This book is a concise and clearly written guide to the best of the new economic thinking taking place in the world today. James Robertson is not only one of the most respected prophets of economic transformation, but also an excellent writer who demystifies the topic in language understandable by anyone. In this 77 page booklet, Robertson summarizes the needed changes in government and the market, common resources, money and finance, and the global economy. All his ideas rely on practical solutions based on principles of efficiency, equity, and ecology. The guide to organizations is also very useful for practical action. If you want to know the future of economics, read it here first.

"Soldiers Blue And Gray" contains much information on the general aspects of the Civil War. Not directly covering any specific action or battle, it uses quotations from diaries and letters of the period to bring to life such topics as life in camp, prisoners of war, and medical conditions, while covering the point of view of both Union and Confederate soldiers. It is comparable in style to Wiley's "The Life of Billy Yank" and "The Life of Johnny Reb". Easily read and understood, and filled with many facts and figures, it should prove valuable to both the serious researcher and the casual reader.

Author James Robertson has put together a very interesting book that considers many popular aspects of soldiering in the Civil War. Robertson hits strong topics such as enlisting, camp life, battle, prisons, religion, relationships, family, death and valor. This insightful information is backed by reference, great writing and also some humorous situations that Robertson assembles. This book was a pleasure to read and at times very educational. For the advanced historian, it may be a bit too generalized although a person with some basic knowledge of the war could benefit a great amount. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to understand the common soldier of the Civil War and looking to gain further insight.

This book makes it clear why the Stonewall Brigade was considered to be one of the premier fighting units of the Civil War. Primarily written in a narrative format, it is well written and will hold the attention of the non-specialist. I found that sometimes the author's narrow focus on the Stonewall Brigade made it hard to understand what was happening in the context of the war as a whole, even to the point of creating confusion as to which battle was taking place. I also suspect that more recent studies will have focused more on primary sources generated by the soldiers themselves and on issues of discipline and morale. Still, this is a classic work.

"The Stonewall Brigade" by James I. Robertson Jr.,is a readable book that all Civil War history buffs will enjoy."The Stonewall Brigade" is a book that examines in-depth one of the Civil War's most recognized and exceptional brigades.Robertson writes of the many hardships the soldiers endured while giving insight to command decisions that made these hardships nessesary.One can quickly see why the Stonewall Brigade was willing to go into the most harmful of situations for Old Jack.This is a honest representation of the Stonewall Brigade which gives many interesting facts to support both the excellance and shortcomings of the brigade.Overall,I recommend this book to anyone who is fascinated with the man known as Stonewall. A must for Stonewall Jasckson Fanatics!

This book has wonderful photos of every type of weather from clouds, sun dogs, rainbows, hail, freezing rain, and on and on. Each description is only a page long and includes a photograph. It's easy to understand and doesn't get into too much detail. My 6 year old, although she didn't understand the text, got this book out of the library and liked it so much she wanted a copy of her own -- she loved looking at the different photos. And as an adult, I had to agree with her, it's great just to thumb through as well as read the specifics.

It has been said "people complain about the weather but never do anything about it." Perhaps that's because they don't know much about it. This book will help you learn more about our weather. I was looking for a book that explained about various weather phenomenon and came across it. I loved it not only because of the pictures and descriptions in the last chapter on various weather types (different kinds of fogs, clouds, storms, precipitation, optical effects, etc), but also for lost of other information covered in the book, but also because the book's other chapters also contained so much excellent information. Subjects like Understanding the Weather (which covers the atmosphere, sources of weather, global wind patterns and different kinds of winds, frontal systems, etc.), Forecasting the Weather (obviously that has never been an exact science!), Changing the Weather, and also a secion on different climates and how humankind and animals adapt.

There are lots of pictures and diagrams in this book which help to explain key weather concepts. One day I will force myself to read this book cover to cover instead of getting sidetracked at all the gorgeous illustrations and pictures in this book, every time I pick it up to read it.

I love this book all about weather, how it occurs, what makes our planet hum. It has helped me read the sky far more clearly & understand daily forecasts. It is filled with gorgeous photographs & easily interpreted diagrams. I never knew there were so many forms of fog!

This is not only the best book on requirements gathering that I've found, it is one of the best books on *any* aspect of software development that I've ever read. It is clear, focussed, well-written, full of extremely powerful concepts, and illustrated with useful examples and formal models of all aspects of the requirements gathering process and requirements-related information. As a result, I not only gained tremendous insight into how to improve the requirements gathering process at our company, I also learned by clear example how to make best use of each of the modeling formalisms the authors recommend.

I've never written an on-line review before, but this book was so superior that I felt I had to take the time and share my enthusiasm. I hope you find it as valuable in your projects as we are finding at our company.

I have been in the IT industry for 20 years and this is by FAR the best book on the Requirements Analysis process I've every seen. I've had it since it first came out, and have used the Volere process to successfully run several software development projects. They were all successful. Both the Design and Test teams LOVED the resultant Requirements Specification because they knew exactly what to code and exactly what to test to prove the requirements were met. My only complaint is that it takes a lot longer to document a Spec. to this degree of detail, but if you can convince "the powers that be" to take the time to do it, it will save a lot of time and expensive re-writes later.
Even if you don't use the Volere method to write your specs., it's worth the read for the knowledge gained on the analysis process itself.

This is the best book on requirements gathering I have ever read. When I finished it, I asked for and received the authors' permission to use the Volere template for a couple of test cases in my job (I specialize in requirements gathering) and have used it for one very large and another very famous client, with excellent results. While it doesn't especially lend itself to Internet projects, it significantly cuts down the time it takes me to gather requirements, and adds a level of consistency to the requirements documents my colleagues and I produce. Definitely worth the money.

Is this book worth reading? Yes. But beware of the author's biases. Robertson has written several excellent books (e.g., biography of Stonewall Jackson), but this book is NOT one of them. Yes, it contains much new and interesting information about Hill. But the author goes too far in blaming others (e.g., Longstreet, Jackson, Lee, the man on the street corner!) for Hill's own failings. And when Roberston does so, he usually simply states something like, "But of the course the true blame belonged with X." without explaining why he thought so. Robertson does present some of Hill flaws. But he is seldom willing to admit that Hill, whom the author obviously admires very much, made some major blunders - e.g., the 600 yard gap at Federicksburg, which Meade and Gibbon used to effect a temporary breakthrough. So read the book and enjoy. But do not take its portrayals of Hill comrades as accurate - too many other sources tell us otherwise.

My forebears served under Hill from his assumption of the III Corps until their end and his. This work is the best I have found, but Hill remains an enigma in the end. One must wonder why Lee promoted his most impulsive and contentious Mj.General to Corps command, and must conclude that Longstreet was right when he concluded that the three corps arrangement was "too much Virginia." Robertson aptly titles his 2nd Day at Gettysburg chapter "Bystander to Defeat," but offers no real explanation for the usually agressive Hill's uninvolvement on this pivotal day. One is left to conclude that the unfinished grudge with Longstreet and rivalry with R. H. Anderson led Hill to malicious obedience to his orders and noninvolvement in the battle. Similar accusations caused the vilification of Longstreet, yet Hill escapes unscathed. Robertson does do what few others have by showing Hill's conscientious defense of the Petersburg lines. This portion of The War, so much like WWI, is the least covered and least understood period. Robertson is very helpful here. A good read and a valuable addition, but much is left unsaid.

Dr. Robertson the historian teams up with VA. Tech's former atheltic physician Dr. Bullock to determine the cause of AP Hill's famous decline after promotion in regards to health and action after he was promoted to Corps Commander after Jackson's death. While many though of Hill as a case of the "Peter Principal" it is apparent from the descriptions of Hill's physical decline and symptoms that Hill was slowly dying of syphllis. The inability of his kidneys to function properly caused Hill sleepless nights and left him virtually unable to command. This book is the first to determin ethecause of Hill's physoical collapse. Some very good descriptions of the impulsive Hill who starts the 7 Days campaign prematurely when Jackson is late or lost, his famous role at Harpers Ferry, his mercruial temperment with Longstreet and Jackson and his severe failure at Bristow Station where he launches his corps into a virtual ambush without any reconnoitering. His role at Gettysburg is somewhat of a mystery but his illness may have contributed. Best parts of the book center on Hill and his corps at Petersburg where his divisions would swing out of the trenches and into the woods and hit Grant's probing left flanks from vitually any angle. Interesting fact that Hill was burried four times after death due to some unique circumstances. Hill's legacy survives with less criticism than Lngstreet because the south was always kinder to their dead heroes than the living.

"you may be whatever you resolve to be," said stonewall jackson. even a supporter-in-arms of an aristocratic slave-owning minority who leads millions into savagely selfish internecine warfare? i guess that's for the individual to decide, albeit long after the fact. but isn't that what makes the study of history so thought-provoking? doesn't the search for objective truth keep us looking back through the ages to figure out more about who we were then, who we are today, and what we can become once again if we're not careful? i have to believe that, given thomas jackson's strong faith in god, it wasn't long after stonewall crossed the river and sat down to rest beneath the tree that he realized he'd made a horrible horrible decision in fighting for white supremacy and the slavery of his brothers and sisters on earth. i'm sure i'll discover regrets concerning certain decisions i've made in my life. won't we all?! still, don't be fooled by romantic recreations of the past. don't be fooled.

If you're seeking military maxims with applications in business or personal life... along the line of Sun Tzu... you won't find them here.

Unlike Lord Chesterfield's "Letters to his Son", from which many of the maxims herein were extracted, and George Washington's hand-copied "Rules of Civility...", both of which represent selections offered up as a lesson plan for the edification of youth; Jackson's collection provides a portrait of the man himself, defined by those particular guidelines he selected as necessary to fill the gaps he perceived in his social upbringing.

Jackson's well known social awkwardness and reticence in public is clearly delineated by his choices. Anyone seeking to understand Jackson will benefit from this book. However, Dr. Roberston errs by delving deeper into Chesterfield's work, and others, in seeking to add supporting text to each maxim, rather than exploring why Jackson chose it. The treasure here is not the maxim, but Jackson's selection of it.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a great book for people that like StoneWall, or don't have a lot of time to read. ( This is a short read). StoneWalls maxims can be used today as well. This book, also gives us a better understanding of this great American Hero. ( How hard General Jackson tried to be a perfect man, shines through, with this book. One can only admire General Jackson all the more)

It is well worth the time spent reading it.

As did Gilbert Moxley Sorrel (Longstreet), staff officer Walter Taylor offers his insights of the War of Southern Independence. Indeed, Taylor has rightful claim to his judgements, as his acquaitance with Lee offered him first-hand knowledge of events. However, I caution future readers that this is NOT a memoir or diary per se - Taylor rarely gives any unique slants to anything, and more often than not, seems occupied with setting the "numbers straight" - many, many, many tables and charts are provided giving the numbers available for this battle and that battle, etc...I suggest this book only for serious students of the war - and more particularly, those wanting "first-hand" data on "numbers." Of final interest, though, is Taylor's disdain for Hiram U. Grant (accurately recognizing Grant as a true butcher - merely throwing big numbers at an under-manned, under-supllied army) and the insertion of a speech given upon the anniversary of Genl Lee's birthday (albeit NOT written, or presented by Taylor himself)

Taylor's approach to covering the history of the Confederate struggle is encouraging to read. Though the title of this book tends to be a bit misleading. It should be called Four years of Confederate history. Taylor tends to describe battle movements and give calculations as to the manpower of divisions, brigades and regiments to a dragging sense. This books I recommend highly for those trying to get an accurate count of soldiers available for each battle, how many were casualties, after battle net amounts,etc.. Rarely are daily affairs of Lee covered. When I read this book I was disappointed to find out that it wasn't a book about General Lee and his daily livelyhood as I wanted to read about. Since Taylor was Lee's secretary I thought who better than to describe Lee's motives, attitudes, triumphs and defeats? Very rarely did Taylor ever mention Lee in this manner. Not enough to capture the man and tell his story. This book is a quick refresh of battles and movements throughout the war of the Army of Northern Virginia which hardly fits being called Four Years With General Lee. Credit is due to Taylor's ability to calculate total manpower and army positions throughout the four years though falls way short in covering Lee.

Wonderful book describing the massive work and devotion to duty that General Lee adhered to. Written by his A.A.G. A must read for southern patriots.

The beer reviews are fun to read but are wholely descriptive; not the comprehensive reviews one gets with Jackson. Robertson and his assistants (yes, read the intro, he didn't sample all the beers) focus on appearance, aroma, and flavor. I hunt beer as a hobby and found this book to be a great companion. For the most part, my impressions of beers have matched Robertson's, so the book was a great way for me to understand how the beers I sample compare to those that I cannot find. As pointed out by another, the beer world is rapidly changing and so this book is already out of date. Another point, scottish beer isn't peaty, that's an american invention.

Great book.. but it's getting old. There are many new breweries & beers not in the book. The reviews are good and fairly consistent. The book has the beer indexed by brewer, name, and state (US beers only). It really needs an index by type/rating as well.. it's difficult to find a highly rated beer of a certain type. The book is also biased towards 'holiday' beers that are unavailable.

this book is a bible of beers, regardless of whether or not you agree with Robertson's opinions... he hits the great beers (Salvator, Piraat, Aventinus, EKU 28, Orval, etc.) and the horrible ones... for someone just starting to discover the world of beers to all the self-proclaimed "beer experts" out there, this really is a comprehensive, well organized catalog... i was starting to think i was running out of beers to taste, now i have a whole list of targets! enjoy... keep it on the basement bar...