Reminiscent of the Hardy Boys books in feel and style. The reading level is suitable for pre-teens. The story was entertaining and should prove interesting to young boys (it has it all - a ghost, old house to explore, pirates and a dog, what more could you ask).

The historical elements provide a moderate overview of pirate life along the American coast in the early eighteenth century and seem fairly accurate without introducing some of the more unsavory elements of pirate reality. The historical figures involved, Edward Teach (Blackbeard) and Isreal Hands, are fairly true to life; Blackbeard may even be more realistic than the demonic depiction in Captain Charles Johnson's A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates.

Included in the book are various elements like a short biography of Edward Teach, a guide to ship's rigging, and a timeline. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to children with an interest in pirates.
P-)

Although not intended specifically for living history, this is an excellent work for the American Civil War Re-enactor who is getting started and wishes to strive for historical accuracy in a cavalry role. The period pictures and accounts show all types of uniforms, weapons, gear and procedures that a new cavalryman would need to know. The book also makes good contrasts between different gear at different stages in the war, so you can illustrate the difference between a volunteer in 1861 vice a regular in 1865. At first, I wasn't sure if the gear I had purchased from a sutler was correct, but after seeing this book, I now know that it was, and exactly how to wear and use it.
It is also a good read for the general history buff, with many good color paintings mixed in with period B&W photos.

Mind numbing laundry lists of dates and squadron losses presented in narrative format, making it incredibly boring to read and impossible to use as a reference. No maps or tables, and a lot of information is repeated through the book as though it hadn't been edited. STAY AWAY.

This book is the best book on the Battle of Britain that I have ever come across. With small info on all the participating pilots in The Battle of Britain, the aircraft used by both the Luftwaffe and the RAF, and a day in the life of both RAF and Luftwaffe pilots... this book is deffinatly worth seeking out- regardless of the cost! It has a brilliant forward by Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling (whom I greatly admire, along with Douglas Bader, Johnnie Johnson, and a few others), it is described in the best way possible. It is deffinatly a must get!

I found this book to be superb. It is not a day-by-day laundry list of actions. Rather, it gives an overview of the Battle, and then breaks it down into several components. For instance, there is a chapter about the RAF leading up to late 1940, and then a succeeding chapter that goes over the development history of four planes they used, the Hurricane, Spitfire, Defiant, and Blenheim; with cutaway draweings of the two main fighters. Next is a chapter on the Luftwaffe, followed by a breakdown of the Bf109, Bf110, He111, Do17, and Ju88. And so on. What I found most fascinating was a breakdown of the fighter and bomber tactics used by each side, with numerous illustrations. There are a number of sidebars listing things like codewords both sides used over the radio. There are several sections written by actual pilots who fought in the Battle.

This is not a detailed book meant for the historical researcher. It is an overview of the Battle, quite detailed in some areas, with lots of glossy photos, drawings, and maps. I learned a lot of minutiae (flaws in one plane's radios, pecularities of this or that engine, and so on), more than I've seen in any other book intended for a similar audience. I highly recommend this book.

This is a great reference tool for future counselors... It goes step by step though everything from the intake interview to personality assessment. However, it's a little dry and does not offer a lot of pratical information for a typical person. This book is for people who are presently (or are studying to be) counselors or clinicans. You won't find any information about forming better relationships or self-help.

This book aims at helping the practicing counselor in choosing, administering and interpreting psychological assessment procedures and it does its task well! It's not a desk manual for the tests themselves, but teaches you about the nature and use of psychological testing, measuring concepts and testing interpretation in sufficient detail so that I recommend it as first choice if you are considering using assessment tools in your counseling practice. Counseling education should make a book like this one "required reading".

The body of the book (some 340 pages) gives a good overview of what the different types of questionnaires aim at. This includes chapters on intelligence testing, career choice testing, values and interests, personality, and mental health assessment. Finally, the last section covers professional considerations such as minority testing and testing of special populations, communication of test results and ethical and social issues. All by all, this is a pretty complete book for what a counselor will typically need.

Of course, a book review is not complete without some suggestions for improvement. Having been building questionnaires for jobEQ.com over the last year as part of my PhD, I certainly have some recommendations. First, those that know me you might expect me to look for a link to emotional intelligence. Well, for a book revised in 2002, I found it a bit disappointing that some types of tests such as competence tests (e.g. testing for emotional intelligence) and 360° feedback instruments seem to be missing. Secondly, linked to my view as an "outsider" living in Europe, even if it treats "cultural aspects" this book is less useful at this side of the ocean, because, for instance, most instruments discussed are not translated into most European languages, let alone have European Standard Groups. Thirdly, the book isn't very critical about validity. I'd preferred it if it was more outspoken on the validity of certain tests. Also the book would be easier to digest if it included a few extra cases. And a last thing to mention is the huge difference between what the American Counseling Association (ACA) members pay for this book, and the list price "outsiders" have to pay.

When not to buy this book? As indicated in this review and in the book's title, this book is aimed at counselors. If you want to a more theoretical book, helping you to evaluate tests from a test design perspective, I'd rather recommend "Psychological Testing" by Kaplan & Saccuzzo (even if that is a *very* expensive book).

Conclusion:
if you are a counselor, this book is a "must have" Especially if you can buy it at the price offered to you as a member of the American Counseling Association, it will be a "no-brainer" investment.

Patrick Merlevede, MSc - author of "7 Steps to Emotional Intelligence"

i felt the book very informitive, but lack step by step procedures. but overall its a good book to start with if your considering a home job.

This book is a great primer for anyone interested in car body modification,and provides a good overview of the techniques used,as well as things to consider,when planning a top chop.It covers a variety of different body types.

The premise is good, but the book simply moves from topic to topic too quickly. The author seems to delight in pointing out these untrue myths and legends, and he is able to document these claims via footnotes and bibliography, but there is no in depth discussion of these myths. Instead the book is full of disjointed sentences which form very short chapters and then your on to the next topic. For a more scholarly approach to the same topic, try "Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong" by James Loewen

As with most TV series you get statements with out support. So I tracked down the Richard Shenkiman book to get some background to the statements about American myths. I was not disappointed. It is as if he was reading this book on the TV with more graphic representations for the different media.

The book is worth reading. However the format may not be to some peoples liking as it is short choppy statements and the chapters are divided into subjects as, Discoverers and Inventors, Presidents, Sex, and Art.

There is a fair set of footnotes to lead you to further reading. You may need this as he sometimes stretches a point.

Final analysis, you are better off reading this to give a better perspective on reality. Read it to your kids and save them a lifetime of "Legends, Lies & Cherished Myths of American History".

I agree with the reader from Atlanta. This book really IS superficial in a lot of ways, but I am not sure it was the author's intent to make this an in depth academic study in the first place. The contents certainly deliver on the title's promise. I used this book as a reader in a Japanese university English class precisely because it wasn't so daunting or detailed. The students loved it. One of them transferred elsewhere and went on to get an advanced degree in American history! I think Mr. Shenkman can take some credit for that.

Officially, this book is taken for the work of Captain Charles Johnson. It is a compilation of narratives about various individual pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy, names like Blackbeard and Bartholomew Roberts (the dread pirate Roberts, from Princess Bride fame), Anne Bonny et al.

The conclusion that Defoe and Johnson were one and the same has come under fire these last few years and is not the accepted fact it once was. This text includes portions of the original volumes by Johnson, but not the whole, although it can be argued that it includes the stories that most readers would want. There is also some question about the validity of the stories, but we may never know whether they are true or fiction. P-)

This is yet another of the knock-offs of Captain Charles Johnson's General History of Pirates. It includes narratives of all the old favorites: Blackbeard, Kidd, Roberts, Bonny and others. As usual, Johnson's prose is preserved and some of the original illustrations grace the pages. The editor/publisher has includes a glossary, bibliography and notes to the original text.

However, the down side of this particular volume is that it includes only a subset of Johnson's original writings. And, there is no added index with which to quickly reference particular names and such. While I don't quite agree that the editor has ruined the original, I do find that this version falls short of its potential. P-)

As in the case of all Daniel Defoe books, the work is of exceptional quality though in places, the tone is unusually harsh & chillingly descriptive of the havoc that a twisted mind can wreak in the world.

The history is told from the viewpoint of the adminbistration, not the student. This absence of the students'viewpoint is the major weakness. The first part deals with Colonial History up to the early 20th century when W&M became a public institution. As W&M has an extraordinary history, filled with war at the doorstep, constant struggle just to survive, the story is essentially interesting. The most informative part of the second section when the college is public is the insight into funding of a public university and the stupidity of some government officials, as the state auditor who recommended in the 1940s as I recall that all donated money be credited to the state. The contrary argument, which won, was that that would simply kill all donations to the college. This is a good book for libraries and may be used by students of American history to benefit.

Although not as scholarly and thorough as Steven Foster's book on Echinacea, this book is a good introduction to Echinacea.

Faith Cross's mother is dying. Before she releases her spirit, the woman entreats her daughter to search for the "good thing" then she dies. Thus begins the metaphysical journey of Faith as she attempts to find the good thing. Author Charles Johnson introduces us to a woman who is not satisfied with the medicrity of life but is determined to find something far more meaningful. She wants the good thing but finding out what it is becomes her dilemma.

Faith is led into poverty, prostitution, and false promises that look like the good thing but disappoints her every time. This tale is told through the lens of folklore, philosophy
and religion. Johnson's attempt to weave all of these elements together confuses and weakens the story. The reader is never sure of just what is happening with Faith.

Johnson's characters spew out philosophical musings about the good thing but are unable to sort out their own lives. Although the musings are good, they fail to capture the attention of the reader and fall flat. I enjoyed Faith who like many of us are on the same journey seeking the good thing. Defining what the good thing is and getting it are the challenges that faces everyone. Unfortunately, Johnson was unable to clearly articulate this through this tale but it was a good effort.