This book contains art and essays that advance an exciting new way to consider the contemporary visual arts, and the social world in which Americans in particular swim. White Americans swim in racial preference, though they usually don't know it, so like the fish in water, can't describe it (an imperfect metaphor, given the mental capacities of most fish, but it'll do). The essays included here, including one by leading whiteness studies scholar David Roediger, are very helpful in seeing how the budding area of critical whiteness studies can further enrich our appreciation of contemporary visual art. The reproductions are fabulous, and the works included intriguing in the ways they can stimulate viewers to ponder race, and class (and even sometimes gender and sexuality). Humorous at times, these works (and essays) do not uniformly seek to confront white America with its racist past and present.

This is a book that richly deserves wider distribution, beyond the museum giftshop.

I have rarely been brought to a point of worship while reading a theological text book, let alone while preparing for an assignment. But that's what happened reading through this excellent collection of essays on the book of Acts. Renowned New Testament commentator I.H. Marshall has put together a masterly series of perspectives on the wonderful, but often enigmatic, narrative book by Luke outlining the early days of the church. Each writer gives his unique perspective on various aspects of the book, such as historical accuracy, theology, and intended message. Particularly enlightening is Joel B. Green's essay on "God as Saviour", in which he argues that the "witnesses" of Acts are to proclaim not only the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also its salvific significance as a work of the God of grace. Says Green on page 39: "Salvation is the coming of the kingdom of God to displace other kingdoms, and entails membership in the new community God is drawing together around Jesus." Keen theological insights and profound expositions of its literary structures make this collection on Acts more than a must-have for any student or teacher of the Biblical text - it is a doxological treat as well. I hope it gets you on your knees like it did me!

I first became aware of this book while visiting the Kitty Hawk Memorial in North Carolina. There, a park service employee showed me his dog-eared copy of this precious book. Even then, it was out of print and unavailable in the memorial park's gift shop. I only had it in my hands for a few minutes, but the book contained many engineering drawings and aerodynamic data which I have not even seen at the AIR & SPACE museum in D.C. or at WRIGHT PATTERSON A.F.B. in the Airforce Museum there. I have looked for it since. A must have for any true aviation buff. Chris Rau

"Money & Power" is an interesting book about the men that made significant contributions to the history of business since St. Godric. However, the 20th century is not accurately represented in the book. Basically, "Money & Power" forgot the contribution that japanese entrepreneurs like Eiji Toyoda (and his famous Toyota Production System) made to the industrial manufacturing. The book also superficially reviewed the computer technology/telecommunication revolution that has been modyfing the business world since the 70's (although there is a chapter dedicated to Bill Gates). eCommerce is not even mentioned in the book.

I found this a thoroughly enjoyable book. It is an easy read without being superficial. The writers focus mostly on American business--Morgan, Rockefeller, Ford and Gates--with emphasis on their money-making schemes & abilities. These are not "tell-all" biographical sketches. The writers never lose sight of their overall theme: money and power and how the two blend together. I would have liked more historical analysis (such is my bias). I found the chapter on Tulipmania fascinating (it is also the first time I have ever really understood Futures Trading). For anyone who finds economics and business an elusive mystery, this is an excellent starting point. (Also check out P.J. O'Rourke's Eat the Rich.)

The book presents an inside view of the history of business and its development over the years. From the 12th century monk, St. Godric to Bill Gates and Microsoft, this well-researched book outlines the history of industry, commerce and power. As a counsellor and teacher of business management, I will highly recommend this literary masterpiece to my students. Before we can advance in industry and commerce, it is equally important to understand the roots...where and how it all began. Who wouldn't be captivated by the Rothschilds or Robert Woodruff and Coca-Cola? My only regret is that the book ended all too soon. There are other mega empires that are not mentioned here - maybe there will be a sequel to this book in the future.

In general, a good book, not a great book. If you have to collect all books about the Apollo and/or space program, than you'll end up buying this no matter what you read about it. If you are not a collector, get it out of the library or borrow it.
Gave some background information on the life and times of a flight controller, some of which is not found elsewhere.
This is filled with his opinions on others, but what the heck, it is his book.
Sy does face considerable challenges in his life and ends up in a much better place than one would have expected.
It is a quick read and again, gives some background on the space story from another who lived it.

My first thought after having finished reading the book was how sorry I was that it was over. Every night I would look forward coming home to read portions of the book and I did not want it to be over.

Sy kept the reader interested throughout the book by his fluid style, changing the chronology, inter dispersing related pictures to the topic at hand and above all by the story of his incredible life. He tells a story of how in spite of a traumatic and difficult childhood, it is possible to rise above it and become a valuable and contributing member of the society. This should be a required reading for all high school kids as it inspires and teaches accountability and tenacity in face of adversity while at the same time it teaches us about part of our history in America.

After listening to the CD, what I found amazing was how cool and in control Sy sounded while trying to save the lives of the astronauts and bringing them safely back to earth.

Even though Sy has every right to take credit for helping with the safe return of Apollo 13, he is not using this book as a self-promoting vehicle rather; he is portraying an honest picture of what happened while giving credit to the team as well as the individuals comprising that team and how they contributed to the success of our space program.

Although I have known Sy for many years, he did not share the Apollo 13 story with me until many years later and now after reading this book, I realize how humble he has been all these years and how he is entitled to brag about all the accomplishments in his life. I have always thought of Sy as a renaissance man - he has in-depth knowledge of many subjects and when he sets out to learn something, he becomes a master at it - this book certainly proved what I have known all along.

I have always been proud of Sy and now after reading his book, Apollo EECOM - Journey of a Lifetime, I feel lucky to have been his friend for all these years.

Suzan Miles
June 20, 2003

If you want a personal story about an eecom in the exciting time
of Apollo this is it. He tells his real story, warts and all.
Technical enough that you are able to understand what it was
all about and able to follow what was happening. The enclosed
CD was especially important. I understood for the first time
everyone's job by hearing them in the "loop". It was interesting
to see what happened in the end of Apollo, and how far away the
space program has gotten from where it started.I liked this book
because of his real observations,not the usual sugarcoating we
sometimes get in these kinds of books.

This is not a true biography as the title let's on, although it is almost always filed as a biography in any Christian bookstore. Jonathan Edwards, who knew Brainerd personally writes a short biographical sketch, but the book is largely Brainerd's on writings and journals. The journals were not written to ever be published, and the reader will recognize this right away. Therefore they contain honesty and transparency that a typical biography would never come close to.

Largely a prayer journal, it communicates Brainerd's wrestling with God, his confusion, and his incredible heart for holiness. Your heart will be thrilled as you work through this great work. You will refer back to it years after you read it.

We live in a day of "easy belevism". The days we live in are also sadly characterized by a christianity, which implies when it doesn't declare, that life is supossed to be easy for the child of God. The reader will see both of these dilusions dispelled in the life story of David Brainerd. Brainerd,was willing to undergo great hardship to take the true gospel to the natives of his day. His life shows all christians what happens when "glorifing God and enjoing Him forever" becomes ones chief aim in life. This certainly is not a chicken soup for the soul book that can be read with little thought. This book, however, will challenge every christian to live for the glory of God.

Beware! Danger ahead! This man's life and death will change you.

Are you comfortable with your "lot" Christian reader? Content with your religious practice? Satisfied with your progress in things spiritual? Should you be led to feast on the diary of David Brainerd with mind open (to God) and heart sensitive, you won't be. Do you sense that God must be quite pleased with you and all of the efforts you expend for His kingdom? Should you persevere and finish the book, such a sense will be dismantled by God's Spirit!

Buried within the private, personal journals of a young missionary (chronologically speaking - he went home to heaven at age 29) is a depth of spiritual wisdom, fervor for God's kingdom and glory, and love for the Savior, quite unparalleled (if not unrecognizable) in modern Christianity. The mystics would acknowledge in Brainerd what they themselves longed for, a wholesale abandonment to God - His purposes and His will.

Brainerd's growth in grace began with his conversion in 1739. His own words best describe: "My soul rejoiced with joy unspeakable to see such a God, such a glorious divine Being...My soul was so captivated and delighted with the excellency, loveliness, greatness and other perfections of God, that I was even swallowed up in Him...I wondered that all the world did not see and comply with this way of salvation, entirely by the righteousness of Christ."

One who has been so entirely apprehended by the Almighty is enabled to see his own soul very clearly; and this Brainerd did. The depth of his own depravity was before his eyes each day of his new life and most certainly played a part in his frequent melancholy. But it was balanced and fueled by the awareness of Christ's perfection and the beauty of His perfect remedy for sin.

The missionary was fixated on the promotion of God's kingdom; among the heathen Indians in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, ignorant settlers, and even the clergy, whom he endeavored to instruct, exhort and encourage, even on his deathbed. The hardships and privations he endured in the preaching of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ are quite beyond our ability to imagine. Total self-denial marked him clearly. He faced death at many turns. He was willingly and joyfully spent for his Savior. But, oh what fruit God brought forth! Read and see.

Listen, as he describes for us the essence of true Christianity and its counterfeit, from his journal entry on the Lord's day, May 24, 1746: "Could not but think, as I have often remarked to others, that much more of true religion consists in deep humility, brokenness of heart, and an abasing sense of barrenness and want of grace and holiness, than most who are called Christians imagine; especially those who have been esteemed the converts of the late day. Many seem to know of no other religion but elevated joys and affections, arising only from some flights of imagination, or some suggestion made to their mind, of Christ's being their's, God loving them, and the like." Another entry; June 18,1747, just months before his death in Jonathan Edward's home: "Especially, I discoursed repeatedly on the nature and necessity of that humiliation, self-emptiness, or full conviction of a person's being utterly undone in himself, which is necessary in order to a saving faith; and the extreme difficulty of being brought to this, and the great danger there is of persons taking up with some self-righteous appearance of it...being never effectually brought to die in themselves, are never truly united to Christ, and so perish."

Can we at all identify, dear reader?

Take a journey through the early years of our great land with a courageous servant of God. This is a book to touch the soul, to be re-visited time and again, to be worn out with handling.

But perhaps what makes this journal so compelling, is not the chronicling and inspiration of a remarkable missionary life, so much as the MESSAGE that God anointed. The Church mystical and corporate needs to recover this message today. Delve in and be changed!

The Schlegel sisters are interested in the arts and in the more idealistic liberal social movements of their early 20th century world. The Wilcoxes are practical and materialistic. There seems to be little in common between the two families, but not even a highly embarrassing early amorous encounter can keep them apart. Poor Leonard Bast is as idealistic as the Schlegels, but encumbered by an unloved wife with a shady past, he has not their financial means to avoid dealing with the practicalities of life. Caught between the two factions, he eventually is crushed. Only Margaret Schlegel is finally strong enough to bridge the gap between the practical and the ideal by exerting her benevolent humanity, her passionate and yet controlled determination that people must "connect."HOWARDS END is a minor masterpiece, capturing perfectly the conflict between rigid Victorian values and the more free and open changes in the turbulent years before World War I. Forster handles his characters with great sensitivity and sympathy, yet with a subtle and skillful irony. The novel is not intended for rapid reading, but there is a felicity of expression that is an ample reward for careful perusal. Less fastidious than Henry James, not quite the equal of Trollope in characterization, a more subtle stylist than William Dean Howells, Forster combines some of the best elements of all three of these social chroniclers in an important work that is both highly personal and universal in scope.

On reading the book reviews already on-line, I just had to reply. I have recently read Howard's End for the second time and I have watched the film numerously. It is absolutely fabulous! I have read other novels by E.M. Forster but for me Howard's End is simply the best. Forster's characterization is second to none, describing the Schlegels, Wilcoxes and the Basts with such heart-breaking realism and affinity with human nature. The British countryside is described lovingly yet realistically by highlighting the creeping industrialization. I do not think it is 'dull and cold' or that the characters are 'unlikeable and irritating.'In my opinion they are realistic and likeable if you accept them to be human beings, having both their good and bad points, but I would hope that the good points shine through. Yes, Charles Wilcox is incredibly arrogant and irritating, but these characters all combine to make an excellent plot and a heart -renchingly sad but not a 'happy' ending. Ofcourse we all have our favourites and Margaret Schlegel is mine. Rather predictibly so, but I admire her strength, ability to compromise, tenderness, spiritual connectedness, clear sightedness and individuality. Over-all I think Howard's End is a wonderful read every time!

I have read Howard's End two or three times and listened to it once on tape and it remains one of my favorite novels. Many people were introduced to it by the film, which, good though it was, does not begin to capture the subtle wisdom Forster put into this book. Howard's End can be seen as a quaint period piece about British culture in the early Twentieth Century. On another level, however, it's a brilliant exploration of the human soul. In the Schlegels and the Wilcoxes, Forster has created the perfect embodiment of the eternal conflict between reason and passion. These two families, destined to be united by the marriage of Margaret Schlegel to Henry Wilcox, represent two seemingly irreconcilable aspects of humanity. The Schlegels are artistic, intellectual and impractical; the Wilcoxes materialistic and unapologetically bourgeois. Margaret and Henry have their differences, but it is their relatives who display the more extreme family traits. Margaret's sister Helen is a classic bohemian; Henry's son Charles is a humorless and intolerant banker. As the novel unfolds, the two families are forced to confront each other and decide whether to ultimately part company or compromise. What is most impressive to me about the novel is the naturalness and grace with which the story unfolds. When an author uses characters to embody universal qualities, it is quite a challenge to make the people and story real and not merely symbols. Howard's End succeeds brilliantly as both a thoroughly engaging novel and a rather profound metaphysical inquiry.

Too many books talk about how to secure a network, and discuss network-based attacks, but this book is different; it covers how to design, build and test the code at the end of the pipe - the application software.

The book is complete in its explanation of how to make sure your application code, be it web-based or otherwise, is secured from attack.

I learned a great deal from this book, and, based on code and design reviews of my company's code, the authors obviously know what they are talking about - as we made a lot of fixes, and added many new security test cases to our test suites.

Simply put, we never knew we had problems, until we read this book, now it's mandatory reading for all our software engineers.

I bought this book after the *Bill Gates* email came out about Microsoft being serious about security. I figured that when he sends email like this to the company, it's important. And when **he recommends this book** in the email, it's something worth looking at. It is - Writing Secure Code is great. It's an easy read, full of great design, development and testing principles and ideas.

The first couple of chapters revolve around design, in fact ch2 is over 70pp long, and it's all about how to design secure systems.

The bulk of the book focuses on secure coding, including buffer overruns, sockets, RPC, COM, Crypto, canoniclization issues, least privilege, storing secret data, Web apps - and more!

The last part of the book discusses common .NET coding errors, and how to build security test plans.

What makes this book utterly unique is it really teaches you how to design and test secure applications, as well as how to write them. The design and test stuff I have seen nowhere else.

The book is worth every penny, and I now know why Bill Gates recommends the book to all Microsoft developers.

I got this book for free from Microsoft, because our company became a Microsoft Partner. I must admit that at first I was a little bit sceptical about it, because afterall this book is published by Microsoft and they have this reputation of selling rather insecure software themselves. But after reading the first few sections I knew it was going to be a very good read.

The book explains in very clear language almost every aspect of secure programming and gives a good overview of all common security flaws that can (and will!) enter your programming code. You'll learn how to securely design, implement, test and deploy your programs. Ofcourse buffer overruns are handled (Public Enemy #1 according to the authors), but that's only the tip of the iceberg. The book does a great job by identifying and providing solutions to common security pitfalls. Topics that are handled include: database access, user privileges and Access Control, Cryptography, handling secret data, user input, encoding and internationalization, RPC, DCOM, DOS attacks, .NET and writing secure program documentation.

I recommend this book to every programmer out there, even if you're not programming for the Win32-platform. Don't let the fact that this is a Microsoft publication refrain you from buying this book. If you are serious about writing secure programs this is the book to get.

"The Last Gospels" was a treat. I had the pleasure of reading it on a long plane trip back East and the time flew by! Two aspects of the book particularly impressed me: that a man could capture so well the voice and thoughts of a woman -- a pregnant woman at that -- and the level of research that made the historical sections so lively. Having read many books, primarily non-fiction, on religion and the history of religion, I was surprised how much I enjoyed a fictionalized account. The book is well written and paced. I recommend it to not only those who are interested in religion but to those who enjoy a good mystery as well.

As a psychologist, I've always been drawn to writers with that rare ability to transport their readers directly into the minds - souls, really - of those who inhabit other times and places. David Howard has this ability, in extraordinary measure. Even more impressive, however, is the fact that he has accomplished this task while writing about some of the most intriguing and important figures in Biblical history. Imagine what it takes to convincingly portray the minds and hearts of individuals like Jesus of Nazareth, Saul of Tarsus, Judas Iscariot and Mary Magdalene. One must be true to what is written, while expanding our knowledge and understanding in ways that are not only plausible but psychologically "true." I was deeply impressed by the author's subtle understanding of human psychology - as well as his intimate knowledge of the historical periods this book spans and interweaves. Whatever your personal religious beliefs may happen to be - or even if you have none at all - you will not fail to be deeply impressed with this book. It was a great read! And I've found that the characters linger on in memory, long after finishing the book. I look forward to more of Mr. Howard's work in the (hopefully) near future.

This is a very cool book. Read it if you are interested in authentic Jewish and Christian spirituality or if you just want to delve into some great characters who are caught up in the adventure of their lives. The chapters switch back and forth between the time right after Jesus is crucified and the year 2021 or so. The modern heroine, Rafaela, is involved in translating ancient scrolls that are reports of the life of Jesus written by his Indian girlfriend, his dad, some of his enemies and several of his disciples. As she works with the translations, Rafaela discovers prophecies within them. She ends up trying to prevent one of the prophecies from happening. But there is much more to this novel than just the rich plot. It's also a book about relationships. First, there are Rafaela's relationships in the not-distant future with her married boyfriend, her Orthodox rabbi dad, and her daughter. Then there are Jesus' relationships with everyone whose life he touched. You might expect the Jesus parts to be overblown and corny, but I found them to be subtle, profound and believable. Jesus is clearly a man here, not a God, but he is extraordinary anyway, often in very surprising ways. I'm not religious, but this book moved my spirit. I can't help but wonder how 'believers' will experience it. My hunch is that they will like it too. I can't wait for David Howard's next book.

I think this book is good for kids that can handle very scary stories. If you do not like to read scary stories, do not read this book at all. I think that the grownups would like the story called, "The Handkerchief." I think grownups would like it because it is very scary, and I think that's what you grownups like. I think this book is appropriate for 7 to 13 year olds. I think that because I have just begun to read it this year, and I'm sure I would have liked it last year. I'm eight right now. Even though you may be older than 13, you may still like this book. The book is pretty scary. A lot of kids fight over this book at school because they think it is the greatest.

If you're heading to camp this summer, this might be the perfect book to read before you go. It's not a handbook or manual on survival, rather it's a compilation of 22 scary folktales to tell around the fire or during a late-night gabfest in the cabin.

Between these pages you'll encounter ghosts, witches, demons, evil eyes, giants, monsters, talking heads and other beasties from near and far, Japan to Iceland, Eastern Europe to Mexico. The sources for the tales are listed at the back of the book. Many of them come from respected regional and national archives.

Even so, the stories vary in their effectiveness and "scare factor." Some don't rise much above the level of urban legends passed around on the Internet. Others, like the title story, are true folk tales, with obvious staying power.

The stories are short, just five-six pages each. Several of them are illustrated with pencil drawings, which are moody, if not exactly scary.

Older elementary and middle school students will get a kick out of scaring themselves silly with these horror stories.

The book Ask The Bones retold by Arielle North Olson and Howard Schwart, is a great book. This book has many stories from around the world but my favorite one is called " Next- To- Kin." This story is about this boy's aunt that is very jealous if someone goes near her husband and she has a forked tongue. She can also turn into a snake but the boy does not know this. Once the aunt grabbed the boy in jealousy and stuck her fingernails in his skin. The boy went to the old man so he could heal the wound. The old man was very wise and told the boy that his aunt is really a snake women! The old man said "If you really want to see if she really is a snake women, then, when she turns into a snake cut off the tip of the tail. If she is wounded tomorrow that means she is a snake women." The old man continued " And if you see the snake skin around then burn it so the snake women could die!" That night the boy was awake for the whole night to see if the old man was right. The snake came under the door and SLASH, the boy cut of the tip of the snake's tail. The snake went back to the other room. In the morning the boy's aunt's toe was wounded and she said she needed to rest and so she did. When the boy's aunt was better, the boy went to the room she was in and found snake skin! He quickly took it and burned it in his room. ...If you want to know what happened to the boy and his uncle then read, Ask The Bones and the story "Next- To- Kin."