I have come to expect fine writing from John Douglas and his latest offering is no exception. His ability to tell a good story while educating the reader is second to none and sets Mr. Douglas apart from other authors in the true crime genre. There is a sincerity to his efforts that is refreshing and makes each case study come alive. You almost feel as though he is sitting with you, telling what really happened. His sympathy and care for the victims and their families is apparent throughout, as well. Stellar job, Mr. Douglas. Bravo.

I have been a huge fan of John Douglas' career and books. In this latest book he focuses his attention and uses his professional profiling expereince to analyze one case. In Anyone You Want Me To Be, the reader doesn't just get the facts of the case but it is told from an entirely different perspective, that of a profiler. From the title of the book one may think the character is fictious, but this story is very true. Mr. Douglas takes us into the mind of John Robinson and explains how one man used the Internet to manipulate and control women for his own personal gain. He also tells us how we can protect ourselves from predators on the Internet. A true page turner.

After being an avid fan of serial killer books for quite some time, I'd begun to think that I'd read everything that was ever written on the subject. However, soon after I picked up John Douglas' new non-fiction book, "Anyone You Want Me To Be," I quickly realized there was an entire world of crime I had yet to discover.
While I had previously heard of John Robinson, I knew very little about the details of his background and killing spree. In today's world, where the Internet is such an integral part of everyday life, it is frightening to know there are predators like John Robinson out there, preying on innocent trustworthy people.
Mr.Douglas, who created the FBI's profiling unit, effectively allows the reader to enter a place many authors have previously left untouched, a killer's mind. Tracing John Robinson's background from his childhood to his days as a killer, Douglas allows us to see Robinson as more than just a psychotic maniac.
For those who enjoyed Mr. Douglas' previous works, this haunting, bone chilling masterpiece is an absolute must read.

I can't think of a more entertaining premise to The Next Generation than having Troi's Mother suddenly wield the power of Q. We saw what happened when Riker held it for a short term, but oh the possibilities if Lwaxana could be in that same situation... With 'Q In-Law' we find out exactly what that situation might have been like.

I rarely (if ever) laugh out-loud by myself while reading almost anything--especially a science fiction novel...but I sure did while reading this one, and more than once, I might add. I simply cannot spoil the enjoyment of this story by revealing too much of the plot, but suffice it to say that Q regrets his allowing Lwaxana to wield this power in a supreme way. Peter David is certainly one of THE BEST Trek authors out there, and this one is certainly one of THE most entertaining Trek stories of all-time. I found myself just WISHING on more than one occasion as I read this book that they had made this one into an actual episode--it would rank as one of the best I assure you. Now if you like this story, do yourself a BIG favor and pick up Peter David's fantastic 'Q Squared'--it is everything this one is (but not as funny) and a lot MORE. Easily one of the most complex Trek stories ever written, and also one of the most satisfying as well. Only serious Trek fans need apply if you know what I mean.

I first read this book almost ten years ago, and recently decided to add it to my library once again(it was confiscated by my mom for 'innapropriate material' when I was 15). This is one of the most memorable star trek:TNG books out there for me. A Light hearted, downright silly at times, and with just enough serious drama in the plot that it pulls you in, the story is something of a romantic situation comedy.

A wedding is to be hosted on the Enterprise, and Q shows up as a guest. If that's not tense enough, Lwaxana Troi meets him, forgets her obsession with Picard, and is thoroughly enthralled with Q. I'll save the rest for you to read! Peter David truly expanded the boundries of the star trek novels with this book.

This was a fun, entertaining, and, er... explosive Star Trek book. The Enterprise plays host to a Tizarin wedding between two rival families, Lwaxana Troi arrives as a Federation ambassador, and just when you thought it was gonna be boring, Q shows up for the party. Peter David is an amazing author (the best of all the Star Trek novel writers in my not-so-humble opinion), not only because of the humour he incorporates, but for being brave enough to team up the formidable Lwaxana Troi and the troublesome Q. As you can imagine, some of the dialogue is fantastic. The writing is brilliant throughout and the characters are just as they should be. This is one heck of a novel, and definitely one of those that should have been made into an episode. (Q getting chased across the Enterprise by Lwaxana in a suit of armour? - I rest my case). OK, maybe it isn't quite so great as "Imzadi", but hey, it's fun to read, original and full of non-stop action. What more couldja want?

There is a great need for the information in this book, for those facing trial on fabricated or planted evidence and for those studying misconduct in the Department of Justice.

The immediate response I received from peers when giving the alert on this book was, "How can any serious book on tainting evidence exclude the most important event on tainting evidence?" This means you will not find anything on the burning, destruction and classification of the evidence of Waco here. This is a book on Frederic Whitehurst and his efforts to address incompetence and fraud within the FBI crime lab. Whitehurst is weaved into six different cases, notably Oklahoma City and World Trade Center.

The authors are not men of science and make the mistake of claiming that Oklahoma City hinged on a few crystals of Ammonium Nitrate which the FBI crime lab lost. Better evidence shows that the bomb in this case could not have been Ammonium Nitrate.

The most valuable message of this book is that the FBI crime lab does not understand true science and the policemen who run it do not care about their scientific ignorance or incompetence. The sloppiness of FBI serves as exemplary conduct of the most negative sort, poisoning the already low standards of state and local government crime labs.

The value of this book is in description of documents to be requested by counsel during the process of discovery and techniques used by government to have expert witnesses perjure themselves in court.

As a forensic pathologist who was accurately quoted in the book, my read is that the authors got it right. This is a valuable book whose publication will hopefully start the FBI lab on the road to correction of its intrinsic problems. These problems are: 1. Public relations are all that is important, scientific accuracy is insignificant. 2. Quality control should not be required of the FBI lab as they believe they are always right. 3. Convictions are the measure of performance, irrespective of whether the scientific evidence supports convictions or not. I would urge everyone to read this book, whether in law enforcement or not. If this was required reading for all judges and jurors, there would be less wrongful convictions.

Tainting Evidence gives citizens a look at how government is handling their tax dollars and rendering justice on "the citizen's behalf". Some complain that this book overstates the abuses and misconduct occurring in the FBI labs and in their testimonies in court, but the real issue may be in the level of lying and self-interest that is acceptable to our society in ALL aspects of life. Our educational systems, our professional lives, and our personal lives are heavily enmeshed in the culture of lying, cheating and unfair play. With this kind of behavior at large, we allow those in power to engage in such behaviors at an even more dramatic and damaging level. Our lack of having accountability in place in our institutions and lives, leaves the door open for incredible misconduct. If we do not encourage truthfullness and honor as way of life in our country and teach the same to our children, the chances of this kind of abuse of power going unchecked is extremely high. Pat Brown/Director/Investigative Criminal Profiler/The Sexual Homicide Exchange,Inc.

Inherit the Wind is good entertainment... but it's entertainment, and only loosely based on facts. Read this book, if you're interested in the true story of the Scopes trial.

This book is roughly divided into 3 sections. 1., the time before the trial, political and social context, and the people involved. 2. The trial itself, and 3. after the trial, the appeals, and some comments on modern-day Dayton, TN.

The background information is the largest section of this book, and is the most valuable. It's interesting to hear who William Jennings Bryan was as a person, how the ACLU became involved, the personalities of Scopes, Darrow, Bryan, as well as the other lawyers involved, the citizens of Dayton, and the judge. You will understand that contrary to the popular view that Scopes was harassed by the religious folk in town, he volunteered to take part, for the sole purpose of testing the anti-evolution law that had just hit the books. You will read how Darrow and Bryan both expanded the issues in the trial, so that religion and evolution became the focus of the trial, instead of simpler questions about what can be taught in school, and educational freedoms. The latter is what the ACLU was testing, although the former became the scope of the trial, much to their chagrin.

The trial and wrap-ups were also interesting. I was a bit disappointed that the trial description was so short, relatively. I would have liked to read more transcripts of it, hence the 4 stars instead of 5.

Overall, a fascinating and educational book, that is still relevant today. The issues discussed in the Scopes trial are prevalent in modern society, and played out daily in our classrooms.

It is incredibly ironic that the Scopes trial, promised by both the prosecution and the defense to be a battle for the truth, is represented in popular & religious culture and, most unfortunately, taught in classrooms in a largely false manner. This book won the Pulitzer Prize in History for good reason; it is the first (and best) attempt to accurately reflect not only the Scopes trial but also the events before it and the three-quarters worth of a century that followed.

As one who fell asleep while trying to watch "Inherit the Wind," I find the truth far more rivetting. The bredth of the defense team.. and the strong convictions and performances of Arthur Garfield Hays and Dudley Field Moore are entirely bypassed in popular history.

The only fault with the work is Larson's apparent effort to be so objective that no one is offended. This causes him to refrain from defending Darrow from years of attacks for his "cross-examination" (outside the presence of the jury and ultimately stricken from the record) of Bryan. The prosecution-- and Bryan in particular-- had promised/threatened/guaranteed a showdown.. to prove that evolution was false, especially if one accepts a literal reading of the bible. The reason Bryan was called to the stand and Darrow was able to question him as he did without the jury present is because the PROSECUTION changed strategies. Unable to find a single competent scientist to support its view, the prosecution was forced to argue against Malone's efforts to show that christianity and evolution were compatable. By keeping out the evidence of the defense's religious and scientific experts, the only defense left was to demostrate the absurdity of Bryan particular views. Though Darrow no doubt enjoyed it, his treatment of Bryan was the third line of defense, not the first.

The manipulation of the facts surrounding Scopes and a rise in the number of so-called scientists pushing creationism demonstrates that, in spite of our supposed rapid intellectual growth as a nation, there are more individuals than ever willing to say, do, or believe whatever will give them control, power, or money. It is a shame that after more than 75 years, Bryan would today have no trouble finding an "expert" witness.

It's one of the defining scenes of our century. The young science teacher, John Scopes, is chased from his class by a rabid bunch of anti-evolutionists. He's thrown in jail and a show trial is set up to punish him. Then Clarence Darrow arrives ... the white knight for science and rationalism. In a brilliant oration he destroys the older fundamentalist, William Jennings Bryan, exposing him as a fool and winning the case, making the world free for evolution. One small problem.

The truth is nothing like that happy story. What you're thinking of is the plot of Inheirit the Wind, a second-rate movie that used the Scopes trial to dramatize the McCarthy hearings. Spencer Tracy and Gene Kelley weren't in Dayton for the trial, and what really happened was far from black and white.

But in the hands of Edward Larson, it's also far more interesting. Larson's book, Summer for the Gods is a brialliantly reasoned look at what led to the trial, the trial itself, and its continuing impact on society. (Okay, on American society ... but it's still interesting.) Larson manages a tremendously difficult task: he manages to be unbiased and dispassionate without becoming dull. And he walks the line masterfully. There were times when I couldn't honestly say whose "side" Larson was on ... which is kind of the point. I read a lot of history, and it's very seldom I come across something that's so even-handed. Which would be a triumph in itself, even if it weren't so darn readable. For the rest of the review, visit my web page at exn.net/printedmatter

This book is extremely comprehensive and should be read early in the process. Through no fault of the author's, some material is out of date because the Russian Laws have changed since the book was written (i.e. two trips are now required). Outside of that, my wife and I found the book to be the best resource we could have possibly found. It contains helpful information and lists of questions to ask medical professionals, children's home directors, and adoption agency guides. The best thing about the book is that the material is broken down into simple sections and is presented in an easy to understand manner. I don't have enough room to write all the good things about this book, but it should be required reading for anyone considering adopting from Russia or other countries.

My husband and I are begining our adoption journey and have just signed with an agency. I found that this book contained much more practical, usable information than I have read elsewhere. They even tell you how to fill out all of the forms, when to call the INS, and what types of payments different government agencies will accept in different states. It also includes reviews of hotels in Moscow and how they are toward adoptive parents. This book has prepared me for much more than I expected. A 5 star must read if you are adopting or plan to adopt from Russia.

This is the perfect book for anyone just getting started in adopting from Russia, Ukraine or Kasakstan. John Maclean gives a wonderful overview of the process, a good description of what a dossier consists of, and an idea how various regions do things differently. It brought together in one place all the information I had been seeking on the internet. It answered all my questions, and brought up issues I hadn't even been aware of. Highly recommend it!

If you are going to read "The Federalist Papers," you must also read "The Anti-Federalist Papers" in order to get the complete picture. Both books cross-reference each other, and both are instrumental in understanding how our government was designed and how it was intended to work. In addition to the Papers, this edition also contains the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and an excellent introduction by Charles Kesler.

In a time when each colony had its own "constitution," the Federalists believed in creating one strong centralized government (with one Constitution) that could effectively represent the people. The authors and supporters of the Constitution knew that they could not afford to lose the vote in the state ratifying conventions. In an effort to win over his home state (New York), Alexander Hamilton, with the assistance of James Madison and John Jay, began a collection of 85 essays and published them under the pseudonym of "Publius" (named after one of the founders and heroes of the Roman republic, Publius Valerius Publicola). The Papers, published in 1787 and 1788, analyze and defend the proposed Constitution of the United States.

Obviously, the Federalists succeeded in winning the colonists' support. But even though the anti-federalists lost, their ideas were also brilliant and made an important contribution to the history of our government, which is why you should also read "The Anti-Federalist Papers."

This book is a must-read for all Americans. After reading this book, you will have a renewed appreciation and admiration for the wisdom and vision of our founding fathers.

If you are going to read "The Federalist Papers," you must also read "The Anti-Federalist Papers" in order to get the complete picture. Both books cross-reference each other and both are instrumental in understanding how our government was designed and how it was intended to work. In addition to the Papers, this edition also contains the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and an excellent introduction by Charles Kesler.

In a time when each colony had its own "constitution," the Federalists believed in creating one strong centralized government (with one Constitution) that could effectively represent the people. The authors and supporters of the Constitution knew that they could not afford to lose the vote in the state ratifying conventions. In an effort to win over his home state (New York), Alexander Hamilton, with the assistance of James Madison and John Jay, began a collection of 85 essays and published them under the pseudonym of "Publius" (named after one of the founders and heroes of the Roman republic, Publius Valerius Publicola). The Papers, published in 1787 and 1788, analyze and defend the proposed Constitution of the United States.

The Federalists succeeded in winning the colonists' support. But, even though the anti-federalists lost, their ideas were also brilliant and made an important contribution to the history of our government, which is why you should also read "The Anti-Federalist Papers."

This book is a must-read for all Americans. After reading this book, you will have a renewed appreciation and admiration for the wisdom and vision of our founding fathers.

I found this book to be one of the best books I ever read. Instead of giving a lay understanding of some of the arguments, I would like to note what I found exceptional about this book: the footnotes. The footnotes of this book gave detailed accounts of historical references made that shed much light on where the arguments were coming from. There is so much to be had from this book that I know I will read it at least five more times. Should be required reading by all Americans.

Master storyteller and social critic, Charles Dickens, turns this social treatise on shortcomings of Victorian society into an entertaining and heartwarming Christmas ghost story which has charmed generations and become an icon of Christmas traditions. Who, in the Western world has not heard, "Bah, Humbug!" And who can forget the now almost hackneyed line of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!" or his cheerfully poignant observation, that he did not mind the stares of strangers in church, for he might thus serve as a reminder of He who made the lame, walk and the blind, see. Several movie versions: musical, animated, updated, or standard; as well as stage productions (I recall the Cleveland Playhouse and McCarter Theatre`s with fondess.) have brought the wonderful characterizations to the screen, as well as to life. This story of the redemption of the bitter and spiritually poor miser, and the book itself; however, is a timeless treasure whose richness, like Mrs Cratchit`s Christmas pudding, is one that no production can hope to fully capture.

It's hard to think of a literary work that has been filmed and staged in more imaginative variations than Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"--there's the excellent George C. Scott version, the delightful Muppet version, the charming Mr. Magoo version, etc., etc. But ultimately true "Carol" lovers should go back to Dickens' original text, which remains a great read.

"Carol" tells the story of cold-hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge, who despises the Christmas holiday and scorns all who celebrate it. But a visit from a series of supernatural beings forces him to reevaluate his attitude--and his life.

With this simple plot Dickens has created one of the enduring triumphs of world literature. It's a robust mix of humor, horror, and (most of all) hope, all leavened with a healthy dash of progressive social criticism. One thing I love about this book is that while it has a focus on a Christian holiday, Dickens puts forth a message that is truly universal; I can imagine this story resonating with people of any religious background, and also with more secular-oriented people.

This is a tale of greed, selfishness, regret, redemption, family, and community, and is enlivened by some of the most memorable characters ever created for English literature. Even if Dickens had never written another word, "A Christmas Carol" would still have, I believe, secured his place as one of the great figures of world literature.

Charles Dickens writes this story in such detail that you almost believe you have just enjoyed Christmas dinner at the Cratchits home. The characters have so much depth. The made for t.v. or movie screen renditions do not truly depict what Ebenezer Scrooge witnesses with the three spirits that causes such a change in his outlook on life. Such as Scrooge's emotions being quickened by the past heartache in his childhood; seeing how his bad choices caused the hardening of his heart and how deeply it cost him in the end; seeing what could have been his to enjoy and then thinking it could still be his with the Spirit of Christmas Present only to find out the future does not hold any love or joy for him by the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come and instead his actions leave him robbed at death and no one left to grieve for him. Read the book to hear how this story was really written. Even if you have seen every Christmas Carol movie every made, the book will offer so many gold nuggets that you will think you are hearing it for the very first time. Pictures are beautifully detailed throughout the book. Excellent!!!

As a professor of statistics, I laughed out loud when I read an earlier reviewer write: "I can't believe John Lott has a doctorate and gets away with such flawed research. He 'randomnly' called a little over 1000 people and made a conclusion for the entire nation. Can't do it with such a small sample."

Flawed research? What an intellectual ignoramus! Not only can't he spell 'randomly' correctly, he doesn't understand anything about statistics. He puts randomly in quotes when even a beginning student in statistics recognizes that this is REQUIRED if sample information is to be credible and representative of the population being sampled.

And if 1,000 people aren't enough to draw a conclusion about the entire population, Mr. Einstein, how does the Gallup Poll forecast national elections with an accuracy of +/- 3% by talking with only 1,100 people?

The only thing flawed here is the reviewer's obvious anti-gun bias.

Like most closed-minded individuals, this reviewer proves himself to be Invincibly Ignorant

For like members of the Flat Earth Society, no matter how many facts and arguments against their positions they encounter, they simply refuse to admit that they might be wrong. Instead, they resort to name calling and character assassination.

I have read the book and find Dr. Lott's data and conclusions extremely compelling. I recommend this book to anyone that is open to the truth about the bogus intellectual underpinnings of the gun-control movement in America.

Many controversial topics pit beliefs and emotions against one another, with facts thrown in as a legitimizing afterthought. In his new book, "The Bias Against Guns," John Lott does not use sparse facts to bolster an emotional appeal on gun-control, but follows the careful development and analysis of data to reach measured conclusions. The only emotional demand the author makes is the restrained appeal to judge the data, analysis methods and facts rather than to make knee-jerk conclusions about the relationship between gun ownership, crime, self-defense, multiple shootings, gun-lock, gun-free zone, and conceal carry weapons laws. Although Lott starts out well in an attempt to make his methods accessible, this casual reader became buried in the logic paths, surrogate data methods and analytical techniques used to conduct valid research. Sadly, the simple data gathering methods and analysis that many gun-control authors employ, while more straight-forward to understand, also leads to false conclusions, as Lott demonstrates. The vast majority will have to wait while academics have at Lott's latest work. While the technical failings of Michael Bellesiles' "Arming of America" have lead to his academic censure and halt in publication of the book in little more than 2 years, John Lott's first book "More Guns, Less Crime" is going strong five years after publication. Not without his academic detractors ...the long-term survival of Lott's work and publication of this second installment in his continuing research bears out broad acceptance of his conclusions.

John Lott's 1st book, "More Guns, Less Crime," was an eye-opening look into what the science shows about the presence of guns in society and clearly illustrated the benefits of armed, law abiding citizens. His latest book, "The Bias Against Guns," expands further into media and governmental bias on the issue of guns and he debunks many of the "common sense" proposals for gun regulation; showing that these proposals actually increase crime while having no effect on accidental gun deaths.

Dr. Lott is a brilliant economist and he approaches his subject with a detached and unemotional, scientific process. In "The Bias Against Guns," he takes the reader through the progression of verifying findings and considering alternate explanations. The result is a thoroughly convincing work that argues for gun policy based upon dispassionate science instead of vitriolic and emotional claims made by the media and some in government.

Part I of "The Bias Against Guns" is a careful analysis of how government and the media have unfairly framed the gun control argument to show only the costs of guns in our society. Liberal media and government have - for many decades - systemically and purposefully ignored the benefits of gun ownership in America and around the world. Many people who view themselves as clear-minded independent thinkers will be shocked when they read this section of the book. An open-minded appraisal will reveal that a distaste and fear of guns is far less rational than a fear of automobiles, or, for that matter, five gallon buckets. Guns, cars and buckets are tools that have costs (dangers) and benefits. Part I of "The Bias Against Guns" shows clearly how the media and the government have advanced a one-sided, costs-only view of guns in our society.

Part II of "The Bias Against Guns" is a detailed, scientific evaluation of many different gun control measures. In his previous book, John Lott largely restricted his research to the costs and benefits of laws permitting ordinary citizens to carry concealed handguns. In "The Bias Against Guns," Lott evaluates laws such as safe storage requirements, the effects of gun control on multiple victim public shootings, "gun free" zones, bans on "assault weapons" and restrictions on gun shows. Again, Lott's dispassionate analysis gives these issues very fair treatment, evaluating all possible explanations for his findings. The results are sometimes surprising but always based upon scientific evidence and not emotional presuppositions.

If you are a proponent of law-abiding citizens owning guns, you will find much in "The Bias Against Guns" that will support your point of view. If you are among the many Americans that are more afraid of having a gun in your home than a car in your garage, I strongly urge you to read John Lott's latest book. You will come away convinced that our nations gun policy should be based upon what the science of the matter reports and not the liberal media's version of "common sense."

I checked out both this book and the Learning Express 'Complete Preparation Guidebook to the Treasury Enforcement Agent Exam' and can honestly say that the level of difficulty in the Steinberg book ('Special Agent Deputy US Marshall..) is more in line with the actual exam than the Learning Express book. I only had the better book for 2 days prior and the amount and depth of material it covers regarding the most difficult parts of the test far outweighs that of the Learning Express book, (the math and investigative portions). Also, the Learning Express books sample test questions do not even compare to the actual exam; they are simply far too easy and can give one a false sense of confidence. In some instances, age might make time an issue because one can only take this exam once per year, as in my case (there is an age max for the TEA position of 37 by certification). I used the better book for two days and passed the exam the first time! Don't be fooled; do it right the first time.

The TEA exam is not easy, it will test your ability to read, solve math story problems, and complex investigations. I took the exam this morning and I have to say that this book is by far the best out there. Many of my questions were very similar to ones in the book. I wish I would have memorized every tip in this study guide before I took it because I probably would have aced it. For a tough exam it's the best available.

If you are serious about passing the test, buy this book and find a high school algebra book to study. The math section is the hardest section to master. Spend most of your time doing sample word problems and reviewing how to set up the equations. With the aid of this book and an algebra book, I passed the test recently. Relax when you take the test and remember the study tips. This book is the best that I have seen to date.

This is an incredible story about the rise and fall of John Law and the incredible economic boom and bust he created in France. His economic system was innovative and certainly helped modernize the economy of France, but his greed and that of the rest of the country led to the downfall of the system. The story of France's economy itself was an interesting story, but the story of Law's life is equally interesting. His rise into the upper echelons of society, his troubled times in jail, and life as a gambler is exciting, dashing, and extremely amusing. Janet Gleeson ha sdone incredible research to piece John Law's life together and writes clearly and with vigor so the economic theories and 17th century are understandable and come to life. It is a great book for history or ecnomic buffs and is engaging enough to hold the interest of people who are not particularly interested in the topic before starting the book.

What goes up, must come down. This oldest rule of physics sums up the life of John Law. In his 58 years he rewrote the laws of finance, implemented a new economic structure in Europe, watched his creation transform society, and then looked on helplessly as his brainchild became a monster, failed spectacularly, and dragged his dream and his personal fate into ignominy.

In between these events, John Law distinguished himself as a young rogue, legendary lover, gambler, duellist and courtier. Fascinated by the nature of risk at an early age, he saw how, when properly managed, it could liberate an economy and provide the basis of a banking system which had the power to promulgate a prosperity undreamed of by generations past.

His life reads like the ultimate historical romance. It's filled with danger, intrigue, lust, and ambition. In between these adventures the reader is treated to a superb basic education in the history of finance and to the principles which underpin the system of money we take for granted today. It's a rewarding read which gives a tremendous perspective on human nature and how little it changes with the passage of centuries.

This really is the most amazing story. Janet Gleeson's Book Millionaire has peiced together the story of John Law's life and legacy in the most most amazingly readable book. It really brings to life France in the early eighteenth century, as well as easily explaining the quite complex financial situation that he established

John Law as born into a respectable Scottish family in the late 17th century but soon showed a turn for being able to calculate odds mathematically and so turned to an easy life of gambling in London. As a result he ended up killing another man in a duel. It meant he could never return to England and he escaped to the continent where he pursued a rather dissolute life ending up in France where most of this story takes place.

His mind was always calculating the odds and so he was able to turn himself easily to the world of finance. He realised that the paper money which had always been a problem could be given credibility if backed by gold. To this end he convinced the King of France and his Bank was born - despite opposition from the French nobles who tried numerous times to undermime him. Law then managed to introduce the first 'stock exchange' with the introduction of the "Mississippi scheme," a innovative and somewhat risky business of share offers based on a wild and unstable scheme of settling America. This spawned the greatest bull market in history and its drastic crash.

I cannot emphasise enough how amazing this book is, Gleeson writes her story with ease and charm. The characters are not dry and remote, she has clearly researched her subject well and is able to shed light on actions and reactions - even down to small details such as the backlash against Law by the French public and how this affected various people in the street as well as Law and his family. She really brings her subject to life.

Another thing I love about Gleeson is that she is not a 'tabloid' style historical writer who looks to exploit her readers with cheap thrills. She lets her subjects show themselves. I think the closest writer to her today might be Giles Milton (Big Cheif Elizabeth). Milton tends to inject a lot more humour in his books whereas Gleeson doesn't play for laughs.

Gleeson has managed to make an incredible story come to life - well worth reading - highly recommended!