This book gives an excellent overview of the coin grading and the attempts to artificially alter coins to enhance their apparent value. The book is organized in essay format, with good flow between chapters. Numerous diagrams make this an easy read. As might be expected in a general work, some aspects of the work deserve a more complete treatment than they receive here. This is a good read, and a worthwhile introduction. I am not a "coin person", but I found this quite diverting.

This is a real good book I would recommend for anyone. There is a whole lot in this book to explore. Sometimes I almost think it is WAY TOOOOO BIG!!! But it isa wonderful book, and it is at a WONDERFUL price here!! Pick it up! It is a good book!

There is more knowledge packed in this book than any 10 coin books combined. I now know the standards involved in Mint State grading, although the average collector like myself should understand that you probably won't be able to sit down after reading this book and tell the difference between an MS-64 and an MS-65 if you couldn't before. Still, I am much more comfortable now in all stages of grading, and much more confident when buying and selling coins. The counterfeit detection part is probably not relevant to the average collector, but it is interesting information that adds to your knowledge of the hobby and the enjoyment of collecting.

John Thorn is one of our great baseball writers and his skills make this book the best of its kind. It is loaded with fascinating anecdotes that I've seen nowhere else. In addition, the illustrations are outstanding. "Treasures ..." will give you the most enjoyable history lesson you'll ever find.

This will serve until I get a chance to go there. Being far from any major metropolitan canter, getting there requires a great deal of effort. This is a great book which shares some of the riches of the hall. A must have book for all baseball lovers.

This volume should be considered an excellent addition to any baseball library. Every fan of the game will find something new and interesting. While the text is excellent, the large number of intensely detailed photographs provide a fascinating insight into the history of the game. There is no other such collection available for the fan or scholar to enjoy. This volume is highly recommended.

I have been to workshops with John Van Auken and he has
a tremendous capacity and knowledge of ancient wisdom...that
seems to supercede what one can learn from distilling normal
history books, on site investigations, and even reading the
Edgar Cayce material...its as if he "lived there, lived then,
and has a remarkable capacity to remember it all and reveal it
clearly and effectively"....
This book is another splendid example of John's crystal
clear and profoundly deep capacity to share his knowledge
in a manner that both layman and passionate scholar can grasp.

What is a myth? Perhaps it's a story that isn't true on the outside, but is true on the inside. The tension between what our heart's intuition tells us and what we can actually experience on the outside is a source of great creativity and development, both personal and for the human race. Cayce's story of the history and destiny of humanity is a lesson here. Not only does his story include our spiritual creation and its purpose, but also the external history of life on planet earth, including predictions about major changes ahead. Is this story a myth? For many of those who contemplate it, his story is stimulating and spiritually fulfilling, which is what a good myth should do, whereas traditional religion has lost its ability to inspire. But Cayce presents his story as being literally true. Did things really happen the way he tells it?One of the fascinating aspects of his story concerns the existence of "Halls of Records," where this history is recorded. He said that one such Hall of Records was in Yucatan, Mexico. Furthermore, he said that at this site, there was also evidence of another key element in Cayce's story--the (in)famous "Firestone Crystal" of Atlantis, which was their source of power, but which had been misused and helped bring down that civilization.I vividly remember discovering the Edgar Cayce material and having my imagination sparked as never before by the story of the Firestone and its connection with Mayan imagery. Soon I was making pilgrimages to Yucatan to search for the Hall of Records. Whereas the external search was expensive and proved beyond my skill range, an inner search was also in progress and was more rewarding. I developed a symbolic meaning for the Firestone crystal; namely, that there is a dormant power of consciousness that can be awakened in spiritual community. Through group dream work (such as Atlantic University's Sundance: The Community Dream Journal) and interpersonal intuition of the heart, I was able to verify the tremendous creative power and wisdom that may be unleashed through cooperation when individuality is given equal footing with the unitive effort. As I became more involved with researching the inner meaning of the Firestone, my fascination with Yucatan and prehistory faded.But today I am inspired to turnabout, to look again with interest toward the outer side of the story. What motivates this revival comes through the publication of a significant book, The lost hall of records: Edgar Cayce's forgotten record in the ancient Yucatan (Eagle Wing Books). The author's, John Van Auken, a past executive director at A.R.E., and Lora Little, Ed.D., a psychologist, have spent years correlating information in the Edgar Cayce material with archaeological findings. In their meticulously researched book they have integrated a panoramic view of Cayce's spiritual story with scientific findings that take the story out of realm of pure myth and into the realm of history. Archaeological research, including advances in the interpretation of Mayan heiroglyphs and what they reveal about the Mayans' astonishing astronomical observations, has made it possible as never before to suggest that Cayce's story just might be true on the outside. Moreover, Van Auken and Little's research has made a significant breakthrough that makes their book as newsworthy as it is inspiring.A key point in Cayce's remote viewing of the Mayan archaeological findings concerned some artifacts, emblems of the Firestone, that were stored in the University of Pennsylvania museum. Previous investigations had failed to locate these artifacts in the museum's collection. The authors make a strong case, however, that the artifacts in question were those found in the site known as Piedras Negras, a Mayan ruins in Guatamala. Not in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, but part of the Mayan civilization in the general area of the Yucatan pennisula, nevertheless Piedras Negras could easily be described by Cayce's psychic perception as "Yucatan." Making this slight shift in focal point has unleased a provocative set of new findings. Athough there isn't space here to detail all the nitty gritty that the authors combine to paint a credible hypothesis about the external validation of Cayce's story, suffice it to say that they've excited me again to the possibility that there just might be a Hall of Records in that tropical jungle, as well as a model of the Firestone crystal.I am reminded of Cayce's statement that the records would be found and could be read only when the consciousness of the seeker matched the contents of those records. The lesson for me is that while an inner search is important, not to be forgotten is that it is equally important to look to the outer reality as well. Maybe it is time for me to make a return trip to the Mayan ruins to see what I shall see.

If you are interested in broadening your horizons from more traditional ideas and take a look at what they did not teach you in school in your history classes then this book is a great read. If you already have some background as I did it will fill in some of the blanks for you. It certainly is well documented and detailed. This book definitely challenges my Catholic School view of how things began...probably not the way the Protestants taught it either. Having "knocked around" the "psychic" literature (Cayce, Seth, and a few others) I already was quite familiar with Edgar Cayce. This book deepens my understanding of the man and his work. Over the last 10 years my massage therapist has been telling me about all things Mayan and what is said to be coming in 2012 and beyond. I thought he was a bit "out there" if you know what I mean. Now I have some understanding of what he has been talking about at a more "rational" level. I particularly liked the sections of the book on the Akashic records and the Cayce "reading" of those records. I also appreciated the parts of the Bible that were discussed and what the Bible's authors were trying to say in story form. I would recommend this book for those who are interested in furthering their knowledge in the area of spirituality, psychic phenomena, archeology, and anthropology. It will leave you with plenty of food for thought.

WHEN I READ THIS BOOK, I SAW MY FRIEND TIFFANY ALL OVER IT. SHE CREATES CONFRONTATIONS AND THEN WITHDRAWS. I THINK SHE NEEDS TO READ HIS OTHER BOOKS. I REALLY CARE FOR HER, SO I HOPE SHE DOESN'T TAKE IT PERSONAL THAT SHE CAN BE CRAZY AND STUBBORN AS AN OLD MULE. I THINK I READ A SENTENCE OR TWO ABOUT MYSELF ALSO.

The style of this book surpasses anything that Mr. Bradshaw has written. In other words, although his other books are nice, his writing style is not fluent. He must have had help perhaps, but this one flows fluently. The quality of the material is earth shattering. Very few books have I read from cover to cover within a week and this one I did. This is something I can go over and over.

I bought this book a month ago,read it thoroughly and find it quite intersting and informative.It is different from the books usually written on dermatology.All questions asked are very common,informative and the one which are usually asked in the ward rounds and clinical meetings.
I recommend this book to all the dermatologists !

Another excellent secret series book that covers must of the essential dermatological facts that must be known by any health care provider. It includes lots of good quality photographs and interesting facts. Certainly, this book is worth the time and the money.

"Dr. Thorne" is the third in the series of Barsetshire novels by Anthony Trollope. But unlike the first two, this has little to do with the politics of the Church of England. It is the tale of two lovers from different classes, and their struggle to keep their love alive in spite of social pressures to go their own ways. Unlike the first two novels, the plot starts out very slowly, with long descriptions of the history and conditions of the fictional "Greshamsbury" estate. The author even apologizes about 30 pages in for trying the patience of his readers.

While "Dr. Thorne" lacks the crispness and economy of the first two novels ("The Warden" and "Barchester Towers"), it builds to a satisfying conclusion, and the author paints his usual precise characterizations.

If you are a fan of Anthony Trollope, be patient with this one. You will be rewarded.

Mary Thorne, orphaned (and illegitimate) niece of Dr. Thorne, has long been a favorite at Greshamsbury House--until Lady Arabella Gresham learns that her only son Frank is in love with Mary. The unhappy Mary is banished forthwith, because the Gresham family fortunes are so depleted that Frank must marry money.

Frank, however, is one of the few completely honorable young men in Trollope's novels and remains stubbornly true to his love. Well, he does propose to another woman, at the insistence of his mother, but only with the virtual certainty that he will be rejected--as indeed he is. The lady is Miss Dunstable, one of Trollope's most delightful characters, a fabulously wealthy thirtyish heiress of an ointment company. She is a bold, witty woman, not beautiful, but attractive in her way, whose wealth invites countless proposals.

After the rather complicated plot unfolds, the tables are completely turned, and Mary is eagerly welcomed by Lady Arabella (who, of course, has always loved her) as the savior of the family.

I concede that "The Last Chronicle of Barset" is the best of the Barsetshire novels, but I dearly love "Dr. Thorne." The character of the doctor himself is strong and sympathetic. Frank, Mary, Miss Dunstable, Lady Arabella, Sir Roger Scatcherd, and such minor characters as Dr. Thorne's rival, Dr. Fillgrave (one of Trollope's punnily named characters), form a superb cast. And the outcome is thoroughly satisfying. I probably enjoyed reading this novel more than any of the others.

I work as a DJ at a country radio station and I produce and host a weekly classic country program. I needed a book that provided a good bit of general information about a wide variety of singers and groups without a lot of useless information and what not -- this book has exceeded my expectations! As an "encyclopedia," this isn't something that you read cover-to-cover, but anyone who has ever belted-out a note of country music can be found with just the right amount of information. If you are looking for a country music reference book, this is it!

After hearing about this book, I was anxious to find it. I am pleased to report that it is indeed "the real deal" and not only met but exceeded my expectations. Well organized and easy to read, this encyclopedia provides just enough information in each entry to fill your plate. It is not too sketchy, nor too long in any areas (but I would have liked to read a bit more about Hank Williams and George Jones!) As an encyclopedia, it is not something you "read" per se, but rather "explore"...over and over. The names of familiar artists jump off the page and every scan can lead you to learn either something more about someone you know, or perhaps introduce you to someone or something totally new. Numerous illustrations (and it could use a few more)break up the mountain of text; the pictures provide enough rest for your eyes before scouring the pages for more well-researched documentation. This compilation is just awesome; the years of research have paid off in my humble opinion. What makes the book so wonderful is its scope -- suitable for a newcomer and also detailed and informative enough for the country music veteran. I highly recommend you buy at least two. One to enjoy as often as you want to and the other to offer as a special gift. Whoever you give this book to will NOT have another like it on the shelf. My "gift volume" will be going to my Dad as a tribute and thank-you for being weaned on the music that is country. If you love country music or think you want to, add this book to your library. There is enough interesting history and data collected here to satisfy even the largest musical appetite for the better part of year. ENJOY !!!

This is an excellent book! I used it in one of my classes in college. It really gives insight into daily details of the lives of the Etruscans, which also helps you to understand the Romans better. Very well written, by good scholars.

I actually haven't read this book yet but it is written by my Greek and Roman Mythology professeur. He's an amazing man. He knows so much about the subject that I'm sure this is a great book.

The title is deceiving! This book is anything but a realigious poem book. A friend showed me this a while ago and I totally loved the poem "Take Things From Work" it's a must read for all opressed workers!! Ha ha

Okay, I'm not that big of a fan of poetry myself, but Hall's writing is genious. I first learned of Hall through King Missile- a band that basically takes John's poetry and places some wack music in the background. I loved the lyrics of the songs and Jesus Was Way Cool offers almost the same entertainment as the music.

All of the works here are extremely clever, funny and entertaining. Most of the pieces are almost stream-of-conscious and leave you wondering what it would be like to be in the author's head. You don't have to be well-read to enjoy this poetry even though it is obvious that Hall is. His references to history and use of words illustrate that point.

To really enjoy the poetry though, I highly recommend listening to King Missile. If you like this poetry, hearing John speak the words he writes will double your listening pleasure.

Really funny, more fun to read than most poetry books (whoops, that probably makes me sound uncultured) -- but you might have to be a King Missile fan to appreciate it completely.

This book presents a serious, unbiased and well documented view on gunpowder-technology origins and evolution and its real significance in medieval and Renaissance land warfare. However, only the projectile weapons have a good coverage, and warfare (and use of gunpowder) at sea is almost totally forgotten! If its title reflected its contents this book would get SIX stars from me.

It didn't take long for me to be pleasantly surprised at the high level of scholarship and clearly presented facts, the sort of writing all too often lacking from this area of history. As the author notes, many technology historians, military historians, and arms and armor writers propagate continuing myths and assumptions that can't be supported when the facts are examined closely. Here, Hall does the topic justice and it is clear he did his homework. The chapter discussing the technology of gunpowder was especially interesting, and supports his case for the reasons firearms developed as they did. I recommend a trip to the Metropolitan Museum in New York to have a look at their firearms, where many aspects of his discussion will further illuminate the items on display.

Best treatment of weapons and Renaissance-era warfare !!