The Human Web is an excellent summary of human history. It is indeed a bird's eye view in that it looks at the broad overall sweep of human affairs and doesn't bog down in unnecessary detail. The major theme is the construction and expansion of human webs, or interconnections that tie cultures and civilizations together ever more tightly. If space voyagers ever arrived on Earth (and could read a human language) this book would be one of the first things I hope we hand them to help them understand us.

In my limited readings on desertification (about 10 books), this is the only book that covers desertification comprehensively. While other books tell you that desertification is a long-term land degradation and is caused by mismanagement of land, this book covers the climatic factor as well. How climate influences the hydrologic cycle, vegetation and soil, and how in turn these factors affected by human actions lead to qualitative changes in soil and vegetation. It also suggests a few steps towards mitigating desertification. In overall, this book deserves a 5!

This book covers the 1986 season of The Stratford Festival, from the first day of rehearsal of each production. Actually, it starts prior to the season with the selection of John Neville as artistic director.
Mr Gaines has comments from the cast, directors, designers and others that give a real insight as to what goes into putting all the productions together, on both the artistic and financial side.
This is a fascinating look at the world of one of North America's most respected theatre companies.

"Oct. 22nd, 1837. 'What are you doing now?' he asked, 'Do you keep a journal?'-- So I make my first entry today." Thus begins Thoreau's Journal, made up of more then two million words and covering about twenty-five years of his life. No other work of Thoreau's better exhibits his discipline as a writer and his devotion to the natural world. In the Journal can be found the fragmented foundations of masterpieces such as Walden, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, The Maine Woods, and Cape Cod. But what is perhaps more interesting to a reader of Thoreau's Journal are his thoughts and insights on topics such as friendship, love, religion, nature, bravery, heroism, war, slavery, the art of writing, and, most important to Thoreau, the art of living. Anyone with any interest in Thoreau will find his Journal to be an invaluable aid in understanding and following the life of one of America's most profound prose writers

That Kilvert's Diary: 1870-1879 has gone through several different editions since its first appearance in three volumes in 1938-1940 is testimony to the classical quality of the diary. I think that perhaps someday I should like to obtain and read the entire three volume edition. This edition by William Plomer and published by David R. Godine of Boston is an especially beautiful edition, with illustrations and reproduced pictures of various buildings, settings and plant life of the border country of Wales and Wiltshire in England where the quiet, rustic action takes place. Kilvert was a thirty year old bachelor Anglican country clergyman when he began his diary and only thirty nine when death ended it. There is a charming innocence, purity, simplicty and yet depth in the diary entries. A poetic gift underlies and permeates the clear English prose of the writer. Francis Kilvert made his kindly, observant ways among all classes of his parishes, being particularly susceptible to feminine beauty. He died suddenly five weeks after finally marrying.

Can't wait to see this one. Lilla and Dworkin is like a collaboration between Ken Vandermark and Wynton Marsalis.

Oh how we need to soak in this instruction by Spurgeon ! He always uses God's word as his tool, for therein lies the power. If you read this book, the Holy Spirit will show you in your own heart the work and revival in YOU HE is wanting to do. He is Able and He is willing. Spurgeon seems a giant in the faith~but he is always humble, sharing with his readers his own need for the very things he writes. Get this book..seek the Lord...and let the revival begin with you !

Lewis "Buck" Crook was my grandfather. For me, my brothers, my cousins, and the rest of my family, the Crook Book, as it is affectionately known, is a great source of pride. I developed a web site dedicated to the life and work of Buck Crook. A number of pictures from the Crook Book are featured there.

I first met Robert Smith while serving a mission for the LDS church in Albuquerque. He is a great guy. I bought an autographed copy of his first book when I left and I have been hooked ever since. Rob is a gifted writer with a creative flair for metaphor. If you are frustrated with the trashy humor taking over out there, then read this book and all of his others. If you love small towns, live in one or know somebody from hickville, this is for you. If you are Mormon, or if you even know any Mormons, you'll love it.

I am a student of Dr. McGoldrick and reading this book was a requirement of his class. It was a rather enlightening book which gave a brief overall picture of the history of the Bible. It starts with pre-Tyndale times and factors in Robert Barnes and Martin Luther and then follows through with Myles Coverdale acquiring permission from King Henry VIII to publish a version of Tyndale's Bible. It is a matter-of-fact book which helps to view the struggles of those early translators of the Bible.