Howard Meyer is to be commended for his efforts at rescuing T. W. Higginson from the dustbin of history. All Americans, and especially African Americans, should know something of him. Clergyman, historian, author, early women's rights supporter, abolitionist, Colonel in the Union Army, T.W.H is a man worth knowing about - a true intellectual man of action. I have read Meyer's earlier works on T.W.H and benefited from them.

While browsing at a brick & mortar bookstore yesterday evening I came across Mr. Meyer's new book and casually fanned through it. I was horrified to see that the only (I think) photograph published within the book is that of a young college-age Wentworth, with unattractively long hair, and the look of an idle popinjay: imagine, if you will, a combination of Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf (and actually more of the latter). Howard, what in God's name were you thinking of?

To potential readers: purchase the book and learn about a man of high caliber who not only talked the talk but walked the walk. If you agree with me about the photograph, excise it and mail it back to the publisher. Mr. Meyer's editor may thereby profit from the experience.

Clear, concise and accessible book on the law of WTO though rather expensive in price. Cover all major agreements of the WTO law in a succint manner.

This book is about changing teaching strategies in the classroom. The authors advocate using an "active learning" system in the classroom and believe this approach is more successful and is needed in the 21st Century classroom.

The authors took two years to finish their work. By their own admission, the authors stated their work drew heavily on the work of others. They structured the book in three parts with ten chapters.

The first part of the book focuses on defining active learning and making the case for this teaching strategy. They discuss the "empty vessel" theory of education and the evolution of the fifty-minute lecture. In order to clarify for the reader the "empty vessel" theory of education, the authors briefly explain how Socrates nurtured some of the prominent roots of Western education as he questioned, prodded, and cajoled those who came to learn from him. "Consistent with Plato's view of reality, Socrate's dialogues tried to bring forth from his followers a truth he believed they already possessed." However, this theory of learning ultimately was put aside in Europe and the United States, in part as the result of the industrial revolution. At this point in history, professors no longer saw their role as Socratic midwives, laboring to bring forth knowledge from their students. They adopted a different approach of delivering knowledge directly to the uninitiated. Today, researchers on teaching and learning remind us that students don't come to class as "empty vessels". On contrary, students arrive in class with experiences of successes and failures that can add value to a class. In part one the authors also discuss what is active learning and how it works. They state there is no generally agreed-upon definition of active learning and propose a working definition that they hope will clarify for the reader their assumptions of what active learning is. They explore the four elements of what they believe active learning is and defined them as talking and listening, writing, reading and reflecting. According to authors, these four elements are the building blocks for active learning strategies because each element, in its own way, involves a different type of thinking and helps students create a new mental structure. Part one concludes with a chapter on creating an active learning environment. This chapter focuses on coping with teaching space and explores in detail the different seating arrangements or designs of classrooms that support effective active learning environments.

Part two of the book explores in detail the different strategies and techniques used in active learning. The authors discuss informal small groups, cooperative student projects and simulations. Each of these strategies brings value to a class but they can also bring problems if the basics of these strategies are not comprehended.

In part three the authors discuss integrating reading materials and guest speakers in an active learning environment. They also focus on using technology effectively. I believe the chapter on technology summarizes the changes teachers need to bring to the classroom for effective and efficient teaching in the 21st Century. They conclude that in an active learning environment, teachers will not be the center of attention and that teachers should not be afraid of giving up this power. Instead they should work to instruct in such a way that it empowers students to learn from each other.

RDL 6/27/99

this was truely a great book and i enjoyed reading it, however i desired more interpretation on "the secret sayings of the living Jesus." i thought the authors would elaborate in depth the sayings they've discovered, but rather they were just presented. I'd recommend buying the book, that is for sure, but you should research the gospel of Thomas deeply before you undertake the reading.

Never have I been as perplexed about a book as with this selection.Aside from the back that the writing style/ language is droning, montone and without texture of any kind, I don't know what the book was aiming to explain. The story is Boring-
I had to search high and low for details about the re-incarnation aspects.This subject, which claims to be the main one of this book actually takes a back seat to the authors mundane tales of dressage, and I supposes tales of persecution.
I am usually delighted by a nice photo section, but here again I was mystified by the selection: a photo of the author at age 2, age 2 1/2, age 7, age 12, another age 12, different headshot pose, one of the author in 1981 next to a horse, another in 1989 with two horses and "a colleague"- no identification , another photo of the author on a horse, late 1980's, another horse photo with the author, 1989, another of the author (surprise!) with a horse, 1991, and then a headshot of the author 1997, and then a different pose 1998.No other photos of persons, objects, buildings, streets, family members documents- basically nothing besides that author in her dresssage get-up ,or a studio portrait of her face.This is so eerie.
I have read hundreds and hundreds of biographies, memoirs, including dozens of narratives of people's experiences with past life regressions and the like.This one is a doozie, this lady is just plain flaky and a poor storyteller as well.Sorry- add me to the extensive list of people who the author claims to be persecuted by.

I read and re-read Ms. Karlen's book and found it to be a heartfelt commentary on the persistence and tenacity of the human spirit. I believe this book and Lance Armstrong's book both illustrate how one person can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and emerge a winner.

This is the long--awaited English translation of "Und die Woelfe heulten," the controversial bio-novel in which Swedish writer Barbro Karlen claims to be the reincarnation of Anne Frank -- yes, THE Anne Frank who wrote famous diary. The book created quite a stir in the German-speaking world when it first came out in 1997. There were angry protests, as well as attempts to stop its publication, on the part of a small segment of the Jewish population who believed in neither reincarnation nor freedom of speech -- all of which I reported in "Life and Soul" magazine (London) in 1998.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and the book was published. I'm giving it five stars -- not because I really believe she was Anne Frank (I'm skeptical) but as a vote of free speech for a very brave author. The book raises some real questions about how issues from one life might be carried over into another, and how they might be resolved. Regardless of whether you decide the story is fact or fiction, "And the Wolves howled" is a very thought-provoking read!

I was a little disappointed with this collection of Swiss photographer Karlheinz Weinberger's work because I expected more photos from the 1950's that he published under the pseudonym "Jim" for the gay magazine Der Kreis. There is only a small section of about 20 pages devoted to his gay photography for this magazine. However, what black & white photos there are of his gay models are very good. The rest of the book is broken down into sections showcasing his involvement with rebels-1960's Zurich youth that were rebelling (like the youth in America) against the established authority, and sections on Rockers and Bikers (Hell Angels, etc.). This book is filled with wonderful black & white, and many large color shots of the youth (male & female) from that era. It is a great look back into the history of the confused and turbulent 1960's. The introductions are a great asset and help in explaining the photos of Karlheinz.

Karlheinz had a unique way of capturing real people in natural surroundings, in provocative and sometimes humorous situations that will live on in history because of his special talent. I learned a lot about this Zurich photographer I didn't know already, so I can say I'm better off than I was before I bought this book. I just wish they would have included more of his work from the time he started in1948 at Der Kreis.

This book is for those who only want to learn the basic concepts of technical analysis. The types of charts and concepts used in technical analysis were all only briefly described. You will need to learn a lot more about technical analysis than what is in this book if you want to use it to buy and sell stocks successfully. Thus, this book is way overpriced for the information it provides.

The quality of the charts in the book is only fair and should have been better organized. Most of the time, the charts are at least two pages away from the text that explains them.

If this book doesn't provide the very clearest explanations of technical analysis that is out there, it certainly is a contender for the crown. Each chapter or lesson is followed by a quiz to ensure that you've picked up the key points.

Technical analysis is used by momentum investors (traders if you prefer) to increase their chances of making successful trades. Although some investors on the net would tell you that chart reading is akin to tea-leaf reading, they'd be wrong. I'm conservative enough to combine value investing with my trading, but trading alone can be very profitable to one who takes the time to learn about charts.

The book consists of nineteen lessons:

Lesson 1 - Definition of technical analysis and its basic principles.

Lesson 2 - Chart Construction -- the types of charts, charting services, personal computer software.

Lessons 3-5: Profitable Chart Patterns

Lessons 6-10: Key Analystical Tools

Lessons 11-13: Advanced Analysis. These are especially excellent chapters since they make the "advanced" topics very accessible.

Lessons 14 and 15: Alternative Charting Methods. The lesson on Japanese Candlestick Charting is outstanding.

Lessons 16 and 17: Overall market analysis.

Lessons 18 and 19: Putting It All Together.

An investment of thirty minutes a night for three weeks will repay the investor with more tools to bring to the table to improve his investing track record.

For those who scorn (i.e., do not understand) charts, let me just offer this. Technical analysis does not, of course, double as a crystal ball. But, it can provide a significant edge.

There can be no guarantees, but I believe that this book will pay you for its cost hundreds or thousands of times over. (It has certainly repaid me. But, you've got to read the book and you've got to pull the trigger on some trades.)

Good luck. Better still, read the book and use its information for your benefit instead of relying on luck, hunch, and the free advice that is worth only its price.

This book is obviously constructed as a brief introduction to a variety of components and theories of technical analysis of securities. Topics considered include basic principles and theory of technical analysis, basic chart construction, major reversal chart patterns, consolidation formations, gaps, trendlines and channels, support and resistance, moving averages and other topics. The material is in all cases succinct and to the point. At the end of the book is an extensive list of further reading materials, reinforcing that the text is beginning in nature and the author encourages further study. This text is an excellent way to start exploring the field of technical analysis of securities.

Sorry I was sleeping after trying to read this book... ZZZZZZ.