I enjoyed it very much and found it highly informative, enlightening and evocative. There was a gap in the history of the USAAF. What better could fill it than a volume drafted by those who were there. I am sure that every veteran of those bitter battles in that monumental conflict will want to read your story of the "Pathfinders of the Eighth Air Force". It is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the USAAF. I thank you for all that you and your colleagues did so many years ago in the fight to preserve our Freedom. Thank you for then and thank you for taking the time now to produce this book-a fine tribute to all the 'pathfinders' of the 8AF.

There are very few books available on the history and missions of the Pathfinders, aircrews of the 482nd Bomb Group who were assigned to various other bomb groups as advance aircraft, using radar and radio beam equipment to search out and identify targets of the day on missions over enemy-held territory. Bombs Away tells the story of three members of an air combat crew in a most unusual and effective manner. Authors Thixton, Moffat, and O'Neil - flying as a bombardier, a ball turret gunner, and a tail and waist gunner, respectively - have collaborated to tell their stories of combat in 1943 and 1944 as members or the Pathfinders. The volume covers the early missions with the 95th Bomb Group and then describes their experiences with the 482nd. The combined views of life on the base and descriptions of combat missions from the authors' varied viewpoints offer a unique and authentic flavor to the entire book. In the early months in England , locating the target presented a problem to the Eighth AF bomb groups, because of the unpredictability of the weather on mission days. The Pathfinders, flying out of Alconbury, opened up a flexibility not previously available, allowing many raids to be successful due to their participation and their expertise in bad weather. Pathfinder aircraft were known to the Luftwaffe and were prime targets for German pilots on the way in during bombing raids. The 482nd worked closely with lead crews of many 8th AF bomb groups, and were involved in intensive training programs. On March 22, 1944 the Pathfinders led their last mission in their previous role, as sufficient H2X bombers were then available to allow a pathfinder group to be established in each division.

Bombs Away is well-researched, with much detail throughout. The personal experiences related by the authors, both on the airbase and in the air, result in a book unique in its premise and fascinating in its presentation, while telling the story of one of the unusual bomb groups of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

Review by Dr. Walt Brown Spring Hill Tenn.

THE AUTHORS, CREW MATES ON A B-17 BOMBER, TAKE US THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCES OPERATING THE PLANE DURING WORLD WAR II. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. THE READER GETS A SENSE OF THE CHALLENGES, FEARS AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT THESE YOUNG FIGHTERS HAD TO DEAL WITH ON A MINUTE BY MINUTE BASIS. ONE COMES AWAY FROM THE BOOK WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE AT KNOWING OF THE BRAVERY THESE YOUNG MEN POSSESSED. VERY COMPELLING READING FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THIS PERIOD OF HISTORY.

Christian Mythmakers is a good overview of some of the thoughts and ideas of various Christian fantasy writers. While the chapter on John Bunyan is basically little more than a summary of Pilgrim's Progress, the rest of the book is interesting and thought provoking. The chapter on Charles Williams is a "must read" for anyone interested in or confused by Williams' work.

This book is a fascinating look at ten Christian mythmakers, that is authors who have used the power of myth to convey Christian truths in a new way. The narrative begins with John Bunyan and his seminal Pilgrim's Progress, continues through George Macdonald, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Williams, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and finishes up with Madeleine L'Engle, Walter Wangerin, Robert Siegel, and Hannah Hurnard.

Professor Hein begins with a short biography of the author, and then proceeds to explain the author's work, examining its theology and significance. I found this book to be quite fascinating, with the author giving me a look at these masterpieces of Christian literature in a way that I had never thought of before. If you are a fan of any of the authors above, then I highly recommend that you get this book!

I had the privilege of taking courses under Dr Hein in the early 90's at Wheaton. He is a very knowledgeable teacher and has great affection for the people he is writing about in this book. If you have any interest in these authors, this book is a must read. I wasn't aware that he had written this book when I came across it looking for books on George MacDonald and C.S. Lewis. As an Economics major, I somehow ended up taking four Lit. classes from Dr Hein because he is such a good instructor and passionate about his subject matter.

A book like this should be mandatory reading for everyone. Particularly people who represent other people's interests for a living, such as World Leaders, Presidents, Kings, etc., would find it absolutely useful; a kind of constant tool, a compass that keeps them on the right track once and again. This is a book that shows not only Franklin's wit and wisdom, but also his vulnerability, that wonderful human quality, thus making it enchanting and insightful. Buy this book, learn and practice these principles, and enjoy the new breath of fresh air you'll experience in your life.

I saw this book one day when I was browsing Franklin Covey planners in the mall. It had been awhile since I read something not business related so I thought I'd give this a shot. I'll be honest when I tell you I enjoy a good read but this book took me about one year to read from beginning to end. The first few chapters weren't too bad but then it got into a section about a debate between two philosophers on the definition of virtue and why one should practice a virtuous life. I've never read anything that mentally straining in my life (my degree is in Mechanical Engineering BTW). I enjoy the arts but that one section took me about a month before I could fully digest what the philosophers were saying in the span of less than 2 pages. This one section proved so enlightening that my head hurt for about 2 days after I had a chance to chew on the content. If you had any doubts that the founding forefathers of this great nation were anything but geniuses, this should dispell any and all myths. I must say that I even had to break out the dictionary for some of the diction used in this book in that it was definitely not your everyday conversational english. If you enjoy mental challenges of a higher level and your mastery of the English language is proficient enough to understand the fine nuances of sentence structure and double, sometimes triple meanings, I would recommend this book. If you're looking for something a little more entertaining and easier on the mind, then definitely look somewhere else. But I will admit, when I did finally complete this book one year later, I actually felt a major sense of accomplishment. I guess that makes me just a little more virtuous?

An inspiring book written by an amazing author. Ok, so he is my dad, but he didn't pay me to say any of this stuff:)

I used it for the cost accounting class and though I found it helpful, I thought that there were too few problems given in the study guide and the ones there did not really reflect on the ones in the textbook. The summaries were well written and an excellent tool for review, but I think the problems should correlate more with what is in the text. I did get A in the class, but I've seen better study guides. Accounting is all in practice, so problems are more important than the terminology.

I have used an earlier edition and thought it was great, but this one is even better. Easiy to follow and effectively packs a tremendous amount if information between the covers. It really makes a compex subject come into focus. Can't think of enough good things to say about this guide.

Like math, the learning process for cost accounting is enhanced by working practice problems and applications. The Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis Student Guide and Review Manual provides excellent cost accounting material with solutions. I would recommend this guide to any student who is serious about learning and understanding the concepts presented in the related text book -- Cost Accounting, A Managerial Emphasis.

These three stars don't reflect my opinion of Orwell as an essayist. Anyone who has read Orwell's non-fiction knows that he is one of this century's greatest journalists/essayists. The poor rating targets the layout of the volume.

It's an insult to a writer of Orwell's stature to have put together such an extensive volume (1,424 pages!) of his best work so amaturishly. There's no index, no notes section and no specification of which essay you're on at the head of the page. The table of contents is practially useless, as most of the essays are numbered.

Physically, the book is beautiful: a matte cover, with a great portrait of Orwell, cream-wove paper, sewn binding and a sewn in bookmark. But it is in no way user friendly. If you're looking to dive into Orwell's essays and journalism check out the David R. Godine editions.

George Orwell's essays are as relevant today as when he wrote them, and since 9/11 have gained even more in relevance. Anyone who wants to understand the modern world, needs to read Orwell, more than his fiction especially his essays.
He was a progressive analyst who wrote astutely and forcefully about a host of fundamental social issues, such as the effects of colonialism in colonial and European societies before World War II. As one of the greatest stylists in the English language, he wields an incisive language like a knife that cuts to the truth. Unlike many, especially modern, leftists, he has little use for social theory or dogma. Instead, he writes with almost unparallel clarity about events that are his personal experiences.

Although I have not had the opportunity to look through this particular edition of Orwell's essays, I don't think that it matters. I enthusiastically recommend Orwell in any shape or form.

Building on the new 20 volume Complete Orwell (unaccountably still not available in an American edition), Everyman's Library does Orwell proud with this book, certainly the best single-volume collection of Orwell ever. Not only does it contain all of the major essays and many lesser pieces, it presents all 80 of Orwell's wonderful "As I Please" columns written for "Tribune."

Orwell's range and talent are ably displayed here, from his literary essays, his writings on politics, autobiographical writings (including the harrowing "Such, Such Were the Joys" about his youth spent in a third-rate boarding school), his musings on popular culture ("Boy's Weeklies" and "The Art of Donald McGill" are classics of the genre), and his lighter works (Orwell writes, for example, on how to make the perfect cup of [strong] tea and what his version of the perfect public house would be).

Reading this book should also prove a useful antidote for those who have been convinced by the usupation of Orwell by certain right-wing writers that Orwell really was a conservative of some sort. While Orwell deeply loved traditional values and firmly opposed Soviet communism, his hatred of imperialism, capitalism, fascism, the class system and mindless wealth are marked and consistent throughout and we can be assured that he would have written harshly of Margaret Thatcher had he lived long enough to see that era.

John Carey contributes a useful introduction; the book includes a good bibliography and a very helpful timeline of Orwell's life correlated to the literary and historical happenings of the era. Like another reviewer here, I miss an index, and running titles at the tops of the pages; I also dislike the way Orwell's footnotes have been shoved rather arbitrarily to the back of the book. Those are minor quibbles; this is a magnificent volume, the perfect gift for anyone who loves Orwell (especially for American readers who haven't had the chance to buy the Complete Orwell yet) and a timely reminder that liberal values can also be decent, patriotic, and honorable values.

For the most part I find Frommer's travel books to be very good. This one for Thailand was decent. It gave good descriptions of places including how to get there, phone numbers, prices, ect. But this book was definately not meant for the budget traveler/ backpacker. If it offered more information geared to the budget traveler; ie: lower priced places to stay, dining, places to go to (especially the non-resorty places), I would give it 5 stars.

When I went to Thailand last year, I ended up planning most of my trip according to this book. The author never steered me wrong. While this might not be the best source for the backpacker set, the rest of us are well served with a variety of options for most travel budgets. I also liked the author's sense of humor and frank honesty. She has lived in the region and knows what she is talking about. The Thais I encountered during my trip also thought highly of the book. When I return to Thailand in 2003, this updated version of the book will be right there with me. I know it is an "establishment" guide but this is one time when mainstream is not necessarily a bad thing.

Frommer's Thailand is a great guidebook. It is broken down into very helpful sections such as "The Best of Thailand", "What to See and Do" "Where to Stay and Dine" and "Getting There". Jennifer Eveland did a great job writing "Thailand: In Depth". The weight of the book is of perfect weight for carrying around Bangkok and is printed on thick, quality paper. Best of all, the prices are listed for everything! I think that is great because not only do you get only their best recomendations, but you always get the most for your money no matter what your budget. If I fould out any of my friends were going to Thailand, I would definately give them my copy of this guide.

One of the best written books on the subject I've seen. As long as you're prepared to follow his anaylsis line by line (no skimming at the back there) you can give yourself some serious mathematical muscle.

He derives the first type of elliptical integral from the motion of the pendulum at page 21 (on my elderly foreign-printed software version I've had for years). That's the level it's pitched at.

This is one of the best books out there for introductory ODEs. This book should be read by everyone who's interested in the physical sciences. It has many applications to physics, and that's one of the main reasons I've decided to take the course. By the way, I took the course at UCLA with professor Grossman (he reviewed the book below). He's a brilliant and a challenging mathematician, which comes at no surprise since he's a graduate of Caltech. Anyhow, I really recommend this book for all mathemticians and physicists. It's a great investment, since it can be a great reference in the future!

Each mathematic's book has its particularities. I had said before the Tanembaum book was the one better than I had on differential equations, considering its easiness reading , its methodology and its organization, but evidently these three elements can be present in many other books. This is the case of the present book, which I consider excellent. This is a great book, a very well achieved work . It introduces each element interesting the reader for the following topics, with exercises very well planned according to the exposed theory and with answers at the end of the book. Each chapter contains a historical note that will be extremely instructive and stimulants for the reader that doesn't feel pleasure for the exact sciences . Of special mention they are the chapter 6 (Some special functions of the mathematical physics), the chapter 8 (non lineal equations), and the chapter 9 (calculus of variations). The calculation of variations is an introduction to this branch, but I assure you that when reading it, you kept desires of treating other texts specialized in the topic like that of Sagan. You won't find in this book any complication, and you will be satisfied considering that it is a book for undergraduates, an excellent introduction to the differential equations.

Among the book of Tanembaum, Derry Grossman, D'prima, and the introductions of differential equations of C. R. Wylie and Kreiszig in their books of advanced mathematics for engineering, I keep this. If you plan to learn differential equations, if you want to have a really good text as introduction to the topic, then this is the book to buy, you won't lose your money.

Pentland communicates in complicated jargon that only Gurdjieffians understand. Thus, only Gurdjieffians will have any use at all for this book.

this is a very good book worth exploring. an earlier review gave this book two stars and made reference to this material having lost its freshness. not true. the ideas are the same and still allow the reader to think more carefully about life.

it is alway easy to find excuses not to read...don't ignore the truth.

Lord Pentland directed the Gurdjieff Work in the US for a great many years until his death. This book offers some of his insights collected at group meetings, where he was responding orally to queries from people of varying levels of understanding. His responses are NOT "formative ramblings", as one reviewer of limited understanding suggests, but flow directly from Lord Pentland's presence in the moment of response. This is a wonderful book, particularly for those involved in the Gurdjieff Foundation who are familiar with the formof a group meeting. Those who are not may be put off by the format, unless they take the trouble to establish a contemplative state in preparation.

Pond Life is like a general biology introduction to life found in ponds. All types of life are covered, albeit in very brief introductions. Plants and animals (microscopic to mammals to birds) each receive tertiary coverage. The book does not get into specifics on how wetlands function relation to other ecosystems, and such coverage would have been useful, but the overall emphasis is still relevant.

The book is likely not intended to be read from cover to cover, as it is a field guide. Field guides are really meant to be brought along in a pocket for easy reference when making field identifications. In this respect, I am a big fan of other field guides in the series.

This volume and its companions should be readily available at nature centers, but the price is low enough for people to purchase it for their own libraries. What it lacks in detail it makes up for in compactness and readability.

Golden Guides are often described as books for children just discovering the natural world. While the series is eminently usable by young naturalists, Golden Guides are solid introductory field guides. One of the strengths of "Pond Life" is its comprehensive scope covering everything from protozoa to plants to mammals. Indeed, it provides more good basic information on identifying types of water plants than any other source I know complete with measurements and color illustrations. The same applies to its coverage of invertebrates as well, though the minor objection of the previous reviewer concerning its scanty treatment of protozoa is a valid one. I would add to the strength of "Pond Life" its portability, which packs a plethora of information into a small package. Another weakness (of the Golden Guides in general) is its datedness to the 1950's and 60's. This does not affect its basic science in most cases, though it is strange (albeit nostalgic for some) to see the equipment suggested for pond watching.

E.O. Wilson, in his beautiful and brilliant autobiography, has stated that if he could live his life again, he would do so as a microbiologist who would dedicate himself to the study of a single tree and the area immediately surrounding it. He would investigate the organisms and the ecology of that small space, finding enough there to occupy his interest for a lifetime of exploration and research.

Given the same choice, I would choose a pond as my area of study, and this book would be one of the first field guides I would use. It is a basic introduction to the study of small bodies of fresh water: their defining characteristics, the forms they take through the seasons, the cycle of their lives, and the distinct forms they take throughout the United States. It also touches on the physical and chemical characteristics of water, and the importance these have for the organisms that live in or near the pond. The book introduces the concept of food webs and the multiple habitats of lakes and ponds, and also lists and describes some of the basic collecting tools of the limnologist (one who studies bodies of fresh water). The majority of the book is dedicated to the plants and animals which are frequently found near ponds. As one would expect, the emphasis is on how these organisms relate to the others in this environment, whether they are full or part time denizens, and in what types of ponds they can be found. More than merely a book about creatures found in ponds, it presents information about the pond itself and how its many inhabitants and visitors relate to one another there.

The book has two small weaknesses. The first is a slight bias towards organisms found only east of the Mississippi. There is enough information about ponds in general, however, to make this guide useful for any budding limnologist. The second flaw is that the sections on the protozoa and other microscopic organisms are far too short, but as a protozoologist I am perhaps biased. Still, I think that even a few more pages would have added to the value of this section by demonstrating the amazing complexity of these phyla.

As it is, however, the book functions admirably as an introduction to the study of ponds: it will lead beginners into the natural world, and to help them identify what they find there. It is suited for older children and adolescents, and will still be of some use at the college level, if only because it includes a list of more technical reference books. I recommend it for anyone who wants to "take the plunge" into the study of this fascinating environment!

When the sleeper wakes is a fairly good book, but not something I would choose to read again. The book doesn't exactly give either a realistic or creative idea for the future, when 'The Sleeper' ends up in 2010. There are barely any things that change in those two hundred years, which is an odd concept to handle. How they refer to people is the same as in the beginning of the story when he's in the 1800's.

Another of Wells' dark futuristic visions, this novel is about a man who falls into a deep sleep in the Victorian age and wakes up early in the 22nd century. Wells predicts much of the technology that would be invented in the 20th century. This story is not just a fascinating read but a poignant social commentary.

H.G. Wells is perhaps one of the greatest modern writers, and his stunning book "When The Sleeper Wakes" is the embodiment of his incredible prohpetic writing. This is an essential book, if for no other reason than it's frighteningly close-to-home predictions of the future. The story follows a modern day Rumplestiltskin, named Graham, after he sleeps a couple of centuries and wakes up to find himself owner of over half of the earth. The story itself is well-crafted, as Wells demonstrates a strong command of the English language. But this book is not merely a "good read". The most amazing aspect is that H.G. Wells predicted the widespread use of airtravel over a hundred years ago, along with mega-corporations that dominate a single industry, and roadside billboard advertisements. These are just a few of the remarkable, and accurate, predictions H.G. Wells made. It's hard to believe this book was written in the 1890's. The story is engaging as well, even if your not concerned with the social and political warnings of this tale. Only a few of the characters are extensively, namely Ostrog and Graham. But since it's a short story, this doesn't detract from the overall plot. The setting and tone of the story are the most important elements, and these are expertly developed. There is little wrong with this book. It's a little on the short side, but it still makes for an excellent choice.