i didnt know anything about barnet newman before i got this book, now he is one of my favorite artist. this isnt a picture book, in fact there are almost no pictures of actual art works. this book is a collection of barnet newmans life long obsession with writting. he wrote letters and essays to everybody and about everything. from newspaper editors to gallery owners barnet newman wasnt afaraid to let people know what he thought, and he does it in a very informative and entertaining way. he was a very good writer. so mu suggestion is, if you want to learn about barnet newman the man, the writer, the artist, then get this book.

Although this is strictly designed as a children's book, this book is actually an excellent refrence for bird watchers of all ages (I'm 14, and I use it all the time!). It has easy identification to about 50 kinds of North American "backyard" birds. Great for any bird enthusiast!

This book is beautifully illustrated, designed and written. It is a perfect book for anyone who likes birds and an equally perfect book for those who love beautiful things. The latter might find that they love birds after reading the book. Overall, a very well done book.

Hildebrand's book is some of the best literary nonfiction I've read. His characters are well-developed. Because of that, the reader is drawn into the farm and, ultimately, its plight. This book does an excellent job of depicting rural life. It's very true to life (which is good, since it's nonfiction). EXCELLENT BOOK, highly recommended.

This book ranks highly among those which seek to provide an intellectual basis for post Reagan/Thatcher/Berlin Wall politics. O'Neill's objective is to elucidate the operation of 'international functional units of planning' that are capable of using global resources in 'an ecologically rational way'; and he sets out 'to defend non-market associations' and 'to puncture the intellectual case for the market economy'. His inspiration is 'Otto Neurath's strong form of associational socialism', which is his guide to a 'non-market associational order'.

O'Neill's subject - the market - comprises 'social and institutional arrangements through which goods are regularly produced for, distributed by and subject to contractual forms of exchange in which money and property rights over goods are transferred between agents'. By the precepts of Austrian school politics, the market (i) is an amoral, arational, non-economic, non-teleological institution which offers no judgement of the end-states that it fosters and (ii) affords a framework for the peaceful co-existence of individuals with diverse goals. These precepts support an ethos of benign neutrality which rivals the perfectionist account of political and social institutions.

Rival paradigms of political theory point to different values in negative liberty; it is a prerequisite for either (i) neutrality: with an accommodation of different perceptions of the good, or (ii) perfectionism: with an inducement to character building. However, the author identifies three (not two) issues: (i) 'the powers and dispositions of character' needed to become an autonomous person; (ii) the freedom from coercion needed to exercise that autonomy; and (iii) the material means needed to effect action. He argues that the blurring of the first two issues has obscured the positive component in Hayek's endorsement of liberty.

O'Neill laments 'the rejection of the enlightenment project of a rationally ordered social life' and points to an Austrian paradox: to assert that autonomy is good, is to invite rational debate over the conception of the good, which surrenders the virtue of neutrality. O'Neill believes that 'the most effective defence of market institutions would not be to appeal to institutional neutrality between conceptions of the good but rather to develop a perfectionist liberal economics according to which the free market is a necessary condition for that good.' Yet, (as O'Neill concedes) Hayek does not propagate a purely contractarian version of liberalism. The perfectionism in Hayek is especially evident in respect of such desirable traits as 'independence and self-reliance, individual initiative and local responsibility'. For Hayek the key issue is the nature of the 'Great Society', where individuals can find 'the best conditions for achieving their aims'.

O'Neill finds the best welfare defences of the market in classical economics: 'material conditions of well-being, the social and cultural conditions for the development of human excellences ... autonomous choice and the possibility of cultural accomplishment, and conditions that foster proper social relationships'. These constituted the vision before the paradigm shift from substantive accounts of welfare to preference satisfaction. Any concern with the content of well-being was then abandoned. Thereafter there was either the (neo-classical) calculus of pleasure and pain or the (Austrian) remit of allowing individuals the best prospect for achieving personal goals. Aristotle was reversed: an item is desirable because of an individual's beliefs about it, not because it is objectively good. However, O'Neill's account is blemished by his conflation of neo-classical constrained optimisation (whose unlikely assumptions deter many students) with Hayek's social theories of sequential causation and co-ordination. In consequence much of his purported criticism of Hayek flies wide of the mark.

O'Neill presents the market as having encroached too far upon non-market associations: at best, the market creates a tension between welfare gains - although he finds 'little relation between growth in economic welfare and growth in reported 'satisfaction'' - and contractual relations that are incompatible with non-market associations; the market corrodes conditions of human well-being: the commitments of personal relationships; social bonds and loyalties; social identity and the narrative order of human life; the norms of recognition that are vital to the internal order of the sciences, arts and crafts; skills and social esteem; and the public nature of the sciences and arts. (In like fashion, might not gravity be indicted for causing backache?) At the very least markets need boundaries, 'so that non-market associations and relations can flourish'. O'Neill questions the perceived values of the market: liberal neutrality (chapter 2); welfare (chapters 3 and 4); autonomy and freedom (chapters 5, 6 and 7); 'the forms of recognition it is taken to foster' (chapter 8); those values which emerged from the socialist calculation debate (chapters 9, 10 and 11); and those drawn from public choice theory (chapter 12).

In chapters 9, 10, 11 the focus switches to defences of the market which emanate from Austrian economics. The issue of economic calculation under socialism led to the watershed of Hayek's 'Economics and knowledge' in 1937. O'Neill argues for two (not one) debates in the 1920s and 1930s: between von Mises and Neurath (on the necessity for commensurability through market valuations) and between Hayek and Lange (on epistemological realities).

There would seem to be few ills that non-market associations cannot put right, and these include the political opportunism exposed by public choice theorists. O'Neill points to the paradox that '[i]f one took seriously what they are saying in their theories, one could not take seriously their acts of saying them'; in other words, what is the hidden motivation of public choice theorists? Although public choice theory says 'something right' in its critique of state benevolence, the author believes it is too narrow in its view of self-interest, which should be taken in the particular institutional context. Associational socialism again takes its cue: non-market institutions can re-orient an individual's self-interest.

Whereas many Austrians would accept as paramount 'the question of what associations best develop the goods of human life', they would be sceptical of O'Neill's utopian 'vision of a non-market associational order' as an alternative to the market economy.

Walter Schindler's book of poems, "The Napoleon House," has pleased me for nearly a decade now. While I wouldn't call Schindler's poems revolutionary or staggeringly original, I would call them friendly, warm, touching, and real. Each poem drips with the feeling that Schindler poured his life into each one, driving himself to find the absolutely right image, mood, and word. This is exactly the kind of poetry utterly missing from the academic poets, who see this sort of heart-on-the-sleeve virtuosity as hopelessly outdated. This attitude is directly analagous to those who believe that sculpture since August Rodin means anything (which, in my humble opinion, it doesn't: obscurity and a refusal to even attempt to communicate with one's society have never made for good art: even T.S. Eliot believed he was speaking to the world, and not his own private circle.) Schindler is attempting to make each poem matter, to make each poem memorable, and to strike the lightning from the heavens with each attempt. He doesn't fully succeed with each try, but who does? Even Yeats and Whitman have their dogs. I especially love the sense of dialogue Schindler has with his readers: at one point, in a little comic interlude, he tells us to go away, find somebody to make love, and to live poetry rather than read it. All in all, a charming, unpretentious book that should be far better known than it is.

This is considered to be one of the finest overall summaries of the works of Eugene O'Neill, one of America's finest playwrights. I found it to be insightful, challenging, and very helpful in my readings of O'Neill's works. I highly recommend it.

I read this book a long time ago - in the early 80s - but still remember and recommend it to anyone interested in personality theorists, such as C.G. Jung. Rather than critique its strengths , weaknessed, accuracies, and inaccuracies, I'll describe its impact on me. Prior to it reading, I'd spent a hour or 2 reading about Jung by way of a undergraduate Psych Class. The summer after I read it, I worked my way independantly through the index to and about a third of the text of Jung's collected works, and all of the popular Jung ("Man & his Symbols", etc) I could find. It drew from love of Middle Earth, introducing me to a larger, equally numinous world.

Study of the correlation between Carl Jung's theory of the collective unconscious and J.R.R. Tolkien's mythology for Middle-earth. The author was Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy

I am currently reading this, borrowed from the library, and looking to buy a copy for myself (that's why I'm at this site).

This is a remarkably intelligent book, yet written in a light and friendly way. Can't urge you enough to read it, but if you don't you're missing out!

A full review to follow soon . . .

Unlike MAN OF THE HOUSE which is a fun and plesant book John A. Farrell paints an accurate picture warts and all (not TOO many warts to see anyway.) of one of my heroes. Tip O'Neill never forgot where he came from and because of that he was able to change his times. Farrell corrects and augments some stories from the O'Neill autobiography and adds a few of his own to the mix. We see a man who can be profane (but never to or in front of a Lady>) Who can be sneaky (but always for the cause) and who will make a deal (but not against his loyalties.) He spent and spent but always for jobs. Anybody's jobs. We see a man who's word is his word, but who is willing to look the other way on a scandal (Gary Studds was a Massachusetts Demorcrat after all) and who kept a grudge but never forever. The theme of the book seems to be that Tip and his ilk and what they supported were the building blocks of the middle class we have today. I tend to agree. Sort of a doctor who puts himself out of business by curing his patients. His fights against Reagan were principled and at the time I agreed with him. This books paints that picture of a person fighting always for the common man and with a love of country and all it stands for, I get the feeling that if he were alive in 1998 Al Gore would have been president that year. Farrell picture of the man makes me miss him more

This book is an excellent resource for all who aspire to be politicians and wish to learn the the way the political process really works in our nation. John Farrell does an excellent job in profiling Tip O'Neill and putting O'Neill's actions and principles in the context of the issues of his day (i.e. the New Deal, the Vietnam War, Watergate and other issues). When doing this, Farrell uses the phrase " it was in this backdrop.... When writing a biography, it is crucial to explain the currrent events that impacted the world of those being profiled. Farrell mastered this principle of biography writing. O'Neill is a fascinating individual to study, i was especially taken back at how prevalent is the belief that machnine politics is always corrupt and the politicians that it produces are inept. This is not true. O'Neill was typecasted as a corrupt machine politician by some, in my view, because of his down to earth personality and some of his political tactics. The Kennedy's also used this "machine" to their advantage but they were never viewed by anyone as machine politicians. Although I am not Irish, there was clearly some anti-Irish prejudice in the attitudes of some who disliked O'Neill.This book gave me a very clear picture of Irish American history and the role politics played in its history. Farrell also touches on the ideological rift in the Democratic party. I highly recommend this book and i hope this review was useful.

Much like its subject, this book is large, heavy, and packed with Irish blarney and great stories. The career of Speaker O'Neill spanned the New Deal, World War II, the Vietnam War, the great movements of the 60's, the crises of the 70's, and the Reagan Revolution of the 80's. Farrell covers it all in just under 700 pages, but you won't mind or notice because the prose flows effortlessly. It's all here: the personalities, the egos, the sleight of hand, the clashes, the politics of O'Neill and the other colorful, larger than life, forceful, and flawed people who made up Congress in the tumultuous years of the 20th century. The chapters on how O'Neill came to oppose the Vietnam War and favor Nixon's impeachment are especially good. The final chapters on how he put off retirement to be the Democratic Party's national voice against the Reagan Administration after the disastrous 1980 election are poignant without being mawkish. But even though Farrell clearly likes his subject (what's not to like?) this is not simply a political book or Democratic party propoganda. When O'Neill behaves ruthlessly, opportunistically, trims on principle (not very frequently), or takes a casual view of campaign finance ethics (very frequently), Farrell takes it all down faithfully. What emerges is a full portrait of a very human politician--his family, his friends and enemies, his finances, his values, and even his diets! Unlike most political books, this one is worth getting, even in hardcover.

Another of my large Kalamar purchase, this book initially impressed more than the Kingdoms of Kalamar sourcebook did. In the end however, it got the same rating, and the same overall impression. Nice, hung together well enough, lots of NPCs in good detail, but numerous irritations and inconsistencies dragged it down. Worse, not one immediate idea for an adventure sprang to mind reading it. This might be a lack of imagination on my part (I'll not so humbly say that this is unlikely), or more likely the kinds of adventures suggested by this book don't appeal to me.

This book is an exploration of a city in the campaign setting, and follows the same feel in that the emphasis is far more on the politics rather than old ruins or monsters. This is fine, but not quite what most people expect from AD&D. The cover is a very nice picture of a stone and a fire giant fighting while adventurers watch behind small hills, and the city in the background. Unfortunately, that's about all that these kinds of threats are seen, except in passing. The underground sewers are detailed well, but most areas are given the same "rumors of treasures hidden in the walls" treatment.

So the emphasis is on the people and their interactions. The city overall is one with a very peaceful reputation. You have five main groups, the Castle, the Guilds, the Nobles, the Priests and the common people. The Castle and leaders seem mostly good, with the potential heir being somewhat weak, leading to worries as to what will happen if the Lord dies. The guilds are builders, craftsmen, parcel carriers, etc, and basically well respected. There are one or to evil guildmasters, but very little detailed as to if they have any real plans. The Nobles are the most interesting group at first, as they're disliked by the commoners and Guilds alike. But rather quickly it's obvious that most follow a pattern.. Leader of the house, the heir is almost always a young man or woman who either seeks adventure to make a name, seeks adventurers to provide a power base for when they become the leader, or weak/not interested in the job of being house leader. One or two plots are laid out in fair detail, but they still didn't really grab me, and the sameness of each noble house got monotonous after awhile.

The religions are primarily good or neutral, and the evil religions again follow a pattern of only a few followers, want to expand their powerbase in the city, preparing to do so but not yet... One religion is truly evil, with some fleshing out of the despicable practices of its leader, but this was only a blip in the monotony. The shady dealings in the city are minimal and glossed over in the chapter devoted to this, because the town watch is so effective. The section on adventures is quite thin, and almost nothing in it really grabbed me.

Another element of this book that I disliked were some writing style choices and inconsistencies.
1. Names not always consistent between book, glossary (with page number where character is found) and the NPC list.
2. Almost every paragraph had at least one word in quotes, sometimes needed but more than often not.. Example: "If being 'noble' accords him special privileges, he will shamelessly make use of them ... However, he knows very well that anyone who truly believes Talasaarans are 'better' than their fellow Geanavese..." These quotes interrupt the flow of reading for me.
3. The authors use city-wide versions of common words throughout (at least they do explain the meaning) but this is annoying when they're for words like street, corner, avenue, left (sinister) and right (dexter). Again, it breaks up the flow.
4. The walkthrough of the city switches from guide-book style of simple description to actual guide style ("Now, as we go down this street, we decide to turn in the sinister direction and...") multiple times. Combined with huge amounts of quotes and city specific terms, plus including information already mentioned in the rest of the book, this chapter seemed a waste.
5. Sometimes the book goes into great detail about specific plots and plans (well, all of a couple of them), and other times things that it would help the DM to know are merely mentioned and then left alone as something that "No one really knows.". This seems inconsistent.

Ok, so lots of complaints.. It still gets a three for the high production quality and the wealth of NPCs and locations included. The nits and sameness drag it down to just average.

One of the top challenges for a good DM is to run a quality city adventure, as you have to have lots of potential NPCs that your players can run in to - and, you often have to create a lot of them on the fly as well. This book gives the DM a lot of good information about a medium sized city that can be put into a lot of generic campaign settings fairly easily. You have information about the king and his family, then the idle rich "Blackflame" nobility (who can cause a lot of problems), the guilds, as well as the underworld. Very solid information, and not over the top/overpowered like some of Ed Greenwood's past work on the Forgotten Realms. If you want political intrigue in an adventure - you have tons of potential with the Blackflames and the guilds... if you want a dungeon crawl, the city has an extensive sewer system that you can populate with all kinds of bad guys... this book has a lot to offer anybody who is into D&D and the d20 system.