This immortal play is an allegory: a tale which illustrates us on some superior truth, employing symbols. Basil is the king of Poland, who hides his son Sigmund (Freud?, just kidding)in a tower, for fear that an oracle may come true. Once, he takes him out to see what kind of man he is, and discovers Sigmund is arrogant and authoritarian. Then he puts him back in his cell and manages to convince him that everything was just a dream. After that, civil war begins, and Sigmund is out to fight, a totally different man from what he was.

"Life is a dream" is a play about the utter unreliability of our senses. Of course, we have to use them to figure out some reality in which we can live. But we have no idea of who we are and where we come from, much less what will happen after death. We also don't know what death is. It is also a case in favor of peace and solidarity. Why spend our brief and dream-like time on Earth being mean and dirty?: let's all be friendly and good, and this will be a good dream and not a nightmare.

Despite its philosophical subject, the play is quick-paced and funny. The plot to make Sigmund believe everything was a dream is hilarious, and it is easy to see why it's a classic. Read it.

As this century draws to a close, Lutyens' star is on the rise, and has been for several years. The perspective of history now enables us to see this master form-giver as practicing the ancient rules of classicism in a fresh and unconventional way, not as some retardataire, architectural anachronism. Suffused with romance yet buffeted by dashed expectations, Lutyens' life should be in line for treatment as a Merchant-Ivory feature-length film. His architectural legacy, in most instances compromised by subsequent owners, German bombs and inexcusable neglect, remains nonetheless unassailable. Hussey's book, though old, is not dated. In fact, according to the distinguished historian of architecture David Watkins, it is "the finest architectural biography" in English. Expensive and lengthy it is; it is also the most engaging and fulfilling study of a 20th-century architect I have ever read

Excellently written and translated. The poetry is wonderful, flowing and easy to read. This book gives a glimpse into emotions of one of the greatest people to walk the Earth without leaving out the details of his life. I think this is the best book Sir Edwin Arnold ever wrote.

This book depicts the EMTs at some of the most exciting moments. Light Hearted 'EMS Rules' to the dramatic chaos of crime make this a wonderful book. Tells you eveything a curious person wants to know- from what's required for a EMT to CPR during traumatic arrest. Most will enjoy it, I know I did.

This is a well-written book that covers the discovery, excavation, and reconstruction of a dinosaur (coelophysis). Discussion centered on this small therapod incorporates broader material, so that the reader gets an understanding of the life and times of other prehistoric creatures in addition to a detailed account of coelophysis

This has been the only textbook I have enjoyed in 4 years of university. Great pics. Very well done.

The United States Asiatic Fleet lasted almost a hundred years until two strong-willed, headstrong men, Admiral Thomas C. Hart and General Douglas MacArthur, brought about its untimely demise. The death of the Asiatic Fleet in the Battle of the Java Sea wasn't just because of the rivalry between Hart and MacArthur but not that far from it. According to Hart's chief of staff, Admiral Ira Glassford, MacArthur's assessment of the situation in the Philippines was wildly optimistic. MacArthur believed that the United States Army in the Philippines could hold out until the U.S. Navy fought its way across thousands of miles of the Pacific to do battle with the Japanese. That had been the plan from 1898 to 1941. Nobody told MacArthur that the rules had changed and that Pearl Harbor had been attacked by aircraft carriers and not battleships.Admiral Yamamoto had revised his country's plans for war with the United States. The United States, up until the attack on Pearl Harbor, was still wedded to the idea of unilateral disarmament and peace at any cost.

This book describes adequately the last vestiges of the U.S. Pacific fleet in the Far East just before and during the early part of WWII. It is exciting and well-written, and follows a logical sequence. The only shortcoming I felt was a lack of maps in its pages. Add this one to your shelf on the Pacific War.

A riviting and acurate history of the Lyle migration to Pennsylvania.

The book is an interesting mix of history, philosophy, business managment, and worldly opinions.

It starts with a description of life in Japan and some of the ancient customs and culture. The events of World War II as seen from
the Japanese view point is interesting in itself. What follows then is the development of a world wide corporation with it's growth
troubles, managment style, international barriers and differnces and a sense of "can-do" wonder. The remainder of the book is the
foward looking views and opinions of an elder statesmen.

One item that I found myself personally attached to was the theme of "monttainai" on page 227 and throughout the rest of the
chapter. I'll leave it to you to figure out why.