After owning a number of atlases and eventually giving them all away, I happened upon a second edition of the Oxford Encyclopedic World Atlas. It was nothing short of perfect. It had compiled comparative world data, organized in an informative way and treated each country with a wonderful summary. It was useful and beautiful.

Therefore when the fifth edition was announced I placed my order. Rarely have I've been so disappointed when expectation sees reality.

First of all, the wonderful global comparisons of oceans, climate, wealth, energy etc., have been replaced with common continental summaries. Worse though is the fact that these summaries consist only of those incomprehensible theme maps of temperature, precipitation, vegetation and land use. It was because all the rest of the atlases had these useless enigmatic diagrams that I gave them away. I defy anyone to dig any useful information off a January Temperature map. I rather suspect that this information is more readily available and cheaper to obtain making the publication more cost effective for OUP. That it becomes more useless to the reader by the same turn doesn't seem to matter.

The country summaries have been ordered a-z as opposed by continent. This certainly makes it easier to find them but renders them out of any context whatsoever. But even here the work is substandard. For instance in the summary of Argentina, the section on the Economy ends with "...which are heavily" One wonders - heavily what? Sloppy.

Why UOP would take such a solid franchise and ruin it through conscience manipulation and sloppy design and editing is beyond me.

For the killing of truly useful tome OUP should not receive even one star, but I will give it two. The first is for the editions that bravely preceded this one. And the second is for my hope for the sixth edition. In the meantime I strongly recommend that the staff at OUP convene at the pub for it is apparent that their office decisions regarding the Oxford Encyclopedic World Atlas are abysmal.

It's so easy to use and great for my daughter's book reports. Well worth the money. I think the other reviewer who doesn't like the revision is mistaken.

A+ 16K big book. Worth every cent spent.I think every scholoar who is global-minded should have one. I like this atlas so much that I sent this as a gift to my college professors who love it very very much. Every-one will love it and after learning from this book you'll no longer feel surprised to some unknown countries/cities and you'll have a cultural/ historical/geographical perspective toward analyzing some happenings.

Although I have not read Mr. Moran's book, I am worried it appears as if he gives credit to George Westinghouse as fathering alternating current electricity. Westinghouse merely had the forsight to finance the brilliant mind behind AC electricity, Nikola Tesla, who conceived it, and designed the machinery for using it. Fortunately, Westinghouse was there at the right moment. It is possible without his financial help, Tesla may not have accomplished what he did. But let's make sure we have the right names for the fueding parties in this war of the currents. Westinghouse can get the credit for the AC electric plants because he was holding the purse strings, and for his courageous fight against Edison. However, it was the genius of NIKOLA TESLA that revolutionized electric power. So give credit where credit is due, and call it by its proper name--TESLA's AC electricity, not Westinghouse!

While this book may not be enough to push you over the line to rejecting the death penalty, it will certainly make you think about it. A very enticing read, the book touches upon complicated legal entanglements and medical issues without becoming too hard to understand. However, for those with little interest in criminal justice (or the mechanics of electricity), this is probably not a wise choice.

This book starts out being about criminal William Kemmler and the first case in which the electric chair was used. However, as the story progresses, it becomes more and more a tale of Thomas Edison (America's prized inventor and advocate of direct current) and his primary competitor George Westinghouse, who utalizes alternating current. Moran paints a dark picture of Edison, who will seemingly stop at nothing to slanderize Westinghouse by encouraging use of alternating currents for electrocution. This proves a major problem for Westinghouse, because in having his current branded an 'executioner's current', something dangerous to the public and only suited for providing death, he could lose valuable customers.

In this work, Moran's primary goal is to show how the invention and enactment of the electric chair as America's primary method of execution was chiefly motivated not by a desire to improve the humaneness of execution, but by corporate greed. When Edison and his lackey Harold Brown (another electrician) propetuate propaganda about alternating current as 'the best current for electrocutions due to its deadly nature', they are not looking out for the public's well being but for the good of Edison's company. And even when intentions for a better method of execution are good, as Moran points out, 'no execution can really be considered humane'.

In 1890, William Kemmler, a thirty-year-old dimwitted alcoholic, was executed at Auburn Penitentiary in New York. He had hatcheted his lover to death while she did the dishes the year before. He was a nobody, unremembered today but celebrated at the time because he was the first prisoner sentenced to die in the electric chair. Under the terms of the new New York law, the Electrical Execution Act, he got "a current of electricity, of sufficient intensity to destroy life instantaneously" rather than being hung. Kemmler's history, and the often bizarre story of how that first execution came to pass, is told in _Executioner's Current: Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and the Invention of the Electric Chair_ (Knopf) by Richard Moran. Moran has found that the problems of adopting this novel method of execution at the time mirror our own problems over capital punishment, because of the universally felt ambivalence on the subject. Although we are all sure that our stances on the death penalty are the right ones, our society acts as if it is not at all sure, and given the recent overturning of capital cases based on DNA testing, it is surely right to be unsure.

Electrocution was advocated as a humane improvement over hanging, but it was promoted as commercial propaganda. Electricity was being wired into homes via two systems, the system of direct current advocated and sold by Thomas Edison, and the system of alternating current pushed by George Westinghouse. Edison opposed capital punishment, but realized that making Westinghouse's system the basis for execution would reinforce that it was a dangerous current, unsuitable for customers' homes. Direct current was safe, Edison maintained, but alternating current was "the current that kills." Before the word "electrocution" was coined, as there was no word for executing by electricity, Edison proposed that condemned criminals be "Westinghoused." No amount of his propaganda could have made direct current easy to transmit or easily transformed from high voltage transmission to low voltage home use, but without Edison's efforts, the push to install electric chairs would not have been nearly so strong. Most states eventually switched from hanging, despite the botched electrocutions that revolted observers. Kemmler's was one of these, requiring a couple of jolts before he had ceased breathing, but leaving him frothing at the mouth and stinking up the execution room with the smell of his burned flesh.

While there were more successful electrocutions which were quiet, quick, and scentless, no one knew at the time whether the procedure was painless (although many maintained it was), and this is still a matter of some controversy. No one really knows the details of the internal process, and no one lives to tell us if it hurt. Moran's exhaustive book traces the legal acceptance of electrocution in our country, with courts at different levels assuring all that it may have been "unusual" when it was novel, but is no longer, and it was not cruel since it seemed to be fast, at least in some cases, so it is not "cruel and unusual punishment" forbidden by the Constitution. The electric chair has continued to be used and "remains the only electrical appliance that has not undergone major modification since its invention more than one hundred years ago." When we have to apply euthanasia to our pets, we would never take them to a veterinarian for electrocution, and the system of intravenous injection seems as painless as any could be. The Gerry Commission examined the use of injectable morphine, but thought that such a painless descent into permanent sleep would unnecessarily rid execution of a needed scare factor. This fascinating book shows that of such judgments, and corporate shenanigans, was electrocution born.

Harwell does a good job of pulling together and redacting DS Freeman's epic VII Volume (actually VI - he died before publishing the 7th) account of George Washington's life. I often find myself wishing he would annotate, at least on a chapter basis, which volumes of the larger work he is pulling his info from.

A basic understanding of the extreme hardships early Americans (Colonists) went through can be gathered through this book, and this understanding should be required basic knowledge in all schools. The birth of this nation, was founded on some of the most remarkable physically, financially, emotionally and seemingly impossible acheivements by a few who had the courage to see the delivery through. Freeman captured these trials and victories in marvelous detail.

His decades of efforts for the multi-volume biography is a gift to all fans of American History. Even though it drags in a few spots, this edited version is one of the best one volume biographies of the "Father of Our Country"

His decades of efforts for the multivolume biography on Washington is a gift to all fans of American history. While this summary drags in a few places, it is the best one volume biography of the "Father or Our Country" available. Particularly pleasing is the concise chronological arrangement of the materials.

I'm not an expert weight lifter or anything but I have exercised regularly for a few years. The advice in this book is good but clearly targeted towards beginners. Very well organized, easy to read, covers a lot of topics, but misses out on a lot of the finer points.

When I got this book I was a scrawny senior in high school. Now, into my second year of using this book I've more than doubled, even tripled the amount of weight I use during my workouts. It's also taken my 5" 11" figure from being a measily 130lbs to a much more noticible 165lbs. 35lbs of ALL MUSCLE thanks to following the workout recommendations in this book. Even decreased my already small body fat composition from 12% to 8%. I can not recommend this book enough! Take control of your body now!

I'm one of those guys that does a lot of researching before I begin any major endeavor. I also read a lot on a lot of different subjects. Take my word for it, if you are about to commit yourself to a major fitness regimen and have never done so before, this book will be invaluable to you. It seems as if the authors have literally sifted through all of the other books and magazines (and as you know there's a lot of junk out there), picked out the important stuff and then run it buy the experts before it made it into this book. The book is also a great motivator, always reminding you to set reasonable goals and then giving you advice on how to stay focused on them. You get a lot for your money and this book is worth every penny.

P.S. As a gay guy, there were occasional references that made me feel a bit excluded. It would be nice if the "men" in Men's Health was truly inclusive. I wish I could expect equity but on balance I'm still very satisfied. There are also some very friendly books out there like "Basic Training" by Jon Giswold and any of the books from the brothers Brungardt.

I've enjoyed watching Richard Karn on "Home Improvement" over the years, but found this book to be a disappointment. There just isn't very much substance to this story about his home remodeling experience. The book has lots of white space, and some obvious things aren't there (like a floor plan or before and after photos) that would have really brought some life to the text. The narrative is somewhat choppy, with brief mentions of some aspects of the project but no real explanation. I've had several smaller-scale remodeling projects done in my home and found most of the "tips" listed pretty obvious. Also, while there were a few interesting bits about the show and Karn's earlier career, at least part of this material read like a collection of one-liners. I could almost hear the rim-shot as I read each punchline. Overall, not worthwhile.

The book is worth the admission price only if you heed the message: Pay attention and plan. It is funny, and it is nice to know anyone can be afflicted with the 'HomelyImprovement',virus. the good news:No one was murdered at the hands of the homeowners -the Karns;it is only money, and someone elses money at that; It is reality, and could happen to you.

One engineer told us that our choice of home would end our marriage. Another moved in... I bought Karn's book because it touched a nerve not satisfied by the congratulatory experience of Bob Villa or This Old house. For those of you old enough to remember the allusion, this is Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House for the nineties.

Although this is an excellent textbook for medical students and hematology fellows who need to learn more about certain topics and diseases, it offers limited assistance to the clinician who has to work backwards from lab results and symptoms in search of diseases. It covers the molecular biology of hematology in great detail and also discusses some of the treatment options. It is a great book if you are doing a paper on a hematologic topic. There are also chapters on the new techniques used in labs and the differences in these techniques. On the other hand, if you are looking at abnormal results on a CBC, this book may not offer much help.

A comprehensive text of practical clinical hematology. Clearly and concisely written for use as a reference or 'at the bench.' One of the most useful materials in the Hematology laboratory.

This book is written primarily for the laboratory, and the haematologist. In that area it is excellent, for clinical treatment, williams or other books are better. But for the laboratoru I would reccomend this book, as I have this and several of the previous editions.

It is a wonderful idea to make available recordings of great speeches. I hope we have more of this in the future.
In the case of older speeches, the selection is very good, considering the restraints of time, and the readers are uniformly excellent.
As for the modern speeches, it is a marvel of technology that we can hear these speeches as delivered. It is incredible that we can hear the voice of William Jennings Bryan. I can listen to Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" a thousand times and never tire of it! How I wish I could listen to the voice of Patrick Henry! But this selection is too heavily weighted to the modern, and many of those do not deserve billing as the GREATEST speeches of ALL TIME. Also, some of the modern speeches which are included are abridged, e.g. Reagan is cut off in the middle of a sentence, while lengthy and undeserving speeches are played out in their entirety.
Also, with only a few exceptions, the selection is almost entirely American. It is hard to understand why Jimmy Carter's lengthy speech on energy policy is included, while Pericles' funeral oration is not; or why only a small portion of a single Winston Churchill speech is included; why while Bill Clinton's complete 1993 pulpit address, in excess of 20 minutes, is included.
It would be helpful if the complete list of speeches were available to online buyers, as it would be to shoppers in a brick and mortar store.

I have listened to this collection twice now, both times with pleasure. Hearing the acutal voices of Amelia Earhart, Rev. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill and Neil Armstrong made a deeper connection than simply reading their words. The collection showcases different subjects and many times contrasts opposing viewpoints of the ideas. This volume is a fantastic introduction to the moving ideals and sometimes sad truths that have influenced Western Civilization.

I'm glad this book is not sold anymore! When my mother-in-law (a NZer) read it and then came with us to visit Kiev, Lviv, Moscow and some small and mid-sized cities and towns, she said she read your book, but LUCKILY didn't find it to be true!!!

I think the author of the book needs to visit Ukraine and Russia soonish and re-write the book, or get some treatment for..., racism, cold war and a shield from what the media brings to your TV screens (everyone knows that only bad news and breakthroughs make news), so please use your brains!

I read the book after my mother-in-law's remarks and was sick in my stomach, for quite a while.

I lived in Russia for a year and traveled extensively in European Russia and Siberia and this book never failed me. Although prices fluctuated, everything else was absolutely accurate and very thoroughly researched. The writers went to enormous lengths to write what is hands-down the best travel guide to Russia. The new edition is due out this April. Mine is already on order.

I found this book fascinating. It was great the way the writer bought into consideration the fact that no-one wants to travel to the places in question. When reading this book be sure to enquire at your local travel agent for any misconseptions. great book. 5 star

The author of the book is the President of Rochard, a major producer of Limoges Boxes. If you want to learn about the history of the porcelein and painting techniques - read on. However, I wanted to learn more about the different artists and manufacturers. Mr. Sonking features only his "Rochard" boxes. Too slanted for my taste.

I found the book to be quite interesting, not to mention beautifully photographed. While I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that the book tends to be a bit jaded (since the author IS the President of a major Limoges distributor), it is still packed with history and facts. However, I would have preferred that it also mention current values of some of the many styles of Limoges boxes. 'Looks great sitting on the coffee table!!

If you've been looking for a collector's book on Limoges porcelain boxes for many years like I have then you'll be overjoyed to know that someone has finally done an incredible job.

The "Limoges Porcelain Box: From Snuff To Sentiments" by Richard Sonking has everything true collectors could possibly want. This is one coffee-table book that will not gather dust. The photographs are beautiful. It will provide wonderful reading, with a wealth of information and history in addition to how the boxes are designed from start to finish.

Tre's Magnifique!!!!!

Louis Mauriello, World Press Review magazine