...this really is a monumental work. It is common to say that Gibbon was a great writer but it's best to look elsewhere for the history...if you can swallow, say, _The Federalist Papers_, you will enjoy Gibbon.

...There is still a lot of good history to learn in Gibbon. The important thing to remember is that Gibbon often takes the point of view of conservative elements in Rome, so he inherits a particular agenda that does not look favorably on the decline of Rome the city or the Roman senate, or on the rise of the military dictatorship.

That just means that the punch line is, don't make Gibbon your introduction to Roman history. Maybe start with Michael Grant's _History of Rome_. But Gibbon is still a valuable read from a purely historical point of view, not just a literary one.

Also important to remember is that Gibbon uses "decline and fall" in maybe a different way than we do. He essentially means the drift away from the principles and institutions of Golden Age Rome (that's the conservatism again) over the 1500 years that the Roman Empire (as he conceived it -- rolling the Byzantine Empire into the Roman) existed.

DON'T read these volumes (this 3 volume Modern Library edition is a complete reproduction of the 6 volume text edited by J.B. Bury) if you want to learn about the death of the Roman Republic, because it's not covered (for that and other general history try Cary and Scullard's _A History of Rome Down to the Reign of Constantine_). Gibbon begins (in Vol. 1) in the 2nd century AD and goes (in Vol. 3) to 1453 AD; the Republic ended in the 1st century BC. Trite comparisons aside, it's also difficult to find anything deep or valuable in Gibbon that directly foreshadows the modern American experience. For starters, the grand princples of Federalist America are different from Golden Age Rome, and any decline away from them is fundamentally different (if there even is such a decline).

I purchased all six volumes of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. This work is written in the beautiful and fluid 18th century English. Gibbon is a master author, and the book was extremely well researched, consulting the works of Tacitus, Livy, Suetonius, and Polybius, Roman historians of fame. Volumes 1-3 contains the history of the Roman empire from 180 A.D. to 490 A.D., covering the end of the reign of Marcus Aurelius, to the time when Odoacer usurped the throne of the western empire. Volumes 4-6 contains the history of the eastern empire, from the late 300's to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. I highly recommend both box sets. All volumes together are approximately 3600 pages, and go into detail for pages subjects that are written only for about a few paragraphs in other books. A must for any enthusiast of the history of the Roman Empire.

This is an excellent abridged edition of Edward Gibbon's classic "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" and it makes both a perfect introduction for those just getting into Gibbon and a useful portable copy for people who have the entire set. This abridgement includes much of Gibbon's coverage of the decline and fall of the western empire and some interesting chapters and excerpts from the remainder of the work, ideal for the general reader. Most of Gibbon's history still stands up after 200 years (and footnotes point out where it doesn't), and it is written in an absolutely gorgeous English style. Anyone interested in Rome owes it to themselves to read Gibbon, and this is a good place to get your feet wet.

I picked this book up after reading _Everyday Life In Regency and Victorian England_, which I thought did a decent job of describing the mundane details of English life in the 1800's. Daniel Pool's book is immensely more interesting, detailed, and enjoyable.

_What Jane Austen Ate..._ is divided into two parts: a series of essays on daily life in the 19th century, and an exhaustive glossary of words common to the folk of the period, but not to us. Both parts are engaging and

interesting, suggesting all sorts of interesting ideas for characters, scenes, plots, and schemes (Most people will read this for background on other works, but I read it to ensure historical accuracy in something I'm working on). Pool refers to classical works by Dickens, Austen and Eliot when describing a certain facet of life to help pull it all together.

This book gets 5 stars not because it's the greatest book in the world, but because it's clearly the best of its kind. Readers and writers of 19th century fiction would do well to read it.

If you've read everything by Austen, lots of Trollope and Dickens, you'll enjoy this survey of 19th century English society. I found much in this book that filled in the missing pieces of my understanding of the unwritten rules of this era.

The book is divided into two parts: the first has more lengthy explanations of various aspects of Victorian society--marriage, the military, class, money, law, parliament, etc. Diagrams of class rank and period illustrations are helpful. Quotes from some of the most famous novels of the time are used to illustrate the explanations. There are brief histories of the monarchs interspersed throughout, as well as some medieval history that explains how many of the customs came to be. The second half is a dictionary of commom terms you'll come across in novels from the period.

While the editing of this book leaves a little to be desired, it is an enjoyable read and a decent reference. Serious anglophiles will find it very basic, but the avid novel reader who's history is only "so-so" will find it invaluable.

I certainly wish that I had this book before I started reading Jane Austen, because it would have answered many of my questions. I had tried to use the dictionary and was not always successful. Daniel Pool's excellent book changed all of that! Have you ever wondered why Fanny Price was so dizzy after drinking NEGUS? What exactly was the difference between a GIG and a CURRICLE? Where in the Order of Precedence did Sir William Lucas fall as a BARONET? It is all here in this thoroughly engaging and delightful book. It is here that I finally learned about the daily life of 19th-century England, and the overall social structure of the time. Jane Austen is not the only author covered: Charles Dickens, George Eliot, The Brontes, Thomas Hardy, and Anthony Trollope are well discussed. The glossery is excellent, and full of terms that I could not find even when I used The Oxford Dictionary. The only area that needed further clarification was the chapter about Entails and Protecting The Estate. I never quite understood how Miss Ann De Bourgh was able to inherit her father's estate upon his death, since "A girl should not inherit because if she remained single the line could die out and if she married the estate would pass in possession to someone outside the family." (see pg. 90 hardcover edition) Apart from that, I still feel comfortable giving this book 5 stars, and would advise anyone who loves 19th-century English Literature to add it to their collection. It is a great reference guide of the period.

Sugarman is a brilliant, matter-of-fact-writer, who does not pull any punches. You don't have to spend a lot of time wondering, "Geez, I wonder what message he is trying to convey in this scene?" You KNOW what Sugarman is telling you about. He is talking about passion, love and desire for The Doors, for Rock N' Roll and most of all, for life. Sugarman breaks all the rules, just to see what happens. He isn't interestesd in the 'James Dean Glory' of Rebelion, He wants to learn, to experience, to grab a hold of life on HIS terms, no one else's. Wonderland Ave. is a detailed account of his experiences. Sugaman has written about the underworld of Rock before and after reading Wonderland Ave., you will understand why he is authority on the subject. Wonderland Ave. will show what it's like to live life in the fast lane and also warn you could end up like a smashed-up car in a demoltion derby. Break the rules, crash and burn, grow up. live. Excellent tale, Danny. Jim would be proud. Dave Flanigan Poor Speller in Philly flan424@aol.com

Perhaps the myths of glamour and never ending hapiness in the music industry will soon be dispelled by reading Sugermans tale. Although we envy the glamorous life style, the theme so often touched on in this book, we realize the downfall and the end results when diregarding the future. Danny's story should be required reading for young people experementing with drugs. It also happens to be one of the most well written pieces I have read in a long while.

This book kept me captivated from the first page through the end. The most real and gripping account of excess and the music industry that I've ever read. As a book publicist I found myself wishing that I had the chance to work on this book. Sugerman definitely has a career ahead of him as a writer.

Dan Clowes' graphic novel, "Ghost World" tells the story of Enid Coleslaw and her best friend Rebecca during the months between their high school graduation and the following October. The girls curse a lot, obsess over freaks and strange events in their lives and eventually come to realize their childhood friendship may not survive their transition into adulthood.

Clowes has an amazing ability to zero in on life's smallest moments and find in them a fragile poetry. He's also not afraid to make his characters fallible, and sometimes, in the manner of callous youth, even cruel. Enid and Rebecca dub a waiter "Weird Al" because of his curly hair, and play a rude prank on a poor boob whose only crime was to gain their notice by placing a pathetic personal ad. And yet you won't hate the characters. They're vulnerable and honest in a very believable way, and their emotional journey through their final months together accurately depicts longing and unease, their nostalgia for things the way they were, and their need for different lives. For Rebecca, it's to hold onto things as they are, and for Enid, it's to go someplace else not to find herself, but to become someone different.

The story's also full of humor and mystery. Enid and Rebecca inhabit a world of strange grafitti, of diners and run-down apartments where things tend to happen just outside the frame, or within windows. And Clowes' two-toned, semi-realistic, sometimes cartoony depiction of the various geeks, pervos and schmoes who inhabit "Ghost World" is dead on... the dopey expressions, the sudden crises, the need to feel something and the fear that accompanies that desire... it's all there in his characters' faces.

Reminiscent of Will Eisner's work (and just a touch of Charles Burns'), and with a hip, modern feel, "Ghost World" provides a truly amazing and unique reading experience.

This is the first graphic novel that actually made me feel sympathy for some of the characters - made me care about them and their experiences. There's a point in the story that the girls go to a strangeish retro diner that has a hippie for an employee. One of them seems to realize something about this happy-happy seeming middle-aged man and spends some time leaving a large tip. It then flashes to a couple panels that depicts this man - no longer smiling and all - cleaning up and collecting the tip then depositing coins into a machine. I must've read those 1 or 2 pages a dozen times. I can't quite put it into meaning the reason I stuck to those pages but it really meant something to me. I guess the author just fleshes out the characters to such an extent that you just have to care about them. There are many other notable scenes too. Ghost World is simply a brilliant book about people and their "real" lives as opposed to the ones other people think they lead. Don't listen to the haters because this graphic novel changed my opinion about comics once and for all after reading an umpteenth amount of pulpy Batman ishes. They really can have heart and meaning about them and that's the important thing. Get it.

Seeing what was one of 2001's refreshing alternatives to the cinema, i.e. Terry Zwigoff's adaptation of Daniel Clowes' Ghost World, was what prompted me to get the graphic novel that inspired the movie, and I was NOT disappointed, believe you me.

Most of the scenarios seen in the movie are in the book. The garage sale, the lame comedian, the "Satanists," the 50's diner with "Weird Al," the prank call leading to the fake date, the note on Josh's door, etc. Two of them involve different characters. Enid's visit to the adult shop has Josh as her unwilling escort, while the recipient of the fake date was an unnamed character. Seymour was the subsitute in the movie for both occasions.

The interactions between Enid and Rebecca are realistic and human, as the bored duo spend days looking for excitement. Towards the end, their friendship gets frayed, as both have different visions of where they want to be, and the differences between them become pronounced and explored. Rebecca wants to belong somewhere, but Enid isn't sure.

The humor here is more human and natural while being profane at times. Certain characters add to the laughs, such as the obnoxious John Ellis, a right-leaning WASP who endorses controversial views and people, such as a ex-priest into child porn. He might as well be a refined Eminem. He constantly taunts Enid whenever they meet. In one conversation, we learn poor Enid's last name--Coleslaw. Enid: "My Dad has his name changed legally!" To which Ellis replies, "From what... three-bean salad?" Now that's funny! Another bit: Enid: "Look how hot we are... How come no boys ask us out on dates?" In the next frame, she says "Maybe we should be lesbos!" to which Rebecca says "Get away from me!"

Josh may be awkward and shy, but he is, as Enid tells him, "the last decent person on Earth." Both want to go out with him, but he is put off by Enid's sarcasm and he isn't sure about Rebecca. When pressed on his political views, he says he endorses "policies opposed to stupidity and violence,... cruelty in any form, censorship..." That makes two of us.

I've wondered this since I saw the movie, but does the bus stop where Norman finally gets his bus and where Enid goes, symbolizes hope? There's no interaction with Norman in the book, but it's revealed that the bus line has been reopened, while there's no such information provided in the movie. The novel doesn't change the symbolism of the bus stop.

Compare the book to the movie, which is different in some ways, but still explores the themes of alienation and growing up; see how perfect Thora Birch and Scarlet Johansson were in playing Enid and Rebecca. Both are stunning. Truly a rare gem of a comic.

Having been a member of the "free agent nation" since 1987, I read Daniel Pink's book with interest. There is no question that the American work force is undergoing what may be its most significant transformation since the migration from the farm to the factory one century ago.

The author spent a year traveling the country talking with hundreds of these workers. The portrait that emerges is the death of what William H. Whyte, Jr. named "the organizational man" in his 1956 book of the same name. Replacing him or her is the free agent, the home-based business, temp, freelancer or independent contractor. The lure of freedom, authenticity, accountability and self-defined success are luring workers from their cubical farms, stock options and regular paychecks into a life, the author dubs, "of meaning."

There is another side to this migration. Changes in three areas will be required before this migration becomes a powerful demographic influencing the economy and the nation:

1.Tax Changes
2.Access to Capital Markets
3.Attitudes

First, amend tax codes have to give the free agent the same status as the business he or she left. Benefits need full deductibility and ease of implementation. If the country benefits from independents building businesses, the capital gains tax needs to stop being a political football. It makes no sense to sacrifice to build a business unless there is a carrot at the end of the trail. A reduced or no capital gains tax is a powerful inducement.

State tax departments need to stop looking at independents as training grounds for their new agents. I have better things to do with my time than wet-nurse agents-in-training on a fishing expedition.

Second, open capital markets to the free agent. Capital, if available, is expensive for the individual businessperson. Bank loan officers do not or will not understand the difference between pre-tax and after-tax income. Finders access outrageous fees for equity capital.

Pink cites David Bowie's raising $55 million in 1997 collateralized by his song publishing and album royalties as an example of new financing opportunities available to free agents. For those of us who are not as successful David Bowie, this market place is closed. Democratic financial markets to finance startups, expansions and improvements are a necessity if the move to a free agent nation is to become a serious alternative to the bedrock of American work - the large corporation.

Lastly, social attitudes need to change. For a free agent nation to work concepts of the workday and workweek need to change. The free agent works when there is work. Vacations represent an opportunity cost.

Being a free agent is not an easy life, but one I will never leave.

If you already have or are contemplating striking out on your own and looking for ways to explain your decision to your parents, your maiden aunt and most especially yourself fly, do not run, to get this book.

Free Agent nation clearly and precisely identifies the most important trend in American economic life with style, wit, meticulous research and astonishing prescience.

Example: the author of this review recently shed the heavy armor of a highly successful ad agency to construct a company free from financial baggage and bureaucracy - one able to totally focus on the quality of the creative product. In the course of musing about it, I stumbled on the notion of the "advertising version of a film production company."

Turn to page 17 of the book and read about how "America's going Hollywood." The nub of the idea: teams of highly skilled specialists come together to produce a creative product only to disband until the next opportunity draws them again.

Of course, the fact that Daniel Pink agrees with this reader is of no particular importance. What is important is that this book offers value to anyone in any field that is amenable to free agency (yep, just about everyone). In part, by the sheer eloquence of the writing. In part, by the fact that Pink talks about who's doing it, how they're doing it, why they're doing it and what challenges they're blowing past to get it done.

If this book is not on every B-school list it's a travesty. If it's not on the shelf of every restless employee, it's a tragedy.

Sure, there are plenty of trend-spotting books out there. But precious few rise to the high standard of being a manifesto for a new, dynamic and exhuberent way to work.

Get the book for yourself. And get a copy for Auntie Em next time she plaintively asks "how could you leave a good paying job?" She'll not only get the answer but also, mercifully, shut up while she reads.

Reading this book was irritating! I've developed a habit of turning down the corners of pages when something on that page is particularly interesting to me. I discovered that I was turning down practically every page of Free Agent Nation! Daniel Pink has accomplished what most readers of non-fiction books desire: he's put solid value on almost every page. Your thoughts will be constantly stimulated as you move through this book.

Our lives have changed substantially since William Whyte wrote The Organization Man in 1956. The work environment experienced by today's generation-and tomorrow's-is radically different. Instead of being captives of the organizational mode, income-earners are now free agents, including some 30 million freelancers, temps, and microbusiness owners. The lifestyles and philosophies of this growing group will impact the labor pool, retirement, education, real estate, and politics. Daniel Pink's name will go down in literary history for Free Agent Nation because he has so effectively covered the underlying philosophy of a generation.

Free Agent Nation, an engaging, smooth read, is organized into five parts. The first part introduces us to what Free Agent Nation is all about. Chapter 2 gets right into "Numbers and Nuances" to give the reader a deep understanding. Chapter 3 explains how free agency happened. "Four ingredients were essential: 1) the social contract of work-in which employees traded loyalty for security-crumbled; 2) individuals needed a large company less, because the means of production-that is, the tools necessary to create wealth-went from expensive, huge, and difficult for one person to operate to cheap, houseable, and easy for one person to operate; 3) widespread, long-term prosperity allowed people to think of work as a way not only to make money, but also to make meaning; 4) the half-life of organizations began shrinking, assuring that most individuals will outlive any organization for which they work."

Part Two explores The Free Agent Way, the new relationship between worker and employer. Part Three gets into How (and Why) Free Agency Works. Pink explains how people get connected-with work opportunities and with each other. While many free agents work alone, they are not alone. There is a growing community of mutually-supportive independent members in an evolving new design of society. But, all is not rosy in Free Agent Nation; this is not Camelot. Part Four examines the problems that arise from laws, taxes, and insurance. An interesting chapter (13) on Temp Slaves, Permatemps, and the Rise of Self-Organized Labor reveals the seedier side of this picture. Pay careful attention, and you can almost feel the changes that are coming.

Part Five engages The Free Agent Future. Chapter 14 addresses E-tirement, confirming that older members of our society will be playing much different roles than in previous generations. The chapter on Education gives some initial insight into some different approaches to lifelong learning. Educators take note: your lives will be changing . . . are you ready? Concluding chapters explore free agent finance, politics, and how free agency will influence commerce, careers, and community in the years ahead.

With all that said, let's take a look at who the author is and how this book was put together. Daniel Pink is a former White House speech writer and Contributing Editor to Fast Company magazine. To research this topic, he invested more than a year on the road conducting face-to-face interviews with several hundred citizens of the Free Agent Nation. He met with real people, who are quoted and cited by name in most cases. The text comes alive with the insightful stories of people who are living-and often loving-their free agent status. These case studies are beautifully interwoven, producing a delightful fabric for the reader to caress. Warning: you'll find your mind leaving the page and floating into day dreams and contemplations numerous times.

To bring readers back to the reality of the core of his treatise, Pink concludes each chapter with what he calls "The Box." Included in this one-page-per-chapter feature are the key information and arguments of the chapter. The four components of this summary box are "The Crux," a summary of 150 words or less; "The Factoid," a particularly revealing statistic from the chapter; "The Quote," which pulls one representative quotation from the chapter; and "The Word," a novel term or phrase from the new vocabulary of free agency. As the author explains, "Read only "The Box" and you'll miss the chapter's narrative and nuance-but not, I hope, it's point."

An appendix on the free agent census and a good index complete this book. If you're ready to learn about the evolution and revolution in the world of work, this book will be a treasure for you.

The Confessor is Daniel Silva's sixth book, and the third featuring protagonist Gabriel Allon, the hero from The Kill Artist and The English Assassin. Silva's stories are driven by both strong character development and intricate plot devices as opposed to simple action sequences. The result is a sophisticated thriller that should satisfy fans of more complex, subtle, and intellectually stimulating stories.

The Confessor centers around the silence of the Vatican during the Holocaust. When an author who uncovered facts detailing the secret meeting at which the Church agreed to allow the Holocaust to take place is killed, Allon is dispatched to investigate his murder. During his investigation, he is stalked not only by an assassin known as the Leopard, but by a shadowy group within the highest circles of the Church.

My only critique of this novel would be the abundance of characters. It can be difficult to keep track of who's who at times, especially since many of them have Italian names. Realistically, this is a minor complaint, since the characters are developed well enough so that knowing them is second nature. Besides, if you have difficulty with complex novels, this one isn't really for you anyway.

Also recommended - The Mark of the Assassin and The Marching Season, Silva's second and third novels featuring Michael Osbourne, are excellent. Kurt Corriher's Someone to Kill is a lesser known international thriller that I found to highly entertaining.

Unassuming and resourceful hero Gabriel Allon is reprised in Daniel Silva's latest excellent thriller, The Confessor. Allon, Israeli super agent and renowned art restorer is currently working on the restoration of a Bellini painting in a Venetian church. He is summoned by his recently retired boss Ari Shamron former head of what seems to be the Israeli Mossad. Benjamin Stern, professor of European studies at a prestigious Munich university and also an Israeli agent has been found murdered in his apartment. Stern happens to be a good friend of Allon and the son of Shamron.

Allon, in his investigation finds out that Stern had been working on a piece that would implicate the Vatican in Hitler's plan to liquidate the Jews of Europe during World War 2. At the same time Venetian Cardinal Pietro Lucchesi ascends to the papacy, installed as Pope Paul VII. The pope is sympathetic to the revelation of secret Vatican documents which proved that Pope Pius condoned the Holocaust by remaining silent as the Nazis implimented the Final Solution.

A secret and extensive Vatican group called the Crux Vera consisting of powerful dignitaries lead by Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Marco Brindisi and General Carlo Casagrande would prefer that the secrets remain buried. They are prepared to go so far as to assassinate the new pope to accomplish this. They commissioned Eric Lange, known as The Leopard, a notorious and lethal assassin to silence those that would attempt to speak out.

Allon's investigation becomes intertwined with the actions of Crux Vera. He discovers that in 1942 a meeting between Nazi accomplice of Adolf Eichman, Martin Luther and then Vatican secretary of state Bishop Sebastiano Lorenzi took place at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the lakeside town of Brenzone. There the Vatican policy of silence toward the Holocaust was decided dooming millions of Jews.

Silva is very accomplished in presenting his story in an interesting and tightly wrapped manner. His latest offering confirms that he is without a doubt among my favorite contemporary authors.

Daniel Silva has penned a series of spy thrillers, whose main character is Gabriel Allon, an Israeli spy-assassin, doubling as an art restorer. Allon's credibility is infallible as he pledges to continue a slain colleague's attempt to reveal a secretive Vatican society.

This novel captures the tragedy of the Holocaust, recounting soberly and with sadness the Nazi atrocities, and the continued efforts of major world-players to conceal their involvement. The troubling role of the Catholic Church in the Second World War and the refusal of the Church to release its records from that period is realized through Allon's willingness to expose the truth and protect the Pope from the darkest members of the covert Vatican society.

The combination of international intrigue, fast-paced action, and institutional politics is woven together by Silva in an absorbing portrait of a crisis where human life is of no consequence to many who would kill to protect their institutions from attack.

The Pope's key role of insisting that the church live up to its ideals, together with the network of comrades who enable Allon to secure his trust, has a ring of both truth and idealism that is reassuring and heartening.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a scary tall tale told in the quiet town of Sleepy Hollow. It all starts out when Ichabod Crane(an intelligent school teacher) goes to a party at the Van Tassel's house. At the party a mean guy named Brom Bones tells a scary tale, about a headless horseman from the Revolutionary War. It was told that he roamed the night looking for his head, which he lost in battle. That night Ichabod had to ride home, he was very frightened. Lets just say Ichabod was never seen again, the only thing found the next day was his hat.
The legend of Sleepy Hollow is a great thriller. You can tell the tale at night, when you have a sleepover, or around a campfire. The book has a good story line and can be easily followed. I hope you don't get too scared when you read about the Headless Horseman...

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle" brings together these two classic stories by Washington Irving. The text of this Dover Children's Thrift Classic is accompanied by the whimsical illustrations of Thea Kliros. Both tales are set in the Dutch-American communities of rural New York State.

"Legend" tells the story of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who lives in an area purportedly haunted by a terrifying spectre: a headless horseman. "Rip" tells the story of a farmer who has a remarkable paranormal experience while wandering in the mountains.

Each story explores the intersection of the supernatural with everyday life. The stories are full of vividly drawn characters and are rich with the local color of rural Dutch American communities. Issues such as folk beliefs, geography, history and oral tradition are well handled by Irving.

Irving's playful, earthy prose style is a delight to read. Passages such as a description of a Dutch-American feast are memorable. Funny, ironic, and poignant, these tales are true classics by one of the most enduring figures in American literature.

First off, this review is of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle" published by Dover Children's Thrift Classics, $.... While most reviews might concentrate on the merits of the stories themselves, this review is meant to support the benefits of purchasing this particular edition over others.

That said, the first thing I would like to comment on is the price. You can't ask for more of a bargain that to pay less than a ... of America's most popular and well known Revolutionary War era stories. Great for anyone on a budget, or parents who want to expand their child's library but don't want to break the bank on something they may only read once. ....

Secondly, I would like to mention that this book contains BOTH "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" AND "Rip Van Winkle" in their respective unabridged entirety. Both are relatively short, entertaining, and easy-to-read stories that supply a great introduction to period literature, beliefs, and storytelling for children and adults alike. While these are not Washington Irving's only writings, they are perhaps the most well-known.

As a former teacher, I have the following suggestion: If you live in the New York metro area, this book would be an excellent jumping off point for a trip to Washington Irving's homestead, "Sunnyside", in Tarrytown, NY, for which you can find plenty of information online. There are several other "living history" sites in the area as well.

Dan Corner's book very convincingly refutes the heretical doctrine of unconditional security that is so prevalent in our churches today. I believe scripture points out that "once saved always saved" or unconditional security is the doctrine of demons alluded to in 1 Timothy 4:1. Corner doesn't get tangled in fancy theological arguments to cloud the truth, but he lets scripture interpret scripture. The book gives overwhelming scriptural evidence to support the doctrine of "conditional" security.Those in opposition always resort to their false argument of "works salvation" which they cry everytime someone mentions holiness, righteousness or perseverence, which we as believers are exhorted to walk in over and over in scripture. I would encourage everyone to read this book with an open mind and Bible to discover the liberating true gospel of the cross. ...
God Bless You
Jon Hill

As a person who was once caught in the snare of OSAS doctrine I can really appreciate the truth put forward in this book. I can understand anyone wanting to believe that one can sin like the devil and still call oneself a Christian but that is not what the bible teaches. Unfortunately many preachers that hold to that lie of UNconditional security claim verses in The Bible that are taken out of context to support their view. The doctrine of OSAS is simply man's opinion whereas CONditional security is Biblical truth. Accepting this truth for some is like kicking against the goads as Jesus said to Saul and the truth sometimes hurts. Rev. Dan Corner does a great job in showing where this pernicious lie came from and in the process allows the reader to have at his fingertips an abundance of scriptural truth that is given IN context to easily allow understanding. Thanks so much for this wealth of information you have worked so hard at to provide for Christians who want the truth. God Bless You and your ministry. Sincerely Michael Almon

Next to the Bible I have found Dan Corner's book, "The Believer's Conditional Security", to be the most important book for the true Chistian to devour. I have been reading and studying God's Holy Word for well over 25 years and Dan's book has been what I believe to be the most accurate and well put togehter study book of God's Word. I certainly recommend it most highly for all who call themselves Christians as it is my belief that MOST Christians are being deceived by many professing Christian leaders who are either deceived themselves or purposely defending the FALSE belief that once a person is truely born again it is impossible to fall away from God and lose their salvation. I believe that Satan is using the lie of "eternal security" or "once saved alway saved" as his main tool to fool true believer's and to lure them into his fold and ultimately into eternal hell. God's Word, The Holy Bible, leaves no doubt that it is a MUST for the true believer, the true child of God, the born again saved person, the person who has truely and sincerely accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to continue to persevere in thier faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Please read Dan's Book.

May God Bless you all.

Elvis Cole, private investigator, was tasked by a famous director, Peter, to find his ex-wife and son. A seemingly simple assignment soon turned out to be mission impossible. After locating Karen and Toby, Elvis soon uncovered that the former was owned by the mafia, who would not be at all happy with the interference of Elvis and his partner, Joe Pike. Being his usual righteous self, Elvis could not sit back and see Karen's life destroyed by the mob. However, could he and Joe take on the mafia, save Karen from its clutches, and escape unscathed?

Like all other Robert Crais' books, it had the compelling power which made it impossible for me to put the book down. I have always believed that for a book to be likeable, we must like the characters in the book and really feel for them. This is precisely the reason which I enjoy this book so much. I was rooting for Elvis and Joe all the way as I followed the story which simply took my breath away.

Robert Crais takes Elvis Cole on the road in Lullaby Town. After the first two books in the series took place in exclusively in the L.A. area, Mr. Crais sends Elvis across the country to the East Coast. The book starts out with Elvis being contacted by Peter Alan Nelsen, who is a big time action movie director, to locate his missing first wife and son. The meeting between Elvis and Nelsen at Nelsen's office is hilarious. In Peter Alan Nelsen, Mr. Crais perfectly captures the stereotypical, self-absorbed Hollywood type. After Elvis takes the case, his search leads him to a sleepy little Connecticut town where he locates Karen (the first wife) and Toby (the son). What Elvis discovers is that Karen isn't leading the simple country life, she's laundering money for the mob. Elvis took on the Japanese mafia in Stalking The Angel and this time he gets a crack at the fabled New York mafia in a way that only Elvis can. Taking the storyline out of L.A. is a nice change of pace as we get to see Elvis outside of his normal element. Lullaby Town further cements Mr. Crais as a great mystery writer and he keen eye and sharp wit are further honed in this third entry in the series.

Lullaby Town exemplifies the quality we have come to expect from Robert Crais. I have read previous Crais novels and this book is just as well written as the others. For people who like crime fiction, Lullaby Town is sure to please you. It is well written and keeps you involved the entire way.It was difficult to put the book down. All of Mr. Crais's Elvis Cole novels are well done; this is just another one of his typical works. Cole, the main character, is native to Hollywood. So when he is asked by a famous Hollywood director, Peter Alan Nelsen, to locate Nelson's ex-wife and son, Cole takes it in stride. His search takes him to a small Connecticut town. This makes the novel different than the others in the Elvis Cole series. Elvis is removed from his element, L.A and Hollywood and dumped into a small town. However, just because it is a small town does not mean there is any less wrong doing. By removing Cole from his usual surroundings it reveals more about him. Cole appears to have matured. For those who have been reading all of the Elvis Cole novels it is obvious that Cole has matured. We see things in him that are not as apparent in Los Angeles. Later, Cole is lead to the Big Apple to take on the Mob. For those people who are willing to look past the fact that this is just another typical crime fiction, or detective mystery, this novel is a total hit. You feel as though you are shadowing Elvis Cole as he hunts down the ex-wife of Peter Alan Nelsen. I found myself feeling as though I were part of the plot. The novel is truly riveting and keeps you reading. The duo of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, Elvis's partner, is guaranteed to keep you interested and curious.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, particularly white people who think the issues of race relations are straightforward. The book is quite up-to-date and taught me a lot even though I've worked on issues of racism and diversity for years. The best part for me was the description of what it's like to grow up as a racial minority; how a member of those communities is affected and reacts to the many messages that become increasingly obvious but of which the majority population is pretty much ignorant. I don't put as much faith as Tatum seems to in the ability of talking and educating to change society, but she really understands the problems of everyday racism.

why are the black kids sitting toghether is good for those people seeking to better undstand how people identify themselves in terms of race. It really opened my eyes to see how people come up with identifying themselves in race in adolscents and this occuring mainly in minority students. This can lead to minority students associating with members of their own race which acts as a way of trying to figure outwho they are as people. In addition, this book is good because it takes the discussion out of the terms white and black by taking into considertations, Latinos, Native Americans and Asians.

The only real flaw is that Tatum focuses a little too on her own life and lack enough large studies that would better back her opionion up and giver her more credibility.

Although Tatum writes from a psychological perspective she does not dwell on theory. She provides practical advice and real world examples, often from her own family's experience, of how the race system works in America, how to teach your kids about race and how deal with racism within yourself. Her explanations and examples of white racism were both varied and accurate. Whites will find this book helpful in understanding their own prejudices and privileges. Blacks will find practical advice on dealing with racial issues and an explanation of white behavior.