"Oct. 22nd, 1837. 'What are you doing now?' he asked, 'Do you keep a journal?'-- So I make my first entry today." Thus begins Thoreau's Journal, made up of more then two million words and covering about twenty-five years of his life. No other work of Thoreau's better exhibits his discipline as a writer and his devotion to the natural world. In the Journal can be found the fragmented foundations of masterpieces such as Walden, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, The Maine Woods, and Cape Cod. But what is perhaps more interesting to a reader of Thoreau's Journal are his thoughts and insights on topics such as friendship, love, religion, nature, bravery, heroism, war, slavery, the art of writing, and, most important to Thoreau, the art of living. Anyone with any interest in Thoreau will find his Journal to be an invaluable aid in understanding and following the life of one of America's most profound prose writers

This is a reprint of a 1920's bungalow catalogue. This slim (120 page) volume contains plans for some seventy houses. Most examples contain an exterior phot or perspective rendering and a floor plan. Some examples contain interior views. There is also a section on interior components such as dors, hardware, buitl-ins. This part would be a good resource for the person interested in an authentic restoration of a bungalow. I found the floor plans to be the most valuable part of this book, since most current books on bungalows do not contain plans. It is not a great single-source book, howver for the low price it is an excellent complimentrary resource.

I have been thinking of redoing my present home that is only 12 years old..after opening this book, it was like a step back in time, to homes that always had that warm feeling of welcome. It has sparked a number of ideals for some changes inside and out...Two other books that I found helpful are:

"Outside the Bungalow" for gardening
"Inside the Bungalow" for decorating

California Bungalows of the Twenties is one of a series of reproductions published by Dover, of house plans. These books are actually exact reprints of original plan books from the turn of the century (1880-1925, roughly). Dover adds little or no modern explanations, just presenting the catalog as it was. So when one looks to review these books, one isn't really judging the modern-day publisher, or editing, or writing. The only modern element is the accuracy of reproduction- in some cases, if pages in the originals that Dover found are damaged or torn, that page is reproduced in the original with the tear, smudge, blot, or hole showing. So to judge the books, one has to compare each one to others of its kind, and then to decide whether the material in it is thorough and complete according to the standards of its time. Since there are several dozen of these catalogs published by Dover, we have the basis for such a comparison.

"California Bungalows" was originally titles "Wilson's California Bungalow." The book starts with a description of what all stock plans include, how much it costs to get duplicates, etc. There's not much about the philosophy of the architect, as in some books. (For example, Radford's Artistic Bungalows says quite a lot about how they went to great lengths to hire architects experienced in the design of small-and-medium sized houses, and about how costs can or cannot be estimated in advance, and so on. This book doesn't have that.) On the other hand, with each individual house, there is description of some of the features of the house, ones that wouldn't necessarily be visible right away, such as that a mantel is made of brick, or the dining room built-in buffet has glass doors and a plate mirror. That's a nice touch. Each description has an estimate of what it would cost to build the house.

The illustrations of each house vary widely - some are photos of finished houses, some are detailed drawings/paintings, and some are just sketches/line drawings. So one doesn't get the same level of information about the appearance of every house. Some of the illustrations are face-on, meaning we see only the front of the house, and can only imagine the sides from the floor plans. On the other hand, for many of the houses, a second illustration is included, of at least one room of the interior. Fully-furnished living rooms are shown; or an illustration of a "typical bathroom" showing what types of fixtures are expected; there's a full-page illustration of "Wilson's Buffet Kitchen" with cut-away view of the cabinets, and complete with a maid in an apron working at the stove. There are several pages showing what styles of dining room buffets, or sideboards, are available, and a section showing doors and locksets you can actually order.

Almost all the floor plans are large and readable, although a few are quite cluttered; with every closet described as broom closet or linen closet, the lettering outstretches the space available. There's also a disconcerting habit, at least to my modern eyes, of referring to the inside chimney as a "thimble" - maybe that was a contemporary usage, but I can't recall seeing it in any other catalog.

In sum: good plans, lots of details on interiors, good ideas on how such houses were furnished; poorer aspect is that some houses are presented only with a sketch. Overall, a good book, one that can give a beginner a good introduction to plan books and to the lifestyles of the period. And the price is great for what you get.

This is an interesting book based off the letters sent home by Henry Matrau. Often I looked for the harsh realities of war to be written about though it seems many wouldn't write of such horrors back home. What made the book interesting was the fact that very little description was ever written about such large scale battles as Antietam or Gettysburg in which Matrau took part of. This book gives the reader a first hand glance at how soldiers communicated. Matrau didn't want those at home to worry about him and often left out many details I preferred to read about. This book is a rather quick read though informative about the 6th Wisconsin and their hardships endured throughout the war. It carefully explains how this regiment shrank or was placed with other outfits meshed in the Iron Brigade. Being a shorter book of 140 or so pages, it may lacks high details though it's simply not a history book. It's a copy of letters sent back home and is intended truly for that.

There is always an extra dimension to history when it is told in the words of those who lived it, and written as they experienced it. These instant observations are not changed, colored or amended through benefit of hindsight and recollection.

That the young Matrau rises from "The Baby of Company G' to Company Commander is amazing in itself, it is even more incredible that he stayed so outwardly calm through four years at the hottest of battles in the eastern campaign.

One learns much of his everyday life: the cold, the dirt, the mundane and the dangerous. Yet while Matrau is fiercely patriotic and loyal, he expresses little political or social opinion. He is matter of fact about doing his job, and doing it well.

Fascinating read with some small and large insights on life in the legendary "Iron Brigade."

I would highly recommend this book if you would like to understand the struggles and experiences of soldiers during the Civil War. No one understands the experience of the Civil War than the Soldiers themselves.

Why I Chose Sea Star
By: Marguerite Henry
Reviewed by: J. Park
Period: P.5
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Sea Star is one of my favorite books. It gets me interested on how horeses really do have feelings. Everyone has told me that I should read this book, because I love to read about animals. I thought that it would be very boring bacuse of the front cover and I shouldn't have judged the book by it's cover so I read it, then I thought that sane was very true. Once I got to the conflict I couldn't get my eyes off the book. It starts out like an ordinary book with little, small details and then they have surprise news that wakes you up. You are halfway dead when all of a sudden you are more than alive. This book is great becaus eit is very detailed so I understand so well that I can grow and share this with my kids, and you can't take your eyes the book.
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The way they described the story was very different from how other books, that I have read, had explained the story. They make a sentence like: Let's go eat! Into like a describtive sentence like this: Let's go enjoy a meal by filling our hungry stomachs with a big and nice samdwhich! I love how they describe every single, little thing they talk about. It's like, if they don't write so that we can't understand, they aregoing to quit writing the book, they do their writing so well! I know what is going on and I am interested in what is going to happen next.
Paragraph #3
The way they explain the story is that they take a hard story to explain into a easy kingdergarten book. I can memorize the book word by word. (exaderation) I had a time where I had got mad at the book because it was getting all interesting until they made it so confusing I didn't get it. I was so frustrated that I got mad at the book. This book is always more than understandable. Everyday I read this book, I forget things very easily, I can remember this story from where I started to where I ended everyday. To tell the treuth this book had got me hyptnotised into it.
Paragraph #4
Whenever I read books I always get into trouble for not reading it a lot, but this book I get into trouble for reading it too long. This story is a very continuous story that if you take your eyes off for one moment you miss a whole apple tree in a garden. I enjoy howq there is something going on everytime and everyday. Many people don't know the feeling of horses. While reading this book you enjoy and learn at the same time. I would tell everyone that doesn't like to read and give them this book. Last of all the ending, the ending has a whole different side to everything I said. The ending is the most saddest part ever, even though it is a happy ending. The book ended! I hate it when books end, it seems like your adventure had ended and you have to start all over again. You never know whaty kind of books are as interesting as this. Your book fun time is over. I enjoyed this book and I had learned a lot from it.

Sea Star is one of my favorite books. It gets me interested on how horeses really do have feelings. Everyone has told me that I should read this book, because I love to read about animals. I thought that it would be very boring bacuse of the front cover and I shouldn't have judged the book by it's cover so I read it, then I thought that sane was very true. Once I got to the conflict I couldn't get my eyes off the book. It starts out like an ordinary book with little, small details and then they have surprise news that wakes you up. You are halfway dead when all of a sudden you are more than alive. This book is great becaus eit is very detailed so I understand so well that I can grow and share this with my kids, and you can't take your eyes the book. The way they described the story was very different from how other books, that I have read, had explained the story. They make a sentence like: Let's go eat! Into like a describtive sentence like this: Let's go enjoy a meal by filling our hungry stomachs with a big and nice samdwhich! I love how they describe every single, little thing they talk about. It's like, if they don't write so that we can't understand, they aregoing to quit writing the book, they do their writing so well! I know what is going on and I am interested in what is going to happen next. The way the explain the story is that they take a hard story to explain into a easy kingdergarten book. I can memorize the book word by word. (exaderation) I had a time where I had got mad at the book because it was getting all interesting until they made it so confusing I didn't get it. I was so frustrated that I got mad at the book. This book is always more than understandable. Everyday I read this book, I forget things very easily, I can remember this story from where I started to where I ended everyday. To tell the treuth this book had got me hyptnotised into it. Whenever I read books I always get into trouble for not reading it a lot, but this book I get into trouble for reading it too long. This story is a very continuous story that if you take your eyes off for one moment you miss a whole apple tree in a garden. I enjoy howq there is something going on everytime and everyday. Many people don't know the feeling of horses. While reading this book you enjoy and learn at the same time. I would tell everyone that doesn't like to read and give them this book. Last of all the ending, the ending has a whole different side to everything I said. The ending is the most saddest part ever, even though it is a happy ending. The book ended! I hate it when books end, it seems like your adventure had ended and you have to start all over again. You never know whaty kind of books are as interesting as this. Your book fun time is over. I enjoyed this book and I had learned a lot from it.

i liked this book a lot. it was very interesting and i liked it a lot. i think marguerite henry is a very good author. i love all her books. this book is definetely something people should read.

If you like old houses, (or at least early 20th Century houses) or you want to get a feel for some of the social history of the period, this is a wonderful book. I think it complements nicely the other house catalog reprints from Dover. While the illustrations and plans are smaller than those in some of the other books such as the Sears 1926 house catalog or the Aladdin built in a day catalog, it does show 500 houses. It also has some interesting articles concerning the state of domestic architecture circa 1925 or so.

Did you ever find yourself stopping your car to oggle and old brick or stucco bungalow, now a bit run down but free from "modernization"? Ever wonder how they were designed or what kind of floor plan they might have? For the amateur or the professional architect, Henry Atterbury Smith's compilation provides an accurate and intriguing reference to the historical developement of the modern suburban environment. For those of us who enjoy dreaming of one day designing and building our own bungalows, this book is pure delight. The house plans are displayed with the information which would have been available at the time of their initial distribution which can be quite amusing as well as historically informative. This book represents a set of ideals aspired to by the Arts and Crafts movement, ideals which should be appreciated and emulated by the architects and builders of the twenty-first century. Do plan on a long, leisurely perusal of this book if you enjoy history, architecture and craftsmanship as much as I do!

well researched book good biography. hope to see more detailed book on the same subject. craigavon should also be researched to see his important part in the crisus

A.T.Q. Stewart established his well deserved reputation as an objective, erudite scholar with this small book. Unlike many academic historians however,he also writes well. He treats his subject not as a sounding board for a trendy, modern "ism", but instead as an objective event in the past. He examines not only what happened, but why it happened. This volume examines the rise of Ulster Loyalist resistance to Irish Nationalist "Home Rule", which the Northern Irish Loyalists rightly saw as the short road to independence for Ireland from the Empire. Their threatened armed "rebellion" against the British government so as to (ironically) achieve their aim of remaining British, ultimately set in motion the events of 1916 and later 1968/69, which sadly continue up to this very evening. Stewart treats his subject dispassionatly and with great insight and detail. At the same time Stewart describes events almost as a jounalist would have done. One can almost see the gun runners unloading the rifles off the docks in the darkness from his narration. Ultimately, he also describes how the participants faired. The nascent U.V.F. marched off to meet their doom on the Somme. The peaceful Nationalists were ultimately politically outflanked by Sinn Fein who revolted in 1916, a mere six weeks before their counterparts went over the top in Flanders. The British Officers who threatened to resign at Curragh Barracks rather than enforce what they saw as an unpatriotic law, lost not only their lives but their world. In short, if you are interested in this aspect of British history, this is a book well worth having.

I was a little disappointed at how basic the information is in this book. If you are completely new to homeschooling then it would be beneficial, but for those looking for a more content-rich guide with specific curriculum suggestions, this is not the best book to buy. The information is a very general guide to beginning homeschooling and the resource lists are not extensive, but they do include some good recommendations.

This is a very informative book especially for first-time homeschoolers. It was well written and very well organized. The resources listed were very helpful.

My only complaint was the unnecessary criticism of classroom teachers. Unless Ms. Henry was once a classroom teacher herself, I feel she is unqualified to claim that "the most average high school graduate could produce average work in this not-so-challenging college major." I was disappointed in this display of subjective writing in an otherwise well-written book.

This book gave more information and usefull ideas than any other homeschool book out there. At the end of each chapter it has websites and catalog numbers. It covers every topic about homeschooling.

Edwards advances the idea that in every snapshot of human life, we make decisions in accordance with our nature and disposition. Free will is compatabilist in that we have no autonomy other than to follow our greatest desire in any given instance. Not only does this exposition rule out the chance for true virtue--some good thing we do which we might not have done--but Edwards also has a hard time explaining how God is not the author if evil, given that human decisions are consistently determined according to a divine decree.

This is truly one of the greatest works written. Daniel Webster wrote: "The Freedom of the Will" by Mr. Edwards is the greatest achievement of the human intellect." The London Quarterly Review wrote about this work: "His gigantic specimen of theological argument is as near to perfection as we may expect any human composition to approach. He unites the sharpness of the scimetar [sic] and the strength of the battle-axe." A former President of Princeton said that Edwards was "The greatest thinker that America has produced."

This wonderful work is a good tool in learning of the greatness of Christ's grace, in overcoming our minds and hearts, and loving us to the uttermost. This should be in the library of every Christian family.

I was intensely interested in Feng Shui and I wanted to know all about it. As a newbie, I didn't know what to look for so I just searched on "Feng Shui" and found this book, _The Feng Shui Handbook_. I also ordered another book by Simon Brown, "Practical Feng Shui", which also has its faults, but not as many as the _Feng Shui Handbook_. In this book there are too many general things mentioned, which don't tell you anything about the unfortunate placements of bathrooms and so forth, or directions at all. The only thing I got out of this book was the story of the turtle, the dragon, the bird Phoenix, the tiger and the snake in the middle, so if you are willing to pay money for just that, then go ahead and buy it. But i think it is just another newbie...Feng Shui wanna-be to gain money off you.

This is just a wonderful intro to Chinese science and philosophy. You see the glory of the Northern Lights or watch a passing thunderstorm and intuitively understand the give-and-take of energy.

Lam Kam Chuen really strives to place Chinese science in the mainstream of Western Einsteinian physics. He isn't concerned with adjusting your dresser to cure corns. He may have an opinion on that, as might Einstein, but if that is what you're seeking, you should read Dr. Scholl's.

This book is effective because of the brushed demonstrations of energy flows in the latter half of the book. You are free to accept or reject this approach, but I believe it is an effective approach to this cross-cultural experience.

This book is really good for anyone who just wants the basics. It also has plenty of illustrations to help train the reader's eyes. Master Lam Kam Chuen does an excellent job explaining energy flow, location of doors, furniture placement, etc. and how it affects us. But this book is not just about houses. He also gives advice for the office, as well as how to break up space if you have a one-room dwelling.

I knew absolutely nothing about Feng Shui before I bought this book, which I admit I bought for the colorwheel. I changed my bedroom around based on the master's advice, and now I sleep like a baby! I'm glad I bought this book BEFORE I redecorated. It really saved me from making some expensive bad choices.

This book is easy to carry around if you are shopping for a new apartment or house. A handbook for sure.

Henry David Thoreau's Walden is one of the great classics of American letters. Although its reputation has been somewhat unfortunately tainted in our modern day times by its reputation as the "treehugger's Bible", this, indeed, misses the point of the book entirely. Although Thoreau obviously loved nature, and was one of the nation's first enviromentalists - indeed, the modern day enviromentalist awareness outlook can be traced directly back to Thoreau - the core of this book is not a simple stating of the virtues of nature. No, indeed: Thoreau, in this book, lays down nothing less than a life philosophy. Both his essay "On Civil Disobediance" and this book, which preach the virtues of individual liberty and the importance of Man over State have been enormously influential on my own personal philosophy and views. Thoreau raises some staggeringly deep existential questions: If a man lives entirely outside of the State, doesn't depend on them at all, but still resides inside the boundaries of said country, need he pledge them any allegiance? Need he pay their taxes if he does not depend on their support for his welfare? Thoreau, here, tells us how to get the most out of life by living simply: using only what we need in life and doing without luxuries - cutting off the fat, so to speak. Indeed, much like the philosophy of Rosseau, Thoreau seemed to basically believe that the true essence and spirit of man resides in the state of nature: he assures us that, if all men lived as simply as he did at Walden, there would be very little theft, crime, violence, envy, or jealousy. He urges us all to live our own lives as we see fit, neither depending on or heeding others, and not merely become another mindless drone in the conformist society. For all of this greatness, the book, I must say, however, is not faultless. The book does tend to ramble at times - Thoreau might, indeed, have benifited from some editing. And, on a more personal note, I am far more interested in Thoreau's philosophical outlook on life than his observations on nature, and found many parts of the book focusing on the latter aspect to be a bit slow and trying. Still, if you belong to that camp, then I can only give this book an even higher reccommendation for you. An essential read for those who would have us return to a simpler state of things, as well as those in favor of preserving the natural beauty that is still left to us.

This book screams simplicity!

In this book, Henry David Thoreau takes an extended look beyond human nature and human habit. He brings forth a new and exciting view point on life and teaches how to live in happiness without the confusion of mechanical materials. I had to read this book for a 9th grade Language Arts assignment, and I had never heard of Walden or Thoreau before this project was assigned. When I completed this book, I felt very refreshed. It encouraged me to take a second look at my own life, and simply discard of the things which were causing complications or confusion. This book stretched past the limits and capacity of my mind as a 9th grade student. It forced me to think. Judging by the majority of my peers, I am convinced that anything that would force them to THINK harder, deserves 5 shining stars.

When I read Thoreau's book Walden, I was amazed to learn that Thoreau's writing had such a great influence on such men as Mohandas Gandhi and Dr Martin Luther King. They read Thoreau's book on "civil disobedience," which advocated passive resistance (Peaceful protest). Another thing that surprised me was the way that Emerson and James Russell Lowell degraded Thoreau in their speeches at Henry's memorial service upon his death. During the memorial these two so-called friends of Thoreau called him a lazy braggart, a societies maverick & a drop out! Perhaps by societies standards he was a rebel but certainly not the worthless ne'er do well that these men painted him. Thoreau sets out to build a cabin on Walden Pond in order to be at one with nature. Thoreau was at heart a naturalist. He resisted paying a tax which he spent one night in the Concord jail for. This was to prove a point. He lived at Walden Pond for 2 years. Upon returning to society, he continued to write his books. He said that, "most men lead lives of quiet desperation." Henry David Thoreau was born July 12, 1817 & died May 6, 1862 of T.B. He built his cabin on March 1845 at Walden Pond at a cost of $28,12 & half cents. Thoreau started out life in the Transcendentalist movement but he later departed from this group. He was a genus that was unappreciated in his day.