A CD-Rom jammed with articles from EXECUTIVE EXCELLENCE. I actually got my copy as a bonus for subscribing a couple of years ago. Many of the articles are interesting, but they are all quite short, almost MTV-ish. This seems to be the preferred style for this publication. If you are a fan of Warren Bennis, or one of the writers who regularly contribute to that publication, this is a good way to pick up some new material from your favored writer. The articles are on a variety of topics, which means that there will probably be something for everyone with an interest in this subject, but by the same token, there will be a lot that won't interest you. The CD includes a search engine that is workable. I benefitted from the magazine and the CD, but they didn't set my world on fire.

I've used this book with several children and pre-teens. It is filled with captivating illustrations and worksheets to use with the child or within a group setting. The book is broken down into numerous sections covering:

Identity
Stereotyping
The impact of Integration
Cultural Boundaries
African-American Male-Female Relationships
Racism and Its Impact
What is Chemical Dependence?
How Does Someone Become Chemically Dependent?
How Chemical Dependence Affects Friends, Family, and You
How Chemical Dependence Affects the African-American Community
Communicating
Dealing With Feelings
Dealing With Peer Pressure
Making Decisions/Solving Problems/Resolving Conflicts

Kids can relate to the no-nonsense writing style, and the topics and worksheets are great for generating constructive conversation. This is possibly the most productive workbook I've found to use with pre-teens, and it's wonderful to find one dealing specifically with African-American children. Bravo!

I've never really thought of myself as a fan of the 'Western' genre, but soon found that this was not required in order to thoroughly enjoy "Hell On The Draw:Best Western stories by Loren D. Estleman". While each story is indeed rooted in the West, they are by no means your run of the mill 'shoot-em-ups.' Each one is completely different in mood and style, from lighthearted humor to dark twists of fate, from romance to a touch of the supernatural. The author fills each tale with people you'll find yourself wishing that you had known or vey glad that you didn't. The vividly described settings along with fine attention to historical details of events, people, equipment and weapons, pull you inside and make you feel as if you are there. Aside from the complete enjoyment of the stories themselves, this audio version features a variety of gifted voice talents well suited to the telling of these tales of the West.

This book does a good job of discussing why groundwater extraction (pump and treat or whatever else you want to call it) is not useful for cleanup of petroleum contaminated sites, rendering it best suited for hydraulic control of plumes.

The author also has a pretty good discussion regarding lifecycle design considerations and the various steps to go through/questions to ask with regard to effluent treatment and equipment sizing.

Some of the technology descriptions appears to be taken from design of remediation systems by suthersan, but both books were published by the same company so i guess that shouldn't really be a surprise. Both books offer different perspectives, so I find them both to be pretty useful, however, I like this one a little more because the author seems to be more of a practical guy whereas suthersan is more theoretical.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the design and correct application of remediation technologies.

I was glued to the pages from the first chapter, viewing the actual life and times of early Yosemite through the eyes of one of Yosemite's very early pioneers. Here it was, in the 1880s and James Hutchings, intending to draw visitors to the park by providing the public with information, went into much detail about anything and everything, in a way that was very entertaining. I felt like I was there, all the way though the book, until I got to some of the details about what stage coach to take to the park, and the prices, etc., though that was somewhat entertaining also, from a historical perspective. He knew a lot about the Yosemite Indians, having lived among them and getting to know them. The book starts with the first confrontations with the Yosemite Indians and how the Mariposa Battalion discovered the valley in the first chapter or two. Lots of detail as it relates to interactions with Chief Tenaya, and his tribe, his death, and events leading up to it. I found it amazing that a "pioneer" would be so articulate, and so specific about so many historical points of interests. I enjoyed learning each and every detail about how the first person to climb to the top of Half Dome, inched his way to the top. It was also interesting to learn about how various hotel owners operated their businesses. If these are the kinds of things that interest you, this book will not disappoint you.

The logic of Freud can sometimes be overbearing when he is dealing with the makings of a joke. However, he does at times seem to drop his guard, speak in easy to understand terms, and give information that can be understood. If anyone is pursuing comedy in any form, this book would be helpful, and will help you compare your analyzation of what you do with someone who knew very well how the human mind worked. I've applied several of his concepts on stage and have found them successful.

I was impressed with Jacoby's knowledge and wisdom of the scriptures. This is a walk through of the books of Peter, James and John. He relates these specific books to various other locations and themes throughout the bible while still remaining true to the specific heart of the books. This book is set up to be either read through straight from front to back or a chapter at a time to be meditated on.

I did find that the doctrine was very practical in its focus. While deep in its themes the applications are focused on daily life, perhaps losing some of the spiritual richness that is beyond our day to day struggles.

Peter Brooks' book, "The Melodramatic Imagination," would be helpful even due only to its serious examination of the structural and philosophical underpinnings of traditional French melodramatic theatre. However, what makes this study necessary reading is its convincing argument that melodrama exists as a driving force, not a distracting or somehow 'lower' element, in the creation of the modern novel. The melodramatic structure, shaped by high moral conflict and determined by its motion towards a final revelation of virtue as innocence, and is held together by a system of characters, images and actions become part of a signifying code that opens onto a moral world more cohesively meaningful than the literal world that can be represented by a more straightforward, perhaps more materialist realism. Authors of the nineteenth century novel needed this structure to retain urgency and significance in works from which motivations based on the sacred or the mythic had been discarded, and to make 'interesting' stories seeking to represent the lives of human beings in time rather than the explanatory deeds of timeless, imortal figures. A willingness to historicize a bit more, to relate an explanation of changing modes of representation to changing modes of production, would have made this work even stronger.

A very informative book, Napoleon: The Final Verdict, describes all aspects of Napoleon's military career. Although it lacked extensive details on individual battles, it gave basic knowledge necesary to understand the Napoleonic Wars. The book is divided into two sections. The First section gives the knowledge obtained on his life. The second section analyzes the information given in the first to help you determine Napoleon's true quality. I especially like the pages of quotes which the author has included in the back of the book.

I purchased this book for my three year old Rugrats fan. He is going to be a big brother soon, and I found that this book has helped him understand about the attention that new babies receive. The illustrations are very colorful and he enjoys looking at them while I read. The plot is typical of a Rugrats TV episode, and the book also includes Chuckie and his Dad. I would recommend this book for any child that loves Rugrats, especially those that are expecting a new addition to their family.