Edwards starts at the beginning when Ed Feulner and others wanted to found a think tank to get ideas and papers out fast and timely. He follows through the troubled 70s into the triumphent 80s when Reagan became president. HE looks at the ideas Heritage put forth and how it did not hesitate to criticize Reagan if he went wrong. He follows through the Bush administration and into the 90s. This, like Feulner's book about conservative thought is a must read for all conservatives!

This book is excellently designed for self-study.

The first part gives you a wide variety of standard techniques, explaining clearly the kind of memory task where each applies, e.g., sequential versus non-sequential. The second part allows you to practice and develop your new skills on 11 different academic subjects, which run the full gamut of humanities and sciences, such as might be encountered in high school or college.

One very effective feature: throughout both parts of the book, the author follows brief tutorial sections on the techniques--seldom longer than a page--with an exercise where you can solidify your grasp and get immediate feedback. I think when you see how well you are doing, you'll be strongly encouraged to continue. This is also an advantage over the well-known Memory Book by Lorayne and Lucas, which I once attempted to study; in that book, the chapters were fairly long, and at the end the authors might suggest you make up an exercise on your own to test the new technique. However, passing a test you made up yourself seems a little chintzy! Or maybe, my creativity was not up to the task. In any case, I gave up on that book after about 2 chapters, notwithstanding all the amusing anecdotes that fill it.

In the second half, I wanted to strengthen my grasp, so I did all the subjects outside my own strong area (physics, math). These are areas I normally have neither much interest nor aptitude, but the techniques came through with flying colors. Out of the 43 exercises I did, with 319 separate items of information, I missed only 10.5 items (and I graded myself conservatively). In other words, my score was 96.7% correct. Now I don't know how well I would have done w/o those techniques, but my memory is entirely mediocre--I am one of those unfortunates who turns the page on a book and sometimes cannot remember what he just read--and it is very doubtful that my usual "brute force" techniques, applied over a similar study time, would have netted me a retention score above 33-50%.

At first glance, techniques of memory play a role somewhat similar to that of glasses on a near-sighted person: they do not enhance his natural biologic capacity, but they give him "workarounds" using other factors at his disposal, in particular, visual and verbal associations built up with help of his own creativity. I was surprised and delighted, as I worked through the exercises, to discover in myself an ability to make creative mental associations I never knew I had. So in this sense, it seems that the techniques did change my brain for the better. I imagine that the techniques, if used often, may become more and more second nature and eventually even "first nature."

I am so glad I found this book: unlike many a self-help book, it did live up to its promises. Dr. Browning, thank you for making available such a readable and well-structured guide!

Laurence O. Williams' book, "An End to Global Warming" foretells of a not-to-distant future in which global warming and melting of ice caps due to fossil fuel consumption will submerge most of the worlds coastal cities. We have all heard predictions of Armageddon from impending environmental disasters and in some cases, have learned to take these predictions with a grain of salt. However if one proceeds through this book with this superficial approach a feeling of uneasiness soon begins to take over.
Williams has laid out his premise in a very logical systems analysis approach starting at the component parts, taking time to define scientific terms and concepts, construct relationships based on tables of relevant data, and extensively referencing pertinent results and extrapolations.
Societies increasing output of carbon dioxide and the correlation's of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere and global temperature changes are frightening. This data, along with observations of recent climactic changes and ice shelf effects, provide support to the seriousness and urgency of this global problem. Although one could possibly argue with the author's timelines as to future environmental disasters, the inevitability of these occurrences if we proceed down our current energy usage pathway is well foretold. As the real and projected effects of this warming on the earth are described and supported one is caught up in an appreciation of the magnitude of this problem could have on our future generations. The comprehensive analyses given to the many elements considered in this book may slow the reader slightly, but the author does an excellent job of putting concepts and terms in simple understandable descriptions. Time is taken, to the author's credit, to point out the colossal waste in burning our limited petroleum products which could be used for the production of needed medicines, polymers and other valuable organic industrial materials.
However, the pivotal concept that makes this book important is that Williams does more than bemoan a bleak, energy restrictive future, he offers us a well thought out solution. This solution, which is based on a clean primary energy source, and a clean transportable fuel, is based on technologies that are themselves not completely new, but on the coalescing of concepts to accomplish this unique energy revolution.
Williams gives a detailed approach for implementation of this concept and it is persuasive and elegantly constructed. The case is made for the need of a transportable fuel, and alternate fuels are compared. However, the choice of the primary transportable fuel is well supported. As a mater of fact, it is not only the optimum fuel it is probably the only choice for a transportable clean fuel. The considerations for the practical utilization of this fuel in domestic and industrial uses are studied in detail.
A new energy source is boldly presented by the author as the primary energy source for the production of electrical energy and transportable fuel. Seawater would provide all of our clean envirinmental needs. It would be utilized in this new low pollution society to more efficiently clean up polluted water and more completely destroy organic wastes. The development of a new power system is the cornerstone of this clean energy concept, and the one that makes to conversion to a pollution-free environment a possibility. More available alternate energy systems, such as solar and fission, may still allow the transition to a clean energy society and afford an interim approach to phase out carbon dioxide producing systems. However, I believe Williams is correct in emphasizing the urgency for an all out Manhattan-type project to develop this new clean power system.
The logic of the overall approach is undeniable and the insight into why, how, and when is sobering, but also interesting and exciting. Larry Williams' enthusiasm and urgency to implement an immediate change in how we look at our energy future and our environment is apparent. This book is worthy of our time to read and our commitment to do some deep thinking on the implication of these concepts on society. Hopefully this concept will motivate us all to become personally involved in the implementation of change to a more pollution-free, energy-rich, future environment.
David W. Neiswander Ph.D. - Environmental Consultant - Knoxville, TN.

The problem is energy. In this age a large reliable and safe source of energy is a necessity. It is not a luxury that can be forgone and the demand for energy will increase as more of the worlds populations come to demand the fruits of civilization--all of which, from agriculture to cell phones, require energy.

What is urgently needed is a comprehensive scenerio by which this can be accomplished. This Herculean task is what Mr. Williams has attempted--with considerable success.

It is difficult to cover all of the facets of this work in a short review, however,as an overview, Mr. williams concludes that the only vible approach will be to accept the inevitablilty of hydrogen as the portable fuel of choice and--shocking as it may seem to some--nuclear power as the original source of energy.

Along the way to reaching these conclusions, he has found it necessary to evaluate various alternatives--including the popular one of widespread conservation, which would be helpful of course, but is unlikely to be achieved on any broad basis. Mr. Williams give many of these ideas--such as solar power and a host of others--serious and courteous consideration. They all have a place--in this reviewers opinion at least--nevertheless, when examined in depth (as he does) inevitably fall short of promising a long term, ultimate solution. This part of the book is, by itself, worth reading.

The next stumbling block in accepting Mr. William's thesis is his insistance that nuclear power must be the primary source for energy. He envisions large plants producing the hydrogen from water and and, of course, there is a strong cultural bias in the general public agains anything nuclear. The foundations for this bias are dealt with convincingly. The radiation bugaboo is examined as well the general hazards which, as he shows, are no more extreme than in any energy realte activity on a large scale. Suffice it to say that coal mining and drilling for oil present similar hazards and hydrogen as a portable fuel is no more of a hazard than gasolene--although we are accustomed to the latter and familiarity breeds a level of complacency.

One starts reading a work like Mr. Willliam's rather cynically, expecting a grandiose plan for a perfect world--knowing that the devil is in the details, which are usually not provided. I am pleased to report that in this case, many of the details are identified and dealt with in an orderly fashion with a convincing candor. The plan presented here is intriguing and well documented and worthy of serious considersation.

Recommended reading.

This is a great, short study for the student and buff.

This is, by any standards, an astonishing little book. It should be required reading for every lawyer and for every person who is concerned to see *justice* done in the courtroom.

Mack O'Barr is an anthropologist. His unusual perspective on the behavior of lawyers and the perceived credibility of witnesses offers startling insight into jury decision making. His book is both fascinating and deeply depressing by turns. His empirical studies show that those citizens most in need of legal redress come to the courtroom two strikes down. His account offers a frightening new dimension to Marc Galanter's "Why the 'Haves' Come Out Ahead" and emphasises the obstacles faced by ther disadvantaged when they seek to invoke the law in their aid.

The book explains why many of the forensic techniques discovered empirically and regularly deployed by lawyers work. I wish I had known of this book when I was a criminal advocate - it would have allowed me to cross-examine witnesses more effectively.

Although the book is a straight forward account of a piece of academic research, it is readable and engaging. The only negative comment I would make is that there is little discussion of the implications of the research findings - perhaps that might be better left to John Conley who has subsequently collaborated closely with O'Barr.

This book deserves to be much better known than it is.

Susan Danville, the heroine of the book, knows none of this when she shows up in Chicago to start her post- doctoral research in biomedicine, relating Feline Leukemia Virus to AIDS. The university's research is a cover for a society of Eidolon hunters, including David, the postdoctoral student who insists their relationship remain purely non-physical. When Susan becomes friends with Joe, a hunk who is more than willing to provide a physical relationship, David's reaction borders on irrational jealousy. He's trying to protect Susan, since the society will kill her rather than allow her to become pregnant and create a new Eidolon. But he's sworn to secrecy, and his lame excuses only drive Susan into Joe's arms.

This exciting and enthralling story had a flawless and well-reasoned premise, complete with all of the natural correlations, without ever invalidating what we believe to be true about the world we live in. The characters were engaging and easy to care about, even the host of unpleasant society leaders. Since the reader knew what was truly at stake long before the characters, seemingly ordinary actions became filled with suspense. Yet the heart of this book was the love story, as Susan had to choose between David and Joe.
-- Reviewed for the Science Fiction Romance newsletter

The word eidolon has a number of definitions, ranging from a dripping mass to an image of an ideal. But in Susan Danville's brand new post-doctorate position in her native Chicago, the eidolons are parasites who feed off of sick humans. The scientists Susan is to work with have branded together, calling themselves "Insiders" to telepathically destroy as many eidolons as possible.

The scientists believe that eidolons are hatched when females who carry the correct genetic code to hatch them get pregnant. Susan Danville possesses two of the necessary genes, and perhaps the third. She can either join their ranks and fight the eidolons, or if she gets pregnant, she will be killed as one of the enemy. The trouble is, Susan has an overpowering urge to get pregnant, and she has at least one willing suitor, Joe, who would be willing to oblige. Then there is David, an insider himself, who is fighting to save Susan's life:

"David ran his hand through his hair again. 'All right. Well. To begin with, people need at least one of the two Sight genes to be able to see eidolons. These Sight genes are designated Mer1 and Mer2. All cats have the Mer1 gene, by the way, which is kinda neat. But that's not important just now. Getting back to humans, it is theorized that there is a third Mer gene which is very, very rare. It is thought to be on the female sex chromosome. If a woman has this gene as well as the other two Mer genes, then she can incubate a new breed of eidolons along with the fetus."

W.F. Halsey has no trouble maintaining reader interest, as she pits character against character, humans against eidolons, and mixes the brew with some good old fashioned family secrets and tragedies in this "race against time" story. No less than the future of mankind is at stake, and the reader turns pages in a frenzy to keep up with the action.

Shelly Glodowski, Reviewer

Unbeknownst to Susan is the fact that Eidolons exist and these energy beings are the major causes of deadly diseases. Mallard is one of the leading fighters trying to destroy the enemy. Susan has been brought here so that Mallard and his staff can watch her as she has the Mer genes that could cause problems if she becomes pregnant. However, neither Mallard nor his cohorts realize that a powerful Eidolon is heading towards Chicago with Susan being the ultimate target of the deadly creature.

TO KILL AN EIDOLON is an intriguing medical thriller that provides a weird perspective on deadly diseases like AIDS. The story line is entertaining, but requires acceptance of the Eidolons since no basis is developed for their existence. Still, this is a unique, very enjoyable tale.

Harriet Klausner