Most notably, it is the only such book to question the so-called "Pacific Century" published before the traumatic economic crisis that infected the region in 1997. Although some chapters are less powerful than others, for the greater part the editors and authors have succeeded where the overwhelming majority of social scientists fail: their attempt at future gazing has proven to be be largely correct - a success last seen by Paul Kennedy's now-classic work "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers" (1987). This is a book definately worth buying.

This is one of those extremely useful books like Edwin G. Pulleyblank's 'Outline of Classical Chinese Grammar' (1995) - in other words, _NOT_ a textbook for lesson-by-lesson study of a language, but a handy compendium and reference work which packs a lot of information into a convenient and easy-to-consult package, and which can help solve problems that can crop up when engaged in the study of a formal textbook.

The basic resources included in the present reference work are paradigms of nouns and verbs, a glossary of common proper names, an index of single and composite logograms, an index of Akkadian words commonly written in logograms, a reverse index of composite logograms by constituent sign number, and a complete sign list accompanied by a comprehensive index of all sign values. In short, the book summarizes all of the basic resource materials needed for the study of Akkadian.

The book is a full-sized 8vo (9 by 6 inches), beautifully printed on good paper, and is bound in a reasonably sturdy glossy wrapper, though unfortunately it has a glued spine and won't open flat. The idea that books should be openable seems, like much else, to have fallen victim to progress.

But hey! You can't have everything, and perhaps we should be happy with what we have been given - a well-organized and well-printed manual that all students of Akkadian will find indispensable. It makes a perfect companion to the excellent Marcus self-teaching manual for beginners :

A MANUAL OF AKKADIAN by David Marcus. 182 pp. New York : University Press of America, 1978. ISBN 0-8191-0608-9 (pbk.)

Equipped with these two, serious application should soon see anyone reading passages in cuneiform from 'The Code of Hammurapi,' 'The Descent of Ishtar,' and 'The Annals of Sennacherib' with real enjoyment.

By reading this book, by stopping trading and re grouping, I know my trading will be much better and that every trader that trades my money or my firms money, will be required to not only read this book, but to recant the most important parts.

Dont just buy this book, learn it and trade by its valuable tenets.

Mike Levin

This was my first Douglas/Olshaker book. It won't be my last.

I can't remember reading anything since john case's THE GENESIS CODE that rang so absolutely true.

Douglas' time at Quantico permeates every page and each plot twist is presented with such authority...I never doubted the story line at all.

I'll be checking out more Douglas/Olshaker stories and I look forward to more missions by Millicent's mavericks -- the Broken Wings.

If you liked a good action story, well told, with people you'll come to like, read this book!

Enjoy!

Adams approaches travelling somewhere in between Tim Cahill and Redmond O'Hanlon. Last Chance to See... is a collection of essays on endangered species that Adams and photographer/travel-arranger Carwardine attempt to see. From the chicken- and goat-loving komodo dragons, to the reclusive kakapo bird in New Zealand, Adams has just the right amount of natural history plopped in along with his delicious brand of irony for this book to be educational as well as fun.

Not to get into the environmentalist spiel, but this is also a good book for your favorite logger or logger-minded friend. Maybe if Adams covers the spotted owl next, we can laugh at that bit of sadness as well.