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Book reviews for "Smith,_John" sorted by average review score:

A Mouse Called Wolf
Published in Hardcover by Crown Pub (July, 1997)
Authors: Dick King-Smith, Jon Goodell, and John Goodell
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Warm hearts
Dick King-Smith writes another fabulous book. This wonderful story of friendship and heroes is an inspiration to people of all ages. It speaks about friendship, family and aspiring to do your best. As always the characters come to life and become the readers new best friend.

A charming children's story about music and aging
I read "A Mouse Called Wolf" after several students in the elementary school where I am the librarian urged me to read it. They told me I'd love it and they were right!

This is a charming story about a mouse who discovers he can sing, in the process saving his sibling mice from the cat in the house and becoming the companion of elderly Mrs. Honeybee who teaches Wolf new songs on her piano.

It's a simple and appealing story line, but I applaud Dick King-Smith for tackling two subjects not usually found in children's literature. On the one hand he skillfully interweaves musical terms and concepts, and on the other hand he paints a sympathetic portrait of the life of an elderly widow living alone.

This delightful tale should be welcome in the home of musical families or where children need a glimpse into the life of a lonely senior citizen. The adult readers of this story will have many private chuckles over the tunes Mrs. Honeybee chooses to teach her singing mouse: everything from the Beatles' "Help!" to showtunes such as "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'."

Lookng for A Mouse Called Wolf
A Mouse Called Wolf By: Dick King - Smith

A Mouse Called Wolf is a great story! Wolf's real name is Wolfgang Amadeus. Wolf lives with his mother and twelve other children in a mouse hole in the house of Mrs. Honeybee. In the book he learns how to sing, the songs are really cute. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animal stories and funny stories. In the book Wolf composes a song. The book is easy to read. I really liked reading this book! By: Laura


Religious Affections (Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 2)
Published in Hardcover by Yale Univ Pr (December, 1981)
Authors: Jonathan Edwards and John E. Smith
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A theology unseen in today's Christian books
As grape soda is to Louis Roederer Cristal, so today's Christian books are to Edwards' "The Religious Affections". Espousing a theology foreign to most postmodern Christians, Edwards lays out the cornerstone of Christian thought of the mid-18th century.

As unflinching as his more famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", this work develops the idea that what we feel and our true status in Christ are at war with one another, a constant battle that requires the searching of our souls by the Spirit of God in order to find the truth of our standing in Him. For some, the level of introspection and faithfulness demanded of the believer is higher than we might otherwise be prepared to endure. But only by complete surrender, the development of an inner craving for Christ, and spiritual examination can we rest in the assurance of our salvation.

This work also holds up a Christian faith that seems radically different - and more vital - than what we know. For this we should thank Edwards for allowing 21st century men and women a tie to historic Christianity, especially as seen through early-American eyes.

"The Religious Affections" is an extremely difficult book to read, not only because of the sentence structure and word choices of the 18th century, but also because of the loaded theology. It is a bombshell to the heart of anyone who earnestly desires to follow Christ. Impossible to ignore, Edwards' book demands a response. No one can read it and be unchanged. The level of discipleship it asks is shocking to modern readers, but ultimately necessary for our salvation.

A Must Read! timeless!
One of the greatest theological works of the 18th century. Who better to describe the place of the heart (emotions) in the true Spiritual life, than one whose mind is so sharp and precise on both the specific revealed Word of God, and the general revelation of creation. If you have ever read any of Edwards' sermons, then you need to read this work as well. How can we claim to know God with only our minds, if not also our hearts? It is not the quickest read, but it is like climbing a mountain, worth getting the view at the end.

An Absolute MUST Read
I'm a minister of music at an evangelical church. Almost every week, I have the conversation with someone "what are the role of emotions in our services and in the Christian's life in general?" (Nobody really asks it THAT way, but you get the idea.)

I've come to the point where I won't even begin the conversation without having them read this book. Seriously! Edwards covers ALL the issues in a thorough and practical way.

Strap on your thinking cap, but know it's worth it! I read this book every year and God never fails in using it to refocus my heart on Him.


African Rifles & Cartridges
Published in Hardcover by Wolfe Publishing (SC) (October, 1985)
Authors: John Taylor and E. Stanley Smith
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Timeless
For most of us, the dream of going to Africa and hunting with the classics of the past will always remain that. However, if one has hankering for the great guns of the past and a by gone era, this book will fill that niche. If you are lucky enough to ever be able to travel to Africa, this book would be essentual reading as knowledge- practocal knowledge - of the big guns is very hard to find and full of misconceptions.

If you fall into the latter catagory, Taylor had several lifetimes of practical hunting experince, and his knowledge shines.

For most of us, there are very few hunters and shooters who have not dreamed of owning a Purdy, Holland and Holland and others of the past, in such lovely calibers as 375 H&H, and .600 Nitro. This is a book to own and dream with.

Incidentaly, despite its comparative age, much in here is still current, although much more recent calibers are not really discussed.

Grade: A+

A Masterpiece
Timeless writing! A treasure trove of literary delights for anyone interested in the ambience of a bygone era of action and adventure ala Hemingway, Selous and Bell. Something for everyone, whether an enthusiast of shooting, safari, classic cartridges and rifles of legend (doubles and single action sporters) or a mere naturalist. John Pondoro Taylor was clearly a genius in his given profession, albeit politically incorrect for his time.

Guru on African Rifles
Taylor is one of the most competent gun writers I have ever read. He has tremendous practical experience with almost every large calibre rifle of his time, including the spell bounding numbers like 600, 577s, 500s, 450s, 450/400, 375 etc., with a nostalgic term of Nitro Express..! When discussing a calibre, he talks of taking literally hundreds of elephant, buffalo & other big game with it. So who can question his authority on African rifles. He has also covered every possible aspect of sporting rifle, which can be questioned, with respect of African hunting, e.g., doubles versus magazines, barrel length, weight, sights, triggers, ejectors/non-ejectors, etc. A must read book for the person who wants to know about large calibres, double rifles and nitro / black powder express. Excellent drawing of each cartridge is also given with details i.e., bullet weight, powder charge and pressure.


What the Parrot Told Alice
Published in Paperback by Deer Creek Publishing (June, 1996)
Authors: Dale Smith and John Bardwell
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Must Read for Children and their Parents
I'm not a kid. But this book about endangered birds, and the practices by humans that are behind it, is an engaging and interesting read for parents also. Buy it, and read it with your kids.

It's a fun book to read.
I learned that if there is something really great in the world you should not destroy it. Other kids should read this book because it has great expressions and it's a fun book to read...S.S. (age 8)

A remarkable book for a wide range of children!
What the Parrot Told Alice can be read by young children (age 8-10) as an early-reader chapter book and by older children (through middle school) as an environmental learning tool. The story is well-written with excellent characters that all children love. And it combines good reading with scientific learning - just perfect for elementary and middle school children...The Science Spiders(TM) Newsletter.


The Wolves of Yellowstone
Published in Paperback by Voyageur Press (January, 2002)
Authors: Michael K. Phillips, Douglas W. Smith, Barry O'Neill, Teri O'Neill, and John D. Variey
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Excellent book
Beautiful pictures, touching and moving story. About the restoration of the wolves.

Excellent book
Beautiful pictures illustrates the many different wolves that were restored to yellowstone (#10, #9etc...). Illustrates the effort the yellowstone had to put in to restore the wolf to its natural habitat. Very interesting to the average wolf lover and those who are interested in what happened in the 1995 restoration of the wolves to yellowstoen.

Experience the re-location with the wolves!
This book brings you right into the experience of bringing the wolves back to Yellowstone where they belong! Find out the behind the scenes activity that brought the sight and sound of the wolf back after an absence of over 60 years. You'll never be the same after reading this. Excellent!!


You Can Learn Sign Language!: More Than 300 Words in Pictures
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (March, 2001)
Authors: Jackie Kramer, Tali Ovadia, and John Smith
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Great Book!
I home school my children and picked this book up at the library. My 8yo picked it up as soon as we got home and hasn't stopped learning new words. It's a great book that any child could learn from as well as adults. It's so good I've decided to buy it to add to our collection.

What a great resource!
My preschooler is learning signs at school. I bought this book so that we could learn some at home too! She LOVES to look at the book. She has learned many new signs - she even taught her class the sign for "snow." Her teacher has even asked to borrow the book.

The pictures of people doing the signs are very easy to understand and replicate. This is a great resource for starting to learn sign language!

Excellent
My ten year old loves this book. She and her friends have learned how to communicate with a deaf neighbor. It is lively and colorful with pictures of real children of different backgrounds instead of dull illustrations. I would recommend it for adults as well, because it has basic phrases and words that anyone interested in sign would need to know. An excellent resource for parents, kids, and teachers.


John Adams
Published in Unknown Binding by Greenwood Press ()
Author: Page Smith
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An excellent book
I have a project to read a biography of every American president, and since I knew Page Smith's excellent 8-volume history of the US, I decided his biography of John Adams would be the one to read for that president. I now have finally read the work, and I was not wrong. These volumes tell in fascinating detail of the momentous life of our second president, and it is hard for me to see how the telling could be improved upon. I have only a few presidents I have not yet done. Any thought as to the best biography of Millard Fillmore?

Not just a biography
This classic two voume set reads like a novel. Once started I could not put it down. From his childhood and education, the revolution and founding of the country, through the trials of his presidency and retirement, the events of the times unfold in intimate detail. A prolific letter and diary writer, John Adams left a treasure of detail and insights to the events of his life, and P Smith has assembled them in a most readable form. This book is a must read for anyone interested in early American history.

More than just a biography
This classic two volume set reads like a novel. I could'nt put it down. The reader is treated to an intimate look at the history of the times through the eyes of one of the most under-rated of the founding fathers. From his childhood and education through the revolution and founding of the country, insight and detail of the events unfold in a most interesting manner. A most prolific letter and diary writer, John Adams left a detailed account of his life and times, and virtally every aspect of the book is documented and noted. An excellent resource for anyone interested in the history of the times.


The Legacy of Pope John Paul II: His Contribution to Catholic Thought
Published in Textbook Binding by Crossroad/Herder & Herder (February, 2000)
Authors: Geoffrey Gneuhs, David L. Schindler, William B. Smith, Geoffrey Gneuhs, and Fritz Lobinger
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Very helpful
Dr. John F. Crosby's "The Mystery of 'Fair Love,'" contained in this collection of essays, is one of the best introductions to Pope John Paul II's theological anthropology, "theology of the body," and thought on human sexuality available. Rarely does one find such insight and concise clarity in one place. Follow up this essay with the Pope's works collected in Pope John Paul II on the Genius of Women and/or Theology of the Body, both available through Amazon.

Why the Pope's Right
So much coverage of John Paul II presents him as a politician or a superstar. This book explains his role as a thinker. And it does a good job showing the theory behind the battles at the UN and the battle to restore orthodoxy---or just a little sanity---within the Catholic church.

Papal Coronation
John Paul II, the philosopher pope, is the most intriguing thinker of our time. But it's not easy to plow through the mass of encyclicals, adresseses, and books. This work provides an excellent study of the Pope's thought. Special kudos to John Crosby for showing the phenomenological side of the pope and to Joseph Koterski for unraveling the Thomist side.


The Major Transitions in Evolution
Published in Paperback by Oxford University Press (February, 1998)
Authors: John Maynard Smith, Eors Szathmary, Smith Maynard, and John Maynard-Smith
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A Marvellous and Challenging Read
This is arguably John-Maynard Smith's most challenging project in popular science writing. Written along with Eros Szathmary, a chemist, " The Major Transitions in Evolution" is written primarily for biology students, but can be understood by anybody with a solid background in evolutionary theory. How have the ways in which information is transmitted between generations changed through time and what were the crucial transitions that made these changes possible? One early example that illustrates the effect of these transitions is the origin of chromosomes. Nucleic acid strands (genes) capable of independent replication, at some point became linked and thereafter could replicate only as a set of lined genes (chromosomes). A new way of storing information,a new information system had evolved. How was this transition maintained through time? Would'nt unlinked genes which replicate faster be favoured by natural selection over linked genes? In effect, would'nt selection at a lower level disrupt higher level organizatins? This is a common feature of many of the major transitions and forms the fundamental theme of this marvellous book. In a series of chapters the authors discuss the evolutions of various level of complexity. The chapters are arrange in a logical sequence begining with the origin of life and moving on to successive transitions including the origin of the genetic code, the origin of the eucaryotes, the origin of sex, multicellularity, societies and language. The list here is not complete. I read the book from start to finish in a sequence, but readers with a good background in the subject could probably start anywhere depending on their interest. For non-biologist this is not easy reading at all, and I would imagine that even biology students will find portions challenging. An impressive quality of this book is the constant attempt to incorporate the pecularities of a particular system in developing an explanation to explain its origin. A discussion on the origin of the genetic code includes the possibilty that there could be a stero-chemical basis for specific amino acid-codon assigments, rather than it being a 'frozen accident'. Another example is whether there is a causal connection between haplodiploidy and evolution of sociality in eusocial insects. The author warn against making this apparently intuitive connection, and instead seek an explanation in split sex ratios and in some cases the particular features of insect ecology. The highlight of the book for me was the last chapter on the origin of language. From Noam Chomsky's work on the structure of grammer , syntax and language and representation, to an evolutionary explanation for its origin, this was really an informative essay. The ever recurring argument against the evolution of complex adapatations, in this case language, by a series of adaptive intermediate stages, has been dealt with using examples from animal speech, the genetics of language disorders and a section on the transitions from pigdin to creole. The book strikes a good balance between explaining theory and then discussing the experimental evidence available. Wherever possible, new experimental approaches are suggested. Finally, like any really good book on science the authors not only bring you up to date with what has been done, but also stress just how much more needs to be done. It is this feature about the book that leaves a lasting impression.

Excellent. Industrial strength for biological initiates.
John Maynard Smith gets an automatic thumbs-up from me for anything he writes. He is clear, pleasant, creative, unpretentious, authoritative and thoughtful. For this book he has teamed up with what seems to be an up-and-coming molecular biologist cum evolutionist and the team is impressively powerful. The writing is all in Maynard-Smith's style as far as I can tell, so I don't know whether Szathmary is an exceptionally competent anglophone who shares the same style, or whether they split the writing duties to exploit their respective skills. All I can say is that if you want a really rewarding read and you have a sound, not necessarily advanced, understanding of the basics of biochemistry, evolution and cellular physiology, then you cannot do better than this book. It makes no pretence to being comprehensive and gives only the minimum of introductory material to support their views on evolutionary transitions. Even if you are familiar with the field, the book does not lend itself to skimming; it is the distillation of a lot of non-trivial thinking.

An excellent book. Recommended to any professional in the field, to any student of the subject and to laymen with a good background in the subject and who are not intimidated by a challenge and are willing to skip some of the biochemistry. The later chapters are more accessible in that they deal with more difficult subjects, such as speech and culture.

Instead of watering down the content for educated laymen, the authors have published a less technical sequel: "The Origins of Life". This is also available from Amazon and, although it is intended for a wider audience, it is thoroughly rewarding for the professional.

First class
Maynard Smith is one of the world's leading evolutionary biologists (for instance, he was largely responsible for the application of ideas from game theory to biological contests), and here he gives an excellent account of what he considers the most important transitions in evolutionary biology, including the origin of the genetic code, cellularisation, sociality and language. It's an astonishingly wide-ranging book, and highly recommended for anyone with any interest in any of these subjects in particular or in evolution as a whole. The writing is lucid and entertaining, and although some chapters probably require a familiarity with at least basic biology, Maynard Smith, like Richard Dawkins, can be understood by anyone who's prepared to make an effort.


Riding the Airwaves With Alpha & Zulu
Published in Paperback by Artsci (March, 1995)
Authors: John Abbott William, John Abbott, William V. R. S. Smith, and John P. Mitchell
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One of a Kind Book - for becoming a Ham !
Compared to so many other dull-reading license manuals that one has for introducing newcomers to Amateur Radio,'Ride the Airwaves with Alfa & Zulu' is a one of kind book for becoming a ham- and it's an excellent learning tool for students of all ages. Every question in the FCC Technician License Pool is covered, and all the information is worded and portrayed in ways that make learning a lot of fun and very easy to comprehend. The best feature of this book are the hundreds of illustrations that explain what's going on. Without question, anyone who is interested in becoming a ham ought to read K6YB's excellent book-for the book is one of kind when it comes to showing one 'what ham radio is all about' - and helping them to earn their first ticket. Amateur Radio Instructor- N6MV, Dr. James R. La Frieda

ride the airwaves with alpha & zulu
Hi, again, John Abbott has again produced a "SUPER" book that will assist those non-technical types, kids, and (older) kids (chuckle) open the door to Amateur Radio. I have used each of his A&Z texts since they first came out. Each time, my students and adults use it new Hams result. Amateur Radio is a great activity for ALL! Others who publish manuals should take a lesson from John and realize everyone does not have to be a tech'y to enjoy the fruitful activities of Amateur Radio. School starts in late August, 2000 for me. Alpha &Zulu will be on my desk and at the radio table. It will shown to my grade-6 class. It will become dog earred, written in, and studied by several of those eager minds. There will be more smiles at test time. There will be more Hams as a result. This book opens the door for future Hams. The more the better!

Conrad Ekstrom WB1GXM/KB1CCA(GEARS) ADVISOR GOSHEN-LEMPSTER EDUCATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY EST 1989

excellent but obsolete - see newer version from amazon.com
This is an excellent book to either teach or learn enough about amateur radio to get your license. It breaks complex concepts down into ideas presented in a cartoon format. I used it as a teacher with great success. There is an updated version called "Ride the Airwaves with Alpha and Zulu" (as opposed to this older version "Riding the Airwaves with Alpha and Zulu")that is both current and readily available from amazon.com This version does not have the latest changes for F.C.C. tests.


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