This book provided some helpful hints and useful lists. But, the practice tests were extremely difficult and somewhat arcane. I used it as a backup book to help me prepare.

I appreciated this book in the sense that it provides some very useful statistics concerning the various ethnic groups within the Asian American population. Yet, I felt that this book lacked personality and soul. I wanted more than numbers. I wanted to see the big picture about the lives of Asian Americans. I wanted to see them as people.

On top of that, I think that the title perpetuates the stereotype that Asians are foreigners. An "emerging minority?" It implies that persons of Asian descent are just being noticed and just beginning to do things that are worthy of notice. Its true that not much is known in mainstream society about this community, but we have a long history in the U.S. Granted, most of the Asian American population are new immigrants, but our presence and legacy in the U.S. and in the Western hemisphere goes way back.

This book is a nice introduction to the Asian American experience, but I would use it as a supplement and not a primary sourse of information. Takaki (Strangers from a Different Shore), Chan (Asian Americans: An Interpretive History) and Espiritu (Asian American Women & Men: Labor, Laws & Love)do a much better job.

This book is a quick and easy read of memories of WWII as told by average German citizens. This book is startling in the matter of face responses by those interviewed. First person accounts of what it was like to be "drafted" at the age of 15, the pride and brotherhood created by war. Shows the range of consciousness and selective memory after WWII. Raises questions about mindset and accountablity, but offers no conclusions. I was left with the uneasy feeling that a charismatic leader could re-create the events that led to Hitler's rise.

If you are the type of diver that likes to know the background on your wreck dives then this is for you. The history behind the ships and wrecks is very well laid out. Its a good tool to have if your going to dive the wrecks in Bermuda.

The author, a noted labor expert, after three decades of union decline contends that most workers essentially have no need to be represented by unions in today's economy. He maintains that most workers "demand" an "individual representation system." But these claims can been seen as contradicting worker experiences.

US workers were finally able to overcome the array of political and economic forces stacked against them with the passage of the Wagner Act in 1935. Unions thereby interjected themselves into the governance of workplaces and forced the substitution of work rules and formal grievance procedures in place of capricious and unilateral employee relations, and in the process gained a measure of industrial justice for employees.

Now, according to Troy, workers don't need those protections. Curiously, the validity and effectiveness of Troy's individual labor relations system is based on the benign and/or self-correcting nature of markets which is a standard argument of laissez-faire capitalists. However, correctly functioning markets require participants who are relatively equal, certainly not subject to coercion like needing a regular paycheck, and can readily obtain adequate information about market workings and opportunities. That requirement is hardly met in US labor markets.

In addition, the rationality and newly found goodwill of managers are supposed to assure workers of fair dealings. Yet the huge consulting industry that guides management efforts in avoiding unionization at nearly all costs goes unmentioned by Troy. Due process in this new world of workplace harmony is the old paternalistic "open door" policy. Here the wise manager aids the employee in solving his personal "problems." This procedure is decidedly not an example of sharing workplace governance. Neutral arbitration is rejected as an unnecessary interference regardless of any enhanced justice possibilities.

Troy seems assured that a firm's investment in employees precludes unfair treatment. He neglects to indicate how wide is the stratum of employees whose value is so great as to be extended that protection. One suspects the coverage would be very narrow.

It should be noted, as the author does not, that the preamble to the Wagner Act states that individual employees are at a decided disadvantage in dealing with employers and in fact do not have actual freedom of contract. In addition a primary argument for the Wagner Act was its redistributive effects in maintaining strong economic demand. To Troy any such redistribution is unsound, whereas a distribution that rewards CEOs at rates hundreds of times greater than for workers is unquestioned as natural.

Troy's contention that workers overwhelming demand individual representation is not consistent with other contemporary literature. A recently published book, "What Workers Want," indicates that a majority of workers want actual representation in dealing with management. While they do not like the adversarialism of union-management dealings, they do not trust management to willingly surrender power in the workplace.

Professor Troy's book accurately notes that all is not well with unions. Beyond the severe decline, many unions exhibit one or more characteristics that are disturbing to workers such as distant and impenetrable bureaucracy, corruption, excessive dues and fees, ineffectiveness, etc. But, however imperfectly, unions have facilitated the voice of workers.

Professor Troy seems to accept the argument that competitiveness in markets supercedes other economic considerations such as workplace fair dealing. But there is nothing sacrosanct about the way markets favor the powerful. The NAFTA and the WTO are mechanisms that alter market balance in favor of investors and corporations. Unions are institutions that attempt to balance power relationships in workplaces as well as various markets.

It is a nineteenth century idea that laissez-faire capitalism is an optimum arrangement. America found out the hard way in the Great Depression just how dubious that idea is. Professor Troy does not make the case for substituting a rather nebulously conceived individual representation system for the collective representation of worker interests. His arguments simply fail to understand the empowerment that unions can bring to workers. Perhaps this book can be read as a reminder as to the fragility of worker rights.

I liked the part in the book when Bob tricked his teacher about the valentine potato.
I liked it how they made the hearts. I think it was funny.
I think my sister would like it.

I bought this book used from Amazon, it used to belong to the Shaker Heights Public Library. Very dry, but details description of the events that occurred both building up to the Bonus March and the aftermath. Out of print. Small photo section of the main players as well as the event itself.

If you are interested in the government's historical treatment of veterans, this book is a must. As a novelist working on a project surrounding this event, I found it very helpful.

It was ok, but parts of it were vauge. It offered visual explanations of the topic at hand but that was about it.

Bringing the Psalms to Life is a book built on a wonderful concept but one that does not live up to its promise. It builds appreciation for the Psalms by identifying common threads of human experiences that are found in the Psalms - e.g. reversal of fortune, anger, abandonment etc. It suggests ways to deal with the violent revenge themes of the Psalms that we find difficult to reconcile with our image of God ...

Unfortunately, the book is ultimately dissatisfying. While large portions of the Psalms are quoted, with a few exceptions, only small bits are actually discussed in the text. And of the human situations described in the Psalms only a handful of archtypes are discussed.

Therefore, I find the book interesting as a way to see the Psalms through the eyes of another or as a pointer towards an interesting classification of Psalms based on the human situation calling forth the Psalm ... but I would not recommend it as a place to start for gaining appreciation of the Psalms.

Dr. Hobby teaches at my high shcool and, I have to say, I was intrigued by reading a book by one of my favorite teachers. He warmed me that it was nothing extaordinary and would probably prove a waste of my time. I, regardless, proceeded on. I won't say it was a worthy book for readers like me but, for those who are interested in Broward County and like good, straight, talk this is the book for you.