This book would be a wonderful introduction to Celtic myths for a middle-grade student. The reading level is about fifth grade, but stronger readers would enjoy it. The writing style is such that it would make a good read-aloud book in a classroom. The stories are neatly connected to each other where appropriate. Several of the traditional Celtic figures are here: Cuhullain, Finn MacCumhal, and Lugh. Saint Patrick makes an appearance in a very Celtic context. These stories are short but vivid and well-told in ordinary language that still has a tone of magic about it. The stark black and white illustrations are very effective. It's similar in strengths to the author's "Irish Animal Tales," which would appeal to the same group of young readers.

Made In America details how American Evengelicalism is more a propduct of the American Entrprenuerial spirit than Evengelical. It details clearly the shift that took place between the God-centered focus of the 1st Great Awakening to the man-centered focus of the 2nd Great Awakening.

The first awakening involved a focus on correct teaching. God was seen as the active party in Salvation creating faith in the hearts of belivers through the means of the preached Word. Worship, doctrine and life were all based upon the clear, consistent teaching of Christ as redeemer, living a life in obedience to God's requirements in the place of the sinner, and His sacrificial death in the place of the sinner. Christ was the active party bringing one to faith (throught the means of preaching Christ) and keeping them saved (through the same means.) The 1st awakening was a continuation of the Reformation that started in the 17th century.

The theology shifted drastically between the two awakenings. In reaction to the enlightenment, the ideas of a soveregn 'God who saves and sustains sinners' did not play well in the American Frontier. Rugged American individualism demanded a theological system with a much more optimistic view of mankind. Augustianian beliefs in mankind's total deprvity and inability to please God did not fit well with a lifestyle of people who had fought for independence and conquered a frontier. John Wesley had been preaching (in England) about mankind's ability to turn to God of his own volition, and this mixed much better with the optimistic view so common in America. This lead to the 2nd Awakening in which mankind was to turn to God on his own. The content of preaching shifted from Christ and Him crucified to Man needing to make himself Holy before God.

In this system, a large focus was placed on emotionalism. Emotional appeals were made to get a person to "make a decision for Christ". A new hymnody was developed which focus on mankind's feelings about God instead of God and his attributes. In many of these hymns, such as "In the Garden", Christ is almost seen as a lover of the singer. Sentimentalism about an "idea" of Christ, and of the day when one "made his decision" were severly stressed. One promoter of this viewpoint, Charles Finney, even viewed salvation as being completely the work of man, denying the supernatural in regeneration.

The focus of the preaching in the 2nd awakening was all "Do This" oriented. Christ's perfect obiedience in the place of the sinner was (and is ) absent. The sermon on each Sunday was 'doing better' or 'steps and principles to the victorious Christian Life'.

The Reformation understanding of "simultaneously justified and sinful" was dismissed. The church was not a collection of redeemed sinners, but of victorious people. The 10 commandments were replaced with extra-biblical taboos (such as smoking, drinking, dancing, seeing movies, etc.) that Christ himseld had no concern about. Sin was seen as something 'out there', not as something in each human heart.

Hence, the "outcomes based Christianity" that exists today. Most religous discouxse today is a product of this human centered focus. Evengelcalism has developed a Christian subculture with a "spirit-filled" equivolent of most secular activites.

I have a distinct bias in this. As a 'recovering fundementalist', I can state that confronting the history of the 'outcomes based faith' as profiled in this book, I was able to free myself of many man-centered, man-created false ideologies that had so warped my world-view. This text played a large part in leading me to reformation orthodoxy.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

John J. Lazarchi

This hardcover book chronicles the major motorcycle championships of 96-97. Most of all the pictures in the book are excellent.

The article on italy's newest sensation, Valentino Rossi, was quite informative. A look into the background of a gifted rider.

There are a few faults in the book. One will find reading the commentary of the first few races quite exciting, but, after reading a few more races, one notices the commentary becomes repetitive and no longer exciting. The section on the technology was not satisfying, there could have been a showcase of all the major manufacturer's bikes detailing differences between it and last year's machine. All in all there were very few faults, an excellent buy for any two wheeled fan.

-Patrick Armitage-

This text provides a quick, concise review of the pimary topics covered on emergency medicine exams. I found it to be a good way to prepare for inservice exams and the written boards.

In this book, Mr. Scott recounts with resounding clearness the history of the Packard Motor Car Company from its creation in 1899 to its final disappearance in 1959. He spells out the company's successes, and (most importantly) its failures. The book includes many beautiful pictures, and a number of reproductions of documents.

On the down side, the author begins the book with an attack on the internal combustion engine, something that seems strikingly out of place in such a book. Secondly, at times the author seems to lose focus, with the final chapters of the book meandering between a defense of his restored 1940 car, reminisces about Packards, and one final attack on fossil fuels. And my final complaint is that this book does not contain even one color photo.

Overall, though, this is a very good book. If you are interested in Packards, you should read this book.

This is a good book so far. I must admit that I'm not finished yet having only got it 2 days ago but I'm already to page 120-something. It's very interesting; great interviews w/ people I've heard about on Rocky sites and didn't know much about, so this book really helped me. It's amusing. My only complaint would be that everybody kind of seems to dump on Richard O'Brien in this book and I had always liked Riffy so that kind of bothered me, but all in all it's a good book.

I enjoyed reading your book. A friend of mine, knowning that I had written the story also, and am awaiting its printing, brought me a copy. Your illustrator is very good. I enjoyed his work. Somehow, I got the impression that Remus becomes the leader of the village. Am I correct. If so, that is not what Joplin was about. He was about female leadership. That is why she asked the question to the crowd three times in three different ways. That is also why the opera was not picked up by the publishers. Woman sufferage was a sore topic at that time, and would not have created a reason for another million dollar block buster for them. Joplin was way ahead of his time in that aspect. I have a friend whose father was in Joplin's band, and she was able to give me added insight to the man. I'm glad you did the book. Nevilla E. Ottley

"Gone for Soldiers" focuses almost exclusively on the relationship between and experiences of General Winfield Scott and Captain Robert E. Lee during the Mexican-American War. Readers looking for much more will be disappointed. The war at large and the exploits of many of it's primary figures, including General Zachary Taylor and his major role in the conflict, are virtually ignored. However, when viewed as a prequel to Jeff Shaara's "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure", as well as his father's "The Killer Angels", this book is a worthy addition to the narrative thread the two men have woven. "Gone for Soldiers", while the least exciting of the narratives, is still an engaging and enjoyable read. Shaara, like his father, breathes life into the sometimes one-dimensional figures of history by using the historical fiction genre to give voice to their unrecorded musings and conversations. For readers looking for a more balanced history of the war, John Eisenhower's "So Far From God" is strongly recommended for it's thorough treatment of the subject. The "Class of 1846" by John Waugh is also an outstanding book for those interested in the pre-Civil War story of that war's participants.

Having brought the Civil War to life through his continuation of his father's classic, "The Killer Angels," Jeff Shaara has now ressurected one of America's most forgotten wars, the Mexican War.

In his latest novel, Mr. Shaara introduces us to many of the Civil War's greatest leaders as they learn their craft under fire in Mexico. The book follows the exploits and deeds of one General Winfield Scott as he leads the campaign to defeat Santa Anna's army.

At his side is a young engineer, Capt. Robert E. Lee. Shaara's portrayal of Lee as a young officer, unsure of his untested abilities and his place in the command structure, is truly wonderful. It is a whole different Lee than the polished General of the Civil War. With each new mission Scott assigns him, we can see Lee grow and mature as an officer.

Many of the other men who would later become Generals are also with Lee in Mexico, Grant, Jackson, Meade, Johnston, Pickett, Longstreet, albeit as Lieutenants. They are not given the same in depth treatment as Lee, but already you can see their abilities developing for command.

General Scott and Santa Anna are also portrayed in manners rarely seen. Few modern Americans have heard of Scott, which is a shame since he was one of the best Generals in our early history. Santa Anna is usually mentioned only in conjunction with the Alamo, but here he is given a very fair treatment.

Overall I would say this book is every bit as good as the Shaaras' works on the Civil War. Once again Jeff Shaara has restored life to a long dead period of our nation's history.

For those who have an interest in the American Civil War and in some of the more noted people who became involved in the conflict, will be able to see some of these people at the early stages when all fought on the same side. This "Prequil" to use the term is fitting for this book by Jeff Sharra. Gone For Soilders: A Novel of the Mexican War. Is a very insightful historical fiction. Though the story revolves more around Robert Lee, Jeff Sharra does introduce the reader to an early Sam Grant and James Longstreet.

Like his father before him who's book Killer Angels brought to life again the battle of Gettysbugh as seen through the eyes of some of the people found in Gone For Soilders. The characters are well fleshed out and the story moves along well. It should help bring more people to read up on Pre-Civil War America and some of the men whos names are covered in this fine novel.

I am in agreement with most of the others on here. I absolutely loved the first two books. And have been waiting anxiously for the third to come out. The characters are well written and you really get a feel for them and we have been left hanging on their fate. This is a problem that just wont do to be continued as such! I really hope they will reconsider and write that third book. If just to bring a finality to the whole thing!!

This book continues the tale as vividly as did the first. I have recommended this series to all my friends and family. I have read both books numerous times and have enjoyed them more each time. My only complaint is having to wait for the next one. If you like fantasy that rivals LORD OF THE RINGS, and THE BELGARIAD, it's a must buy!!!!

Well picking up the second of the series, I was not disappointed, it really got into the whole story line, and developed the characters to their peaks. Taking from the Irish Celtic Mythology of Nuada Airegetlamh a leader of the Tuatha De Danann, it has truly given another view of the myths of all times. IT IS WITH GREAT DISPLEASURE THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE FINAL BOOK. If you read this, write to Baen Books and tell them you too are anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this fine series, one so masterfully done, cannot be left incomplete.

That's the Cliff Note version for those of you, like me, who have this as required reading before a big 'brand summit'.

Everything else was rehashed, renamed, or retreaded.

Read it on the plane in about 30 minutes, regardless of the heft.

Don't let the somewhat intimidating word "operationalize" keep you from investigating the pages of Building The Brand-Driven Business: Operationalize Your Brand to Drive Profitable Growth (Jossey-Bass, 2002). What authors Scott Davis and Michael Dunn show is that brand-building can and should be supported through more than just MarCom initiatives. The retail clerk who actually smiles at and is helpful to customers does far more to support the brand than the priciest ad campaigns - as Wal-Mart has long-since discovered and McDonald's apparently has yet to grasp. The authors posit that building those supporting behaviors and mind-sets (not to mention systems and processes) and then using the brand promise as an integral measure for business decisions is what "operationalizing" is all about. It's interesting positioning that's perhaps ahead of its time - but certainly one that non-marketing, senior decision makers should relate to. There's a lot of confusion among non-marketers as to what "brand" is and isn't. The authors make a case for elevating it to an entirely different level in the organization.

Before I read this book, I never thought of a retail clerk or a customer service representative as a company's brand ambassador. But what the authors explain is that brand building should be supported by more than just the people in the marketing department. Certainly, brand has become the strategy du jour among marketing people these days, as evidenced by the number of books on the market. However, this book treats brand in a different context, defining it through the concept of "operationalizing" it, bringing it to life through a company's processes, systems and employees. It makes a great deal of sense that a company's senior executives must embrace the brand and its promise by linking it to the company's corporate strategy, so it becomes part of the culture. Several case studies in the book are helpful for understanding why so many well-known brand names have been successful by using similar techniques to bring their brand to life across the organization.