Harris places far too much importance on the loyalty to individual cities, but his portrayals of the villians of the NFL (read: Al Davis, and the other owners) are certainly superb.

Only here will you get the behind the scenes look at the NFL's "Glory Years" throughout the 60s, 70s, and into the Early 80s. David Harris must have done a ton of research and let me tell you, it is all here. The detail is often mind numbing - which might drive away the casual fan (hence the 4 star rating instead of 5).

Still, if you consider yourself a true NFL fan and have always been fascinated by the behind the scenes machinations of the powerful clique of franchise owners, take a look at this book. I have yet to see a book on the NFL as comprehensive as this one.

With its latest expansion franchise selling for over $500,000, there is no question that the NFL is the predominate sports league in America. "The League: The Rise and Decline of the NFL" helps to tell the story of how it became so. It provides a great look at the pivotal period in the development of the NFL: from the ascension of Pete Rozelle as commissioner in 1960 to the franchise moves of the 1980s. Not a book for "students of the game" looking for points of view of players and coaches, "The League" focuses more on the business end of football. It is excellent reading for any fan who wishes to know the "inside story" of how and why the NFL became the big business that it is today. The book does this by providing a thorough history of the league's relationship with television, its monopoly status, and the beginnings of "franchise free agency". Harris's intensive research and use of personal interviews also provides a unique "behind closed doors" glimpse into the world of football team owners and executives.

As a social critique of Enlgish and European society, this book is very effective. It is also beautifully written. But it should not be read as the depiction of what society should be like. Thomas More, a wise and brave man executed by orders of Henry VIII, knew that Utopia shouldn't be taken very seriously, and that is exactly why he used the word Utopia to name his famous island. Utopia, in latin, means "in no place", that what can not exist. The problem is that this simple fact was not understood by many. And so, "utopianism" was born. The preposterous belief that there is a universal and definitive form of organization for human societies led to disasters like Nazism and Communism. By organizing everything perfectly (according to who?), these systems become the negation of the very essence of the human being: its innate imperfection and its need to be constantly changing, always on the move. It is simply impossible that some political, economic and social system resolves once and for all the troubles of humanity. Problems are exactly what make humans progress and reform constantly. Besides, the State has proven indispensable for survival, but also limited in what it can accomplish (in Utopia, the State provides everything for everybody). Stagnant societies degenerate and disappear, or remain to live from the charity of dynamic societies. Closed, perennial social systems, simply don't work: there is abundant proof in history, ancient or recent. "Utopia" is an excellent account of human shortcomings and a good tale, but it is not, nor was intended to be, a recipe with solutions for the world. Aldous Huxley and George Orwell have shown us what might happen in a supposed Utopia. The Communist world was worse. And Anthony Burgess clearly shows us in "A Clockwork Orange", that in "perfect" societies, the only way to practice freedom is violence. Let's not be perfect.

Utopia is a classic masterpiece that conveys More's vivid imagination of the Island of Utopia. Although most of the characters are fictional, it is intriguing to learn about the true values of European societies during the 16th century, when More actually wrote the book (although many scholars believe that the exact year was 1515). Truthfully, the book is quite easy to understand. All More tries to do is convey his own views of how society should be through Raphael. Moreover, the use of imagery in Book I is quite fascinating, including the constant references to Roman and Greek myths and beliefs. It is also quite remarkable to see that the story begins to be more and more interesting after More and Giles come back from dinner. To make a long story short, I think it is a great book because of the actual time it was written in since most pieces of literature written at that time were either lost or destroyed.

It's unfortunate that it seems as if most of these reviews were written by people whose only knowledge of More has come from the (mostly incorrect) opinions they have formed after reading this book. I don't think one can truly understand its import until he or she understands where Moore is at this point in his life and what he previously wrote ("Life of Pico", for example) and what he wrote later (while in prison, perhaps). No, he wasn't expressing his views through Raphael. In fact, it's clear that Raphael is an opinionated fibber (i.e., he discovered Utopia after Vespucci's fourth voyage? There were only three and Morus knows it...) and his account is purposefully filled with contradictions. There's more to it! More is raising issues, trying to make the careful reader think (and shame on some of the other reviewers for not being careful readers). And once you've read this book, read enough More (ha!) to understand what was going on in the bigger scheme of things, such as More's relationship with the other Renaissance humanists of his time and Henry VIII.

This book is a good selection for those middle-aged, former students such as myself who wish to refresh their knowledge of the very important subject of economics. However, I wish this book (actually it is a "textbook") offered a key to its questions at the end of each chapter. Likewise, more visual aids would be appreciated, such as detailed graphs about inflation, prices, wages, etc during the Great Depression and other such significant eras. There are indeed some very useful and informative graphs and illustrations, but just not enough for a visually oriented person such as me.

Like some other reviewers, I bought this as a "refresher course", since I graduated college (majoring in economics!) in the late '60's, and I've found it to be generally worthwhile. However, I also found Thomas Sowell's "Basic Economics" to be at least equally as useful (and much more concise). Thus, one should consider one's investment (cost) in relation to one's benefit from the product in question.

All matters considered, even though this volume is danged expensive (Why are the book companies trying to give college students such a hard time?), it is a tome worth owning for study, reference, and personal edification.

If you read only one book on economics, read this. It deals clearly and concisely with the substance of economics and with the economists' approach -- an approach that far too few people appreciate, and which this book will instil in you. Claims that the book does not have enough math and does not cover Keynesian macroeconomics are misguided.

Regarding the supposed lack of math, one must remember that math is merely a tool that should be used to clarify and not confuse economics. If one can explain economics in English, so much the better. Economics needn't be hard. Mankiw's economics is at least as good as the best of the harder and more mathematical textbooks, and better than the rest. The need is for good economics to be explained well to a large audience, and this book does it superbly.

Regarding the exclusion of Keynesian short run macroeconomics, all I can say is "Whew! Finally! At last!". Keynesian short run macroeconomics taught at the undergraduate level is mindless, unintuitive curve pushing and generates neither understanding nor love for the subject. Teaching that (especially in a first course to a general audience!) is absolutely unforgivable. If anyone is married to Keynesian economics, they can use Mankiw's "Macroeconomics" which covers with exceptional clarity and brevity all the standard material in an intermediate macro course including the ugly Keynesian short run macroeconomics. However, I am against such an approach. The proper way would be to do Mankiw's "Principles of Economics" in the introductory course and then cover the market-clearing approach to macroeconomics of Barro's "Macroeconomics" in the intermediate macroeconomics course.

As sais in the title this book provides some basic blacksmithing techniques. You'll find a lot of drawings showing the way to make the tools needed in your shop by using "scrap" metal.

A good initiation to metalworking but definitively not a book for the experimented blacksmith.

What Naxos has done here is put together an anthology of Christmas poetry, musings and other Christmas fair to serve up a delightful listen. Starting with an ancient Christmas carol and even a recipe circa 1300 the listener is treated to poetry, thoughts and reflections from various authors on what Christmas is, and is not about. I have to admit it took me a while to get into this recording but once I did I found myself touched by the Christmas spirit. Indeed I actually bought this last year and saved it for this year's holiday season to listen to. Among the poetry and observations, there are also a few short stories, and evena play. As well interspersed throughout the readings are Christmas carols and classical Christmas music. Its a fine collection although its mostly for adults. In adition one truly must be a lover of English literature to fully appreciate this anthology; the overall theme of this after all has to do with Christmas time in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I would highly recommended if one enjoys works and authors from these time periods. Its great to listen to with a cup of cocoa, or exotic coffee. This book contains 2 CDs and is read by a variety of readers. merry Christmas.

This is an extreme study of the crisis in the Balkans in 1875. It builds up to the year of the outbreaks and exposes the how and why of the crisis. In Harris' book he reveals to the reader that the happenings in the Balkans is directly and indirectly related to the onset of 1914. The author digs deep into numerous sources and uses primary sources. Overall it gives the reader a better understanding of why problems exist in the Balkans. It is a slow read and is highly informative. It should be read by all who are studying foreign relations.

Believe it or not I do not think I had ever heard how Dwight D. Eisenhower got the nickname of "Ike" before I read this juvenile biography by Jack C. Harris. His brother Edgar was called "Big Ike" and as a baby Dwight liked him so much everyone started calling him "Little Ike." This book is filled with lots of interesting details about Eisenhower's life (he almost went to the Naval Academy instead of West Point), and sketches out how as a brigadier general he was brought to Washington, D.C. after Pearl Harbor by General George C. Marshall and eventually put in charge of the Normandy invasion and all the Allie troops in Europe. However, while this book is solid on the key details of Eisenhower's life, young readers will not get much of a sense of why Eisenhower was the right man for the job or his political views when he ran for President. Then again, there was not much to his candidacy beyond the "We like Ike" slogan. After all, the man was going to be elected President, all he had to do was decide which party he belonged to (it turned out to be Republican). This book is illustrated with over two dozen historic black & white photographs, including one of Chief Commander Eisenhower and the generals who helped win World War II (including Patton and Bradley). Ultimately, this book serves as a solid introduction to the life of Eisenhower.

An excellent book for both the seasoned geologist and the layperson, although recommended for somebody with a general understanding of geology. The book is not designed as a typical 'guidebook' that would be carried along on a hike, although its text book-like dimensions are more than acceptable as a vacation companion. Fantastic for the traveller embarking on a tour of the U.S. National Parks, as the chapters are conveniently arranged according to physiographic province. Sorry, folks, but Canada and Mexico are not included. The authors admirably describe not only the geologic feature being observed, but also the 'how' and 'why' it exists. The descriptions and explanations are thorough and easy to read. Overall, the photography is fair (several of the photographs could better serve the spectacular features being discussed) and many of the figures could be more closely related to the topic. However, the majority of the figures, especially the sketched figures, are informative and easy to understand.

I teach a course in geology of America's National Parklands at a community college. I have tried another book for the required text for the course, with mixed success. Therefore when I found out that Geology of U.S. Parklands, fifth edition, was being released, I ordered it for the course even before I had seen my review copy. Previously when traveling I have consulted The Geologic Story of the National Parks and Monuments by the same authors, and was sufficiently impressed with the content, clarity of writing, and extent of coverage that I eagerly ordered the revised version. In my opinion this new book is THE one to use for similar college courses, and should also serve well for travelers with or without geologic training who want to know more about the geology of the magnificent federal parklands of our nation. There is a sufficient short course on general geologic principles in the initial chapter. I like the clarity, accuracy and dry humor of the text, which is better than the style and content in the book previously used - Geology of America's National Park Areas by Brooks Ellwood. Although the latter is quite a bit less expensive and has better quality if not more useful pictures, it is often too simplistic for my use in this course. I may have more to say after having used Kiver and Harris book as a text for a quarter or two, but my initial reaction to it is very favorable. Other books cover the geology of one or a few park areas, but this book has the entire country including Hawaii. However, for some reason the parklands of Alaska are excluded, probably because their inclusion could add many pages to what is already a massive volume (902 pages). I should have liked to see higher quality photographs and a lower cost, but other than those minor quibbles, this book will very likely set the standard to which all others on the subject will strive.

Henry's gift has an excellent story line. The magic eye images and surealistic illustration only add to this book. The only thing keeping this book away from a whopping 5 stars is David Worsick writing technique. It's as if during the narration he is writing to an adult audience, but during dialouge he tries to appeal to children. His wealth of knowledge on the subject of midevil times, though, partialy make up for it.