When a football player follows this book they will increase there skills and abilities exponentially. The training program in this book helped me to increase my forty yard dash time by .2 seconds over a summer, and also helped me to score in the top 5 on my team in overall atheletic ability!

For anyone who wants to attain optimum conditioning, this is the book for you. This book will show you how to be the fittest athlete on the football field. It's no wonder Eric Dickerson shattered the record books. I personally have benefited from the flexibility training and increased my strength as a result.

Sir Walter Scott wrote over twenty novels, after switching from poetry, many of considerable length, and this is the one which still grabs the Public attention. "Ivanhoe" is the story of a young nobleman in the First Crusade, roughly a century after the Norman Conquest. Ivanhoe's bride, the Saxon heiress Rowena, is pursued by several Norman knights, portrayed by Scott as villainous and oppressive. Many choose this to be an implicit reference to the English "occupation" of Scotland. The story of the prodigal son is reworked in all its chivalric glory, and the reader enjoys a comfortable read throughout due to the certainty that Ivanhoe will "get the girl".

As an example of the adventure story, "Ivanhoe" is unsurpassed in English Literature. Working within a formula, Scott still manages to create several memorable character vignettes, most notably Wamba the jester, the rapacious Prince John, and the noble King Richard, who is almost as romantically wild as Ivanhoe himself. There is also an appearance of Robin Hood and his band, which acts as a useful balance to the world of Norman castles. As a story of occupation and the merging of races into cosmopolitan nations, Ivanhoe is overtly political, but it can also be read on a level of very simple enjoyment.

Faults of the book in itself are few and far between. Scott was a mass producer of historical novels, all of which operate within a rigid framework, and using similar characters. Critics have therefore argued that Scott does not pioneer the novel very far, but merely cashes in on an existing style. It is reasonable to say that "Ivanhoe" does not break any new ground, but this is more than compensated for by the superb characterisation, and delicate understanding shown by Scott on such issues as inter-racial relations.

I would recommend "Ivanhoe" to anyone wishing to read the medieval romance, or anyone with an interest in Sir Walter Scott. It is not too challenging, but is well-researched, emotionally-charged, and most importantly of all, very enjoyable. Watch out for the Jewish family, downtrodden by both Norman and Saxon alike, but whose simple dignity contrasts with the proud egotism of many of the Christians. The Jewish girl, Rebekah, also provides an alternative love interest for Ivanhoe, which is all the more pathetic because the reader knows it can never be realised.

This great book has escaped me far too long, but is now amongst my favorites.

As tales of nobility and chivalry go, Ivanhoe scores a ten. It is superbly written and easy to read. The cast of characters seems nearly endless, as even secondary characters take on great living qualities and consume the reader.

Reviewers may focus on King Richard, his evil brother John, or Ivanhoe, but there are so many strong characters. For instance one "DeBracy" is a stout hearted soldier of fortune and happens to be working for the ill minded John. His knightly character is challenged and defeated by the Black Knight of the Fetterlock and he quickly champions fair play and chivalric form when that defeat, by one more noble than he, rekindles his manhood and loyalty to his vow of knighthood.

Another character, Brian de Bois Guilbert, plays a villain and strong crusader of christendom against any foe of the cross or his own gain. Sir Brian is a member of the Knights Templar and is vexed or enchanted by every worldly thing that he has denounced . His love for a beautiful Jewish girl is completely absurd to all around him, but he is completely consumed by her beauty and purity. Willing to give up fame, fortune, and power for her; we find him nearly mad with his passion so far out of control.

I reccommed this book to lovers of great novels and historians alike. You won't go wrong with Ivanhoe!

Scott's Ivanhoe ranks among my favorite books. Although the language can be a bit difficult(and sometimes humorous), the story and characters make Ivanhoe well worth the trouble. This is a fast moving and thoroughly enjoyable old-fashioned adventure story.

I would doubtlessly recommend Ivanhoe to read. History may be often dull but Sir Walter Scott makes history extremely exciting by romanticizing his novel. It directly deals with hatred between the Normans and the Saxons, the discrimination of the Jews, chivalry, and politics--but it is a unforgettable tale of heroism, honor, and love. I felt that the characters were so fascinating and fun to read about. I was enjoying and cheering on the good characters like Ivanhoe, King Richard, and Robin Hood to beat the hated and evil villains. I liked the idea of love added in the story, like how Rowena and Rebecca were both in love with Ivanhoe. I even felt a little sorry for Brian de Bois-Guilbert who would do anything for Rebecca's love but is constantly rejected. I thought how it was appealing how the author questions Ivanhoe and Rebecca's feelings for each other. Suspenseful and action sequences also added entertainment to the story. This book may be a little too detailed for some readers, but I didn't mind. I felt that the details were brilliantly used to decorate the story in an outstanding fashion. The old English wording made me feel like I was actually in the medieval England. I have to admit that it took a great deal of persistence for me to finish this book and it was a challenge for me to read. However, I found Ivanhoe to be a wonderful pleasure. It is no wonder that Ivanhoe is such a well-loved tale!

I enjoyed this adventure yarn on many levels.

I was glad to learn about the Knights of Templer and that they were crusaders. I always wondered how Sam Spade in the Maltese Falcon knew that and it is because of this classic.

I was surprised that it talked so much about Robin of Lockesley. The story of Ivanhoe seemed to be the same only told by Ivanhoe's friends and not Robin's.

I thought that the DeBracyn and the Knight of Templer Brian de Bois Guilbert were pretty evil guys which made the story interesting. They were weasels when they had their backs to the wall but did preform with honor when required like when Richard gets DeBracy.

I guess I did not understand the prejudice of the time because they treated the Jews like dirt and they were so sterotypical. I really thought that the Jewish girl Rebecca was going to end up with Ivanhoe instead of that Saxon Lady Roweana. I guess you have to appreciate the times that they lived in.

It was a different look the Richard/Prince John history.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but this book, by Sir Walter Scott, was the progenitor of what was to become a venerable tradition in English letters (and in other European literatures as well): the historical romance. There have been many after IVANHOE, and frequently with a finer eye to the period in which the tale is set (for IVANHOE contains quite a number of anachronisms -- even Scott acknowledged it), but few have done it quite as well as Scott. He uses an archaic English to give voice to his characters, but one which is readily absorbed because of the speed & quality of the tale. So, though these people certainly wouldn't really have spoken as he has them speaking, they yet sound as though they should have. Peopled by many 'stock' characters and situations, this tale was fresh in its time & still reads well today -- a testament to Scott's skills as a teller of tales and a sketcher of marvelously wrought characters. In this tale of the 'disinherited knight' returning home to find the world he left turned upside down, young Ivanhoe, after a stint with King Richard in the Holy Land, must fight the enemies of his king and kinsmen anew. Yet the hero is oddly sidelined for much of the tale as events swirl around him and the brilliantly evoked villain, Sir Brian de Bois Gilbert, in the pay of Prince John, struggles to win treasure and the beautiful Rebeccah, who yet has eyes only for Ivanhoe, a knight she can never hope to win herself. There's lots of action and coincidences galore here and Robin Hood makes more than a cameo appearance, as does the noble Richard. In sum, this one's great fun, a great tale, and the progenitor of a whole genre. All those which came after owe their form to it. Worth the price and the read.

Bobby's first hand account of the Cuban missile crisis was obviously written with an eye toward his 1968 presidential bid. In fact he was assassinated before compelling it, although the complete story is told. Not surprisingly he pays tribute to his mattered brother and if anything downplays his own role. Quite an interesting device, presenting the author as humble as well as battle hardened. The interpretation it presents, with both Khrushchev and JFK portrayed as being eager for a face saving piece is quite familiar (an easy position to take since Khrushchev was out of power and thus not a potential threat). It is other unnamed powers in Russia that are blamed for the hard line position of the USSR. Interesting to note the demand of the Russians that the US remove the missiles in Turkey and Kennedy's claim that his brother had already ordered it and the order was not carried out to a bureaucratic snafu Well written and easy reading, 13 Days is a quickie, a bit of historical candy for junkies. Highly recommended for its insight into the events, as well as the intentions of one of America's best-loved martyrs.

While I was not yet born when RFK and JFK were alive, I would have to say they are two of the greatest men in American history. Robert Kennedy brings his readers closer to a situtation that is almost beyond the scope of the human mind. His account of the Cuban Missile Crisis makes us realize how close we have come to the end and absolutely shows us that it is only because of great men we are here. This book reminds us how close we came to the end and the critical role Jack and Bobby played in bringing us back. I only hope that current and future leaders of the world read this account and understand what they understood...we are all mortal and we all love our children. Those are the things that will save us, Jack and Bobby knew that and it is obvious in this extrodrinary book.

Robert Kennedy wrote "Thirteen Days" a short time before his death in 1968. He never had the chance to rewrite and add additional material to his book; but as written it is a riveting account of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. In the Autumn of 1962 the Soviet Union was placing nuclear missiles in Cuba. President Kennedy had to respond to that imminent threat, and the question was what course to take about the dangerous situation in Cuba. There were many that favored an immediate overwhelming military response to destroy the missiles; but Robert Kennedy favored surrounding the island with a naval blockade instead. He believed that a military attack on Cuba could lead to nuclear war, and that it should only be undertaken if there was no other choice. President Kennedy and his advisors spent many agonizing hours trying to consider every possible miscalculation or false step that could result in catastrophe. They sought to learn from the history of the past, and tried to follow a path of understanding in dealing with the Soviet Union and Cuba. The decisions that were made about Cuba would affect the lives of everyone on earth, and the lives of future generations as yet unborn. In this book the momentous events of the crisis in 1962 are seen through the eyes of Robert Kennedy. He opens the door to that time as only one who was there could, and gives many valuable insights into the mind of his brother the President. He helps us to understand what really happened in October 1962; and why. This is a very fine book, containing lessons of history that should always be remembered during times of great crisis.

This book [was bad]. How anyone could take such an interesting subject and make it boring is beyond me. I have read a lot of aviation books and this one tops my list of one to skip. There were a couple of good stories about engine failures at high altitude and mach numbers but mostly it was a celebration of the eliteism of the SR-71 crew members. The only thing greater than the performance figures of the airplane were the apparent egos of the crew. This book was obviously written for other SR-71 crew members. It constantly relives the things they had in common with each other but not with the rest of the Air Force
or us mere mortals. The special orange flight suits, the pressure suits, the drinking parties with the acceptible SR-71 jock drink 'The Basic Hook'(vodka tonic to us). Wasn't the simulator tough. Wasn't the physical thorough. Didn't you sweat the crew selection interview. [Wasn't it bad] that the Pentagon cancelled the program. Over and over and over, but from a different guy. And most of the stories were from the back seaters. Who wants to hear from those guys? I wanted to hear what it was like to fly the beast. How bad things could really get. What it felt like to land and take off an SR-71. Disappointed.

A number of books have been written about this remarkble aircraft. Most good, a few not so. This book definitely falls into the good (no, excellent) category. It is not as technical as some of the other books (although some technical concepts are very clearly explained) as much as it is a book relating some of the tales of those who actually operated the aircraft. It gives a wonderful insight into what is probably the best reconaissance system the US ever had. Even today, we have no systems that are capable of doing all the things the SR could. For one thing it was the only atmospheric system that could safely penetrate defended airspace. For another, it remains the only system that can do wide spectrum multi-sensor reconaissance of a given target on the same mission. This book relates some of the missions that demonstrated this as well as what was involved "behind the scenes" in pulling off these successes. Although satellites are wonderful, there are things they simply can't do that the SR-71 could (For one thing, since the orbits of the satellites are known, the bad guys know when to hide the stuff they don't want seen. The SR could surprise its targets).

The last part of the book is valuable in relating the real reasons this remarkable system was retired. It wasn't for cost and it wasn't for lack of capability. The hard numbers provided and the stories of the shenanigans pulled to "justify" a bad decision are almost worth the price of the book itself.

Col. Graham has done it again and this is a worthy companion piece to his excellent "SR-71 Revealed" book

For those who are already familiar with the bird (and for those who aren't as well!!), this is one of the most entertaining books out there. Col. Graham managed to put together several stories told by several different people involved with the program, and each story makes you feel like reading all the book in one single shot! I can't wait for Volume II!

Buyer beware. Bonnie Winter and Trauma is the same story

I really enjoyed this book as I understood every paragraph, and gained access to erstwhile complicated ideas. I much recommend this over other flashier titles, from reading this book my understanding has learnt to memory of why 'things are so' in this life and the next...and like all great works, this is done simply!

Igbodu

Interesting, yet compact history of Latin America's independence movements is good enough to satisfy the knowledge of most who don't wish to read similar books of more than 200 pages. Published by McGraw-Hill, "Independence in Latin America: A Comparative Approach" covers most of the movements in the region, from Mexico to Chile's Tierra de Fuego. Author Richard Graham does a great job in identifying the main reasons the uprisings against Spanish, Portuguese, and French rulers happened. The emergence of England's commercial status, the attitudes towards Creoles, and finally the Napoleonic Wars were all causes that broke the colonial ties these new republics (and in Brazil's case, an "Empire") had with Madrid, Lisbon, and Paris.

The only thing very negative about this book was that the author decided to cover Haiti's independence movement, but never did cover that of the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico. The latter two, which gained independence and autonomy respectively after the Spanish-American War of 1898, have always been in the world's political spotlight then and now. It would have been interesting for Mr. Graham to cover these because their struggle was the longest independence war in the region's history (more than 10 years).

While the Dominican Republic gained their independence from Haiti's black rulers (the French and Spanish had fled the island after the Haitian Revolution), it would be important to cover this too. That country's struggle to break free from Haiti shows that even newly created republics in the Americas were able to be as suppressive as their European masters were.

Overall, this 180 page book is a great way to immense yourself in the history of one of the world's most important, and rising regions.

The Oxford text-book of Psychiatry is certainly the best starting point for an intelligent perspective of psychiatry for beginners in training schemes.I hold no reservations in recommending this book essentially to medical graduates within the united kingdom. In adhering to a simple yet absorbing style,the text book covers all aspects of psychiatry.It's versatality stems from the fact that it takes the reader through a gradual increment of exposure starting from the very basics and progressing on, to end in a very complete list of references for all facts stated. The chapters on Psychopharmacology,Psychiatric history / examination and Psychopathology are complete in requirements for British graduates.The best written chapter is an extremely debatable array, though the chapter on Personality Disorders supersedes the rest. In essence a good guide and value for money.

Examines both Parliamentary and Presidential Democratic Systems, European Communist traditions and transitions, as well as Third World political challenges. This thorough text requires some historical background knowledge to be completely understood and a willingness to slug through some tedious sections. Nonetheless it provides the student with a structure to analyze the differing systems and their underlying principles. Other than Japan, no mention is made of Asian Political Systems. India, China, Tawain would all be excellent areas to include but are lacking. It is difficult reading for lower than an A.P. level high school student and seems more appropriate for the the undergraduate poly-sci. student.