The first book by John T. Noonan, Jr., that I read was his tour de force, Contraception: A History of Its Treatment by the Catholic Theologians and Canonists, which I finished reading on June 5, 1967, finding it an exemplary study of a fascinating subject. On June 16, 1973, I read his Power to Dissolve: Lawyers and Marriages in the Courts of the Roman Curia. Each year I pick a book which I consider the best book I read that year. For the year 1973 I awarded Power to Dissolve the greatest book of the 55 books I read that year. When I saw The Lustre of Our Country I knew I could not go wrong reading it, and I was right. Other reviewers have written well of the book, but even if you do not read the entire book--its chapters are able to stand alone--read Chapter 7, entitled "The Pilgrim's Process." It is a dazzling and devastating critique of the Supreme Court's meanderings in dealing with the religion provisons of the First Amendment. This is an excellent book, and anyone interested in its subject will be rewarded in reading it.

One of the ironies of American Constitutional history is that many of our greatest jurists have never had the opportunity to sit on our highest court. One thinks of such obvious examples as Learned Hand, John Johnston Parker,Arthur Vanderbilt, Roger Traynor, and John Minor Wisdom. John T,. Noonan, currently a senior judge with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, clearly deserves to be ranked in this select company( as does his philosophical antipode, Richard Posner of The seventh circuit). This book, remarkably lucid, remarkably learned and remarkably humane, constitutes the culmination of Noonans historical, legal and philosophical reflection.Other reviewers have already indicated the riches of this fine books contents. I will only note that I learned something new, or encountered a fresh and startling argument, on almost every page. Noonan has thought deeply about democracty and human freedom, not only in America, but in other countries as well. The chapters on France, Japan, and Russia show an understanding of the cultural political, and religous life of those nations which borders on the extraordinary. The chapter on Tocqueville( told through the literary device of an imaginary account of America written by Tocquevilles equallly imaginary sister, Angelique,) is quite brilliant, and opens up new perpectives on Tocqueville. All in all, a great book. One hopes for more from Judge Noonans learned and humane pen.It is truly amazing that mediocrites such as Breyer, Kennedy, Ginsburg and Souter sit on the court, while this deeply patriotic and brilliant man has to preside over the often humdrum cases of the ninth circuit.

This is a very special book. Its subject matter is weighty, its intent serious, its disciplines--law and theology--address issues of grave import. The purpose of this review is to alert potential readers to qualities as to which a more adequate review is likely to leave them unaware. The text of the "Lustre" is not ponderous. Instead navigation of the thicket of ideas which the text presents tends to leave the reader refreshed rather than drained. Eccentric and various in its organization and modes of presentation, this book frees one from captivity to a prescribed routing and invites navigation after one's own bent. Subtle logic combines with a pervasive historical sense. Events permeated with paradox and tragedy are presented with insight and wit. Not an easy read; but rewarding. As in the case of Whitman's Leaves of Grass, a reader of this book touches the life of a very special American.

This is not just a story about a First Amendment battle to keep the klan in check. This is a story about who we are. In so many of the characters, I saw a little piece of myself - sometimes liking what I saw, sometimes not, but always reading on, to see which part of me pulled for which character. It's a great American story.

It took me a few weeks to read the book, because I've had such a very hectic schedule lately. But, Sign of the Cross is a sensational True-to-Life Drama that kept me anxiously turning each and every page. The book was extremely well-written and I think we need more books like this one, so that people in our society can be aware of what's going on in society (both historically and currently).

I would love to see the book adapted as a screen-play. I think it would make for a sensational film.

If you want true legal drama at its best, with insights into the inner workings of the Klan and the prosecutor who challenged it, this book will fascinate and captivate. First Amendment issues are eloquently presented by both sides. In this case, the Klan's freedom of speech is contrasted with a community's right to be free from fear. But can any one man perservere against an unwilling legal system and the most notorious terrorist groups in America?

As a college student at the age of twenty I have been in the pursuit of inspirational words and ideas to help lead me towards a successful adult life. This book contains so much wisdom and inspiration it is only necessary to read a few lines each day. It combines a diversity of ideas into one place which makes it a must have book for anyone trying to make the most out of their lives.

Several years ago I received Templeton's Discovering the Laws of Life, as a gift. Each day I read one of the passages of the book and received what can only be described as encouragement and direction. I yellow marked every word of wisdom and found at the end I had turned all of the pages in the book to the color of my highlighter. In Worldwide Laws of Life, Mr. Templeton has again completed a masterpiece which should be placed nexted to the Bible as a source of wisdom and reflection. Last Christmas I purchased three and gave one to each of my three children as a gift. Over the year they too have expressed to me the profound pleasure they get in reading book, especially in times they characterize as troubled, but Templeton characterizes as, simply..the questions that life asks you. I encourage every Father, or Mother, to give it as a gift for any occasion. The wisdom in the book, related by the World's elite, cannot but improve your childs outlook and encourage his or her positive participation in life's journey.

These are the things I wish my father had taught me, and the things I wish my children will learn. It's such an extraordinary treasure chest of wisdom, one of those few books that you'd want to have stranded on a desert island or standed on Manhattan Island. Just superb.

This is a comprehensive introduction to all sorts of telecommunications (mainly telephone regulation) issues. It's probably a bit much for the novice; something like Stuart Benjamin's Telecommunications Law and Policy is probably a better match there. But, if you want all the details, this is definitely the place to go.

There isn't anything else like this on the market. It contains all the FCC and court and DOJ lore on telecom from the beginning of the century through the 1996 Act up to the present. The spicy bits apparently were written by pundit Peter Huber (who isn't identified in the listing above).

This book gives the novice a very accessible route to the world of telecommunications and gives the expert a very comprehensive reference book. Very highly recommended. The FCC wants universal service? This book is universal in and of itself.

A collection of anecdotes, told by a real magistrate in Virginia which is at times poignant, funny, and distressing. Oh, the trouble some people have just getting on in life! The author describes what he deals with day in and day out, sharing his values and conclusions. I highly recommend this book to anyone, as it is both entertaining and educational. Would be excellent gift for high school or college students thinking about careers in social services or law.

The author's self-effacing style brought a reality to the situations that made me feel like I was there experiencing the insanity, fumbling along with him in search of a valid assessment of impassioned criminal complaints. The quick pace, wit and humor kept my interest such that I didn't put it down until I was done. The book gives a base working level picture of the front end of the criminal justice system in the Commonwealth of Virginia from the perspective of an individual (The Magistrate) who is interviewing cops as well as suspects and witnesses hot from the "scene of the crime" before they have had time to reflect on and organize their stories for their own benefit. It is a great study on the devious side of human nature as it applies to suspects, witnesses and victims weaving a tangled web to try to save their hides or punish their enemies. It is a window inside a government bureaucracy as viewed candidly by a bureaucrat that is still clinging to a conscience and a heart. This book is stimulating, amusing, emotional yet easy reading. I can see it as a best seller when it is discovered.

I've already ordered them as Christmas gifts. Certainly one of the most interesting, and well written, paperbacks this year. Sure to be a best seller.

I found this book very informative and easy to read, a concise and clearly written handbook on not only how to choose a lawyer, but also how to effectively comnunicate and work with your chosen attorney for maximum results. I reccommend it to anyone who finds themselves involved in "legal tanglings", and has little knowledge on how lawyers, courts and the law works.

I was so glad a friend suggested Iread this book because it totaly de-mystified the lawyer/client arrangement.I found the book well laid out, easy to use,practical,wtitten for the layperson and highly useful. The glossary and self -tests are are very appealing to those of us who need help entering into the world of attorny/client relationships.
I consider it required reading for anyone dealing with or about to deal with a lawyer.

This book is extremely concise and informative. It should be required reading for anyone planning to work with an attorney. It would be especially valuable for someone who is anticipating an individual legal action such as a personal injury case.

A tape that you will want to listen to time and time again. Listening to Napoleon Hill himself is mesmerising. His story, his findings and his subsequent philosophy is so easy to understand and even easier to put into action. Good Luck to all who heed his advice !

These cassettes need but one word; AWESOME! It is obvious that to me that all of today's so-called motivational gurus have taken a page from Napoleon Hill. I understand now that all I ever needed to know about personal achievement and life are contained somewhere within Dr. Hill's Philosophy. I hate to think of all the money I could have saved with those other books and tapes.

Learn from the master himself, the one and the only NAPOLEAN HILL! Mr Carnegie's challenge and suggested affirmation to Dr Hill alone is worth the price of these cassettes. I used a variation and doubled my sales in one month! These cassettes and THINK & GROW RICH Provide all of the personal development strategies you'll ever need to succeed!

This scholarly work of legal history comes in a surprising package -- a gripping tale of early Virginia families and early colonial life and the economy. What a great way to learn about the development of American laws and their foundations!! It is so well written that I didn't want it to end.

Excellent, well-writen and very entertaining! Mr. Pagan's book covers a lot of ground, detailing a series of related trials that define the foundations of American justice. A++++

I just finished reading John Pagan's amazing true story of life in colonial Virginia and it reveals so much about life during a period that is little understood in our nation's history. After giving us the facts in the introduction, he unveils the history and its implications as each chapter focuses on one individual who was crucial to the events and the four legal actions which resulted from these events. The detective work has been done for you by the author who spent his summer researching every minute detail that exists--you just sit back and enjoy the tale! It is a great read and an astute portrait of a slice of Virginia life in the 1660s to 1680s--and gives us much to think about as the colonies began to establish a unique American legal system adapted from English law. It also gives us a sense of how "sex" was regulated by government at that time, and how legal decisions relate to social and economic realities of life. It is amazing that this little vignette of forgotten lives is so interesting to read about today and brings up issues of privacy, government regulation, and how courts consider society's social and economic goals--issues that resonate with judicial decisions that are being made today. So please read and enjoy and think about Anne and her son Jasper Orthwood. I think they would be very pleasantly surprised to know that their story is being retold in 21st Century America!

What is a hotspot and why do I care? Why should it matter to me where money is spent in finding and protecting the earth's resources? These questions, for me, were answered in John Charles Kunich's book "Ark of the Broken Covenant". In words and phrases aimed at dissemination of information, John Kunich allows the gentle reader to enter into a world of Global warfare. 'To maintain the legal status quo for the hotspots is to sign a death warrant.' Issues that up to now were not in the forefront of the mind are explained in such a way that by the time you are finished reading you also are ready to take up the cause to make sure that no more of our precious resources are decimated. Everyone needs to know what we are allowing to go to extinction because of our ignorance. You need to read this book. You should have read it yesterday.

This is the most important book I have ever read. The future of
life on Earth is at stake, and John Kunich brilliantly explains how the law has been unable to stop the mass extinction now underway. He painstakingly describes the international laws and the laws of dozens of foreign nations that attempt to preserve biodiversity, and he leaves no doubt that all these laws have failed miserably. But more than that, Kunich has a proposal for how law can still save the day, and the planet. I've never seen anything in print as phenomenal as the concluding chapters where
Kunich makes the case for his alternative legal approach. Sheer
genius!

"Ark of the Broken Covenant" is an in-depth examination of the world's biodiversity "hotspots" and why current international mechanisms fail to protect them. The book lays out a practical approach to minimize future species extinction.
In the book, Professor Kunich persuasively argues for a shift from a worldwide species-based strategy to a prioritized location-based strategy as a means to have the greatest effort with limited resources. Going beyond the normal academic approach of stating a generalized solution to a problem, Professor Kunich offers a complete solution, starting with proposed legislation, to a viable means of implementing the strategy in the U.S., to workable incentives for third-world nations to support it.
"Ark of the Broken Covenant" should be the game plan for preserving endangered species. It is a must read for environmentalists, lawyers, scientists, poltical leaders, and concerned citizens.

I've read about many Old West-type lawmen, and John Sisemore is definitely one of the most interesting...his zeal for the job was unparalleled. Many of his arrests were recorded in local newspapers, so we know he spent a great deal of time chasing moonshiners...a typical assignment for U.S. marshals at that time. But few did it so doggedly and with such success. I particularly liked how the author weaved family members and townspeople into the story and showed how a community fought for law & order and how the results of that battle shaped the entire community for generations.

What a joy to read this book!!!! So much history and excitement. John Tom Sisemore is my great-grandfather. I remember reading newspaper clippings about the murder but was never provided this much information of the incident and the events leading up to it. Mr. Harris has done an outstanding job of honoring the life and death of a wonderful lawman. One of the best books I have read in a while.

This is a very good biography of a man that history had nearly forgotten. A historical review of the a lawman that "cleaned up the town" during the prohibition period, was feared by criminals throughout the region of Northern Louisiana and died in the line of duty...a murder which remains unsolved to this day!

If you like reading about tough, no non-sense lawmen of the west or historical accounts of Texas Rangers, you will really enjoy this book. This man had character, integrity, and a single-minded focus on upholding the law. He usually worked alone, most times outnumbered and rarely was outwitted by his adversaries.

This should be a required reading for students in Louisiana schools...they should revere and remember the heroes that help build their state.