This book helped me understand and study "Julius Caesar" more than most textbooks do, and certainly better than reading it over and over again. I had trouble with decifering the old English text sometimes, and this book clears up meanings while presenting a clear theme, involved analysis of characters, summary, and an explaination of each scene.

James Vickers' Cliffs Notes for Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" begins with a short biography of the Bard that focuses on what little the historical record tells us about the Bard of Avon. A Brief Synopsis of the Play is followed by a List of Characters that not only tells us who they are but their primary roles in the play. The Summary and Commentary section of the volume breaks down the play scene by scene, and the best way of using this or any other little yellow book with the black stripes is to read the commentary after you have read each scene of the play. This is especially important with Shakespeare because the dialogue is so important and Vickers does not work in as many choice lines as some of the other Cliffs Notes for Shakespeare plays. You cannot deal with Shakespeare if you do not know the key lines. The last section dealing with Character Analyses looks as Caesar, Antony, Octavius, Brutus and Cassius, referring back to the analysis already established regarding the individual scenes. What you will not get from this volume if you are teaching/reading "Julius Caesar" is how the play touches upon the political realities of Elizabethean England. But Vickers does an excellent job throughout of capturing how Shakespeare uses the play to manipulate the audience. Remember, the celebrated funeral oration by Marc Antony is being listened to on stage by a Roman mob that is being watched by an audience of Londoners in the theater. This is one of the better jobs at capturing how Shakespeare constructed a play and an above-average Cliffs Notes edition.

I needed cliff notes for English as we were reading the play Julius Caesar. I looked around and finally found these. They are great! They are in modern version and they go along with most/lots of HS English books today. THANKS!

This book gives the same facts and tips about lowering cholesterol that most other books have. Recipes are o.k. but mundane (which I guess would be good for people just starting to change their diets.)

This book is a really good guide to lower cholestoorel w/ great recipes!

I don't agree with the first person who reviewed this book. I found the information on cholesterol to be very helpful and most of recipes are very good. The book was recommended to me by a friend who said she makes some of the dishes when she has company and always receives compliments.

I bought a used copy of this book a couple years ago but noticed an updated version at the library. The new version has twice the recipes of the book I have so I just ordered a new one. Another plus -- my cholesterol dropped 16 points within a short period of time and I attribute it to the Goors' recipes.

I read this book after completing a book by Barbara Tuchman, and was immediately discouraged by the differences in writing style. Jimenez lacks the twist of phrase and economy of words that makes Tuchman such a pleasure to read, and I came close to putting the book down. However, as I continued to read, these concerns fell by the wayside. True to Jiminez's words in his preface, he lets the facts tell the story, laying them bare for the reader to absorb, and interjecting well labelled speculation from time to time when the facts weren't clear. Whether Jiminez improved his writing style as the book went on, or I simply got used to it, he sythesizes a very readable account of one of the great conquerers in history.

I picked up this book to augment my weak understanding of the late roman republic and the specific things Caesar did to form the empire. I was well served by Jiminez in this regard. Anyone who wants to know how Caesar's life was intertwined with a whole host of other household names from the same time period (Cicero, Mark Antony, Brutus, Pompey and Cleopatra) ought to read this book. Jiminez also gives context to many of Caesar's well known, but little understood exploits such: crossing the Rubicon, the Gallic wars, and Veni, Vidi, Vici.

All in all, an adequately written book with loads in information presented interestingly enough to make you want to continue to read.

This book is awesome!!! Dude I love ancient history and this book is like getting a history IV right in your veins, oh yeah that's the stuff!! Seriously though this book is so easy to read that I would say it is hard to put down, and it still manages to give some awesome info about the Roman Civil war that ultimately led to Caesar's complete domination of the Roman World. So if you like ancient history, especially Roman History(and who doesn't?), or if you just like an action packed story I would highly recommend this book.

This is an excellent short work on the Roman Civil War for the general reader. It is written in such an easily read style that, at times, it reads like a novel. It's quite linear, and so all of the many convolutions of this distant and confusing conflict appear to be made clear. Where there are contadictions in the historical record the author notes them, and then gives his best idea of what he feels is correct. I found the work very interesting, and learned quite a bit about this period of

Roman history that I had never known before reading this work. That is a high compliment to the author.

Julius Lester's strong emphasis on sexuality throughout the book is his attempt to get to the real truth behind individual motivation combined with real personal skills, such as John Calvin Marshall's eloquence or Robert Card's steadfastness. Lester writes from both female and male viewpoints on what makes one tick, while never straying from the objective facts of the situation, in this case a variation on Martin Luther King's approach to garnering equality for all. Professor Lester strongly places in Marshall's words that discrimination oppresses all and only equality can make individual people free. Focusing on black only or white only denies the fullness of life. In a nutshell, Julius Lester, in his writing, is a classical liberal desiring freedom for all, not rights nor attitudes based on truly irrelevant concerns like skin color and superficial identity. John Calvin Marshall tried to move his people and all people beyond that, but had to deal with his own non-rational impulses.

This is a peculiar and memorable book about the legacy of Civil Rights. Lester is perhaps most famous for having made insensitive and controversial statements about James Baldwin and his alledged anti-Semitism. I would have been interested in a more radical approach here in this book, but one can turn to more transgressive writers like bell hooks for that.

An integral part to any Shakespeare work is the presence of footnotes! This book has a glossary, but it does not do any good because there is not sign in the actual text itself that one can look up specific words in the glossary. While the plays themselves are very enjoyable, do not purchase this edition unless you feel very confident about your ability to read Shakespearean language.

this is a great book for shakespeare fans. it was the first time i read shakespeare outside of class, and it was very interesting. i didn't like the prefaces much, i didn't have the patience to read them. i felt they were very of long, and harder to read and understand than the actual shakespeare. they actual plays-not stories, just to clarify- are wonderful. it would be a great book to read if you are taking a literature class and want to get a head start or if you want to expand your vocabulary. you can even relate the problems of those times to the problems of today. the plays were very fun to read once you got into them; shakespeare is just as great as he is said to be.

this is an excellent 'cheap' edition of the great tragedies. besides being edited by david bevington, considered one of the foremost shakespeare scholars, the bantam edition also includes introductory essays for each play AND the source material that shakespeare used - ie, the actual short stories or plays that the bard drew on to the write his plays. wonderful stuff and a great way to get into shakespeare.

The Rosenberg case has faded with time and turned into a diffuse urban legend. Facts are rarely possessed by those who are most vehement about the case. This book puts an end to the hodge-podge of information that led some people to believe the Rosenbergs were innocents framed by the government. The truth is that they were spies, they were communists, and they engaged in treason. The Soviets would have acquired The Bomb with or without the Rosenbergs. That doesn't mitigate their guilt for hastening the information to our enemy. The Rosenbergs weren't tried for what they believed. They were tried for what they did. And they were killed for what they did not do--which was recant. Sworn communists, they chose death instead of life. A selfish, stupid choice that placed a worthless ideology over the needs of their two young children, who have written worthwhile books about growing up as orphans of two of the most infamous American traitors. This book ends the speculation that they were innocent, that they had no chance to save their lives by recanting. Here are the latest facts and the fullest account of a chapter in American history that continues to be a vital flashpoint for people on either side of the political spectrum.

The Radosh book concerning the Rosenberg case is a much fuller and more comprehensive treatment of the case than is the more recent book, The Brother, by Sam Roberts. The Brother is based on the current recollections of Ethel Rosenberg's brother David Greenglass who fingered both Ethel and Julius in testimony. David also served a number of years for espionage, himself, as part of same case.

...The Rosenberg File ... makes it very, very clear that Julius was certainly part of a communist espionage ring in the NY City area for years during WWII. The Venona Files also make the same case. It is Ethel who was probably not actually guilty of active espionage activities. It should be said, also, that both Rosenbergs could have saved themselves by telling the truth. Ethel might well not even have been charged, and Julius would almost certainly not have gotten the chair. But, they chose to lie right up to the end and be martyrs for the communist cause. The Radosh book, strongly documents the case against Julius and is also forthright about the weakness of the case against Ethel.

Read both The Rosenberg File for completeness and The Brother by Sam Roberts for a facinating sidelight from the point of view of one of the central characters in the story.

One of the most controversial cases of espionage in American History is the Rosenberg's'. This book is about that case and the evidence surrounding the lives of those involved.

The book centers on that misuse of judicial power and how the Rosenberg's' were executed through the lynch mob mentality. The overwhelming evidence presented in this book amazed me.

Any sane and rational thinking human being would be able to understand the clear and precise information presented in this book. You need know a great deal about the case to understand the writing.

Using every technique to find information the authors have done themselves proud. The collection of facts presented here would convince any jury that a great miscarriage of justice was performed. It is time to correct that wrong.

This is the opinion of someone who is neither an architect or art historian, but an amateur who got interested after traveling around and seeing some of the world's great architecture. Also, I have the 1975 version of the book - some improvements may have been made in the most recent edition.

The strength of the book is that it attempts to survey the entire world from ancient to modern times in one, not too intimidating volume. China, Japan, Indian, Islamic, and Pre-Columbian architecture are given short chapters, although the bulk of the book is dedicated to tracing Western architecture from ancient times to shortly after World War II. It is nice to have something fairly comprehensive on the shelf as a reference.

The broad scope of the book is a weakness as well. Over a dozen authors contributed various chapters. The result is spotty, as some authors are clearly better at introducing a general audience to their field than others who seem to forget that they are not at a research conference surrounded by experts. Some parts of the text do a good job at summarizing the technical accomplishments and aesthetic concerns of a period while others are just a litany of names and places (many without corresponding visuals) that is meaningless to the average reader. The large number of authors makes the book incoherent as well as there is no theme or story that carries from one part to another. This makes it much more suited for leisurely poking through sections at random than for reading from start to finish.

Finally, there are a number of technical issues that could have been handled better. While it is true that there are tons of pictures, cutaways, and diagrams, many are too small or of mediocre quality. In other places, the text refers to a compass direction, but north is not labeled on the corresponding diagram. That's fine for medieval churches if you know that the apse is (almost) always in the east, but who knows offhand which way Persepolis is oriented? You can usually figure it out, but this and other issues are frustrating.

In summary, don't buy this book if you want a coherent history to read. If you need just one volume to serve as an occasional reference, however, this one might be ok. Still, I would look around a bit more first.

You will not find a more comprehensive book in print on Architecture History. It covers more regions and time periods than any other book I've seen. To get this amount of information on architecture history through another source you would need to buy two or three other books. This book has 4 times the number of drawings, photographs, and graphics of any other architecture history book. It is also well written in a concise yet understandable manner. Not only is this book the best quality and most complete book of its kind, it is also by far the least expensive.

As a licensed architect, I'm often asked to talk to children or teenagers who are vaguely interested in architecture. (Well, not that often, but it has happened.) I've been recommending this book for years. It has lots of full-color cutaway drawings. Let me put it this way, if you don't stare fascinated at these drawings, you probably won't be drawn to architecture. My copy of the book is hardcover, printed in 1975, but it's politically correct--Chinese and Hindu architecture is not neglected as in other Western-focused books. You won't find any post-modernism here, however, because I don't think the paperback has been updated (but I might be wrong)

According to the forward, this work was originally an appendix to the first edition of Evola's masterpiece, Revolt Against the Modern World. Perhaps that explains the curiously disjointed nature of this book.

Despite Evola's obvious erudition, I repeatedly found myself wondering what his point was.

This book will be of value to advanced students of the grail legend. Beyond that, I would not recommend it to someone seeking an introduction to the subject.

Baron Julius Evola is an Italian philosopher of the first half of this century. He claims to belong to the Tradition, a kind of intuitive Initiation, as opposed to the rationalist, scientific approach of the contemporay world. His other major works include Revolt against the modern world and The Hermetic tradition.

Evola's main idea is the promotion of the Medieval "Ghibelline" ideology, which is developed in this book (the original title is "the Mystery of the Grail and the Ghibelline Imperial idea"). Both the Ghibelline ideology and the history of the Grail are, according to Evola, based on ancient pagan North-European or Indo-Iranian myths (including the Hero-Warrior and the King of the World), which he opposes to the Semitic, "Guelf" ideology, which is represented by Christianity. Although Evola claimed not to support the contemporary fascist movement, it is difficult not to recognize some fascist themes in his theories (admittedly, some of those themes were very widespread in the later 19th century and early 20th).

In any case, his exposition of the myth of the Holy Grail in Medieval literature, and of its links with ancient myths and Medieval ideologies is very enlightening, even if you can disagree with some of his conclusions. The last part of the book discusses the Ghibelline heritage through the Templar Knights, the Rosicrucians and the Free-Masons. Evola shows how the latter have lost the traditional hermetic spirit of their origins after the French Revolution when they adopted modern positivism and materialism.

It is a curious phenomenon of the Twentieth Century that first-rate, independent thinkers should emerge from obscurity only at its end. Many are the Evola titles which have only recently been translated and published for the first time in the English-speaking world. In "The Mystery of the Grail : Initiation and Magic in the Quest for the Spirit" Evola explains in his signature virile, scholarly, succinct, and yet accessible prose that the Holy Grail is far more than what we have been imparted by its Christianized versions. A remarkable book which throws open the doors of imagination, and restores the dignity and sacredness of the warrior.

an absolutely charming little treasure. amusing correspondance with the witty and snide illustrations of quentin blake.

What a funny little book. Being a collector of Twelve Days of Christmas books this one really is a little treasure. The story is so funny, showing us the thank you letters from a young lady to her unseen admirer from the 1st till the 12th day of Christmas. First she is so thankful for her gifts she hardly don't know what to say, but as the days passes she gets more and more trouble when her fabulous gifts arrives. It will brighten any cold Christmas day when you sit reading in front of the fire.

And the wonderful illustrations by Quentin Blake makes to book into something very special, a book you can "read" over and over.

Britt Arnhild Lindland

This book had me in fits of laughter from the start. I'm not sure why no one thought of this before - what would the recipient do with the partridge in the pear tree by the 12th day? And the question poses itself, would the recipient really be happy with the gift giver by day 6 much less by day 12? This is a fun read! Especially in a time that often lends itself to stress rather than laughter.

In the fourth book of this series, Roe Teagarden marries her handsome businessman boyfriend, Martin Bartell. He buys her a house she has admired which once housed a family who mysteriously disappeared. During the course of the story, Roe discovers the mystery of the Julius family as well as some rather unsavory things about her husband. This book is not as fun as the earlier books of the series and her marriage seems contrived as Martin and Roe seem to have little in common other than a physical attraction.

So Roe has found her dream house. She waste no time or money fixing it up just the way she wants it. Oh, but who do we have here? A couple, old friends of her fiance, have decided to rent the upstairs apartment. They have no furnature, no background, and seeming act like Roe's employees. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? Roe's fiance is no help either. Secrets abound in her new relationship. Of course, those are not the only problems Roe has to work out. What happened to the previous inhabitants of the Julius house? Roe and a new friend set off to find out.

The Julius House is the fourth book in the Aurora Teagarden series. Aurora "Roe" has finally recovered from her injuries incurred at the end of the last book and is happily engaged to Martin Bartell, her handsome, older, richer boyfriend. For her wedding gift, Martin buys her the Julius house, the perfect house for her. Many people think she is crazy for living there due to the sudden disappearance of the Julius family who used to live there. Roe doesn't worry about it in the slightest and concentrates on glorying in her happily engaged status. She loves being the bride instead of the bridesmaid and pushes any doubts about her soon-to-be-husband aside. When they return from their perfect honeymoon in England, Roe settles in to redecorate and get settled. She is surprised when Martin informs her that two of his friends are down on their luck and that they will be moving into the apartment over the garage. Still, Roe is in love and excited to meet some of Martin's friends and does her best to welcome them. She soon discovers, however, that they are really there to guard her. When pressured, Martin confesses that he is a gunrunner in South America and that he is always worried about retaliation. To take her mind off of this confession, Roe decides that she is going to find out what happened to the Julius family and drags her bodyguard along for the ride. She soon discovers that sometimes it is better to let secrets remain buried...

I admit that the whole Roe/Martin wedding was a little contrived, but Roe really has wanted to get married all of her life and is extremely flattered that such an attractive, wealthy gentleman would be in love with her. It was fun to see Roe's thought processes as she dealt with extreme changes and challenges in her new life. I quite enjoyed the whole Julius family subplot and, though the ending was a little bit too shocking, Roe's whole investigation was quite logical and shows how one determined person can often put clues together that other people missed. As with the her other books, Charlaine Harris offers the reader a host of interesting supporting characters, many amusing details about the mystery and a fun, fast read for those who enjoy this type of genre. I feel that Harris' other mystery series starring Lily Bard (Shakespeare set) is stronger and her Dead Until Dark series is cleverer, but anything that Harris writes is worth reading!