Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures, photographs, detail, and lay out of the book...I think I expected more than what I actually got. I've been interested in forensic science since medical school, and have read quite a few books. This one was fun, but it became less interesting and more preachy toward the end. I skimmed through the last part of the book, especially on the author's concerns over whether the public was adversely influenced by the OJ trial and the fiasco involved there. If I remember rightly, it was more the stupidity of the LAPD rather than the mistakes of the labs that stood out in everyone's mind. It is true that the FBI lab has come under more fire lately for mistakes, as should other labs if they do not do their job right. Lab work, whether for medical reasons or criminalists, can literally mean life-or-death, and it would be foolish to allow incompetence in either areas to flourish.

For those just beginning to be interested in this field, especially those who think they may want to do this as their life's work, this is a good book for them to read. Be aware that the tests for DNA and other stuff is changing constantly, so what was written in the book, will now have changed...the field of Northern blotting, PCR, and other medical testing of blood components and DNA is changing about every six months, with new technology and more accurate methods of detection. It is difficult for any writer of this genre or neuroscience textbooks even to keep up with the field. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

"Crime Lab: A Guide for Nonscientists" by John Houde, ISBN 0-965-8286-2-X (HC), Calico Press 1999 - is a 205 page treatise by seasoned writer (20 articles) and publisher of quarterly CACNews. It is a superbly written and well illustrated (130) guide to understanding the basic principles utilized by criminalists in their forensic forays into known or suspected crime investigations.

In 12 chapters Houde provides a brief history of forensics, depicts a crime scene (murder, assault, break-in, attempted arson) which is used as a ploy to submerge the reader into the probe as the investigation begins, describes encompassing the crime scene and how to record, photograph and analyze everything - from blood, saliva, sweat, vaginal secretions, pubic and body hair, animal and carpet fibers, and matching of probable murder weapons using well explained modern scientific devices including GC/MS, IR, SEM, polarizing microscopy, special tissue stains, ascertaining RI of glass, and details on collection, preservation and chain of custody of gathered evidences. They don't get any better.

I received a Bachelor in Chemistry and have been working in a laboratory for two years. Recently I have been interested in pursuing a career in Criminalistics. My lab experience covered polymer development. I needed reading material that would give me an idea of what they do in a crime lab and what types of methods and testing they perform. This book went above and beyond my expectations. It was interesting while providing excellent, easy to understand information on what to expect in the field of forensic science. It is titled "a guide for nonscientist" but it should really be titled "a guide for everyone interested in this field of study". I have worked with many of the testing methods described in this book (while in school) and reading John Haude I could visually picture what hr was describing. He had some great analogies which I will probably use if I have to explain "what" I did in the lab to a jury. This book gives you a starting point in which one could search for more technical information on specific tests. If you have never worked in a crime lab then you are not familiar with the types of testing they do. This gives you that information. For all those non-scientist reading this review...definitely get this book....it's interesting and it is understandable.

Many familiar with de Vogue would expect another lengthly scholarly treatise; this is not the case here. This book offers the reader access to de Vogue's personal experience and reflections on the spirituality and practice of fasting. It is, to quote de Vogue, ". . . a work of love, not of hostility." And the small book is filled with the fruit of years as a Benedictine monk and his experience of fasting. In a world that is more receptive to fast food than fasting, de Vogue takes the reader on a personal journey into into this often misunderstood practice. Adalbert de Vogue's approach to fasting mirrors another famous monk and author, Thomas Merton. Merton wrote of fasting: "He who made our flesh and gave it to our spirit as its servant and companion, will not be pleased by a sacrifice in which the flesh is murdured by the spirit and returned to Him in ruin." It is in this sense of the flesh serving, not killing, the spirit that de Vogue composes this masterful work on the ancient monastic art of fasting.

This book is extremely encouraging for those who have tried and failed to make fasting a regular spiritual practice. I had been trying for about two years without coming to a consistant practice or approach. Aldalbert, in the spirit of a spiritual director, gives an account of his experiment to follow the Rule of St. Benendict of one meal a day (this practice as he explains has been abandoned by modern monastics). His method is gradual, gentle and full of practical wisdom. He supports the practice of fasting through a historical survey, biblical examples and his own thoughtful experience. Also he gives a useful explanation of the decline of the practice of fasting in Christianity. The final significance of this book is that it accomplishes its goal, to present what it means "to love fasting" and thus uncover the wisdom of St. Benedict.