find" (read:set up) drugs in dressing room.With all beautiful music she made,its a pity that editor of the book find more interesting to emphasise her drug addiction,since her arrests,sanatoriums,jails and courts get more space than anything else.I dont think this was her intention,probably publisher wanted scandalous story,but if you dont know her music,this book can make you think that Anita O'Day was a famous junkie who had a music as a hobby.

Seems like a truly honest, candid account of the jazz life of a famous jazz singer, warts and all. Very touching in its candor in which the singer's habits brought down her considerable talents and what could have seemed like a glamorous life on the road really was far more debased than what one might imagine. Besides the sordid side, a lot of opinions about the jazz abilities of a lot of famed musicians of the forties and fifties; generally, a very honest, open and sometimes painful account of the jazz life of a great artist. I had the pleasure of meeting the aritst in person at a performance a few years ago, and she revealed that she had never read the final product herself. Highly worthwhile.

MacDonald's skill in imagery and storytelling are exemplified by this memorable fairy tale. One of those wonderful rare books that's extremely accessible and "light", but also is deeply stirring and has lasting weight. I'm sure it's one I'll enjoy reading to my kids.

I absolutely love this story! George MacDonald has a lovely sort of grandfatherly style, and this is perfect to be divided up as a series of bedtime stories. A boy who has never seen night and a girl who has never seen day help each other cope with their fears. It is available online if you don't mind digging a little. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for them to find it for you. E-mail me if you want the address for the online e-text version. It doesn't quite have the charm of an actual book, but if it's all you've got, it's better than nothing.

Thanksgiving is given a new point of view and retelling in this very special picture book. Jean Craighead George, the Newbery Medal-winning author of JULIE OF THE WOLVES, as well as nearly 100 distinguished nature books for young readers, presents the story of the first Thanksgiving with warmth, fascinating detail, and lyrical as well as informative storytelling. Thomas Locker's colorful, classical paintings beautifully complement the author's words. The story begins with the formation of Plymouth Rock, a huge, two-million year old glacial mass that comes to rest in Cape Cod. Then the Pawtuxet tribe arrives, earning their living from the land, including Squanto, who is later captured by Englishmen and sold into slavery. Across the ocean, Pilgrims seeking religious freedom set out on a perilous voyage to America. Upon reaching the New World, they must deal with many hardships including disease, starvation, and death. Still the Pilgrims endure. In the springtime, Squanto, freed from slavery and now a member of another Indian tribe, arrives, bringing peace to the people of Plymouth. He teaches them how to grow crops, catch fish, hunt deer and turkey, showing the Pilgrims the importance of respecting the land and using it wisely. In 1621, after a bountiful harvest, a great celebratory feast takes place for three days, in which the people gather and eat and play games--the first Thanksgiving. This story is a unique portrayal of historical events, always keeping the reader intrigued and awed, with its terrific writing and inspirational illustrations. As she does in every one of her books, Jean Craighead George reminds us of the need to honor our natural resources and every living thing on the planet. In this story, too, she sends a message of peace that will inspire every person and reach beyond one day in November, to give thanks every day for what we have.

Want to know where Plymouth Rock came from and what it has to do with the pilgrims? What happened when the Mayflower finally sighted land? This is the book for you. The First Thanksgiving is history, community, geology, and science in a very beautifully illustrated and believable story of the colonization of Massachusetts. The pilgrims came to the New World looking for religious freedom only to be met by fear, death, hunger, and an insightful and helpful Pawtuxet, Squanto. It was from his willingness to share his knowledge that we have the celebration of Thanksgiving.

I am Louisa Barnes Pratt's great-great-great-great granddaughter and my mother gave me this book to read a while ago. It is not only inspirational but it is a fascinating description of LDS History.

This book follows a strong woman through a fascinating life filled with trials, tribulations, joys and surprises. It gives a view into the pioneer life from a, most of the time, single mother's perspective. Louisa Barnes Pratt is a testament to her faith in God and her will to follow her convictions and beliefs at any cost. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in history and women's issues!

A well-chosen set of essays is compiled, based on a 4-level framework: i)Analyze the competitive environment, ii)Anticipate competitor's actions & reactions, iii) Formulate Dynamic Strategies, iv) Choose among alternative strategies. The book provides a great way to update one's strategy knowledge.
But I find 'Mastering Strategy: The Complete MBA Companion in Strategy' by Financial Times Editors to be a better book with greater depth and broader spectrum.

This book is wonderful. Unlike many business books which take one very simple concept and drive it into the ground over 400 pages, Wharton on Dynamic Competitive Strategy has several (17) discrete topics which are interlinked through common themes. Need to understand applications of game theory to strategy formulation? Want to understand how to structure scenario analysis for a working session with a group of business unit directors? This book will help you understand some very academic concepts with very real, material impact when used properly.

This is also a great book for MBA students who want to understand a topic before taking to a whole class.

One final point, the caliber of the authors is incredible. Each author is writing about his/her specific areas of expertise, and the topics are extremely timely.

These are my opinions alone and not necessarily those of my employer.

The competitive challenges facing managers are more complex and fast-moving than ever. This environment demands dynamic competitive strategies-strategies that anticipate and adjust to competitors' countermoves, shifting customer demands, and changes in the business world.

The Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania is the oldest business school in America and one of the most revered institutions of business study in the world. Wharton on Dynamic Competitive Strategy offers new perspectives on competitive strategy from a distinguished group of faculty at Wharton and other leading business schools around the world. This book presents the best insights from decades of research in key areas such as competitive strategy, simulations, game theory, scenario planning, public policy, and market-driven strategy. It represents the most cohesive collection of insights on strategy ever assembled by a leading school of business.

Developed for the thinking manager, Wharton on Dynamic Competitive Strategy provides deep insights into the true dynamics of competition. In contrast to popular, quick-fix formulas for strategic success, this book provides perspectives that will help you better understand the underlying dynamics of competitive interactions and make better strategic decisions in a rapidly changing and uncertain world.

The insights and approaches presented here are illustrated with real-world examples which demonstrate how these approaches can be applied to your strategic challenges.

This groundbreaking new book will change your view of strategy and give you the tools you need to succeed in a dynamic and intensely challenging world.

Reviewed by Azlan Adnan. Azlan is Managing Partner of Azlan & Koh Knowledge and Professional Management Group, an education and management consulting practice based in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo. Azlan has a MA in International Business and Management from the University of Westminster.

If you want to read a book that will make you proud to be an American, look no further! Colonel Day is a great hero and I appreciate what he and other Americans in Vietnam had to endure in preserving the right principles which represents the true American people. Thanks to Amazon.com for finding this book which I have enjoyed very much.

Of the many Vietnam era POW accounts I've read, this one is surely the most in depth and graphic in its descriptions. All by and about "Bud" Day who vividly recounts his story in a pure class act manner. This guy's somewhere between John Wayne and Albert Einstein, but no doubt would be the first to insist he's just one of the many who did his duty.

I bought and read this book after hearing Col. Day speak at the U.S. Air Force Museum. I knew he could only highlight his POW experience in the hour and a half he had to speak. This book is a true testimony of the faith and courage it takes to resist torture, terror, starvation and captivity while maintaining one's dignity and honor under the worst circumstances imaginable. One cannot read this book without feeling immense pride in America's fighting men.

In this book, you will find out why? This is easily one of the funniest books that I have read in a long time.

Yes, it is very easy to poke fun at our president, no matter who that may be, but President Bush sure makes it simple. In this diary-style book, the president's innermost thoughts are scribbled out in 3rd-grade penmanship.

The book is outright hilarious. We get an in-depth look at the president's IRS audit list, his thoughts on making a movie about his "poppy," his feelings about Dick Cheney, and his outright fear of Hillary Clinton. The mental notes are also hilarious, and the added illustrations make for a complete funny experience.

This book was a really fast read, and it was extremely humorous. It is definately for anyone with a mere pulse of a sense of humor.

I spotted this highly satirical masterpiece on accident, and loved every page of it. I tried reading it to curb bordem, and kept laughing out loud so much that everyone one had to know what was so funny. All of my freinds, right and left alike, thought it was utterly hilarious. I have lent it out to everyone; My Goverment teacher read it aloud to the class; it even had a bit of a waiting list from time to time.

The scariest element- it is all too true! The book is filled with mispellings, childish handwriting, and mis-informations that sound as if they came from the mind of a 3 year old. Therefore perfectly accurate for the 42nd, er, 43rd President of the United States. ("I wonder if Trent Lott is related to that guy in the Bible whose wife turned to salt?"). Bravo, and encore!

This book is a hilarious spoof on our president's first 3 months in office. I can just picture this as a SNL skit. It's great airplane reading - funny and quick.