Jeffrey Johnson, by means of a serious, erudite and documented work, portrays the religious writings of John Donne as texts fruit of a well-founded knowledge of Christian theology, in which the author elaborates, rejects and innovates the discourses of religious dispute of his days. To consider Donne as a full-fledged religious thinker with a personal theological structuring of the Christian creed, is the first pioneering step taken by Donne scholarship to propound a more compelling understanding of his sermons and religious poetry. Johnson's methodology a' la Skinner contextualizes the single thinker in his cultural matrix, and thencewise proceeds to elucidate the ways in which he used and reacted the religious thought of his time. This book, given the heavy theological contents, is useful primarily for Renaissance scholars and students who want to get a feel of the complexity and seriousness of Donne's sermons, localizing them in their context, and perceiving them as answers to the theological problematics of the time.

Wild Trees of Idaho is, in completeness and competence, one of the best state tree books available in the U.S. But because Idaho's flora has affinities to the boreal forests to its north, the Pacific Northwest rainforest, the Great Basin, Rocky Mountains, and Great Plains, this book is a must for tree enthusiasts from all of Idaho's neighbor states and Canadian provinces as well. More than an identification guide (though a good example of that genre), Wild Trees opens with a broad account of how Idaho's forests evolved over the last hundred million years; and an ecological essay on its present-day vegetation communities. Idaho's sylvan richness, including its many introduced naturalized species, make for a varied array of broadleaved and coniferous species. Each receives a page of text and one of black/white illustrations. There is an 8-page color insert containing brilliant photos of 78 species. Key identification characters are stressed, as are locations in Idaho where noteworthy specimens of each species can be seen, data on the largest Idaho specimens, and generally very reliable natural history information. The writing style is folksy and accessible, yet technically of a high level. This book has a lot to teach.

It might not be easy to really make the transition from imperative to object oriented programming, but if you are trying to do this, plan to try to do this, or for whatever are forced to try and do this, you *must* own and have read this book. That's my simple opinion.

For a lot of people this book take as a whole might be a bit to much. After all, its basically an introduction of the concept(s) involved and then 'just' a kind of catalog of OOP design patterns that have proven themselves in multiple practical projects before. The book does not actually take you by the hand and try to teach you something per se. But if OOP is important to you, and even if this book is too much for you at this point in time, I think it best to at least come in contact with it as soon as possible (=now) and keep coming back to it. You will feel the whole concept clicking into place soon enough, especially getting you hands dirty on some practical examples and actually seeing them work and seeing what benefits the use of the design patterns can bring you.

(If you're a VisualBasic programmer, you might benefit a lot from 'Microsoft Visual Basic Design Patterns (Microsoft Professional Series)' by William Stamatakis as well...)

...

After years of writing code of all kinds,

Fun Video games as a kid,
Compilers for the heck of it,
Graphics programs for the love of art,
Interesting AI programs because I am a CS guy,
Boring Database Applications because I have to pay bills,
Nifty n-tiered web apps because the World went crazy..,

I found a programming book that could still teach me something.

After books from Knuth, Djikstra, The Aho Gang and the like, here is a book which goes straight to the point.

The book summarizes a basic set of Software Design Patterns, which have been found over and over in all the software we create.
Design Patterns is the perfect answer to all you OOP questions, Its an approach to sofware design as well as reuse.

If you are an artist, you would appreciate Design patterns better. The masters of the Renaissance began to see the world in terms of basic geometric forms..Spheres, Cubes, Cones and cylinders..this helped them in analysing an object..(any object, from the Human body to the Mountains and rivers.). Once they analysed any thing into its basic forms it was just a matter of detail. So, if you practice how to draw these basic shapes from different angles, and lighting,etc., and you learn how to analyse any thing into basic shapes, you have become a master.

The authors categorize all different software pieces into Creational, Structural and Behavioural patterns. Providing several possible patterns in each of these categories. A software designer, when confronted with a design problem, based on the needs, can pick a pattern from this catalogue and then fill in the details.

Well written, with UML diagrams too.

Caution: If you are new to programming, come back to this book a bit later.

This is absolutely one of the best books on OO design. I am a System Archtect and I can't image how my design (and Java) would look like without applying the concepts and patterns described in this book. This book, IMHO, plays a much more important role and should enjoy a much higher reputation than the UML series written by the 3 Amigos.

This book is definitely not for those who still do not understand the virtue of the concepts presented in the book. This book is not for programmer level either(although they can still greatly benefit from the book to enter the next level). The examples in the book are in C++ but the patterns it describes is language independent. Those who really know Java(not just reading sth like Teach Yourself Java in XX days,weekends,in a nutshells, etc) should tell immediately that lots of patterns are already applied in Java, especially in J2EE. Knowing the patterns in the books not only make your design step up to the next level, but now also a MUST if you want to pass the perfessional certificate exam like SCEA. I have to say no one can claim they know OO design without knowing the concepts and patterns described in this book.

This is one of those few books in computer world that will receive more and more recognization as time gose by. In three years no one will even mention 90% of those books currently getting five stars, but this one, I have to say, will be in top in foreseeable future and much longer.

I totally agree that this book is a little bit hard to read. Please think it this way, anything you can learn in 10 minutes is useless and of little market value because anybody can do the same. Those who grasp the essence missed by the majority are distinguished and of high value....

First, the weapons Batman designed that were used against the other heroes were incredibly complex. There is no way he would have had the time, expertise, and facilities to build all those intricate weapons. I know it is science fiction, but each of the super-heroes are defined by their own limitations, that's why you have a story. Otherwise Superman could just fly around and save everybody and Bruce Wayne could just finance reparations and they would live in a perfect world. This one pushed even comic book credibility a little too far. Also, the Lazarus Pits are used to regenerate Ras Al Ghul when he is nearly dead or recently dead, they should not have been much of a threat to Bruce Wayne's parents bodies. Other than that, the concepts of trust and betrayal made a thought provoking story. I do like stories that show Batman as the preeminent member of the JLA.

Grant Morrison, who? Now Mark Waid is a man who knows how to write comics! After over 40 issues under the helm of Grant Morrison, this book collects the first issues written by Mark Waid. With the talents of Mark Waid, the stories are more personal and smaller in scope. Gone are the masses of JLA members. (No Zauriel, no Steel, no Huntress, etc.) Mark Waid uses the main members, and we get to know them a bit better. (Wonder Woman is finally put to good use again!) The stories are not wild nonsense. They don't ramble on just to sell more issues. Each incident is there for a purpose. This tightly told story tells of Batman's fall from grace from the JLA. It also includes a few one-off issues, the best of which features only Aquaman and Wonder Woman. My favorite line is by Aquaman to Wonder Woman while he's holding her lasso, "Actually, I think you're a little vapid and boring -- and often more than a little Pollyanna-ish. I hate it that people keep assuming we have anything in common simply because we're both royalty. And for the life of me, I can't find any rational reason why I want you so badly."

JLA: Tower of Babel reveals the deadly genius of Batman and one of his greatest foes, Ra's Al Ghul. His paranoa leads him to develop a secret weapon against each of the Justice League members, in case they became dangerous for any reason. The effectiveness of these "fail-safes" becomes all too real when the files fall into the wrong hands. The League will never be the same again.

Herein we follow a young man, Tim Hunter, destined to be one of the greatest mages in history, as he introducted to magicks past, magic in present day world, the lands just beyond commonplace reality and magicks future by four DC Comics magicians: the Phantom Stranger (condemned to walk for eternity); Dr. Occult (who switches gender and personae as the occasion demands); John Constantine, Hellblazer (a con man and rogue, few powers but he has taken on the Devil himself and survived); and Mister E (a dangerous fanatic on the side of order). Gaimen's story makes for an excellent read, and three of the four illustrators involved: John Bolton, Scott Hampton and Charles Vess create beautiful illustrations throughout. (Sadly I didnt really like the artist's interpretation in the fourth chapter, it's the only reason I rate this book 4 out 5 stars instead of 5 out of 5.) These books were the basis of the ongoing DC/Vertigo comic book series by the same name (of which graphic novel collections are available). One drawback, common to many graphic novel collections (like Warren Ellis' "Planetary" books or Mark Waid and Alex Ross' "Kingdom Come" (both series also collected): to get the most of the story, it helps to have some familiarity with DC Comic book characters and history.

The Books of Magic establishes a history of Magic and Magic use in the DC comic Universe as seen through the eyes of Tim Hunter, the potentially most powerful mage to ever come in the modern age, and of established characters, The Stranger, Constantine, Dr. Occult & newly-introduced Mister E. As an adventure in the normal comic sense, it is not anything of the sort. Although there are some exciting scenes, but for comic fans who enjoy reading a new definition of established characters (hero & villian), it's well-worth the money. The art (painted by 4 of comicdom's best artists) is outstanding, and easily among the best anyone has seen in years. Neil Gaiman's writing is concise, brilliant, and gives more than a few twists that no one could predict. Best of all, it brought forth possibilities that are still being defined in DC's various occult titles. As such, the Books of Magic is a must buy, especially for Gaiman and occult fans. But best of all, for the story and the art

The Books Of Magic, Like Any Other Gaiman Story,is Breathtakingly Amaazing in its Telling,and the art compliments the story wonderfully. This is arare and unique instance where an established artist such as Charles Vess works on a Comic book.There are cameo sequences in this book that include scenes with Dream,Death,Destiny,Etrigan the Demon,Deadman,Zatanna,and the Spectre, just to name a few characters. Timothy Hunter is one of Gaiman's finest creations,and he is an actually believable and interesting one,as well. The Premise of the story is: Timothy Hunter, a very Young man,Pre-teen in fact,has the potential to become the greatest sorcerer of this age. The Trenchcoat Brigade,whose Ranks include The Mysterious Phantom Stranger,The incorrigble Hellblazer,John Constantine,The Enigmatic Dr. Occult, and Mr.E. His name says it all. The four decide to show Tim the magical history of Earth,and the universe,and some of the major magical players that exist in the DC universe.The Stranger shows Tim the past,Hinting at his origins all the while,and making the reader rather curious about him.The Second Tour guide on the Magical Mystery Tour is John Constantine, and this is a very True-to-form Constantine story,in that most of the people whom they visit have some sort of grudge against everyone's favourite Constantine,and Tim is introduced to many of the prominent contemporary characters Like the Spectre,Jason Blood,and Zatanna.The Third story is about Dr.Occult taking Tim on a guided tour of the lands of Faerie,The Dreaming(Neil Gaiman's writing, did you honestly think that Morpheus WOULDN'T show up?)Charles Vess did the artwork for issue 3, and that contributes to the magnitude of superb story this story inside of a story has.Also, if you read SANDMAN, you see Titania,and find out what Happened to Shakespeare's son, Hamnet.It also hints at the shadowy background of Doctor Occult.Issue Nimber Four is also very amazing,in that Gaiman tells us what's going to happen in the future.Or it might.Tim sees just what he might be,witnesses the final battle of the age, and into the mind of Mr.E.and makes his decision about Magic. I would Recommend this book to anyone wanting an introduction to the Vertigo Universe,anyone who wants a fantastic story,and if you have any sort of literary appreciation, you should go and buy this book as soon as you get a chance to. The ongoing BOOKS OF MAGIC books dont have the wonderful feel that this book gives off, and you wont feel nearly as satisfied about them. I recommend any Neil Gaiman,Garth Ennis,and Alan Moore stories(especially their DC work).

We all know where we were on September 11th, 2001. Some of us were headed to work, others to school, some were with families and some were alone. We all know the thoughts that struck our minds as those airplanes struck those towers. Many of us would like to express the pain and emotion that we felt but are unable to find the words. That is why this book comes in handy.

At about 435 pages, September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond is an anthology featuring 120 writers. Loaded with first hand impressions penned only months within the attack on America, the book is a balanced mix of political response, personal reflection and artistic vision of the day that changed the world forever.

The anthology is Editor, William Heyen's effort to reflect the opinions and experiences of the world's people. It is a balanced representation of ideas, but hardly covers a fraction of the opinions and questions of all affected by the attack. And although it will never answer "why?" What it will do is let us express, empathize and identify with one another, not only as writers, not only as Americans, but as human beings.

September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond is a collection of voices of well-known authors along with lesser-known authors who are just as effective. The authors, including award-winning poets, teachers, professors, war veterans, and Pulitzer Prize winners, try to express themselves to help readers deal with the events of September 11th. It is an assortment of powerful poetry and prose mixed with gripping letters and short essays.
The book, arranged in alphabetical order by author, is a candid set of thoughts and feelings that the authors experienced during the days following September 11th. The various backgrounds of the one hundred plus authors are evident by their written thoughts and expressions about the September 11th tragedy.
The best pieces in the book are the one's where the authors decided to express themselves through poetry. There are two poems that stand out to me. The first poem is "Monday Sundown" and is part of a collection by Lucille Clifton titled "9/11/01 - 9/17/01.
"i bear witness no thing
is more human than hate

i bear witness no thing
is more human than love"
It deals with the two major emotions felt during the tragedy-love and hate. Those emotions are exactly what every American was dealing with after September 11th. We hated the people responsible for the attacks, but loved everyone who passed away or was lending a helping hand. The second poem in the collection that moves me is Lucien Stryk's "Quiet, Please!" It contained a verse that September 11th survivors could understand and quite possibly, help put their thoughts into words.
"down the stairs. Survival
heaps dead flowers into sleep.
Keep still. I think I'm dreaming."
The piece in the book that is both my favorite and most personal is coincidentally is not a poem. It is Karl Elder's short essay titled "The Silence." I must make a note that Karl Elder is a professor of mine at Lakeland College, but I have no bias as Elder's piece deals with the exact same experience I had. He writes about a Green Bay Packer's football game played at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin just 13 days after September 11th. He describes how his Iranian friend, now a United States citizen and also a professor at Lakeland, is treated as he enters the famed stadium. He illustrated his feelings as the game wore on. The funny thing about the piece is that I enjoyed it without having to completely read it. I attempted to read it five times before I could make it through without daydreaming of that night. Elder's piece took me back to that game on September 24th.
The piece transported me to when I was standing in the long lines before the game and how I actually asked God to protect us that night. I thought of how I took my Green Bay Packer hat off during the Star Spangled Banner because I wanted to show respect for the nation and not just because it was routine. It recaptured the eerie feeling I had about halfway through the second quarter when I realized that an important football game was nothing more than a distraction for the events in New York. It brought the chill back to my neck as I remembered when Chris Gizzi, a reserve linebacker for the Packers and an Air Force reservist, led the green and gold from the locker room under a banner of red, white, and blue. It reminded me of the time when the crowd chanted "USA, USA!" and I finally realized what patriotism felt like. And lastly, "The Silence" took me back to the drive home when my brother-in-law (a volunteer firefighter) and I had an hour-long talk and not once brought up the Packers.
The book is being used in my class at Lakeland College, but it is unlike any textbook I have ever read. September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond is not facts and figures, but a book that brings back many of the same feelings that were felt on September 11th-fear, sadness, confusion, and disillusionment. The stories of September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond, told through the words of the book's brilliant contributors, are not meant to inform or entertain, but as Elder's "The Silence" took me back, the pieces evoke one's own remembrance of September 11th. Through the works in this book, I began to understand the feelings I felt after September 11th.
Every reader that reads this book will be transported back to September 11th. Whether the reader was watching the events unfold on television or from a New York rooftop, September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond will cause the reader to remember how they felt. That is why Americans should buy the book and the personal remembrance of September 11th is the only reason necessary to buy it. After reading September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond readers will place it on a shelf or a coffee table, but they should never leave the stories far from their conscience.

September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond is a carefully put together anthology dealing with the attacks on the World Trade Center. This compilation contains pieces written by over 100 different authors and its diverse contents allow it to appeal to a variety of people.
Stylistically it is difficult to describe September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond because the genre is so widespread. The anthology includes poems, essays, short stories, fictional stories, non-fictional stories, letters, and poems-the list could continue. Each author has their own style yet the pieces have a way of fitting together and creating an amazing collection of artist's reactions to the events on September 11th. Authors like Daniela Gioseffi makes the reader laugh because she writes about an entertaining (and touching) conversation she has with a nine year old girl while authors like Fred Moramarco makes the reader cry because the contents of his poem include the final conversations of September 11th victim's lives. The different authors attempt to affect the reader in different ways creating an extremely effective anthology.
The pieces in the compilation of writings are arranged in alphabetical order by the author's last name. This unoriginal organization is actually a very effective technique used by the editor, William Heyen, because it leaves the reader in anticipation of what is left to come. Heyen could have organized the anthology by grouping similar pieces together but this option is undoubtedly inferior to his choice of arrangement. Because every author has a different point of view and style, the reader has no idea what to expect when they begin the next piece in the anthology. The reader may find two poems similar in content back to back, or an essay followed by a memoir with contents differing from one extreme to the next. The anticipation that builds within the reader regarding the content of the upcoming pieces makes September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond a book that people do not want to set down.
It is impossible to read September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond without questioning your own view on the attacks. The anthology represents an abundance of different points of view. From Muslims to Christians, Middle Eastern people to American people, presidential supporters to presidential protestors; every view is represented. One of the most amazing things about this collection of writings is the wide range of feelings it produces. There are pieces like "the window, at the moment of flame", by Alicia Ostriker, that produce feelings of anger and disbelief in many readers because it blames the Americans for the tragedy. There are also pieces like Richard Wilbur's "Letter" that produce nationalistic feelings and recreate a true sense of love and pride for America. A person's opinion of the nation and the attacks prior to reading September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond will definitely be challenged because of this book. Pieces such as "America United", by Ishmael Reed, force even the strongest supporter of the government to reevaluate the strength of our leaders and, consequently, take a second look at their own view on the matter. Initially some of the pieces included in the anthology may produce feelings of rage because the point of view of the reader and the author differ greatly. One of the things that make this anthology as effective as it is, however, is that the differing opinions (regardless of who the reader is) will be retaliated by another piece somewhere in the book. The anthology contains such a large variety of pieces that it is impossible for a person to not be able to identify and agree with at least one of the pieces.
It is inevitable that the attacks on September 11th had an affect on every American, but what is not as certain is the effects that it had on people other than Americans. September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond helps prove that the attacks were not simply an American tragedy, but rather a world tragedy. The anthology contains non-fictional stories such as "Sisters", by Karen Blomain, in which two American sisters are spending an ordinary day shopping in a flea market when the attacks occur. In this story the tragedy brings the American sisters together to mourn with Russians, Koreans, Latinos, and Indians. Many of the authors that are included in the anthology come from different cultures. The ability of this one book to cross cultures and force any reader to see the impact the tragedy had on people other than Americans is simply amazing. After reading this book it is impossible for a person to see the attacks as affecting only Americans, but instead the book forces readers to have feelings of empathy and respect for other cultures.
September 11, 2001: American Writers Respond is one of the most moving and motivational anthologies of today. Although the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred almost two years ago, it is still hard for people to cope with the tragedy. Books like this one help people (both Americans and non-Americans) deal with the truths of the attacks and come to the realization that they are not alone in whatever they are feeling. The amazing thing about September 11, 2001: American Writer's Respond is that it has the capabilities of touching every single person's life because of its diverse content. In a time period as dangerous emotional as this, people need to find a place to turn when they feel that there is nowhere left to go. Thankfully this book can be that place for anyone.

A Confederacy of Dunces. John Kennedy Toole. New York: Grove Press, 1980. 394 pages.

It's unfortunate that John Kennedy Toole took his life before this Pulitzer Prized book was published. His unique perspectives could have been useful to better the mentality of contemporary culture. This fictional novel, valuable to any reader, focuses on the ridiculous tragedies of a hedonist society. Taking place in New Orleans, the focal point of the story is Ignatius J. Reilly, an absurdly irrational man. Throughout the whole book, Toole emphasizes the ironic connection between Ignatius' rash disgruntlement and his lack of productivity. Even though it's arduous to read at times, John Kennedy Toole's book, A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES, is of immense value.
Ignatius Reilly is a 33 year-old porcine slob who still lives with his mother. He is educated and has potential, but does little to better his withering life. When forced, Ignatius holds menial jobs, but ruins the continuance of the companies and coworkers. Mrs. Reilly, his mother, explains her son's damaging assessment as, "It's a good thing his poor poppas dead. He'd be breaking his poor father's heart with that weenie wagon."(p 202) Throughout the book, Ignatius' legendary presence is even enough to perturb the paltry existence of all the supporting characters: his mother, his employers, and several other random acquaintances. Virtually all of Ignatius' mishaps stem from his dissatisfaction with a society that won't tend to his every desire.
A parallel can be drawn with Toole's ultimate frustration with society and Ignatius' actions. The novel encompasses a vast irony that displays a pleasure seeking society that blames everything else, but neglects to mend internally. Ignatius, who is only one example of the bigger whole, lashes out and dissects every imperfection of others but refuses to work on his own varied faults. Ignatius and America are seemingly comparable: massive, manipulative, parochial, and reluctant to take negative responsibility. Toole illustrates this metaphor possibly to provoke some sort of realization, but ultimately it overwhelms him. He was a genius and Jonathan Swift in 'Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting' describes that burden best, "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
John Kennedy Toole's fictional novel, A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES, is one of merit. The 394 pages seem to drag on at times, but only to completely portray a valuable lesson; the need to focus inwardly, personally and entirely, is urgent. I recommend this book to anyone, for this kind of enlightenment must be spread in order for a revitalization of American way. I'm only sorry that Toole's perspective now only carries on through Ignatius, because it is vivid, original, and practical. A friend of Toole's, David Kubach, describes Toole's noble trouble in an autobiography, "He did not suffer fools gladly, and I think he was afraid of becoming one. He couldn't live with that."

He's obnoxious...he's opinionated...he's dysfunctional...yet under it all he is brilliant. Who is he? He's Ignatius J. Reilly, the absurd modern day philosopher who's mission is to crusade for moorish dignity and to teach the human race his worldview.

One evening in New Orleans, Ignatius and his dim-witted mother go to the Night of Joy Bar for a few drinks. On the way home, with Ignatius riding in the back seat of their 1946 Plymouth and a tipsy Mrs. Reilly behind the wheel, they crash into a building leaving it damaged and the owner furious. Mrs. Reilly is liable for payments yet has no money. The solution? She demands that her over-weight unemployed 30 year old son Ignatius, who has never held down a job get one. Reluctantly, Ignatius hits the streets of New Orleans in search of employment. When he gets his first job working in the office of Levy Pants Factory he describes himeself in his journal as a pacifist working boy.

When chaos strikes around every corner, you know Ignatius is there. First he gathers all the factory workers at Levy Pants to stage a protest against poor working conditions. Things get out of hand, a short-lived riot ensues and Ignatius's big plan backfires. He gets fired from his job and is then forced to make a living as a hot dog vendor. His mother becomes very distraught that her beloved son must stoop to, "selling weenies." One mishap after another happens as the new weenie man comes into contact with the vivid characters that rome the french quarter of the city.

I admit, I was a bit skeptical when I first picked up this book. It took a few chapters before I really got absorbed but then...WHOA! The wild storyline took off like an F-14 Tomcat cruising down the runway for a takeoff. What really makes this novel so original and comical is its colorful array of characters. There is Miss Trixie, the senile secretary for Levy Pants who refers to Ignatius as Gloria. There's Mrs. Levy, whom believes she is the next Sigmund Freud because she took a correspondence course in psychology. Also there is policeman Mansuco, a rookie cop who is assigned to work undercover in the streets of the city wearing outrageous costumes. Let's not forget Myrna Minkoff, Ignatius's female friend from college who now resides in New York City and corresponds regularly with him. Myrna is a sex-crazed hippy who is given to anti-government protests and whose ultimate goal is to see Ignatius lose his virginity. The list of lively people that cross Ignatius's path is too ample to state. Ignatius even befriends a homosexual man and unknowingly finds himself at a gay party that he thinks has been organized as a new political movement to spread his philosophical cause. All in all, this bustling novel is definitely worth a read. Fasten your seat belt and get ready to be taken on a frenzied journey!

Every once in a while, a highly touted book comes along that lives up to it's reputation. All of the praise on the cover and the inside pages, the flattering forward by Walker Percy, even the Pulitzer Prize, do not go far enough in paying homage to this rambling, raucous, comic explosion of a novel.

The theme is summed up perfectly by the Jonathan Swift quote from which John Kennedy Toole found his title: "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." Ignatius J. Reilly, the fleshy 30 year old anti-hero protagonist is this genius, a giant of a man who helps us to see the absurdity of our times and the foolishness of our pursuits. In his misadventures, the highly educated but slothful Reilly propels himself through New Orleans, leaving a trail of havoc in his wake.

This is the only book I've ever read that had me laughing uncontrollably. This is the kind of book that makes you miss your stop on the train. At the same time it is very sad, as all great books are. It is our loss that Toole committed suicide at the age of 32, before this epic tragicomedy was published and before he could add one or two more great novels to the American canon.

The movie Jeramiah Johnson has always been one of my favorites. It turns out that the true account of the life of John Jonston (his real name), though no less fascinating, is not much like the movie at all. The movie portrays a lonley man haunted by relentless attacks from the Crow Indians. This is partly true, but if you have seen the movie and think you know a little of the history of the man, you will be amazed at how much you did not know after reading the book. This was a truly violent, ruthless man, living in a time and place where those traits were not uncommon.

The book reads quickly and gives you a sense of awe for the man, and the manner which he and his companions lived. Though the book is mainly based on documented accounts of those who knew Johnston, I sometimes found parts of it hard to believe. One example is simply the sheer number of Indians this man kills throughout the book. That alone is nearly beyond belief, and I wonder if some of the accounts may have been exaggerated. That aside, the book was very enjoyable. A true taste of the harshness of the place and the people of that time. You'll never look at a liver the same after reading this book!

Possibly the best fur era book I have read. John Johnson is what the free trapper really was. If you are ready to get away from the "fantasy land" of the historical novelist, and immerse yourself in what was, this book by Thorp will bring you there. Open the book, keep your powder dry and watch your topknot. If I don't see you at the grave on Sepulveda (Big Anton's name) then I'll see you on the trail.

I have read this book a number of times. Having grown up in Wyoming, I am familiar with much of the country and many of the people described in the book. Opening this book is like going home all over again. This is not an "historical novel" but a retelling of actual events that reads better than any fictional adventure story. The best part about the book is that it turns the giants of the American West into real people, with real foibles and follies. The mountain men weren't super heroes, but regular people living a hard and dangerous life. It's an excellent snapshot of the realities of frontier life, told by the people who lived there. Thank God Raymond Thorp interviewed these men before all knowledge of their lives passed into obscurity.

I used to live in Chicago, and I can tell you that had I had this book back then, I would have visited lots of places I never knew existed or didn't fully appreciate at the time. As in most DK Travel Guides, there's lots of information, photos, maps and graphs.

Sure, the book is a bit outdated, but then again, IT'S A BOOK! In any case, the good people at DK keep updating their books from time to time.

I do have one complaint, in the fact that this book has less than half the pages that the New York book's got. Because it's less famous it doesn't mean that Chicago is less of a great city as the big apple is...

Great book, but not as great as other books from that series.

The ethnic neighborhoods, which Chicago is quite famous for, is barely mentioned and offers no instructions on how to visit them. This book is much thinner than the other Eyewitness city Guides.

Paul Johnson's A History of the Jews is the finest popular history of the Jewish people written in the English language, since the Max Dimont's "The Indestructible Jews" was published in 1971. And for that matter, it has remained so since it's publication in 1987, even though many new scholarly and popular histories have come out since then.

What Johnson does with masterful understatement is capture the sweep and drama of Jewish history, without yielding to either stereotypes or sensationalism, as well as any Jewish author has so far managed. Johnson divides the book into only seven chapters, each one matching his understanding of the ages of Jewish history: Israelites (biblical), Judaism (the formation of), Cathedocracy(Rabbinic Judaism), Ghetto, Emancipation, Holocaust, and Zion(Israel). Some other reviewers in this space have stated they feel these chapters are too long, but they are no longer than the eras of Jewish history they cover.

Of some interest to this writer, is that over half the book is devoted to the Modern period, especially to the last 2 centuries, the Enlightenment, the Holocaust and Zionism. Johnson's book, as a history of the Jews, thus is an excellent text, as well as being a good read. However, as a history of the Jewish faith, Mr. Johnson does not cover his subject anywhere near as well, especially considering that Jewish history, for many, many Jews is much more than just the action of random historical forces. For this writer in particular, as someone personally touched by the Holocaust(my father and Great uncle helped liberate concentration camps), the flow of Jewish history and Jewish faith are anything but random processes.

In my book, "Jewish History and Divine Providence" available here on Amazon, I discuss Jewish history as part of a divinely ordained, prophetically driven cyclic process, that has come to an end in our time, due to the arrival of the Messianic era. To this writer, the great wealth of prophetic and historical allusion in the Hebrew Bible, beginning in Deuteronomy Chapter 28, and continuing all through the Prophets and the Writings, provides the Jewish people, and has ever since, with a model of both ethics and history.

The patterns set in motion by the Bible and Jewish faithfulness to it, endured from then to the 20th century pivoting on Jewish fealty to prophetic ethics. The history of Jewish faith since then, was one of strenuously trying to preserve this heritage and culture, and in the modern period, trying to more broadly apply it, with unfortunately disastrous results (i.e. The Shoah). These are ideas Mr. Johnson does not touch on, but which are so much a part of the fabric with which he works, that his book is indeed deficient without them.

For the 'whole ball of wax' that is the history of both Jews and Judaism, the interested reader should purchase both A History of the Jews and Jewish History and Divine Providence. This will make both the culture of the Jews and the spiritual reasons for their survival, as clear as daylight.

This is my third book by British historian Paul Johnson. There is no question that he is an extremely talented writer and an excellent but opinionated historian. As always this combination makes for a lively and exciting read. Johnson states in the introduction that, as a believing Christian, he feels he owes much to the Jewish people who he greatly admires. He therefore felt that he wanted to write a complete history. It proves that a good Jewish history does not need to be written by a Jew. Johnson divides Jewish history into a series of epochs, each one of which consumes a part in the book. The chapters are called "Israelites" which covers the biblical period, "Judaism" which covers the period from the building of the Second Temple through the early Christian and early Islamic period, "Cathedocracy" in which Johnson deals with the experience of the Jews under medieval Christendom and Islam, "Ghetto" which deals with the late Medieval and Renaissance period in Europe. "Emancipation" which discusses the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, "Holocaust" which needs no further explanation and "Zion" which covers not only the birth of modern Israel but also the post-war Jewish experience world wide.

This book is enormously detailed and highly opinionated. Johnson's affection for the Jewish people shines through on virtually every page. Never one to hedge on a conclusion, Johnson has opinions on everyone from Abraham to Begin. My favorite chapter was the opening one, "Israelites". Here Johnson attempts to use similarities between biblical descriptions and known facts of other ancient civilzations to demonstrate that the bible, from Abraham forward is essentially historical. This section will be of enormous interest to everyone, whatever your knowledge of the bible. The Jewish saga is the human saga. It is complete with pathos, absurdity, tragedy and triumph. It is remarkable that an ancient people could survive under such hostile conditions. Really a miracle. Johnson captures the essence of that miracle. The entire book will be of interest to those with less than complete knowledge of Jewish history. It will also be excellent reading for those who have a good knowledge of Jewish history because of Johnson's excellent writing ability. This book is well worth the money.

Johnson has done it again - another one volume, readable tome that both enlightens and entertains, all from his perspective as an English Catholic. I see some have complaints: he is biased (who isn't?), Palestinians are short changed, only Western Jews were present, the book is too entertaining, too dense, etc. Hopefully, the rest of us will concentrate on the theme - that Judaism is unique and its influence on the modern world is staggering.

Johnson has given excellent treatment to both the secular and religious aspects of the history. While his Bibical renditions may strike some as simplistic, they are integrated with the story. We are told about the "hidden years" - the time before 1100 AD. The author introduces us to a variety of Jewish thinkers in the political, artisitic, scientific and above all, social realm. Judaism has always been a religion of works and deeds instead of abstract theology.

This is a story of perseverance, tragedy and hope. The horrors committed on this people are unbelievable yet they persevered. Their story is particularly apt for our time with the sharp rise of anti-semitism among leftists in both Europe and on American college campuses. Jews are being savaged because for their pro-Western orientation thus proving their incalcuble contribution to modern society.