This book had everything I needed to get some animation into my displays! I highly recommend this book. Mr. Wise gives all the information you will need (math, physics, etc), but presents it in an easy to understand format. Be the talk of your neighborhood next Halloween

There is an error on the back cover! It claims some additional "background" projects -- alas, these were dropped when we moved the from being a Halloween-only text, to an all-seasons book.

Other than that, it's a great book! (Of course, I wrote it, so...)

Mr.Hoyt's book is a welcome and needed history of the conflict in Italy. Discussion of the motives,tactics,and deployment are thourough. What is of great interest to me is the enormous amount of discord regarding this operation among the allies-- Churchill was for it, Ike was at best lukewarm, the british generals wanted to run it as did the americans. Ultimately, the allies proceeded with it because of Italy's collapse and the perception of an easy victory, plus the inability to open a front in the west in 1943. What occured, unfortunately, was a very long war of attrition against a worthy opponent -- Field Marshall Kesselring and some of the better components of the wehrmacht. The germans were able to contain the allies in superb defensive positions at Cassino and also at Anzio, where inadequate numbers and lackluster leadership led to bloody stalemate. Despite winning the war elsewhere, Italy was indeed the "backwater" of the war with more troops and munitions going to the war in the west as well as public attention--the capture of Rome becoming a historical footnote on the day before D-day. General Clark's portrayal as a glory hound and someone more than willing to use his soldiers in the pursuit of this[Rapido River is a good, but not the only example ] is evident in this book. The campaign remained costly in human lives and suffering for objectives increasingly of questionable strategic value until the end of the war. It would appear in retrospect the campaign was the product of misguided British ambition and American indecision and naievity, a quagmire that once entered, they could not extricate themselves from. In addition, one has to wonder if the men and material expended could not have been used more judisciously elsewhere in the ETO. That is what I think Mr. Hoyt conveyed in this landmark work on the war in Italy. It should be in every military historians' armamentarium without a doubt. I might add that the individual heroism of american and other allied soldiers is not questioned - quite the contrary - only their use by allied leaders in Italy.

Backwater War: The Allied Campaign in Italy, 1943-1945 by independent historian and author Edwin P. Hoyt is a meticulous and exacting survey and analysis of the campaign waged by Allied forces in Sicily and Italy. Combining extensive detail and military theory, Hoyt forcefully contends that the Normandy campaign was both unduly costly and ultimately unnecessary, and that in the final analysis it lengthened an already devastating war. An intriguing analysis, Backwater War is an impressive and welcome contribution to personal reading lists and Military History collections.

Howard Coffin has established himself as the premier authority on Vermont and the Civil War. He has exhaustively researched Vermont's historical records including countless letters and diaries from the actual participants. He allows them to directly share their personal, heroic, sorrowful and inspiring stories and insights. It is difficult today to appreciate the pain and suffering which was brought home to every Vermont family during this Campaign. Mr. Coffin does honor to their memories and has provided a valuable research source for those interested in this period.

A powerful historical account of Vermont's role in the Civil War, The Battered Stars: One State's Civil War Ordeal During Grant's Overland Campaign by American Civil War historian and expert Howard Coffin (himself a sixth generation Vermonter with four ancestors who served with the Vermont regiments in the Overland Campaign) is founded on a wealth of primary sources and archival materials, including wartime letters, diaries, and newspaper accounts. The state of Vermont paid a toll in blood from the strife of the war, and the brutal battles are explored in detail as well as the resolve of those who stayed at home and did their best to keep the wheels turning. A welcome and much appreciated contribution to the growing field of Civil War Studies, The Battered Stars is a powerful, fascinating account highly recommended for civil war buffs, as well as anyone native to Vermont who wants to immerse themselves in the gripping saga of a watershed time of civil war.

Krupp has written a book that is comparable to Frazer's Golden Bough and Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces. He traces the evolution of sky myths from cultures around the globe. Krupp does an excellent job of capturing the meaning and beauty of these stories, and pieces them together in a well-crafted narrative.

Beyond the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets, is a very interesting and amazing read-- it confronts many possibilities of the place outside our blue sky, and gives the reader something to think about for long after the last page is read. Not only is this book worth reading for the pure fun of it, but it teachs you things that may come in handy at dinner table conversation. Facinating is the word that comes to mind... the myths about the stars and planets can sometimes be good bedtime stories, and over all, this book keeps you wanting more.

"The Blackwell Handbook of Organizational Behavior" is a collection of articles by academics edited and ogranized by Dr. Edwin Locke, who is both a leading expert in the field of motivation and organizational behavior.

The book presents the principles of management not as a set of memorized lists but as general truths about management induced from reality. With the wealth of examples, the book provides *practical* guidance on how to make a business decision. Take for example the three basic principles underlying the section of workers:

(1) Select on Intelligence
(2) Select on Conscientiousness and Emotional Stability
(3) Structure Interviews to Hire the Best People

In each principle, the authors provide the background/research on how they induced this principle, they provide sub-principles by breaking down the principle further (when necessary), including exceptions (thus delimiting the context), and then they present clarifying and practical advice on implementing the principles in practice, along with real world examples of how the principles are successfully used.

Bear in mind that the book is not exactly easy reading as it is written by academics; however, neither is it entirely academic either, making it readable. I think the principle involved in writing the book is to be 'academic' in terms of accuracy, but not so as to confuse the reader through Ivory tower jargon.

This is the book that Hank Rearden--a fictional character in Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged--had on his desk; if you are a manager you should have it on yours...

While most OB texts today promote the collectivist social agendas of authors who've never been gainfully employed outside of academia, "The Blackwell Handbook of Organizational Behavior" is a refreshing and potentially powerful tool for managers and management students who want to study and implement sound business practices based on proven principals. Kudos to Edwin Locke, et. al. for, what should be, a constant reference tool for every manager who wants to reach optimum organizational performance while promoting respect for individual employees. Unfortunately, since this book avoids all the fluffy science, social engineering, and racist collectivist theories being pumped by the general OB industry, it will likely be dismissed or condemned by today's trendy OB psycho-social engineers. Then again, that makes it better for those of us who want to get ahead using sound business practices that respect and advance each individual within the organization. - Brent Duncan, Practitioner Professor, UOP.

McGill is an inspiring hero, immensely capable, with a huge zest for life. He packs incredible adventures into his short life, yet tells his story in a delightfully laid back style. He combines an interest and tolerance of all ideas, religions and philosophies, with a violent intolerance of certain purveyors of them. McGill is a warrior/philosopher, born, raised and ideally suited to this harsh land. His story is one of violence, love, sin and redemption, but it is often hard to distinguish which is which.

This book is a "must read" for all lovers of powerfully written adventure stories, but may make all other westerns dull and unimaginative in comparison.

This is an incredible tale from beginning to end. Shrake has developed a character that is the first person born on the American Continent to achieve sainthood, and until the last pages of the book the reader is kept guessing how he could deserve such an honor. The book reads as a memoir written by McGill as he tells the story of his life while awaiting his death. He lives the life of an indian scalper, buffalo hunter, and gold miner in 19th century Texas from the time of the Texas War of Independence until after the US Civil War. The more you read of this man's account of his life, the less you can believe he could ever desert to be Sainted.

This book has long been out of print, and its re-printing is an excellent opportunity for new readers to discover a classic western. Any fan of Larry McMurty's books in the "Lonesome Dove" will love "Blessed McGill" and recognize that McMurty has probably gotten some of his writting style from reading this book.

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The editors give a series of brief vignettes shared by priests who minister to those who are preparing for, conducting, or recovering from one of man's greatest inhumanities to man. You will find people who have been transformed by something positive which shines forth just when you think things are at their worst.

I have to tell you this book reminds me of the Nurses' sculpture at the Vietnam Memorial in D.C. The nurses are holding an injured soldier and caring for him, while one of them is looking up for the airevac to arrive. I was greatly moved by this sculpture, which seems to beautifully portray the fact that in the middle of this depraved, frightening, almost hopeless environment, human beings still have the courage and the dignity to care for one another.

This book should brighten your day and give you hope.

With an introduction and chapter by Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of the Archdiocese for Military Services for the US, this collection of concise first-hand accounts of military chaplains and those they serve provides a glimpse into real lives of real heroes. This little book takes but an hour to read and will fill you with indelible images of men of faith. Chaplains on the front lines, serving Mass at a makeshift 'chapel', the sound of explosives being ignored while distributing Communion. Servicemen requesting a chaplain to find them in the jungle so they can receive the sacraments. Spiritually edifying and truly patriotic, this book is literally about faith in action, about meeting Christ- even when hell breaks out all around you. There is no other book like it in print today. Highly recommended for those considering a call to the military chaplaincy, to service in the US Armed Forces, or the family members of such persons. Real hope. Real courage. Real heroes. Read it!

One of my students brought this book in to share.We do an extensive rock study in grade two, so I read this book. It is informative, and very well written. The children LOVED it and now want to see the famous "rock" at the museum in New York. I think it's a wonderful book for any grade 2-3 teacher to use.

This is one beautiful book! Look at the pictures to see why they say "...illustrated with museum-quality paintings by Caldecott winner Richard Egielski..."These are big 8"x10" prints very suitable for framing. I would buy two copies - one to frame the pictures and the other to read to a young person. My mother did that with my first reading books and I loved to enjoy the illustrations as framed art for years to come. There is one picture with Matt Henson in it, but they forgot to credit it. This is a truly massive meterorite, 70,000 pounds and still today an amazing specimen. Henson and Peary had a heck of a time moving this thing and it's two smaller pieces on a ship - it took several expeditions to finally move the main mass onto a ship. Peary made a sensation in the press when he brought the meteorite to New York. Today it is still a main exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. I know, because as a child I used to climb on it ! when on special days my Mother would drive us in to New York from Connecticut for a day of exploring the great museum. I still recall it's great metallic mass with crater like holes in it's cold, smooth surface. Great first reader, great introduction to Peary & Henson - the most amazing and famous of all Arctic explorers who went on to reach the North Pole in 1909. I hope these authors choose to illustrate that story some day. I'll buy one just to frame the prints!

Team this volume with Tunis's "Frontier Living" (though there's a bit of overlap in the time periods covered) and you'll have a good, sound, easily understood social history of the first 280 years of the USA. As always, his illustrations are clear and detailed and his text well written and easy to follow. If, for whatever reason, you can't visit an actual reconstructed Colonial community, having this book on your shelf is the next best thing. (Much of the information in it can probably be carried forward into the early and mid-19th Century, too.) A classic of its type and one we should all be overjoyed to see back in print.

I first read . . . and re-read . . . and re-re-read this book in the late 1960s after discovering it in my junior high school library. I always wished I had a copy for reference and the sheer joy of seeing Tunis's amazingly detailed drawings and reading his well-researched text. Now, after many years, the book is back in print. I highly recommend it (and its companions Colonial Craftsmen and Frontier Living) to anyone interested in how people lived -- and how different types of work was done -- in 17th and 18th century America.