This is the only book my husband and I have found that answers our 3 1/2-year-old daughter's question, "How did God make us?". If you have a child asking similar questions you must buy this book....And, the illustrations are beautiful!

This is a very good and surprisingly ambitious introduction to moral philosophy. In this concise book, Norman aims to acquaint readers with the essential features of important moral philosophers, provide a critical evaluation of these ideas, lead readers through the process of critically evaluating ideas, and sketching an outline of what would constitute an acceptable moral theory. The last is an aim that is well beyond the confines of most textbooks and is quite interesting. The book falls into 3 parts; the work of the Ancients - Plato and Aristotle; the now classic moderns - Hume, Kant, Mill, and Hegel (seen largely through the lens of his British disciple Bradley); and 20th century work, mainly the Anglo-American tradition. There is a chapter on Nietsche, which serves as a reminder of other possible perspectives. Norman's explications of the Ancients and 20th century work is particularly good. I find the sections on Hume and Kant less satisfactory. The quality of explanation is not as good as the other chapters. This is the one section of the book where Norman's aims of providing a critique of ideas and outlining the characteristics of an acceptable moral theory tend to overpower the strictly explanatory aim. This is not a major flaw. I think Norman also makes some small but significant errors. In his discussion of Hume's views on property, he ignores the fact that historians suggest that property had a somewhat different meaning in the 18th century, including not just possessions but also aspects of character, reputation, and even rights. I think as well that Norman is incorrect in some of his statements about the important contemporary philosopher John Rawls. Norman wants his readers to be actively engaged in thinking about this issues and his goal of outlining the grounds for an acceptable moral theory is a challenge to readers. This is an unusual but effective teaching method.

I have this book as a text for a political science class I'm taking at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Though a bit pricey at $40, I truly find this a solid read. It should be appropriate for all levels of reader, though it seems to be geared towards those with at least basic knowledge of the American political system.

At last the "King" series on the Arkangel Shakespeare sets are complete ("Henry VIII" does not count) with the appearance of . The only competitive set is available from Harper Collins and stars a somewhat miscast Robert Stephens in the title role. When I say "miscast," I mean that his reading lacks the charm and the humor that Olivier was able to infuse into the villainy. Here on Arkangel, David Troughton fares somewhat better. But.

Perhaps after all the recent psychopathic Richards we have had, from Ian Holm in 1963 through a long line of Richards on crutches and bald, Frankenstein-lookalike Richards, Troughton's reading is something of a relief. But of course we have only the voice to go by. The play opens with a laugh of glee before the opening words; but for the rest of the first three acts that element of fun is simply not there. Richard is not enjoying himself enough for me. He does, however, come up with some original readings of his "My kingdom for a horse" utterances.

The Queen Elizabeth of Sonia Ritta is poorly done indeed. For a queen "well struck in years" and "a beauty waning and distressed widow," she sounds far too young and too modern in her defiance of Richard early in the play and her yielding to him (if that is how you interpret the second wooing scene) later on. Perhaps some more oiliness on the part of Philip Voss's Buckingham would have helped to distinguish him from the others in the cast.

The pacing of the scene with the messengers is far too slow and ends with the same adagio chamber music used more effectively earlier in the recording. This is, I believe, the only Arkangel set that plays music during a soliloquy and it works well here. The sound of horses at every opportunity grows wearisome--especially after the three Henry VI plays--and is not necessary in several instances.

Still, "Richard III" is one of Shakespeare's earliest successes that still attracts actors and audiences to this day; and this set is well worth the having and hearing.

In telling "The Story of Old Ironsides," the U.S.S. Constitution, the first half of this Cornerstones of Freedom book by Norman Richards also tells an important chapter in the history of the U.S. Navy. This juvenile history begins with the United States paying tribute to the Barbary pirates so that the nation's merchant ships could sail the Mediterranean. Following the sage advice of President Washington, who was tired of being insulted by the pirates, the Congress authorized the construction of three frigates, including the Constitution, which was to be constructed in Boston. Richards does not go overboard in describing the ship's construction, but he does establish the key details that would make the Constitution so formidable in battle (key fact: the ship had 21-inch thick oaken planks, not iron, on its side).

I was rather surprised that the book devotes more pages to the time the Constitution was the flagship of Commodore Edward Preble, who faced down the Barbary Pirates, than it does the War of 1812, where the ship earned its celebrated nickname of "Old Ironsides." In fact, Richards only tells of one of the two sea battles that earned the ship its reputation during the war. The final pages of the volume are devoted to the two times the Constitution was saved from the scrap heap. The focus is on the efforts that saved the ship, Oliver Wendall Holmes' poem the first time (three stanzas are included) and the nation's children collecting pennies the second, more than on the dismal shape of the ship in bad times. I finally got to visit the U.S.S. Constitution and its museum in Boston last summer and I was surprised to see what really happened to the ship at various times in its history. I know I am an incurable romantic who knows nothing about shipbuilding, but I was rather shocked to learn that the ship has essentially been rebuilt at least twice in its career. However, Richards does not go into the details on these sad chapters.

This volume is illustrated by Thom Dunnington, with black and white drawings with blue added to it, a style quite popular with juvenile histories in the 1960s. "The Story of Old Ironside" will give young readers a sense for why the U.S.S. Constitution deserves the honor of being the oldest ship on active duty in the U.S. Navy (a fact which makes me wonder if the U.S.S. Arizona now has second place on that list; if not, certainly one day it will). Certainly there is something about the look of sailing ships that captures young minds. Perhaps it is the fact that "real" sailing involves masts and sails rather than engines driven by steam, oil or atomic power. Whatever little mention Old Ironside might receive in an American history textbook, this Cornerstones of Freedom volume will give young readers a solid background on the ship's place in history.

Very comprehensive, very colourful, clear informative text which tells the reader the difference between what is speculation and what has been found. Good period range.

This book far exceeds anything I have seen in describing and showing how to build authentic looking and authentic ACTING clothes, armour, and weapons of the Viking/Medieval era. If your in the Society for Creative Anachronism and your persona is viking/norse, YOU NEED THIS BOOK!!! Excellent pictures of authentic pieces and comparisons to modern replicas, along with sketches on how everything was made. If you want to look good on the warfield, this is the book to help you do it.

I found this book to be excellent. It included the late Roman Empire equipage that I had missed from the series' other book on the Romans, as well as the Scotti and Pict raiders, the Saxon invaders, the Vikings, and the Normans. The focus of the book is on how a re-enactor might recreate the arms, armors, and clothing of these groups and I, as one who likes to draw ancient soldiers, found it to be most useful.

I tested in Aug 99 using Petersons, Princeton, and Amazon clep Books to study for the General Natural Sciences Test. None of these books came remotely close to helping me get 1% of the information presented as questions on the real test. Who ever made that test must have taken their information from the smallest corners of the earth they could find to make the questions. I still can't believe the vast difference between what seemed normal study material and what material was tested. Your company should go and take one of those tests and see how far out that test is compared to what you offer and get it in- line or you won't make much money or help people like myself to acheive a passing score using your books. Additionally, the study guide of which the college board offers is very vague. You could help all by re-doing your study material. By the way, I used the same books as mentioned above and tested high on the General Social Sciences Test.

I used the average of the first two reviews so my review will not alter how my predecessors rated the book. I have not seen this particular book, but I have seen (and used) many others and believe there is a complete misunderstanding on the part of the general public as to the benefit of the books.

These books will NOT give you all the information you ever needed to know. It will give you a guide to the type of questions you will encounter, but you must know your subject. I am a librarian and highly recommend my patrons check out a textbook on the subject or buy textbooks that are used in local or national colleges. One on-line source of these titles is from World Lecture Hall at the University of Texas.

Use the textbooks and supplemental information recommended on the individual subject websites in addition to these test books and you'll do well!

This book really made the difference. I am so glad I bought it and used it. Clear information and easy to use. Recommend it to all my classmates.

Los autores predicen que en los próximos años (la obra ha sido escrita en 1989) las decisiones estratégicas tomadas por quienes dirigen las empresas van a ser sometidas a situaciones cambiantes como nunca se han visto antes, esto debido "... a las fuertes mareas económicas resultado de la dimensión mundial..." (globalizacion) y a cambios generados en los mercados mas industrializados como Estados Unidos, Japón y Europa. Este nuevo contexto exige a quienes toman las decisiones estar muy al tanto de las nuevas tecnologías, de las nuevas oportunidades de mercado, reconocer oportunidades y riesgos según se vayan presentando estos y diseñar organizaciones que se adapten muy rápido a las nuevas condiciones imperantes. La obra dice "... serán esenciales las innovaciones en el uso tanto de la dirección como de la tecnología basada en la ciencia"

Los autores desarrollan este libro, explicando nueve fenómenos empresariales fundamentales que han identificado como base para obtener "... fuentes de visión y vitalidad para el desarrollo de estrategias competitivas."

Las organizaciones deberán diseñar productos y servicios competitivos que mejoren significativamente el beneficio y el flujo de efectivo, generando valor para los accionistas.

El desarrollo de estos nuevos productos y servicios, requerirá que la empresa se anticipe a las necesidades de los clientes tanto corporativos como personas. (Entendamos como clientes al grupo principal de estos, los clientes clave, nuestro nicho y entendamos como necesidad la tendencia de consumo que va adquiriendo, o esta por adquirir, este grupo) La tecnología avanza y pone al alcance del mercado parte de esta, haciéndola accesible. Las organizaciones deben identificar que tecnología se adecua y mejora su producto o servicio para que esta siga siendo competitiva. Probablemente (esta confirmado) el acceso a tecnologia de punta, brinde a las organizaciones una ventaja en la identificacion de oportunidades y en el aprovechamiento de estas. Ademas estas organizaciones deberan estar preparadas para aprovechar estas ventajas.

The book served to merely list what one needed to know for the AP exam, but it did not write out in detail what one needed to know. Also, the practice tests were not as useful.

If you are looking for a book that will help you review for the AP European History test, this is not your book. It only goes as far to give you a timeline and a list of important people for each chapter. It does have some pratice tests, but overall, it was a bad review choice.

Do not buy this book expecting a lengthy review of the subject as did I. It only goes as far as to give a cursory timeline of each time period and a list of UNDEFINED names and events for each.

I did up my rating to a 3 only because the book does have some excellent example essays and DBQ's as well as tips on how to score the max on each. The two practice tests are relevant to the AP test and each answer is explained in detail at the end--but THAT is as far as the review goes.