I haven't read a book in a long time that I actually really enjoyed every chapter. Biling's doesn't confuse the reader with battlefield strategy or complicating the obvious. He doesn't reflect on battle scenarios with upmost detail after 20 years either. This is a great book for anyone looking to learn about daily soldier life. Bilings captures the daily grind and life of being a Federal soldier while offering humor and straight forward realities that get the mind ticking. The stories make truth stranger than fiction and is a welcomed charge of quick information. It is easy to suggest this book to younger readers as well as the information is clean,concise and well written. I would definately recommend this book for all as many ages can benefit from this educational and entertaining book of soldier life.

There are numerous histories of the Civil War and some have become classics. Most of these focus on battles and great heroes. Billings, however, a Civil War veteran, writes about the daily life of the average soldier. We learn about the soldier's motivation to fight, camp discipline, diet, housing, medical care, recreation and just about everything else that comprised the life of the Civil War era soldier. Billings' book is serious yet he manages to write in a lighthearted tone, replete with levity. This is a great book to round out a Civil War buff's study of the great conflict.

I would have loved to had this book when I was a child. The non-linearity of the chapters makes it a perfect "browser's book" -- a book which you can pick up and flip open to any page and read interesting, amusing and humorous accounts of day to day life in the Civil War army. This is one of the most fun books I've picked up in a long time.

This lovely little volume is a gift that keeps on giving. Its essays are simple, elegant, soulful, inspiring. And thought-provoking. You may well find yourself searching your own Christmas memories, and finding gems you had long forgotten. Which is what this book is all about -- seeing, hearing, remembering those things we take for granted, and cherishing them anew. This is a book to feed the heart, and the soul. And it's just the right size for stocking stuffing!

The kind of collection that is a great gift during the holidays for anyone - it reminds us of the spirit of the season and connects us to our past, our hopes, and the more important meaning of our lives! Great gift for family members, co-workers, neighbors and for anyone on your list!!

John Shea can make the stories in the Bible come alive like no other. The sory of The Woman at the Well has been an inspiration to me. I read this story to whoever I can and whenever I can. John Shea was the author I read most to my Youth Group. I thank God his style was introduced to me.

Another wonderful book from John Shea. As in "The Legend of the Bells..." Shea has collected stories from various religious traditions and from everyday life; the stories are all short and simple, yet each contains a wonderful seed of wisdom and insight. Better yet, after each story Shea offers his reflections, insights and feelings, which serve to illuminate and inspire futher. A perfect book for spiritual growth, quiet reflection, and the sheer joy of hearing and sharing the stories of others.

Sheer genius. Is there anyone in this genre better than Shea

A funny, heart-warming, masterpiece. Shea has done it again

John Shea's "Measured Drawings of Museum Classics" is itself a classic. It is not just a book about furniture; he carefully includes enough information on the Shakers, their history and their religion to give the reader an appreciation and understanding of the people and their passion for piety, humility, industry and kindness. It was these virtues that gave birth to their beautiful classical simple and elegant furniture -- which has been admired by "the world's people" for two hundred years.

During his preparation to write his book, John visited several Shaker communities and museums. At Sabbathday Lake and Canterbury, he was fortunate to meet the surviving members of the Shakers including Mildred Barker and Gertrude Soule, both of whom have now passed away. Written in 1971, it includes pictures of Shaker buildings, woodenware and furniture from five of the Shaker communities and ten museums.

I have owned my copy for several years. I recently bought copies to give to two friends for Christmas, both experienced woodworkers, who indicated a desire to build furniture. It is inexpensive and completely in black and white but it contains pictures and measured drawings of 87 Shaker furniture and woodenware. In addition, it has pictures of hundreds of other shaker items and a wealth of information about the people and their communities.

He includes adequate step-by-step instructions of the assembly and finishing of three simple projects - a candle stand, a step stool and a bench. The instructions for cutting dovetails for the step stool is particularly helpful to a new furniture student.

Of all the books about the Shakers and their furniture, this is probably the best low cost, balanced introduction to the Shakers, their way of life and their furniture.

I was impressed by the detail of the Shaker way of life. I was looking for ideas and drawings,and I found out that the Shakers were very resourceful and inventive. This is a must read if you want to make Shaker furniture.

This book is a must for all Rickey fans. Henderson holds little back in his autobiography. He's a touch arrogant, but he's earned that right; with the single season set (and likely not to be broken in today's baseball) and the career mark out of reach. If you like Rickey, then you'll like this book.

This book simply shows how good Rickey Henderson is, both on the field and off. He takes you behind the scenes of his 20 year career in the major leagues and what it took for him to get there. From the early little league games in Oakland to his 939th Stolen Base...Rickey Henderson is truly a living legend in what he does....BEING THE GREATEST LEADOFF HITTER OF ALL TIME!!

'The Beast Within' is unique in that it speaks to the difficulties encountered by military personnel *after* their tour of duty. The horrors of war have been well documented, and rightly so. However, the horrors of life *after* war, unfortunately, have not been voiced. The Beast Within breaks the silence - and shares that which is known to Veterans and no one else: the difficulties in resuming a non-military life in an environment where understanding and gratitude are too often overshadowed with prejudices, indifference and apathy - an environment that assumes 'he'll be OK now that he's home'. The Beast Within challenges the belief that the government provides for those who served and enables its soldiers to rejoin society after forcing them from it. The Beast Within sheds light on the fact that the military mindset is unlike anything else - and that real assistance and resources are necessary to adapt to a life where death and destruction are no longer the focus of one's everyday being, i.e., a life after war.

These 2 tapes are excellent. I was preparing to give an Advent retreat at my church, and I had seen Fr. Shea on retreat a few times, but I was not prepared for the treat that these two tapes gave me. I listened to them every day during Advent, and these enriched my entire Christmas season. Fr. Shea's wonderful spirit of humor and deep love of the Lord really come through on these tapes. He is one of the best storytellers anywhere. You'll love these tapes!

I don't have the second edition of this book but did read the first, and the authors do a fine job of introducing the reader to the computational side of algebraic geometry. I will forego a chapter by chapter review therefore, but no doubt the second edition (which I do not own) is as well-written as the first. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the many applications of algebraic geometry and to those who need to understand how to compute things in algebraic geometry. The good thing about this book is that it gives a concrete flavor to a highly abstract subject. Algebraic geometry, through its applications to coding theory, cryptography, and computer graphics, is fast becoming the subject to learn. It is no longer just an esoteric, high-brow subject but one that is taking on major importance in the information age. Even without applications though it is a fascinating subject, and readers will get a taste of this in this book.

This is the easiest introduction to algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, the authors had done a great job in writing a book that assume very little from the readers. To learn some algebraic geometry, you can either start with this book, or you can spend a year to read a lot of background materials in algebra and then go to a Graduate Text like Harris' book. Of course, if you want to be an expert in algebra, you eventually need a lot of background, what this book can help you is to offer you a quick start, much quicker than you would ever imagine.

Having just finished using this text in the course of an undergraduate seminar, I can attest to the fact that the authors' style is outstanding - they are able to synthesize an enormous amount of material in this volume and present it in a manner that is highly accessible to almost all students of mathematics. The presentation of important theorems (for example, Hilbert's Nullstellensatz and Basis Theorem) along with just the right amount of copncrete examples makes for a book of superb quality. All-around, I highly recommend this volume to anyone who has an interest in learning about Algebraic Geometry.

I started out with the book "Night Prey". My friendand I were in school, when she told me to read this book when she wasdone. I read it within 36 hours, it was such a page-turner. I then found out that this book was just one in a series of "prey" books by John Sandford. I've read almost all of them, and I'm planning on buying "Certain Prey" from amazon.com soon. The best series that there is. John Sandford is definately my favorite author! He's created such a likable character in Lucas Davenport, and he definately knows how to add in unsuspecting twists and turns to every novel. If you like James Patterson's novels, you'll definately enjoy anything written by John Sandford.

I love these books. Recently read my first Prey book and am hooked!! This is the best one so far in a really great series, so that is saying something! Try to read them in order if you are just starting out on Mr. Sandford series. I love Lucas Davenport... Thanks Mr. Sandford, (aka John Camp) keep up the good work!!

Started with book no. 1 in the Prey series, and have enjoyed every one! I feel like Lucas Davenport is a close family member. I thought Winter Prey was the best so far til I read the next one, Mind Prey. Each Prey book has a totally different scenario of circumstances and bad guy/girl. This makes for a new and exciting read with each book even though Lucas appears in every one. I love following the same hero/heroin in a series. They become familiar to you and you don't want anything to happen to them. Very similar to Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta. Am now reading Sudden Prey and it's great too! Keep them coming Mr. Sandford!