Agressively researched, beautifully written, and wisely presented, this is one of the best books of any kind I've ever read. History, particularly history of such a narrow scope, has seldom been presented in such a moving pageant. It is also fair, treating Native Americans and blacks, Catholics and Protestants with equal fairness and compassion. A truly great work.

I think there should be one of these for every state - a history book of how a state ends up with its religious mix. Luckily, I live in Tennessee and have this little gem of a book to reference. The authors present historic regional tidbits that elementary textbooks often leave out (all properly footnoted and indexed.) But the book doesn't get so far into religion as to forget history by sketching the role of the Indians, the wars and other key political events. And it doesn't get so far into Tennessee history as to overlook what's going on spiritually in the rest of the nation by including the likes of Wesley and Whitefield.

This is a state side version of Marshall's epic "The Light and the Glory." It's a quick read but perhaps goes too quickly through coverage of the last few decades leaving the reader wanting more (perhaps a sequel). Overall, a must read for the history buff and teacher or those wanting to spiritually map the state they're in.

This book is an inspiring account of the history of religion in Tennessee. Chapters like "Paths of Hope, Trails of Tragedy," will help the reader to understand the passions that forged a land---the passion of what people believed that drove them to make the history that is written about in this book. I highly recommend this book, especially for anyone with interest in Tennessee, but also for those from anywhere who love to see how history can be shaped from what people will live and die for.

Grant gives a new perspective about the last century of the (western) Roman Empire. When the average layman thinks of the fall of the Roman Empire, he (or she) thinks of the Rome of the early Caesars: a libertarian, libertine kind of place, full of fun and debauchery. But Grant convincingly shows that late Rome suffered not from decadence but from puritanism, not from too much liberty but from crushing taxes. Late Rome was more like Soviet Russia than like America today: a place suffering from too much government in every sphere of life, from Christian intolerance ...to bureaucratic overregulation of the economy. The perfect gift for your libertarian friends!

The previous reviewer's analysis is correct. I would only add that eerily much of what caused Rome to dry rot and collapse is being mirrored in the USA- high taxation, large bureaucracies, the lack of desire to serve in the military, radical racial diversification, growing elements of societal drop-outs (ie. homeschoolers, Christians, environmentalists), complacency, the growing gulf between social classes. Will the USA fall like Rome? After all, there is no army of barbarians at our doorstep like Rome faced. We have no military coups unlike the dozens which took place in Rome. But there are several fits, enough to think that at the very least, America two centuries from now will be as recognizable to us as modern England would be recognizable to Alfred the Great, William the Conqueror or Richard the Lionhearted.

There are many books disecting and explaining the Roman Empire's rise and fall, and many of them may indeed be more detailed than "The Fall of the Roman Empire" by Michael Grant, but none capture the actions of that age and explain it in such a manner that it is comprehensible to someone without a Harvard degree. Mr. Grant writes in a methodical and clear way that keeps the reader interested and excited. He divides his book in to thirteen chapters, each one describing thirteen points that led to the empire's downfall. He addresses issues not only of military importance, but that of the internal and social struggles, such as the slaves, peasants, generals and nobles. He also includes a series of maps one what the empire looked like at various times throughout its decline. The contents of the book are reason enough to buy it, but the introduction is a general overview of the entire empire, and is very well done. That's the positive side. However, I don't think he was quite detailed enough! I realize that the entire book was intended to be a general run over, but some areas he glazed over, and others he ignored completly. For example, he explained the Weastern Empire in depth, but almost completly ignored the Eastern. He only refered to it when it affected the other. The only other nuance I disliked was that every so often he would contradict himself, like in referece to the social impact of the poor against the state being the most important of the internal struggles that brought down the fall, while he later says the credibility gap was the cause of the decline. After weighing the pros against the cons, I believe this is a very worthwhile book to read if you are just begining a study of that era.

This is an amazing great big book. There are hundreds of big glossy books of planes and aviation history in bookstores, and with the 100 years of powered controlled flight anniversary, there will no doubt be a few more bowing the shelves. But if you want to buy just one, say for a present, then this is the one to buy. It is balanced, it is complete, it has pictures and text in harmony -- and it is not slapped together like some other slightly embarrassing flying tomes.

Over 400 pages perfect for a youngster, yet written well enough for any adult. Is it perfect? No. But 400 pages of perfection would be hard. I would have put in RJ's rather than the F-28 in the current small airliner section, but complaining about a couple of details should not hide the fact that this is one big cool book. Whatever more detailed specialized books about flying you get later, you will not need to get a great big glossy exciting celebration of flight book again. You'll already have one of the best.

This handsome record of a century of flight is a large-format heavyweight that has all the pleasures--and all the flaws--we've come to expect from a Dorling Kindersley ("DK") production. It's big, sprawling, richly illustrated and full of detail--you can lose yourself in it for hours at a time, and go back to it often. The whole of flight's crowded century is covered from the Wright Brothers to space vehicles, with two world wars (plus Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm), barnstorming, the growth of civil aviation and everything else in-between, plus a chapter on the "pre-flight" pioneers who dreamed or experimented before the Wrights. The page layouts are handsome, the illustrations big, plentiful and colorful, and the text is well-organized. Individual chapters cover specific periods; within them, fascinating developments and people are covered in sidebars. That approach gives full coverage without getting the general text bogged down, and it allows tight focus on some of the many personalities who have gone with the wings. (Yes, Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart are still familiar names--but most people will need to be reminded of the purple-jumpsuited Harriet Quimby, and Bessie Coleman, and the Red Eagles, among others.)

I give this five stars, but just barely. DK books are heavily design-oriented--page layouts must blend innumerable design items (text, illustrations large and small, captions, schematics and sidebars) into harmonious compositions. DK usually succeeds, but often at the reader's expense by sacrificing legibility. For example, captions in small italics are always hard to read, and especially so when laid over colored backgrounds or photos. The schematic indicators identifying specific airplane features are occasionally misplaced. The editing is a bit sloppy: "blooded" and "bloodied" are not synonyms, and there are many dangling modifiers--elementary grammatical lapses that should have been corrected. The proof-reading isn't up to snuff either. In one case a display quote contains a typo (inexcusable in large type); moreover, the quote seems distorted from its text version. One sidebar simply ends in mid-sentence: The text was too long for the space, and someone forget to cut it to fit. And the South African RAF ace "Sailor" Malan spelled his given name Adolph, not Adolf. DK owes readers rather more attention to detail.

I first opened this book in a local bookstore and was glued to the stories and beautifully formatted sections. The sections are really well illustrated, with interesting facts, characters, and informative overviews of the key aircraft of the last hundred years. It is so complete, and full of information that it is a resource to come back to again and again. I've never owned any book about airplanes, but now I see why! This puts all aircraft history at your fingertips.

I have experienced the sweetness of the Presence of Jesus as I read this book. His Presence is real as you read the chapters. It is truly an Anointed work. A much needed teaching for the body of Christ at this hour. It is easy reading and full of words of wisdom. A MUST for all Believers!
Tammy,
Nassau

This is the second time I am reading The Fragrance of Glory and it has been a tremendous blessing. I am being transformed more and more into His likeness...from glory to glory. I never thought of myself as being the fragrance of God's glory. But now it's different. I wake up in the morning believing that I will be God' fragrance of glory throughout the day. Thank you Anne for such an anointed book.
Juanita,
Florida

I have read this 94 page book, The Fragrance of Glory, and have found out that the Great Counselor, the Holy Spirit will, once we have the desire to live a victorious life in Christ do the work through us.

This book will teach you how to tame your old nature; the works of the flesh and walk in the abundant life in Christ Jesus. On page 47 the author gave an experience of a near plane crash and how she by faith in God encourage others on board to call on the name of Jesus.

It seems that this book was written by Anne Grant through the aid of the Holy Spirit to bring us as belivers into a perfect relationship with Christ; behind the veil and not just as an author who have a hobby to write books.

What is best about the book is that it digs into the multitude of steps necessary to prepare for a successful campaign. When I first read the Table of Contents I was somewhat overwhelmed with the idea that so many things had to take place before actually asking for substantial contributions to our nonprofit. We were used to running a few special events and receiving just as few dollars from them. But using the clearly written text as a guide enabled us to expand our thinking and implement a process that led to significantly increased donations this year. The book was a great investment.

I used this book almost exclusively as a reference for a capital campaign at a community college foundation. The fundraising plan outlined in the text is very good, and can be followed almost verbatim. I found that the pointers offered were very applicable to the funding plan, that is, they were specific enough to be meaningful, yet broad enough to be adapted to any fundraising situation. This book is probably most useful for those considering a capital campaign, and an especially good reference for those who are embarking on their very first campaign. The text ranks among one of the most practically applicable I have ever read.

I was so tired of trying to wade through dense books on fundraising and marketing. This book lays it out clearly and simply. Fundraising is common sense--so is this book. Should be read by anyone launching an annual and capital campaign.

I'm surprised this book doesn't get more press. I found it very informative regarding Grant's and Lee's personal and professional lives, but I also learned a lot about 1800's American culture as well...and I'm hardly a novice when it comes to the Civil War-era. Seeing as one Anderson is a college professor and the other is a journalist, "The Generals" is immaculately written, an all-too-often rarity concerning history books nowadays. The fact that the book is such a smooth read puts it ahead of the other Grant/Lee bios out. The Andersons' are economical writers, communicating in a few hundred pages what other long-winded folks take volumes to say. As far as the mildly negative Library Journal review goes, I wonder if that has anything to do with the Andersons' refusal to pull punches when speaking of the frailties of both Grant and Lee. These long since dead men are idealized to such an extent today that it's hard to get a feel for the people they really were. After reading "The Generals," I feel that I know both Ulysses Grant and Robert Lee, triumphs failures and draws, as well as I'm ever going to. If you're tired of reading the same old stories about Honorable Lee or Stubborn Grant, and want to get a deeper understanding of two of the most important men in American Civil War, give "The Generals" a shot. Happy reading!

I'm a bit of a history buff, but would never have read this book without the prompting of a friend whom I respect. I struggled to get throught the first 50 pages, but after that I was hooked. Not only do I understand Grant and Lee better, but I feel I understand the USA better. A great story and a window on our nation. Recommended for anyone with the patience and time to peel back the layers of our past.

This book takes you through the lives of Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Often, it acts like a timeline, paralleling the two lives at a particular date and recreating the events that were occurring to each at that time. Many of the personal letters from both Grant and Lee are used to tell the story of their lives. These letters are surrounded with superb insights of the day and brings with it the 'feeling' of 1800's America. It is interesting to see how vastly different these two men were only to be thrust together at such a difficult time in our nations history. I strongly recommend The Generals to anyone interested in the Civil War or American History in general.

Not only is Chmel's book good for those with terminal illness and their caretakers, it was helpful for me--someone who has suffered with chronic pain and sickness. I could identify with Janalee's anger and frustration with the medical community and the unfairness of her situation. Just like Janalee, I've screamed at God and wanted to attack my bed with a rolling pin! This book gave me permission to deal with some of the feelings I've stuffed away, and revealed some other areas that I need to confront in order to heal and find "serenity". Thanks Janalee!

Janalee Card Chmel, by reaching inside herself, reaches out to all of us who have experienced a great loss. She is so open with her emotions and gifted in her ability to relate poignant moments that at times I felt like an intruder. But she chose to take us on her journey and shares it beautifully. By being so honest in her writing, she enables the reader to be honest with himself.

In addition to her writing ability, Janalee produced a book that is technically and aesthetically first-rate which book lovers will appreciate.

This book is one of the best I have ever read (and I've read thousands!). Janalee makes you really care about what is happening to her and her family, and though you know from the outset that her Mother will die, you can't help but keep hoping that a miracle will happen and she will be cured. Janalee opens up her heart to the reader, and lets you have the rare experience of sharing her pain, her hopes, and her love for her Mother. Having been given the privilege of reading Janalee's book while it was still in draft form, I couldn't wait for the finished product to come out on the market, and I was not disappointed! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever gone through the experience of seeing a loved one through their final illness; anyone who needs help in coping with the loss of a loved one; or anyone who simply wants to read something that will warm their heart and make them feel that though life can sometimes be almost unbearably hard, we should take the time to appreciate our loved ones RIGHT NOW, and let them know it.

Although Bruce Catton was an accomplished historian in his own right, In _Grant Moves South_, one cannot help but notice the influence of the great Sherman biographer Lloyd Lewis. Anyone who has read Lewis' _Sherman: Fighting Profit_ will recognize similarities; the heavy reliance on primary sources and the uncanny ability to allow the reader to draw his or her own conclusions without explicitly stating the writer's intentions, not to mention that sinuous narrative style that captivates and draws the reader deeper into the manuscript. Unfortunately, however, Lewis only lived to publish the first of a multi-volume biography of Ulysses S. Grant titled _Captain Sam Grant_ . Lewis' widow commissioned Bruce Catton to finish the project utilizing much of the notes Lewis had gathered in the course of his research. The results are the two subsequent biographies authored by Catton: _Grant Moves South_ and _Grant Takes Command_.                 Catton begins his story in June 1861 when Grant, appointed Colonel, takes command of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Catton portrays Grant as a man of few words, yet possessing an ability to earn the respect of his men. Grant stresses discipline and training particularly of his company grade officers. About half of the book is devoted to Grants participation at the battles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and the near disaster at Shiloh. The remainder of the text focuses on the Vicksburg campaign.                 Catton prefers a loosely structured chronological approach and provides his readers with a commanding view from headquarters. Catton relies upon letters, cables, and other communiqués between officers, which tends to keep the focus on Grant and other high level players. Besides Grant's known habit of scribbling handwritten orders on scratch paper and other official documentation, Catton allows Grant to speak for himself through the only vestige we have: his memoirs. In contrast, Catton listens to what other observers have to say about Grant in their memoirs, particularly William T. Sherman and the unpublished memoir of Grant's wife, Julia Dent Grant. Juxtaposing this top-down approach is Catton's ability to portray the human frailties of Grant's personality. Grant's drinking is a recurring theme in which Catton bestows an admirable defense.                                Catton devotes considerable space to the Grant's uneasy relationship with General Henry Wager Halleck. To the charge that Grant disobeyed orders and failed to communicate his intentions from his Headquarters at Fort Donelson, Catton counters by stating the Union communication system, as a whole was substandard. He goes on to point out that evidence suggests Confederate sympathizers manned telegraph offices squelching vital communiqués.   Catton gives Grant's nemesis credit however, when Halleck played a vital role in saving Grant's command during the controversial political maneuverings of another of Grant's rivals: General John A. McClernand.                 Catton concludes that Grant certainly had his hands full. On the one hand, Grant had a military campaign to plan and orchestrate; On the other hand, Grant was the target of dubious machinations from jealous staff officers and politicians in Washington bent of relinquishing his command. Grant was also faced with economic issues and the problem of what to do with displaced contraband slaves that were pouring into his army camps on a daily basis. In the chapter "A Noun is the Name of a Thing," Catton again comes to the defense of Grant in his handling of these sensitive civil-military relations. In a controversial order issued on 17 December 1862, Grant categorized northern businessmen attempting to exploit profits from the sale of cotton as "Jews." Referring to the former slaves as "Darkeys." Grant immediately put the Negro refugees to work maintaining roads, bridges and other military necessities that required manual labor. Admitting that "Grant and most other men were children of their time '," Catton minimizes Grants derogatory comments. These complex topics surrounding Ulysses S. Grant, are significantly important, yet diminish the significant effect of the Vicksburg Campaign. Taking into account that this is a biography of Grant and not a comprehensive treatment of the pivotal campaign that sealed his place in history, Catton could have evened out the balance rather than treating the Vicksburg campaign as a mere backdrop. It is not surprising, however, given Catton's eloquent literary style and his excellent syntheses of primary sources, why scholars in the literature of the Vicksburg Campaign repeatedly cite this book. Though sympathetic to the treatment of his subject, Catton's volumes on Grant deserves an honored place on the shelves of any serious student of the Civil War.

Grant was a somewhat dispirited and discouraged man living in Illinois when the war began, but he thought he might have something to offer the Northern cause. Offering it and obtaining it, however were challenging. Eventually he was assighned to Cairo, Illinois where circumstances, partially of his own making, contributed to victories along the Tennessee River. His reputation, and a bit of politiking, put him in command of the campaign to open the Mississippi River by taking Vicksburg, a veritable fortress, and key to Southern Hegemony in a recognized vital area. New Orleans had already been captured. Shilo was the nearly disastrous prelude in a story of one imaginative tactic after another against a formidable adversary whose position was one of dominance. Finally, the practical and decisive move was determined by Grant, and worked. Vicksburg was taken from the rear after his army glided down river and on to Jacksonville to stop reinforcements from reaching the battle.

Grant had the advantage of having known many of his adversaries with whom he fought during the Mexican American War. Victory coincided with that of Gettysburg, PA, and the South was in full retreat as Union forces cautiously pressed into Tennessee and Alambama. As is often the case, luck played a part in success, but the Southern back was broken, and it was just a matter of time before the Union won. So great were the losses on both sides, and so hideous, as well as human, the circumstances, that I am confounded by the combined strength of the two armies. Abe Lincoln called the political shots, but it was Grant and his field commanders of the west who determined the War's outcome. Grant did what had to be done, though he was unjustly criticized at times. The conclusion of this volume leads naturally to the last; Grant Takes Command, the only general ever to defeat Lee.

Bruce Catton is arguably the greatest Grant biographer and is largely responsible for changing the negative views about Grant in the 1950's and 60's. Catton wrote several books about USG and this is the second part of a grand Grant trilogy begun in 1949 by Lloyd Lewis with "Captain Sam Grant." The final volume of the trilogy is Catton's "Grant Takes Command" (both books are available on Amazon).

Bruce Catton thoroughly understand Ulysses Grant and became his vociferous proponent. He correctly grasped that Grant was the preeminent strategist of the civil war and was also the war's greatest, most innovative and most determined general. Those who errantly believe Grant won with brute force or superior numbers need to read this book. Others who espouse the line that Robert E. Lee was the real genius of the war also need to consult this volume. At its conclusion, you will change your mind and realize that Grant was not only a magnificent soldier, he was also a highly intelligent, humorous and marvelously humane man. He has been unfairly maligned and Catton sets the record straight.

Catton writes with perception about Grant as a father and devoted husband, but the thrust of the book is painting an incise portrait of Grant in the pivotal period 1861-1863 when his greatness was forged. This is a "must have" book for anyone interested in U.S. Grant or the American civil war. There are few, if any, factual errors and the narrative flows smoothly from beginning to end. Highly recommended.

I have had the opportunity to read this book and I would recommend it to anyone very enthusiastically. It is fast paced, exciting, scary, easy to read and hard to put down, and beyond all that (as if that isn't enough) it has plot twists that are unique. I found this book so interesting that I had to finish it the day I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down. This is a really excellent book!

I find that these vampires come with a great deal of history. They are people you might know and would not realize they have a secret. It rates high on my list because you can see the action and feel the emotions that are being expressed.

I picked this up recently and was pleasantly surprised. All of the characters are three-dimensional, and the plot flows very easily. Scary from the beginning to the end, and a very creepy climax. I definitely recommend this!

this book changed my life. after reading it, i learned that disrspecting the environment is bad, as is stealing money. stevie diamond is my hero. i love linda bailey! keep on writing those sweet books!

I think this book was so cool. I loved trying to figure out who the culprit was before Stevie did, but I couldn't! I loved how she read mystery books just like I do. I liked how Stevie and Jesse did all the dectective work. I really recommend it because it is a great book! I hope I get an A on my book report on it!

I had never really read a mystery book before and I did not know how to start. So my friend had told me about How Come The best Clues Are Always In the Garbage. So I went on the internet found out there was no reviews for it. So what I did was I said I will read the book and give my opinion to the orld on amazon.com. AND HERE IT IS This book was a excellent read for peple who are just starting to read mysteries. It is not such a scary mystery or very serious one but it is a great start for people. I love the adventures in the story. I also like how this very young girl is trying to figure out this mystery to get her moms job. I really enjoyed this book and I hope you will to ! PS: If you are the author or the publisher in this book get some more books to get published because if you had put information on the author linda Baily I would of gotten a A+ not a A