I had to use this textbook for a class, which you probably do to. So you probably have to buy this one. It was okay, not hard to read, but I won't be keeping it as a reference work. The authors definitely have an agenda, promoting certain kinds of nutrition over others with very little reasoning, also seems to act like a lot of alternative medicine couldn't possible work even when there are studies to the contrary. I guess it handles the rudiments of biology okay. I will be selling this when I'm finished with this semester.

Oh, and there appears to be both a hardcover and a paperback. I bought the paperback used, and it seems to have matched perfectly with the hardcover. Never even used the CD.

This book was very easy to read, I read the whole thing in a little over a week. Highly reccommended.

This book nicely rounds out the 'Crimson Skies' series, but an actual fighter pilot should have been consulted -- in my case, my brother in the Marines. None of the aircraft depicted had good situational visibility, like the real-world P-51 Mustang. Worse yet, the large number of models is inconsistent with the series' premise of an America split into several countries, because of the enormous engineering manpower and production capital required for even a single plane. America's vast warplane production of WWII came nowhere near having this many different planes. A multi-countried America certainly could not.

The Crimson Skies Aircraft Manual is a must for anyone remotely interested in the Crimson Skies universe. The manual details the history and armaments of each aircraft as well as any weaknesses. The only problem I have with the book is that the diagrams of each aircraft are far too similar. If the planes were really made by competing manufacturers and countries, the designs would reflect that. Other than that, the book is fantastic for casual enjoyment or hardcore gameplay.

While this small book is just right as an introductions to the questions one should ask about ancient civilizations in the Americans, it is not good for someone with some historical background. Indeed it best serves scholars interested in the ancient Americas better than anyone else.

As a citizen of the United States with close family ties to Britain, I was gripped by the meaning and power of this story. Richard Cromwell's newly illuminated life holds as much drama as any theater production, and it is history - history that was hidden from us until this book was published. The romance of Cromwell's relationship with his French wife, the intrigue of his anonymous travels, and the stories of his idealistic community-building work in New Jersey alone would make an excellent plot for a mystery film. But in addition, Richard was a key player in a life-and-death struggle between the monarchy and those who believed in government by the people. This is history that all of us should know, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

The Coming Conflict with China serves as a tabloid view of US-China relations for the next century. There is no question that friction between these powers exists and will continue without clear and unambiguous diplomatic signals passing between the countries. However, Bernstein and Munro appear to buy into the hypothesis that China is expansionist and aggressive, which at this point in history is an anachronistic view. In reality, China is indeed grappling with significant change and has a resurgence of self confidence due to its economic development and the reunification with Hong Kong. There is still apprehension in political circles as indeed the communist party is losing control of the provinces especially in the southeast. It is also no secret that Taiwan is an active investor in China and both sides will avoid conflict. The real party to watch is Japan which wants to encourage Sinophobia to reestabish its military. Unfortunately, the authors did not see beyond stereotypes or scratch beneath the surface of current events. Had they done so the book would have been more enlightening

This is not the most scholarly book you will ever read. Let that be said right away. Also, as has been mentioned before, this book takes all of its cues from Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations." However, for any devotees of Huntington's theories (of which I am one) this is an interesting investigation of the one area of the world where the U.S. has the greatest potential for conflict in the near future.

Bernstein and Munro write each chapter about what they feel is a potentially important issue concerning U.S.-China relations. However the best, most interesting ones are those regarding Taiwan and the "New China Lobby." Most of you have probabaly never heard of the New China Lobby before and they are undoubtedly happy to hear that. The New China Lobby is in effect an organization of American and Chinese businesses which use their money and power to influence political decisions in the United States and to a much lesser extent in China. The number of despicable actions which have been instigated by this lobby is staggering and you will inevitably shake your head in disgust as you read how spineless many of our politicians are, and how ruthless businesses in both countries are. Many of the actions taken by the U.S. government were done in order to protect American business in China, the best example given by the authors is in regards to the Boeing/Airbus struggle for the Chinese market. Yet there are numerous others which simply smack of greed. If you are interested in reading more evidence of how big business has hijacked American politics the New China Lobby chapter of this book will be of particular interest.

The rest of the book is well informed and clearly written. It does not, as other reviewers have implied, treat the Chinese strictly in a stereotypically racist manner. What it does do is attempt to talk about the issues rather than around them. It is also worth mentioning that the chapter on Taiwan is written mostly in a narrative format detailing a possible sequence of events which could lead to American involvement in a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Lastly, lest you fear that this book is all doom and gloom... fear not. Bernstein and Munro have a mostly positive outlook for the future and sincerely believe that it is more likely we will continue on without any armed conflict, they merely point out the circumstances that might lead to it.

A well-written and researched book. The authors take a realistic geo-political view of the relationship between China and the United States. Their focus on the regional hegemony that drives China's foreign policy is eye opening. There are definitely problems ahead for the U.S., if for no other reason than this nation's economic investment in the Pacific Rim. But obviously there are other reasons, not the least of which are our security interest with Japan and Taiwan.

Perhaps the most intriguing and, clearly, the most troubling assertions from the authors are their detailed explorations of the China Lobby. If true, it is a disaster in the making. The highlights of which can be glimpsed in the Clinton administrations potential betrayal of this nation's security interest. The careless and cavalier manner in which technology has been transferred to the Chinese reflects the unrealistic representation of the Chinese government, their goals, and their interest, as portrayed by this country's most distinguished statesmen acting as a China Lobby.

A must read to understand the 21st century's geo-political world.

The editor, Andrew Ross, describes this book as "an expanded edition" of a special issue of the journal "Social Text". Potential readers should be warned however that it is also an expurgated edition, from which Alan Sokal's celebrated parody of of recent socio-cultural jargon has been suppressed. One understands Professor Ross's chagrin at the cruel and unusual joke that Professor Sokal practised on him. However, the unadvertised deletion of Sokal's contribution is a hoax on the buyers of "Science Wars" who naturally expect to find in it the one item of the original publication that has received worldwide attention.

The subsequent reviewer found the current tome missing in scholarship, merely by not having reprinted Sokal's piece from the social text issue of the same name (science wars). If one cared to read through the book, however, one would notice a number of quite specific reasons for this: among these that the book is meant as a counter argument to Sokal, Levitt & Gross's readings of their fave foe: pomos and other dangerous 'leftists' (what does this mean?). It is no secret that these authors are fired by a profound hostility and unwillingness to engage with the material with which they are dealing. This has already been shown ad nauseam in the litterature (see for instance Callon's review in social studies of science). Nevertheless this book stands as a nice response to some of the worst nonsense that has come out of the sokal/gross tradition. Specifically one should not miss Hart's devastating analysis of Gross et al's 'scientific neutrality' and their analytical abilities in Higher Superstition. Other pieces such as Mike Lynch's are good too; some however, are merely perpetuating the current stand off in a nasty 'war' (among these both of Ross's pieces). So is this review, I presume. That said, I should stop. Read both sides before you judge, you might get to know a good bit about rhetorical wars from the putatively neutral and objective scientists (sokal, gross, koertge etc).

as a self-styled "expert" on multiracial people, i quickly snapped this book up, mostly because of its title (and because i'm trying to acquire a library on the subject). i should have read the flap and hesitated. Spenser has valid problems with the politics involved when the parents of multiracial people try to change, or even dispose of, our way of seeing race in America; i shared many of his complaints. but he then goes on to propose that creating a "mixed-race" category would divide the Black community (no mention of other races here) and serve to help white supremacy. his evidence? mostly anecdotal comments made about the creation of a mixed-race class in Apartheid South Africa. in an amazing leap of academic faith, he predicts the problems created by South Africa's "Coloured People" will repeat themselves in the slightly (?) different racial climate of the United States. his other sources include African-American, but perhaps ashamed of being multiracial, commentator Lisa Jones and many outdated books on race relations (I had trouble finding a reference to any book written after 1980). simply put, this isn't convincing or particularly interesting. i also found it rather insulting that he would attack the "mixed-race movement" without bothering to consider the people most involved in the process--mixed-race people themselves. our diversity can't be represented by a small, but vocal group of bourgeois Black folk and their white spouses. the vast majority of mixed-race people i know aren't pushing for "racelessness" or assimilation, but Spenser found an easy target in some people who do. i suspect he found a hot topic and saw his opportunity to get published. don't get duped like i did.

Jon Michael Spencer's perspective on mixed identity is behind the times, to say the least. He makes false analogies to South Africa's Coloured population when critiquing the problematic aspects of multiracial people and their quest for a social identity in the U.S. While America has a long way to go when it comes to racial inequality, the nature and context of racial inequality has undergone major transformations. (His analogies don't work so simply and compactly). I have to say, while I do disagree with Spencer on most accounts, what I appreciate about his work is that he expresses a viewpoint and perspective shared by many --especially our brothers and sisters of color. I think it's a counterpoint perspective we should acknowledge. Certainly, we have seen political conservatives like John Sununu, Newt Gingrich, Ward Connerly, etc. latch onto the "multiracial cause," using mixed-race people as ploy to dismantle the gains of the Civil Rights Movement. I don't blame those like Spencer for being weary. However, te "new multiracial consciousness" is more complex than Spencer's simplistic Black-versus-White analysis. Race in America, while important to examine from the Black-versus-White lens, has become more and more complex (interstructured) w/ a whole array of other issues like gender, sexuality, class, immigrant status/generation complicating matters. (READ Paul Spickard's chapter in Rethinking Mixed-Race, edited by David Parker & Miri Song for a critique on Spencer's work).

scymanski has an ok story here. price has a good one about the gorgon. that one was very enjoyable, and had some lovely details. otherwise, this was dreary read. so many of these stories were not only badly invented, but seemed so uninspired to. i almost felt sorry for the writers, for making so bad stories. i think this is chaosium's worst.