If there is no Creator, there is no real purpose to life. If there is no designer, there is no design but just a network of unrelated, non-functioning, loosely assembled parts. When a student first examines the human body, he is overwhelmed by the complex and diverse designs that give precise functional purpose to each structure. Further study and patient research reveal repeating physiological patterns in the eleven body systems. This book describes these patterns and discusses their purpose and meaning. It will help the teacher/serious student of biology to appreciate the creative design principles and organization of the human body.

This book discusses the various body systems by comparing and contrasting the viewpoints of intelligent design versus a blend of matter using random processes over vast periods of time with mutations resulting in the the phenomenon called natural selection. It teaches about the biological basis of blood clotting, the remarkable immune response, recent research on split brain studies, the physiology of flight, the body's adaptation to high altitudes and concludes that the human body is the "ultimate machine."

This book is built around the basic universal patterns and themes in human biology that include 1) the direct relationship of structure to function, 2) the rule of programmed homeostasis for precise functioning of metabolic mechanisms, 3) the interdependence between body parts, 4) short-term physiological adaptation,
5) maintenance of membranes/boundaries and 6) the triple concepts of order, organization and integration. Most popular books on the human body, such as best-selling National Geographic titles The Incredible Machine and Incredible Voyage:Exploring the Human Body , as well as most human anatomy and physiology texts, assume an evolutionary development of matter, life and the human body. This book is somewhat unique in that it is built around the widely accepted structural and functional themes, but provides a distinct creationist approach to the study of the human body. It is ideal for students of basic biology, human anatomy and physiology, pre-medical studies and all others interested in digging deeper into the logic that the exquisite design in the human body infers a Divine Designer. It challenges biology students to evaluate whether the creation or evolution model of origins makes more sense.

This book is a must, either as a basic text or as a supplement to a basic text, for all human anatomy and physiology courses in Christian colleges and universities.

David A. Kaufmann, Ph.D., F.A.C.S.M.
Professor (Retired)
Department of Exercise and Sports Science
University of Florida
Gainesville, Fl 32611

My husband and I lived in Key West for four and a half years being stationed there with the U.S. Coast Guard. There were some points about Key West itself we didn't like but that comes with any town, but this book will bring back some fond and beautiful memories we will share long after our military days are over and a couple of wonderful friends -Tracie and Pete. You can't describe Key West in so many words, a book like this would be the only explaination of the eccentric lifestyle in this paradise haven. It will be something we can show our two little girls when they get older and tell them that this is where they were born. Thanks for a majestic memory.

Seber pays meticulous attention to detail. Not only does he present a comprehensive text on regression, but his precise, straight-forward language separates this work from other books on the topic. This is a "must-have" for any serious statisticians library.

This book is intended as a education and training tool for a professional jewelry repair technician. In my opinion the book makes a successful attempt to capture all aspects of executing a successful ring repair and addresses all the challenges: To identify metal and stones correctly, and how to assess what other jewelers have done to the piece prior to you . If you are interested in achieving a JA Bench certification and / or know every variation associated with ring repair, this book will be valuable to you.

Total length 122 pages, divided into two parts. Part I. : 31 pages of narrow columns and huge drawings on beautiful glossy paper covers introduction, safety, procedures and tools Part II.: 15 different alterations presented in a story book fashion, with detailed step by step photos. The visuals are excellent and the accompanying text is extremely detailed. ( to the point that one is instructed to remove the polishing compound , before returning the ring to the customer) The anecdotal stories explaining the history of the ring before and after the much needed repairs add a humorous element.

".....the ring, sitting on a ledge next to the soap dish, swiped off a safe place by the hand of it's owner. As she removes spaghetti sauce with a serving spoon, it gets knocked into the sink and then - OH NO -, the switch for the garbage disposal accidentally is flipped on. She dives for the switch to undo the upcoming misfortune, but

it is too late. The ring gets sucked in. TRAGEDY! Sharp blades do what they are designed to do, mangle! .........you, the repair expert, are sought out and with loving attention repair the priced possession. The customer adores you and trust you with all her valuables. She invite you for dinner! You accept the invitation, but make her promise that she will let you do the dishes. The End." .

As a researcher I have found this book to be an excellent guide for my work. State of the Art is great in helping to know what to look for in doing mall interviews, focus groups and mail studies. It give excellent explanation of sampling, designing questionnaire and everything relevant to the research industy. I would highly recommend this book for newcomers to the world of research as well as to the experienced researcher.

I have used an earlier edition of this book to get some background for academic work. Very thorough and very clear.

I first read this book at the age of 13. Before I was 20 I'd read it 14 times. Now, at 42, I've read it again, and my opinion has changed greatly. This novel has many things right with it but oh so many things wrong.

Unusually for a science fiction novel, it starts before the main character is born. The book is wildly colorful and bathed in blood from the very beginning, as Roan Cornay's future parents are attacked shortly after purchasing him as an embryo. After birth, Roan begins to learn of his unique heritage as a Terran, member of a race which once ruled the galaxy until they were challenged by the powerful Niss. The war between the Terrans and Niss ended, seemingly, in mutual destruction 5,000 years earlier, and now Terrans are rare in the galaxy.

Roan grows up in poverty among many races of aliens on a dirty, backwater world. Logical problems manifest themselves immediately, as the book begins to play on its theme of human superiority by showing us species with limited abilities, primarily lacking the capacity for creative thought and relying instead on pre-programmed instinct. Unfortunately, the point is carried to ludicrous extremes with a species called Gracyls (actually, the name for a species of crow) who, despite an ability to fly, cling to trees in blind panic when attacked by lumbering saurians. Laumer and Brown obviously gave little thought to the process of Darwinian evolution. On our world, even the stupidest flying insects fly away when attacked. In the Laumer and Brown universe, winged beings with written language and technology have failed to manage this instinctive response. So much for the science in this science fiction novel.

Rosel George Brown was a female writer who came late to the field of letters. Keith Laumer was a devotee of Raymond Chandler novels and aped his style. However, the melding of the two writers produced a hyper-macho tale with zero feminine edge. The style is brash and the plot soon decomes drowned in a sea of brutality.

When Roan is a teenager, he's kidnapped by a traveling space circus. This is probably the best extended sequence in the book. The beings are colorful and credit must be given to Laumer and Brown for doing good work on the backstories of various characters. The character of Iron Robert is especially compelling.

Laumer's affinity for the Chandleresque tough-guy style gives this book a meaner edge than any other sf adventure I've read, and in many ways a more believable one. The novel is driven by the passions of even relatively minor characters such as the angry Itch. This gives the book a certain gut-level realism that's refreshing in the often plot-oriented world of sf.

Roan Cornay proves to be a tremendous brawler. Unlike most other sf heroes, Roan is willing to go to any length, however vicious, to win a fight. He doesn't merely beat his opponents, he mangles, disfigures and cripples them. Indeed, he's something of a sociopath.

We can commend the bravery Laumer and Brown showed in creating such a flawed character. Roan, driven by the anger and violence within him, makes many mistakes and senselessly kills several people.

Roan is captured by space pirates who raid the circus. This eventually leads to a scene on the planet Aldo Cerise which, in my view, is the single most beautiful passage in the book. However, it also has its share of logic flaws.

As the book rushes towards its conclusion, the level of violence and illogical plot twists rises. Death loses its dramatic impact. Situations and plot twists become more contrived and unbelievable, and almost always result in someone (often many someones) being killed. The violence, the macho posturing and platitudes, become wearying. Also wearying is all the lunkhead tough-guy dialog.

This is unfortunate. While it's true that "Earthblood" is entirely lacking in speculative rigor and instead intensifies the shopworn elements of space opera, it's also true that the scope of this book exceeds that of any other space opera I've encountered. This novel could have been a masterpiece if handled with more restraint, if it had been allowed greater length so as to avoid the rushed feeling of its conclusion, and if the characterization had been more nuanced. It would have been better without silly 'love at first sight' disease. It would have been better if...

There are too many ifs. In the end this is a very flawed book. In many ways it's a fairly dumb novel, a comic-book novel. The final scene is practically imbecilic. From my own experience, I'd say it's a great novel to read when you're a teenager. It would also make a fantastic movie. Older readers will want to think twice about this one.

Finally, I wanted to rate this book two-and-a-half stars, but that wasn't available, so for the sake of sentiment I went with a higher rating.

Like other reviewers, I first read this book in my teens in the late 60's. It immediately clicked with me and I've reread the book at least once every five years since.

We don't know what's happened to humanity, but its legacy is a proud one. And embryos with human genes are prized above all others. Roan is 'purchased' as an embryo, brought to term and raised by his adopted parents, and spends his life seeking his roots. His trials and adventures appeal to teenagers and teenagers-at-heart with questions of 'Who am I?', 'Where did I come from?', 'Why am I different from everyone else?', 'What makes me unique?'.

Roan's parents bankrupt themselves for the opportunity to purchase a son that may actually be human. As a boy living a poor, integrated neighborhood (with all forms of aliens), Roan experiences poverty, prejudice, fear, and dreams for a better life. A traveling, galactic circus gives Roan a chance to experience a new life, where friendship, love, loyalty, and competition give him a chance to develop and forge new relationships while exploring the possibilities of his heritage.

After a pirate attack on the circus, Roan learns to exercise some control over his environment and to become a leader. Roan ultimately traces his lineage back to Terra, where he acts to replace the decadent descendents of humanity with a race that will one day reclaim its place in determining the destiny of the galaxy.

As with many other reviewers, I first read this book when it came out (I still have my SF Book Club edition) and re-read it every few years. It is as perfect an example of the 'space opera' genre as you could ask for: a tragic and somewhat flawed main character with a mysterious origin, driven to find what happened to the now-vanished Terran empire. One reviewer here (Steve Duff) criticized it as brutal and violent; I suggest he go read some biographies of Alexander the Great.

Again, as with others, echoes of this book stay with me. The child Roan growing up among aliens and Terran hybrids and struggling to hold his own. His joining, of all things, an interstellar circus, and then a crew of interstellar pirates. Searching for Terra, the homeworld, and what he finds there. And all along the way, making mistakes, hurting those who love him the most, and suffering bittersweet loss.

A great read, and one that will stay with you, too.

'The death of Superman' probably brings to a Superman reader's mind the more famous one, in which Superman sacrifices himself to defeat Doomsday. But this is something else entirely. It concerns the end of the *original* Superman--the one who first appeared in 1938 and endured for nearly fifty years, survived the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and finally was declared imaginary in 1986 when DC Comics redesigned the Superman character and mythos. In many ways, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow is superior to The Death of Superman (but, granted, The Death of Superman is great on its own). It's just as sad--probably more so, because with the latter, DC had every intention of bringing Superman back, but Whatever Happened is really the end--but the tone is also bittersweet, something The Death of Superman lacks. Whatever Happened is also deeper. The plot is a bit more complicated and mysterious; almost from the beginning, the Superman of this book has a terrible feeling he's going to die; and he makes a horrible mistake that would seem unlikely to come from the even more 'boy-scout' Superman that followed. The shortcoming is that, unlike its satisfyingly long counterpart, it only covers two issues. But that may not even bother you. Read it.

This is another book review by Wolfie and Kansas, the boonie dogs from Toto, Guam. When DC Comics decided to erase about 50 years of continuity with the Crisis on Infinite Earths, it was decided to at least have some closure to the original Superman legend. "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow" reveals the final fate of the original, pre-Crisis Superman. . . . Of course, the highlight of this graphic novel is the return of Krypto the Superdog. Just as we like to leave our yard every now and then to roam around Toto and chase cars, Krypto had left Earth to roam around the galaxy and chase flying saucers. Krypto returns to aid Superman in the latter's greatest crisis. In one particulary poignant moment in mid-story, when Superman needs to be alone with his best and most trusted friend to mourn the deaths of Pete Ross and others and contemplate the coming showdown with the remaining supervillians, the Man of Steel is shown in a full-page panel alone with Krypto, not Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen. During the final assault on Superman's Fortress of Solitude, the Kryptonite Man breaches the Fortress defenses and is searching for Superman to finish him off. The day is saved by Krypto, who basically turns the Kryptonite Man into a large lump of green, glowing Alpo. Alas, as a result, Krypto dies of kryptonite food poisoning. We think this would have been a happier book if the roles had been reversed, and the noncanine superbeing of primate derivation had been the one to make the ultimate sacrifice, in order to save the dog. Nonetheless, the Krypto-Kryptonite Man showdown is inspiring. . . . This book does not reach the literary heights of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns". This is because the writer, Alan Moore, who did reach such heights in "Watchmen", is in this case working within Silver Age conventions, rather than trying to stretch or shatter them. This is a superb graphic novel given its purpose and self-imposed limits. "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" is a must-have item for any serious comic collector, and for anyone who grew up reading Superman comics in the 1940's, '50's, '60's or '70's

One of the troubles I find in reading highly regarded works such as this one is that all the praise sets up incredibly high expectations that are often impossible to live up to and often leave the reader (or viewer) disappointed. However in the case of Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow had no such preconceived notions. For while I had heard of Alan Moore's sterling reputation, influential work (and his impressively long beard,) I had never read any of it or heard about this little gem until I started reading it in local comic shop. I was riveted from the first few pages. Though I thought (and still think) 6 bucks is a rather hefty sum for a reprint of just two comic books, this comic is one of the most brilliantly done superman stories ever.

Upon my first reading I knew very little about pre-crisis Superman history, but more manages to make even an unfamiliar read learn it quite quickly and even come to appreciate it. Moreover the book manages to evoke all the huge "It's all coming to an end" feelings one gets during high school or college graduation.

In this tale we learn the final fates of Bizzaro, Luthor, Jimmy Olson, and all the other key players of the Superman mythos and the identity of the Man of Steel's greatest foe. I won't give, but I will tell one thing: it ain't Luthor! This story is considered an "Imaginary Tale", yet because all Pre-Crisis Superman was wiped out anyway one could easily "count" it and thus accept the final story in the huge cannon of superman stories. Although many of the Pre-Crisis superman stories that I have read were rather childish and the whole Superboy bit seems rather silly to me, this story makes appreciate many aspects of the old mythos and makes one wonder if there wasn't some better alternative to just erasing decades worth of stories.

A note on where in continuity this story fits even though it's not considered as such: After the Crisis the old continuities still remained intact. The John Byrne revamp did not occur until several months after "Crisis". This is why Superman is able to refer to Supergirl's death in the story, because it takes place after "Crisis" but before Byrne's revamp.

This is a truly magnificent work and I recommend every one to go out and buy it as soon as possible!

'Fathers and Sons' by Turgenev is no doubt a very importnat book - considered to be Turgenev best work, it features beautiful poetic descriptions, very sharp and wiity dialogues, poignant characters - some spiky and some very soft, and conflicts that will never die and remain relevant until today (like that of nihilism - the term which was coined by Turgenev in this book). It is very captivating and i found Bazarov to be a very interesting charcter (although it seems less original when you look on the literature of the last century. We must remember Bazarov was the Father of the Nihlisits to come. and the originality is his). However, I feel somewhat ambivalent about Turgenev - first of all because his ugly way of treating Dostoevsky at the time, and the way he mocked the young Dostoevsky. Secondly, i'm not sure if it's merely deformed hazy memory but i belive if found his book 'home of the Gentry' to be a better book - maybe because it was more naive and sublime. Anyway, it's certainly a very important book, maybe even a masterpiece - but for me it is not in the level of the great masterpieces of Tolstoi and Dostoevsky. That is because in my opinion his messages and his way of giving them are inferior in it's profoundness to those of the previous two.

Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev, who lived through 1818-83, is thought to be one of the finest Russian writers. He studied in Moscow, St Petersburg and Berlin, then became a strong advocate of Russia's westernization. Here we see his masterpiece "Fathers and Sons" which I personally came across through the recommendation of a close friend.

Turgenev is a master of engaging the reader through the complexities of his characters. While you may initially feel contempt for some them, the more you learn of their contrasting personalities, you will eventually love them all in the end. If not for their beliefs and actions story-wise, then for how deep and well thought-out their various histories are. You may find yourself endlessly devouring page after page, wanting to know more about these fascinating people he's created.

For me, reading this book was like opening my eyes to a world I long neglected. In the next few days, I will no doubt find myself hunting down more of his works. In "Fathers and Sons" he focuses on every character's humanity and principles, then lets it all play out with such craft and unmistakable skill. From their conflicts and influences with each other, every character develops and yet remains the same.

Every scene he creates, is depicted vividly, with descriptions of subtle details in the backgrounds bringing his world to life. From the effortless way he lets the reader see his visions, we can easily grasp the character of his creations, their moods, their thoughts, and how we can relate to their emotions. It is certainly a crime for someone who's even remotely interested in novels not to read this book. And for those who aren't, they shouldn't neglect reading this either, they might just find something they will love.

One of the most eloquent works in Russian literature, Fathers and Sons has had a major influence on subsequent Russian writers. Turgenev weaves so much into this short novel. As the title suggests he is dealing principally with generational differences, but ultimately this is a book about finding yourself in the world. In Bazarov, we have the ultimate nihilist, someone who renounces all societal conventions, which his peers utterly fail to understand. As a young doctor he has turned his back on noble society. We see some of his old feelings briefly rise to the surface in a romance which he pursues, but Bazarov chooses to extinguish those feelings, and return to his paternal home, where he ultimately seals his fate.

Turgenev is the bridge between the Russian writers of the early 19th century and the later 19th century. In many ways, Fathers and Sons reminded me of the theme which Lermontov explored in "A Hero of Our Time," and Turgenev appears in Dostoevsky's work, even if deliberately as a caricature.

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a superb animation of the Russian Revolutioon. The book is amusing and interesting; it includes a comic element as it synonymously demonstrates the evolution from the proletariat revolution to a totalitarian government led by the swine of the society. Orwell successfully simplified the not-so-simple theory of class stratification and Karl Marx's proposed solution of communism. Orwell's method of conveyance is incredibly inventive. He uses satire in the form of a fairy tale to share his indignation for ideological doctrines that would, if allowed, lead to the eventual destruction of a society. Each character in the story is representative of someone who was involved in the Russian Revolution. Old Major is Marx, and inspires the proletariat revolution by motivating the over-worked animals and educating them on the ways of the human beings, who represent the bourgeoisie. Orwell's creativity convinces the reader that the animals on the farm are intellectual beings, revolting against the tyranny of the humans. Animal Farm offers itself as an example of a responsible criticism of Marxism. The story gives us a peek at the Utopian vision, and then offers a long look at what results from using a Marxist approach at achieving it. I strongly reccomend this book, as it is entertaining and educational. Orwell succeeded in creating a fairy tale that evokes both sadness and laughter, while causing us to feel sympathy and even empathy for the working class animals. The book escapes complexity, but its message does not.

If you know zilch about the history of the late, unlamented USSR, skip this book, you're not going to get it. The more you know, the more you're bound to admire one of the 20th century's great satires---maybe its greatest. Capitalism, Communism, Lenin, the October Revolution, the Interventions, Stalin, Trotsky, Beria, the KGB, Hitler and the Fascist invasion---all these and more are in there. Orwell savagely attacks the Communist system as it turned out in fact in the USSR, not as it was originally envisioned. Along the way, the various foibles of human nature and fatal tendencies of ruling classes everywhere are held up to his pitiless examination. I will not give a runthrough of the story, but the idea is that animals, representing the working class, overthrow people, representing capitalists, and establish a workers' state---called Animal Farm. Overall, Orwell leads to the question: haven't we gone beyond our abilities to control technology and scientific knowledge ? Our political skills have not kept pace.

Since Orwell completed his novel in 1945, the last section of the book, about what would happen to the Soviet Union under Communist plutocrats, was necessarily speculation for him (not for us). In some ways, ANIMAL FARM turned out to be uncannily correct, but in others, passé, because we know what happened thanks to our 57 years' hindsight. Orwell did not predict the rise of the satellite states in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, nor did he see that the building of heavy industry would be co-opted by the armaments race, bankrupting Animal Farm and ultimately bringing it down without a war. But the pigs eventually did turn into humans (i.e. workers became capitalists). Because Communism has crumbled, especially in the former USSR, people may feel ANIMAL FARM is no longer relevant. That would be wrong. We can't justly distribute resources or maintain the planet's environment. Think of the billions of impoverished people, massive pollution, the unending ecological destruction and the menace of genetically engineered everything. Now, more than ever, it seems that our world is an Animal Farm. When we protest, it is made perfectly clear to us---all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. The Pigs, Dogs, and Sheep are always with us. If you don't understand what I'm talking about, read this book.

Animal Farm is an easy-to-read book,and on th surface it seems like it's about animals.Pigs and horses and moles fill the story.It definetely looks boring to a person who's older than 13 and who's looking for depth in books.But,as I said before,it just seems boring on the surface , however no reader can deny how deep the book really is.Obviously it's about the Russian Revolution and what happened afterwards,and it's a must to read about Soviet Union in order to understand the book thoroughly. Surely it's possible to see the power fight among the pigs and relate it to real world,but that's not understanding it as a whole.After you read about the Soviet Union,you'll have a different enjoyment figuring out who's who.For example Napoleon the pig is representing Stalin,and Snowball the pig is representing Trotsky.Overall,first read about "the" revolution and what happened afterwards,understand who did what,and then read this fabulous book.You'll definetely have fun and a strange smile will form on your face after you read the last line.