Life in the Old West was perilous and uncertain. There were fortunes to be made in the gold fields and in the enterprises that followed the gold rush. Yet law enforcement was not well-established, and stagecoach and train robbers could wipe out a fortune as quickly as it was made. The Wells, Fargo Company needed a way to protect the great sums of money its coaches were responsible for delivering. It hired James B. Hume, a California lawman, to take charge of its detective bureau in 1873.

James Hume was a different breed from the stereotypical western lawman who winked at civil rights and abused authority. He was just as concerned that an innocent man be kept out of jail as he was that he find the guilty man. And he had an impressive record of catching the guilty man, the most famous being Black Bart, the "Po8" stage coach robber.

Pioneering methods of criminal investigation which are now used widely, James Hume dug pellets out of a dead stage horse in order to do a ballistics test, and he tracked down Black Bart with the laundry mark from his handkerchief. Determined but patient, he logged an impressive number of solved cases.

This biography by Richard Dillon reads as smoothly as a novel. He used James Hume's own letters and diaries, which are in the Wells, Fargo Museum in San Francisco, for his research as very little had been written about Hume's life. He not only relates the fascinating events of Hume's public life but mines his personality as well and finds a heroic and likable figure.

In a time when we could use more heroes, I enjoyed reading about a real-life hero who contributed to the colorful past of the West and still maintained his integrity.

This book provides very detailed accounts of the history of Whitehaven. The book starts with the building of the mansion and follows its history through abandonment, restoration and its current use as a rest area. The best part is the wonderful history in pictures. The book includes photos of the mansion and its original occupants, the pitiful condition it was found it, the restoration in progress and the finally the mansion once it was restored to all it's grandeur.

...before buying it online.

Its a nice book to have around, but not my first choice by any means. Too general & poorly indexed. If you can only buy one unix related book, then this may be for you, but why not buy a few smaller books on what you actually want to know? Too often I've looked in it for info only to get half my answer & need to look in another source.

Personally I don't think it is worth the ten pounds of paper it is printed on.

Unix, The Complete Reference claims to be a good reference and it is, but only for the experts. If you're trying to learn Unix or know a little about it and want to learn more, don't buy this book. The examples provided are not very good and can be hard to follow.

I was looking for a how-to reference, as the book cover claimed to be. I expected detailed examples and I found a few as I browsed through the book in the store. However, I discovered later that many of the references, specifically to programming, cron tabs and awk, were simply not specific enough. The examples were often broken across several pages requiring me to put three examples together to get one task done. In addition, not every section had an example.

This is a great book because it covers multiple Unix platforms: Solaris, HP, Linux, etc. If you only looking for one book to learn Unix - this is the way to go.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon deserves a more thorough look at its production, cast, and impact on modern cinema. The essays are informative if very short. One in particular is helpful since it lists many worthwhile films from Asia that would be of interest to fans of CTHD.

Reading the screenplay is of little interest, since you can watch the DVD or video.

...The music is wonderful.

the book does not tell you much about the actors, the director, the genre, or other related subjects. its okay to browse through while your at a bookstore but not for purchase.

This is a GREAT book... It includes the screenplay of the film, which, is nice to read once in awhile when not watching the DVD. It's filled w/ wonderful photos from the movie and set, and has many quotes and commentaries from actors and Ang Lee about certain situations while filming... and about the film. It's very entertaining to read, but I just wish there was more information about the actors included in the pages. There are comments about them and their performances here and there... and the quotes are great, but the background info on all of the actors is just not there. But all dedicated crouching tiger fans should get it, b/c it's just so nicely laid out and is such good quality. I mean, who cares if they leave a little out? It's so fun to look at!

When I wrote my original review I criticized this book for extremely sparse games coverage. IMHO, those folks who are praising this book for its games coverage either a) have not read the book or b) are affiliated with it in some way!

Just ask yourself, Is coverage of two games enough? I think not!

The book I'd recommend for Flash games development (in addition to Flash 4 Magic) is Flash 5 Actionscript for Fun & Games by Gary Rosenzweig.

With 17 chapters, 11 of which cover an average of 3 games each, this book has something for everyone. No matter what type of Flash game you want to create this book can help you get started!

And, if you want to learn Cartooning you may want to check out Flash 5 Cartooning.

This Flash 5 book is 3.5 stars. Here's what I thought. It totally focuses on Cartoons and Games, just like the title says. I think it's geared towards the intermediate Flash user. For a beginner, I would suggest another book to supplement it, like the Flash Bible or just go through the help files with the software.

The construction of the book is very poor. My book is almost falling apart where it is bound. Pages are ready to fall out if I'm not careful. If I was near a store, I would definately return it for a new one, but since I ordered over the internet, and I'm in Japan right now, that's not an option.

The first few chapters are slow. They deal with story development and character development. I think most people would read the first few chapters and say, "Interesting." But that's about it. The meat of the book starts later with character animation and lip syncing. The book goes on to briefly talk about preloaders etc. I found the most value coming from the cd. The cd that comes with this book is invaluable. It includes the actual source file from Bill Turner's cartoon, along with a percentage preloader. I spent some time, going through the source file and figuring out how he did his tricks. I believe this is one of the best ways to figure out things. I think if the book hadn't included this, it wouldn't have been worth the money. A lot of my questions were answered, especially about a percentage preloader. I couldn't find the specific information on the internet. Only when I went through the example in the source file did I finally understand.

The second half of the book is code intensive, mainly dealing with action script in order to create Flash games. This half of the book I found half interesting, half dry. They once again include the source file for a Trivia Game made in Flash and an Adventure Game. This is a help, because I believe the latter half of the book, you need to read and reread along with rip apart the Flash file to get a good understanding of it.

When they start to get into explaining the code, I think they could do a better job. There isn't any step by step, line by line analysis. The author gives you an explanation, gives you the code and then moves on in most cases. This is especially true when they talk about making an adventure game. My interest is to go to the next level with Flash and to build games, and this book will help, but will need more information, especially with Actionscript, so I'm buying some more books that deal more indepth. This isn't one of those books where you buy it and feel, "I don't need any other books, this will do." I'm still waiting for a book like that.

If you focus is on cartooning or games, I think with the cd, it's worth the money I spent. I wouldn't have learned nearly as much without a cd on this one. If you're into learning the basics or web development, simply by another book. This one is suited for an intermediate Flash level. If you're a beginner, and still thinking about this book, make sure you go through the Flash sample lessons and hopefully have another all-round Flash reference, which there are many available.

Update: September 14th, 2001. My book is really starting to fall apart.

You will need a good grip of the functions of Flash 5 to use this book, but it is well worth it. This book takes the mystery out of how to utilize the Flash 5 actionscript to create terrific games and cartoons..... a great book for getting started on a very ambitious Flash game or cartoon project... mine's already in the making!

In the fourth installment of the Leatherstocking Tales, Cooper introduces a nautical theme upon the surface and along the shores of Lake Ontario. The Pathfinder is ultimately a love story tinged with the conspiracy of treason, though it takes no extra-sensory perception to uncover the traitor long before he is exposed in the book. Cap, a grizzled saltwater veteran, accompanies his niece to visit her father stationed at the British outpost of Fort Oswego, NY. Once there, the two become embroiled in the confrontation between England, France, and their Native American allies for control of the lake. Cap is dismissive of landlubbers and "freshwater ponds", such as he describes Ontario, setting the stage for his mind to be turned by the derring-do of inland waterman, Jasper Western. Indeed, Cap is so outspoken in his contempt for the ways of his new found associates, that he becomes somewhat of an annoyance to the reader. Cooper chose to give the character little in the way of redeeming qualities nearly spoiling the pleasure one takes in Cap's ultimate and grudging respect for the wilderness and the men who master it. Such a thoroughly boorish character simply creates no emotional connection. But, Cap isn't guilty of treason. You'll spot the traitor shortly after he appears.

The Pathfinder is formulaic, utterly predictable, and, at times, almost childlike in substance, but throughout, as in all other Leatherstocking Tales, radiates the simple goodness, manly deportment, and rustic charm of Nathaniel Bumppo. Indeed, Bumppo as a character is so masterfully wrought that Cooper could place him in a melon patch for the duration of a book and still manage to eke out a classic. Having previously read The Pioneers, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Prairie, I find The Pathfinder the weaker of the four, but fourth in favor in this wonderful series of stories isn't any black mark. Indeed, it qualifies The Pathfinder as yet another loveable yarn from the pen of James Fenimore Cooper. 4+ stars.

In this, the third Leatherstocking tale chronologically (after Deerslayer and Last of the Mohicans), James Fenimore Cooper takes us, once again, to his vision of pure, unadultered, nature. Once again he weaves a tale around his ideas of morality, race, and religion. This time around Leatherstocking (known here as Pathfinder) is the pursuer of love, whereas before (in Deerslayer) he was the pursued.

These three books are the only ones that I have read to this point, and it is true that both this and the Deerslayer are more of romances than the Last of the Mohicans, which is an adventure.
Alot of people give the other books in the series flack because they are expecting the same as what they read in Last of the Mohicans. However, if you begin reading the book without those preconcived notions leading to disappointment, I think you will find that the other books are equally entertaining

All three are great books and I highly recommend them all.

I originally wanted to read the Last of the Mohicans because of the very enjoyable movie but I picked up this book and chose to read it first. I do not regret my decision. I was unaware when I began reading this book in the Leatherstocking series that it was not the first book in the series. A reader who has not read other books in the series can feel confident that they won't feel lost if they start reading this book. The book portrays very detailed images of the forests, lakes, rivers, and people of the French and Indian War time period during the 18th century. The character development and plot are very well done. The book also gives a glimpse of the harsh realities of war during this time period. The writing style of the book is also fascinating and reminds me, at times, of epic poetry. I highly recommend it.

A very important novel of the 19th Century. How it is included in the best novels of the 20th Century by the New York Times is beyond me. The book was begun more than 30 years before 1900. Although completed in 1872, it lay unpublished for nearly 30 years; presumably until such time as some of its anti-Victorian ideals would be more palatable to the British public.

The story principally centers around the life of Ernest Pontifex, an impreesionable and naive young man who is reared by devout Anglican parents. Their well meaning cruelty shelter Ernest and cause him to make bad decisions and derail his ambitions. As a result of the consequences of these bad decisions, Ernest learns to manage his own life and becomes a success despite his early failures.

Although important in its time, the novel is brutally slow.

The Way of All Flesh covers six generations of strife in the Pontifex family, and spans a period from 1750 to 1880. However, the bulk of the story concerns the life of Ernest Pontifex, from about age 5 up to age 28, and describes his unsatisfactory relations with his parents, his school, his church, his wife, and his friends. Sometimes we feel sorry for Ernest, because many of his problems are caused by unbelievably cruel or thoughtless people, and sometimes we're furious with him, because he himself is the author of at least half of his troubles, but either way his misfortunes make him stronger and move him steadily along the path to maturity. Throughout, the book remains an easy read, although the writing is very witty and often rewards close examination.

Even today, 100 years after the book's publication, a reader finds many things to identify with. Anyone who felt unjustly treated by his or her parents or teachers will find much to sympathize with here. Anyone who has wrestled with the conflict between Reason and Faith will find much to think about here. Given how much change the last century has seen, it's surprising how many of the issues still seem fresh and relevant, and the book definitely makes you think about them. It is easy to see how many people have described reading The Way of All Flesh as a turning point in their lives.

A point worth keeping in mind: the characters are all described from Ernest's point of view. Several clues tell us that Ernest exaggerates the cruelty of various characters - some of whom seem evil beyond belief, and I think it's quite clear that, at these points, we're supposed to smile at Ernest - not shake our heads at the author. This is most obvious with Ernest's schoolmaster, Dr. Skinner, whom Ernest consistently sees as a pompous fool, but who we also know is very popular with the best students, and who shows other signs of being a much better man than Ernest believes him to be.

The footnotes in my edition (Penguin Classics 1986) are very skimpy, focusing on comparing elements from Ernest's fictional life to Samuel Butler's real one. The failure of the notes to translate passages in French or Latin, or to explain very contemporary references, is inexcusable. (E.g. but for the recent controversy over his Beatification, we'd have no clue that "Pio Nono" was Pope Pius IX.) Hoggart's introduction (1966) is decent but a bit dated, not having weathered as well as the book itself!

I read this book after reading all the reviews on Amazon not knowing what to expect: Incredibly boring or amazing insightful? I have read many books written in that same time period. I believe this to be the most mature work to come out of England in the late 19th Century(although it was published later). I enjoy Dickens, Hardy, and Eliot very much, but Butler makes their works look like grocery store fiction. I can see how many people might be bored if they were expecting a great story. While the story is excellent, it is more a book about ideas. Butler uses his hero to voice his commentary on Victorian ideals. Most of it is still very relevant today, though. I think it will be most relevant for people that have been exposed to the religious right wing who still hold many Victorian values. I enjoyed the characters and the story was compelling. There are many beautiful passages. It was very funny at times and somewhat sarcastic. The narrator reminded me of Hemmingway born 50 years earlier in England. What impressed me the most was Butler's modern style of writing. Much less wordy than Dickens. Dickens would have taken 800 pages to express the same thoughts. I also felt a real kindred to the main character Ernest. This is ultimately a coming of age book which most people will be able to relate to in one way or another (unless you haven't grown up yet). I would recommend it to all serious readers.

Matthew specializes in pseudohistory books for New York's limousine liberal crowd. This book is a downright distortive pseudohistory that dwells on one Madison quote and inteprets Madison's whole political philosophy as some proto-authoritarian republican advocating a strong central government and "Machiavellian" politics to maintain "stability." The author essentially muddles his own socialistic, authoritarian philosophy on politics with that of James Madison. He tries to reintepret the history of the Presidency of Madison along these lines.

This work is truly goundbreaking. The comparison of the liberal/commercial views of James Madison with the radical democratic views of his close friend, Thomas Jefferson are truly enlightening. Matthews shows how Madison was closer to Hamilton than to Jefferson in political philosophy. Madison was obsessed with balance, and order in the liberal tradition. Jefferson,on the other hand, had a vision of radical democracy in the republic. Ward republics, and local democracy were infused into Jefferson's thought. Madison was more concerned with balancing the interests of society and controlling "factions". He viewed government from a more Hobbsian view than other Jeffersonians.Madison was far less trusting of human nature and more concerned with "stability" in society than with experiments in government. This book goes against the grain of current scholarship which unites Jefferson and Madison in philosophy when in fact in many ways they were poles apart. A great book.

If Men Were Angels is as "poor" a book as reviewer "Joseph (see more about me) Schulman" thinks, why is it that Gordon Wood gave it a favorable review in the New York Review of Books? Moreover, it received praise from several leading historians including Jack Greene and Forrest McDonald. Perhaps open minded readers might come to different conclusions about this book.

I've read through this book, expecting that it would teach me the majority of what I would need to pass the LCA tests. Only about 30% of what was in this book was on the test...the rest was pulled from ?????
I can dismiss a few typos in fictional reading, but when you're dealing with technical information and command syntax, that doesn't cut it. Punctuation errors, mispelled commands, missed switches, etc, are not going to make for an effective learning tool.
The redundancy of information (paragraphs repeated...verbatim) is ridiculuous and unecessary, since this is sort of a "cram session", in my opinion.
Some of the information was also misleading and/or downright contradictory. I spent quite a bit of time searching linux websites to get clarification, which sort of defeats the purpose of an all-in-one book.
I will admit, however, that I must have retained something, either from this book or the hours I spent online--and passed the install/config test. Barely. My advice...look elsewhere. If you're a newbie, this book will only confuse you. If you're looking to become certified, there are much better technical references out there. I should have left this one on the shelf.

I used the SAIR GNU Linux Install and Config for the first test and did very well. With the lack of the rest of the books, I turned to this one, seeing that it was touted as a better book. This book has a horrible tendency to repeat itself to the point of being annoying. I studied through the second section, System Administration, and took the test, and about 20% of the test covered material that was not mentioned in this section of the book. Looking through, several questions on the test showed up as items in the next section, Networking. There needs to be a re-evaluation for this book, geared towards training you for the SAIR tests, to actually cover the material the appropriate SAIR test covers.

I found this book to be very helpful for studying to take the Sair Linux exams. However, this book falls short with the sheer volume of typos and mistakes.

Also, for the CD that is included, I did not find it helpful at all. The mock exam program is also flawed in that some questions did not have a correct answer. Even though it was obvious there was a correct answer, the program did not list one. In addition, about 95% of the questions were taken directly from the book.

All in all this book does an excellent job covering the material thoroughly. If you are purusing this certification, I recommend this book. However, you will be frustrated time after time when noticing so many mistakes.

If we state passing the exam as our main goal, the book is well written. I readed the entire book several times during the last month and I passed the exam at the first attempt with 720 over 1000. You can skip the Forms chapter. It is not an exam objective.

I have read the Mastering Exchange Server book, and found it to be a story book - didn't like it. The MCSE: Study Guide for Exchange 5 at least gives you the information up front, without having to read through the "story" to get the information. They cover the core components very well, without leaving too much out. I did find that there were a few advanced features that it didn't quite cover, but I suppose that is why there are "Study Guides" and "Reference Books." I would rate it as one of the better study guides, but I would also look for another book to use as a reference guide.

I've been studying for my MCSE through an ATEC provider, and therefore have been using "Microsoft Official Curriculum". Needless to say, Microsoft does not write textbooks nearly as user-friendly or useful as they do software. Sybex's Exchange Server 5 Study Guide is twice as informative as and ten times easier to read than Microsoft's offering. This book is the perfect example of why Microsoft has finally changed their mind and is allowing ATEC providers to use textbooks other than their own - because, in the case of textbooks, the competition is actually better than Microsoft's own.