The vocabulary in this book is simply remarkable. It is so very artsy. I am also glad it's not 1000 pages long. I recomend this book to all. Also if David Franklin reads the review I would very much like to meet you, for you are the man who inspired me to wright THe play Nursinghome Nightmares. Submitted by John Madison Franklin and Bretton Hughes Chatham

I bought the book and it is worth every dollar, including the additional 18% sales tax in Israel. It is a monumental work, very clear and well written. We needed this book. Having said that, I feel that the reuse aspects in general and the "unplanned indirect drinking reuse" in particular, have received only a marginal coverage in the book. That may be sufficient for the U.S.A., but innumerable European and Asian cities base their water supply on rivers that are mostly treated wastewater. In Israel, agriculture is based on reuse yet in the book, agriculture has the same weight as golf courses. Again, in the U.S.A. it may be so, but certainly not in the rest of the world. Industrial reuse mentions only evaporative cooling and that without the critical problem of blowdown disposal. Additional examples would be helpful. In reuse issues, "emerging patogens" (i.e., those feared but yet inexistent) are given more attention that critical problems such as salt content and subsequent aquifer and soil salination. Table 13-6 does not even mention salt. The inclusion of European and Israeli contributors would have produced an even better, a more balanced work.

I treasure this book! Not just a book of quotations -- in a series of annectdotes, mouthwatering morsels, that leave you hungry for more, this is a literary feast. It presents Ben Franklin in a way that few books can. The reason? It shows you the Franklin you want -- when you want him. The topics -- prejudice, slander, or party loyalty -- to name some, are clear, well-organized, and often witty. But these are not the main reasons I treasure the book. You might have excellent access to short squibbs on Warren Harding. The book draws its delight from the greatness of Franklin and the authors abiding appreciation of the First American. A possessor of the earlier edition, I promise you an inexhaustible treasure.

i think this book is too deep and meaningful.. it enters too deep into the morals and values of man....

Following the ending of "Oedipus the King," Oedipus was exiled from Thebes, blind and a beggar. We learn from "Oedipus at Colonus" that his sons, Eteocles and Polyneices engaged in a civil war for the throne of Thebes (covered in "Seven Against Thebes" by Aeschylus). The two brothers kill each other and Creon, brother of Jocasta, becomes king. He orders that Eteocles, who nobly defended his city, shall receive an honorable burial, but that Polyneices, for leading the Argive invaders, shall be left unburied. This leads Antigone, sister to both of the slain brothers, to have to choose between obeying the rule of the state, the dictates of familial binds, and the will of the gods. This, of course, is the matter at the heart of this classic tragedy by Sophocles.

But I have always been pleased to discover that many students, when reading "Antigone," quickly come to the conclusion that it is Creon who is the main character in the tragedy (the same way Clytemnestra is the main character in Aeschylus's "Agamemnon"). In this volume, Gita Wolf and Sirish Rao retell the story so that the title character is indeed the main character (I suspect they are borrowing more than a few ideas from Anoulih's retelling of the play in 1944 while France was occupied by the Nazis).

It is too easy to see the issues of this play, first performed in the 5th century B.C., as being reflected in a host of more contemporary concerns, where the conscience of the individual conflicts with the dictates of the state. However, it has always seemed to me that the conflict in "Antigone" is not so clear-cut as we would suppose. After all, Creon has the right to punish a traitor and to expect loyal citizens to obey. Ismene, Antigone's sister, chooses to obey, but Antigone takes a different path. The fact that the "burial" of her brother consists of the token gesture of throwing dirt upon his face, only serves to underscore the ambiguity of the situation Sophocles was developing.

The chief virtue of this retelling, in addition to the excellent illustrations by Indrapramit Roy, is that young readers will better be able to put themselves in the place of Antigone as the tragedy plays out. Consequently, this is a much more personal version of the tale than the original play by Sophocles.

Superbly illustrated by eight of Indrapramit Roy's two-color silk-screened illustrations, Sophocles' Antigone is a splendidly presented retelling of the tragic story told by the blind prophet Teiresias of a Greek princess who discovers that her brother (a rebel against the rule of their uncle Creon) has been murdered and his body left unburied. Torn between her fealty to her uncle and her familial love for her brother, as well as deference to the gods, Antigone is a story of the tragic conflicts between love and duty, honor and the law. A physically beautiful publication, Sophocles' Antigone is a welcome and much appreciated work that will totally engage the attention and appreciation of contemporary readers.

Generally an excellent book with many worked examples. Unfortunately there seem to be a few irritating errors. One error concerns section 13.3.1. The cost function in this example is set for a bandwidth of 1Hz. This is also indicated in Figure 13.70. However, the parameters a,b given in Figure 13.71 (and those found by the search algorithm) are correct for a bandwidth value of 10Hz. Incidentally, the third edition (student edition) of the book seems to be made of thinner paper than the second edition. I feel the book makes rather too much of quantisation effects and sample rate selection. It might be better to replace these chapters with a new chapter on model predictive control.

This book excellent for anyone interested in the Digital Control of Dynamic Systems. This book is Reccomended as a tool for Matlab implementation of control Systems. Very good book!

With Soulful Divas, David Nathan - a true lover of r&B music - has compiled interviews with many of his favorite singers of the past 40 years. Some of the subjects, like that of the humorously raunchy Millie Jackson and the troubled Nina Simone, make for compelling reading. Most suffer from his endless fawning however. Take, for instance, Diana Ross. By all other accounts, Miss Ross is a difficult person, yet Nathan makes her out to be practically a saint.

Nathan's frequent access to all of the top divas exposes the modern journalist's dilemma: if he fully captures his subjects in print, warts and all, he risks alienating them and being denied interview access to them in the future. Instead, Nathan fawns all over his subjects and gets repeat interviews with high-profile women who are often leery of the press (Aretha Franklin for one). Because of his "tactics", we are able to enjoy his many interviews in one setting (this book). Too bad most of his portraits don't penetrate the surface.

David Nathan has given us all a wonderful gift in writing this book. One of the leading journalists in rhythm & blues over the past 25 years, he presents thoughtful and incisive portraits of some of the greatest ladies of soul (kudos for including two of my all-time favorites, Esther Phillips and Millie Jackson). Rather than merely rehashing career informaion, David lets us observe, through his keen eye for detail, the often difficult process behind the interviews themselves. The chapter on Phyllis Hyman is especially revealing: at one point, David is ready to interview her, but she insists on watching television! We see how the manic depressive behavior that led to her demise seeped into her business relationships. Other chapters, such as the compelling profiles of Chaka Khan and Patti LaBelle, contain equally telling observations.

Entertaining, informative, and often endearing, The Soulful Divas is a must-have for any comprehensive music library.

David Nathan KNOWS his R & B. For close to four decades, the book's author has been a contributor, in some way or another, to the production of over 500 albums of soul music. He has done countless interviews, provided liner notes for recordings, served as producer on several, and even done a little background singing. It is obvious that if anyone knows what a "diva" truly is, David Nathan is that man.

"The Soulful Divas" covers the recording careers of the ladies profiled with little snippets of their non-professional beginnings, as well as individual highs and lows. However, it's these little "peeks" into the artists' characters that make the book such a fascinating read.

Not meaning to reveal much of the text, there are many little known facts reported in each profile. Each of the women has experienced her share of failed romantic relationships, legal battles with recording companies, perceived public opinions, peaks and valleys in album sales, and personal tragedies.

Most tragic of all showcased within the pages of the expose is the late Phyllis Hyman, a diva in every sense of the word. Like Nathan, I am a fan of hers, also, and her untimely demise still brings a lump in my throat.

But, the chapter on Millie Jackson is a welcome find. Jackson is the only diva profiled that is not represented in my musical library, save for a duet album with Isaac Hayes. However, after reading about the singer's body of work, as well as her down-to-earth and honest demeanor, I think that this is about to change.

I am curious about a certain "expletive deleted" symphony that she composed.

Note for the author: The next time around, include Patti Austin in volume two.

A solid translation of the fascinating and passionate story of Dionysus in Thebes, although it lacks the lyricism of other translations. Woodruff's version is meant to be performed aloud, and so it has more of the feel of a play to it. Students of literature and classics might want a different version; students of drama and theatre would be interested in this translation.

If, like me, you had Greek Tragedy down as an austere thing, full of parched plains, unswerving Fate and dour verse, then 'The Bacchae' might come as a pleasant surprise. It has these things of course, but the first quality that shocks is the vibrant, fervid excess of the language. The story concerns Dionysus, the God of wine, the Life Force, the Chaos of the Irrational etc., who inspires a possessed devotion in his acolytes, as they express themselves in high-flown, ecstatic rhapsodies. Not every one takes this proto-hippie's divinity seriously, in particular the family of his mortal mother, led by the impetuous teenage king Pentheus, who sees all this Bacchanalia in the woods and mountains in loose robes as so much lechery. Dionysus exacts such terrible revenge on these unbelievers that 'Bacchae' makes Shakespeare's 'Titus Andronicus' look like a Julie Andrews vehicle.
If Sophocles' 'Oedipus the King' is the first detective story, than 'Bacchae' might be the first police procedural - a central sequence sees Pentheus arrest Dionysus and interrogate him, a scene as tightly written and suspenseful as any thriller. But detection and policing, embodying the forces of reason and the Law, have no power against the Irrational or Unknowable, and Pentheus is soon made mad, his order and sense of self in tatters. The terrible grip of irony familiar from Greek Tragedy gives the play a violent momentum, but the most extraordinary scenes take place offstage, related in vivid and tumultuous monolgues by messengers - the whirlwind revenge of Dionysus' female followers on the forces of surveilling civilisation, and the cruel enactment of the God's revenge. This idea of hearing about improbable catastrophes but not being able to see them adds ot the supernatural terror that is the play's fevered life-blood.

I am a classical history major with a focus on poetry and drama. I have actually read Bacchae in Attic Greek and I have to say that I find this translation to be one of the most fluid and natural of any that I have ever read. I would highky recommend this to anyone looking for a well-written, very gory introduction to Greek theatre. This edition is also great for using as a script, wheras many translations are good only for reading. I just put up a production using this translation and my actors were very comfortable with the wonderful language Woodruff uses.

The Norton Anthology of American literature is a great collection of the most prominent and prolific authors in this young nation's history. The Anthology covers the development of authors in the new world, from the early native American folk tales to the works of Toni Morrison and Allen Ginsberg. The anthology spans poetry and prose and gives the reader a great cross sectional view of American society and its problems. The presence of Native American, Black and Hispanic authors presents a complete line up of works of literature, presented in a pleasant chronological order and introduced by a brief and interesting description of the author's life and works. The introductory description of each author facilitates the contextual placement of the text and its comprehension. The anthology contains several novels such as "Howl", "Sula" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". The presence of these complete works makes the anthology more complete, as they are an important part of the American literary tradition. The selection of authors and of their works is a good one, but presents some flaws. Obviously not being able to include all relevant authors in the American literary tradition, the editors selected a large number of authors, and their most important works. Nonetheless several important texts seem to be missing. Texts by less prolific authors, such as the great new classic "To kill a mockingbird" are missing. Although the anthology gives the reader an introduction on the author and his works it does not stimulate sufficiently through interesting points to be discussed and questions which shed light on hidden or obscure aspects of the texts. The anthology is a great tool for any class, or for the passionate reader. It is ideal if accompanied by a class or group/club in which the texts are discussed.

The Norton anthology is the definitive collection of American literature. Its selections range from the letters of Christopher Columbus to quintessential American works like Whitman's "Song of Myself" and inherently American movements such as beat poetry. The collection offers a wide spread selection of works, some of which fall outside of your typical definition of "literature." All, however, have been important parts of our artistic tradition and provide literary examples of the coming of age of America. Literature has truly helped to define the American identity. This book is a history lesson, a journey through some of the most beautiful poetry and prose ever written and a testament to the kind of intelligent, passionate people that have formed our country.

To anyone seeking an encompassing overview of American literature, here is your book. This, the latest edition of the Norton Anthology, not only makes for months of good reading but also acts as a good primer for further pursuits in American letters (academic and otherwise.) Besides the countless number of excellent selections, eleven works appear in their entirety. Among them, Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Whitman's "Song of Myself," and Ginsburg's "Howl."

The anthology also contains several new additions - most notably an intriguing section of Native American trickster tales that provides an interesting counter to Chris Columbus' over-zealous ramblings. As for more contemporary writing, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of deserving writers and poets newly anthologized in this revision: Toni Morrison, Raymond Carver, and Sandra Cisneros just to name a few.

Yet what makes this anthology truly successful is the breadth and depth of the text as a whole. The selections, the organization, the well-written bits of biographical information... IT ALL FITS PERFECTLY! No doubt other readers will find this anthology as informative, provocative and enjoyable as I do. A definite keeper for my permanent collection.

This book primarily covers making knives (mostly kitchen knives) by starting with thin plates of steel (HUGE bandsaw blades), cutting out a knife blank, and shaping the knife by grinding it. I personally far prefer forging a blade, which this author does not even touch on.

However, Mr. Boye does offer solid knowledge on grinding, heat treating, attaching handles and bolsters (all necessary skills no matter how you make knives)... and an extensive section on acid etching which I have yet to find equalled in any other knifemaking book I've read.

So while I may not care for Mr. Boye's chosen method of production, I recognize his pure artistic ability and am gratefull for his willingness to share his hard won knowledge.

I knew nothing about knifemaking when I started reading this book but now I've just completed my first knife using Step-by-Step Knifemaking and am very proud. The instructions were stright foreward and easy to understand. By the time I was finished with the book I had a good basic knowledge of knifemaking and a basic under standing of steels. I would recommend this book for any beginner.

I got this book from a used bookstore years ago. It's a testimony to Boyd that it's still in print. I liked the book, but have not tried to make a knife the way he described. I'm more interested in forging, which Boyd does not talk about. The book concentrates on the method of stock removal, i.e. how to grind a knife shape out of a blank and then hardening and tempering. Still if you are interested in how a knife can be made, this is a good book to read. Very entertaining.

The DISC personality system on which all of the parenting advice in this book is based reminds me of your run-of-the-mill horoscopes, Birthday books, birth-order personality descriptions, and other miscellanea of that ilk: entertaining, but not particularly helpful. In responding to the various, hugely UN-specific statements that help determine your personality type and your child's, I found I had a different answer for different circumstances, moods, or times of day. For instance, in the section that determines if you are a fast- or slow-placed person, you circle 1 if you make up your mind quickly, or circle 2 if you take your time in decision-making. Well, am I deciding which preschool to send my child to, or choosing shampoo at the store? Different circumstances, different answers.

In addition to disliking the basis for the book, I found the parenting advice to be very basic. "Do not become impatient with the child. Don't rush or push him. . .Be open at times if your child suggests a different way of doing something. . .Realize that some conflict and change is healthy. . .," etc. Be aware, too, that this book is written from a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint--the author is a southern Baptist minister and liberally sprinkles the pages with Bible verses and other evangelical language.

The one part of the book that I enjoyed was a couple of pages of positive "one-liners" you can use to build your child's self-confidence: for example, instead of saying "What's taking you so long?" you can say, "You do things precisely and accurately." That is very much in line with the whole "observe, don't judge" philosophy of child psychologist Haim Ginott which I try to follow.

There are many more helpful parenting books out there--keep searching.

I am really enjoying this book. I say enjoying instead of enjoyed because it is a great reference for me. I have four kids and each child is TOTALLY different. This book has been an eye-opener to help me cater to each on according to their individual needs. This book is an easy read and very spiritual. I've been recommending it to every parent that I know who has more than one child.

This book will help you understand that different personalities aren't right or wrong, they are just different.
Using the DISC personality profile descriptions this easy to understand book can help you re-open closed communication lines with your child who is different than you in action, thought, and deed.
It's as simple as starting by asking yourself is he/she "slow-paced" or "fast-paced", "task-oriented" or "people-oriented"? I'm an associate pastor in a large church. Our children's minister is planning to use this book with teachers and parents. Her quote is, "Why should we wait until we are over 40 years old to understand this stuff?"