This book is indispensible for any historian or anyone intrested in understanding historical events. It is ambitious in scope and very successful. It is packed full of valuable political, economic, and religious maps revealing countries at key historical time periods. Diagrams of major political structures are included. The accompanying time table is intricate and detailed. It is unsurpassed going beyond the mere rise and fall of nations and rulers but of cultures, science, and trends. You have the important names, places, and dates at your fingertips. I can't understand why this valuable book is out of print. If you can find this book, keep it. Do not lose it. Pass it on. It's pocket size makes it easy to carry around anywhere. I still have my first copy I purchased in 1977 and brought it with me all around the world.

The amount of information in this small book is mind-boggling. The maps are numerous and detailed, and each one is accompanied by a few paragraphs describing what was going on in the world at the time, so in addition to the maps (if you don't mind small print with some abbreviations) you get an outline history of the world. This book makes all of the huge and expensive coffee-table-sized atlases of world history, with such inferior maps and so much less information, look stupid and wasteful.

Its the best study partner I've ever had. I used vol I during High school and College and was always disappointed that I couldn't find vol II. Now my son is in High School and found vol I indespensable for History, as well as English Literature and wanted vol II for his AP History courses. After spending much time looking for it I was told by Barnes and Noble that there is a vol II, by Gary Kinder (must be Herman's brother or son), ISBN # 0385133553 - published in 1978. Its on order and I can't wait to get it. I remember how many hours I spent just perusing it for history that I didn't know. The maps and illustrations were better than most giant hardbound history reference books. The neat thing about this book is the way that it puts history in perspective with a geographical location or a specific series of events without confusing the reader with too much irrelevant information (and its small enough to carry to class). Would somebody please put this on a CD!

This is an excellent book. I am very disapointed to find that it is out of print. My Mother used to read me this book over and over again. I still can't get enough of the wonderful stories and illustrations. My new daughter loves it too. This book shaped my imagination in such a way that I still wonder if faieries and elves are real. This book added mystery and and spark to nature for me as a child. My Mother and I still enjoy reciting the passages we can remember. It was this book that encouraged me to read and I enjoy reading it to myself to this day. The stories are like no other new children's book I have read. A timeless collection of classic fiction and verse! This book is a must have bonding agent for mums and babes. " Somewhere, somewhere. Can you tell me the way to somewhere, the Somewhere that's meant for me?" J Warnock

This is a wonderful, imaginative collection of stories and poems for kids. "Bad Mousie" and the story about the girl who lived on the flying city were two of my favorites from this collection. The illustrations are marvelous. This was one of my favorite books as a child, and it is strange that it is no longer available. It is such a timeless classic...

I've got a copy of this- it's a great book. My grandma gave it to my mother and her sister in 1957, and it's still with us....a little battered, but still there. My mum used to read it to me and my brother, the illustrations are beautiful and they sparked off my imagination many times. It's a wonderful collection of original stories- I wish they'd do a reprint so children today could enjoy it.

I have the 1980 edition and it is superior, Of course I'll buy the new edition. Worth every penny.

This book is a wonderful reference for medical students going into pathology or students of forensic science. It give detailed descriptions of causes/manners/and mechanisms of death. This book give a review of natural deaths and deaths involving investigative techniques. Book also include graphic black a white pictures of autopsy techniques and of the deceased.

I read this book a couple of years ago for a short course at the University of New Orleans, and loved it. I keep it on my shelf for reference now, but will likely use it again soon when I go off to graduate school. The sections are very well-written, and can be understood by most anyone who has had at least some experience in this field. The case studies were paricularly relavant, and it would be nice to see more of that in further editions. Also, there are excellent descriptions and illustrations of gunshot and other homocide-related deaths - however, not as much information on accidental death or taphonomy as I would have liked.

An old reviewer, with a sour look

Went out looking for his favorite book.

It was full of fairies, brownies, too.

But it couldn't be found, So what to do?

I spent years looking for the original, which commands $200-300. (It's worth it, too. I just don't have it.)

What do the readers do, when a book is out of print?

As they go through the years, and never see,

The Cannery Bear, or the house tomte,

Or the Littlest Mermaid again. Oh, gee!

I wouldn't be one - would you?

Well, now you don't have to be - it's back. That's all I need to tell the people who read it before, when it was called The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies.

For the rest of you, please understand that it's hard to describe this book objectively. Seeing it again is an incredibly joyous reunion. Garth Williams paints elves so that the sense of wonder is palpably displayed. The stories and poems are exciting, moving, pensive, and fun. The children in your life will love it. The grown-ups won't mind reading it to them. I do not know anybody who had this book as a child who isn't in love with it.

So the Elves and Fairies now live on my shelf.

And I read it all day, and I like myself.

I received this wonderful Elf and Fairy book from my parents when I was 5 and visiting relatives in Phadelphia for Christmas. My Dad read me the stories each night and I was enchanted with the illustrations and the sly humor (and messages) of the wee folk. (Jane Werner's selection of stories and poems was perfectly balanced.) My 1951 edition is also well worn and both covers missing but it is still a treasured childhood friend. I was showing it to a coworker (mentioning sadly that it was out of print) and he said - Are you sure? Try Amazon.com. and then came my Magical Moment - the title appeared and I was thrilled beyond words! My advice: Buy 1 to read, several to give to friends, and one to keep under glass (just in case). I only wish Garth Williams was still with us to see his luminous, enchanting artwork alive and dancing in the imaginations of new generations of children, and the young in heart. Thank you so much, Little Golden Book publishers for the reprinting and cudos to Amazon.com for the price discount. Happy Holidays!

I've held my childhood memories of the illustrations from this beautiful book for years, and I've periodically searched for another copy. I was thrilled to see it re-issued, and prayed that the illustrations hadn't been "modernized". What a thrill when it arrived! My five year old daughter is as entranced with it as I was at her age, and will ask to replace her night-time tv program with the "magic fairy book". The stories are somewhat long for small children, but they hold the attention of my daughter very well. When we've finished reading, we keep the book open to look at the beautiful illustrations. Every picture in my mind of "Elves or Fairies" is drawn from this book, and there isn't a better place to find them.

I am an ex-submariner in the U.S Navy with eight strategic deterrent submarine patrols in the North Atlantic and I can only imagine the absolute courage and patriotism shown by the men described in this book! Captain Werner describes what is truly a life of adventure bordering on madness as he and his crew dodge British and US aircraft and destroyers in the most dramatic cat and mouse game of all time.

The book follows Werner's career as a U-Boat officer that starts at the beginning of WWII. He talks about the initial glory and successes of the German U-Boat campaign against the British and he follows the war as the tide changes against Germany. Werner describes reports of boat after boat being sunk and most of his fellow commanders being killed at sea and he shares his thoughts as he continues to bring his boat to sea in spite of almost a guarantee of being killed.

I can't recommend this book strongly enough. It is the BEST submarine saga that I have read to date and it is also a tribute to men who have gone to sea in defense of their country.

This is the very best book I have read actually describing the conditions inside a German u-boat during World War II Atlantic Ocean war patrols. It is well written with both action and information in mind. The action standpoint is superb and makes the reader wonder how Capt Werner and his crew ever survived the punishment they took in their little fragile "egg" as aircraft and ships constantly dropped bombs and depth charges on them. From the information standpoint, Werner gives us a very comprehensive and interesting description of what it is like inside the early u-boats. It is hard to imagine how the crew lived like they did in their constantly rocking boat: without bathing for months, eating moldy food, suffering from constant humidity, freezing or roasting as the season might be (no airconditioning or heaters), and not having proper sanitary conditions (using a bucket in rough seas, etc.) Very good detail on u-boat life both aboard ship and in port. From another information standpoint, Werner gives us a good description of what average Germans were thinking as the war progressed, what sort of damage ordinary citizens were taking as the war proceeded in depth over Germany both from the heavy air bombardment plus the advancement of Allied armies from the south, east, and north. Werner is also a "ladies man" so we do hear a lot about the girlfriends in every port, so to speak, plus German submariners' night life in different occupied locations. (They seemed to like France a lot.) It is good that Werner provides you this gamut of information: living inside the boat, dealing with the difficult navy bureaucracy, joys of in-port liberty, his nice but unfortunte family, the Nazi party bother, and so on since it furnishes the reader with a rounded out picture of life during these unusual times. Werner is lucky to have come back alive, and we are fortunate he wrote this book. His family and many of his friends were not so fortunate as the reader will see.

Reading World War II epics is a hobby of mine, and I can easily say that Iron Coffins is my all-time favorite book. I first read it in 1984 and couldn't put it down. I have read it about 15 times, and each time, it never ceases to captivate me at how Werner survived time and time again while the majority of his comrades met their fate at the bottom of the Atlantic. It is as if it was his destiny to preserve in writing this critical campaign of World War II. It tells you in vivid detail, the other side of the story-all Nazis were Germans, but not all Germans were Nazis. They had men, just like us, who would rather be somewhere else than in the heat of combat, wondering when they were going to get theirs. The vivid descriptions, going from Years of Glory to Disaster and Defeat made me feel like I was right there next to Werner, riding out the brutal storms in the North Atlantic, the ceaseless depth chargings, gasping for air, limping back into port, mauled and beaten, yet still alive. They went to war for their country. Nearly all of them perished. Now, read this tragic true story of one of the few U-boat commanders who lived to tell the tale. The Iron Coffin would not claim Herbert Werner's life. His book preserves the saga of Germany's undersea struggle. A masterpiece!

This is an incredible book that deals with every aspect of the microscope including buying the right one, and adding components. It is important to have a reference, so that as you grow in your need for understanding, you have a reference handy. When I needed to measure my observations, there was the section on calibrating the eyepiece reticle with the stage micrometer. Whether you want to prepare slides, or observe live specimens, or take photos through the microscope- Mr. Nachtigall has covered the subject in a readable clear concise way. I can't begin to tell you how much I've enjoyed using the microscope by following the various suggestions and instructions provided in this book. The sections on color filters and various types of lighting are critical for true enjoyment. The technical sections are also key to getting the most out of your image all the time. Truly a landmark book for the amateur as well as the student or serious hobbyist. Packed with photos, diagrams, and beautifully written understandable text. I've actually watched the quality of my microphotography improve as I've read and re-read the book. When you buy accessories (like phase contrast stuff) you don't always get instructions! This book IS your instruction manual for everything microscopic. My favorite book on microscopy- without a doubt.

For anyone who may be looking for a good introduction to microscopy, it's doubtful that there could be any better book. Nachtigall, who clearly loves his subject, writes with great enthusiasm and has packed an enormous amount of useful advice and information into its 160 pages.

The first thing that struck me about the book was how well-balanced it is. Nachtigall, who is an authority on microscopy, seems to have wanted to create a book which would be of equal value both to the absolute beginner and to the more advanced student. In this he has succeeded admirably, and I was particularly impressed by the great wealth of useful advice a beginner will find here, advice which runs all the way from how to buy, understand, and use a microscope through to how to collect and view plant, animal, and inorganic specimens. More advanced students will probably find much to learn from his detailed treatment of microphotography procedures and techniques.

The second thing that struck me about this book were its incredibly beautiful color photographs and microphotographs, all of which are the work of Nachtigall himself. He is clearly a master of the art, and his stunning photography is itself worth the price of the book. Unlike the photographs in a book such as D. J. Patterson's 'Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa,' which, though generally good, are small and often dark and not overly clear, Nachtigall's are large, bright, exremely clear, and beautifully reproduced. The book also includes many black and white photographs and drawings of specimens, items of equipment, and techniques and procedures which are designed to help the reader understand matters which can at times be rather technical.

The book falls into two parts, the first of which, on equipment and techniques, has chapters on The Microscope, Optics, Illumination, Photomicrography, and Drawing and Measuring. With the second part we move into the world of Plants, The Animal Kingdom, Inorganic Structures, and Aquatic Microorganisms. The book, which is stitched and well-printed on high-quality glossy paper, concludes with a list of international suppliers and addresses, and an index.

Since the many things one can look at under a microscope had to be covered by Nachtigall in just eighty pages, his survey is necessarily sketchy. Although his photographs enable us to clearly discern their structures, one will, for example, learn little of the fascinating lives and amazing talents of aquatic microorganisms. Readers who may have become interested in studying protozoa should try to locate a copy of Eric V. Grave's 'Using the Microscope: A Guide for Naturalists.' Although this book is unfortunately out-of-print, it is written in an equally engaging style and serves wonderfully to complement Nachtigall.

Whereas Nachtigall will probably leave you wanting to dash into town to look for a good microscope (though before you do you might check out Hermester Barrington's five-star review of the Meade 9400), I've no doubt that Grave will send you scurrying off to the nearest pond to search for protozoa to put under it. All three of these writers love their subject, and I should warn you that their enthusiasm is infectious.

An outstanding book for all who love exploring with a microscope. The material is easily understood, precise and universal in its application. Although it is was published several years ago, the material is timeless, as it applies to good techniques with any light microscope. I refer to it frequently and keep it at hand while I work with my microscopes. An absolute necessity!

This well-written and concise book gives information on many type of pathologies the massage therapist should be familar with. I also used this book as a reference for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and found it pretty helpful. However, if you are looking for the type of questions asked on the NCETMB, I would buy the following which is also sold on amazon.com:
The Ultimate Study Guide for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers
(Topics: Clinical Pathology and Recogintion of Various Conditions) Vol 2 (ISBN: 0971999651)

The Ultimate Study Guide for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers
(Topics: Human Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology) Vol 1 (ISBN: 0971999643)

The Ultimate Study Guide for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers
(Topics: Massage Therapy and Bodywork: Theory, Assessment and Application. Professional Standards, Ethics and Business Practices) Vol 3 (ISBN: 097199966X)

I am a massage therapist and used this book to teach myself the various pathologies. I recommend this book highly to any massage therapist who needs more knowledge in pathology.

This book was recommended to me by another Massage Therapist. I am so glad I took her recommendation. The book is fantastic! I use it a lot and can always find what information I need. Therapists, you won't go wrong in purchasing this book. I highly recommend it for new graduates or any Therapist that wants current information at their fingertips.

Qualitative, descriptive books on physics, I think, are often unsatisfying because nothing suffices like actually doing the math to appreciate the full impact and enjoyement of what physics has to offer. Yet this hasn't prevented the likes of Einstein, Hawking, Feynman, et al, from attempting to do so. Perhaps for the professional physicist such works are interesting by virtue of their historical content, but the lay reader will likely find such works wordy and boring. This book by Heisenberg transcends this milieu however, with the author's shear brilliance and eloquence an admirable spectacle in and of itself. Heisenberg is a terribly smart fellow and that comes through thoughtfully.

This book reads like a collection of essays and, perforce, some chapters could probably be left unread without great harm. Chapter 7, 'the theory of relativity,' being a case in point. No, the real beauty of this book is not in its trenchant reflections on the mechanical behavior of matter, but more on its correlation with physics as a human endeavor, and the evolution of human thought in philosophical terms, as well as language and how it expresses ideas; these themes, philosphy and language, are artfully crafted and make this book significant, not the fact that we can make atom bombs or postulate a universe.

Heisenberg emphasizes the Copenhagen interpretation, which states that the observer effects the outcome of an experiment by the very act of having observed the experiment. This is of course true primarily in terms of atomic physics and not of macro events. For example, if you try to observe an electron you will have to use high energy equipment to do so, which will effect the behavior of the electron. On the other hand, if you observe a sparrow at 100 yards with a pair of binoculars you're not really going to effect the sparrow. By observing it with binoculars you won't break its neck, which is the equivalent of what happens when you observe an electron with x-rays. The idea however, that the observer, or participant, does inject a huge influence by simply participating is significant on a macro scale in linguistic terms; a notion Heisenberg effectively sets out in chapter 10, 'language and reality in modern physics.'

The varying contexts and extensive meanings of concepts and language can and do effect the outcomes of human interactions in myriads of unpredictable ways. Perhaps at a time in humanity's past we could consider language as a logical system where a person either knew what they were talking about or didn't, or was lying or telling the truth based on what they said; a no BS kind of world where wise men judged the testimony of others in courts of reason, much like what occured in witchcraft trials, or in the way the Catholic church judged Galileo for teaching Copernican ideology. We know better now days, and this is, I believe, why Heisenberg makes such a point of the Copenhagen interpretation; not to show that it applies to macro physics, but rather to show how it applies to language and psychology. It's a tough analogy but Heisenberg makes a remarkable effort that engenders contemplation and awe. After all, we still have wise men judging the testimony of others in courts of reason, a sobering thought. This stress on linguistics may seem insignificant today but was probably more germane to the time this book was written, in 1958.

If you like physics, philosophy, and psychology, not necessarily in that order, you'll probably like this book. Chapters 4 and 5 alone, the two chapters that track the birth of quantum physics philosophically, make the price of this book a worthwhile investment.

This book is important because Heisenberg clearly explains why quantum mechanics was fatal for great philosophical theories, and more particularly, for logical positivism and Kant.

Logical positivism affirms that all knowledge is ultimately founded in experience. This led to a postulate concerning the logical clarification of any statement about nature. But since quantum theory such a postulate cannot be fulfilled.

Kant's a priori's like space and time are viewed totally differently since quantum theory. His law of causality is no longer true for the elementary particles, because we don't know the foregoing event accurately or this event cannot be found.
Heisenberg states that it will never be possible by pure reason to arrive at some absolute truth.

Naturally this book is not up to date. It doesn't speak about COBE or superstrings. But Heisenbergs explanation of quantum theory is second to none.

Quotable. After someone said that the quantum theory may be proved false, Bohr answered: 'We may hope that it will later turn out that sometimes 2 x 2 = 5, for this would be of great advantage for our finances'.
A great book.

I like to read books by great physicists, however I don't find this very much pleasant because the books, compared to more recent books, have a erudite language and sometimes are out-of-date or are useless. However, this one, compared to books of his contemporaries Bohr and Einstein, is very nice to read and its full of nice discussions on physics and philosophy. Heisenberg started explaining quantum theory than studied how it affected the greek, cartesian, kantian philosophy and others. Now this is something very curious about this book: Heisenberg exposes one point of view of Kant's philosophy and argues that it is no longer valid using an argument that the proton is an elementary particle, and he finishes saying that obviously Kant couldn't guess how quantum theory would develop. Nor did Heisenberg: his argument fails with QCD advent. So, you can see that as we go further on this book it's important to stop sometimes to think about what Heisenberg is saying, and finally get to the conclusion that his ideas aren't true anymore. However you'll be able, after finishing this book, to understand how did the Copenhagen school was frightened about quantum theory and that modern physicists, such as Feynman and Gell-Mann, were/are not, facing quantum theory more naturally.

Compassionate caring and connectedness, the central themes of this book, are approached on both academic and experiential levels. The book looks at numerous walls that people put between themselves, nature, and the universe. It reviews philosophical ideas over a large expanse of time then brings them down to a level where they can be applied in everyday experiences of people around the world. Other thoughts about universal communication from the microcosms of our world to yet unexplored areas of the universe raise issues that, if nothing else, give the reader interesting ideas to think about.

I recently read "Compassion: A New Philosophy of the Other" and found it to be very enlightening. I am always interested in learning new perspectives on old ideas. I related a lot of Krieglstein's ideas to my own experiences with the Grateful Dead culture. Mainly the idea of how compassion and sensitivity is the foundation for both views. I was also interested in the idea of how all things are inter-connected through inter-related systems. I feel that recognizing this idea that we are all connected through these systems is crucial to the development and growth of the human race towards a better tomorrow.

Compassion A New Philosophy of the Other is a book that explains philosophies throught the Western civilization we live in today. This book informs the reader of the most interesting ideas that people would never come across through their busy everyday lives, and points out the faults in our lives to give the reader a better understanding of Western society. Werner Krieglstein, writes about a great variety of different philosophies that have been in discussion since ancient Athens and explaining them in a manner that could be understood through an ordinary persons life.

If you were a fan of Dietrich and were allowed to own only ONE book about this woman, then this should be the book to own. To reiterate another reviewer's thought -- it is EXQUISITE.

This is a dream of a book. Full of glorious photos and facts. I highly reccommend this to all Dietrich and film fans. All public figures should be the subject of a book like this.

A delicacy! The best book of photographs I have seen on Dietrich and a compendium of beauty, not only hers but all that was created through and with her. A must have book.