My 5 year old was only half interested in this book. I think the story was a bit long, and the wording did not flow well. The drawings were nice, but I think they appealed to me more than my son.

Julius Lester's version of the legend of John Henry is well-told. I laughed out loud when Lester described Ferret-Faced Freddy, a man "so mean, he cried if he had a nice thought." Lester also uses marvelous metaphors (next to a large mountain, John Henry doesn't look "much bigger than a wish that wasn't going to come true"). Lester's version is very different from other versions I'm familiar with (such as Ezra Jack Keat's), but I love it.

Pinkney, who has teamed up with Lester on other books (my favorite is "Sam and the Tigers"), provides beautiful illustrations to accompany the text.

The life of Henry Martyn has inspired Christian missions for centuries, and deservedly so. The actual text though, is a bit on the dry side. Much of the book goes into detailed accounts of his sea voyage from England to India, an overland trip from India to Peria and his last homeward trek from Persia to Istambul. But aside from these lenghtly travelogues, the book does give an honest glimpse into Martyn's soul, his passion for the conversion of the heathen, and his spiritual struggles.
Most interesting are the letters he exchanged with his love, Lydia, who eventually rejects his marriage proposal (very sad), and his encounter with Perisan Islamic Sufism. On the whole, the text is pretty laborous to read through. My own recommendation is to read David Brainerd's journal (a much more interesting read of a missionary to the North American native Indians), who partly inspires Martyn to be a missionary himself.

For those interested in the history of Christian missions and missionary biography, few works will compare to Sargent's biography of the 19th-century British missionary, Henry Martyn. Martyn was a missionary to both India and Persia at the beginning of the 19th-century and was responsible for highly valuable translations of the Bible into Hindi and the New Testament into Persian. But Martyn is most remembered for the legacy of his journal. Dying in his early 30's, he left behind a journal that plumbed the depths of his spiritual experiences and which, alongside Brainerd' journals, was one of the greatest inspirational forces to 19th-century missions.

Sargent was a friend of Martyn and liberally splices the journal into an ongoing account of Martyn's life. This book is a reprint of the original biography which went through numerous printings in the last century, but which has been out of print for many decades. While necessarily marked by somewhat antiquated religious vocabulary, the biography manages to breathe life into a figure only dimly remembered by 20th-century Christians.

. . .is that the Catholic Church didn't much care for Newman's "Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine" even though it was the writing of this essay which brought Newman into the Catholic Church.

The reason? The "Essay" was not written in Latin, nor was it expressed in the format and style to which Catholic theological writings adhered in the 19th century.

This small book contains Newman's expressions on the subject in a manner more pleasing to the 19th century Catholic authorities. While not, by any stretch of the imagination, on the same level as his "Essay", nevertheless, these writings continue to demonstrate Newman's evolving understanding as to how doctrine develops.

Recommended -- along with Ian Ker's edition of "Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine".

John Henry Cardinal Newman brought me to the Catholic Church - one hundred years after his death. His flawless logic, profound faith, and burning love continue to inspire men and women to follow the "Kindly Light" of Christ. This book is a beautiful introduction to Newman, with selections from meditations, devotions, sermons, and my personal favorite, his poetry. It also contains a short biogrophy of Cardinal Newman. While not a great work on a scale with the Apologia, this little devotional is an excellent introduction to a great man of God.

The idea that we have become an uncivil society is correct. Trying to stimulate young minds to reflect on civility is also a good idea, but this book, overpriced and better suited for fund raising for local boyscout troops just didn't hit home, even with my own 13 year old son. It was more like one of those self-publishing recipe books local groups publish to sell for fund raising. The rules of George Washington really don't even often deal with larger issues of morality, but more like good table manners or conversation ethics. The best part of the book in my opinion was the illustrations which depicted George as a young boyscout type setting a good example of each rule, along side a misbehaving modern lad. The efforts of modern day boyscouts to grapple with the idea of civility is a worthwhile activity, but didn't really provide good reading material in this case.

In Rules Of Civility For The 21st Century, Henry Wheelwright has assembled a compendium of two hundred rules of civility drawn from submission by some four million Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts across the country. The rules of conduct were sent in by boys for themselves and others after reflecting on the rules that President George Washington copied out for himself as a youth of 14. Also provided for the reader is a Civility Workshop addressing modern threats to civility and keys to character building and leadership. Line illustrations enhanced Rules Of Civility For The 21st Century, which is an adamantly recommended acquisition for every school and public library in every community in America.

I am currently doing an assignment on business process re-engineering. Many of the texts I have read so far have been thick on the theories and the benefits of re-engineering. As such, it comes across as cheap propagnada.

This book was different. In the first chapter, unlike other texts, it did not simply insists that TQM and other continuous process improvements are of the past and are not good enough for today's business environment. It explains how TQM has its place, if you are already a market leader. However, if you are way below, then TQM will not allow you to reach the apex before you are out of business. Re-engineering is the way.

This immediately pave the way for the rest of the book. The authors are balanced in their views and do not simply advertise the merits of re-engineering. They also cautioned throughout the text on the difficulties and pitfalls of re-engineering. I found their arguments more convincing than most authors.

The examples throughout the book were taken from different industries and prove a source for ideas for any re-engineering effort. The authors came across as extremely experienced in their work.

I would have given it five stars except the last chapter on the human aspect of re-engineering was rather dissapointing. I had expected to learn more from the authors about the very difficult human resource issues in re-engineering. Like most texts, the book mentioned difficulties and dished out textbook solutions without real solutions.

Still, it was one of the best re-engineering texts I have read and I believe it will help me greatly in my assignment.

I also believe that it is extremely useful for any managers or CEOs who want to re-engineer their business. Hammer's classic on re-engineering is not enough. You need to read this book for the practical advice and guiding framework if you are to have any chance for success in re-engineering.

This book was good if you LOVE animal

This is a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated tour through the front of the eye. The references and index are very well put together. Very strong on the anatomy and histology.

The book is not intellectually deep, but is most enjoyable. It provides a view of a small American elite representing a transitional society between the late Civil War and early 19th century. It centers on five diverse people who, by chance, formed a unizue Washington social and intellectual salon mostly centering on themselves, but benefitting from each member's extensive contacts in the U.S. and France (to a lesser extent). The five were Henry Adams (descendant of two Presidents), his wife, Clover, John Hay (Secretary to Lincoln and Sec of State at the turn of the century), his wife, and Clarence King, the firs head of the U.S. Geological survey.

Adams and Hay built large homes on the north of Layafette Square which became the center of the salon (the sites are occupied by the Hay Adams Hotel).

The focus is on the personalities and interests of these unique characters, the depiction of life at the heart of our capitol, and references to art and architecture integral to Washington of that era, but which led to a broader influence along the east coast particularly. In a very concrete setting, the author deals with love, tragedy, and the political and intellectual curiosit which dominated these people's lives. None has really survived in the public consciousness, but all played significant roles in their time and deserve this interest in what made their lives.

This book provides fascinating sketches of four prominent individuals who lived during the time of England's King Charles I and the British Commonwealth. Two are Royalists, and two are Puritans/Commonwealthmen which makes for a balanced book. I actually learned a lot about the political issues at stake during the English Civil War through reading these four fascinating sketches. Rowse writes in a witty and engaging style which makes this book a pleasure to read.

This book is wonderful for those interested in pre-revolution France. Written from the perspective of a washed up member of the upper class. It follows his journeys through french society as he encouters those of bother upper and lower classes. It is filled with adventure and intrigue. Worthy of the time it takes to read and definitely a favorite of mine