I found the book to be an exercise in academic deconstructionism. For example, the author assumed a lack of strategic flexibility on the part of Patton to deal with the static battle line. An interesting assumption but confusing tactics with strategy, especially grand strategy, is always a problematic tendency of academics. A career military professional will see through the rather weak argument and see the authors attempt to lable the Lorraine campaign as a "defeat". The author predicates his argument of the assumption that the Ruhr was more important than it turned out to be, that Patton was wrong concerning his belief that, if supplies had not been redirected, he could have pressed the Rhine and misses the opportunity to see the creative flexibility of the 3rd Army as it relieved Bastogne, a feat which no other allied commander believed could be done in less than 30 days. When viewed against the exploits of the 1st, 9th, and 5th Armies, it seems that the author is simply looking to write a book that will cause a stir about an American icon. Patton was rude, crude and certainly a primodona. He was wisely never choosen as a group commander, in my opinion. However,Patton, unlike Napolean, never lost and that is sometimes hard for "fair" minded American academics to take in light of his anti-academic approach to killing the enemy. Unlike Eisenhower and Bradely, who were overjoyed at the taking of territory, Patton, in his and his subordinates writtings, knew that to win wars you must engage and destroy the enemy not hold territory.

This is one of the only books I've ever read that critique General Patton. This book, to me the layman seems extremely well researched, and worthy of academic exaltations. The author is brave to look at the Lorraine Campaign with such a critical eye, not always welcome on American icons of war.

Smith does an excellent job of providing a concise summary of the events that lead to the Binion trial, the most notorious criminal trial in Las Vegas'colorful history.

However, he falls short in providing insight not already avilable in the archives of this story appearing elsewhere on the World Wide Web. In addition, character and event analysis fall woefully short of expectations, especially those of us familiar with Smith's other works.

You will enjoy this book if you are vaguely familiar with the trial,and want details. If, however, you know a lot about this case already, you will be disappointed.

The author does categorically and persuasively state his opinion of this case, which may take some of you by surprise. Sadly, that is the only major new revalation of this book.

After reading this book I feel it was RUSHED, and so much of the powerful 'inside' information was left out. I did enjoy the pictures, many not seen before. The story seems to leave out so much of the mystery involved, but is much better than the other book I read. The death of Lonnie 'Ted' Binion was something most people expected - he used and abused Heroin for 20 years, he was 'friendly' with the mob, he was entangled in a family that epitomizes DYSFUNCTIONAL. His father, Benny was one step ahead of the law when he left Texas to begin what ended up an empire his children fought over constantly. Ted was born into Las Vegas royalty, which afforded him every opportunity in life. But it came with a price. When he was younger, he was almost kidnapped. The plot was uncovered and those planning it were dealt with Benny Binion style. When Benny died, Jack and Ted were the 'Big Boys' at the HORSESHOE CASINO, and continued to operate the way Pappa B had in the past. The Gaming Commission was not happy that Ted was at the helm of the casino and didn't play by the rules. The was arrested in 1987, and this paved the way for Teddy's removal from the casino, which thrilled his sister Becky Behnen. She sued brother Jack for control and won. Ted felt he could return, but after continuing his pattern of not following the rules, the Gaming Commission removed him in March of 1998. When Becky took control of the casino, Ted had to remove his SILVER stash from the casino vault and had it placed in a vault on his ranch. Tons and tons of silver were placed in an underground vault that he had hired Rick Tabish to install. His girlfriend, Sandy Murphy, was there with Ted during his battles with drugs and the casino business. She was there when Ted's friend, 'Fat Herbie' Blitzstein was murdered and the FBI warned Ted of a 'hit' that had been placed on him as well. Who placed the hit? Did it have anything to do with Ted backing out of a promise to pay $50,000.00 to have his sister Becky 'whacked'? Who shot at Ted's house in 1997? Why was his sister and nephew dining with the person charged with the shooting after Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish were safely tucked out of the way in prison? Why wasn't ALL the information regarding Ted's life, Sandy's whereabouts, and Rick's lunch appointment on the day Ted died? What caused the attorneys to keep exculpatory evidence out of the trial? What exactly did Ted Binion die from on that day in September, 1998. Why wasn't the man who sold the 12 balloons of Mexican Black Tar Heroin ever indicted? We have the Prosecutor's own 'experts' disagreeing on what killed Ted. Was it the heroin he smoked? Was it the Xanax he asked his neighbor, described as Dr. Feelgood at trial, to call in and Ted himself picked up at the pharmacy? If the mixture of both these drugs didn't kill him what did? How can you prove murder when the victim himself purchased the 'deadly mixture'? You come up with "forced ingestion" and then add 'Burking' by Dr. Michael Baden. Proof of murder? Proof that the family money paid to have someone other than Ted Binion take the fall. It didn't matter that another sister had killed herself a few years back, that Ted had lost his license to run the family casino, even admitted that he was deeply depressed at the loss of his beloved Gaming license...it had to be ruled murder in order to keep Sandy Murphy's hands off of what Ted had left her in his will. Where was Rick Tabish going with the silver he dug up? Who else was supposed to take care of the silver? What attorney was in charge of this SILVER STASH? Whay did Ted keep the silver in a vault on his ranch? Why couldn't he use a bank? Was it due to the RICO charges he might be facing? Ted Binion will be remembered not by what he did in his life, but his death. What a sad story he was.

This book is an embarrassment. Poorly organized, full of debased lies so incredible that one wonders rather the author himself actually believed them, and of such a personally vindictive nature that the reader feels as though he/she have just sat through a 330 page temper-tantrum. I can't believe anyone takes this book seriously.
The first obvious clue to the unreliability of this book is Bennett's 60-page tribute to himself. It's been said, and I agree wholeheartedly, that anyone who needs that much space to prove the good nature of his character is a scoundrel of the worst sort. And scoundrel he was. He sold college diplomas under auspicies of a bogus university. At one time he abandoned a wife and children in Ohio. He was famous for seducing young women with the promise that, should they get pregnant, he would perform an abortion on them (he was a doctor by trade). Yet these facts (and many others) are oddly left out of his first-chapter shrine to himself. And, wisely so, for if anyone knew the true character of the man, no one would have read the rest of his book.
So, what is contained in the rest of his book? Actually, there is very little of Bennett's own material. The bulk of the work is simply a series of very long excerpts from previous anti-Mormon books. So, what does one have to profit from reading this work? Absolutely nothing.

Overpriced for the cliche approach. I'm sure I should have purchased a more innovative work.

First of all this book is not cliche or a rehash of earlier material as other reviewers have stated. This book is also not very good. The book is written by John Bennett the first mayor of Nauvoo and one of the first major opponents of the Mormon movement. It is one of the first works of anti-mormon literature. I give it a five not because of any inherent academic achievement by Bennett (it has none the book was little more than a money making scheme and a political tool) but because of what we can learn about early mormon dissenters and their views of Mormonism. It also has great significance as a first hand account, albeit a biased one but all views of Mormonism are obviously biased one way or the other.

Those of us who love Douglas Moore's opera "The Ballad Of Baby Doe" have had to wait over 45 years for a book devoted to its creation. "The Ballad of Baby Doe: 'I Shall Walk Beside My Love'" by Duane A. Smith is a very slender volume which falls short of this goal. Although it is interesting, there is not very much depth to this text. It reads more like an expanded program guide. There is no in-depth analysis of the score, nor of the structure of its libretto. It does leave you with the impression that there might be a fascinating story behind this opera's creation and it's creators, but you do not learn much about what this story is. Too much material is repeated from one chapter to the next. Nevertheless, it does contribute something to the scant literature about what is arguably "The Great American Opera".

Frank is one very unusual chick. He longs to swim with the ducks in the pond, but he just isn't made for it! What to do? Jemima Tabb, the farmer's daughter, notices the little chick's plight and with the help of her uncle and mother design Frank his very own swimming suit. But as he gets older, he realizes he just wants to be a chicken, not some duckish freak...Okay, but the story was lacking strongly in the plot and character department. And there didn't seem to be much of a point to the story, either. Stick with Dick's other works - Babe, When Pigs Fly and Martin's Mice are favorites of mine. :)

A picaresque, following 'Soapey' Sponge - a sportsman but not quite a gentleman - as he foxhunts and fortune-hunts his way around England. He exploits (as Surtees satirises) the failings of those he encounters - Waffles (spendthrift), Jawleyford (humbug), Puffington (parvenu), Jogglebury (foolish), Scattercash (debauched)... Only coarse Lord Scamperdale consistently detests him. People invite him to stay but struggle to evict him. His selfishness diminishes only on meeting & falling for lovely Lucy Glitters while hunting . Lacks sympathetic characters, silly names and voices abound and overlong given its lightness and looseness. Terrific foxhunting detail & a delightlful, surprising ending.

Rating : 54.6% Moments of Beauty (5) Characterisation (6) Sincerity (6) Humour (6) Adhesiveness (5) Profundity - Social (6) Profundity - Maetaphysical (2) Sense of Place (8) Significance (5) Structure & Plotting (6) Style - Readability (7) Style - Virtuosity & Uniqueness (5) Theme - Strength & Unity (4)

I know William Jay Smith is a respected poet, but I found his poems to be lacking something. His style seems to be stuck in adult mode, but with children's-poem-style. I'm probably not making myself very clear here, but I didn't find myself hating the book. I just didn't like it, and keep seem to work myself up into saying much about the book. And that should say it all.

For those who are thinking of getting this book because your lecturers or instructors recommend it, please please find some other alternatives instead. Do not ever buy this book.

This book is much smaller, thinner and has bigger fonts compared to other Fluid Mech textbooks. After flipping through a few pages, it is obvious that it lacks clear explanations and examples which will be very hard for students to fully understand Fluid Mechanics.

Personally, books that are more suitable for undergraduates will be :
Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics by Bruce R. Munson, Donald F.Young & Theodore H. Okiishi
Fluid Mechanics by Frank M. White
Introduction to Fluid Mechanics by Fox & Mcdonald

This book is written in a manner that makes it more useful for professors than students. Virtually no derivation paths for formulas are shown, which makes it almost impossible or very time-consuming to understand where they come from.

I was hoping the book had all the products and horsepower figures for the Camaros, but it doesn't. It has some helpful stuff but a lot of the company that offer good products for camaros were not listed. Aiso the cover says suspension kits there is not a secton for them. These are just a few of the reasons I give the book one star.

I bought this book for a list of after market performance parts and it does a pretty good job of that. When I see small error right from the begining however the credibility of the entire book is suspect.

Example: describing the Z-28 engine in 67-69 Camaros, "Some quick trips to the parts bin produced the hot little 302 CID Z-28 engine, a 283 block bored to 4.00", and filled with a 327 crank." Well, as we all know the "DZ" motor was a 302 and it was hot. But if you take a 283 and bore it to 4.00" and put a 327 crank in it you get . . . a 327. This engine had a 4.00" bore and a 3.00" stroke. A 327 has a 3.25" stroke. Not a big deal but a book like this will likely be read by very savy Camaro owners.

Also, to describe the 1970 Camaro and Firebirds as "nothing more than overstock 1969 models, being sold and titled as 1970s" is stretching it a bit. True, some Chevrolet dealers did title and sell SOME 1969s as 1970s, and some dealers got sued as a result. The bottom line is a 69 is 69 and a 70 is a 70. No 1970 Camaro or Firebird is an "overstocked 1969."

And finaly, in the table of contents it list Power Packages on page 138 and page 138 says supercharging, the same as page 72. The "supercharging section on page 138 does contain Power Packages.

A copy editor may have helped.

This unfocused, self-published book meanders between imagined dialogue, emotional diatribes and reminiscences of the author's historical travels. It makes no sense whatsoever to this reader.

For instance, the author claims that the book's title, Aramenta, is Harriet Tubman's African name, stolen by "Europeans." The biographies of Harriet Tubman--including the one written during her lifetime by her friend, Sarah Bradford--state that her basket name (or birth name) was Araminta [not Aramenta], and that upon reaching womanhood she took her mother's name of Harriet. Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland, and none of the biographies suggest that Araminta was an African name.

The author claims that her book is the "righting" of history. The text, referring to her assumption that "Europeans" changed Harriet Tubman's name, includes lines like: "This demeaning behavior stemmed for the most part from egotistical arrogance combined with ignorance about the world's rich idigenous cultures and their values systems"

The list price is $199.95 with an Amazon price of $19.95. When I ordered the book, I assumed it was a close-out of a fine pictorial book. It is instead, a 200 page (double-spaced) trade-book-sized paperback. The photographs range from a street sign in Williamsburg, VA at the corner of Harriet Tubman St. and Armistad, to oft-published Harper's illustrations to travel photographs.

Perhaps the author sees this book as a journal of her admiration for Harriet Tubman, but anyone purchasing the book to add to their history library will be disappointed.