It is Redfield's genuine sense of optimism that makes me pick up his books and read them. There is something contagious about a positive outlook on life and spirituality. But I have never read a book by him that did not go miles beyond naive in its treatment of religion/spirituality.

Redfield and his associates have loaded a plate for us at the salad bar of religious and philosophical syncretism. They have put some good things there. But the nutritional balance is suspect. Moreover, like mixing chemicals pulled randomly from under the kitchen sink, the resulting combination may be volatile.

My biggest complaint against this book is its willingness to 'spin' religious and philosophical 'developments' so that they fit neatly into their spiritual evolution paradigm. No matter that their notions run cross-currents with the larger context within which many of these religious and philosophical ideas have developed. It reminds me of a kind of inter-religious proof-texting, whereby religious leaders of the ages are all pointing in the direction in which the authors want us to go. But this is NOT where many of the thinkers and religious leaders of the past suggested we go.

Also disturbing is the book's over-simplification of ideas concerning evolution. While the authors deny that they do so, the book is built on the assumption of a linear trajectory that is not well attested by history or science. While I normally spend a lot of time criticizing Post-Modern thinkers, it might be wise for Redfield and company to take some of their critiques seriously and realize that the universe is not a 'just add water and stir' kind of place.

In truth, this is a digested cut and paste book glued together with wishful thinking.

Honestly, though, I think it is done with the best of intentions. And I will undoubtedly pick up Redfield's next book and read it, too.

Lastly, I would caution the reader that there is basically nothing new here. If you have read New Age books before, you have read this one. The strongest part of the book is the annotated bibliography (for which I commend the authors). Again, I don't agree with their interpretation of what they have read, but they are reading a lot of interesting things. To repeat...I can't help but feel good feelings for the authors. But this book leaves a lot to be desired.

This book is an overview of the entire spiritual journey. It is a like a map of human consciousness, covering the evolution of our understanding of God, as well as giving information about every aspect of the spiritual path. It is not a novel (like Celestine Prophecy, etc.), but rather it is a guide to help each person as they increase their awareness of their own spiritual understanding. Redfield and Murhpy present an excellent overview, which I found inspiring, informational, and well-researched.

Really enjoyed this book. It's clearly written for a curious, intelligent layperson, not scholars. Contains a great, concise, general overview of evolution, getting more specific as applied to the evolution of spiritual and philosophical schools of thought that have shaped our current ways of thinking, very clear presenations of many examples of ways in which we humans appear to be in the midst of (or quickly approaching) a period of rapid evolution in our awareness and capabilities, a significant number of practical ways a person might explore these ideas for him/herself, and a wonderful bibliography/recommended reading list . I found the book, enjoyable and inspiring, and would recommend it to anyone with a sincere interest in a greater understanding of the implications of individual, societal and global evolution of consciousness, and for people looking for ideas for participation and practice.

I am very disappointed with this book. Essential information is lacking, and too many details look like they were lifted from the older edition (which was excellent in my opinion). Better written and more comprehensive resources can be found online.

If you don't know what you're doing, this is not a book for you--the Nutshell series expects you to have at least a working knowledge of things, and preferably an intermediate to advanced knowledge of them.

MCSE in a Nutshell IS a good book because it allows the advanced user to do a quick study of the topics they're familiar with, and use alternate learning materials for the areas in which they are not. It is also excellent for giving you a quick idea of how much or how little you know. It's my favorite book on the subject because it's concise, contains good information, and tells you both what to expect in the real world, and what to expect on the tests. (As we all know that Microsoft's view of the world does not always coincide with reality.)

If you buy this book, though, use it as a REFRESHER and not a teacher. I noted one or two instances where the information given would have gotten me a wrong answer on the test, because while it applied to reality, MS's view on the topic was different... But this is how it is with MOST books (including official MS documentation).

i used this book as my primary review for 070-240, the combined test for nt4 mcse's, in addition to the readiness review cd from the microsoft kit. i passed the exam.

don't buy it if you're looking to learn the material; what it's useful for is if you either already know the material, and need to make sure there aren't any gaps in your knowledge, or if, like me, you need a good outline-type review of the material. it's condensed, sure... if a topic doesn't feel like you know it, you will need to reference other books to learn it. but as an overview, to make sure you know what you need to know for the exams, it's perfect.

this book introduce basic theory of chemical in semiconductor manufucture inductory

This book was interesting, but still left a lot of questions open in my mine. I especially enjoyed the chapters from the theological perspectives, but did not learn much new on the neuroscience research. I liked all the different perspectives that the book had to offer. It is definately technical reading!

The textbook does not have central focus and all the formulas are not explained properly. The explanations are overbroad and vague and do not focus on the most important stuff. I would not recommend this textbook to any student. The two stars I give is for the nice paper it is printed on.

The explanations in this book could be more concise for students who have other assignments to study and fulfill. Throughout all my years in reading mathematical textbooks, this one does not head straight-to-the-point. The author spends more time introducing the subject than explaining how one step is derived from another in the examples, which leaves the student to spend time figuring how one concept abruptly transitions into the next. Aside from that, the exercise questions sometimes do not relate to the examples given in the book.

As I am a fan of Dummies series, I thought that this book would be such a good starting point to understand Cyberbanking. However, I was highly disappointed due to its poor content. It was written for only "how to use" purpose, rather than giving information about online banking. And the scope of the book is just limited with US.........

Imagine yourself the consummate confidence artist, minding your own business fleecing the Quality, when the scourge of husbands from John'o' Groats to Land's End targets YOU, in his venery, as his next amusement. Such is the predicament of white-tressed, sherry-eyed Candie Murphy and her even more larcenous uncle, Max. Their latest scam goes bad and collides with the latest lubricious misadventure of Mark Antony Betancourt, Marquess of Coniston. Jail is where this sinful son of a duke ends up with the lovable philosopher and his devoted knockout of a niece. Tony's satyriasis click into gear and, after posting bail, warns the lass TO HER FACE that she has no say whatsoever in the fate he has decided for her: humiliation, insults, bullying, blackmail, extortion and, eventually submission. If you accept this unsavoury premise, you will enjoy this funny, well written regency with its endearing heroine and witty dialogue. There is even a winsome widgeon named Cleopatra to offset the beastly libidinous Mark Antony. I did not accept this premise. Or its treatment.

For one thing, the lady makes the merest pretext of resisting, her chaste curiosities trammeling even her heretofore indomitable self-respect. The lady who can outwit ANYONE barely tries to sidestep this vulgr subornation of her virtue. Her veneer of resistance, slight though it is, promises a battle of wit and wills, especially when her loving, uncle leaves her to the libertine's mercy, leaving US with little more than witless compliance from HER and willfulness, period, from His Grace. All it left ME was annoyed. (The hallway scene at the Murphy lodgings, for example, made my blood boil! This is not romance. This is abuse masquerading as courtship!) If Miss Murphy had insisted at the outset that she was NO stake in Coniston's bednotcher's game, then there could have been endless fun watching him learn his lesson, and reform. The nervy and ingenious Miss Murphy had the means to do it, if her takedown of Coniston's affine (the odious Ivy Dillingham) was anything to go by. But where is the fun in craven capitulation to presumptuous encroachments and proprietary airs?

Why make the heroine a swindling trickster if not to employ her cunning in her own defense? Why make the hero a licentious lowlife (if Coniston CAN be called a hero) if not to prey? And prey? In the end it is Coniston's own sick sense of honour that rescues Miss Murphy from a fate worse than death in an odd case of turnabout is failed play. In a curious reversal, Chastity comes on like a callet and Lust takes an uncharacteristic holiday as neither perjurer nor peer bothers to learn whether beneath all that eyepopping pulchritude there is a person worthy of ANY prevenance. Character, alas, is irrelevant: That they met in police lockup means nothing to either one of them.

This could have been a case of the irresistible force meets the immovable object, but here the Object won't stand her ground. And the force...well...yields. Even if the nobleman didn't live up to HIS title, this book should have lived up to its own. END

I'm a UC Davis student who took the plant biology course that uses this book. The professor doesn't even follow the book because it's so bad. It's unorganized, confusing, and useless for my class. Even some of the illustrations in the book are wrong. Don't buy this book if you just plan to learn plant biology. If you have to buy this book because course requirement, good luck

I found this book at work a few years ago, and I eventually set about reading it at my various sittings on the throne. It is the only Nero Wolfe book I've read. I remembered William Conrad playing the role in the early 80's. It was a most entertaining series. Unfortunately this book was a travesty. Don't waste your time with this.

A playboy is murdered after committing a heinous act. If an innocent man hadn't confessed there would be no reason to solve the case. This is the most flawed of the Goldsborough Wolfe series I have read. Archie approaches a situation with no real plan and becomes a temporary red herring. Along with murder, which is the usual fare in these mysteries, another crime which sets the chain of events in motion seems out of place in a Wolfe mystery. Finally there is a murderer whose motive better fits a cop show on television. This book just does not match up well to the Nero Wolfe legacy and it really stands out as something that only gets published because Nero Wolfe is on the cover.

An average mystery featuring a beloved character (and Nero Wolfe as well). Certainly, on its own, this book would not stand the test of time, but as part of the overall series it is fine. It falls in the bottom third of the canon... but it is certainly much better than no book and better than the average mystery.. even if not up to the standards of Rex Stout.