This is not your typical doomsday Revelation book. Kallas takes the book and reviews it as all books of the Bible should be reviewed--from the perspective of the times. Revelation, as Kallas notes, was written during a specific time and while John the Apostle was in prison. He takes 4 views of interpreting Revelation and then carefully explains why each should be reviewed in the context of the time. The reader is left with an encouraging and much more understandable view as to how to interpret John's seemingly strange letter. The explanations are based in the writings of the time and the reader has a much more balanced view of Revelation. A must read for any "end times" buff--this will make you think. Wish it were still in print.

ok so im the only person to review this book. i dont care. the fact that im seventeen doesnt make much of a difference either. i first read this book when i was six years old. my librarian and her helper, mrs. bolitsky and mrs. pfeiffer down at good old barley sheaf elementary school in flemington, nj told me the books were good. i still have the copy of rhubarb i made my mother buy when i was nine. its still one of the best books i ever read, and its still on my bookshelf, although the pages are getting a little worn because i read it so much still. so call me pathetic if you want but im a sucker for those serendipity books.

Anyone interested in the history of Japan by a Western writer should be familiar with the works of Cambridge educated Stephen Turnbull. Having read four of his books on Japanese history I can testify to the clarity and detail he puts into his writing. This book is no exception. The book is about the daimyo, the elite of the samurai who in turn were the elite of the military. So what Turnbull does is give a detailed account of the creme de la creme of the samurai class. Although the book can be a bit tedious for the novice Japanese historian it is complimented by wonderful illustrations, colorful plates by James Field and photographs of exquisite beauty. There is much to see in this book if the details of the military structure get too complicated. It helps to have a basic understanding of the historical periods dicussed, but not essential as Turnbull makes the information easy to understand. He covers two periods, the Sengoku Period(think feudal Japan) and the Edo Period which was the three centuries of peace that followed. The foundation was created for the daimyo during the age of war and carried over into the folowing period that was by contrast almost marked by the total absence of war. The code of conduct and honour of a samuarai, or bushido, is discussed as well as the various relationships to all parts of society. Turnball makes a correlation to the present and shows how allegiance to a group, in this case modern industry, and a leader are part of self- sacrifice for the good of the country. The plates, drawings, photographs and woodcuts are fascinating and spellbinding material for students of Japnese history. While teaching a class I used some of the plates to compliment the subject and found that students were totally captivated by the often graphic nature of the violent war scenes. One plate in particular was inspired by the fabulous film by Kurosawa entitled Ran, where the defeated warlords family commits suicide in a blazing castle. This is an excellent source book for anyone interested in the hisory of Japan, samurai or more specifically, the daimyo. Recommended for teachers and students alike, this book is worth seeking out if this subject interests you, there are few if any better authorites in this field.

This is an omnibus edition of 'Samurai Warriors' and 'Samurai Warlords', giving you over 300 pages of colour illustrations, black and white photos and some of the most detailed information about the Samurai. The first part of the book deals with the warriors, from the early warriors from the Heian Period to the end with the last true samurai, Saigo Takamori, who in 1877 raised a rebellion against the new order and failed. The books deals with armour and weapons, equipment, tactics and training.
The second part of the book deals with the Daimyo, the warlords of Japan, starting with the first Samurai Warlord, the 60 year old Hojo Soun in 1491, and goes into detail about their culture, training, family life, women's roles and even how they dealt with death.

See above. The entire series should be available in hardcover collectables! Also, I wish this type of stories were available on video and CDROM similar to LIVING BOOKS.

I used to beleve that questions like that are not possible to answer without mathematics and advanced physics. Gordon does it, and he does it very good. If you like aha-experiences, read this book!

Shimmeree, a crystal dragon living in a crystal world, is out frollicking when the young dragon finds a strange seed. What follows is a tale of beauty, and the newfound understanding of the color of a rose -- and how that color can spread across an entire world bringing light and life.

This book is a wonderful way to teach children the dangers of exaggerating while also teaching that not every little thing is the end of the world, following the adventures of a young ostrich as she wanders through the savannah, stirring up trouble. Adults will enjoy the illustrations above all, as is prevalant in the entire Serendipity series.

At 28, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis with no known cause (no thyroid probs, no steroid use, no family history of it either). This book explained which vitamins can help prohibit the body from absorbing calcium, which ones help, and actually gave specifics in terms anyone can understand about how much vitamins to take, when, which foods have them, etc. It's a wonderful book and has really enlightened me. I had a lot of anemia-like symptoms growing up, yet I was never tested positive for iron-deficiency - on a fluke, a dr discovered I was zinc anemic! This book explains how a zinc deficiency can contribute to osteoporosis - I never knew that and have yet to find another book that talks about it either. I haven't seen this book in any vitamin stores, yet I have found it in herbal shops - but they're usually ratty from everyone flipping thru them. If you only get one book as a reference about osteoporosis - this is the one to get - and for a nice price, too!

With Economics gaining a greater spotlight in our world, a basic understanding of it is necessary to be an active and informed participant in society. As a high school student with a special interest in economics because of recent waves of discontent washing over the world in the form of protests against free trade and international bodies, I found this text a good general introduction to economics that would allow me to better understand some of the complaints of said protestors. Although the book is certainly dated, it holds up remarkably well - it discusses many current issues from the American perspective that are as relevant today (OPEC, NAFTA, etc.) as they were when the book was written. The special focus on sustainable development and policy that is alternative to the mainstream growth-oriented view is also appreciated. The book is able to have an alternative view while still maintaining the pretense of objectivity. I felt that the book did not focus enough on some of the recent complaints directed towards trade policy such as arguments related to the so-called 'race to the bottom'. Additionally, it could have used the term 'deflation' more and specifically addressed issues relating to deflation as an aside to discussions of recession. Finally, I would have liked to have seen an expanded discussion of competition policy. That said, my wishes for an expanded text are not jeers, but instead cheers. As a high school student, this work has done an excellent job of engendering an interest in the subject. Because I am interested (I read this book in preparation for an Economics course that I will take in an upcoming year) I am demanding a greater and more expansive book. This book, as a fast-paced and broad-based introduction to the discipline is highly recommended for its readability and ability to simplify complex concepts. It has successfully avoided that trap of being dry, dull and overly detail-oriented that so many other introductions fall into, and has given me an interest in furthering this pursuit and learning more.