How does one review and "objectively" critique-with language-a book about the nature and the limitations of language? If you've ever heard the phrase, "the map is not the territory" you will understand and appreciate and possibly even "feel" its deeper meaning by the time you have finished reading this book. True, as another reviewer stated, _Levels_ is not a primer of General Semantics but it is a fluid, easy to read introduction to Count Korzybski's incredible exploration into the nature of language and its impact on human perception at so many levels. Count Korzybski was a mathematician who understood that physicists use mathematics to describe physical events and phenomena. Therefore, there was a one to one correspondence between numbers and reality. This was not the case between language and reality. In addition to describing actual events, language can be used to generate lies, fictions, illusions, ideas. General Semantics explore this phenomenon and its impact on human perception and behaviors. Professor Weinberg is by far the most lucid of Korzybski's "students". After finishing _Levels_ I became so interested in GS that I got my hands on Korzbyski's _Science and Sanity_ a much tougher read. But much easier to follow after reading Weinberg. Essentially, as humans we experience events, objects, actions, and the universe. But we share our experiences and communicate them with language. Language is a man-made tool. As such it is as flawed as its creators. For example on any given day I can go outside, walk to the park. There I will see and hear a boy throwing a stick to his dog. The dog retrieves the stick and returns it to the boy. I can attempt to describe this experience with more and more infinite detail but I will never be able to convey my exact experience to anyone. What sensations raced through my mind moment by moment as I witnessed these events? What colors did I see, what smells did my nose alert to, what weather conditions did my skin feel, what sounds traveled through my ears into my brain, what memories did these experiences elicit, how did these memories color my experience at the moment? What words did I select to describe my experience and why? Do static words ever suffice to describe fluid experiences satisfactorily? This is Proustian stuff but dissected brilliantly by Weinberg. And this occurs in the opening chapters! Now consider. I just gave you words, a "map", about a boy and a dog, not "the" experience, the territory, the actuality. Did the "experience" as described actually happen? I wrote a map, but is the "territory" a mere fiction? Consider this thesis: Our social and personal mental conditioning, including neurosis and possibly psychosis (?)-some "mental illnesses" at any rate- may be the results of our inability to distinguish words from actual events, to a confusion of "the map with the territory." Consider: We make inferences, speculations and generalizations-"maps"-based on past experiences. These past experiences are legitimate "territory". They happened. But what is the result of behaving as if the "maps" are the "territory"? We now act out under the impression that our speculations, our generalizations and beliefs derived from past experiences are actual. They are in fact mere ideas, our preconceptions, our prejudices and our biases. And we behave using these as our guides into the future.

The above is a loaded paragraph;Weinberg explains it all for you. Were this book to be written with a nineties title, I would call it _Reality for Dummies._ The second half of the book is heady stuff and pushes the envelope into describing Zen. For a better intro to Zen I prefer Alan Watt's _The Book on the taboo against knowing who you are_. (A book I read twenty years ago and have been contemplating reviewing but a book better to experience than review...) Weinberg's chapter headings make sense and their logic grasped as one reads the final sentences of that particular chapter! By the time one has read and grasped the first one hundred and twenty pages I can guarantee that your IQ will have increased by at least 5 points. How this dynamic happens eludes me to this day. As Weinberg and Korzbyski would say, it is something that must be experienced... In a further mind-blowing vein Weinberg (and Korzybski) debunk 2000 years of Western philosophies. Essentially, these philosophies may be linguistic traps and do little to illuminate the human condition. Very seditious reading... It is too bad that this book is not better known or popularly read. Perhaps it is a sign of the times. I would hope that in the future this book would not only be rediscovered and appreciated for the cultural treasure that I found it to be but would become recommended reading in every high school. The college, academic experience would be so much richer. For those who end their academic experiences at high school, I would think that this book would greatly expand their life appreciation skills. A final, personal anecdote: after reading this book I found it easy to segue into Gary Zukav's _The Dancing Wu Li Masters._ Enjoy.

This book has a lucid, plain style that explains general semantics well. Adherents of general semantics seek "consciousness of abstracting," an awareness derived from science of human limitations.

Chapter headings include: Introduction, Some Basic Concepts, Some Limitations of Language, The Abstracting Process, Some Consequences of Process Thinking, Consciousness Of Abstracting, The Value Of Values, Semantitherapy, Religion, and Structure And Function In Cybernetics And General Semantics.

The author says that the book is not intended as a general semantics primer, but I recommend it highly for the beginner, as well as for the more advanced student

The bible on proper planning. I wish more planners would read it. I am an average citizen who wanted to learn more about smarter land use plans and this book really has great ideas. It is expensive, but well worth the price. Shows how poor our current clear-cutting practices are compared to the beauty of an open space subdivision design. Buy this-you will really learn a lot!

This is a great book, the best ever written, I am sure, on the very important topic of helping maintain, and sometimes create livable communities in rural areas. The only handicap for owning the book is the rather huge price, $ 86.00, and not discounted by Amazon. We would like to have all our county planning commission members have a copy of the book, but can't afford to do so.

This winter break I went on a Shakespeare buying spree, and this book is one of the fine gems I found. A large, but fascinating book, this work of great scholarship and excitement takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Shakespeare, even into rather obscure corners of his works (Trollius and Cressida, Timon of Athens). This book is a must read for any would be deep thinker about Shakespeare.

Shakespeare as Political Thinker is a must for everyone interested in the political thought of William Shakespeare. This reprint will finally allow new comers to become familair with a commonsensical approach to Shakespeare's plays. The introductory chapter by John Alvis is worth the price. Perhaps the best Shakespearean critic alive, Alvis has an uncanny ability to show Shakespeare's moral seriousness without making the bard an unquestioning adherent to any political school or theological creed. Many of the essays that follow are also well done: Jaffa's chapter on Shakespeare's entire corpus, Laurence Berns' meditation on Lear etc.

The second printing of Shakespeare as Political Thinker gives hope to those interested in relearning ancient wisdom and pays tribute to its inspiration, Shakespeare's Politics (Allan Bloom).

A book which delivers its reader into the South, whether or not they've ever truly been here or not. The marvelous photography, shocking in its realism, tell the tales of generations past, and exhibits the departure of Southern Culture since the beginning days of Northern Occupation. The authors use brilliant words to narrate the imagery, and inspire the reader to embrace what is left of the Antebellum South.

The pictures tell the sad story of the decline of the south and Alabama after the War of Northern agression. They also show the imagination and beauty appreciated by the Antebellum culture. A must have for all southern history lovers.

A highly entertaining series of short stories. The stories in this book are very original and are not reprinted in many other collections of Alternate History, with the exception of two. If you love alternate history, I encourage you to read, if not buy this book.

Everyone has wondered "What if..." at some point, whether the question involved his or her own life or some pivotal event in history. History as we know it is jolted and questioned at every turn in this emotional collection of engaging and imaginative fiction. Many "what if..." questions are addressed in this volume that allow authors and readers alike to rewrite history, correcting perceived wrongs or tragedies ("Suppose They Gave a Peace..."), creating heroes where none existed before ("The Lucky Strike"), and exploring horrors best left to imaginations and late night readings ("We Could Do Worse"). Any fan of science fiction will enjoy these well-selected, well-ordered stories.

This is the best juvenile seried there is. I only owned 4 books as a kid, but I read them over and over and over. Now I am trying to buy the rest of them and some are out of print! Oh that I had bought them wheni could (especially since they used to be $$$). I tried to pick up (being a girl) the babysitter's club, but that just didn't do it for me. They were so shallow and predictable. The three investigators series are quality literature, which is rare nowadays. PLEASE reprint all the out-of-print titles. Judging from others comments, many people would buy them! It would be a shame to let these go because there isnt the same calibur of books to replace them!

I would like to know when he was born, information about his career, his background, and information about the book.

This book does not try to make you an expert backpacker, and therein lies its beauty. Harry Roberts knows that experience is the only route to expertise, so he only tells you enough to start getting experience. He doesn't confuse you with more information than you need, but he doesn't leave out anything important. As a result, this book has more usable information in 60 pages than most have in 600. He doesn't bore you with endless detail about gear brands and features (which will change next week anyhow.) Instead, he gives you a short, practical gear list and tips on what you do - and don't - need on the trail. If, like me, you're a recreational backpacker, this may well be the only book you'll ever need.

Both my father and I used this book to work on our spelling. I was born in the US, and English is my first and only language. Ironically, I am actually an English major. While I could interpret the innerworkings of Shakespeare, I couldn't spell basic English words. I started using this book and my spelling improved incredibly! My father, an immigrant from India, didn't begin to learn English until he was 17 years old. However, by the time he had finished with this book, his spelling was nearly perfect!! This book is great for anyone and everyone!!

I remember how avidly (at age 15)I followed by radio the excitement which was the 1944 Democratic Convention. This little book does an excellent job of trying to tell what happened behind the scenes, and reads like a novel--where one must continually remind oneself that it IS going to come out all right, that Truman will be nominated, that he will go on to be an outstanding President, and that some things do work out for the best. An entralling and fascinating book, it brought back to me all the excitement which permeated Chicago and the people who were following what went on there in those momentous July days in 1944.