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Book reviews for "Steensma,_Robert_Charles" sorted by average review score:

I Fought With Custer: The Story of Sergeant Windolph, Last Survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn
Published in Paperback by Univ of Nebraska Pr (1987)
Authors: Charles Windolph and Robert Hunt
Amazon base price: $11.16
List price: $13.95 (that's 20% off!)
Average review score:

Interesting Read
This book is compiled from the found writings of a sergeant of the Seventh Cavalry who survived the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The first hand accounts of men like Sergeant Windolph and Theodore Goldin are very valuable and interesting reading. They were not men defending their performance as were the officers like Benteen, Reno, and Godfrey. They had their biases but didn't have to grind axes. This account is worthwhile reading for students of the Seventh Cavalry and the Little Big Horn campaign.

A memorable account of the Custer fight
As a Custer buff, this book has been on my shelf for a long time. A great book to read, one that fleshes out a lot of the daily life in the Seventh as well as the battle along Greasy Grass. Right up there with "Son of Morning Star" and Walter Camp's book on the subject. Check 'em out, you won't be disappointed.

A wonderful book. that I read in one long draught.
I am a big fan of thomas bergers book "little Big Man" and loved the film. After reading this book I now know where Mr. Berger probably gleaned his inspiration for his classic novel. Reading this old soldiers memorable account made me thirst only for more. It is a real gem, and every Custer fan should have a copy in the home library.


My Ten Years in a Quandary and How They Grew
Published in Hardcover by Amereon Ltd (1977)
Author: Robert Charles Benchley
Amazon base price: $26.95
Average review score:

This book offers great insight into the ironies of life
This book offers an array of emotions and feelings in a quirky little package. From the first time I picked up this book from the spare bedroom at my grandparents' old home, I knew I'd found a rare jem of a book. As my brother told me I was "a monster of a girl," a kept reading and reading until Sherman, the fiend of the Sea, chased me to the lake. These are the kind of feelings that this book brings out in people. From its terse discussion on the history of Budapest, to its harsh realization that there really were more than two composers named "Mozart," I believe all will find this an enjoyable experience!

Timeless Humor
I have an old Penguin paperback which I constantly carry in my purse. Benchley has been my lunch companion on numerous occasions, and he never fails to please. One of the greatest humorists America has ever produced, in the same league with Mark Twain and James Thurber.

Wildly Funny
This is fun at its best! It is a pity that Benchley is not read more widely. This book takes us to extremes : it is crazy and "farfelu". You cannot get tired of it.


One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos
Published in Hardcover by Joseph Henry Press (2000)
Authors: Neil De Grasse Tyson, Robert Irion, and Charles Tsun-Chu Liu
Amazon base price: $28.00
List price: $40.00 (that's 30% off!)
Average review score:

A non-mathematical introduction to the Universe
Now that science fact has become stranger than science fiction, it's good to have a book that explains the physical universe in clear prose and pictures. The authors' stated intention is to make readers feel "at home in the Cosmos," although many of the astronomical photographs might leave us a bit in awe of the place where we live. In fact, I'm surprised that the authors didn't use more images from the Hubble space telescope. Perhaps it is because their stated intention is to explain, not simply astound. Conceptual drawings such as "How protons decay" are also found in abundance.

Tyson, Liu, and Irion introduce readers to 'the' golden age of astronomy (Right here. Right now) and explain the principles that govern our everyday lives, as well as the workings of the cosmos. That's quite a lot to accomplish in a book that is also a visual feast (400 full-color illustrations). However, the authors are well-suited to tackle the job. Neil de Grasse Tyson is the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. Charles Liu is an astrophysicist at the Museum. Robert Irion is a free-lance journalist, and a contributing editor and correspondent to Astronomy and Science.

Using everyday analogies (as opposed to mathematical formulae), the authors take us on a journey through our universe, from the infinitesimal to the infinite. Here is an example illustrating Newton's second law of motion:

"Imagine standing behind two people wearing roller skates. One is a 90-pound ballerina, and the other is a sumo wrestler who weighs five times as much. If you push on each person with equal force (and tact), you will accelerate the ballerina five times more quickly. That ratio holds true in space as well."

"One Universe" includes an illustrated timeline of the major advances in astronomy and physics, from Democritus to Hale-Bopp.

Grand Tour of the Universe
Want to know what a supernova, neutron star or black hole is, explained in everyday language? If so then this is the book you are looking for. Simply put, it's the perfect source for easy to understand explanations about all facets of astronomy and astrophysics. Find out how astronomers know the universe is expanding, how they determine how far away other galaxies are, or how a supernova happens. Learn about energy and particle physics, all explained in an intelligent yet easy to understand fashion. Learn about the different states of matter, about energy and Einsteins theory of relativity. Nicely formatted with stunning graphics, I highly recommend this book, especially to those with no background in the sciences who are looking for a simple, easy to understand yet intelligent explanation of science.

A book that should be in every home
The beauty of this book is apparent as soon as you open it. It is filled with wonderful pictures that help to explain the valuable information that is contained in this book. Neil De Grasse Tyson has taken the information that most of us find to difficult to understand and brought it to a level that makes it not only understandable, but exciting to read. The pictures give us a visual understanding of the dynamics of all the things around us. This is a book for all, young and old. I especially found it to be a great way to stimulate the minds of our youth, who seem to have lost interest in many of the sciences. This book breathes new life into a subject that affects all of us.


Common Truths: New Perspectives on Natural Law (Goodrich Lecture Series)
Published in Hardcover by Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) (2000)
Authors: Edward B. McLean, Ralph McInerny, J. Rufus Fears, Russell Hittinger, Charles E. Rice, Ian T. McLean, Janet E. Smith, Edward J. Murphy, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Robert P. George
Amazon base price: $17.47
List price: $24.95 (that's 30% off!)
Average review score:

A Stimulating Primer
What struck me is that this book analyzes natural law within a legal context: many of the contributing authors are attorneys as well as philosopher. This is particularly helpful to our nation today, as I think more citizens will have to reassess the role of the judiciary these days.

For the latter half of the 20th century, worries over "judicial acitivism" and judges' making decisions that should be made by legislatures have been the domain of conservatives, with Roe v. Wade probably being the chief example. But now liberals have said similar things about the Supreme Court's Bush v. Gore decision. It is high time for intelligent discussion, and this book is a solid foundation for a dialogue.

By looking at natural law historically, legally, and philosophically, the authors of this book examine how natural law works and various challenges to it. This book is a very good introduction, and I have come away with a greater respect for natural law and its vital role in our nation, and also new questions to pursue (and more books to buy...).

The contributing authors are an impressive team of formidable thinkers, and while most of the writers clearly come from a religious background, the are pretty good about keeping what they say applicable to a secular society (the last two essays tend to be more theological than philosophical, and I thought that hurt their impact).

I think MacIntyre's essay on the role of the ordinary person in natural law is particularly valuable: if the American citizenry cannot execute sound moral judgment, our nation as a constitutional republic is in grave danger. Fuller's essay on Locke's struggles with natural law is an honest and challenging look at natural law's theoretical chinks. Riley's essay on tort law gave excellent lessons on liability, but with lawsuits being as common as they are nowadays, I would have hoped for more practical insights on today's situation, and possible remedies.

On the whole, this book is a good read and a good challenge. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in ethics or concerned about the present condition of the United States.

Scholarly, intellectually stimulating reading.
Common Truths: New Perspectives On Natural Law is a collection consisting of cogent remarks and prescient essays: Are There Moral Truths That Everyone Knows? (Ralph McInerny); Natural Law: The Legacy of Greece and Rome (J. Rufus Fears); Aquinas, Natural Law, and the Challenges of Diversity (John Jenkins); John Locke's Reflections on Natural Law and the Character of the Modern World (Timothy Fuller); Theories of Natural Law in the Culture of Advanced Modernity (Alasdair MacIntyre); What Dignity Means (Virginia Black); Natural Law and Positive Law (Robert P. George); Natural Rights and the Limited of Constitutional Law (Russell Hittinger); Natural Law and Sexual Ethics (Janet E. Smith); Contract Law and Natural Law (Edward J. Murphy); Tort Law and Natural Law (William N. Riley); Criminal Law and Natural Law (Ian A.T. McLean); and Natural Law in the Twenty-First Century (Charles E. Rice). Common Truths is scholarly, intellectually stimulating reading for anyone wanting to better understand and appreciate the permanent norms of human action and their relationships to a moral and political life.


Five Miles High: The Story of an Attack on the Second Highest Mountain in the World by the Members of the First American Karakoram Expedition
Published in Paperback by The Lyons Press (2000)
Authors: Richard L./ House, William P./ Houston, Charles S./ Petzoldt, Paul K./ Streatfield, Norman R. American Karakoram Expedition 1938)/ Burdsall, Charles Houston, and Robert Bates
Amazon base price: $11.87
List price: $16.95 (that's 30% off!)
Average review score:

A certain style of expedition...
Well written and with occasional engaging flashes of humor, Five Miles High gives a well-drawn picture of the large Himalayan expeditions of the past. At the same time as expedition members are having their food cooked for them and having their gear carried by numerous "coolies", they are walking a much greater distance, and in some ways subsisting in harsher conditions, than climbers do today. The contrasts with the present day are perhaps the most interesting thing about this book. "Boy's First Adventure Book"-ish illustrations at the chapter headings add a charming retro touch.

1938 American Expedition to K2
Five Miles high is an extremely interesting and very readable firsthand account of the 1938 American Expedition to climb K2, the second highest peak in the world. The book is a reissue of the original book describing the expedition and is authored by two team leaders with additional contributions by the other four team members. Of particular interest is their description of their trek through the Karakoram just to reach the mountain in the days when the primary hauling of supplies was done by ponies and porters. The contrast between the preparations and efforts involved in this expediton and the efforts described in all of the current Mt. Everest books is amazing. All in all, you'll find this a very enjoyable book to read. The same authors also wrote a second book describing their 1953 expedition - K2, The Savage Mountain. This one also has been recently reissued.


Getting Started with Mathematica(r)
Published in Paperback by John Wiley & Sons (18 June, 1998)
Authors: C. K. Cheung, G. E. Keough, Charles Landraitis, Robert H. Gross, and R. Gross
Amazon base price: $28.40
Average review score:

A must for mathematica beginners!
This book helped me a lot getting started with mathematica . It gives easy examples in all basic math areas. The examples can easily be reproduced and modified for personal use. The only critique is that there is no disk included...everything needs to be punched in.

Best beginner's book in Mathematica...
I got the 1998 printing of this book, which treats Mathematica 3., but not 4.+. So some of the formatting for the commands is not quite right, but a 4.+ user can use the Help Browser in Mathematica to correct for these.

This book is written at a freshman/sophomore level, and includes enough basics to be useful for a Calc I through Calc 3 student, Linear Algebra student, and Intro Statistics student. Some of the 3D plots are truly beautiful, such as the hyperboloid in one sheet. These authors have a full grasp of parameterization, which is necessary for some plots (e.g., the hyperboloid in one sheet).

So--a great intro, with more content than other intro Mathematica books.


Gregg Shorthand Dictionary
Published in Spiral-bound by Gregg/Community College Div (1995)
Authors: John Robert, Gregg, Charles E. Zoubek, and Gregg Condon
Amazon base price: $25.28
Average review score:

Short Review of Shorthand
It felt wonderful after many years to be making the Gregg characters again! This is a GREAT little book! If I could make one wish, though, I'd wish for the "Short Forms" and some examples of words used in sentences, or perhaps even illustrative dictation. But it's good to know that Gregg is still out there, making a difference.

A Must Have
At 39, and the second time around at taking shorthand (orig. took in high school in 1978) this book adds to the learning process and supplies help in several areas of brief forms, phrases and it greatly necessary when transcribing someone elses shorthand.

How we did without it before is unknown!


Gypsies
Published in Paperback by Spectra (1989)
Author: Robert Charles Wilson
Amazon base price: $4.50
Average review score:

a stimulating read for all ages
As unfortunate as it may be, books by Robert Charles Wilson are hard to come by. However, keep your eyes peeled, they're more than worth the trouble. This is the story of a small number of people with the ability to move in directions other than the traditional up-down, left-right, foward-backword motife. They are able to slip right out of this world into another. Oddly enough, each of the characters with the gift move into very different worlds. The question: why? Why to they have this power? Why is the worlds each one moves to so different? And, ultimately, why is their man in grey hunting them down?

This story goes far beyond it's plot to deal confront issues of far more importance than magic powers: family, love, creativity and, most of all, the power of the imagination.

A must read.

Yet another gem by Robert Charles Wilson
I simply can't believe that most of this gentleman's books are out of print. Every single one that I have read (beginning with "The Harvest") has been GREAT, including this one. A dark read, as are most of Mr. Wilson's stories, "Gypsies" is the story of the Fauve children, and their inherited ability to "visualize" other worlds, and to actually travel to them! Unfortunately, not all of these worlds are pleasant places, and the Fauve children wait too long to ask certain questions regarding the origin of their "powers"... I found this book in the library, along with a few others of Mr. Wilson's wonderful books. I hope the publisher will respond to a note I recently sent regarding re-issue of these books! I hope other fans will encourage this also! I bet Amazon.com would sell a bunch of them!


Parkinson's Disease: Questions and Answers
Published in Paperback by Merit Publishing International (1901)
Authors: Robert Hauser, Charles W. Olanow, Robert Hawser, and Theresa Zesiewicz
Amazon base price: $45.00
Average review score:

Written for Doctors
This is a well formatted, highly technical book. That is what surprised me. This book is not written for the layman. DO NOT purchase this book unless you are well-versed in chemistry and can follow a highly technical medical book. I was impressed by "Parkinson's Disease: Questions and Answers" but it took some intense reading for me to be able to pull good information out of it. This is a must-buy for your primary care physician if they aren't well versed in Parkinson's disease.

Technical, but worthwhile
This book is written with a great deal of research and medical substance. If you are just learning about Parkinson's, this is not the book to begin with. If you have some knowledge and want specifics, this is a good book. It is a nice book to pick up and read parts at a time. Information is candid and thorough.

I found this book to be very informative and easy to read.
I loved the format of the book! In reading any publication of its type, one typically has specific questions on a particular subject or seeks further explanation on a variety of issues to maintain as a reference. It was very easy to direct my attention to the very topics I was most interested in, and to return to them in times of need. The format of the book (question and answer), the length of the chapters, and flow of information made it a very quick read despite the complexity of the material. It will be one that I will keep on my shelf for a long time.


A Picture Book of Rosa Parks
Published in Paperback by Live Oak Media (1997)
Authors: David A. Adler, Charles Turner, and Robert Casilla
Amazon base price: $16.95
Average review score:

Freedom to be Black
I hope every child gets to read a lest one Black history Book. Even grown men and women.Every person in this world should be able to fell What it was like to be in Black history and this book is prefect to help you.You will feel like you were there right next to Rosa Parks. If you your child or anybody else is interested in Black history I promise this is a book for you.

Review of "A Picture Book of Rosa Parks"
I really enjoyed this book. It is filled with great illustrations and fun & interesting facts that make it a wonderful book to teach children about Rosa's life. I would highly recommend it for all teachers & parents to share with children.

Great book in a series of Picture book biographies
David Adler has done a tremendous job with this biography as with the others in the series. The book is a great introductory biography for young students in grades K-3. Although his biographies have been criticized for being simplistic, I feel this is exactly what makes these books perfect for younger audiences. They were meant to be an INTRODUCTORY biography, not an exhaustive research study. Young listeners will not be bored and will not drown in excessive information. The book is abundantly illustrated with colorful pictures and concludes with a timeline of important dates. My kids, ages 5,8 and 11, love this series.


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