I was delighted by 'Britain Then & Now,' Philip Ziegler's book on the amazing Francis Frith landscape photos of Victorian Britain, most of which have been updated by superb contemporary color landscape photos by John Cleare, or by landscape views taken in the same position several decades apart, say in 1900, 1920 & 1950. I have almost never seen this 'then & now' format used for sites in Britain, though it has been very frequently used for sites here in the United States. The changes to the landscape over so many decades are stunning, often shocking. Discover, for example, what is hidden behind the garish neon signage of Piccadilly Circus !! Not a book which is likely to please defenders of advertising, modernism, or "the ubiquitous motor vehicle," but which will not only please, but delight the rest of us. Architecture is supposed to be "the most public of the Fine Arts," yet one has to wonder how respectfully Britain's marvelous legacy of this artwork has been treated, after reading this volume.

After reading many books from Osbert Sitwell and buying first editions where I found them only now I have a perfect idea about who and what the man was. A splendid book which it was oimpossible to close after beginning. Everybody interested in this family and man should begin with this work. It is well written, humorous in a convincing way and perfectly thrustworthy and gives you by the way for the most important books "the critical heritage".I am sure every reader will after finishing this books start buying those which he has not been reading. Splendid.

What we need today is people that can think independently, honestly, and comprehensively as in the enlightenment days of American history (See our large collection of such classic works online: TruthInHeart.com of men who took their stand as Boyl does today.) As demonstrated in this book, this generation is overrun with crafty schemers that multiply their sophisticated agendas, or else who pay people to do such for them. We are smart enough today to get only what we really want; while anything that contradicts gets the standard response of 'O don't tell me anymore, I don't want to hear it.' We have no more responsibilities anymore. In America someone is taking care of us in just about any conceivable department of life. We no longer really need to know how to do anything to survive or succeed in what we wish for. Just imagine that! and you can have it. We have been shaped from the cradle to get whatever we want as long as we go with the flow or can pay enough to buy reality.

Any student of history can see that our generation is ripe for the greedy picking. And as long as the general people are pacified and slowly boiled they will not take the time to even consider counting the cost of manly independence. We are stunned by the absolute present, and a few days perhaps, into the future. We do not have the time to search things out like "Defending Civil Resistance Under International Law". Why bother anyway, when it will only ruin our reputations and agendas?

Let me tell you that a real citizen of any country has his heart set on the highest interests and not merely those of the fleeting surface. If there are any real men today who are independent, honest, and thorough, then they will consider all of the implications or effects of their actions; and if they have any wisdom they will consider the foundations of the times. Boyl seems to be such a courageous fellow who is willing to call America back to dignity and maturity. His rare post as Instructor of International Law prepares him to consider our times and sphere objectively. And as people so caught up with the present, and so dependent upon 'authorities,' we should give our undivided attention to such a man when he calls us to be accountable for forsaking all the counsel of our fathers and all the wisdom of the ages. We won't listen until we see for ourselves! Until the very things happen to us that were warned in this book.

This book will not only give you facts about how you have been duped by just accepting popular opinion, but if it is considered will help you to begin to understand some of the real responsibilities of government and the people. There are many contributions in this book, but the most important is its magnetic call for independent, honest, and thorough heroes to rebuild the fallen walls.

Francis' book should be read - and heeded - by anyone interested in creating successful new products. It is particularly valuable because it provides a comprehensive view of the processes and problems of creating new products. He not only describes the core process from idea generation through product launch, but he also includes the often neglected issues of information systems support, accounting for the costs and benefits of R&D programs, and patents and other legal issues associated with intellectual property.

The scope of the work is broader than it first appears to be. Francis, a well-known expert in manufacturing, describes product creation processes and methodologies equally useful for manufactured products and for service "products".

The book is rich in checklists on important topics, such as metrics of R&D performance, computing your leadership quotient, and motivating workers. He ends each chapter with a section called "Ideas for Action". These are tips on what to do to move from his printed page to action in the reader's organization. They are very useful.

The most important message of the book is that successful product creation cannot be left to the R&D department; it requires the joint efforts of every organizational function. People from other departments who affect product creation will find this book very valuable, as will the R&D people themselves.

Henry Kamen's Spain 1469-1714, a Society in Conflict is a political history spanning the growth and length of Spain's Imperialism and colonial empire. It is also a study of how religious conflict created among Catholics, Jews and Muslims shaped the political agenda of the crown. At the same time there were internal conflicts, Spain both as an alliance of Argon and Castile and later as a part of the Habsburg empire, then the Bourbons, was thrust into a global role in the new world, the Netherlands and Italy. It is a narrative/exposition approach that uses religious and economic strands as well as politics to explore the conflicts that shaped Spain as it passed from individual kingdoms into a modern state. Kamen provides an extensive bibliography including many Spanish sources, none of which appears to include original source material.

Part one of the book focuses on the period from 1469 to 1516, which Kamen calls "The Catholic Kings." It is a time period that is often looked upon as Spain's golden age. The marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella united the kingdoms of Argon and Castile. Both kingdoms evolved in different ways which created potential sources of conflict. It was to Isabella and Ferdinand's credit that their major focus remained the pacification of Spain. Kamen investigates their pacification efforts through seven venues: hermandades, aristocracy, the municipalities, the Military Orders, the councils of state, justice and the Cortes. One of the contributing factors to conflict cited by Kamen throughout this period and all succeeding reigns was the crown's need to raise money. In spite of the wealth that came in from the America's, the Spanish treasury was always in need of money. Kamen, in effect, built as case for self-perpetuating conflict -conflict needs armies that needed money that created more conflict as the crown tried to raise it.

The kings that followed Isabella/Ferdinand set different agendas. Charles V and his descendants committed themselves to Castile and their center of government. They financed their activities by tapping four major sources: Argon, Castile, the church and the Americas. However, the Americas never became the cash cow that the kings and councilors had hoped because the trade business was dominated by foreigners with Spain functioning only as a conduit. Consequently, the government periodically declared bankruptcy to cancel its debts.

Religion was one of the other strands Kamen uses to develop his society in conflict themes. Phillip II, an extremely religious monarch, instituted the Inquisition. This required a nationalized church and its purpose was to reconvert the general population back to Catholicism. It coincided with the expelling of all the Moriscos which in itself created demographic problems and a lower tax base with its corresponding economic consequences.

Kamen continues with the economic, religious and political conflict themes through the reign of Philip V who finally unifies the country and ends the power of the old aristocracy. The empire also came to an end. The book concludes with Kamen arguing that the debate over the future is as uncertain today as it was in 1714.

The book is an outstanding portrait of Spain during the empire days. Although it had a colonial empire during this period and was recognized as a world power, Kamen's thorough analysis reveals the weakness inherent in all phases of society. It was truly a society in conflict.

Esler has produced here for us what promises to be an exciting read. It is a detailed review of what is arguably one of the most important texts of the New Testament, in which new light is shed on how to read Galatians. Rejecting the theological mish mash of biblical scholarship, Esler attempts to introduce the world of sociology to the reader. Seemingly a rather simple move, it is not entirely welcomed in the scholarly world. Or so Esler thinks. If you can get past Esler's stubborn stance where he seems to sleight many other scholars including Ed Sanders with some severity, then this is an interesting read. Esler attempts to bring interculturalism to the reader and show how Paul is in the oxymoronical state of being both a "stranger to our culture, and yet as the bearer of a message which makes insistent claims upon us." So too, will the reader be able to dabble in the Hellenistic world reaping understanding to our contemporary society. Read it and decide for yourself whether Esler, and also Paul, has something to say for us today.

Philip Esler presents a sharply sectarian Paul who was offensive not only to mainstream Judaism but his own colleagues as well. He maintains, moreover, that Christianity was sectarian from the get-go, even before Paul's conversion. The fact that Paul had zealously persecuted the church in its earliest years (Gal. 1:13-14; Philip. 3:6) and had "preached circumcision" during this period (Gal. 5:11) indicates that the movement had already included Gentiles who were involved in a blasphemous practice for which the remedy was circumcision. That practice, according to Esler, was eucharist table-fellowship (I Cor. 10:16-17, 11:23-26), whereby Jews and uncircumcised Gentiles shared bread and wine from the same vessels, risking serious pollution and idolatry.

This issue lay at the heart of Paul's conflict with the Jerusalem apostles (Gal. 2:1-10), the following incident at Antioch (Gal. 2:11-14), and the subsequent controversy in Galatia (Gal. 3:1-5, 5:2-6). Paul, like many of the Christians he once persecuted, believed that Gentiles did not need to submit to proselyte conversion in order to engage with Jews in indiscriminate (eucharist) table-fellowship. James, Peter, and John initially agreed to this (Gal. 2:7-9), despite conservative hard-liners in the Christian movement (Gal. 2:4) who fought such blasphemy tooth and nail. Paul's victory over these hard-liners left them steaming with the desire for revenge, and as soon as he and Peter left for Antioch, they put pressure on James to revoke the decision. Esler thinks they were successful, since Peter stopped eating with Gentiles as soon as "the circumcision faction" (Gal. 2:12) arrived at Antioch to break the sore news.

Now confronting a new crisis, Paul recounts these earlier conflicts and proceeds to mount a full-fledged attack on the Jewish law in order to keep rival Christian missionaries at bay and away from influencing his Gentile converts in Galatia. He derides the Torah as a "curse" leading to transgression and sin, and as something which is diametrically opposed to faith and the Spirit. Against scholars like James Dunn, Esler contends that Gal. 5:14 ("the whole law is summed up in the commandment 'love your neighbor as yourself'") in no way implies that an ethical part of the law remains relevant for Christian living, but rather that Christians have access "to the best which the law could provide" by a completely different route -- the Spirit. And the reference to "the law of Christ" in Gal. 6:2 represents the apostle's "most daring inversion and final nail hammered into his argument that the law of Moses is now entirely irrelevant".

This commentary explains Paul's most hostile letter using models of Mediterranean social values and sectarian rhetoric, and it's probably the best available book on Galatians. But Esler's arguments will be fiercely disputed by Mark Nanos, whose equally compelling work on Galatians presents a non-sectarian and "Jewish-friendly" Paul, who got along well with the other apostles -- and who did not, in fact, oppose the law! Debate between Esler and Nanos only promises to get more exciting, and their arguments will stand or fall according to how one answers the question of Paul's independence from the apostolic community and sectarianism from mainline Judaism. Both represent the best that scholarship currently has to offer.

About time the Prudent King received treatment worth his contemporaneous status! Not much has been written on Phillip II that would pass the most superficial test of historical accuracy. This book, a survey of his reign, is balanced and well written. Kamen describes neither a demon (the characterization of Phillip which most English readers would find familiar) nor a saint (the preferred version among Spanish monarchists), but the first modern bureaucrat. Kamen scholarship has some precursors in the English historical world, ie Elton, Parker, but his contribution to popular history in the form of biography is unique at this point. The 30 Years War, the casus belli for Modern Europe, is inconceivable without Phillip II's presence. This book paints with an informed brush the Spanish dynastic cause. I recommend this book highly.

Kamen offers a very complete and detailed description of the great grandson of the Catholic Kings and the difficulty of managing the most extensive empire the world has ever known. The facts are taken from great sources and presented in an honest fashion. Kamen strays from legends and myths and even challenges some of them as he did in "The Spanish Inquisition". The dedication of Felipe II to his realm is explained realisticly. Finally, the chronology is followed with discipline and is commendable. I would recommend this book to anyone desiring information on this Hapsburg leader.

That's right! I am, at this moment, making a powerful epic screenplay about the greatest king in the 1500s. It is called PHILIP, KING OF SPAIN - and it will star me as the great king Philip II. I will show him as the man, the king, the warrior, the father, the husband, and the ruler of his court!

So forget about those other little biopics like THE LAST EMPEROR, AMADEUS, ELIZABETH, and others! PHILIP, KING OF SPAIN will be an Academy Award-winning, Best Picture epic film made by yours truly - Kristoffer Infante! It will be a companion to my other Oscar-winning Best Picture, PRISONER OF WAR - written, directed, produced, and starring me - and TRIANGLE, another Oscar-winning Best Picture!

I will be faithful to the man and the myth, and destroy all that negativity that has dogged Philip in the last 400 years! Philip will be loved and appreciated again!

Count on it!

This is an adult version of the Arabian Nights tales that most kids grow up with. By adult I do not mean that it contains a lot of sexual material, however there is some, so this book is probably not appropriate for children. Stories like "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" and "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" are included in here, along with some more obscure stories like "The Hunchback's Tale". If you're interested in learning about stories from the middle east, this is the book for you.

I just wanted to point out that most of these reviews refer to the previous version of this book that is no longer available from .... I gave this book its average grade, because as of yet I've not read this SEQUEL. Please note that this book does not contain Sinbad, Aladin, or many of the other classic stories (though it does seem to expand on the shortened earlier edition). Check the chapters to make sure you're getting the right book. Given the original however (which I have read) I'm sure this is an excellent edition of the tales.

Encourage ... to not only carry this book, but its predecessor too.

We are all familiar with the stories of Ali Baba, Aladdin, and Sinbad. But where did these tales come from? The answer lies in this wonderful (condensed) volume known as the 'Arabian Nights.'
The story is of a woman, Scheherazade, who marries a king. The king's custom is to spend one night with a woman and execute her in the morning. To avoid this, Scheherazade tells him a tale, but leaves part of it unfinished, thus gaining the king's interest and insuring her survival for another day so she can finish the tale. Being clever, she never finishes it, but keeps it continuously going, until the king finally spares her life.
The stories presented here, though often somewhat crude, have great moral lessons to be learned. The serve as a sort of moral reminder as to how a good person should act.
When Richard Burton translated the Nights, he collected as many manuscripts as possible and pieced together the tales. Many had been created centuries earlier, and were often told during gatherings among friends. Burton, through his unparalelled knack for translation, managed to capture all the magic and mystery that are the Arabian Nights.
Besides the delightful stories and good lessons to be learned, the Nights serve another purpose--they provide an intimate look at the culture of the time. By examining their legends, one can gain a basic understanding of how Arabic culture functions. There is as much to be learned about the people who tell these stories as there is from the stories themselves.
I read this book for historical and cultural value, and found it to be abundant in both. Besides that, though, I encountered a mesmerizing set of tales which will be entertaining to any audience, even (after some revision and editing) children.

A CD-Rom jammed with articles from EXECUTIVE EXCELLENCE. I actually got my copy as a bonus for subscribing a couple of years ago. Many of the articles are interesting, but they are all quite short, almost MTV-ish. This seems to be the preferred style for this publication. If you are a fan of Warren Bennis, or one of the writers who regularly contribute to that publication, this is a good way to pick up some new material from your favored writer. The articles are on a variety of topics, which means that there will probably be something for everyone with an interest in this subject, but by the same token, there will be a lot that won't interest you. The CD includes a search engine that is workable. I benefitted from the magazine and the CD, but they didn't set my world on fire.

This Book begins using something called horizontial statments and then in chapter 5 switches to regular T accounts thus confusing students completely, I have yet to find a student that tells me the book is easy to understand or useful. It would be helpful if there was a solutions manual. Our school will change books next semester. It's not even good enough to make dorm furniture.

I've read the reviews stating that this is a confusing book. I disagree completely. Although the author does not immediately delve into traditional T-accounts, the introduction of the "horizontal model" serves as a good foundation for building the awareness of the accounting equation that should be second nature BEFORE tackling T-accounts. The text's preface states: "A horizontal financial statements model replaces the accounting equation as the predominant teaching platform. The model enables students to VISUALIZE THE SIMULTANEOUS EFFECTS OF A SINGLE BUSINESS EVENT on the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows." I felt as though this methodology was very effective for my learning style. Recording transactions in T-accounts came almost as second nature after mastering the horizontal model.

The "Working Papers" (a separate workbook) makes doing the assigned problems easy by providing a ready-made template for each problem. If you've had to draw your own T-accounts or your own journal in a notebook before, you will definitely appreciate this.

This text serves as a good introduction to the skills necessary to master financial accounting.

This book is an excellent book to go with a Financial Accounting course. Everything is laid out in plain English, and shows you in diagrams and models exactly how each kind of transaction works. I recommend for professors everywhere to adopt this book for their clases. I'm glad mine did!