This is a reader that covers the various theories of nationalism as well as varieties of nationalism itself. This makes it a largely indispensable supplement, handbook and reference work for anyone interested in nationalism. This is particularly true today as the scholarship on this social phenomenon continues to grow unabated, and since it is patently obvious that nationalism hardly seems about to disappear. The reader contains important extracts from the major works on nationalism by some of the most important early theorists such as Renan, Max Weber and Stalin (although the views of Marx and Engels themselves or Lord Acton and Friedrich Meinecke would have been welcome additions) and almost all of the most important contemporary scholars (Gellner, Anderson, Connor, A. Smith, etc.). The texts are well-selected and organized, and it really contributes to making a very complex subject and a daunting field of scholarship seem a little easier to grasp.

Professors John Hutchinson and Anthony D. Smith, both at the London School of Economics, have put together here a great collection of texts from the major writers on nationalism over the last 100 years. Starting with Ernest Renan, Joseph Stalin and Max Weber, the book also includes extracts from Benedict Anderson, Walker Connor, Partha Chatterjee, Karl Deutsch, Ernest Gellner, Liah Greenfeld, EJ Hobsbawm, Donald Horowitz, Elie Kedourie, Hans Kohn, James Mayall, Tom Nairn, and Anthony Smith himself, in addition to many others. As in Smith's _Nationalism and Modernism_, all perspectives of the field are represented here. There are 49 essays organized into seven chapters, complete with an introduction to each plus notes, a bibliography, information about each author and an index.

This book is a definite must for anyone interested in nationalism.

This story is presented in an amusing way. It captures "real life" scenarios through its illustrations that most students can relate to. However, the message of this adventurous character is a serious one. The little boy ,without a name, could be any boy or girl that experiences difficulties in everyday life because he or she cannot read signs, messages, etc. Thus, the meaningful message is that reading is really necessary. The "bad dream" of not being able to read does not have to become a "nightmare". The ending leaves the listener and the reader with a sense of empowerment if they can already read and leaves the emergent reader with purpose and hope for learning to read.

Teacher Note: This book is a must for your classroom library. Place it on your beginning of the year reading list. Preschoolers, kindergarteners, first graders, and struggling second graders can all benefit and be encouraged from the practical uses of knowing how to read. The author and illustrator study of Mr. Gile and Mr. Fiorello will lend themselves to positive classroom discussions.

I really liked this book because it shows children, in a fun way, why it is important for them to know how to read. To be safe, children need to know how to read signs, to know where there is potential danger. That's only a small part of the importance of functional literacy, but a very important one.

Wow, I loved Mercer Mayer's Critter books when I was a kid! I never ever heard of Mayer's Critter's of the Night books though! I loved this one. Littlest Howl Family(Mayers version of the Addams Family)member, Thistle Howl is a little girl critter that is tired of being so small. When she wishes she could grow, her aunt, a wisened witch in the family, goes to great lengths to grant her niece's wish. Auntie Bell is hard of hearing though, and her attempts to replace Thistle's frown with a smile are hilarious!
I shared this book with 16 preschoolers at a public library during storytime. What a fantastic read! Mayer's little critters are just like the little critters we all adore in our own families today. Thistle is no exception. Her craving to be big is a familiar theme that captures the attention of every child. The illustrations are even more fantastic and fill the story with color and amusing accents. Even without the incredible pictures, the story is a must have for every child that wishes he or she could be just a little bit bigger.

Hi my name is Charlee,I live in Newport MN, Cottage Grove MN, and Spooner WI. I'm ten I have a niece and nephew that sleep over alot and at bed time they sometimes have me read to them. When it comes to books Purple Pickle Juice by Mercer Mayer is the one. Its very funny. It has cute little spells like:"Hands above, feet below! Grow I say! Grow! Grow! Grow!" So if you like to laugh, visit Thistle Howell and her grand mother in Purple pickle Juice!

Unterecker's "Reader's Guide," a vade mecum for the apprentice
or seasoned reader, informs and instructs. As commentary or teaching tool, it advances a concise, systematic way to interpret the ideas, literary devices, images, symbols, and occult motifs that permeate Yeats's poetry, a thematic
analysis that connects one poem with another and reveals the visionary design at the center of Yeats's work. From the allegorical quest in "The Wanderings of Oisin" to the meditative panorama of "Under Ben Bulben," Unterecker explicates the motifs of Yeats's evolving mythology of a unified self.

Unterecker's "Reader's Guide," a vade mecum for the novice or seasoned reader, informs and instructs. As commentary or teaching tool, it advances a concise, systematic way to interpret the ideas, literary devices, images, symbols, and occult motifs that permeate Yeats's poetry, a thematic analysis that connects one poem with another and reveals the visionary design at the center of Yeats's work. From the allegorical quest in "The Wanderings of Oisin" to the meditative panorama of "Under Ben Bulben," Unterecker explicates the motifs of Yeats's evolving mythology of a unified self.

I think that every biblical scholar should read this book, and every scholar of religion should read it, because I know of no better place that one can EXPERIENCE the problematics and possibilities of reading texts--either ancient or modern--and experience the issues of interpretation. Staley's book is one that INVITES rereading. And the rereading experience will bring a new reading experience simply because of how the book is designed. I can honestly say that this book comes as close to the experience of reading hypertext in the computer world as I ever expect one can come in printed form. Extraordinary both in terms of its unusual and stimulating content, and in its high quality and insightfulness. Buy it; read it--many times. I have; I will. Denny Clark, Albertson College, ID

"Staley's book compels us to reconsider the entire goal and genre of bibilcal criticism. Grounded in sophisticated and capacious theoretical analysis, intimate knowledge of the critical issues pertaining to the Fourth Gospel, and perceptive, remarkably self-revealing autobiographical reflection, Staley's interpretive wager sparkles with the narrative pace, philospohical depth and unsettling power of good literature. If this is 'reading with a passion,' let us have more of it." From a forthcoming review in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, by Douglas Burton-Christie

This is an excellent collection of essays that anyone could enjoy. Authors ranging from Mark Twain to Henry David Thoreau, from Barry Lopez to Charles Darwin, share their experiences about the seacoast. These essays touch any subject of interest (such as surfing, the Hawaiian Coast, whales and coral reefs) and would be a great gift to anyone interested in the ocean/coast. I had to read most of the essays for my college english class and I have never enjoyed reading these passages as much as any other textbook assigned to me. This is definately a book I will want to reread again and again. I will be eager to find the rest of the series (subjects include mountains, rivers, endangered species, deserts, forests, etc) as soon as they are published. This book is truly refreshing and opens the senses to the coastal environment around you!!!

A collection of essays, rather than short stories, this is a very entertaining read. Different views, different shores, all centered on the sea. Notable: Mark Twain's account of a Hawaiian trip; Barry Lopez's essay on beached whales and Jan DeBlieu's story of a Cape Hatteras storm. Well edited, ideal beach reading. A wide-ranging assortment making this a great gift for everyone on your list.

Easy readers are tough to write, and this one is satisfying on just about every level -- funny and exciting, clever, a plot that works. Our two daughters learned to read with it, and now our son is, too.

Though the book is listed as being for ages 4-8, we bought the book for my then 2-year-old son and it quickly became his favorite bedtime book. The story is adorable, as are the illustrations - and it's overriding message that it's okay to be different and that it's what's inside that counts - is very happy and positive. Even before he can actually read the words, my son has memorized the text, and actually quotes it back, complete with his own sound effects. It's a joy to read, and a book I highly recommend to all parents with toddlers!

In his historical series the Kent Chronicles author John Jakes wrote about the Battle of the Alamo (in "The Furies" I believe) from the perspective of a fictional woman who survives, but is lost to history. In "Susanna of the Alamo: A True Story" he revisits this story in fictional form again, but this time telling the story of Susanna Dickinson, the wife of Alamo defender Almeron Dickinson, who actually did survive the battle along with their 15-month-old daughter Elizabeth. The story Jakes tells spends as much time on the aftermath of the battle and what happened to the Dickinsons, which is significant because usually the story most students read in juvenile histories about the Alamo skip to the victory at the Battle of San Jacinto where San Houston's troop yelled "Remember the Alamo!" Jakes tries to avoid the legends that still exist about the story of the Alamo and stay faithful to the historical record, but admits gaps exist and some "facts" exist in different versions. Jakes tells of Susanna Dickinson's recovery in the hospital, her meeting with Santa Anna and the message he had her carry to Sam Houston in Gonzales. She tells the leader of the Texan army what happened to her husband and the other defenders of the Alamo. It is from that conversation that Jakes crafts a compelling idea that Susanna Dickinson played an important role in the quest for Texas independence. The book is designed and illustrated by Paul Bacon, whose pen and watercolor pictures capture the times and tenor of the tale. This is not the first book a student should read if they want to know about the Alamo, but once they have learned the basic history of these events they will find this version by John Jakes adds something to their understanding. Furthermore, I would suggest that adults interested in the Alamo would find this book of great interest as well. Susanna Dickinson remarried and never spoke of the Alamo again until late in her life and lived until 1883. In his talent hands, Jakes makes this woman more than a footnote to history. This book is what we would call a grace note.

Susanna of the Alamo is an excellent book that enables children to place themselves within a historical event. Susanna of the Alamo focuses on the only survivor of the tragic Alamo fight, Susanna Dickinson and her infant daughter. THe story is told from her point of view which gives the children today the ability to understand the fight as it was unfolding. I teach 5th graders and every year the book has brouight a tear to an eye and a solemn calm to my room. The children are able to place themselves in theat time period through Jakes work and not only understand what the Texas settlers felt but how they felt also. It is an excellent book with which to teach about the Alamo- I couldn't do it without it!

All right, I admit it, I'm a rather biased hardcore fan of the series. ;) For those who are unfamilliar with Uncle John's Bathroom Readers, they are a series of books with articles of various lengths for people who love to read on the 'john'! They're filled with interesting tidbits of history, pop culture, humor, and trivia. From this edition you'll learn that bird droppings are the chief export of Nauru (an island nation in the Pacific), and that "Elvis" is the most popular name for pet King snakes. =) Not only is this the perfect book for the bathroom, but I've found it makes for great reading while waiting in a doctor's office, etc. I simply can't stress it enough - BUY THIS BOOK! You'll love it! =)

Uncle John has done it again! Like all the Bathroom reader's before and those yet to come, Volume 5 continues to thrill the reader with the bits of trivia and knowledge that may one day come in useful! And, it's great to read anywhere, anytime, not just in the powder room!