This book is extremely well writtern and contains an astonishing amount of information. It is written at a level which is not boring to the non scientist. It would make an excellent text for an introductory course on earth science.

- (From Planeta journal) While the publisher heralds this book as "the definitive resource to North American natural history," the book could use more references to Mexico. However, this is one of the few books that actually (and correctly) places Mexico in the correct continent. That said, this digest provides short lessons into North American geology, climate and biology. It's both a useful research tool and a very pleasant read. The compilation of so much useful information deserves special kudos.

"No More Lone Rangers" blends practical ideas for establishing a ministry team with the theoretical and theological mandates for doing so. Chapter 4, "Inspiring Your Team" is an invaluable asset for all those who work with youth. It challenges us to have a specific "vision" for our ministry in our neighborhood! David gives clear, powerful and useful steps towards discovering your ministry's unique vision. This book should be on every youth worker's bookshelf, or better yet, read by the entire staff!

Dave Chow has hit a homerun. This book is not only filled with practical information that can help to empower and restructure a youth leadership team, it also inspires and informs us how to build strong teams that can impact kids. Every Youth Leader needs this book in their hands.

This easily readable, complete account of the origins of the Southeast United States pulls no punches. It is fascinating.

I am an unabashed Andrew Jackson admirer. But how he ever got away with what he did confuses me. Aaron Burr was charged with treason and tried four times for only thinking about what Jackson executed with impunity. Timing, as they say, is everything.

Frontier justice, combined with an officially unsanctioned invasion of undisputably Spainish soverign territory, is accomplished without so much as a truely serious international whimper. Jackson simply ignored and crushed ALL domestic opposition. This event has all the improbable content of the most outrageous novel: land based buccaneering, genocide, invasion, forced removal, betrayal and, most of all, proof that in the early stages of this part of what was going to become a major cornorstone of the future United States, that certain political sections of early America's hierarchy believed that might made right. Absolutly no democratic ideals here.

I have never read anywhere what this book made me feel but I truely believe this was Jackson's first formal execution of his and other's concept of Manefest Destiny.

The authors are excellent. The subject matter is riviting. The local history is fascinating. Jackson is an American original. With all the good he did for his country he had to know that to execute this plan he needed safe harbor in the highest levels of the US government. Thank God he was on our side.

An often forgotten episode in American history was the United State's pursuit to gain Florida. Troubles on the border allowed Andrew Jackson to come in at remove the Creek and Seminole people. He invaded a foreign territory and executed citizens of a third county while there. His actions were unauthorized (but with the blessings of the President), but he still got away with it.

This is one of the few books that covers the First Seminole War. The authors have done their research and used sources that have been ignored in the past. Many factors went into this conflict, and they are all examined. All the political aspects in Washington City, as well as ramifications from the Fort Jackson Treaty of 1815 that disinherited the Creeks.

The overall impression is that Jackson knew what he wanted and would not let anything get in his way. He pulled off an obviously illegal operation, and got away with it all.

If you are a runner (especially a marathoner) you have to get this book. It goes through every marathon in Olympic history, giving each race history, events, course, statistics, etc. It is very thorough, while pacing itself to get in all the Olympic marathons into a single volume. And, it was written in an interesting and readable manner.

The competition and sport of the races themselves give a great basis for an exciting read.

If you are doing a research project (like I was) this was the only book I would recommend - or, at least the first book. I could not find a book anywhere that showed the 1960 Rome Olympic course. Martin and Gynn had it. In fact, their race course map was better than the map a friend obtained for me from the Italian Olympic Library (Federazione Italiana Di Ateletica Leggera).

The authors, Martin and Gynn, have put together an unbelieveably detailed review of every Olympic Marathon in the modern era. The detail provided brings the excitement of each successive Marathon alive. The Olympic Marathon is, perhaps, the most grueling Olympic event, and the comprehensive coverage of each race makes the reader feel as if it's taking place before their very eyes. Read this book and you'll get a sense of the drama of the event, the personal history of the runners, and the historical setting of each race. The authors have even reconstructed old Olympic documents to trace the paths each Olympic Marathon took. The information in this book is truly encyclopedic, and the authors have given us with a wonderful sense of what this race is about. This book is a gem.

Many short papers have been published on potassic igneous rocks. However, this is the first comprehensive work on that topic. The book is well written and 'userfriendly' for all geoscientists interested in the association between alkaline rocks and gold-copper deposits worldwide.

There is a number of literature published on potassic rocks. However, this book provides a guide for all geoscientists interested in high-K alkaline rocks, particularly those associated with gold and copper deposits. Well written and edited!

This book was worth buying for three reasons:

The photographs in the book are crisp and clean, displaying a wide variety of these Aussie pythons. Going through this book will make your jaw drop from the way these snakes are beautifully portrayed. And, you will probably never actually see these species (like me, I live in the US), and this is the closest you will come to seeing them. Did I say that the images were stuningly beautiful?

Secondly, this is one of VERY FEW books relating to pythons or boas that aren't just for beginner pet owners or scientists. But, for enthusiasts like me! :) Get yourself the softcover and save a coupla bucks.

This Book documents, describes and differentiates between the various species of python found on the continent of Australia. Anyone familiar with the work of David and Tracey Barker also knows that this book was inevitable for them to write. Very few other people have the knowledge and experience necessary to even attempt the task of dividing and classifying such a variable group of creatures. This daunting taxonomic task is accomplished with an approach of pure scientific sensibility. The book contains many beautiful photographs, some of which are of pythons rarely seen in the wild or in captivity.Each python is described in meticulous detail with notes on the captive care and breeding. The only possible improvement that could have been made would have been the inclusion of standard as well as metric measurements. This book easily stands out as one of the finest herpetelogical works ever written and is truly deserving of the 5 star rating. Oh, and by the way, spend the few extra bucks for the hardcover, you'll be glad you did!

Sublime and enchanting is how John Hay has the reader feeling. It is truly a superb book, well written and thoughtful as well as thought provoking.

I first read this book in the early 1970s when I was conducting my Ph.D. thesis research, which dealt with the migratory behavior of a fish called the alewife, also known as river herring. Alewife are like small, silvery salmon. About 10 inches long, they migrate into small streams and rivers along the East Coast in the spring to spawn, and the juveniles then migrate to the ocean in the fall, where they live for four or five years before returning to their home stream to spawn. John Hay captures the mystery and delight of an alewife run. Unlike salmon runs that occur in large rivers where the fish can't be seen, alwife migrate into many very small streams, many of which pass through towns and under old mills, such that the fish are readily visible to people. To see thousands of fish stacked up at the base of a dam, knowning that they had traveled thousands of miles in the Atlantic for years before finding their way back to the location where their life began as an egg, is almost incredible. John Hay describes the essence of the alewife in a very informative but tremendously readable style. This is a must read for anyon who enjoys fine writing and has an interest in the natural world.

David got me started with my first training schedules as his book nursed me through my first 6 months of varied and interesting training. He then follows it up with all you'd ever need to know to become and expert runner at 5K to the marathon. e.g. three chapters on Interval training. Nice cartoons and injury advice was a bonus: no need to get a specialist injury avoidence and treatment book if you have Running Dialogue. Unlike most authors, he also includes nutrition advice. David backs up his advice with science and other experts. My favorite is the training heartrate calculated from your resting heartrate: Unique.

European 5,000 meter Gold medalist Bruce Tulloh calls Running Dialogue "a nice combination of good humor and sound advice". The advice is from a 31 minute 10k runner, plus contributions from: John Babbington, Roy Benson, Scott Douglas, Jack Daniels Ph.D., Frank Horwill, John Pagliano DPM, Gary Tuttle and Harry Wilson. Their athletes include Lynn Jennings and Steve Ovett. The first 66 pages are for the new runner, with special sections showing how to make time for exercise, and how to incorporate speedwork on low mileage. The next 100 pages take you through to VERY serious training in a humane and often humorous way. Cartoons illustrate key points and messages. Comprehensive injury prevention and treatment sections follow, nutrition and marathon training closes out the advice. The last 40 pages are a bonus: essays with a point to make, followed by pace charts showing speed to run at for anaerobic threshold and for VO2 max training. The book covers 5k to the marathon. It includes full 10k coverage, but "10k running and training" by David Holt will be available in November 1998.

I agree with the previous reviewer completely. The text is well-written with useful blend of information about propagation and habitat along with more traditional plant reference fare. Pictures are crisp and clear. This is exactly the book I was seeking.

This book was a great source when in the Bahamas. My parents live there and the locals use many of the plants in "bush medicine" practice. This book had clear photos of the various plants unlike some books with drawings only. The medicinal uses described are informative and sometimes amusing. Their copy has become so popular on the island that I have had to purchase at least 6 copies for other interested readers.

I was so fascinated by Laura Dassow Walls' unique take on Thoreau that I was inspired to complete my own graduate work on Transcendentalism. Any student of Thoreau will appreciate this innovative look at the old master.

I first heard Laura Walls deliver the concepts contained in this volume at a recent annual meeting of the Thoreau Society. Her presentation was clear and direct, introducing the hearer to the historical personalities that influenced the platform upon which Thoreau based his world view. This book expands the same theme, for it fills in a great deal of minutia that had to be omitted from the ealier presentation. Seeing New Worlds is an important excursion into both the obvious and the subtle influences that shaped the late writings of Thoreau, such as Faith in a Seed, which only recently was made available to students of this enigmatic soul. Congratulations to Walls for a well researched intrusion into a complex mind. Tom Potter