I don't know how she does it, but Rebecca Cole delights, amazes and inspires me again! Her third book contains arrangements from the whimsical to sassy and she breaks them down step-by-step, like a big floral arrangement cookbook. I have attempted the Checkerboard Flower Box (about half the size of the one in the book) and it lasted nearly two weeks, thanks to the wonderful conditioning tips. My other favorite section is the Welcoming Windows, about making the all important first impression. Throughout the book, Rebecca Cole shares personal stories from her childhood.

Helen Norman's photographs are breathtaking - sharp and colorful - and there are a LOT of them. This great book helps a lot during long, grey winter days until my own garden begins to bloom again.

This book ignores the more communitarian morality of Asian countries and/or western particularistic moral theories. They do take it up in Appendix II, "Methodology." There they state simply that a communitarian moral theory only exists as a condemnation of liberalism -- it does not attempt to put forth its own communitarian moral theory as rigorously as has been put forth by liberalism or a Rawlsian theory. Notice the irony here, that the same charge can be made against those (Gould, Lewontin, Rose, Kamin, et al.) who claim that there is no difference in the average intelligence of races or that genes do not matter. They also, like the communitarian moralists, have only attacked empiricists who have developed sociobiology and intelligence as genetically based. So now we have the kettle calling the stove black.

These authors are concerned that society will become more stratified with regards to genetic capital by various groups. That is, the well-to-do will be able to use genetic engineering to eliminate unwanted genes as well as enhance their children's potential by inserting new "improved" genes into their genetic code -- including altering the germ line genes that will be carried on to successive generations. Is this a fair criticism? Not really, because this is how evolution progresses and it has already occurred as I stated above. Groups, because of breeding are not the same. Again, using the example of Ashkenazi Jews or east Asians who dominate the economies of south Asian countries, multiculturalist societies are already made up of groups who are not equal. Ashkenazi Jews have and average IQ of 117 and live among populations with an average IQ of 100. Malaysians have an average IQ of 90 with a troublesome east Asian minority, that will not assimilate, and has an average IQ of about 106 that dominates the economy. Australians have a troublesome minority of aborigines with a low IQ. These and many other examples show that there is nothing new about some groups eugenically rising above other groups, in terms of intelligence at least. But now that we have new tools at our disposal, those of us who would like to acquire the high intelligence of Ashkenazi Jews for example are told that it is somehow unjust!

I wonder, however, whether this book would probably be inaccessible to many readers who should read it. I expect we will need a really thorough set of "Cliff Notes" (or "Genomic Ethics for Dummies"), since this book seems designed to be read by the modern ethical philosopher, moreso than the educated members of the public. Perhaps the reviewers on Amazon.com could provide such a service for the world. I was fortunate to have an advance peek at the book through a conference held in San Diego in January, so I have had some time to reflect on the book's implications.

This book made me intrigued about the prospect for some people using the genome to have better babies (see the book on Designer Babies by Dr. Gosden for the "how to" on in vitro fertilization). Under secular ethical principles, as outlined in this book, do parents have an ethical obligation to use genomic information to have a "healthier" child? If so, what are the ethical boundaries of that obligation? NPR had a report some time ago about some achondroplastic dwarf parents who wanted to choose a child with their genetic "defect" --- is that sometime ethically prohibited by the principles in this book? The parental choice issues raised by this book strike me as the issue ripe for controversy. These are the fundamental questions that this book raises for every member of the human race who plans to procreate (or already has procreated).

My kids will be entering the first generation where prospects for improving admission to the aristocracy (e.g. to an Ivy League school) arguably could begin at the moment of conception (if in vitro, aided by genomic data to screen embryoes). I find that interesting and a little bit alarming.

Chance to Choice also addresses myriad ethical issues (those relating to "distributive justice" in the mode of John Rawls' Theory of Justice) that will spin off from the genome project. They suggest that genetic discrimination (the "genetic ghetto") may arise if we are not careful about how this information is used.

For anyone planning to make a living from the genome, some understanding of this book is essential to their success in business (I am an attorney involved in biotech issues and I think that this book point to (but does not map out) the boundaries of what companies can do with the genome).

My EMail is tredick@chapinlaw.com if anyone interested in discussing this book's implications further. I think that people will be talking about this one until the talking, bipedal genetically enhanced, vegetarian activist cows come home sometime in the next hundred years (just kidding... ;).

I plan to buy some extra copies on Amazon.com to give away or mark up with highlighters (those parts I need to read many times to really understand). It really is a great and timely book.

Tom

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Perpignan

I recommend this book for parents and professionals who are working with children who are attempting to kick the thumb-sucking habit. It works!

This book gives comprehensive information to both parents and professionals alike on the causes, results and prevention of the digit sucking habit. The research done by the author attests to the success of the cited program.

I am convinced that this book will be of great value to parents (grandparents, too) and professionals who are dedicated to eliminating the thumb-sucking habit of children.

Schwarzkopf takes us on a journey covering the globe where america has had military interests, for those looking for an insight into the workings of the military machine are well covered. Those looking for an insight into the man made famous on CNN during the gulf war will find a man who is warm, humourous, intelligent and determined to be the best of the best.

As a young Australian I am proud to say that i class the author as one of the few people I would consider a true hero in a world of would be's if they could be's.

In conclusion do yourself a favour you will not be disappointed in this book or the man behind the legend.

Yes, I'm one of the 201 who were privileged to contribute to this remarkable work. And what variety and diversity it has. What differing perspectives each contributor brings with him. One will write about banality, another brutality. It's all there -- courage and cowardice, fear and terror, boredom and horror, torn bodies and death, frost bite and heat exhaustion, blisters and thirst, brilliance and stupidity. All that and more, for all that and more is what war is all about.

Five stars are not enough. 201 stars hardly do it justice. Nor is one picture worth just a thousand words. Each picture here is priceless. Thanks, Norm, for bringing the faces of war to life. Thanks, Art, for bringing the Korean vignettes to print. And thank you both for making it possible for all to remember this decisive conflict that turned the tide of the Cold War and started communism on its road to self-destruction.