One of the most clearly written quantum books I've come across. It emphasizes quantum mechanics from a molecular standpoint and contains applications and theory that are most important to chemists. There are a fantastic collection of examples and problems with highly detailed sloutions...something that is very, very rare. Highly recommended as both a text to learn from and refer to later. I don't think I would have passed my qualifying exams if I had'nt used it!

If you liked the fictional town of Grace, AZ in Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Dreams" I can pretty much guarantee you'll LOVE the town of Milagro, NM. Although Kingsolver does an excellent job of creating sympathetic characters, I feel like she tends to over-simplify the "big issues"-- issues that Nichols has no problem tackling. "The Milagro Beanfield War" confronts substantive topics (like water rights) head on, but the story is also overflowing with colorful characters and subplots, so I am forced to disagree with the reviewers who say you can get through it in two days-- at least, I know I didn't. Although I recommend the movie as well (Ruben Blades is great!), it does not do justice to the book's complexity, nor is it as funny. If you have seen the movie and liked it at all, read this book. And if you haven't seen the movie, read the book first-- you won't regret it.

I was sent a copy of this book aloong with "The Monkey Wrench Gang". Gang looked like it would be more fun so I read it first and thought it was great. Then I read "Beanfield". This book knocked my socks off. It was so funny and yet so poigniant I couldn't put it down. Much like Dickens, Nichols characters come to life right on the page. Only one other book hit me as hard and that was "Coockoos Nest". I went one step farther and wrote Nichols a letter and he responded with a hunt and pecked letter in response that is still one of my personnel treasures. Robert Redford thought it was a good story and so I must also thank him for making an unforgetable movie with fantastic music. Many Thanks to both of you for your vision and your genious. Mal Heffernan

There is one thing about the Milagro Beanfiled War.... You cannot put it down. I have lived in Northern New Mexico for most of my life, and there is no written word that comes close to the people here except for the Milagro Beanfield War. I must say that growing up in a small Northern NM town, I have seen most of this story first hand (I went to school with the young versions of these characters).

This is such a comedic book, I feel off the couch several times laughing so hard it hurt. If you have seen the movie, you need to read the book. The movie does not do justice to the female characters (especially Mercedes Real and Ruby - queen of plumbing). For some reason right now, every time I walk down to the little country store, I feel that I should be bombarded with little white pebbles, one at a time - coming from Mercedes who is in her 60's.

Once into the first 30 pages (and you can't stop)...the essence of Northern NM is alive and well. Cleofes (hold on tight when you read about him), a simple lonely (rumored to be cursed by the superstitious town) had a dog named Pendejo (if you don't know what it means, you can look it up) and one day, his beloved dog, Pendejo died. Years later he was lonely and he heard the excited barks of Pendejo coming for a certain spot in his yard. He digs and digs (while the town watches, sells chairs to watch the digging, ect...) and you learn a little about the simplistic lives in Northern NM.

Just remember Herbie, poor Herbie (the peaceful hippy volunteer that came to Milagro) to "tech them things," and instead he winds up with...well... a strange story including .38 caliber, 2 skunks, losing his guitar, hummingbirds, ants, flying ants, bees, sunflower (the horse), Pacheco's Pig, ect...

I am not a big reader (it takes me awhile to get through books) and this one took me a whole 2 days. My advice is if you get this book, have a whole day in which you can devote to, otherwise you will not be able to get anything done (like irrigating the field, try to overturn the bulldozer, drive a backhoe over the Rio Grande Gorge {800 feet deep}, find Pacheco's pig, listen to all the phone conversations, learn about the VISTA Volunteer, the Smokey the bear Santo riot, and so on and so on)

In this version of the book, avoid the author's afterward.... It is an advertisement for his other books and does not contribute what so ever to the book... it subtracts quite a bit.

The Religious Right's attack on homosexuality has been one of the largest obstacles in obtaining equal rights for lesbians and gay men. Fundamentalist claims of a "gay agenda" seeking "special rights" prey (and pray) on people's fears of homosexuality as an attack on morality and an undermining of traditional family values. In his book - "The Gay Agenda," Jack Nichols exposes the critical flaws in the religious right's attacks and how the lesbian and gay community can win against fanaticism.

Nichols begins with a critique on fundamentalist interpretation of Christianity and illustrates the absurdity of a completely literal translation of the bible. For example, an order to stone disobedient children should be followed with as much enthusiasm as fundamentalist treatment of homosexuality. Of course, it is not. Nichols also goes on to illustrate how homophobia and its underlying sexism hurts all people, not merely lesbians and gay men.

The main criticism of "The Gay Agenda" is that it does not offer any positive contributions of religion or religious authorities to the advancement of lesbian and gay rights. A clear line needs to be made with those who are religious and those who are religious fanatics. Gay and lesbian friendly churches can be a major ally to the lesbian and gay communities through their broad-based community involvement and their influence on perceptions of family values and morality.

That being said, "The Gay Agenda" is a quick but informative read about a major roadblock in the advancement of gay and lesbian rights. Let's hope that it gets to mainstream America!

The Gay Agenda by Jack Nichols is a comprehensive review of not only the religious fundamentalists argument against gay rights and contention that there is a "gay agenda", but also a valid argument against it. Nichols successfully, in my opinion, tears apart the arguments of the fundamentalists, by stating each of their claims and then argues why they are invalid.
Other good parts of the book include Nichols careful analysis of our societies views of the sexes, the autonomous self, and ends with a self integration proclamation that advises everyone to look not only at homosexuality as one part of the sexual continuum, but also how we need to be a society that is inclusive, not exclusive.
Nichols definitely has a love for poet Walt Whitman, and uses his words often throughout his book, devoting an entire chapter to his ideals.
The only problem I have with this book is in the beginning. Nichols leans on the preachy side of gay rights, which is exactly what fundamentalists do: preach. While I believe strongly in Nichols argument, I felt that he was a bit repetitive at times.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and feel that it presents the views of fundamentalists thoroughly. This book is a good tool not only to learn about their major points, but also to learn about how to combat those arguments.

This book illustrates what I already knew from experience in being married to a Promisekeeper. The whole order of their thinking is male dominance, specifically sexual usage of women, so the gay order infuriates them, since it depowers the man. Anyone female who has lived among the relgious right has to give up education, jobs and serve her man with the church. Gays are a threat to that, since it basically means equality for all people regardless of gender. Also, the relgious right has many divorces, unstable homes and has no right to Judge happy gay couples when religious right women live in misery.

Unlike some of McGilligan's other subject's, this book is titled somewhat innapropriately as there's some life in the old dog yet. There's evidence that he researched the first 57 year's of the actor's lfe pretty well, but the resulting portrait leaves Jack as enigmatic as the famous grin McGilligan seems so fascinated by. The tone is often sensationalistic, particularly when he argues that Jack my be reading of his possible illigitamacy "for the first time here" Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable read, though I didn't feel I knew Jack any better when I turned the last page, and was more enlightened about 70's Hollywood by Jack's friend Robert Evans, Robert Siskind, and others.

He is Plutonian regeneration. A shining star in a world full of mediocrity. Thanks Jack. Thanks for the inspiration.

A very interesting book, rather sober at times, but full of detail of life in France at the time of the revolution. The heroine attempts to flee one set of circumstances in England by joining her brother in Italy travelling overland through France without realising just how dangerous this was.

From the back of the Mills & Boon large print edition...

Escaping a marriage she doesn't want, Kitty Harston runs away to find her brother in France. Jack, Viscount Chiltern, is always around, and when she sees him on the boat crossing the Channel, she is convinced he intends to return her to England. He can't leave her to fend for herself, so they pretend to be husband and wife, though he knows that to avoid scandal, they must marry... for real.

Men's Liberation is an excellent book. Though people may pickit apart as they did with Nichols' other book, The Gay Agenda, youmust look to the fundamental message of the book which is this: society has warped our attitudes about sex roles and we need to change the situation by realizing that ANYONE, male or female, should be able to adopt any mannerisms they choose and not be ostrasized for doing so. This book is an amazingly honest and open-minded approach to so many contemporary issues. It touches on things like nuclear weapons and technology as they relate to the issue of sexism. READ IT AND THINK ABOUT IT.