When reading about historical events, one must consider the source. Dr. Sledge is an excellent source on the subject of Marines in combat in WWII. Dr. Sledge was really there at Peleliu and Okinawa, and on the front lines. No post-war historian could possibly describe the realities of combat with the accuracy of one who was really there. This book is a treasure not only because of its accuracy, but because it is so rare. Bookstores today are full of first-person accounts of Vietnam War veterans, but similar writings by veterans of WWII are extremely rare. If you want to read a generalized, sanitzed version of combat in the Pacific war, pick up a typical history book. However, if you want a definitive description of young American Marines fighting the ghastly horrors of combat-the worst reality of war-then this book is a must read. In my opinion, books such as this should be mandatory reading for high school students, so that they might have some understanding of how many Americans have fought and died to preserve the freedoms they now enjoy.

Author Eugene Sledge served as a mortarman with the 1st Marine Division during the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa. His devasting account of the horrors he witnessed are a must read for anyone interested in WWII. This could be the best personal memoir of combat ever written. If you want a full appreciation of what the generation of Americans who endured WWII combat went through, buy this book now.

Sledge takes the reader with him as he joins the Marine Corp, goes through boot camp, and ends up with the grizzled combat veterans of the 1st Marine Division. He takes us through his initiation of combat on Peleliu, a coral island which had some of the worst fighting, up to that point, in the Pacific. Today, there is a general belief that the battle for Peleliu was unnecessary, owing to the advancement of the schedule for the invasion of the Philippines. If this was an unneeded battle, Sledge shows in full detail the horrible sacrifice young Americans suffered.

His account of the battle of Okinawa is even more devasting. Where Peleliu was a dry, parched hell, Okinawa is a hell of rain, mud, muck and decay. Sledge is unstinting in exposing the horror and ever-present danger facing those in the frontlines. He shows the casual brutality of combat, and does not turn away from showing the hatred most Marines had for the Japanese. He shows the close bonds that develop between the members of a combat unit, the terror of shell-shocked soldiers, dodging bullets & shells on stretcher bearer duty, the stench of fighting in the middle of human decay, and the loss that is felt when friends die.

"With the Old Breed" is mandatory reading for anyone interested in WWII.

Three veterans of the First Marine Division have written accounts of WWII in the Pacific. E.B. Sledge in this book, William Manchester in "Goodbye Darkness," and Robert Leckey in "Strong Men Armed." Sledge's book gives an honest, plain spoken, first hand account of two horrific campaigns. He pulls no punches in describing the brutality and the horror, but he doesn't dwell on it. He merely describes it in a matter of fact fashion.

Leckey's book ("Strong Men Armed") doesn't dwell on personal experiences, but gives the vast panorama of the Navy/Marine Corps island hopping campaign, and helps to put Sledge's personal memoir into the context of the whole war in the Pacific.

Manchester's book ("Goodbye Darkness") reads something like the out-loud ruminations of a mental patient working through unresolved issues on the psychiatrist's couch.

Leckey is a noted military historian who has written a number of very good books on the subject. Manchester is a noted author, and of the three has the most recognizable name. Sledge, however, although not a professional writer, is the First Division alumnus who has written the best book on the Pacific War. (Leckey runs a close second and Manchester a distant third).

The Companions, as the author frequently calls them, are summoned by Prince Gwydion and the venerable wizard, Dallben, to undertake a perilous quest: to march into the stronghold of the evil Lord of Annuvin, to remove and destroy the black cauldron of heavy iron, which Arawn uses to spawn a vicious breed of Middle World Undead. We are pleased to meet again our old friends from THE BOOK OF THREE: Taran, the Assistant Pig Keeper, who longs to be considered a man, Princess Eilonwy with her ready tongue, the story-stretching bard with his fickle harp, and other faithful followers. Yet this book, #2 in a series of 5 Prydain Chronicles, retains its integrity when read alone.

Alas, pride and treachery are rampant in the land bordering Annuvin, whence the dark lord of evil reigns and schemes. Our hot-tempered hero must use both his wits and his heart his to gradually acquire wisdom in this difficult and dangerous odyssey. The small company of adventurers are eager to prove their valor and gain honor, yet they experience the inevitable personality conflicts. How will the companions ward off attacks by The Hunstmen and the foul Cauldron-born who do Arawn's bidding? And who can defeat the black beast that travels on Ellidyr's tattered shoulders?

Yet there is much more to this book than a mere succession of adventures, traps and twists of fate. Many serious themes bubble up between the mayhem that Alexander has set in motion. One reminded me of a later book, THE GIVER: "Give us--the nicest summer day you can remember!" Ah, but is it easy to part with something intangible like a dream or a memory which has become a part of onesself? And this black Crochan, as it is called, emanates evil and possessiveness towards those who think they own it--reminiscent of the ring in THE HOBBIT. Evil can completely dominate one's neutral or natural personality. Just how much will Taran sacrifice or allow his friends to sacrifice for him, in order to obtain and destroy the Black Cauldron?

Taran, Eilonwy, Gurgi, and Fluddur Fflam are back in another enchanting fantasy in the land of Prydain as described in The Book of Three.The companions set out on a journey to destroy the Black Crochan,a cauldron used to make cauldron- born zombies. Packed with action, wisdom, and courage, this is an excellent read for Princesses of Llyr, bards, princes and Assistant Pig Keepers the same.

In Lloyd Alexander's second book in his five-book series on the Land of Prydain, our brave young antagonist, Taran Wanderer, the Assistant Pig-Keeper of Caer Dallben, joins the battle host led by the honorable Prince Gwydion of Don in its quest to liberate and destroy the evil Black Crochan, an enormous iron cauldron. It is in this kettle that the dark lord, Arawn of Annuvin, creates the Cauldron-Born, his indestructible warriors, from the corpses of men. He who controls the Crochan, wields the power. Taran and his comrades must face witches in the Marshes of Morva and some surprising traitors before the climatic conclusion of this story.

Alexander weaves a masterful tale of good versus evil, with Taran wedged between, forced to choose time and again between right and wrong, loyalty and self-preservation, or blind obedience and moral obligation. This second book notches up the excitement. The plot is more curvy and better-conceived than book one. Taran's burden grows as does his reputation. Taran is one of the strongest and most likeable characters of all time, and as readers we begin to question his true origins. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes

As a fourth-grader, my teacher,Miss Cox read this book to my class, a chapter everyday after lunch in 1972. I remember how everyone was so taken by the story,even the teacher.Class read books became part of the classroom's library, and this book became the only book read to us that wehad to sign a waiting list to check out. Reading other's reviews I see that myyoung mind was far from the only one to be stirred into thoughts that still raise strong concepts:Kindness to strangers,Truth,Money and Greed,War,Law and Courts,Moral Courage, Animals,Space...Life. In Jon's world "the Door" was old and forgotten, but this book has ever been to me and many other readers. "Thank You," Mr. Key!

I remember finding this book when I was in 6th grade in my homeroom. I used to read anything and everything but this was a favorite story of mine. I asked the teacher for it and she was kind enough to say Yes and let me have it (I still do). I think the copy I have is from the 50s printed by Scholastic Books. :) I really enjoyed how the tale was told. How John can talk to animals and do other things that possibly we humans could if we just tried ;) Later I read The People by Zenna Henderson. Very similar story... I wonder if she was influenced by Key's work or if that was a common theme at the time. Her "People" are very similar to John's from The Forgotten Door. I recommend both highly.

Believe it or not, I live near the Smoky Mountains, where this book was set. I'd read the story of Jon back in my grade-school days, and was very moved, like most who read it.

It's one of those books I love--I never once thought I'd find a copy of it anywhere other than my grade-school reader. If you ever want to see what innocence and real fun are like, read "The Forgotten Door".

Do take the time to peruse all reader reviews. This is a valuable book.

It is a bit enormous, though, and there is no index. This means that if the reader has to hunt for some little reference or fact, he or she is in for a long trek through these pages. Although it is designed with many short chapters, each devoted to a design element, the sheer amount of data is somewhat daunting. Alexander does write clearly, and in an informal, second or first-person manner. But there is little summarizing. Probably an excellent book to read cover-to-cover as part of a large study project. So read this book and know it well BEFORE you talk to your architect, contractor, designer... don't do as I did and start speed reading it when the architect hands over the blue prints.

Note: Whereas feng shui is a little more mystical, Alexander's suggested design tactics make practical sense. (I gently encourage any reader trying to choose between feng shui and this book to go with the latter). Very useful concepts for anyone who wants to make the most of their living space.

One can find the answers to most of life's little (and big) problems in this classic work. It does everything from helping one determine why the backyard just doesn't feel right to describing the problems with sprawl. I hesitate to label it as an architectural work because it can be so much more. Certainly, it illustrates how architecture can play a much larger role in shaping our lives than it has during the past fifty years.

The format of the book is effective in that it allows one to follow the connections between various design rules/patterns that might otherwise not be obvious. The use of these "links" within the book could have been a source of inspiration for web designers. This book will appeal just as much to the lay person as it does to the legions of architectural professionals who use it as a guide on a frequent basis.

Part 2 of 3 part series.

This book is the dictionary for A Timeless Way of Building. The Oregon Experiment is a case study of the use of these ideas to plan a college campus.

This book is about functional design for humans rather than design for design's sake. It directly refutes the real estate industry's insistence on neutral design for quick sale (which is the industry's goal - not the goal of a homeowner!) It promotes design which fits the needs and desires of the user, not the developer or architect. The philosophy involves the users heavily in the process of design, permitting integrated design without requiring comprehensive knowledge of all interacting factors on the part of the designers, it is a way of modularizing the design process into smaller, comprehensible units which can be understood and discussed in a useful way.

You will not be disappointed in reading these books.

Yes, it's dated a bit, especially in it's language approach to social issues.

Yes, it's Utopian, but not impractical.

No, all of the patterns do not apply to all people in all places, but then, they are not intended to.

What is important is the basic premise: That physical environment design can either promote community or divide people. That there exist basic patterns of interaction between people, buildings, roads and environment.

No, you cannot just change your entire community overnight into a utopia (mores the shame) however, these books can help to redefine how your community grows and develops to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community.

All of the research is fairly old, but it is research into basic human actions and reactions to their surroundings - not something which is subject to a great deal of change - examples cover several thousand years.

If you're tired of strip malls, rampant development for development's sake, neighborhoods without character or community, irritating traffic patterns, multiple hour commutes, buildings which are uncomfortable to live and work in or just interested in improving your corner of the world, read these books and apply some of the principles wherever you feel they will fit your life.

I own multiple copies and recommend it highly.

And Judith Viorst has created one of them. I didn't know who the author was until just today but Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day has been my all time favorite book since I can remember. Of course to all my adult friends, I would rather die than admit it. Even today, when I am having just one of those awful days, I tell people I am having an "Alexander" day. I think it also developed my love for poetry.
You hear all the time how it is important for kids to read, but it is just a cliche, it has lost all meaning. It is when you stop and think about authors like Judith Viorst or Dr. Seuss and how I know for myself it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have such a deep love for the written word and its magic it brings that you see its true value. Alexander is a classic, just as much as Moby Dick or Oliver Twist and everyone with a sense of whimsy (and especially those without it) need to read it.
I was reading another book Mrs. Viorst wrote and when I found out she wrote my beloved Alexander book, my face lit up. That's the power of Alexander, he makes 33 year old women's faces light up as they recall his tale of plight. (And a note to Alexander: I talked to my cousins in Australia, and your mother was right, they do have those kind of days there too. LOL)

I am a teacher and I read this book to my 5th and 6th grade classes each year when I have had a horrible day myself. We all get a very good laugh because we ALL have days like Alexander, from getting squished in the car, to "accidently" calling Australia (his dad prefers that they don't pick him up at the office anymore). Each kid gets a big kick from Alexander's comment that there is "kissing on television, and I hate kissing." We even make our own very bad day books when necessary. This is a must read for teachers and parents of kids of any age!

Viorst does her best work on this children's book. It hits the High Quality Picture Book Criteria right on the head. Her use of illustrations are wonderfully clever, accurate and appropriate. A child can sit and listen to this book while exploring the illustrators creativity. The illustrations compliment the setting and the plot perfectly. While I read and evaluated the book, I admired all the great detail involved on every page. The pictures definately enhance the quality of the book. One can picture the story in their head easily due to the great extent of artwork involved. I found no biases of any sort. Along with the illustrations the plot and characters are life-like and believable. A child could definately rationalize and understand the story. Considering everyone has a bad day every now and then the theme is wonderful. Especially for a young child and even adults reflecting back on this story can be a stress reliever. I recommend this book because I feel that readers of all ages could relate to this book. It is very cleverly written and created. The language is appropriate for all therefore it can be enjoyed by all ages. The book (story line and illustrations) just flow. Sometimes you can't help but read it again! Alexander's bad day is assured to bring a smile to your face.

I am a die hard Linda Howard fan. Because I was running out of LH novels to read, I started reading authors whose style compared to LH. I read a good many of them based on reviews on amazon.com and none seemed to make me squeal with anticipation as I turned the pages.
Then I read Paradise by Judith McNaught and I have truly found an author equal to LH. The story of Meredith and Matt are imprinted in my mind because their love was so beautiful.
There were "magic" or poignant moments that will stick in my mind forever. From their first encounter in her father's library, to the moment Meredith revealed to Matt what really happened 11 years ago, to the moment Meredith realizes with clarity that it is Matt she wants and not her precious B&C.
This was definately an all-nighter. My head still aches because I had all but 4 hrs to sleep (good thing it was a Saturday evening). However, it was well worth it!!! I look forward to conquering the rest of JM's books.

I have to admit. I was skeptical about this book in the beginning. The description at the back sounded boring and the length didn't help either but I told myself ' What the heck, just give it a try ' In the end I was totally captivated by the very true and everlasting love that was experienced between Matt and Meredith. Their story touched my heart and made me yearn for a love like theirs. If I had only 1 wish in the world, I will wish to be Meredith Bancroft. I guess the same goes out to many of you too, right? Anyway, I've read all of JM's books and my favorites are Paradise, Whitney my Love and Once and Always. I think that these 3 books have truly captured the essence of true love. I'm desperately awaiting the release of Water's Edge. I can't wait ! I've tried other romance authors but I feel that JM's still the best! Keep up the good work and keep on writing good books......=)

I must confess I love all of her books. When I read "Paradies" & "Perfect" I became slave of love. I fell in love with all the characters. I just wish one of these stories will made into a TV movie for lifetime. If anyone out there has not read any of her book with eyes close I strongly recommend these two books then you'll let me in your review. you will laugh, cry then there will be time you want to kill them all then you turn the page and you just fall in love over and over again. in paradise my favorite scene is the meeting between Meridith and Matt at his place she went to tell him the truth about the baby. I cried and cried along with them. I read that scence so many time the pages of the book just disappear on me. if you're going on vacation stop by a book store take Matt, Mer & Zack, Julie with you believe me you won't regret it. I thought "whitney my lovve" was it until I read these 2. judith keep up the good work and if you could write a little more often it will help. some of us are suffering waiting for the next novel. I felt she takes an eternity after "Remember When" came out until "Night Whispers". but you're my # 1 author. Love always your fan

This book, The High King, by Lloyd Alexander, the 5th and last book of the "Prydain" series, is filled with action and suspense. The first four books lead up to this one with Taran, Assistant Pig Keeper, gaining friends, courage and manhood. Now Taran and his friends put everything at risk to save Prydain, the mystical kingdom they live in. Arawn, Death Lord, steals the most powerful weapon in Prydain, "Dyrnwyn", a flaming sword. Now the valiant men in Prydain must fight to get it back. The High King is an excellent book because of the action and suspense. There are 4 major battles in the book. It also shows the hardships away from the battlefield Taran and his friends encounter. Love, personal deaths, and other things are twirled in with the main action theme. Lloyd Alexander also tosses magic into the cauldron, enhancing the story greatly. The magic makes it so much more mystical. In addition, having it in a medieval setting makes the battles less just shooting and more strategy. It also has large type and is easy to read. * Some people may not agree with my opinion of the book, mainly because it is gory. But it is not just blood but action. The gore is necessary because it comes from deathless warriors, who are a huge factor in the book. Without them, the book would not be as good. When you read it. You will find that The High King is an excellent book, with much action.

*In the Yearling edition of the book.

I've loved Lloyd Alexander's classic series ever since I read "The Book of Three" in elemantary school. A well-chosen Christmas gift from my parents ensured that I got my hands on the next four books, concluding with "The High King".

One of the strengths of this series is that the characters learn and grow from one book to the next; it's great to see Taran from "The Book of Three", who reminds me rather of myself at that age (*grin*) grow up to take the responsibilities he has earned by the end of "The High King".

Alexander's use of Welsh mythology is excellent and for the most part right on target, though Arawn isn't quite as malevolent a figure in myth as he is in the Chronicles of Prydain, and the Gwydion of the Mabinogion is as much a trickster as he is a hero. (This isn't really a criticism; these are books for children, and I know that making Arawn and Gwydion more ambiguous characters would have confused me when I was younger.) The Triple Goddess, the people of Twylyth Teg, the people of Llyr--they're all here, forming a seamless and very real-feeling backdrop to the main characters' adventures.

Older readers may be interested in checking out the Mabinogion, the main body of Welsh myth that has survived the ages, after finishing this series. Gwyn Thomas and Kevin Crossley-Holland's "Tales from the Mabinogion" is an excellent edition to try, with beautiful illustrations.

Overall, the Chronicles of Prydain remain among my favorite stories, with "The High King" the best of the lot. I highly recommend them.

The High King is a Newbery award winner in a series of 5 books (The High King is last book in the series). Starting with the mystical and astonishing book The Book of Three, this series builds over time and forces the reader to read these books again after time. The book starts off with Taran, once a cowardly assistant pig keeper. After the other books he develops the skills needed for a warrior, and is now grown up into a majestic character with the other characters met and discovered in the other books. The saddest and dreadful book in the series, the story must end, and main characters that played an important role are enforced in this book, ending the series once and for all. This book is the final attack made towards the Death Lord, and seals the paths for epilogues, but leaves room for the past to be revealed. The series read together make a great connection towards each other, and answers all unanswered questions that remain in the readers' head. This adventure plots all the characters from previous journeys, and makes a perilous excursion for the fantasy readers. Just like any series, what happens in the past controls the future. This book, read with the series or alone, provides adventure for any age. The fantasy based book implanted on the fundamentals of a welsh legend shows how people can react sometimes, or how much their customs make notice in front of intelligence and common sense.

What ever faults "Gulag Archipelago" may have, it is a monumental and important work. For anyone who does not know the meaning of the title, "Gulag" is the Russian word for prison, and an archipelago is, of course, a chain of islands. The idea behind this is that the Soviet concentration camp system under Lenin and Stalin were like an island of prisons spread all over the Soviet Union.

The content of "Gulag Archipelago" is quite extraordinary. Solzhenitsyn includes countless anecdotes of prisoners and their families in various phases of arrest, interrogation, imprisonment, slave labor, death, or release. He buttresses these stories with statistics, and with his own personal narrative of his years in the Gulag. The information in this book is simply staggering, not only for the cruelty and evil it describes but also the folly. The Soviet government murdered indiscriminately across all lines of race, class, and gender. In many cases, it murdered the most brilliant and productive members of its society--the very people who could have built it into something great.

Many people take umbrage with Solzhenitsyn's style, which involves a lot of ranting and run-on footnotes. Personally, I find his narrative interesting and invigorating. Solzhenitsyn's narrative is vigorous, untrammeled and loaded with sarcasm. While many find this gimmicky or uncultured, it helped buoy me through the unbearable sadness of the book's subject matter.

Obviously this book isn't for everybody and it requires a considerable degree of fortitude to get through it. But I think it is essential in all our lives to read this book or one similar to it.

It is a rare occurrence in the history of the human race when a truly great man rises up from the masses and passes on to the rest of us an eternal truth or knowledge that will serve as a testament against the forces of evil. Alexander Solzhenitsyn must certainly rank as one of these great men. All people who live in freedom should speak his name with reverence, and all should read the unabridged edition of 'The Gulag Archipelago,' the author's indictment against the most evil creation mankind ever fashioned: Marxist-Leninist Communism.

Like other great men, Solzhenitsyn's early life gave little indication of the monumental importance he would one day achieve. But one day, while serving as an officer in the Soviet army during WWII, something happened to our author that happened to so many others under the Soviet regime: Solzhenitsyn was arrested for insubordination, sentenced to eight years, and thrown into the gaping maw of the Gulag prison system. Unfortunately for the memory of the 'Great Father' (read Joey Stalin), this obscure army officer lived to tell the tale of all he saw and heard during his imprisonment. The result is the voluminous three volume series presented here in translation. 'The Gulag Archipelago' serves as both an indictment of the evil Soviet regime and as a memorial for the untold millions who died in the camps.

The overarching theme of this book is the process, from start to finish, of internment in the Gulag system. Starting with the dreaded 'knock in the middle of the night,' the author traces the nightmare of incarceration through the interrogation, the sentencing, the transportation to the prison camps, the grinding work conditions of the camps, and the eventual release into eternal exile or tentative freedom. Solzhenitsyn repeatedly delves into historical analysis, biography, journalism, philosophical musings, and literature to present his account. What emerges is page after page of heartrending suffering that is nearly incomprehensible to any sane human mind. The endless accounts of cruelty sicken the soul and should strike anyone who thinks communism is a great system of government deaf and dumb.

Volume one begins the harrowing odyssey into madness, outlining Solzhenitsyn's own arrest, the endless waves of people that fed the prison system, the interrogation procedures used to elicit false confessions to meaningless crimes, the dreaded Soviet criminal code containing the notorious 'Article 58' under which millions went to jail as political prisoners, the disintegration of the Soviet legal system to what basically amounted to a rubber stamp type of sentencing, and the transportation of prisoners via train to the eastern reaches of the Soviet empire.

Volume two deals mainly with camp life, with all of the trials and travails a person faced and how people struggled to survive. It is here we learn about Stalin's canal building projects and the thousands who died to fulfill the sick dreams of a ruthless sociopath. We see the horrible rations prisoners were forced to survive upon while having their ears filled with disgusting propaganda about how their work was important in helping to create the worker's paradise. The second volume also contains a history about how the gulag system emerged and how it spread, a discussion about loyal communists who so internalized the party belief system that they refused to believe Stalin sold them out, and chapters about the different types of people confined to the gulag (trusties, thieves, kids, women, and politicals).

Volume three focuses mostly on prisoner defiance of the terrible conditions in the prisons, discussing escape attempts (especially Georgi Tenno, a hero to the human race and indefatigable in his disobedience of the Soviet authorities), and outright prison revolts where the entire population of a prison banded together against the common evil. We then see Solzhenitsyn's release into exile and his ultimate 'rehabilitation' after the death of Stalin and the rise of Khrushchev and his 'moderate' reforms. The series ends with a call for more investigations into Soviet atrocities committed in the gulags.

No summary could completely outline the scope of this book; so enormous is the amount of detail held in these pages. The reader is tirelessly assailed with the names of those butchered under the hammer and sickle. Predictably, most of the blame for these murders falls on Comrade Stalin, author of the kulakization pogroms, the endless political purges, and the continuous sufferings inflicted on the various peoples under his control. Always referring to this beast in the most insolent and sarcastic tones imaginable, Solzhenitsyn rightly calls Stalin 'Satan.' Hitler was a mere schoolboy when held up to the unholy terror of the 'great' Dzhugashvili.

Still, one gets the sense of the majesty and power of the great Russian people in these accounts. Nothing will keep these people down for long. Everything the camps threw at these many of these wondrous creatures failed to break their spirit. They figured out how to lessen the back breaking labor of the camps, learned how to stay alive on rations barely fit for a dog, struggled to escape the chains that bound them to the death camps. Although the author laments the docility of those serving sentences, there are enough tales of bravery and defiance to warm the most cynical heart.

I highly recommend reading the unabridged version of 'The Gulag Archipelago.' There used to be an abridged version of some 900 pages floating around, but only the 2000-page edition brings home the full scope of the evils of communism. Accessibility is a problem, but stare into the eyes of Yelizaveta Yevgenyevna Anichkova on page 488 in the first volume and tell me her memory does not deserve an effort on your part to read every page of one of the most important books ever written.

I read this work while doing research in preparation for my senior Western Civilization presentation. Most students struggle to locate primary sources of any merit, it was not so when I found The Gulag Archipelago. Not only did I find that it provided me with an understanding of the Soviet penal system, Solzhenitsyn also manages to bring his words to life using his own experiences and recognizing his own faults. I would recommend this book to any student who didn't mind wading through long tirades and could fully appreciate the style the author uses to make his statement.

Cartoon History presents a large amount of information at a rapid clip and keeps you laughing the whole time. Topics that may have seemed boring in history class (or weren't addressed at all) will suddenly spark the imagination and leave you wanting to read more. Thick history presented in the exact opposite of dry textbook style, all high school and college students should own a copy of this book! (Gonick doesn't pull punches about the graphic violence and bizarre sexuality of our history, so parents should exercise discretion about handing this book to younger students.) Gonick also shows intriguing perspectives that you won't get in the average, mainstream textbook market; and he especially gives women a voice they normally do not have. Hopping all over the globe for more than white man's western civ, this book and its sequel open up history in a startling and energized way. I highly recommend keeping a copy on your reference shelf.

Want to read about history without reading about history? Buy this book! Not only does is serve up science in a way to keep you awake but it slices up history into easy to swallow portions too. If you find chapters or subjects that pique your interest beyond that provided by the witty cartoon panels, the book has the most extensive bibliography (with reviews!) you could ask for. I bought my copy many years ago and it drove me to reread all those Greek Classics that I slept through while I was in school! It is apparent that portions of the Ancient Greece section was drawn earlier when Mr. Gonick was developing his style. His wit is trenchant in all the chapters in a way to make the reader think. Summary: I wish I had this book when I was in school...

This volume of world history in comic book form is priceless! The artwork is not the greatest, but it is certainly competent and accomplishes its job. But what makes this book worthwhile is its alternative take on history. Instead of focusing on stories about famous conquerors (although they are not ignored), it is about what history must have been like for the average person, all with a rather biting, cynical sense of humour. For example, it shows WHY Socrates was hated so much (because, like such 1960s gurus as Timothy Leary he helped turn young people into rebellious thinkers who questioned the sacredly held opinions of their parents, whether or not Socrates did so intentionally). Gonick turns historic figures into living, breathing people instead of mere acts or ideas.

The Cartoon History doesn't quite reach the level of social criticism of A People's History of the United States, nor will it tear down your current understanding of historic events, but it still manages to be very iconoclastic merely by pointing out the silliness of humans throughout history (illustrating how little we've changed!) and through its more 'common person's' perspective.

This book, The Count of Monte Cristo, is an engrossing tale of loyalty, revenge, and obsession that can still teach lessons today. Edmond Dantes seems set for life: the young man is now the captain of a ship, his best friends are his father and his boss, Morrel, and he is set to be married to a beautiful girl named Mercedes. But two men, Danglars and Fernand, are jealous of him for different reasons (Danglars for his job, Fernand for his fiancee). This jealousy comes in the form of a conspiracy so that both will be benefited: a letter is written saying that Dantes is a Napoleonic agent (he is not). He is further crossed by the ambitious magistrate de Villefort, who destroys the only piece of evidence because it implicates his father and sends him to prison, using the Napoleonic phobia of the time. While there, he meets the brilliant yet enigmatic Abbe Faria, who teaches him several languages and they collaborate on how to escape. The Abbe has an attack, he tells Dantes to leave without him, so he does. But before the Abbe dies, he tells Dantes about the magnificent treasure of Monte Cristo, and then the adventure begins as Dantes gets the treasure and lives extravagantly for a while, then he comes to pay vengeance to his enemies and rewards to his friends. This book is quite long, but I could not imagine it being shorter: it is the perfect size for the story. This is one of the best books of all time for a reason, and I would highly recommend it to anybody interested in adventure.

The Count of Monte Cristo is the best book I've read in quite a long while. I wasn't expecting it to be. Frankly, I tend to have low expectations for 19th-century European novels in regard to sheer readability. Like vegetables and trips to the dentist, they tend to be more good for you than simply good. Add in the fact that the unabridged version is over 1000 pages, and I felt sure that the Count would be a somewhat difficult companion.

Nothing could be farther from the truth! Edmond Dantes' adventures kept me fully engrossed from beginning to end. I was disappointed to turn the final page, left longing for more.

If you've seen a movie version of Count of Monte Cristo, expect surprises. I had seen both the Richard Chamberlain and Jim Caviezel versions before reading the book (mmmm . . . Jim Caviezel), but neither were entirely true to the storyline or the mood of the original.

Edmond himself is a thoroughly satisfying and seductive hero. (The reader must take with a grain of salt the numerous references to his drug habit; at the time, opium was unfortunatly de rigeur for a Romantic hero.) The secondary characters are equally engrossing, from the admirable Maximilian Morrel to the villainous Danglars; and the ingenious machinations by which Edmond contrives to reward the deserving and doom the guilty make the chapters fly by.

I would encourage everyone to be sure and get the unabridged version of this masterpiece. It is by no means slow or ponderous, and the thought of what must be left on the cutting room floor to reduce this book to half its size makes me wince.

If you enjoy literature, then you must read The Count of Monte Cristo. In this book, a young sailor named Edmond Dantès is arrested on false charges of treason. He spends the next fourteen years in prison trying to figure out how to exact complete revenge on his enemies. Once he gets out of prison he begins his quest for vengeance. The author, Alexandre Dumas, portrays this struggle for vengeance by mixing action and serenity together. By using both, Dumas makes the character seem like a real person. Throughout the entire book I felt like I knew Edmond Dantès feelings. Dumas' writing style made Edmond Dantès come alive. Instead of being on the outside watching in, I felt like I was in the middle of all the action. By making the reader feel like a part of the book, Dumas gets the reader involved in the plot; this makes the reader not want to stop reading. The Count of Monte Cristo continually makes you think about the characters and the plot. As the reader, I observed a great battle of intellect between the main characters, and this strife makes the book enjoyable to read. You constantly wonder who will get the upper hand. This book, with its many levels, will make a reader lose him or her self in the book. I read the abridged edition, which sometimes made me feel like I had missed an important detail or event. Other than this small drawback, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. I recommend The Count of Monte Cristo to anyone who enjoys reading books with an entertaining story and believable plot.