I used this book to study for my CCDA. I had the Desgining Cisco Networks CD from Cisco, but this covered a lot more. The practice questions were excellent. I highly recommend this book.

I have never been more pleased with this series. The information contained within the DCN is accurate and complete. A must read for anyone taking the DCN test.

Don't ever let it said that there are any good books published that cover the CCDA exam, If you think this true you might want to check out this book and begin to see what information is contained within the700 plus page book.

Starting off with Internetworking technology overview which will cover the OSI model, protocols and topologies. You'll then move to Cisco hardware and software and design fundamentals and documentation.

The once you have comprehended those topics you'll next find LAN design, WAN design, Network Address Design and Architecture design and finish with testing your design. This book is an excellent teaching tools for those people looking for a formal type of training.

The appendix A is a excellent glossary, there is also appendices covering firewalls and DMZ, NT Networks and a 33-page breakdown of the OSI Model. You also have review questions at the end of every chapter.

Also included is a cd-rom that has over 200 questions that can be setup in a timed or adaptive exam. The cd was easy to install and there was no major complications with the install.

Michael Bird-Boy is a wonderful story, that takes an environmental message in to action. Michael Bird Boy is able to find solutions to problems in the story, with positive interaction between Michael and the problems. Michael is far more empowering and optimistic than the environmental classic The Lorax, without sugar coating the issue or leaving the reader (child and parent) without possible solutions.

I can't give enough praise to this book. I've worn out my old copy and am now ordering a new one. The characters are fun and whimsical, kids can relate to them. The message is positive and empowering--kids come up with compromises and solutions to problems. And it has a subtle anti-sexist message without being overpowering and pedantic in its political correctness. Micheal Bird Boy and Boss Lady both seem comfortable in their own unique skin, and that's also a great message for kids. This is a fine example of a pre-k/early elem. book that shows environmental action in a positive light. A nice gift for the Micheals in your life!

Wow! I read this book as a child and I remember learning about the story and the environmental message. I just found my childhood copy and I am thrilled to find how wonderful it is again! I am glad it is still in print. Enjoy, teach your kids about changing things. Sadly, the black cloud this time is caused by a much more harmful problem, fossil fules...

This is Thomas Merton's journal covering his years teaching literature at St. Bonaventure's college in New York. It concludes as Merton is on the cusp of making a decision to enter the Trappist Order.

As for the contents of the journal, you will need to be a bit patient. Because this is a journal, even though abridged, you will have to slog through a lot of Merton's thoughts on certain poets, writers etc.

The interesting thing is that it gives some insight on Merton as an intellectual. But at this stage in his life, he doesn't seem comfortable in that skin. In fact, he often laments his arrogance and wonders whether any of these things (i.e., book reviews, articles in the Times) are really all that worth discussing in the first place.

A great deal of the material, particularly towards the end, is material that you will find repeated in Seven Storey Mountain. It would appear to me that Merton took a good read through his journal when he sat down to write Seven Storey Mountain. Of course, the journal is not polished, but it is every bit as fascinating as Seven Storey Mountain.

I also found Merton's thoughts on WWII, as it ravaged Europe, quite fascinating. A significant portion of this journal involves thoughts on war and what it means to be in a war; whether we should fight wars.

In sum, this journal is largely a reflection on literature, coversion, and war. If you are a fan of Merton, read this immediately. If you haven't really been exposed to Merton, read Seven Storey Mountain first and then return to the journal.

As for me, I give it four stars!

A good friend of mine sent me all seven volumes of Merton's journals. It was a gift of immeasurable worth and value. I will no doubt still be reading through these wonderful books for years to come.

Having just finished the first volume, "Run to the Mountain," I stand in awe of the sheer depth and scope of the life we've each been given. The life presented here, that of Thomas Merton, is remarkable in many ways. "Run to the Mountain" is the chronicle of the years when he started instructing English in college up to his entry at the Trappist monastery in Gethsemani Kentucky.

Beyond the external events of his times (the late thirties and forties) lies the bigger story of Merton's eternal destiny. Not since my own salvation have I encountered a story which so clearly illustrates God's pursuing love and grace. The reader can palpably feel Merton being called by God in these pages.

It is quite tempting to imagine what might have become of Merton had he not heeded his call. These pages (and most of his later works) make clear his incredible power as a writer. It is not hard to imagine that he would have become at least as, if not more famous than Jack Kerouac, his fellow student at Columbia. It is one of the great "what ifs" (and there are several) of Merton's life.

It is a great thing to be able to read about Thomas Merton's journey--to see him be changed and opened. It is an even greater privilege to take his thoughts and words with me on my own journey. This is one gift I am trully grateful for. Get this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

An outstanding account of the beginning of a vocation. From the first stirrings of spirituality to the full fleged desire to enter a monastery, Fr. Merton records his faith and doubts, his triumphs and disasters, his hopes and fears. His writing is eloquent yet simple. And his style becomes more free and prayerful as he comes closer to entering the Trappist monastery at Gethsemani. A wonderful book to feed and encourage the soul of anyone on a spiritual journey.

The story of a lonely woman caught between love and propriety, self-sacrifice and self-interest, "Two on a Tower" is one of the saddest novels I've read. I kept hoping for a description of a blissful-but-brief interlude for Viviette, but it never materialized. Instead, unhappiness dogged her to the novel's cruel end. Yes, cruel. The final event in the book was an unnecessary stroke. Also, while I usually accept a character's actions, I cannot believe that Viviette NEVER anticipated becoming pregnant. The possibility certainly haunted ME from the moment her secret marriage took place. For all of it's sadness, however, the story is engaging and provides a criticism of the unforgiving social conventions of Hardy's time.

Two on a Tower was the 11th Thomas Hardy's 14 novels that I have read. Hardy can be depended upon to paint a vivid picture of the characters' environment, and their relationships to it, but this time with a twist: One of the two characters being an astronomer, most of the environmental descriptions are of the heavens, and are wonderfully appropriate for the characters' actions and 'aspects'.
Hardy had a gift of creating characters who are fascinating in their personalities and actions, and together with the environmental descriptions, reading his novels is just one step away from watching a really good movie of the story.
Of all Hardy's varied characters, I felt the most sympathy for the two on the tower. Viviette has a great need for love and is selfless in giving it. Swithin, a somewhat naive and literate scientist, is at the same time a tender and faithful lover. Of all Hardy's stories, I hoped that this one would somehow have that "happy ending", and I suffered uncounted times for both characters.
I highly recommend this book for emotional involvement, though it may tear you apart to read it!
I would also recommend another of Hardy's lesser known novels The Woodlanders, which I understand was his own favorite story, and remains mine also.

Beautifully written, Thomas Hardy goes all out to make the reader see, hear, and smell every scene in this book. From begining to end, you never know what's going to happen next, and just when you think the story is calming down, Hardy throws a swerve your way. Great surprises, not predictable at all.

Hardy perhaps one of the better describers of setting of his time, shows once again, why books were so highly read back in his age.

Thomas once again delivered another great book of sadness, happiness, pregnancy and marriage. Although the story is mostly sad, it is still a great book, especially for those who have read previous Hardy books. A great read.

I've read about a dozen or so soldier memoirs/diary accounts, and this one ranks as one of the poorest. I find most of these have a generic nature to them - seems like if you've read one, you've read them all! Mr. Holt wrote this in his latter years, so Goodness knows how the years have treated his memory of things, although a fine editing job by Cockrell and Ballard keep things on the straight and narrow. Much of the memoirs involve Holt's escapades that have little to do with the war effort. Lot of it reads like a Mark Twain tale, with Holt often relating some of the hijinks and sit-com like situations he experienced as a soldier.

Holt really conveys the attitudes, feelings, deep convictions, and courage displayed by those who fought in the war. (Not only on the Rebel side, but also on the Yankee side.) He also goes into some of the other reasons besides slavery, that caused the South to secede. Very well written and extremely interesting. It makes you feel as if you're right beside Holt following him as they go down in history. Also shows how life for the Confederate soldier was awfully harsh in the latter part of the war. Holt doesn't have shoes and is walking through snow along with men who are dying of starvation. Holt entertains readers by detailing what he and his group would do for fun, ie., sneaking away from camp to meet girls, etc.

I knew Holt was in the 16th Miss. Co. K. I was hoping it would mention Co. H where my relative fought, but it didn't.

Holt leaves for the war as a boy, but returns a man.

Great book. I highly recommend it.

Holt's memoirs are entertaining as well as informative. This book becomes hard to put down as you read. Very good details of life in the Army of Northern Virginia. He gives the "personal" side of the war so often left out by other memoirs. Reading this book was like having Holt tell you the story himself. Excellent.

This book gives you a great history lesson on Hot Wheels. The photos are great too! Good for the new comer.

Lots of great pictures, but the pricing levels are very arbitrary. Also, there are a few errors in the guide as to the existance and availability of some cars.

If you ever had any Hotwheels as a kid and have have wondered what they would be worth now, or how many colors and versions there were this is the book. Hundreds of color photographs and wheel variations through the years along with current values. Quite a bargain, excellent investment.

As a High Structure Rescue Traininer I see a lot of information on roped rescue. I found this book useful and concise with clear illustrations, I don't agree with ever aspect of the rigging, but the authors share the view that there is more than one system for rescue, as long as it is SAFE for everybody. Overall I found it a good book for developing peoples understanding for safe High Structure Rescues.

While no book on technical rescue can subustitute for live training with competent intructors this book provides an excellent foundation. The author covers relevant OSHA and NFPA standards in a clear and concise fashion. The book thoroughly covers all aspects of industrial and confined space rescue operations with a strong emphasis on safety.

It's small enough to toss into a briefcase or purse. It lies flat on my desk, making it easier to use. Has all the diagnostic criteria, and the basics of a five axis diagnosis. Includes basic GAF info. Index. All I ever need to know from the DSM I find in here.

Unless you have a good reason (you're enrolled in a psychopathology class) to use the full-up DSM-IV, do yourself and your muscles a favor and get this one.

(If you'd like to comment on this review, click on the "about me" link above & drop me an email. Thanks!)

I finally broke down and purchased this handy little reference book. I have the large hardcover DSMIV and finally had to stop hauling it between offices. This little gem fits in my Day Timer. It is always within reach. A must have if you have to diagnose for insurance, mental health agencies, or EAPS. No more wondering where the Big Book is (in my car, other office, or home). Once another therapist borrowed it for a week without letting me know. No need to spend Big Book prices either. Please note that you still need access to the Big DSMIV for more detail than this Quick Reference offers.

A wonderful book for a beginner and for those who are working with Web designing. Familiar with other products this book has changed my way of building pages and presentation, that I have been asked to head a web development team. Thanks to Microsoft Frontpage 2000.

This book consists mainly of 5 projects. The text guides you to complete each project with very clear written instructions and outstanding illustrations. By the time you complete each project, you have learned specific skills in FrontPage. I like this book very much and recommend it as a way to become familiar with FrontPage. I would also recommend two books from Microsoft Press: FrontPage 2000 Step-by-Step and Running FrontPage 2000. I would also recommend FrontPage 2000 Simplifed, by Ruth Maran.

Six lectures delivered by Carlyle in 1840. He classifies six kinds of heroes: as Divinity (Wotan, paganism); Prophet (Mohamed); Poet (Dante, Shakespeare); Priest (Luther, Knox); Man of Letters (Johnson, Rousseau, Burns); and Ruler (Cromwell, Napoleon). The trait that defines a hero is: absolute sincerity and firm belief in his principles.

In his highly rhetorical lectures, Carlyle highlights and reinforces the role of the individual in the social process, as opposed to the role of the masses. And he did that precisely when the foundations were being laid for the most influential "pro-mass" movement in History: Marxism. The tragedy of Marxism, at least one of them all, is that, when translated into action, the blind masses were also led by "heroes" of the most authocratic sort. Not properly the work of an historian, these lectures are vivid, inflamed and enthusiast. Their uselfuness for our present age is precisely that they remind us of the crucial role significant individuals play in history, to accelerate or slow down (and even reverse) the process of social change, which is usually more gradual, diffused, and diverse.

Carlyle is not properly a historian or a philosopher, but a moralist, a fervent admirer of excellence, and a prose-poet of the first rank. Six meditations deal respectively of the hero as: Divinity, Prophet, Poet, Priest, Man of Letters, and King. If this book can't rightly be shelved with philosophy or history, it belongs in Literature with a capital "L," and Poetry. Carlylye loved the English Language and used it masterfully, energetically, and reverentially, without a trace of the trivial overindulgence of self-conscious and self-absorbed "poets."

This is an extraordinary work, let modern liberal critics say what they will of their 'mass movements' and 'diversity'. Long after they and their productions have bitten the dust, Carlyle will continue to speak to the enlightened few, and perhaps one day, it is to be hoped, to the enlightened many.

This work is much more than just a study of various influential men in history. Carlyle has very interesting notions of the historical process itself, the spread of religions and their demise, the importance of "true belief" in things, as opposed the unbelief that merely follows rituals and procedures. For Carlyle, true belief, is the beginning of morality, all success, all good things in this world; Unbelief, scepticism, the beginning of all corruption, quackery, falsehood.Unbelief, for instance, is at the root of all materialist philosophies, eg Utilitarianism which find human beings to be nothing more than clever, pleasure-seeking bipeds. It is also at the root of all democratic theories: faith in a democratic system means despair of finding an honest man to lead us.

Whether one agrees with Carlyle or not in his appraisal of democratic and other systems, one must admit, at least, that very little good is to be gotten from "the checking and balancing of greedy knaveries." If we have no honest men in government or in business, but only a bunch of self-interested quacks, then we cannot expect any system, however ingenious, to save us. Even the most skilled architect will not be able to construct a great building, if you give him only hollow, cracked bricks to build it with. Find your honest men, says Carlyle, and get them into the positions of influence; only then will it be well with you.