it would be good for the reader who wants to learn more about egypt without reaaly getting too deep into the history & geography of ancient egypt

This is one of the most interesting books on ancient Egypt that I have ever seen. The book begins with an excellent history of Egypt from prehistoric times through its conquest by the Macedonians. Along the way, there are many subsections on subjects from Aten through zoological gardens. Later chapters cover ancient Egypt's rediscovery at the end of the Eighteenth Century, and its influence on western civilization up to today.

This book has many excellent color pictures and maps, a good glossary and list of Egyptian gods, and an interesting list of all of the kings of Egypt. This is an excellent introduction to ancient Egypt, and an interesting look at a wrinkle in modern Western civilization. I highly recommend this fascinating book.

I don't have the inner or outer peace to meditate but I still found this book very helpful and inspiring as a daily devotional. It gives very valuable insights about coming to the presence of Jesus whether or not one is practicing the art of meditation.

Father John Main (1926-1982) was an Irish Benedictine monk raised in England who was instrumental in renewing interest in the living tradition of Christian Meditation. His work is being carried on by his friend and successor, Father Laurence Freeman (who provides the introduction to this book). It is edited by Paul Harris (also one of the founding members of the World Community for Christian Meditation, a non-profit organization based on the teachings of Father John). It consists of 365 readings--usually about 2-3 paragraphs in length--from the many books and lectures of Father John. These readings can be used devotionally or for basic instruction on the method recommended by Father John for Christian meditation, which is based on the repetition of the mantra [sacred word] "Maranatha"--which means, translated from the ancient Semitic language of Aramaic, "Come, Lord." The only reservation I would express is that, as rich and varied as these selections are, seekers would perhaps be more completely served in taking up his full published works, e.g. WORD INTO SILENCE. Fortunately for us, his writings are coming back into print (newly published by Continuum). This book is a fine introduction to the thought and teachings of Father John Main. It does come highly recommended.

Simply unbelievable! This book is based on court transcribed events and if it had not been for that simple fact, the atrocities found within the pages of Lay This Body Down would be incomprehensible. This fact based accounting of the 1921 murders of 11 plantation slaves in Newton and Jasper Counties, Georgia is horrific but sadly true. Yes you read correctly, the year is 1921, not during the officially recognized time of slavery. Slavery was legally over but a new system was rearing its head in the south - peonage. Peonage was a practice given prominence by southern plantation owners to employ workers (read enslave) for cheap or at no cost. If a Negro owed a debt and was unable to pay the debt he would be thrown in prison. With little to no hope of paying his fine -sometimes in amounts as low as a few dollars- he would sit in prison until... Wealthy landowners would visit the prisons and pay these menial fines and the person would be released to this landowner to repay the debt. It could and often did take a lifetime for this person to pay of the debt so they would be Peon's or Slaves to this person. Such is the case of the people found on the John S. Williams Plantation. Mr. Williams and his wife and 12 children occupied land in Newton County, Covington, Georgia. His older boys had plots of adjacent land and too employed peons. The Federal Bureau of Investigation from the Atlanta office had been called in to look at cases of Peonage - which was illegal, and their investigation lead to the Williams Plantation. Mr. Williams not being immediately present on the day the FBI came to call, found these revenuers interviewing his hired hand and overseer, a Negro named Clyde Manning. Understandably nervous and frightened Mr. Manning answered questions posed to him truthfully but they conflicted with Mr. Williams accounting. Now it was Mr. Williams' turn to become nervous and his remedy was to murder those Negroes who posed a threat to his families way of life. A cunning man, Mr. Williams had Mr. Manning conduct the murders. In an unprecedented decision, Mr. Williams was found guilty of murder based on the testimony of a black man and from 1921 to 1966 this did not happen again in a Georgia Court Room. Mr. Manning was also found guilty but both men were spared the death penalty.

These shocking and horrific crimes were well documented by the author, Gregory A. Freeman. He did a wonderful job of backing up this true tale with documented facts, figures and pictures. It's sad that this story had to be told but it illustrates that the south wasn't used to the idea, some 56 years after slavery- that all men are created equal. It is sad that Mr. Manning felt the need to comply with Mr. Williams wishes to kill his own people for fear of his own life and that of his family. Sadly not a lot of Georgians know about this case and I'm trying to determine if it is because this is just one of many cases and in the telling of family history this was commonplace. Read this book not to anger yourself but to get a greater understanding of the true side of history.

After reading the other reviews of "Lay This Body Down : The 1921 Murders of Eleven Plantation Slaves", I noticed not one mentioned the Notes at the end. I found Freeman's extensive documention one of the most important aspects of the book. Finally, the author of a "true story" backs up his facts with references! In addition to providing sources, many of the Notes introduce relevant information not included in the body of the book.

I highly recommend "Lay This Body Down..." to anyone interested in "true crime", southern history, or just a good read. And don't forget the Notes!

Lay This Body Down provides an engrossing look at a terrible act from twentieth century Georgia history that chills the reader to the bone. It is the fact that these events actually occurred that makes the story so powerful. Freeman's portrayal totally involves the reader so that he feels as if he were there. Bravo! I can't wait for Freeman's next book, whatever the topic.

When rating Shakespeare, I am rating it against other Shakespeare; otherwise, the consistent 4-5 stars wouldn't tell you much. So if you want to know how this book rates against the general selection of books in the world, I suppose it might rate four stars; it certainly rates three. The language, as usual in Shakespeare, is beautiful. Still, it's far from Shakespeare's best.

For one thing, this is one of those cases, not uncommon in Shakespeare's comedies, in which the play has suffered a great deal by the changes in the language since Shakespeare's time; it loses a great deal of the humor inherent in a play when the reader needs to keep checking the footnotes to see what's happening, and this play, particularly the first half of it, virtually can't be read without constant reference to the notes; even with them, there's frequently a question as to what's being said. At least in the edition that I read (the Dover Thrift edition) the notes frequently admit that there's some question as to the meaning of the lines, and there is mention of different changes in them in different folios.

But beyond this, as an overweight, balding, middle-aged libertine, I object to the concept that Falstaff is ridiculous just because he is in fact unwilling to concede that it is impossible that a woman could want him. Granted, he's NOT particularly attractive, but that has more to do with his greed, his callousness, and his perfect willingness to use people for his own ends, to say nothing of his utter lack of subtlety.

Is it truly so funny that an older, overweight man might attempt to find a dalliance? So funny that the very fact that he does so leaves him open to being played for the fool? Remember, it isn't as though he refused to take "no" for an answer; he never GOT a "no". He was consistently led on, only to be tormented for his audacity. Nor is he making passes at a nubile young girl; the target of his amorous approaches is clearly herself middle-aged; after all, she is the MOTHER of a nubile young marriageable girl. And given the fact that she is married to an obnoxious, possessive, bullying and suspicious husband, it is not at all unreasonable for Falstaff to think that she might be unhappy enough in her marriage to accept a dalliance with someone else.

If laughing at fat old men who have the audacity not to spend the last twenty years of their lives with sufficient dignity to make it seem as if they were dead already is your idea of a good time, you should love this play. I'll pass.

i've just finished reading/watching all of shakespeare's comedies and mww is one of the funnier ones. it is a lighthearted look at marital jealousy and features one of shakespeare's great fools, falstaff (of henry iv fame). the out-and-out funniest shakepearean play is still "taming of the shrew", imho, but mwv runs well ahead of the laggards, and certainly well ahead of such better known plays as "twelfth night" and "as you like it".

Shakespeare, considering he wrote this little gem of a comedy in a mere 14 days for the Virgin Queen, pulls off a play that proves both witty and fun. Unequivocally, The Merry Wives of Windsor makes for a more enjoyable play if seen live. Nonetheless, reading it is the 2nd best thing.

Sir John Falstaff is once again such a fool - but a lovable and hilarious one at that. Having read Henry V - where Falstaff ostensibly had met his end - I was pleased to see him so alive(pardon the pun) in this short, albeit clever play. It is no surprise that The Merry Wives of Windsor enjoyed such a long and successful stage run during Shakespeare's day and continues to be one of his most popularly staged plays. Recommended as a fun break from the more serious and murderous Shakespearean tragedies.

"Why, then the world's mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open." - Pistol

Hell, is this the way to begin a review?

Pearl Harbor is a ball, a square, a city, a village, a fool and a loop. Whatever it was, it wasn't this. The Camera doesn't lie -no, but you lie with your own eyes . You do it all the time ,you all deny what you're seeing.So how is a film like this going to make any difference? How is one to make sense of history? -To realize that the British pioneered the technique of aerial destruction of a navy in southern Italy, to feel only empathetic emotion without compassion, a sort of thrill, and feel vicariously English-speaking without the boon of truth and conscience to back it up with?
Live without fleeting flag-wavers; America folds its thoughts upon itself, and is blind. It shocks itself ,nightly, and expects sympathy, like the most selfish old man that ever lived.It cries out in the night, and is impressed with the volume.How desperately low America has become. There is scarcely one iota of sympathy or even coherence to which it appeals; why? because they can't even tell the truth.Hysteria is inflation.

When the Japanese military machine launched an unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 they proved to the world that they were indeed the flesh and blood manifestation of cowardice. Up till then Japan had never met the manifestation of undaunted determination of another nation to seek not only retribution for a large scale cowardly act but also face the consequences for an unspeakable reign of terror imposed upon their neighbors motivated by an insatiable imperialistic appetite. This is a great book and tries to define the spirit, will and actions of what the American psyche was and to what lengths Americans rise to the occasion. Modern America was never tested. Complacency was not in America's vocabulary as the Axis powers found out. This is one of the best books ever published encompassing events, actions and emotions initiated by a single cowardly and catastrophic military event.

Excellent! So much more than a coffee table book. The art work, photographs and narrative are all packaged in this handsome and infromative volume. Everyone from WWII enthusiasts to history students will treasure this great book.

The book is quite good if you want to learn the basics of photography and want to learn some terminology. It dedicates two full pages (but lots of photos on each page) to each subject, but it does not go into depth on technique or details on how to shoot etc. If you're a beginner, definitely a good book to get you started. If you are trying to move towards becoming a pro, this is not the book to take you there!

I have used this book in my classes on Celtic literature and mythology, and have found nothing else comes close for classical and medieval sources on the Celts. It is a collection of translated original material to be used by those interested in real, as opposed to fanciful, Celtic studies.

This book is a brilliant kick off point for anyone interested in the real ancient celts. It consists in the main of translations of historical texts. Most people are reasonably au fait with the insular texts thanks to the romantic movement, but fully half the book is dedicated to the comments that the ancient Greeks and Romans made about them. These "first hand" accounts are otherwise difficult for the beginner to find which is sad as I feel that they show what these great people were really like. A great read.

Although I don't have any formal academic background in Celtic Studies, I found this book to be very approachable. It gives easy-to-follow translations of the original text alongside fascinating insights on ancient Britain and Ireland. For the hobbyist it can be hard to find books on Celtic lore which both are readable and have substance -- this does both nicely.

This book is an astounding collection of factual errors and garbled explanations. On p50, for example, are drawings of the nucleotides found in DNA and RNA. First, the deoxyribo- one is labeled "ribonucleic acid" and the ribo- version is labeled "deoxribonucleic acid". Second, each picture includes 1 double bond that should be single, 1 single bond that should be double, and 3 missing H's. In the same chapter, it states that the hydrocarbon tails of a phospholipid face both the inside and the outside of a phospholipid bilayer (wrong), gives an utterly mangled description of the principles of protein structure, and displays a diagram of an amino acid with a covalent bond drawn between the R group and one of the amino hydrogen atoms (wrong). Finally, the writing style is awkward and peppered with grammatical errors.
There is so much wrong and confused information in this book that, as a teacher of biochemistry, I suspect it is worse than useless to students.

I purchased this book expecting to see just what the title read: "Success." What I discovered instead was a complete surprise. The first thing that attracted me to this book (out of the 5 others that I considered) was its offering of four practice tests. After all, with the real multiple choice being 60% of the AP exam, any help is good help, right? The book is consisted of mostly tests, and hardly any review. There was no explanation for my wrong answers. Upon further inspection, I concluded that this book was intended for a regular biology class. There were skimpy paragraphs covering general information. 3/4 of the vocabulary I received in class wasn't even mentioned in this review book. I did receive a score of a 5 on the exam, but I credit that 5 to intense studying (both for the class and for the exam), motivational classmates (most of which were close friends), and above all, a terrific teacher who never wavered from her inspiring and vibrant personality. If I had to recommend another book, it'd be the Cliff's AP Review. It outlines everything in great detail, and comes complete with diagrams and charts for clear understanding.

This book provides the basics for review of the bio AP material and is a good buy even if you are in a hurry (1 or 2 days). The diagnostic test wasn't too helpful, but the exams did help prepare for the 120 multiple choice on the test.

The 1/2 year classes of AP bio (like mine) definetly need this book or a similar facsimile to make sure the main areas of bio are covered.

A reason to buy this over other books is that it contains answers with respectable explanations. I found this very helpful when using the book to learn and close up the information gaps.

This book completely leaves out Calvin's fourth book, his treatment of the church. My suspicion is it was omitted because Calvin's doctrines didn't line up with those of the publisher. This ignoring of the doctrine of the church reinforces the erroneous idea that the body of Christ is insignificant when Calvin himself considered the Church our Mother.

This book completely leaves out Calvin's fourth book, his treatment of the church. My suspicion is it was omitted because Calvin's doctrines didn't line up with those of the publisher.

I bought this little book to help me teach a class on Book IV of the Institutes. But guess what? It only covers Books I-III. Book IV basically deals with Calvin's concept of the Church, so this little book will not be found too helpful if you're in the same position as me. However, the book is an excellent help on Books I-III. Very graphically oriented; it teaches just by means of its formatting! I'd like to know why the editors didn't include Book IV.

I studied out of 7 different preparation books, and this one, by far is the worst one! The questions in this book are really difficult, tricky and unlike the CLEP exam! The questions in the actual CLEP exam arent tricky like the SAT or GRE, they are straightforward. For some reason, Peterson's has decided to put in SAT-like questions on their practice exam. This book should be thrown out of the market because its NOTHING like the real exams! I would recommend Princeton Review's Cracking the CLEP, and Review for Clep Examination by Comex Systems. The REA also writes really accurate practice exams. If you are taking English, I also recommend you purchase "The Writer's Reference" by Diana Hacker. That was probably the most helpful book in brushing up on your English.

I found the practice exercises in this book to be very helpful, and I did really well when I took the CLEP afterwards.

Looking to maximize my ability on the CLEP tests to avoid taking numerous classes that I have no interest in. If you'd like to get practice on these tests, than this book may help.