The author often shows a nice turn of phrase or insight but this book falls far short of explaining the contributions of technology to the Civil War. Some topics are simply ignored like the telegraph and signal communications. Others are given short shrift. The significance of repeating rifles is restricted to a paragraph on Wilder's Brigade at Chickamauga. Bacon is let down by a miserable index. There are no entries under repeating rifle or Spencer for the that paragraph. Nor can one find Rifled cannon, Parrot or Rodman, submarine or torpedo. Virtually any of the 24 items in this book's bibliograpy would be a better choice

Would have appreciated some biographical information to support the authenticity of the writer, Benjamin W. Bacon.

Is there an error on page 13? "Thus, Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri - through a deft blend of of patience, diplomacy, and force - had been preserved for the Union."

Is there a context that I am missing?

This is not a full scale study of logistics, but more a series of essays on strategy, men, and events of the Civil War, with technology given more weight than some other narratives.
Bacon has a firm and lucid grasp of strategy and tactics, and an admirably readable style which will be a pleasure to the non-specialist reader.
(The numerical rating above is an unwelcome default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings).

Benjamin Ginsberg and Martin Shefter have written a thorough recounting of the last thirty years in American political life. The authors' views are interesting as well as provocative. Most notably, their thesis that the United States has entered a postelectoral era where the importance of elections is eclipsed by instruments of political combat. And the practitioners of this combat while perfecting these weapons have failed to mobilize voters, which has had a deleterious effect on party organizations, and has lead to deadlock in government.

There are points that the authors could pursue that would strengthen this work. It would be worthwhile to note that low voter turnout, particularly in the case of primary elections, works to create nominees of the more extreme wings of the parties. If more voters than just the party faithful were to show up perhaps deadlock and institutional combat would be precluded. But the authors seem to blame the failure of voter mobilization on the leaders rather than on the disinterested electorate.

Another notion that could be suggested is that the United States has entered another "Gilded Age" where there are no over-arching issues around which consensus can be reached. Isn't it possible that this combat may be a result of the end of the Cold War? Didn't a new power structure need to be created in that vacuum?

Additionally, the authors write of the media and its rise to power but fail to fully explore the increased capacity, or presence, of the current wall-to-wall coverage.

This was an excellent book. The authors took an extensive look at the shift in the approach to politics today and examined how the shift stems out of history; including references to political parties and the media. The book explains, in an insightful way, how the current focus on prosecution of political figures has contributed to electoral decay. This book includes fascinating insight into the current political situation and how we have arrived at this point. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in why our politics seems to have decayed to the negative state it is at now.

If you have panic disorder and are looking for a truly helpful book, you may find more understanding and relief in any of Claire Weekes' three texts, George Clum's "Coping With Panic" or R. Reid Wilson's "Don't Panic".

I don't feel this book adds much that hasn't already been said more clearly before. Sorry.

This is a superb exploration of the debilitating disease of panic and other anxiety disorders. Dr. Root does an outstanding job of delivering the message in nothing less than a staggering poetic exploration of this topic. A must read for all whom have experienced panic attacks.

This book seems to be aimed at two distinct age groups. Children towards the top of the stated target range of 4-8 years might find the (small print) text interesting, while younger children would be more likely to enjoy lifting the flaps to see what's underneath.

I bought this to give my son a chance to get accustomed to the idea of flying. At 16 months, he enjoyed looking at the illustrations and lifting the flaps, but he had little patience for the text. Perhaps the book did make the trip a bit easier, but the trip also made the book more popular. After we returned, My First Plane Ride became one of his favorites.

There's a minor typo, though. The text talks about the plane arriving at "it's" gate. So far my son hasn't noticed. :)

Really not worth reading. Poorly written but more than that the author never forms conclusions. Re: OJ he was a 'consultant' for the defense so his 'objectivity' is severely compromised. He suspects OJ is innocent but offers no other idea as to what happened. He suggests a UFO autopsy may or may not be real. He is inconclusive in suggesting Vince Foster killed himself. When it's not downright unbelievable it's downright boring. Further he fawns at everyone including Lee, Ito, and the Today Show hosts; he's nice enough too to put in a good word for his wife. Don't bother.

I found this book to be a waste of my time. The fist in many book that I have read about the O.J. Trial.
I found the first review from "Reader in Somerville, N.J." to be a waste of time also since they put the same review...word for word in every review they give. How can that help you with a book when a person just repeats thier views over & over for every book. Answer=It can't.

These chapters came from cases where his knowledge was crucial in exposing official mistakes of showing weaknesses by the prosecution. The accuracy and fairness of crime lab evidence are entirely dependent on proper identification, protection, and transfer of evidence from the crime scene. The Introduction explains how a seeming accident was found to be murder by analyzing the entrance wound and the position of the shotgun. Forensic pathology investigates sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. 75% of all deaths are from natural causes, 75% of the rest are accidental. About 1.5% are suicides and homicides. Many of the most controversial cases on record have involved medical examiner systems, due to political influence (p.9).

Chapter 1 deals with the Trial of OJ Simpson, and the evidence for guilt or innocence. One of the biggest mistakes was to not get a forensic pathologist to the scene immediately; important evidence was lost forever (p.34). Nicole's stomach contents were discarded; if empty, then 3 or more hours elapsed since her last meal. Page 43 tells of the high error rate in laboratory testing of blood and other specimens. Nicole's uncorroborated diary wrote of being followed to a "Payless shoe store". Would a fan of fashion and style ever go there? Page 49 says there is NO regulation on DNA testing, or of the astronomical percentage estimates. Page 59 tells that two weeks after the murders there was no blood on those socks; weeks later there was! Page 67 says no cuts were seen on OJ's hands on the flight to Chicago. Page 70 tells of Cochran's wearing that knitted cap; to me, it looked like a child's cap.

Chapter 2 discusses the suicide of Vincent Foster, and how rumor mongers blew it up into a fantasy (p.81). Chapter 3 tells of his investigations into the aftermath of Waco. This was a tragedy that never should have occurred (p.100). Chapter 4 tells of a shoot-out in Cleveland; the coroner's staff was guilty of deliberate, willful, and clever deception (p.114). Chapter 5 tells of a shooting in Chicago where "this whole operation may have been nothing more than a political assassination" (p.131). The State Attorney and the police officers involved in the raid were charged, and found at fault (p.134). Chapter 6 deals with the 1989 Oakland earthquake. Many who died would be alive if state and local emergency management officials had done their jobs quickly and efficiently (p.142). The autopsy reports were done by the lowest bidder, and the reports had the lowest quality (p.146). Chapter 7 tells of the nightclub fire in 1977 Cincinnati. Many did not die of burns or smoke inhalation, but from invisible and odorless toxic fumes (p.162).

Chapter 8 explains why a fall from a high building was homicide and not suicide or an accident. Chapter 9 investigated the mysterious death of a government opponent; it was an accident. Chapter 10 tells of the unexpected death of a government official; it was a natural death. Chapter 11 tells of the execution of a maid that caused an international incident. Chapter 12 deals with the swine flu panic of 1976, a result from using "Legionnaires Disease" to allocate money and authority to the CDC and FDA (p.231). At least 52 people died after receiving swine flu vaccine. Chapter 13 tells of a man serving a life sentence for stabbing his wife and her parents. Fingerprints found at the scene did not match the suspect, the victims, or those who were in the house before the murders (p.247). After the State forced the defense lawyer off the case, he was convicted at the third trial (p.258)! Pages 259-60 tell why a jury will convict even if the evidence is unconvincing! Chapter 14 tells of his viewing of an 18 minute videotape of an autopsy on an unknown being. He could not say it was a hoax.

I have Photoshop 5 In Depth and ordered PS 6 ID, assuming it would be as good as the first.

I discovered immediately that it was a poorer version of PS5 and was highly disappointed. It's a basic repeat of PS 5 In Depth with very little to add sprinkled with SO many mistakes.

It's not as thick as the PS5 ID and most of the new material is on the CD. It's very difficult to try to follow directions when you have to use your computer to read...or print it out, costing you even MORE money after paying so much for the book already. Even then, the book and ebook just skimmed the surface of all the new functions Photoshop has to offer.

I feel the authors were lazy in compiling this book and were just waiting for the money to roll in. Productions costs were cut (less ink and paper than the previous issue) but the cost of the book remained unchanged.

It's a good book if you don't already have it as part of your Photoshop book collection, but it's not a good upgrade if you already have it. Be ready for stupid mistakes. I don't feel they really reviewed the PS6 upgrade before publishing the book.