I used the 23rd edition of Stobo for my internal medicine rotation as a 3rd year medical student and also as a quick reference for several other rotations. I think it is the best mid-size medicine text I have seen. The content is broken down into bite-size chunks that are easy to read in one sitting--the short chapters make it easier to retain the material. Each section begins with an introductory chapter that gives a concise overview of the approach to take when evaluating a problem with a particular organ-system. Each chapter also ends with a list of summary points that are very helpful. Excellent tables are easy to reference. The actual information contained in the book is in more than enough depth for MS3 level, and the text emphasizes pathophysiology in many chapters, which helped me learn to integrate what I had learned in basic sciences and apply it to seeing patients in the clinical setting. The last section also has some good summary chapters for things that fall outside the realm of each organ-system section. This is a truly outstanding book. I highly recommend it, and I can't wait for the next edition.

Easy to read, contains pertinent info in a concise fashion. Great to study from, easily read during a clerkship.

I started my 3rd year medicine rotation with Appleton and Lange's Current Medical Diagnosis and Therapy but soon found this book to be more appropriate. It clearly and concisely explained pathophysiology of disease as well as clinical aspects, such as presentation, diagnosis and treatment. I also really enjoyed how each organ system began with a general approach to the patient. I am now using this books counterpart for my surgery rotation.

As grape soda is to Louis Roederer Cristal, so today's Christian books are to Edwards' "The Religious Affections". Espousing a theology foreign to most postmodern Christians, Edwards lays out the cornerstone of Christian thought of the mid-18th century.

As unflinching as his more famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", this work develops the idea that what we feel and our true status in Christ are at war with one another, a constant battle that requires the searching of our souls by the Spirit of God in order to find the truth of our standing in Him. For some, the level of introspection and faithfulness demanded of the believer is higher than we might otherwise be prepared to endure. But only by complete surrender, the development of an inner craving for Christ, and spiritual examination can we rest in the assurance of our salvation.

This work also holds up a Christian faith that seems radically different - and more vital - than what we know. For this we should thank Edwards for allowing 21st century men and women a tie to historic Christianity, especially as seen through early-American eyes.

"The Religious Affections" is an extremely difficult book to read, not only because of the sentence structure and word choices of the 18th century, but also because of the loaded theology. It is a bombshell to the heart of anyone who earnestly desires to follow Christ. Impossible to ignore, Edwards' book demands a response. No one can read it and be unchanged. The level of discipleship it asks is shocking to modern readers, but ultimately necessary for our salvation.

One of the greatest theological works of the 18th century. Who better to describe the place of the heart (emotions) in the true Spiritual life, than one whose mind is so sharp and precise on both the specific revealed Word of God, and the general revelation of creation. If you have ever read any of Edwards' sermons, then you need to read this work as well. How can we claim to know God with only our minds, if not also our hearts? It is not the quickest read, but it is like climbing a mountain, worth getting the view at the end.

I'm a minister of music at an evangelical church. Almost every week, I have the conversation with someone "what are the role of emotions in our services and in the Christian's life in general?" (Nobody really asks it THAT way, but you get the idea.)

I've come to the point where I won't even begin the conversation without having them read this book. Seriously! Edwards covers ALL the issues in a thorough and practical way.

Strap on your thinking cap, but know it's worth it! I read this book every year and God never fails in using it to refocus my heart on Him.

Drafted by a committee of 19 (but sufficiently well edited to read as if it were written by a single author) this book provides a well-argued, detailed and wide-ranging analysis of the consequences of economic globalization (the term corporate globalization is also extensively used in the book) and an examination of alternatives and the action required to move towards those alternatives. It has succeeded brilliantly, and deserves very close study, whether or not you agree with the drafting committee's views.

This is no extremist anti-corporate, anti-capitalist text, although it does clearly come to the conclusion that the vector of economic globalisation that we are on is neither inevitable, desirable nor sustainable. It is notable for arguing at the level of underlying principles and their practical consequences - it makes explicit the assumptions underlying corporate globalisation and questions them. This, in itself, is a valuable service as so much of the 'debate' in the media proceeds on the basis of bald assertion of essentially fallacious economic dogma.

The report starts with a critique of 'corporate globalization'. The term itself is useful, because the term 'globalization' has become something of a 'Humpty-Dumpty' word ('when I use a word, it means exactly what I want it to mean, neither more nor less'). 'Corporate globalization' describes a process driven and promoted by the large global corporations which, whatever its other consequences, gives primacy to the benefits that will flow to global business.

The critique identifies eight key features of corporate globalization:

1. 'Promotion of hypergrowth and unrestricted exploitation of environmental resources to fuel that growth
2. Privatization and commodification of public services and of remaining aspects of the global and community commons
3. Global cultural and economic homogenization and the intense promotion of consumerism
4. Integration and conversion of national economies, including some that were largely self-reliant, to environmentally and socially harmful export oriented production
5. Corporate deregulation and unrestricted movement of capital across borders
6. Dramatically increased corporate concentration
7. Dismantling of public health, social, and environmental programs already in place
8. Replacement of traditional powers of democratic nation-states and local communities by global corporate bureaucracies.'

It demonstrates each of these propositions and explores who are the beneficiaries of application of these policies. One of the complexities of trying to follow the arguments of the pro- and anti- globalisers is that both use statistics, both from apparently authoritative sources, that directly contradict each other. It is almost as if the two sides inhabit parallel universes that operate in different ways. Suffice it to say that the report puts forward convincing arguments in support of its case.

The critique proceeds to a devastating analysis of the impact of the World Bank, The IMF and the WTO, the three pillars of corporate globalisation, over the last four or five decades.

The report then argues ten principles for sustainable societies, as a basis for identifying ways of realising these principles in the subsequent chapters of the report. It argues that these principles 'seem to be the mirror opposites of the principles that drive the institutions of the corporate global economy.'.

One of the minor problems in the debate is that, whereas 'globalization' rolls easily off the tongue, 'the principle of subsidiarity' is neither easy to say nor obvious in its meaning. The report contains a chapter on the case for subsidiarity, and it is a strong one. The counter argument is almost entirely concerned with power. While there are many elements of conflict between corporate globalisation and the principle of subsidiarity - local control - they are not entirely antithetical. But the reach of the large corporates would unquestionably be reduced.

You may or may not agree with the arguments in this report, but they deserve serious attention. They are well and carefully argued, they represent (in fairly sophisticated terms) the views of a growing number of people around the world who believe that current beliefs and institutions serve them poorly, and they show those who wish to promote change a path for doing so.

This book is excellent for all those who think we can do better-that small farmers needn't be driven from the land, our water needn't be polluted, people need not go hungry while others are overfed genetically engineered chemically altered junk food, etc. It has great thinkers presenting clear, well thought out ideas about what's wrong and what we can do about it. It helps when getting in that classic argument of keynesianism/communism v. neoliberalism because it outlines the thrid alternative very well. I am a grad student and I used it for a paper i wrote recently refuting neoliberalism and it was very helpful. I highly recommend it! Also, look into Maria Mies. She is the anti-capitalist-patriarchy bomb, yo.

A friend of mine who is involved with Rabbi Michael Lerner's Tikkun Community movement recently gave me a copy of Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible. I'm not an expert in this field at all, but I found the book worthwhile and very accessible. (So accessible that I read the entire thing in a week!) The writers include Jerry Mander, David Korten, Lori Wallach, and many people working around the world in the anti-globalization movement.

What makes the book really important is the positive solutions and alternatives offered. The authors offer real ways to put into practice the Tikkun Community's first and second core principles (interdependence and ecological sanity, and a new bottom line in economic and social institutions).

I think other Tikkun readers, progressive-Democrats, Green party members, and thoughtful people everywhere---who want to see the world change from how it is now to how it could be---would want to read a book outlining specifics of how to create sustainable energy, transportation and food systems. And Alternatives to Economic Globalization does just that. I can't recommend this book enough (in fact I've already bought several copies to give to some of my friends).

Radio theater is a literary genre of its own, with its particular rules. To translate efficiently into it these enormous works -both in size and complexity- is a task that is successfully accomplished by L.A. Theater Works, its cast and its writer. One is carried away by the excellent acting and effects, and the stories are presented so that one understands their development and feels the power of the situations.

It is great to listen to these important stories and catch most of their implications, while, for example,driving your car. This dramatisations bring them to life far more efficiently than a severe abridged reading of the original book that I possess also -of "The Idiot"-.

If you like audio drama and Dostoievski, this is your best choice.

The Brothers Karamozov is an epic yet personal novel that will knock the wind out of you. My favorite character is the vapid Grushenka who bedevils all of the slightly twisted Karamozov brothers and Father. A great book for its religious, historic, and lyrical values.

"Brothers Karamozov" is so good right from the first paragraph that I literally could not put it down -- I read it while cooking, during an ultrasound exam (!), even for 5 minutes in church! It's a grand, sweeping epic of a novel, which reads like the latest page-turner on the best seller list -- the characters are so vivid & real & 3D, the most amazing & appalling things keep happening to them and keep being caused by them, & yet at the same time it's a fascinating look at 19th cent. Russian life & mores, at religion, at the psychology of families....just a FANTASTIC novel, I've never read a finer one!!

John Mason celebrates the African-ness of Santeria and Lukumi; (not all practitioners respect those origins). This book is my first recommendation to the neophyte of African Religious Traditions, and I've recommended this book to college kids in "Comparative Religion" classes. Too often African Spirituality is treated in a condescending manner; this is THE book that elevates Ifa/Orisa to its rightful place of esteem. John Mason's literary style is clean, honest, and profound.

John Mason is one of the best authors since he does not try to sweeten, or to hide aspects of santeria, simply he shows them the way they are. This book is no exeption talks about the orisa explaing each, and tries to convey their esence to the reader.
While basic, touches very deep meanigs of the truth of the orisa.

This book has a unique point of view on what Orishas are and their different powers and manifestations.

You will never perceive the Orisha/Santeria/Lukumi community in the same way after reading this book. It will open your eyes to the beauty of Orisha.

It can only be guessed at why this book was out of print in the US until recently. In it, the reader can discover a charming collection of VERY short stories, which flit from whimsical to mythological, humorous to chilling. All are written in Dunsany's incomparable prose, which ranges from arch first-person narrative to stuff that sounds like embellished mythology.

In this you'll find centaurs, sphinxes, master thieves, about-to-retire pirate chiefs, kings trying to move an emotionless queen to tears, a magical window, a pair of feuding idols, and a delightful story called "Miss Cubbidge and the Dragon of Romance." In addition, this new reprint by Wildside Press has a beautiful cover of a young boy on a winged horse.

The stories are a little short -- much shorter than most present-day short fantasy stories -- but they are just amazing. A must-read for immediate suspension of belief.

It can only be guessed at why this book is out of print in the US, though it can be obtained with other Dunsany works from the UK. In it, the reader can discover a charming collection of VERY short stories, which flit from whimsical to mythological, humorous to chilling. All are written in Dunsany's incomparable prose, which ranges from arch first-person narrative to stuff that sounds like embellished mythology.

In this you'll find centaurs, sphinxes, master thieves, about-to-retire pirate chiefs, kings trying to move an emotionless queen to tears, a magical window, a pair of feuding idols, and a delightful story called "Miss Cubbidge and the Dragon of Romance." The stories are a little short -- much shorter than most present-day short fantasy stories -- but they are just amazing. A must-read for immediate suspension of belief.

Three tales of famous thieves are part of this collection. _The Book of Wonder_ consists of 14 of Dunsany's short stories (I've sorted them by title rather than order of appearance); it's in print as I write this, as part of the Fantasy Masterworks edition of _Time and the Gods_.

"The Bride of the Man-Horse" - Shepperalk the centaur headed from the first for the city of Zretazoola, though all the mundane plain lay between.

"Chu-bu and Sheemish" - The idol Chu-bu was worshipped alone in his temple for over a hundred years, until the day the priests brought in the upstart idol Sheemish to be worshipped beside him.

"The Coronation of Mr. Thomas Shap" - When Mr. Shap perceived the beastliness of his occupation as a salesman, he began to venture into the lands of dream and wonder as an escape.

"Distressing Tale of Thangobrind the Jeweller" - Thangobrind, a master thief operating behind a cover as a jeweller, is offered the soul of a Merchant Prince's daughter in exchange for stealing a diamond from the temple of Hlo-Hlo...

"The Hoard of the Gibbelins" - The Gibbelins maintain their hoard only to attract a continual supply of food...humans...

"The House of the Sphinx" - A visitor chances to come to the House of the Sphinx after a mighty deed has been done, and her servants are in a panic...

"How Nuth Would Have Practiced His Art Upon the Gnoles" - Nuth the incomparable is a master thief. "It may be urged against my use of the word incomparable that in the burglary business the name of Slith stands paramount and alone; and of this I am not ignorant; but Slith is a classic, and lived long ago, and knew nothing at all of modern competition..."

"How One Came, as Was Foretold, to the City of Never" - "Time had been there, but not to work destruction...by I know not what bribe averted." But not even that Ultimate City is perfect.

"The Injudicious Prayers of Pombo the Idolater" - It is unwise to pray to one idol, only to become impatient and ask another idol to curse the first one; it's against their etiquette....

"The Loot of Bombasharna" - The seas are becoming too hot to hold Captain Shard and the crew of the pirate ship _Desperate Lark_. The sacking of Bombasharna is to be their last hurrah before retirement...

"Miss Cubbidge and the Dragon of Romance" - If princesses are in short supply, sometimes a dragon might have to kidnap the daughter of a member of Parliament.

"Probable Adventure of Three Literary Men" - "When the nomads came to El Lola they had no more songs, and the question of stealing the golden box arose in all its magnitude." The legendary thief Slith, along with two assistants because of the weight of the box of poems, are chosen to make the attempt.

"The Quest of the Queen's Tears" - Sylvia, Queen of the Woods, cannot love any of her suitors, but as a compromise, will consent to marry the first man who can move her to tears.

"The Wonderful Window" - The mysterious window was being offered for sale in the streets of London, and its price is all you possess.

While the idea of a part Japanese/Seneca Indian Cavalry sergeant is a little far fetched the story stands up well. The characters are well rounded and real people with real problems and feelings. The research seems to be flawless and the story flows well. The only thing I would have liked was a final chapter about Elijah and what he did after the war, but I guess the author was leaving room for a sequel...

If you like a good story this is a good one and I will look for other works by this author!

I really enjoyed this book. So much so, that after reading it, I went to one of Edwards' book discussions. His presentation on the Spanish-American War was very interesting, and you can tell that his knowledge of this often forgotten chapter of American history is rather extensive. His main character is a Seneca Indian named Elijah Wolf; a soldier's soldier, whose frustration with his superiors at the way the war was planned and executed, makes you wonder how we ever managed to win. If you're a historical buff like myself you will glad to know that CRUCIBLE isn't like certain other books being churned out by so-call historical novelists, whose works these days seem to resemble soap operas. For one thing, Wolf doesn't spend half his time chasing women, or swilling scotch. He doesn't look for the exception to every rule, and for those of you who appreciate the fact that not all soldiers use the F word in every other sentence, I think there are less than a dozen profanities in this book, the harshest of which was "bastard". Teddy Roosevelt is featured prominitely in the story, and I liked how Edwards presented both the good and the bad sides of TR's personality and character. There are other actual historical figures throughout the book as well, including Lt. John J. (Black Jack) Pershing, who later gained fame as the commanding general of American Forces in Europe during World War I. As I said, I really enjoyed the book, and I'm not giving anything away by saying that Edwards did a nice job of setting it up for a sequel. Can't wait!

If you like your historical novels historical, CRUCIBLE OF EMPIRE will leave you feeling like you got your money's worth.
I found this book to be unique in several ways. The first being in the way it dealt with Theodore Roosevelt. He isn't placed on a pedastel, nor is TR depicted as a buffoon. There is no doubt that Roosevelt had a huge ego, but he was also a talented leader. Edwards' balanced portrayal of him lets you see his good and bad traits.
Those of you who read Bernard Cornwell will like the battle scenes in this book. They seem to be historically accurate, and Edwards does a rousing job making you feel the fear and exhilaration the American soldiers experienced as they fought the Spanish army from Daiquiri to Santiago. Edwards recounts the battle of Santiago clearly and crisply, and though he tells it almost hour by hour, the story never gets bogged down.
The lead character was kind of unique as well. Sergeant Elijah Wolf is a Seneca Indian, whose ancestors include a samurai warrior. (definitely never heard that one before) Wolf is a no nonsense soldier, who knows the art of war. And yet, he isn't depicted as some indestructable, sword wielding, super hero. He comes across as real, and the way Edwards has him interacting with actual historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, John J. (Black Jack) Pershing--who served in Cuba as a lieutenant--and General Rufus Shafter, who commanded the American army in Cuba, is quite interesting, and makes you feel like you're right there.
Once you finish the book, you will wonder how America ever won the war. Our army wasn't prepared, the navy was under orders not to risk losing even a single ship, and though history has glamorized the Rough Riders, you will be amazed that a bunch of 3 week wonders even managed to fight an experienced Spanish army, let alone do as well as they did.
Without giving anything away, I liked the little conspiracy twist outlining who sunk the Maine, and why. Obviously a deviation from actual historical facts, but this is fiction, right?
All in all, a good book about a war that hasn't received much coverage. The way it ends leaves you feeling there will probably be another book. Hope the wait isn't long.

This book can be a good addition to your C++ library. But, you will need a good C++ programming book which explains contents of this book in more details. This book does have good examples but what good are the examples if they are not explained very well.

I recommend getting:

The C++ Programming Language Special Edition
by Bjarne Stroustrup with this book.

With so many c++ books on the market, not one explains c++ the way programmers like to lean. At least until now. I found this book a well worth addition to my library. You lookup the functionality you want, then look at a fully working - short - program showing how to code the functionality. Best of all the authors use callouts to describe every aspect of the syntax. I really like the programmer's notebook style.

I read many books while trying to learn c++ and I found the C++ programmer's notebook one of the best on the market. There are hundreds of little programs with each having callouts that point to syntax and tell you what's happening. You don't have to read pages and pages of text to understand how to use c++. This book gives you c++ programs in a "picture" like way. More book should be written this way.

Very good book, with a lots of "short cuts" and good "back of an envelop" estimations However, high degree of subject understanding is required when practicing these short cuts. So be careful!

One topics omitted is that of Microscopy (one entry). There are a lots of Rules of Thumb that can help with resolution, magnification, NA or f/#, field of view, depth of field, depth of focus, working distance, etc. Perhaps these can be added to a subsequent edition of the book.

I'm a great fan of lore books as opposed to textbooks or reference books. Lore books are the ones that contain the things that many people in the field may know, but which they had to learn the hard way, and I like them because they help me learn the easy way!

Miller and Friedman have written a fun and very useful lore book, which has helped a lot of electro-optics people (including me) stay out of some nasty potholes. The book is inexpensive, and if you're building or specifying electro-optical systems of any sort, you should own it.

Easy to use and practical for the engineer and physisist invovlved in optics projects. Will save you the embarassment of not knowing the limits of many common optical devices and systems.

i m french so i say it with my word : c'est trés beau !

This book covers very well some of the most important people in American History. N.C. Wyeth,Howard Pyle, Dean Cornwell,Harvey Dunn, Frank Schoonover and Philip Goodwin have illustrated the turn of the 1800's to 1900's with the same spirited passion that bred our great country. It's this great passion that is given to the pictures that they created that seperates their work from photographs which are just taken. Looking at the Illustrations shows you that Pyle was successful in creating an American art which will always be a foundation for Illustrators to follow.

Visions Of Adventure surveys the arts of N.C. Wyeth and the Brandywine artists, providing a lavish display packed with color plates and paintings by Pyle, Wyeth, Dunn, and others. Histories and backgrounds of each featured work accompany the fold-out and full-page illustrations and make for an excellent review. Highly recommended.