I bought this book for my 5 year old, and he was able to read the entire thing himself the very first time - and he was so proud of himself! It contains many of the "sight words" they are teaching him in Kindergarten, and the other words are all easy to sound out. The story line itself very cute and 3 year old couldn't wait until his brother got to the end to see what happens!

I found that the resulting studies printed in these pages revealed a great amount of insight about successful Native American economic development and the interplay of culture, tradition, politics and tribal governmental mechanics. The book also reveals that the task of reforming tribal government may be a difficult task to achieve.

I would recommend a brief reading by any individual, company, or agency that maintains or wishes to develop a working relationship with Native American Tribes.

This book is the Bible of Internal Medicine. Anyone considering a career in medicine should have this book in their library. Comprehensive and well written, it is the gold standard of medical textbooks.

This book is a medical tradition, and it is as important to doctors as their stethoscope.
It is very complete, there is no doubt about it. Every subject of medicine is covered, and for a reference book is a must-have. It is also written in an easy-to-read way, but some chapters are more difficult to understand than others, and like a good meal, in excess it can get heavy and occasionally become a brick, so slow-reading is advised. Also worth to mention are the atlases, that give a lot of pictographic information.
I would recommend it only as a reference book, because for the USMLE, or as a course textbook, it is impossible to read it all, especially if time is scarce.

This book is the Bible of Internal Medicine. Anyone considering a career in medicine should have this book in their library. Comprehensive and well written, it is the gold standard of medical textbooks.

Look, I know I'm going to catch some flack for not rating this book higher but let me tell you why I feel I'm justified. This book describes the 29th Division from their long stay in England to the difficult capture of St.Lo about a month after D-Day. It's an excellent history with some of the best detail describing the trip from England to the beach. Also, there is extreme detail of the American theory of attack vs. the German's which is quite interesting. There is quite a difference, particularly in the use of firepower and movement of troops.

But where the book fails vs. a Stephon Ambrose type book is the lack of personal attachment to the individuals. Where a Stephan Ambrose book clearly takes most of the information from detailed soldier interviews, this books seemed to take all it's information from military journals of the war. It read so clinically I wondered if soldiers were interviewed to get the human side of the story. Reading the bibliography, it claims there were interviews.

I am so intrigued by the sacrifice made by our WWII veterans. I just don't feel this did justice to these men. It might be better read by someone studying the war in college from a tactical standpoint. I'd recommend Band of Brothers or Ghost Soldiers for stories of WWII that better let you feel the emotion of the fight. Not a bad book. Just didn't totally attach the reader to the soldiers who sacrificed so much.

Of the scores of WWII histories I have read, this book has got to be in the top 3 (with Burgetts '7 roads' and Macdonalds 'Company Commander'). It traces the history of the 29th Division (including the Stonewallers of Civil War fame) from training, across the bullet infested beaches of Omaha, to the horrors of the Norman Bocage. It gives a day by day account of the drive for St.Lo that shows WWII combat at its worst. For once I have even found a book that has good maps!

But there is much more than combat recorded here. Like 'The Deadly Brotherhood', this book takes time to describe some of the elementary parts of warfare such as equipment comparisons with the Germans, communication techniques, and infantry tactics unique to Normandy. And it describes these in an extremely interesting manner. So interesting that, despite being very busy I finished it in under a week.

Overall, for a great history of the Normandy campaign and a grisly picture of WWII combat, this book can't be beat!

What can be said that hasn't already been said about this great book?

Joseph Balkoski has crafted (to me, not just written, but crafted like a gem) a superb history which will stand as a tribute to all those who not only served in the Blue and Gray Division, but to all who served in the infantry divisions in the Normandy campaign.

We see the 29ers from their training camps in Maryland and Virginia, to deployment in England, to Omaha Beach to the bloody, but triumphant entry into St. Lo. Along the way, we see the personalities, General Gehrhardt, Major Tom Howie, Glover Johns and Charles Cawthon endure the training, D-Day and the hedgerow slaughter.

But Balkoski just doesn't rehash old facts. He compares the 29th to its German counterpart, the 352nd Infanterie Division. He shows German methods and compares the weapons used by both sides and explains why the fighting in Normandy was an attacker's nightmare and a defender's dream.

In the end, the 29ers bested their foemen, but not without cost. Mr. Balkoski has written a tribute to them that will stand the test of time.

Victory is in many ways more fluid and readable than Conrad's more dense works (for comparison sake I'd previously read Heart of Darkness and Conrad's collection of short stories Tales of Unrest.) In Victory we have Conrad's standard fare of tragedy and man's isolation, but in this case wrapped in a tale of adventure and swept along by an uncharacteristically eventful plot.

Conrad's works have, of course, been reviewed to exhaustion; the only thing that I could hope to add would be my emotional response to the novel as a reader.

Personally through the majority of the novel I found Heyst to be the only truly well defined character. Much of what we learn of him is revealed indirectly through the observations of others, but somehow Conrad manages to use this method to flesh out a complex and intriguing figure in Heyst. The remanding characters, while interesting, serve mostly as scenery. The villains Jones and Ricardo, while interesting, struck me not so much as human characters but as forces of impending doom; they could have as easily been an approaching storm or a plague or any other brand of natural disaster. The girl Lena in the end is the one exception; perhaps the one thing that I found most gratifying is the way in which her character developed as the novel neared its climax.

The Penguin Classics version is well footnoted for those of you (like me) that would have missed some of the more obscure Biblical references and allusions to Paradise Lost. The notes also comment on the narrator's shifting viewpoint, and on revisions Conrad made to subsequent editions. For those readers interested in an insight into Conrad's thinking I'd recommend this version.

Axel Heyst, the protagonist in Conrad's novel, Victory, makes a final statement to Davidson, a fellow seaman, just before he dies: "...woe to the man whose heart has not learned while young to hope, to love--and to put its trust in life!" This statement coming from a man whose whole life has been lived in isolation is remarkable. His father taught him that life was a Great Joke, that it was an illusion; that the best way to survive was to drift oneself into oblivion. But he found love in the person of Lena and it changed his perspective on living and was responsible for his change of heart as represented in the above-quoted statement. It's too bad that the novel could not have had a happy ending, but Conrad's view of the world probably would not permit it. I found the novel engrossing, somewhat melodramatic, yet vintage Conrad in its depiction of good and evil battling each other on the island of Samburan.

Victory is the best of the handful of Conrad novels I have read (for reference sake, the others are Lord Jim, The Secret Agent, Heart of Darkness, and Nostromo). For one thing, the other novels were much heavier in their narrative and descriptive content. As a result, I often suffered from mental imagery overload when plodding through a page-long paragraph. Victory has more dialogue, making it an easier read. Conrad's characters are always great, and the ones in this book are no exception. I also really liked the correlation between these characters and their environment. Heyst living in a serene yet isolated island matched his aloofness perfectly. As the book reaches its climax and tensions reach a boiling point, Conrad adds to this tension in godlike fashion, as the storm evinces the internal and external struggles occurring in Heyst. Of course, Conrad don't write no happy tales (sic), but in the end, I think that the title Victory was still very appropriate. This was an excellent read and one of the best novels I have read in a long time.

PAY THE [money] this book costs and avoid costly litigation, improve your communication, better manage expectations, defuse pent up emotions, and let your company be more productive!

I just finished Crucial Conversations and the first thing that I did as I laid down the book, was to log on to Amazon and order 30 copies to give to the managers within my company. I am the owner of my company of 600 employees and I am constantly searching for better ways to improve communication among our staff and employees. I am going to make sure that my HR team includes these principles into their training.

As I read through this book, I found that so many of our issues within the company would have been eliminated or diminished if we had embraced and utilized the tools laid out within this book. I could have avoided a costly lawsuit if these principles had been utilized when we were disciplining and eventually terminating an unproductive employee.

The authors have blended the humor of Dilbert, with the vision of Stephen Covey, with the practicality of consultants who have been down in the trenches of some of the biggest corporations in the US. It is an easy and enjoyable read.

I also found as I read the book that I kept thinking about how to use these tools to improve the conversations in my personal life, with my wife and with my children. I would love to see a second book that focused on Crucial Conversations at Home.

I am a Financial Planner and I am always interested in works that help me to communicate with all types of people. I learned a great deal reading Crucial Conversations that I have already put to practice. It was an easy read with an abundance of information. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to improve upon their communication skills. You can't help but enjoy yourself while you do it!!! Great Job. Chuck

Communication problems are everywhere ... and so are potential solutions! I've seen a lot of books and training programs that purport to teach people to be more effective communicators. Most teach tried-and-true, but old-and-generic, understandings and skills that help people become somewhat more effective. They do not, however, teach people to be really effective in those few important communication challenges that really matter. That is the contribution of Crucial Conversations. In my consulting practice, I've noticed repeatedly that many managers and executives don't take on the tough issues or don't handle them well or, even worse, handle them in a way that creates positive harm in their relationship with others. When I talk to them about their situations, I find that they know they can be better communicators on tough issues; they just don't know how! That's where Crucial Conversations adds real value. In my experience, the conceptual model and skill set captured in this book are, at the same time, both powerful and actionable! And, you will like the way this book is written...a series of good examples (from work and non-work settings) to exemplify each point and help readers relate to the principles and skills. I find myself regularly sending this book to people who are "stuck" and who need a new way to think about how they can take a more active, and more powerful, role in producing the results they want.

Know of of a lawyer (whom does not already have this indespenseable tool) or of a person heading to law school; then you should buy this book for them, i.e., Black's Law Dictionary by Bryan A. Garner (Editor), et al. The reference book starts out with a pronunciation guide; preface (which is very well written indeed); guide to dictionary; list of abbreviations; dictionary; seven appendixes, legal maxims, the constitution of the united states of america, universal declaration human rights; time chart of the united states supreme court; federal circuita map; british regnal years; list of works cited. The price is abit steep ... but it is well worth its price.

How can anyone even tangentially involved in the legal arena dispute the preeminence of Black's Law Dictionary? It simply has no peer. If you are unable to effortlessly recite definitions used in lay english, you don't have a prayer with legal words, phrases, and terminology.

This work contains thousands of definitions, has been recently updated (7th edition) to encompass new and evolving areas of the law, and addresses more legal maxims than a college latin professor can shake a stick at. It is, therefore, simply the best.

I would like to briefly and concisely address come of the concerns of other reviewers. First, the color of the cover is completely irrelevant to the quality of the book. Get over it. If the problem is really that bad, buy a can of spray paint. Next, this monster doesn't go to class - it sits on your desk at home. If you need a pocket law dictionary for class (which you do), go buy one. Stop complaining because it won't fit into your Levis. Finally, if you don't think you need it, you need it more than you think. Every first year law student cracks this book early in the first semester. There isn't one law school professor in the country who doesn't own a copy. It's standard fare at all major law firms. So again, please tell me, why don't you need to purchase the most comprehensive, authoritative, and up-to-date legal dictionary in the world?

Know of of a lawyer (whom does not already have this indespenseable tool) or of a person heading to law school; then you should buy this book for them, i.e., Black's Law Dictionary by Bryan A. Garner (Editor), et al. The reference book starts out with a pronunciation guide; preface (which is very well written indeed); guide to dictionary; list of abbreviations; dictionary; seven appendixes, legal maxims, the constitution of the united states of america, universal declaration human rights; time chart of the united states supreme court; federal circuita map; british regnal years; list of works cited. The price is abit steep ... but it is well worth its price.

Lessons Learned is a long-winded tome on DIA and the complexities of airport management and design. Most of the book's facts and information are derived from already published sources. I would have liked to have seen exclusive interviews with the actual people involved in the making of DIA (politicians, workers, et al) -- this book is simply devoid of the investigative touch. Nevertheless, a lot of time and work went into writing Lessons Learned, of which the authors deserve credit. DIA is a story worthy of the 500 plus pages of material, unfortunately Lessons Learned drifts off into territory that will only interest those involved in airport design and management -- some of the technical discussion is boring and does not pertain to DIA directly. The book does explain in detail the political maneuvering within Denver that went into the making of DIA -- this material is the most interesting part of the book. In conclusion, if you share an interest in DIA or airports, get this book. I did and I don't regret it.

I had the extraordinary good fortune to have Paul Dempsey as a professor at the University of Denver College of Law. DU Law School is nationally, if not internationally, recognized as having one of the best transportation law programs in the United States. Paul Dempsey is, more than anyone, responsible for this honor. He regularly travels the globe as a consultant in all areas of transportation law. In the year I had Professor Dempsey, he went to China and Italy to consult with the local governments. Dempsey is also a founding and continuing member of the board of Frontier Airlines. If you are a CNN junkie, you've probably seen Dempsey testifying before Congress. In short, if you want the definitive inside scoop on the airline industry, and the building of DIA, you're not likely to find a more informed person than this guy.

Dempsey is a prolific author, and a highly respected academic. He has published far more than what you see listed here at Amazon.com.

For more information on Paul Dempsey, check out his exhaustive listing of publications at http://www.law.du.edu/support/facbibs/dempsey.htm. For even more information on Professor Dempsey, you can see Frontier Airlines latest 10K report at http://www.sec.gov/edaux/formlynx.htm

Dan Lobnitz, 2L, DU Law

HARRISON'S is synonymous with clinical books that worth their weights in gold. This 15th/ed CD-ROM maintained that tradition. It adds the much-needed portability to some 2700-paged heavyweight. However, the air-tight use-restrictions attached to the ...price is simply suffocating. I wish that the publisher had relaxed a bit!
Overall though, there were compensations. The CD contents are superb: far better than what the textbook versions offer. Anyone with interest in medical science should give it a try. It is elaborate and easy to understand. The excellent chapters on pharmacology and infectious diseases are particularly worth mentioning.

I have been reading Harrison's Medicine right from my residency. Its a fabulous book one can refer to as an undergraduate or postgratuate student. However for a practitioner one would prefer to have little more stress on management details. Adding audio to CD of the same book will make it more useful.

Mukund Baheti Consultant Neurologist Nagpur- 440 012 India

This book is the Bible of Internal Medicine. Anyone considering a career in medicine should have this book in their library. Comprehensive and well written, it is the gold standard of medical textbooks.

It's no ordinary day at the office for businessman Dave Elliot when he shows up for work and his boss pulls a gun on him. Narrowly dodging the confrontation, Dave soon discovers his troubles have just begun. Every colleague, acquaintance, and friend he knows wants to see him extinguished. Trapped in a New York City skyscraper, Dave, a former Vietnam Veteran and Green Beret has to muster up his old survival skills as he becomes the hunted in an organized murder attempt on his life. All the while, Dave hasn't the faintest idea why everybody wants him dead.

Vertical Run reads more like a movie script than a novel. It's packed full of action, however, there is really nothing original here. The story is full of cliches, typical tough-guy dialogue, and harrowing escapes by the hero in a predictable fashion. The best part of the story is figuring out why Dave Elliot is a marked man. Unfortunately for myself, another reader a few posts below me gave away the answer in his review. Perhaps I would have found this a 4 star tale had it not been spoiled for me. I still recommend this book for any action-thriller lover, but if you enjoy your suspense please don't read the reviews on the next page.

This book was a great action packed novel. I saw in the one reveiw that the rights were already picked up to be a movie...I'm not surprised. Can you say , Bruce Willis? It was very much a Die Hard kind of action and suspense book and the actual sequence that the title refers to was absolutely brilliant. I got a flashback of McGuyver during the stairwell scene....it was inguineous. The pace kept up through the whole book and had a beleiveable plot. It kept you guessing what was real and what wasn't throughout. The way it was written gave insight into the main characters mind and levied a little humor at his expense. It was refreshing to read a book that kept you both interested and chuckling. I definetly would recommend it to all my action fan friends.

I've just read the comments by other reviewers, and as my rating indicates, I'm in agreement with the majority of them. To those who nitpicked the book to death I can only say yes, the characterizations are not profound psychological studies; yes, the plot has some holes in it; and no, this isn't literature with a capital L. It's a beach book, a page-turner--and a dandy one at that. Knowing nothing about it but intrigued by some of the cover blurbs, I bought the paperback several years ago and started reading it one afternoon. Amidst various interruptions, I got through three-quarters of it by late evening. If I hadn't had to go to work the next day I'd have finished it. As it was, as soon as I got home from work I barreled through to the end, enjoying every minute of it. I raved enthusiastically about it so much that my girlfriend, who was not much of a fiction reader and completely disinclined to read thrillers, picked it up herself. She too read it in a couple of days and, though not as enthusiastic about it as I was, admitted that she enjoyed it. If you decide to read it, make sure your schedule is clear of obstacles because you won't want to put this one down once you've started it. But for crying out loud, suspend your disbelief and don't pick it apart as though it's a work by Faulkner or Joyce! It's an action/suspense novel, and succeeds supremely well within that context.