This book promises a refreshing change from the often banal offerings of American literature. It delivers. It is a peculiar little book--and one of the best I've read in a while. It reveals itself quite slowly, but besides being a modest little book and full of hope, it is a well written and clever examination the quest for meaning in modern life. Stylistically, I would place it with Sartre's "Nausea", Dostoevsky's "Notes from Underground," and Hamsun's "Hunger". Philosophically, the story is more optimisitic and more modern. If you enjoyed those, give this book a try.

The narrator of this fine book attempts banality, but comes nowhere close to it. The writing is original and fresh. The dialogue is handled very well indeed, and it is a cosmopolitan voice (oh, yes!) that speaks to us from these pages. And a voice that finally manages to escape the confines of literature and present itself as pure and unfettered. The book is funny too, in parts. And did I mention the dialogue--it is really well written. Heck, I enjoyed this book a ton.

This is definitely the BEST cruising guide that I've ever owned. Each of the many maps are annotated, for ease of reference. The restaurant reviews are consistent with our experiences, as are the descriptions of the places to visit and see.

Mr. Rhodes, I will recommend this book to every boater I have met and to those I will meet. I wish you the best of luck. To those of you reading, please note my recommendation.

My son enjoyed reading the story and the math component as well. It is easy enough for a beginning reader, and yet it can keep their attention as well.

This beautifully illustrated easy reader makes counting coins fun and simple! Illustrations of coins on selected pages make it the perfect teaching tool at home or in the classroom! Random House has another outstanding Step into Reading title! A great ending too!

The pictures are bright and the language simple and repetitive which make this book a favorite with my three-year-old daughter. Initially, we checked it out from the library, (she picked it out) and cried when we had to return it. She still mentions it and I am ordering it for her own library.

This book covers a range of emotions as first-time-mom, Dora, a hen, is disappointed that no other amimal moms want to see her eggs, then saddened to tears when her eggs crack, then delighted and proud as her chicks become everything she could ever want. Delightful illustrations. Wonderful introduction of farm animals to city children.

Ariela Gross's book, "Double Character", is an excellent examination of the role of the courtroom in antebellum slavery. Gross attempts to show that the courts are an important arena where discourses about slave "character" and "nature" crystallized, where certain types of explanations, (like medical ones) grew in favor while other explanatory modes were discouraged. The title refers to the fact that slaves were simultaenously regarded as people and as property (capital). At the center of all this were slave bodies, whose humanitty was clear, and whose legal status as chattel was also clear. The tortured legal reasoning that attempted to negotiate these contradictions provides a fascinating portrait of antebellum race.

Gross's sources are excellent--she focuses on cases heard on appeal to state Supreme Courts in the deep South (Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina). At that time Supreme Courts had to hear all cases appealed (not the case today) so they become an invaluable source for collecting trial records. She also examines one court in depth (Adams County, Mississippi) and two smaller courts in South Carolina to deepen and contextualize her scope.

She conclusively demonstrates that the Southern "honor culture" that dominated mainstream white life was dependent on the dishonoring of black bodies, managed to a great deal through the court system, where slaves were not allowed to speak. The issue of slave character and by extension, the character of the master, were always in contention in these trials over transactions gone bad.
However, she also argues that even though slaves could not speak in court, nonetheless courts were forced to deal with the humanness of slaves. In cases regarding breach of warranty, slaves were relied on to give information about their medical condition, as well as information about buyer's treatment of them. Even though they themselves could not speak, their words were often repeated in court by others.

Gross also deals with the issue of paternalism of slave masters better than other scholars. She contextualizes paternalism as a narrow discourse alongside strict disciplinary codes and "shrewd business practices". Rather than draw a distinction between paternalism and violence, like Walter Johnson, or subsume all of slavery as a paternalist enterprise (like Eugene Genovese) we see the complex and mulitfaceted nature of master/slave dynamics.

If there are problems here, it is that her study sometimes attempts to beyond itself too far, and in doing so draws on secondary literature a bit much, especially towards the end. Her connection of the courtroom to medical discourse and the slave marketplace seem a bit stretched, but she does draw on the best of the secondary literature in these areas--its just that these connections seem tenous sometimes.

Nonetheless, this is a solid study and deserves to be regarded as such in the interdisciplinary field of American Studies. As a study in methodology, Gross is also quite interesting--she combines statsitical analysis and regression with critical race theory and cultural anthropology. Each of these modes of analysis complements and strengthens the other. Within the field of African- American historiography, this is also a major effort.

--Christopher Chase, PhD Fellow, American Studies

Written with grace and clarity.

Here is another Dumpy story with just the right amount of action, suspense, and the slightest hint of danger, as well as lots of vehicles, for little boys to enjoy. My 4 year old loves Dumpy books and this one is no exception! The illustrations are bright and the text is substantial--not dumbed-down for small
children. We look forward to more Dumpy books in the future!

The latest in the Hyperion "Dumpy the Dump Truck" series, Dumpy And The Big Storm is an engaging picture book for young readers ages 3 to 7 about a cheerful dump truck, who along with friends Stinky the Garbage Truck, Tommy the Tow Truck and Big Red the Fire Engine, who must combine their efforts to help when lightning strikes the harbor lighthouse and Saucy Sue the fishing boat is in trouble. A heartwarming and adventurous story collaboratively written by Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton, and enhanced with full color, cartoon-style artwork by Tony Walton, Dumpy And The Big Storm is commended as a delightful, "kid friendly" addition to family, school, and community library collections.

This is a refreshing, multi-disciplinary study that highlights the importance of firms, governments and international institutions in the regional and global marketplace. The authors, who draw on the disciplines of management, economics, political science and law, develop a model of complex institutional responsiveness based on an array of innovative firm strategies that have been implemented through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to overcome environmental regulatory protectionism. Based on an analysis of trade-environment disputes in North America from 1980 to the present, the authors examined 24 leading case studies (of 84 relevant cases) and conducted 230 confidential interviews with senior executives and officials in governments, environmental groups and research centres. The cases focus on firms that have sought to benefit from environmental regulatory protection from free market competition (e.g. in agriculture, forestry and fishery) and on firms that have sought to defend themselves against this type of regulatory shelter (e.g. in automobiles and chemicals). Three fascinating and highly detailed cases on fuel, agriculture and the automotive industry are analysed through their complex institutional responsiveness model for which five levels of environmental regulation that can affect four types of firms are identified. Three major findings are presented in this pioneering work. First, NAFTA's environmental institutions benefit the regional ecology and all North American firms through increased competitiveness and better market access. Second, complex institutional responsiveness helps to explain the firm's political strategy in the face of the rising incidence of trade-environment friction within NAFTA (and on a global scale). Third, a NAFTA community of stakeholders is emerging from the firm's varied responses to highly complex issues, but there is still much to be done on a policy level to broaden and deepen this community.

Another important work by the Rugman, Kirton and Soloway trio. Building on their earlier writings, in this collection the focus is largely on the business impact of the environmental side agreements. These side agreements could form an important model for future treaties, so they are worthy of the close and careful study given here. This is a vital resource for a broad range of scholars and practicioners.

Although having graduated some time ago I just keep returning to this well written and crystal-clear undergraduate book on basic epidemiology. This explains clearly also the most basic and important statistical approaches in analyzing data, although leaving multivariate analyses mostly out. However, that might be considered as a virtue as well beacuse the book stays at a very simple level and thus not scare you off it.

One should not be afraid regarding the edition (1987). It is still a powerfull tool for any student on epidemiology or biostatistics. Despite being not a huge book, it is comprehensive enough for students of any level and perhaps as a companion to established professionals. You can read it page by page as a novel or search it for details in the planing and execution of an epidemiological research. The author is well known for his work on important trials in medicine and that makes him an expert on both theorethical and on a practical basis.

About time! This book debunks the nonsense promoted by Dr. Benjamin Spock and his apologists for over fifty years. It is the common sense approach to childrearing. The authors understand that parents have to be in control - not the child. I wish I could believe that the rest of the "parenting guru establishment" will embrace this book. But, I am afraid that this book will be extremely controversial. Buying this book is money VERY well spent for any parent.

This should be required reading for Mom AND Pop long before your pediatrician has a chance to utter attention deficit disorder in response to your pleas for help. Any question of what makes a kid feel good about him/her self and be successful is answered here. This quick read will easily center and balance your approach to child rearing today. The wonderfully honest, straightforward manner in which this is presented brings any parenting doubts into well-ordered perspective. Thank you Dr. and Mrs. Maglio for this common-sense approach to restoring sanity to child rearing and to our children.

This book opens new avenues of thought, awareness, and perception. It does not confine its content to gender issues but expands to study all types of human relationships by categorizing personality types into the four card suits. Using this typology and subsequent scenarios, the reader is able to understand his/her personality, social interactions, and social reactions. Strong Suit studies the root of relationship obstacles, not only discussing why an occurance develops but also how to work through the obstacle. The book's manageable language allows the business and general public to readily understand and utilize its tactics. I highly recommend Finding Your Strong Suit to anyone who wishes a better comprehension of the human character.

No one has written on matters of personality typology better than James and Jung. However, one will not find a clearer presentation than the one found in the following book. The style in which we think, gain access to information, and those forces that motivate our emotions, intellect, and will are all influenced by our own personality typology. The authors in this book give a clear presentation of not only their unique theory, but also its practical implications for daily life. This book is highly recommended. You will find it an enjoyable read.