Good resource for general Supreme Court information and pre-1992 key cases. However, as those who follow the Supreme Court know, much has happened in the intervening 9 years since the book was published. We currently have a very conservative, yet very active Supreme Court. New judicial trends are emerging in the areas of federalism and congressional commerce powers that are suddenly vastly different from what they had been from the New Deal up until 1995. A glance at recent cases such as The City of Boerne v. Flores and the mind-boggling Bush v. Gore show the Supreme Court's reinterpretation of the reach and power of the 14th Amendment. In short, many of the precedents outlined in this book are no longer valid.

For a more current, and cheaper, book that covers much of the same ground, check out The Oxford Guide to United States Supreme Court Decisions, released in 1999. It only covers the cases, unlike "The Companion;" but that's kinda' the point isn't it?

The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court is a solid compilation of people, ideas, issues, and desicions involving the U.S. Supreme Court. It is getting a bit dated, but it still has many, many entires that will help anyone better understand the court's history.

Like other Oxford companions, this one was compiled by experts in the field and has much to offer. Likewise it has the annoying nuances of the other volumes (such as using symbols to indicate cross referenced items rather than boldface or italics) but these do not detract from the book's value.

Historians, lawyers, consititution adherents, and many others will find this an invaluable resource worth purchasing,...

The _Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States_ is a reference book. The topics are arranged alphabetically, like entries in an encyclopedia. They include biographies of all justices to sit in the Supreme Court up to Clarence Thomas' confirmation, and other nominees or people associated to the Court, important decisions (with dates argued, dates decided, what the vote was, who wrote the opinions, etc), basic terms associated with the Court (such as 'writ of certiorari'), constitutional doctrines (such as 'substantive due process') and other topics, such as a very complete History of the Court. The appendices include the U.S. Constitution, two lists of Justices, one simply arranged chronologically, and one more graphical noting who the President who nominated each justice was, who the Chief Justice was, etc. There is also a short appendix with a number of firsts, trivia, and traditions associated to the Court.

I should say that I am not a lawyer and not a Law Student. I am an interested lay observer only. Yet the book is written at a level which is accessible (even if you sometimes have to go check the cross-references), and very, very informative. Just reading a couple of entries a day will greatly enhance your understanding of the Supreme Court and its role, or how the Justices work.

As a reference, I doubt it has a match. The justices' biogrphies are very interesting, including major decisions or philosophical contributions. The summaries of cases include not only information on the case and the decision, but also any lasting constitutional effects, and whether or not they were later overturned (whether by other decisions, or by constitutional amendments). The historical essays alone would be worth the price of admission, as would the thorough coverage of Constitutional Schools (constructivism, First Amendment absolutism, etc), or important precedents and tests. Just what is the "clear and present danger" test, where did it originate, and how has it been modified since then? Turn to 'clear and present danger' and read the entry. You'll learn all that and more.

I've read the book cover to cover, and emerged with a much greater, clearer understanding of the Supreme Court and the Constitution than I could have obtained from reading any other single book. It is not easy reading (imagine trying to read your way through an encyclopedia...) but even if you pick and choose the entries you read, you'll come out wiser than you came in.

I recommend the book heartily to those interested in the Supreme Court, whether professionally or not. It is well worth the price.

Another interesting book on indigenous cultures, this book tells the story of a westerner who underwent the rituals to become a Sangoma, a Zulu medicine man. What makes this excellent is that it is easy to understand the religion of the Zulu because it is filtered through a western view yet still understood. If you enjoyed this book, I also suggest that you check out Malidoma Patrice Some's "Of Water and the Spirit" as well.

From the back flap of the book we learn that James Hall has written a candid and dramatically personal account of his unique journey from a comfortable, predictable life in Los Angeles to a harsh and uncharted one in the tiny kingdom of Swaziland. His story shows how the pieces of life can fit together to balance people and nature, the mortal and the immortal, the physical and the spiritual. Sangoma weaves together the excitement of an adventure story and the wisdom of a deeply felt memoir from a man who has b1ended his roles as modern American and as diviner and healer of timeless provenance.

This book really absorbed me during the two days I read it. I could not put it down before I had finished the last page. James Hall gives a candid and vivid account of how he became a traditional African healer, a sangoma.

This is not just an outstanding adventure story but remembrance to all of us that more exists than meets the eye on the physical plane. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to further his/her horizon and enjoys a great book.

Andreas Biebl

James Herriot has an easy-going and warm writing style that is incredibly suited to his stories. He chronicles the animals and people he helps as an active veternarian in Yorkshire, England. As such, the stories are usually more about the people and their attachment to their pets and livestock than they are about the animals themselves. Although the time period is not explicitly mentioned and he jumps around in time a great deal, this book seems to cover the period right after his preceeding book (The Lord God Made Them All), the late 50s and early 60s. Herriot's children are now 6-10 years old and play an increasing role in his practice. He also includes a touching series of stories about his and his wife's attempts to tame some farm cats. Every Living Thing was Herriot's final full-length original book, and it is an excellent end to an excellent series.

As gifted a story teller as he is a veterinarian, James Herriot has the rare ability to bring out every emotion known to the human race with a single magical flick of his pen. Every Living Thing is without a doubt one of the crowning achievements of a master, and is possessed by a single, true trait that is difficult to find in many commercial books- every single tale is told straight from the heart. You will never fail to laugh at the hilarious tales and cry at the most poignant moments. If you're an animal lover, or even just have a passing interest in animals, this is a book you will hold on to and re-read until the end of your days. Kudos, James Herriot, you are very much missed.

I have read each of James Herriot's books many times (including this one) and still enjoy them every time I read them! This book is one of my favorite books of the series, and is highly recommended by me. If you have read the other books you will love this one just as much if not more! If you have not read any of the other books, this book would also be a good one to start off with. After reading it I can assure you that you will want to read all the others. NOTE: I also have all five of these books on audio tape (by Christopher Timothy) and would recommend these as well! It is great to listen to them while you do hobbies since you can actually do two things at the same time, and Christopher Timothy (who played James Herriot in the BBC series) really brings the characters to life, using different voices and accents.

The author of the book Favorite Dog Stories, James Herriot, is from Yorkshire, Scotland. This is not the only book Herriot has written. In fact Herriot has written many books. All Things Bright and Beautiful, Lord God Made Them All, and All Things Wise and Wonderful are just to name a few. All of Herriot's books are based on his veterinary practice. Herriot doesn't just write about everyday things, he writes about strange and unusual things that happen to him, his patients, and the patient's owners. Dr. Herriot lives in a very beautiful place in Yorkshire. He lives in the countryside where everything around him is bright and green.

One of the strangest stories in his book, Favorite Dog Stories, to me is in chapter seven, Gyp Only One Woof. In this story a dog named Gyp had never barked in his life. Herriot had diagnosed him with epilepsy, but he didn't see why that would cause him not to bark. Dr. Herriot knew the dog wasn't mute so he just waited to see what happened. One day, at a dog show Dr. Herriot saw Gyp and his owner watching the show so he went over to see them. When Gyp saw his brother in the show he so got excited that he barked for the first time in his life! He only barked that one time and never barked again.

A story that was sad at times and happy at times happy was in chapter eight, Roy From Rags to Riches. An old woman named Mrs. Donovan who always walked with her beloved dog, Rex, believed that when it came to cats and dogs Herriot wasn't very good at helping them and that she could cure anything with powders and dog shampoos. One day her precious little dog was run over and she called Dr. Herriot, but the dog had been hurt too severely to help and he died. Mrs. Donovan vowed that she would never get another dog. Later on, one of Dr. Herriot's friends found an abused dog that was very sickly. When Dr. Herriot saw the dog he immediately started hinting for Mrs. Donovan to take care of the dog. She accepted taking the dog and cure it after not very coaxing at all. Mrs. Donovan named the dog Roy and took care of him to the point that he recovered fully.

In conclusion, Dr. Herriot's books are very popular because he makes his books interesting by telling strange and unusual tales of his veterinary experiences in Yorkshire. Dr. Herriot describes where he lives and his experiences with great detail. For those of you who like animals I would suggest this book. You can tell that Dr. Herriot loves his work.

This is a very nice book, and the fact that they're real stories makes it even better... although, its not quite what I expected. Its a little... how do I put it... flat. It just lacks something. I love dogs, and I love dog stories, don't take me wrong... lets just say this is not the most exciting read I've had.

I was looking to buy a book for a friend who was getting a new puppy. I thought that "Favorite Dog Stories" would be a good start for both puppy and his owner. But then, I saw the beutiful illustrations inside the book and I could not resist. I read it in a day. And it brought all sort of emotions, because stories were so beautiful. This is an excellent book for both children and adults. I would recommend it to anyone. And you know what - I am a two cats owner. Not even a "real" dog person. Enjoy this wonderful book. Thank you Mr. Herriot for sharing these wonderful stories...

James Brady, The Coldest War: A Memoir of Korea (1990, New York: Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Griffin edn., 2000)

This is a splendid little book about what one American statesman characterized, quite accurately, as "a sour little war." The reasons are clear. With the possible exception of the Falkland Islands War, no other conflict in the second half of the 20thcentury was fought over ground as consistently inhospitable as the three-year struggle in barren, frigid Korea. Author James Brady, who served as a Marine lieutenant there, describes the essence of the problem early in the book: "Hard enough fighting a war; in Korea, the cold could kill you." And he invokes the horrors of combat in the First World War and the Civil War when he makes this point: "In some ways, it wasn't a modern war at all, more like Flanders or the Somme or even the Wilderness campaign." Brady is a wonderful writer and creates marvelous word pictures of the war. Many operations took place after dark, and he writes: "The grenade, the knife, the shotgun, even the shovel and the axe were the weapons of night patrols." Brady also offers telling observations about matters important and trivial, including fearing the night as shells roared out "very low and directly overhead," feeling chagrined when he could not answer a colonel's question about the location of two machine guns which he commanded, using a wooden ammunition box as a toilet, urinating on his rifle to thaw it for firing, not changing underwear for 46 days while "on the line, living in holes," and subsisting for weeks at a time on c-rations. Nevertheless, according to Brady: "There was a purity about life on the line, a crude priesthood of combat." And he also remarks: "When you weren't fighting, the war was pretty good." Readers may be offended by some of Brady's recollection, including the incessant references to Koreans as "gooks" (except when he visits a village and addresses the inhabitants as "our Korean brothers"): The Korean bearers who deliver supplies to the line are known by everyone as the "gook train," and the universal eating utensil manufactured from a shell casing is known as a "gook spoon." Chinese soldiers always are "chinks." However, I found Brady's honesty engaging, even when it was politically incorrect. Brady's memoir is remarkably free of rancor, and, in fact, he appears to have respected his adversaries. Brady reports that some of the one million Chinese engaged in the war had been fighting continuously since the mid-1930s, first against the Japanese, then amongst themselves in the civil war which preceded the victory of Mao Zedong's Communists, and finally against the Republic of Korea, the United States, and their Allies. Nevertheless, Brady saves his highest accolades for his own First Marine Division, which he characterizes, without false modesty, as being "as powerful an infantry division as there had ever been in combat anywhere." Brady saves some of his most wry observations for superior officers, but he had unbridled admiration for his company commander Captain John Chafee, a graduate of Yale and Harvard Law School, who later was elected governor of Rhode Island and then had a distinguished career in the U.S. Senate. This book is not about grand strategy, national policy, or the geopolitics of the early Cold War. It provides a very narrow view of the Korean War. But, taken on its own terms, as the account of one Marine officer's experience, it is excellent.

James Brady's "The Coldest War - A Memoir of Korea" is at once both a personal view and a writer's view. Brady spent a little less than one year as a Marine officer in Korea as a rifle platoon leader, company exec, intelligence officer and finally a company commander. We are fortunate to have a writer of his caliber tell us his innermost thoughts as he grew from a green 23-year-old Second Lieutenant into a very mature, and war-weary First Lieutenant (still 23 years old) leaving the war, all in the period of about ten months. By his own admission, he was not a hero, and equally by his own admission, he had no intention of becoming one. He merely wanted to be a competent officer, and live through the experience of a lifetime, making as few mistakes as possible on the way. He saw action, he saw death, he experienced the loss of friends and describes all of this in stark detail, with no frills. It is a description war as it is, not Hollywood's version, and one gets the sense that if others in combat could write the way Brady does, the stories would all be very similar, and our history of war would be much more complete. Brady does not mince words, and his descriptions divulge criticism of shortcomings of higher echelon decisions and higher ranking officers alike, not from spite or in a desire to get back at those he didn't get along with, but with a clear eye to failings of leadership and communication common in all military systems, especially during combat. Walter Cronkite says this book reads like a novel, but I disagree. There is no plot, no happy ending. It is a wonderfully descriptive and detailed book about the personality of the Korean War, a "police action" which is only now getting its due. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history, and wants to learn more about Korea than can be learned watching all the episodes of "Mash" back-to-back.

The book is about one of the most miserable places in the world to wage a war. Korea in 1950 was unheard of by many Americans, but the U. S. Marines were sent there to help defend South Korea from the expected Chinese invasion. Those Marines will never consider the encounter a "Forgotten War." The terrain and weather made it far more treacherous than any of the island fighting in the south Pacific during World War II, and some Marines who fought in both places claimed Korea was a nightmarish land dreamed up by the Devil to pit humans against each other. James Brady, a 23 year old second lieutenant when he landed in Korea as a platoon leader, aged quickly during his tour in combat Being new to the Corps, he found some enlisted career-men were more knowlegeable than contemporary officers. He gives them all their due, but considers Captain John H. Chafee the real hero of the book. The personal hardships of Marines of all ranks on line, is interspersed with humor and horror, but the most memorable part of the book belongs to the adaption of a green newcomer into a seasoned combat veteran. Brady has a talent for sniffing out the phonies and laying his bets with the soldiers of silent professionalism. "The Coldest War" tells it like only this distringuished writer could. Each page gets the reader into the feel of the unforgiving environment. The cold, the steep hills, the constant time in the front lines takes the reader into the uncomfortable setting of blood letting, death, and the terrible stench of the country. It's a book you won't soon forget.

Two disclaimers for this review: 1, this was my first P.D. James novel. 2, I believe that Agatha Christie was the goddess of all mystery writing.
I am used to a body within the first few pages, and letting Hercule Poirot deduce things from there until the solution is provided. However, there are no bodies until 80 pages into the book, and most of the discussion includes things that Dalgliesh brings out later with witnesses anyway, making them redundant.
Also confusing was James's apparent escape from reality with character names. Some are completely absurd, like the characters names "Makepeace" and "Gotobed." Combining words into names detracts from the proposed seriousness of the situation.

This book is much heavier than a true murder mystery, and the decision comes down to this: whether you want a true murder mystery, where you follow facts and psychology in the attempt to deduce the murderer, or whether you want a deeper novel -- a P.D. James novel -- where, along with the murder, time is spent reflecting on life and the world in a more philosophical fashion.

P.D. James' work occasionally collapses under its own weight as the author strains to combine psychological novel with crafty murder mystery--but DEATH OF AN EXPERT WITNESS shows the writer at her best, creating a memorable setting in rural England, a host of very believable characters, and a complex plot, with all aspects of the work coming together in seamless fashion.

Dr. Lorrimer is a forensic scientist employed at a police laboratory, well respected by the scientific community and a bastion of authority in the witness box. Unfortunately, he is also a singularly unpleasant man: bitter at being passed over for promotion, petty in his dealings with underlings, vindictive in his personal relationships. So it is hardly surprising when he is murdered--but the circumstances are something of a shock: he is clubbed to death in the middle of his own laboratory, a situation that seems to indicate one or more of his co-workers is involved. And Chief Inspector Dalgliesh has an abundance of suspects from which to select.

James' detective Dalgliesh is a rather dour creation, and in some James novels he can become a tiresome companion--but here James balances his darkness against the demands of the overall novel to considerable effect. The result is a stylish, atmospheric work with an intelligent plot and a satisfying conclusion--a book to keep mystery fans sitting up all night. Recommended.

P.D. James fittingly wears the crown as "queen of the mystery writers"! And in "Death of an Expert Witness" the title is clearly shown and deserved. Again, James brings in Chief Inspector Adam Dalgleish of Scotland Yard, and once again, this venerable, brilliant, and honorable investigator is in good form. James usually presents a model in human behavior--she's good at this--and gives Dalgleish the full run to work out the inconsistencies, the red herrings, and finally the truth of the case. Dr. Lorrimer is a cold, efficient, dislikeable scientist; now he is a cold, efficient, and dislikeable corpse. Dalgleish must find out why he was killed--and it is more than merely because he was disliked. What did he know that panicked his murderer? After all, he was cold, efficient, dislikeable, and very knowledgeable, "an expert witness," as it were. Bring along a dictionary, as James' vocabulary is challenging--but not distracting--and her works are refreshingly intelligent and worth the effort it may take!(Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

I've enjoyed all of James W. Hall's novels and enjoyed "Off The Chart" as well. But this present effort isn't quite up to snuff. While Hall is a master of plot, this one has a few too many utterly implausible twists and some turns that simply don't overcome this reader's sense of credibility.
Thorn, Hall's wonderfully crafted character, adds a few new problems and opportunities to his life in the form of Alexandra, a new romantic interest, and her doddering father who is introduced for reasons I don't quite fathom.
The main villain, Vic Joy, is simply unbelievable.
It's not a bad read: Hall keeps things moving along a quick pace and some of the scenes are tension producing. But overall, "Off The Chart" simply isn't up to the standard Hall himself has set with his earlier work. Still, for anyone who enjoys Hall's work or for those simply looking for a reasonably good adventure, I would recommend this novel - but with less vigor than I have for his prior work.

Jerry

See book description above.

I am never disappointed with James W. Hall. His novels always keep me on edge and it seems he gets better and better with each novel. This time around he seems to have made his protagonist, Thorn, a little more human, and not quite the superhero he was in previous novels. A fast paced and very gripping story. Keep up the good work.

Highly recommended.

James W. Hall's "Off the Chart" is a suspenseful, complex tale populated with three-dimensional characters in a vibrant setting.

A modern day high seas pirate with a Mafia background, a violent psycho pirate wannabe, a former Secretary of Navy working covertly for a black helicopter organization converge to alter the life of confirmed loner Thorn's newly idyllic life.

Via deceit and deception the villains coerce and convince Thorn's best friend Sugarman and girl friend Alexandra to abandon him---leaving Thorn to fend for himself versus the land-grabbing pirates.

In the attempt to seize Thorn's valuable five acres of waterfront property, the pirates abduct Sugarman's nine-year-old daughter---introducing a ticking clock subplot that leads to a nightmare confrontation.

The crisply written high octane pacing never slows as the action moves from the Keys to the middle of the ocean to the Central American jungles.

Jim Hall never disappoints---superior in every way.

I have always tried to read and authors books in order but unfortunately I failed miserably when it came to Hall's Thorn books. Most series where you read the books out of order its a minor miss step but here it was a huge mistake. While Hall's books, for the most part, can stand on its own you don't truly understand the Thorn character until you've read Daylight.

Under Cover of Daylight is not just a story of murder and revenge but a scathing biopsy of the everchanging culture of Southern Florida. As we cut through the layers of this shifting society we take an uncomfortable look two people who relationship give a whole new meaning to love-hate. While the literal suprises are few the emotional surprises are many.

I haunt the bookstores for good novels pertaining to the Keys and only recently did this important work of Hall's become available. Although this is where it all starts with Thorn - great character background and motivational set up - it is also a fine read. Would you believe, greedy developers willing to bend the law and squeeze the little guys out for obscene profit: a lack of concern for the character and individualism of Keys communities, condos at any costs? Somehow the book seems relevant today, and when the characters repeatedly stress they are not against progress but somewhere we must draw a line we hear the same complex emotions that are at the heart of every development discussion today, twenty years after the original publication. All this and a great Thorn style plot. Perfect for those rainy/windy days when the bonefish are shying away or the lobsters are not in season.

This is the novel where Hall introduced Thorn, his anti-hero protagonist. This is the best of Hall's novels - it's the template after which all of the others are patterned. It has all of the elements that make hall's work exciting - the lazy Florida Keys setting, the quirky characters, the complicated plots, and the brilliant prose. This book also has an intensity the later ones lack - Thorn is like a force of nature, and in this book, you really FEEL that. This is the single best crime novel I have ever read.

Ms. Sheridan has given many of us fans the side of Jimmy we too fell in love with: the shy, vulnerable, sweet yet ambitious and driven young man who came to New York with a dream and a mid-Western down-to-earth plan. It is a touching story of two young, creative and very funny and likable people (Liz and Jimmy) who fall in love with each other, with expressing themselves through their art, and with the city of New York. Despite a few mistakes in the book (Sheridan refers to the town of Fairmount as "Winslow") it is a great read -- a must for Dean fans.

Well I've read a few James Dean books..I just love him. I personally liked this one the best because you get an inside look on what it was like to date James Dean. I recommended it to my best friend who also loves him, and her whole family has now read it too because it's so great. If you want a good book on how Jimmy was as a boyfriend, this is the one you should get. It's great!

If you love a great love story, and you are fascinated by James Dean, this is the book for you. Many biographers have touched on the relationship between Dizzy and Jimmy. However, Miss Sheridan ( best-known as Jerry Seinfeld's mom in his classic TV show) chose to write this book to give a more thorough and accurate account of their year-long love story. They met and fell in love when the young Dean was struggling to find work as an actor in New York, and their relationship ended with his move to Hollywood to begin his meteoric career as a film star. They lived together for much of that time, so Miss Sheridan explores, with rare insight, the complex personality of one of America's greatest legends.I have read 18 books on James Dean and this one is my favorite. I couldn't put it down, and I didn't want it to end.