and falls short. Jane's Chem-Bio Handbook is much improved over the freebie notepad version they gave out a few years back, but it suffers from a lack of focus. The small size, spiral binding, and tabs suggest it is intended as a first responder or incident commander handbook, but occasional topical discourses suggest that it is meant as a textbook. As a result, it is hard to find the information that would be needed on the scene (an index helps, but only slightly), while the coverage of the various topics is too uneven for it to be a good text. In some places, it seems to be simply a compilation of information from various (US) field manuals.

There are some good ideas, but they seem to be sabotaged by the execution. The checklist version of the "Agent Indicator Matrix" (based on the Defense Protective Service model) is a good idea, but it is spread over three pages (instead of being arranged to fit on two facing pages in a landscape presentation or provided as a foldout) so that it can neither be copied easily or used easily in the book. A section on the threat of stolen military munitions, after noting that stockpiles in other countries are not as well secured as those in the US, then proceeds to a description of US weapons without describing distinguishing characteristics of chemical munitions relative to conventional munitions or how the munitions described might relate to foreign munitions.

There are also some surprising errors in the hodgepodge of facts. The volume I purchased indicates that it is from the sixth printing, so I have to presume that most typos have been corrected. One particularly egregious error is in the characterization of liquid phosgene as "...not hazardous except as a source of vapor." This statement is highlighted in a little box with a finger pointing at it on page 106, and repeated on page 108. While certainly it is the vapor that kills, liquid phosgene splashed into the eyes is known to produce opacification. Subsequently, it is stated that "Phosgene [vapor] does not damage the eyes or skin..." Yet it is well known that concentrated phosgene vapor will irritate both the skin and eyes, and, while this would not be fatal, and is usually not permanent the downplaying of these risks is certainly inappropriate, to put it mildly.

To try to close on a positive note, this book does have some good information salted in various odd spots. If you are responsible for a training program, it would be a good book for you to look at, provided it is not the only reference you use. The table of emergency decontamination materials found at a K-Mart, for instance, suggests an obvious bit of homework for your trainees.

In summary, this handbook should not be your first or only purchase, but it probably has a place in a comprehensive library. Given the reputation of Jane's, a bit more proofreading would have been in order.

Among those involved with the planning and implementation of specialized, multi-casualty incident response, this book is quite useful. Field personnel, command staff, and planners - all will find it helpful. I found it to be concise, packable, and physically handy. About the only thing I'd change would be to laminate the pages for weather resistance.

R.D. Lopez, Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Specialist, Dept. of Public Health

This is a wonderful book for any first responder to have.
It is very easy to use because not only does it come with on and off scene procedures, but it also has quick reference tables and charts. On a scale of 1 to 5 I give it a 10!

I took Greek with the author in the academic year of 1993-1994. Apart from the fact that the author was my professor, there are a couple notable items concerning this text. There are more than an adequate number of exercises to each lesson. What makes them noteworthy is the fact that Dr. Williams uses both actual quotes from Classical authors (and New Testament as well) and his own constructions. He employs his own constructions in such a manner that he would compose a couple of sentences at a time, to be progressively more complex in construction and meant to prepare the reader for a real quotation, and then he introduces the actual quotation.

In a section entitled 'Supplementary Readings' Dr. Williams includes larger blocks of text from Plato and the New Testament, to encourage the first year student to further study. Just in case there is any question, this is a Classical Greek grammar, Attic to be exact, and not a New Testament Grammar. Though he intersperses the text with occasional quotes from the Christian Scriptures, the grammar is specifically focused on the Attic dialect. I suppose it was because he loved to read the apostle Paul.

This is not an intimidating volume,i.e., it's not 2 or 3 inches thick. It contains more than the necessary materials for a first year text, yet is concise and well-written, only 243 pages.

This is a good first year text and I still refer to it at times.

I first used this book in the Fall Semester of 1990 when I was a junior at Southern illinois University. I took the course CLAS-130a with Dr. Williams as the instructor, who is also the author of this book, but an earlier edition. Although I did not do well enough in the class to proceed in Classical Greek (I had enough with my Economics Major and Political Science minor). I had a great time learning Ancient Greek from one of SIU's best professors! I found the book, in hindsight, to be an excellent source for learning Classical Greek. However, if one hopes to really advance in their learning, they NEED an instructor as charismatic and enthusiastic as Dr. Williams was and still is!!!

The book had a very nice dicription of the bassoon. The different kinds and about taking care of it and your reeds. The only problem I had with it is that the fingering chart was confusing. Overall I think it was good.

A good insight into the personalities that shaped European history and the World.

Friedrich Kapp first published this work in 1859. He was determined to prepare a biography which would stand the test of time - and this definitive history of one of the most famous military figures of the American Revolution leaves no stone unturned. Kapp accessed 16 volumes of the Steuben papers and the Gates papers in the NY Historical Society. He also researched the papers of General Greene, Alexander Hamilton, Lafayette and Lee, Washington's writings and the journals of COngress. Kapp examines Steuben's development of the drill regulations for the the reorganization of the Continental Army, his time at Valley Forge, his role as inspector general, service in the field with Washington and his life after the war. There are included over 50 appendices covering Steuben's personal communications along with abstracts of musters and returns, by month, for the Army from 1779 - 1784. Outstanding, readable, biographical work which was well researched and documented.

Father Corby's Irish Brigade memoir provides a very valuable and interesting record of the Civil War. His testimony gives the reader a first-hand account of life in the Church and in the Army.

In some sections, the memoir is not terribly exciting; it is for the history buff who wants to know more than which general won a given battle. The book tells of the great and small trials of army life. Its value comes from the author's testimony about the lives of the soldiers and their experiences.

The book will best suit those who possess a knowledge of the war, as Father Corby's passing mention of campaigns and generals' names will be lost on the uninitiated.

I strongly recommend this book to those interested in Civil War and Irish history.

This was a wonderfully edited version of some of the best writing Douglass ever wrote. The introduction is excellent and the intros to the excerpts of some of his letters and editorials are very informative. One of the best Frederick Douglass books I have ever read.

William W. Tucker was a man who after dedicating his life to Christ at 17 spent his time doing the work of God. Simply by reading author Frederick Cuthbertson's heartfelt words and descriptions of Bishop Tucker it becomes abundantly clear that he had a tremendous impact on the lives of those he came in contact with. This book includes a brief biography of Bishop Tucker, but the true depth of the book comes from the collection of over 150 of his sayings. While Bishop Tucker may not have originated all of the sayings, he applied his wisdom and Biblical knowledge to the context in which they were used. The book lists the various sayings, includes a brief description of the context in which they were used and citations of Biblical references which relate to the sayings. For example the saying "Rake the word to yourself and don't use a shovel" suggests that the word of God is meant for our hearts and not meant to be cast away when it condemns us for our misdeeds.

With the well over 150 sayings included in this book, there is advice that is relevant to any person at any given point in their lives. More importantly, the book's easy to remember sayings, when taken to heart, will help any Christian walk closer to God. The only disappointment about this book was it's organization, it would have been a much more powerful day to day resource for Christians had the various sayings been organized by theme so that they are easier to locate. Still The "Sayings" of the Late Bishop William W. Tucker is both inspirational and motivational.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay

This play was published in 1804 and made the swiss freedom fighter Willhelm Tell as famous as he is today. It tells the story of a revolution in the face of bitter opression and at times alludes to the French revolution. It is a book about freedom and courage. I enjoyed it a lot.

Having read Dean King's recommendation (as he is usually accurate), I was expecting something above the average - especially as it is included in a series of Classics...
Sadly, not.
Written in typical 19th Century style, it tends to verbosity and skirting around, instead of coming straight to the point.

Considering that Marryat was a disciple of Cochrane, there is remarkably little action and little detail of that... a few shots are exchanged, the enemy is boarded and the prize is taken in one easy lesson - none of the tension, tactics and strategems that feature so large in other nautical tales. Nor do we get under the skin of any of the characters, there is no fleshing-out of the personalities, so we end up not caring what happens to them.

Our Hero Percival stumbles from one lucky accident to the next in true Victorian story-telling style, but there seems to be no central theme to the plot, apart from his estranged father's aloofness and disguised patronage.

I kept expecting some surprise or twist in the tale, but only the expected happened.

Marryat displays his colors in his usual fashion: "normal" people, real characters, and the tang of salt air in your nostrils as you read.

The unacknowledged son of a post captain, young Percival strives to do his duty to achieve his father's/captain's respect. Adventures ensue.

Easy to read. Less social critique than Mr. Midshipman Easy. Less gruesome reality than The Privateersman. Not his best, but it is still a good yarn!

A truly wonderful British man of war seafaring novel. Marryat is a wonderful story teller. Good characterizations a little mystery. One difference in the Marryat novels is the stories he tells about the pranks that some of the sailors and officers get up to onboard ship and ashore. And of course this is a usual part of shipboard life but the other officers such as O'Brien don't give us as much of this side of life at sea. Some of the pranks had me laughing nearly out of control