Anyone who reads the fantasy genre has read a story of this type: person from Earth is transplanted to other world. The Seventh Sword, however, plays with the conventions of this type of story a lot, which makes the story far more unique, thought-provoking, and fun than any of the others. Wallie is the antithesis of the fantasy hero--a peace-loving intellectual at heart, an unconventional teacher and a trickster, driven by necessity to do things he hates the thought of.

If you read this series (and I urge you to, several times), pay attention to the Hamlet references, the repetition of "power corrupts", and the water/jewels imagery. These are books that reward deeper readings.

"The Reluctant Swordsman" (Seventh Sword, Book 1)introduces the characters and world/universe the author continues with in "The Coming of Wisdom" (Seventh Sword, Book 2)and "The Destiny of the Sword" (Seventh Sword, Book 3). This is a brilliant trilogy which remains at the top of Dave Duncan's impressive body of work. This third book doesn't just follow the first two. It reveals things which the author put there all along, giving the reader a new appreciation of the characters and events. That sounds confusing, but read it and see.

The characters remind me of Dungeons and Dragons Roll Playing Games (D&D RPG's). The hero is a 7th level swordsman who picks up a 7th level priest as a travelling companion. There is the same satisfaction of watching a companion swordsman advance through the ranks as there is developing your own character's skill levels in an RPG. There are also some other character types familiar to RPG's (archer's are held in contempt). This is not one of those cheap knockoffs on a D&D game though. This is just one element of the world the author has created which is kind of fun.

The author created a universe with a multitude of gods, like the Greek and Roman gods. While this is very common in the sword and sorcery genre, Dave Duncan has made the gods active participants in his story. One god makes repeated appearances, talks with the hero, and performs the occasional miracle. The author is able to keep the gods from completely overshadowing the human characters by stressing how they value "free will" for their own purposes. The author's brilliant use of deity characters (a recurring element throughout his best series) adds facets to this story which lift it above a simple Conan type "guy with sword" story.

This trilogy has a detailed, multi-leveled plot which twists enough to keep you in suspense right up until the ending. And the ending reaches the appropriate dramatic climax, then has a satisfying denouement where the characters reap their rewards and the author ties up any loose ends. When this book ended, I was left saying, "Wow, imagine that!"

The only thing I can even think of that I didn't like about this trilogy is that it ended. The author really wrapped things up for the characters. It would be almost impossible to continue the story. I do hope that Dave Duncan comes back to this world with some new characters though. Maybe the old characters can have a cameo in the new story . . .

"The Reluctant Swordsman" (Seventh Sword, Book 1)introduces the characters and world/universe the author continues with in "The Coming of Wisdom" (Seventh Sword, Book 2)and "The Destiny of the Sword" (Seventh Sword, Book 3). This is a brilliant trilogy which remains at the top of Dave Duncan's impressive body of work. This first book introduces the main character to the world/universe and the other characters. Then he is presented with a problem, beyond just adjusting to everything, which he overcomes by the end of the book. So this is a full stand-alone story which can be read by itself. The next two books don't just follow this first one. They reveal things which the author put there all along, giving the reader a new appreciation of the characters and events. That sounds confusing, but read it and see.

The characters remind me of Dungeons and Dragons Roll Playing Games (D&D RPG's). The hero is a 7th level swordsman who picks up a 7th level priest as a travelling companion. There is the same satisfaction of watching a companion swordsman advance through the ranks as there is developing your own character's skill levels in an RPG. There are also some other character types familiar to RPG's (archer's are held in contempt). This is not one of those cheap knockoffs on a D&D game though. This is just one element of the world the author has created which is kind of fun.

The author created a universe with a multitude of gods, like the Greek and Roman gods. While this is very common in the sword and sorcery genre, Dave Duncan has made the gods active participants in his story. One god makes repeated appearances, talks with the hero, and performs the occasional miracle. The author is able to keep the gods from completely overshadowing the human characters by stressing how they value "free will" for there own purposes. The author's brilliant use of deity characters (a recurring element throughout his best series) add facets to this story which lift it above a simple Conan type "guy with sword" story.

This trilogy has a detailed, multi-leveled plot which twists enough to keep you in suspense right up until the ending. And the ending reaches the appropriate dramatic climax, then has a satisfying denouement where the characters reap their rewards and the author ties up any loose ends. When this book ended, I was left saying, "Wow, imagine that!"

The only thing I can even think of that I didn't like about this trilogy is that it ended. The author really wrapped things up for the characters. It would be almost impossible to continue the story. I do hope that Dave Duncan comes back to this world with some new characters though. Maybe the old characters can have a cameo in the new story. . .

Get the Ring is a must-buy! There is at least something (actually, lots of things) for everyone on every single CD. I myself was amazed at how the series seemed to be talking personally to me. The issues it addresses are exactly the ones that I have come up against again and again while dating.

For example, the information about the differences between men and women is priceless. I know that lots of people today have trouble with this idea, but what can you do? Men and women really are different, and this series does an excellent job of describing each one fairly.

Not looking for perfection is another key theme that struck home. I found that I have really been looking for that "perfect" someone, just like in the movies and the novels, and that's one reason why I've always been disappointed in relationships - they never measured up!

The advice on actual dating is terrific. Even though it might not all be relevant to everyone, there are a lot of good, sound principles in there that can be applied in different ways to fit different situations - for example, the need for down time, which is something I had been ignoring.

Another aspect of the series that I really appreciated was the emphasis on character development and how the person you are is what's really going to determine the nature of the relationship and how well it goes. That was a big revelation to me.

The 10 ways to marry the wrong person are fantastic! I felt like whacking myself on the head with each one. Why couldn't I have heard this five years ago?!

But the biggest advantage to Get the Ring is how realistic it is. On the one hand, it dispels a lot of illusions that people (including me) have (in my case had, because I already heard the series) about dating and marriage. But on the other hand, it doesn't leave you with the feeling that you're stranded holding a burst balloon. Each speaker explains - with lots of empathy, I must add - how to rebuild your outlook on dating so that, if you follow their guidelines, you're sure to be more successful in the future.

If you are dating - or married, for that matter - than you owe it to yourself to buy "Get the Ring." Even if you never listen to self-help products, change your policy this one time. I promise you that you won't regret it. I didn't. I am now going out with someone and Get the Ring is my bible - and things are going great!

Dear Mr. Levine,

Thank you so much for putting together this comprehensive overview on love, dating and marriage. I always thought I knew everything one needed to know about finding a mate until I listened to your Cd's and heard what your experts had to say! Wow, now I have a whole new attitude and approach to dating and relationships. Never before had I heard the information that was revealed, such as who to say NO to after one date, what qualities are a MUST to determine the right mate and what's needed in the foundation of a relationship to make a happy home. I am very excited to begin my search with a new perspective, thanks again and come dance at my wedding - soon!!

Warmest Regards,
DLR 33 from NYC

Get The Ring is an excellent six CD audio collection that provides invaluable insight for singles about finding the right person for marriage. David LeVine interviews many reliable resources within the Jewish Dating Community who provide common sense back to basics advise. Whereas this CD is a bit more focused on the Jewish Community, persons of other faiths can certainly utilize this information.

The people interviewed on this CD set all have varying styles. Rabbi Shimon Green is certainly the must humorous of the bunch. Lawrence Kelemen certainly reflects on societal issues the most. Excellent points on how seeking the one you love is not taught in school. Too much of an emphasis on veneral diseases instead of how to treat a member of the opposite sex.

Regardless of who is speaking, excellent advise flows like a river into a stream. Its important for single people to evaluate strengths and weaknesses carefully. What are key deal breakers? Also what are potential red flags? Its very important to notice how someone treats those whom he or she has a casual relationship with like a telephone operator.

Also the importance of physical attraction, ethics, and how long should one date someone. Another key point is to network when dating someone. Getting recommendations from trustworthy people always helps. You are oh so precious why not go the extra mile.

Other sections emphasize the value of being humble and acts of kindness as more important than raw chemistry. Kindness and a humble attitude can actually create long lasting chemistry as opposed to a flash in the pan relationship where both parties never take the time to know the person.

I could emphasize so many other good moments of this CD for many more moments. However the deep meaning behind the words of wisdom from these speakers is what will provide long lasting knowledge to many single people out there. This is a must purchase for anyone in search for true love.

My name is Bettina Schneider, I am German, a sports journalist and working as a commentator for Eurosport Television in Paris/France. When I discovered the book, I read it within one night, I couldn't stop, because I was too fascinated. People always told me, real lasting love between two different cultures is quite impossible - but Kenny and Yarima proved it to the whole world - it's not!! Just as Kenny, I am sick and tired of the superficial way of dealing with other people, the typical western way of looking for vanity first, appearence and - income! I want to be free, work with children, be alive - and thus I made up my mind! I am about to move to Paraguay, where last year during a long vacation at the Estancia Aventura close to Caacupé, I fell in love with a Paraguayan Gaucho. I always doubted, that a real future would be possible for us. But now I feel, I have the courage to do it. I am learning his language, Guarani, and I will try, I will give my best to believe in a similar miracle. All you need is love and understanding of each other, tolerance and real feelings. Thank you, Kenny and Yarima - I wish you, David and Vanessa a wonderful life! How I would love to meet you one day... Following your example, I will try to dream a real dream, far away from artificial life and close to something real - the incredible nature and the loving of natural people. Nothing is comparable to what you guys went through, but your example gave me confidence, and reading your book, Kenny, I felt alive and full of hope, despite all your problems with burocracy... I'll never forget you!

I have used Ken Good's book, Into the Heart, as a text in my anthropology classes with great success. This is a captivating book that students devour, students have told me that they pass this book on to family members after reading it in class. It does much to dispel the erroneous claims that the Yanomama are somehow an overly fierce and unusually violent people. Good's extensive ethnographic experience and detailed account of Yanomama life make this a classic ethnographic text that will last for generations to come.

"Into the Heart" by Kenneth Good with David Chanoff was for me the most inspiring book of this decade and this century. When I began reading it, I could not put it down until I read the last sentence, in the wee hours of the morning.

This book had such an impact on me that I was compelled to read it over and over again. It was THIS BOOK that inspired me to travel to the Amazon in October 1999. I would highly recommend this excellent account of life among stone age people for anyone who has an open mind and wants to learn of aboriginal cultures in South America. This book is for everyone who likes to read about adventure, travel, altruism, love, and the dangers one may encounter travelling in "unchartered waters."

It would have been difficult for me not to identify with the protagonist (the author)as I read of his struggles to learn the language, to gain acceptance in Yanomami society, to learn the simple code of ethics in a primitive culture as well as his efforts to acquire survival skills such as learning to fish, hunt, climb trees, go on long treks. My own sense of wonder and excitement grew when I read of the author's "first contact" with hitherto uncontacted Yanomami tribes, and the reaction of these people upon seeing an outsider-a white man-for the first time! I was filled with admiration for the author when I read in chapter 9 that he distributed his very last malaria pill to a Yanomami tribesman, a deed for which he almost paid the ultimate price.

His inner struggles with his conscience are apparent when in chapter 7 the author could no longer be the casual observer, the detached scientist-researcher, and allow the stabbing of a poor, whimpering, malaria stricken woman. A scientist in the field is supposed to observe but not intervene. By putting his feelings first, he saved a life.

Upon reading this book, I felt the utter despair that the author must have experienced when he thought he would lose his wife, Yarima, because of needless red tape, delaying his permit to return to her and her tribe. I also felt his happiness upon finding her again. I was sorry to learn when I saw the National Geographic documentary entitled "Yanomami Homecoming" that Yarima decided not to return to the USA with her husband and children, especially since she indicated in the documentary that she loved her husband. This was why she had married him and moved to New Jersey where she lived for 6 years trying to adapt to western life.

My life was greatly enriched by reading this book. I had learned a great deal about birth and death in Yanomami society, about funeral practices, incest taboos, practising agriculture in the jungle, strange customs such as body painting and other forms of body beautification. Having read several other books about indigenous people of the Amazon I can truly say, this book eclipses them all.

Books I have read about the Yanomami include: "Amazon" and "Savages" both by Dennison Berwick; "Aborigines of the Amazon Rainforest" by Robin Hanbury Tenison; and "Amazon Journal" by Geoffrey O'Connor.

From an avid reader in Alberta, Canada, October 30, 1999 *****

Pecar and Garbin have the rare ability to convey a complex technical subject in an easy to understand manner. The New Telecom Factbook can be read from cover to cover, piecemeal, or be used simply as a reference manual. This book weaves the confluence of Telecom Network Architecture, Technology, Regulation, and Services into a story of amazing clarity. If you need to rapidly come up to speed in Telecom, I highly recommend this book. If you are getting started in Optical Networking this book will be an important tool to help you place the optical build-out into perspective. I enjoyed reading this book and will refer to it often. -Brad Boersen, MIT System Design and Management Program

The New McGraw Hill Telecom Factbook, 2d Edition, by Joe Pecar and Dave Garbin is a technically exact and easily readable guide for students, managers, and other non-technical readers.

As a senior manager for a major IXC, I found The New Telecom Factbook succinctly provides industry-accepted terminology in a useful way for both telecommunications managers and engineers. This book will help acclimate many non-engineering people entering the telecommunications field by providing simple and precise definitions of emerging technology and terms that are technically exact, yet easily understandable for non-technical readers. The New Telecom Factbook provides telecommunications managers, users, and professionals with a single, up-to-date reference with for new technology, performance metrics, and market alternatives.

Having previously used the earlier edition of The Telecom Factbook to teach telecommunications courses, it's clear that the authors have again produced an excellent tutorial that is easily suitable for graduate-level courses in information technology and telecommunications systems tracks. Thorough presentations of complex material will systematically allow students to become familiar with industry terminology and key concepts. Detailed figures and excellent technology taxonomy charts further provide those without prior engineering or mathematical backgrounds with easy-to-follow roadmaps that cover all telecommunications fundamentals. The book also introduces many complex capabilities including DS1/DS3 (T1/T3) asynchronous multiplexing; SONET synchronous multiplexing; modulation schemes used in digital subscriber link (DSL) and cellular wireless services; Internet technologies; and many other technical topics essential for success in our emerging and converging telecommunications environment.

The New McGraw Hill Telecom Factbook 2d Edition by Joe Pecar and Dave Garbin is one of the best reference books I have ever used.It is long overdue and a must have reference on your shelf. It addresses subjects that other authors seem to treat only slightly if at all. The authors ability to explain complex subject s in a clear easily understandable manner is unique. The many illustrations and diagrams are usable by both lay persons and engineers alike. This would have been an excellent text to have had available for my college courses. This book is a key reference in my program office and I continually need to add more copies.I recommend the reading and use of this factbook to all professionasl and laymen alike who are serious about understanding the modern complex world of Telecommunications and Information Systems. Norman D Jorstad, Telecom and Information Systems Engineer and Program Manager.

I looked long and hard (and asked many a scholar) for the "perfect" Shakespeare publication that I might purchase to study "King Henry V" (for a experiential education requirement, I had undertaken the translation of Henry V into American Sign Language). The Arden Shakespeare came highly recommended by everyone, and has lived up entirely to all its rave reviews.

I will never buy Shakespeare from another publisher. While these books may be slightly more expensive than a "mass market" edition, I believe that if you are going to take the time to read and understand Shakespeare, it is well worth the extra dollar or two. The Introduction, the images, and plethora of footnotes are irreplaceable and nearly neccessary for a full understanding of the play (for those of us who are not scholars already). The photocopy of the original Quatro text in the appendix is also very interesting.

All in all, well worth it! I recommend that you buy ALL of Shakespeare's work from Arden's critical editions.

On D-Day British officers read Henry's famous words to their men as they approached the beach. When Churchill needed material for his famous "Few" speech, his thoughts turned to the pages of Henry V. From "once more into the breach" to "we happy few, we band of brothers" this play resonates with Shakespeare's paen to England's warrior king. Oh, you'll be a bit confused at the start if you haven't read Henry IV parts 1 and 2, but this is primarily the story of Henry V's victory at Agincourt. Whether the play glorifies war or just Henry you will have to decide. There is much food for thought here for the perceptive reader. But then Shakespeare is always provocative.

Required to read Henry for my AP English Language class, I came into the play with a bias. I honestly felt that it would be a boring political play. I was utterly wrong! A huge fan of Shakespeare, I found Henry V to be a formidable match for the Bard's more critically acclaimed plays, such as Hamlet and Macbeth. Henry has it all! Shakespeare's attitude toward Henry the King is certainly one of admiration. By communicating the fact that an effective monarch must have a complete understanding of the common subjects (Pistol and Bardolph and Quickly), Shakespeare sets up Henry to be the ideal Christian king. The controlled language of Henry's speeches, particularly his response to the Dauphin's idiotic insult, also glorifies Henry. I certainly recommend this play to anyone, fan of Shakespeare or not.

As a professional economist who is constantly looking for better ways to communicate the essence of economics to non economists, I couldn't be more enthusiastic about Henderson's The Joy of Freedom. Without mind numbing diagrams and equations, Henderson conveys more economic understanding than any of the standard text books I know--and I know a lot of them, having written a few myself. And it is not just economic concepts and the standard perspective on economic efficiency that he communicates so compellingly. With a personal story beautifully woven into the narrative, Henderson shows how humane and socially concerned economists can be (and generally are). Read this book and find out that economists can be passionate in wanting to make this world a better place, and have real guide posts in going about it, guide posts that elevate the ideal of freedom to the central organizing principle. The next time I teach a principles courses I'm going to do my students a tremendous favor by using David Henderson's The Joy of Freedom: An Economists Odyssey as the main text.

David Henderson is my friend and I helped him with this book, so I suppose I'm biased. But my familiarity can help you decide whether to buy this book or not.

The Joy of Freedom is the work of an exceptional teacher who has a skill for communicating economic concepts. It is the result of his lifelong desire to understand the world, to better himself, and to help others. As the reader, we walk side by side with David as he struggles to understand complex and important issues. He tells us stories from his life, from childhood through his successful career as an economist. The result is an interesting, easy-to-read, understandable, and enjoyable book about some of the more pressing problems of our time. How many other books can make that claim?

If you care about your personal retirement assets, your ability to get good health care, the education of yourself or your children, your rights and security, the inner workings of the government, the laws of economics, discrimination, or the environment, this book has something for you. You don't have to agree with everything Dr. Henderson says. In fact, because he is such a good thinker and communicator, his path of discovery should help you on your own, whatever course it may take.

In the mid-80s, I took a casual poll of free market leaders:
What are the top-five free-market books for a novice to read?

Every one of them put Henry Hazlitt's "Economics in One
Lesson" on his or her list, typically at the top.

If I were to repeat the poll now, I suspect Hazlitt's classic
will have a contender for first place, my friend David
Henderson's "The Joy of Freedom."

Henderson seduces the reader with his personal stories,
like why as a college kid in Canada he resigned from
a great summer job measuring trees. His stories are
so much fun to read that learning economics kinda
sneaks up on you.

Indeed, it's Henderson's charm that is the anti-dote
for what von Mises called the "Anti-Capitalist Mentality."
(BTW, Mises' book of that title was on many 'top-five'
lists, and Bastiat's "The Law" was on every list.)

You'll want an extra copy or two of "Joy of Freedom"
for lending to friends who do not share your love of
freedom, especially those who will even argue about its
meaning.

This was the best book I have ever read on Quark Xpress, or any other computer program for that matter. I read it from cover to cover and could hardly put it down. The information is given in a clear, concise fashion and the quick wit with which it was written makes it easy and interesting to read. It is a great starter guide for beginners, or a wonderful reference for advanced users. I recommend this book for everyone!

I am a self-published author, and I know very little about computers, except that if you ask a printer which format he would like your text on, they will request that the files be on, Macintosh based Quark. Mac-Quark is the industry standard. If computers were motorcycles...Mac and Quark would be Harley-Davidsons. My telephone inquiries to the Quark technical staff about problems I encountered with their basic training manual, usually ended with their advise to, "Buy the Blatner book. It's the one we use to field questions", but was ignored by me, because I had purchased the Blatner video training tapes earlier in the year; and felt I had gotten "burned", because the demonstrations all take place on a Windows PC. Mr. Blatner promised (on screen), that he would let us Mac users know, when controls he used on the PC, deviated from the Mac users controls. Unfortunately, for the new Mac computer pilgrim, (like myself) I got lost and discouraged trying to figure out which Mac controls he might have been alluding to. However, his QuarkXPress 4 book, brings it all back home. The book is Mac based. The commands are written with the Mac controls stated first and then the PC movements. This is THE book for Mac-Quark. He explains everything he talks about. Buy this book and Elaine Weinmanns'(Quark4/Mac). Note: The main difference between PC (IBM) and Mac (G-3 and down) is the math-chip. The chip is made by the same company that put radio's on police motorcycles in 1930, and a man on the moon around 40 years later...Motorola. ...IBM published their knowledge and made it possible to build a computer yourself, from parts right off the shelf. See how America works? Everyone gets their "issue"; IBM for commerce and Macintosh for art. © Kirk Perry, 2001

This is the comprehensive, huge, heavy, expensive book that used to scare me to death at the bookstore when I was just contemplating getting a computer 2 years ago and abandoning my life as a Ludite. These books are actually pussycats and just big and heavy because they contain every single particle of information about Quark that you could ever want to know. It is written in plain English and begins at the beginning. Follow it through and you will come out the other side a Quark Guru. It is a fabulous resource when you get stuck and just can't remember how to do something or what this or that tool does. It really does answer any question you might have about how to Quark. Essential for Quark freaks and geeks and wannabes.

Enough with exposês of the latest corporate scandal. It's refreshing to read a book that features companies that are doing the Right Thing. Better yet, the author gives me a road map for making changes in my own company as well. Saving the Corporate Soul is obviously written by a journalist who knows how to tell stories. He adds in events that have taken place in his own business experience, and those are some of the best parts of the book. I've already told everyone at my company that this is a "must book" to read.

David Batstone's excellent book on corporate integrity is a must-read for executives and managers who want ideas on how to create profitable but soulful businesses that show heart as well as logic. This is not a text that preaches from the pulpit or revels in moral condemnation of Enron's misdeeds. For those of us who are sick to the teeth of reading Enron/Anderson post-mortems, Batstone's book will come as a refreshing change.

Reputation building has always been a profitable way to grow a business. 'Reputation is not the same thing as a brand' Batstone says. Instead he says, 'Reputation is the perceived character a company holds to public eye', which is probably the best definition this reviewer has read. Using the eight principles outlined in the book, managers are guided through examples that have helped or hindered individual companies. IKEA vs Home Depot for example is cited in the Community section of the book - the underlying principle being 'A company will think of itself as part of a community as well as a market'. Which one would you rather have open a store in your community, and why? For the record, the residents of Mountain View, CA (a pretty town near to Silicon Valley) said they'd prefer an IKEA, and not because they like modular Swedish furniture.

The eight principles outlined in the book are:

Principle One: The directors and executives of a company will align their personal interests with the fate of stakeholders and act in a responsible way to ensure the vitality of the enterprise.

Principle Two: A company's business operations will be transparent to shareholder, employees and the public and its executives will stand by the integrity of their decisions.

Principle Three: A company will think of itself as part of a community as well as a market.

Principle Four: A company will represent its products honestly to customers and honor their dignity up to and beyond a transaction.

Principle Five: The worker will be treated as a valuable team member, not just a hired hand.

Principle Six: The environment will be treated as a silent stakeholder, a party to which the company is wholly accountable.

Principle Seven: A company will strive for balance, diversity and equality in its relationships with workers, customers and suppliers.

Principle Eight: A company will pursue international trade and production based on respect for the rights of workers and citizens of trade partner nations.

If you are looking for one book to share with others in your organization to start a discussion on integrity and reputation, Saving the Corporate Soul should be it.

Finally, a book that outlines what CAN BE RIGHT with the corporate world. I've been a fan of David Batstone's journalism for years. In Saving the Corporate Soul, he outlines what all of us--leaders, managers, office workers--need to do to fix what's wrong with business in America. His eight principles are right on--and readily implementable. I've bought a copy for everyone on my management team. Read it now.

Mr. Ulrich has written a true gem. Don't be fooled by the title, since I feel this book is appropriate for a wide range of business leaders, not just HR staff. Probably the best aspect of this book is that the ideas and concepts can be immediately applied. Mr. Ulrich provides lots of concrete examples, worksheets, and tables that can practically be used "as-is". Chapters 3 through 6 are the roadmaps for transforming an HR function from an administrative roadbloack into a key business partner. Read them carefully and you will be well prepared for your journey. Chapter 3 - Becoming a Strategic Partner - should be required reading not only for HR people, but for anyone in a leadership position. In this chapter Mr. Ulrich gives one of the most clear and concise explanations of "organizational diagnosis" that I have ever read. It's basically a blueprint for designing a high-performance organization. Like most people out there, I have read a lot of business books that were pure junk. But as the manager of organizational development for a telecommunications company, I would highly recommend this book to HR staff, OD specialists/consultants, and mid- to senior-level leaders. I think you will find a wealth of practical information between its covers.

Ulrich presents one of the better models of human resources management. He addressess and answers once and for all the stress which is felt by all HR practitioners between the demand for providing administrative support for their organizations and the need to paly a role in the proactive business strategy development. Ulrich is one of the few academics who clearly knows his way around the HR practitioner world. His strategy chapter is worth the purchase price of the book. The only regret is the title of the book which I am afraid will diminish possible readership.

This excellent book helps us to view HR not as a bunch of functional activities but the people dimension of our business. If you got the time to read just one general HR book - this is your natural choice. Whereever I go in our organization I strongly recommend our HR managers to read it and discuss it with their local management team.

I read this book a year ago in philosophy class when we were studying Thoreau. I must say, of all philosophers, Thoreau is one of my favorites. This play examines feilds such as family life, relationships, government, policy, and my favorite - education. After I read this play I had marvelous thoughts about how wonderful the education system would be if only Thoreau's ideas could be played upon! I strongly recomend this book to anyone who is sometimes accused of being an "idealist" or a "dreamer" - but also to those who hold a strict perspective on government and education. Keep an open mind and enjoy the thoughts that flow through Thoreau's mind!

"The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail" is a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, who also coauthored the classic "Inherit the Wind." "Night" is inspired by the life and writings of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), naturalist, political radical, and seminal American intellectual figure. The play was first performed in 1970.

"Night" takes place during a night when Thoreau was jailed for an act of civil disobedience: he refused to pay a tax in defiance of the Polk administration's Mexican War. The action of the play consists of a series of interconnected, dreamlike scenes that explore Thoreau's life, ideals, and relationships. We see his theory of education, his strong opposition to slavery, his family ties, and, quite strikingly, his problematic yet enduring relationship with fellow American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Particularly moving is Thoreau's encounter with an escaped slave.

"Night" is a moving, even inspiring, play. Thoreau is celebrated as not merely a crucial thinker and a great man, but as a truly transcendent figure: a prophet whose voice continues to resound. Highly recommended for literature classes, reading groups, and individual readers.

This is a great play to read before reading anything by Thoreau himself--it will help you to get a better understanding of him. Also great for Thoreau fans, or anyone who likes to read something worthwhile. This book is simply amazing, you will not regret reading it. I don't often cry when reading....but I'll admit that I did when reading this one. The authors of this play depicted Henry David Thoreau's life and philosophies so clearly yet with such an eloquent and touching manner. I loved this play 100% and I will definitely read it again!