The question last summer was, "What next, for a younger child who's mastered all pre-algebra mathematics?" Was it too soon for algebra? And could a parent who hadn't seen algebra in the last twenty years help the child cope? We ordered Harold R. Jacobs' text, encouraged by reviews mentioning self-study, and began work in the fall, prepared to stop any time if the child found it difficult or stressful. Quite the contrary, it was mentally very stimulating -- the lessons took us carefully from familiar arithmetic concepts to equivalent algebraic content, and presented each new subject one very manageable bit at a time. It was exciting to watch skills developing, and to see the child's enjoyment and growing sense of competence. The little cartoons and often-intriguing Set IV exercises added fun and interest throughout, and made it easier to keep going, especially during those mid-school-year doldrums. This book was perfectly suited to our schedule, which allowed only three lessons per week, after school -- we needed only about half an hour per lesson at first, then near the end, about an hour and a half. We're looking forward to Jacobs' Geometry book next year!

I homeschool my kids & have taught them through geometry so far, including Algebra I for two of them, using the Saxon series, which we've liked for the most part, but haven't liked as much for the later grades than for the earlier (say through about 7-6). I've started with the third child using Jacobs instead, since he seems to present many topics in a more understandable way, at least a more visual way. He also structures the problem set in each lesson exclusively to deal with the topics of that lesson, rather than using a spiral review method or other method that presents problems from lots of previous lessons. This makes for more concentrated treatment of the lesson at hand, which the third child likes more. Jacobs's method of presenting is, as I said, more visual, with helpful diagrams and graphs that illustrate the point of a lesson. My favorite is his use of a two-dimensional matrix to illustrate multiplication, and later division, of polynomials. The step by step addition of information to the matrix illustrates the steps and the concepts of polynomial multiplication and division quite well. I'm looking forward to using this book with this child and having it available for the others for reference on topics on which they need refreshers.

Jacobs' book has a lot of really good, interesting problems to do, and that is the most important thing in a math book. The probems are unsurpassed by any other Algebra book that I know of.

I bought 7 copies of this book so far for people who are self-teaching this Summer. Or at least half-self teaching, because the reading level is a little high (many large words). Some people have a spouse, parent, sibling, or frient who are helping out by reading some of the problems to the self-learner, without doing them.

It would be good to come out with a version of the problems in this book with, say, a seventh grade vocabulary to open it up to people whose reading skill is not that high yet. This would SEPARATE the reading work from the algebra work.

In the end, of course, one must master language in order to master math. In the beginning, however, it is still good if one has the motivation to self-learn some Algebra, even before becoming am master-level reader.

A very clear, very entertaining textbook for a high-school course on geometry.

This book introduces logical proofs right at the beginning; you may have some difficulty convincing your kids or yourself that you need to work out all these silly logic puzzles in order to begin studying geometry, but you do.

From there on, the book is a sheer joy to read, full of interesting and tricky problems, clear explanations, and of course those famous B.C. and Peanuts clips.

I have no experience with other geometry books--although I did use the Schaum book and other "outline" help books early in the school year as a reference. Actually Jacobs was easier to use than the "outline" help books. Many problems skate close to calculus (limits are introduced) and analytic geometry. Some problems are quite nearly elegant. Highly recommended.

A good geometry book for high school students. It teaches everything one needs to know about basic euclidean geometry with intuitive lessons and clear explinations of all the content. One thing to note though is that you need a strong understanding of the algerbraic principals of equality, and the fact that the teachers edition is very hard to come by.

What's so truly impressive about Jacobs' book is the way in which he demonstrates that math is all around. His choice of subjects provides the reader with a broad introduction to the mathematical sciences, including geometry, probability, combinatorics, statistics, topology and more. More importantly, his examples and explanations make it relevant and fun.

Jacobs' writing is clear (which cannot be said for many books on math at any level) and his organization sweeps the reader right along. Though technically a textbook, this is excellent reading for anyone who's interested in learning about math. I read it in junior high school, and have re-read bits and pieces as I progressed through college and graduate school. His subjects are complex enough to merit rethinking, yet his explanations clear enough to be grasped by the first time reader.

Truly one of the great introductory math texts -- especially for those who think they don't need to know or can't understand math.

I'm a 36-year old homeschooling mother who had done calculus in high school and college, and mechanically got some right answers, but never knew why. I hadn't bothered to slow down and notice the beauty and power of the language of mathematics. In his textbook, Mathematics: A Human Endeavor, Harold Jacobs smashed my lack of confidence into a million pieces. He showers the student with so much real-life relevance and humor, that even a slight amount of curiosity about the subject bears delicous fruit. Working through this book will convince any human being, of almost any age, that he or she is a born mathematician.

I stumbled across this book when I was 17 whilst rummaging in my school library. It was too late for me to use it as my workbook but I enjoyed reading it nevertheless. My sole regret was that had I found it earlier than I might have had success in teaching my fellow students the joys of mathematics. The book is beautifully designed with gorgeous graphics to demonstrate mathematical ideas. There are also wonderful cartoons that people on this side of the Atlantic may never get to see otherwise. This is the book (with its companion "Geometry") that I give all my nephews/nieces on their 10th birthday so that they may not claim that they were deprived of good maths tuition.

As an active duty Captain I was given this book by my father who is an Army Colonel. A great tabletop/bookshelf book with a history of the army which is enlightening, particulary the many photos and captions. The history is the chapters themselves is somewhat simplistic and "politically correct." Some of the Army's less glorious moments are conviently written out or glossed over or sanatized rather than dealt with in a forthright manner - i.e. the Indian wars, Civil War (southern generals are pictured but not discussed in depth), Bonus Marchers, etc. This doesn't take away from it being an excellent primer on the Army, its history, organization, values, and goals.

The many included paintings from Don Stivers, Rick Reeves, Mort Kunstler really make this edition shine. I think nearly every US Army Stivers print has made it into this edition. If you love military art this is a great value.

Four out of five stars for the sanitized P.C. history of the army. Five for the illustrations, paintings, pictures, and nice binding of this edition. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a well illustrated U.S Army history.

This book is an excellent source for anyone interested in military service history. My hats off to BG Nelson, General Sullivan, and General Shinseki for a great book. This brings to light events with which the Army is involved. Think about it, the Army brings in names like Powell, Shalikashvili, & Shinseki. All three brought in their own histories that greatly impacted the way the Army does business, and how it creates opportunities not for just a few, but for everybody wishing to commit to military service. I salute the U.S. Army for a great historical record.

Amazon reviews let you know what teachers and students think about texts. Type in the following ISBNs to see the reviews of the second edition (ISBN 071671745X) of this text or of the author's Mathematics: A Human Endeavor (ISBN 071672426X). These comments on the third edition are based on close reading, not classroom experience. With an initial review up, I hope to see what others have to say.

I taught at Reed, Wellesley, and Bard Colleges and watched the reform mathematics program develop when I was associate director of the Mathematical Association of America, in Washington, DC. Geometry is my research area. I worked in publishing as an editor for more than 20 years. I have read every word of this book and worked all of the exercises because I was its freelance editor. I am a knowledgeable, interested party.

The third edition towers over the second edition, which is described by its most recent Amazon reviewer, Edward Lee, as "the best geometry text in existence, bar none" (January 25, 2003). Begin by noticing the use color throughout, then notice how color has been used to make key material in the text and diagrams stand out more clearly. Detailed comparisons will show you that every part of the book has been scrutinized and reworked, adding a host of new examples and exercises, fine-tuning the concepts and wording. Coordinates are used throughout, so that analytic methods are now another tool rather than the subject of a special chapter, late in the book.

Chapter 1, An Introduction to Geometry is completely new and shows the reader how geometry has been used from the dawn of history, in the East and the West, to design cities, measure the earth's circumference, design pyramids, and figure land taxes. This last brings us to the final lesson of this chapter, "We Can't Go on Like This." Here the student discovers that the Egyptian tax assessor's formula, though plausible, does not work. Something may look sensible and even be used, but we need to be careful and check things. Not everything that is plausible is true. And so we are off to Chapter 2 on deductive reasoning, and then on to all of geometry, including solid geometry (Chapter 15) and non-Euclidean geometry (Chapter 16) --- optional in most first courses.

Jacobs put all of his art into this revision. It is his best effort. Donald J. Albers begins his foreword "This is one of the great geometry books of all time. ... It is the finest example of instructional artistry I have ever encountered."

Geometry is a wild and beautiful subject. Think of it as a continent you might visit and explore. The lessons in this book are station stops on your tour. At each stop, Jacobs gives you a sense of what there is to see and explore. The exercise sequences are side trips for individuals or groups. It is these jaunts that give you a real feel for the place, they build the muscle you need for further exploration and show you small wonders or glimpses of distant peaks. Albers calls these exercises "the beating heart of the book."

Here is a side trip you can explore now: Take a lopsided quadrilateral and erect equilateral triangles on its sides so that their third vertices point alternatingly into and out of the quadrilateral. Connect these four new vertices in the order of the sides of the quadrilateral they are derived from. You will see that no matter what your original quadrilateral was, the new quadrilateral is of a very special sort. The exercise is straightforward, and the result is surprising. Some readers may want to understand the geometry that lies behind this observation. That goal is like the wish to scale a distant peak. Many may feel the call, but only some will set out and reach the summit. Geometric proofs, sometimes so mysterious, are our search for an answer to the question "Why?"

A Teacher's Guide with solutions to all the exercises, lesson plans, reduced size images of the transparency masters, and commentaries on the subject is available. There is also a separate Test Bank. The Transparency Masters, for teachers who use an overhead projector, are available on a CDROM.

In 10 years, I expect to see a crop of geometers who cut their teeth on this book. In the meantime, I expect to see many reviews from students and teachers on this site. Let this be the beginning.

Jerry Slocum and his team have done a fantastic job of pulling ALL the available known information about the Tangram puzzle into one gorgeous book. The research is extensive, the illustrations are plentiful and the pictures are supurb. This is a must-have for anyone interested in this classic seven piece puzzle that has intrigued puzzlers for hundreds of years.

I teach Algebra, and Jacobs's teacher's guide is my favorite, most frequently used resource. The guide gives the teacher a number of puzzles, tricks, visuals, jokes, etc. to introduce and reinforce concepts. It's explanations are right on target. It is written to be used in conjunction with the student text, but it could be used by itself for supplemental material for any curriculum. I think it's a shame that this valuable book is out of print. I give it a 5 star rating.

Hal Jocobs, Air Force Pilot in command of military airlift aircraft for many years had a grreaat career. With my Air Force career background as a fighter pilot in WWII, a bomber pilot B-47s and B-52s in the Cold (Hot)War, and a trash hauler in C-130s in Viet nam, I can tell a any prospective reader that Jacobs has put together a very readable book. His adventures so held my interest that I finished reading it in One Sitting! Go out and buy this one today!

Harold Jacobs detailed chronologyhas taken me back over 50 years when I traversed the same rigid road as an Aviation Cadet toward the goal of obtaining Military Pilot's Wings. It is accomplished in supurb journalistic fashion, with vivid and accurate accounts of his progression in becoming an Aviator. His descriptions of the various phases of his quest were so interesting, that I had difficultyin putting the book down. His experiences paralleled mine as anAviation Cadet and eventually as anAir Force Pilot. Every word shows his enthusiasm and a deep love forthe field of Aviation. I can equate to many thrilling in-flight incidents related in detailed, descriptive narrative. This book not only appeals to the military pilot,but also provides a grippingsaga to an aviation enthusiast.Each page encouraged me to turn to the next in anticipation of subsequent events.I strongly recommend "Top Stick" to all levels of readers, as it is an inspiration to would-be aviators. "Top Stick" is top-notch reading.

Top Stick is a must have book for Aviation historians and for those of us who were fortunate to survive Aviation Cadet training and flying experiences during WWII. I was one of the fortunate ones who was in the same Aviation Cadet class (43-K) as the author. Although Harold Jacobs and I did not meet until almost 40 years after the war, we have become close friends. His description of the trials and tribulations of the early phases of cadet training - Classification and Preflight - refreshed my memory of things long forgotten. Harold and I shared a determination to complete pilot training and pin on silver wings and gold bars which we did on December 5, 1943. However, we shared disappointment when we received our first assignments. Both of us had our hearts set on becoming fighter pilots. However, we were both ordered into multi-engine training. Subsequently Harold started an aviation career that included flying fighters, bombers, and transports with the Ferry Command. During his service with the Air Transport Command his flights were to many fascinating places on the globe. He also flew in the Berlin Air Lift.

As an aviation historian, I have a large collection of books about WWII aviation. Top Stick is one of the most interesting I have ever read and I recommend it very highly.

Marshall A. Dean, Lt. Col. USAF (Retired)
Board of Directors, 43-K Aviation Cadet Association
450 Canyon Road, Wetumpka, Alabama, 36093

This book is a brief synopsis of a large subject, namely that of the textual criticism of Greek New Testament Texts. Greenlee does an excellent job of handling this controversial subject.

He begins with an overview of how ancient manuscripts were written historically. This includes the types of materials and instruments that were used to record literature. I found this section most educational.

He then briefly reviews the history and records of the New Testament writings.

Lastly, Greenlee reviews the methods behind textual criticism, and gives numerous examples of applied textual criticism.

This is by no means a comprehensive review of this difficult subject, but I found it to be very helpful because of its clarity and brevity.

This book is an excellent introduction into the difficult field of textual criticism. Greenlee handles the issues objectively and professionally.

cheers to Martin Luther for attacking the church.
jeers to Martin Luther for believing in a god.

Luther's 95 Theses is without question a very important historical document. However, I don't think most of us would buy, say the Gettysburg Address, as a stand-alone book. First, you can never find it on the shelf. Second, you can get it as part of many almanacs, encyclopedias, etc.

Luther's Ninety-Five Theses were written in direct response to the practice of selling indulgences in the 1500s. This book begins with an introduction explaining the circumstances under which Luther posted his theses. It does a good job of quickly explaining the main points one needs to know before reading the theses. There are sporadic footnotes in the text to clarify some points. I have a protestant background and found Luther's topics to be techincally Catholic. However, I did not feel lost in my reading. It would be of a great advantange to have some knowledge of the Catholicism of the time. The theses mark the start of the Reformation, and a read-through would be beneficial for any student of history or Protestantism. The book itself is very short (18 pages). Luther's Ninety-Five Theses are readily found from any internet search, and this may be a much more cost-effective option. The introduction may be the only benefit of actually buying this edition.