This is a beautiful book of photographs of cemetary sculptures. Though I have artistic opinions on whether photographing another person's art makes one an artist, this is certainly a lovely collection. However, there is very little written about the sculptures or cemeteries they came from. It is literally a picture book. If you are looking for scholarship on sculptures in cemeteries, this is a poor source. There isn't even enough information about each of the sculptures to research them, basically just a location identifying each. But it is a very nice book of photos nonetheless.

I take photographs of cemetery sculpture and many of the images in this book I have seen for myself and though I have my own pictures on my walls, I think this collection of photos is "breathtaking". I had not realized the depth of sculpture in Milan cemeteries. This book contains no text on any sculpture, except its whereabouts, and it is all I need. For people like myself who find peace when wandering through a graveyard this collection makes me wish to grab my camera and go.

This is not scholarly, it is as the title says "Images of Women in European Cemeteries" and you won't get very much information about who did the carving, what they were thinking draping a nude woman over their grave, or even who's grave she is indeed draped on. What you will get are many many lovely black and white photos, that are really finely taken. I should point out that I love cemeteryies and photography and this is really a little book I could get into.... if you do like photography ... check out Wee Gee as well.

Utopia is a classic masterpiece that conveys More's vivid imagination of the Island of Utopia. Although most of the characters are fictional, it is intriguing to learn about the true values of European societies during the 16th century, when More actually wrote the book (although many scholars believe that the exact year was 1515). Truthfully, the book is quite easy to understand. All More tries to do is convey his own views of how society should be through Raphael. Moreover, the use of imagery in Book I is quite fascinating, including the constant references to Roman and Greek myths and beliefs. It is also quite remarkable to see that the story begins to be more and more interesting after More and Giles come back from dinner. To make a long story short, I think it is a great book because of the actual time it was written in since most pieces of literature written at that time were either lost or destroyed.

As a social critique of Enlgish and European society, this book is very effective. It is also beautifully written. But it should not be read as the depiction of what society should be like. Thomas More, a wise and brave man executed by orders of Henry VIII, knew that Utopia shouldn't be taken very seriously, and that is exactly why he used the word Utopia to name his famous island. Utopia, in latin, means "in no place", that what can not exist. The problem is that this simple fact was not understood by many. And so, "utopianism" was born. The preposterous belief that there is a universal and definitive form of organization for human societies led to disasters like Nazism and Communism. By organizing everything perfectly (according to who?), these systems become the negation of the very essence of the human being: its innate imperfection and its need to be constantly changing, always on the move. It is simply impossible that some political, economic and social system resolves once and for all the troubles of humanity. Problems are exactly what make humans progress and reform constantly. Besides, the State has proven indispensable for survival, but also limited in what it can accomplish (in Utopia, the State provides everything for everybody). Stagnant societies degenerate and disappear, or remain to live from the charity of dynamic societies. Closed, perennial social systems, simply don't work: there is abundant proof in history, ancient or recent. "Utopia" is an excellent account of human shortcomings and a good tale, but it is not, nor was intended to be, a recipe with solutions for the world. Aldous Huxley and George Orwell have shown us what might happen in a supposed Utopia. The Communist world was worse. And Anthony Burgess clearly shows us in "A Clockwork Orange", that in "perfect" societies, the only way to practice freedom is violence. Let's not be perfect.

It's unfortunate that it seems as if most of these reviews were written by people whose only knowledge of More has come from the (mostly incorrect) opinions they have formed after reading this book. I don't think one can truly understand its import until he or she understands where Moore is at this point in his life and what he previously wrote ("Life of Pico", for example) and what he wrote later (while in prison, perhaps). No, he wasn't expressing his views through Raphael. In fact, it's clear that Raphael is an opinionated fibber (i.e., he discovered Utopia after Vespucci's fourth voyage? There were only three and Morus knows it...) and his account is purposefully filled with contradictions. There's more to it! More is raising issues, trying to make the careful reader think (and shame on some of the other reviewers for not being careful readers). And once you've read this book, read enough More (ha!) to understand what was going on in the bigger scheme of things, such as More's relationship with the other Renaissance humanists of his time and Henry VIII.

The theory sounds like it would work: take the basics of how a monasatery is run and apply it to raising a family. I don't think the author pulls if off well. I was especially affronted at his ideas about using separation as a means of discipline for children. His use of the concept is not like, the same thing as a time out for a three year old. It's not an awful book or anything, he just didn't convince me that the monastic life is transferrable to a family situation.

What a fresh perspective on family life. Having read a number of books about family life and raising children in a messed up world, this book has given my wife and I a new look at being a family.

Combining the tradition of the Benedictine order and his own experience, David Robinson's first book challenges the hectic lifestyle which so many families are caught up in today. It suggests a framework within which to truly be a family.

Habits shape our lives. And this great book, suggests we create wonderful habits to shape our family life. I'd like to say more, but as this fine work encouraged me, I am off to spend time with my family

If you like Dougal Dixon's other works (After Man, The New Dinosaurs etc.) then you will just love this one. You will have the chance to meet a huge number of the once existed dinosaurs face to face. Dixon's narrative is amazing and clear, easy to understand for the layman, too, but also scientifically accurate. Go on, order this one!

I purchased Lean Bodies, Swimsuit Lean, and Lean Bodies Cookbook all at the same time. Swimsuit Lean had no new information, it's more like cliff notes for the Lean Bodies book. The only difference besides having a lot less information is that it has lots of before and after pictures that aren't even very convincing. The pictures take up almost 1/3 of the already short book. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and aren't going to read it anyway, this is the book for you.

Here I am again on the plan. Two years ago, I lost 10 pounds and one size on the 30 day plan. But I went back to my old habits, became sedentary, and gained back that weight plus some. I started a couple of months ago with exercise, no dietary modifications. No luck! I have been on this plan again for a week and I can feel it working already. This is the only plan that works for me, personally. I just hope I can stick with it for longer than 30 days!

I did the book, the first leanbodies book, back when it was very new and I lost 10 pds in the first 3 weeks. I was very excited, yes, the prep-arations are time consuming, but if you pre-cook, soups and stews, and chicken, fish etc, and freeze, you do save the hassle of last minute preparation, as cliff does suggest. I know i have tried numerous other programs without this quick success.I would like to hear from some more positive e-mails. You can contact me personally.

Robinson Crusoe is the perfect treat for the wilderness lover. The novel takes the reader on a journey through many hardships that the main character encounters in order to display just how trying nature can be. Almost every new day, Crusoe must find and develop a new survival tactic in order to stay alive. There are several reasons why one should engulf in reading this book.
Robinson Crusoe displays strength and incredible will to survive. This can be very inspiring to someone who does not have a lot of confidence in themselves. Crusoe has faith in himself and God, believing that he will be guided in the right direction. God plays a large role in his everyday life. Crusoe never was a religious man before he was stranded on the island, but he believed God had allowed him to be the sole survivor of the shipwreck for a reason and he owed it to God to be the best man that he could be.
Another reason to read this book is that it shows that one can do whatever they put their mind to. Crusoe worked long and hard to create things that will facilitate his survival and make things more convenient for himself. He creates a protective shelter, makes his own tools, baskets, and pots, and even grows and raises his own food.
This book will also get many people to realize just how good their lives actually are. Many, not all, of us have lives that are not threatened by wondering how we will get our next meal or if someone or something is out to hunt us down, but Crusoe must face these dilemmas and find ways to secure himself. The wonderful thing about this novel is that it shows how difficult these tasks can be, yet Crusoe does not give up and he pursues his goals until they are accomplished.
This novel can instigate someone to try something new that perhaps thay were uneasy about doing before. Robinson is faced with so many new surroundings at once, yet deals with them so well. If he would have panicked, he eventually would have starved to death. Instead, Crusoe thinks logically and pursues what is needed to survive.
Robinson Crusoe is an amazing adventure novel that explores the life of a very strong-willed man. The main character tells his own story and it is as if he is speaking directly to the reader, which makes it seem even more like reality. Daniel Defoe has written a great novel.

With Robinson Crusoe, Daniel DeFoe transformed liturature forever. In his time, the novel did not exist as we know it today. Through Robinson Crusoe, DeFoe helped created this genre that we love today. Many people judge this book by today's standards; however, DeFoe wrote this book long before today's novel completely developed. This book is not only great for its creativity as a new genre, but also is wonderful for its adventurous plot. If you've ever seen Gilligan's Island, read Jules Verne's Mysterious Island, or heard any stories about someone stranded on a desert island, you are just hearing another rehashed version of DeFoe's story.

As with many "classics," the story of Robinson Crusoe has been around for so many years that we're all familiar--we think--with Mr. Crusoe and his "man" Friday. But the story of the ill-fated Mr. Crusoe is more than just a story about a man who is stranded on a desert island, it is a story, like that of the biblical Jonah, of a man running from responsibility and destiny, who ultimately finds it in the most unlikely place--within himself. The book does contain some pretty graphic violence and archaic thoughts about slavery, but gives you a real taste of what life was like both in the "civilized" world and Crusoe's island kingdom. This edition (edited by Joe Wheeler)has beautiful reproductions of the original wood-cut illustrations and a comprehensive introduction that gives background into the life and times of Daniel Defoe. A must read!

There's not many classic books that are more well known than "The Swiss Family Robinson." A Swiss family is stranded on an uninhabited island and there doesn't seem to be any rescues that are lingering around the corner for many years. Soon the family is taming tons of new pets, fighting off animals such as anacondas and lions, and learning how to basically survive off the land the best they can. The Robinson family must keep an eye out for danger while also starting a whole new way of life for themselves.

I thought "The Swiss Family Robinson" was a spectacular adventure/survival book. You can say that the book is pretty much a long diary that is kept by the father of the family of everything that happens to them on the island. The book I read did have many references to God unlike some of the abridged editions. The only thing I didn't like about "The Swiss Family Robinson" is that when the family starts collecting and taming many animals that they find on the island, it gets a little tough to keep up with all the animals' names, but that wasn't bad enough to take anything away from the book for me.

I recommend anybody who likes survival or adventure books, especially if you like reading the classics, to get "The Swiss Family Robinson." I would recommend getting an unabridged version of the book if you can so you won't miss a word.

But let's be clear right up front. My 5-star rating of this book applies only to the original unabridged version in Johann Wyss' own words. The modernized versions are watered down, time-wasters for word wusses.

When I was nine years old I spent months struggling through this book for the first time. The old style language made for rough going, but I persevered. In the end I was rewarded with more than a classic tale marvelously told; I discovered a love of books and earned self-respect for tackling a tough read.

If I was a teacher whose task it was to introduce students to classic literature, I would skip Dickens and use this book. Kids love adventure, animals, and action. Swiss Family Robinson has it all. It's really a thriller disguised as a literary classic. All book lovers should read this one at least once.

And please don't watch the Disney movie and claim you've "been there, did that" on this story. The movie is totally different and in no way compares.

Never mind the film versions; the original unabridged Swiss Family Robinson is an exciting epic with a lot in it for the whole family.

Our third grade teacher read to us from this book every day and I could hardly wait for the next installment. Finally I got my own copy for a birthday gift, sat on the couch and read it cover to cover in one go. I still have this book, decades later.

From the opening, thrilling tempest scene to the very end and the "rescue", this book has plenty of action as well as creative solutions to problems. There is a lot of material for discussion, how the family solved problems, how they handled disagreements, adversity, disappointment, building of character.

This book definitely teaches values along with the adventure and the values are linked in such a way as to be an integral part of the story.

And Swiss Family Robinson is never boring. There is always an exciting new beast to be discovered, a new plant to use for food or clothing, a new machine or tool to be built, a new part of the island to explore. This is a wonderful book to read out loud to kids until they are old enough to enjoy reading it themselves. If you are bored with re-runs on TV, turn off the box and spend a half-hour or hour every evening reading this aloud. Everyone will have a great time, and kids who are read to, become readers themselves.

This book is NOT for you if you are scoring higher than 1300 in your SATs. First, all the questions will be WAY too easy for you, especially the verbal section. I have this book and the Barrons, and the KAPLAN. I took practice tests from Barrons/Kaplan, and I scored about 1340. I did the practice tests from Princeton's Review and it's up by almost 80 points.(70 points coming from the verbal section!) Because it's easier, it will give you confidence about the SATs. But you must also realize that the REAL SATs are not THAT easy.(just a note: I scored 1350 in the REAL SATs, which is close to the BARRON/KAPLAN score but much lower than the Princeton Review) If you're buying this to build vocabulary, buy WORDSMART, or BARRONS SAT. They have much more words for you than this easy book. BUT!! I HAVE TO ADD that this WILL be helpful to those who score in the range of 1000's. I have seen people with those scores who got 100-point boost after studying this book, one aspect being self-confidence and some humorous material.

I've not read this year's edition, but I'm familiar with the editions of previous years. Without a doubt, this is the best test preparation book I have ever read, and I have read no small number of them. As others have pointed out, some of the strategies the authors describe border on the obvious, but these are sufficiently important, few, and entertainingly presented that this small lapse is quite acceptable. The book's practice tests are refreshingly indistinguishable from real SATs; they are certainly the best available, though those in Kaplan's SAT book are quite good as well.

Many reviewers have declared this book to be insufficient for those who seek high scores. I disagree strongly. Good advice is good advice, even if presented in a manner less than ceremonial. Pedantic word lists assembled without attention given to what words will likely appear on the SAT, though impressive and temptingly concrete, are not the best use of any preparer's time. Of greater importance than a presentation of all the math and English needed for the SAT is a thorough, insightful walking through of SAT questions, and that's where this book shines.

This book, the College Board's book of ten real SATs, and a functioning noggin are all anyone needs to succeed on the SAT. But if you've got money to spare, you might try the Kaplan book, too -- another look at strategy and a few more realistic practice tests can only help.

I have not yet taken the SAT. On practice tests, my scores started as low as 1440 but have since climbed well into the 1500's -- even to the point of a 1590 most recently. More than to any strategy, I attribute the improvement to increased familiarity with the test, and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the contribution this book has made.

First of all, I must stress the point that many people say is bad about this book. People say that it doesn't teach the material on the SAT. It just helps you out by giving tips and such. While this is true, that is the point of the SAT. You cannot try to learn the SAT material in a book. The people who try to do this usually do not do well. You just need help on taking the test. If you don't know the material, then you wouldn't be scoring well on the SAT. I made a 1300 before this book, and then my score jumped to 1540. I knew most of the material but I fell for a lot of traps. So if you are making decent scores and know the material, this book will help you a lot.

I thought that this book was extremely helpful in preparing for the SAT's. Having read the other reviews on this book I must disagree with some of the comments that were made. This is a review book and not meant to make up for lack of effort in previous math classes. It cannot teach you everything but I found it to be very helpful in improving my score from the PSAT's to the SAT's. For the one reviewer who thought this was the wrong book for anyone who wanted over a 650, he is wrong. I got a 620 on math PSAT's but a 740 on my math SAT's. This improvement I owe greatly to the review done with this book.

I used this book in 9th grade and got a 700. Nothing else needed to be said. The best I've found.

The Sat Math Workout contains information and test taking skills vital to one's improvement on the SAT math. They cover the needed information from arithmetic to algebra to geometry and they include test taking methods for the average to above average person to effectively do well against the clock. The book has hundreds of test sections, all of varying degrees of difficulty. At the end of the book, you should be able to see your improvement right in front of your own eyes!

The original publishing date was in the early 1970's, and no information seems updated(even the pictures). The content leans more toward rabbit breeding and is more for someone who wants to learn about all the various breeds of rabbits rather than those who want to learn about their first pet rabbit.

this book is really cool. I can't beleive how someone could be so good with rabbits like they are. I have a rabbit & this book has helped me so much. I thank you so much. She would be dead if you didn't write this book. She says thanks too.

This book is filled with a wide variety of colored photos of the different types of rabbits. It also provides a good description of rabbit care and housing. In addition, there are medical tips and photos illustrating the results of poor care.

This is a useful guide for the young or old rabbit owner who may wish to explore other breeds. Excellent photos. Compact book.