This book was a visual journey into the lives of early 20th century black america. Many of the pictures could be termed as "dignified photo essays" of life in the black community.You feel as though you are right there behind the lenses of these photo's while they're being taken. They almost have an "ethereal beauty" about them. In these photo's you can see the dignity of a race of people who were considered low class at the time of the photographs, but in the way they are portrayed you feel like you're in the presence of royalty. "A visual treat for the eye's" is the best way to describe this book . It is also well worth reading as you enjoy the beautiful photography! I would highly recommended this book to african americans and those who enjoy a look into the past!

Company E of the 2nd Pennsylvania was made of 94 men from the best families and best-educated of Westmoreland County, PA. Of the 94 men only 44 returned. (Most of the men died of disease)The two diarists detail interesting info on the deaths of comrades, which might never be known from offical documents.

Living conditions, battle descriptions, commentary about leaders, many of which were prominent in the Civil War (McClellan, Hooker, etc), make this book hard to put down. The pranks these guys played are also very amusing to read. These volunteers had quite a time in Mexico!!!

There are plenty of footnotes and an annotated roster of Company "E", plus a helpful index. The book is 331 pages long. No photos & few maps. Suggestions for futher reading are provided.

Company "E" landed at Vera Cruz and fought in the battles from Vera Cruz to Mexico City, then did occupation duty around Mexico City. Daily life, drinking, drill, looting, gambling, bickering, suffering, etc. are all covered. Pvt. Coulter was a scavanger for this group, so he tells about the farms & ranches which he and others raided. Sgt Barclay, later a LT in the 11th US Infantry, gives more of the command & strategic issues, but also tells of the daily routine. (Information from one often supplements the comments of the other.)

If you are unfamiliar with the Mexican War, this will be enlightening. For those who have some knowledge this will be a real treat.This book would also be helpful to those who wish to understand Mexican feelings about the war, because the mistreatment of Mexicans and atrocities by both sides are vividly recounted.

Nagel's article is essential for serious students of military ethics. It is a thoughtful essay that takes on kant, utilitarianism, moral rationalization, and moral decision making. The conclusion is Kantian: right actions, and not deliberating consequences.

Mr. Baker was my 9th grade Algebra teacher. Although I think he was more famous for his 5 minute lessons, this book gives great insight to kids in the field of science. Kids love doing these home experiments that teach them how the weather works. This book I highly recommend to elementary school teachers, GATE programs, and after school science clubs. There's so much to learn from this book! Have fun!

Although it has been nearly two weeks since I finished listening to the tape of Where the Red Fern Grows, I am fighting to choke back the tears even now. I plan to order several copies for Christmas gifts.

Yes it is a wonderful epic adventure story about a boy and his dogs and their heroic devotion to each other. And yes, it is so well read that you live every moment right alongside Billy and Old Dan and Little Ann. But, like most great novels, it is much more.

I am a dog lover, a college teacher, and a retired field grade Army officer. I loved the book not only for the captivating story, but also for the slice of Americana that it captures and preserves. It is a time capsule of a way of life, of what made this nation great. The breadth, depth, and magnitude of the love, devotion, responsibility, integrity, courage, and tenacity of the characters is awesome. It was a simpler time, when modest, humble, ordinary people were heroes in their own right, but could not imagine being any other way.

If this story doesn't burst your heart with joy and then rip it out with painful agony, you are dead and worse.

If you think you're dead, it will awaken and electrify feelings you didn't know you had.

If you are looking for answers, you will find them all in this simple little tale of perfectly ordinary and unassuming heroes of epic stature.

Where the Red Fern Grows was one of the best books I've ever read. It was full of emotions such as love and sorrow. It kept me interested page through page.

It's about a 10 year old boy, Billy, that isn't so wealthy that lives in the Ozark Mountains. All he wants is two coon hounds, but unfortunately he can not afford them. With much determination he saves all the money he needs to buy them. Soon enough, he brings them home with nothing, but pure love and joy. The three of them later become an inseparable hunting team. All three them go through tough times, but they go through them together. The end of the story will inable you to relate to how Billy feels and you be left with tears in your eyes.

I strongly believe you should read this amazing book. It will fill your heart with love and teach you how far one is willing to go, just to get something.

3MEG

This book was the 1st book that I didn't want to throw out the door.This book is about a boy that lives in the Ozarks.His name is Billy and he really wants hunting dogs BAD.So then he deside's to ask his parents.They tell Billy, they don't have enough money. So Billy works 2 years for $50 to buy 2 hounds.He spends time training them to be the best coon dogs around.Why I say the best coon dog's around because they win a gold cup, silver cup and $300.Then the unexpected happened, the pups were severely hurt.Old Dan dies, then Little Ann cant stand it with out him.So she dies soon after Dan.A Red Fern grows in between there grave's.A Red Fern is planted by an angel. It means the land is sacred.When I read this book I cried!I love this book it's now my favorite book. Thanks to my teacher for picking this book for my class to read.
5HRB

I bought this book because I thought it would be a "cute" book to read around Christmas with traditional Christmas stories. I was so wrong! Once I started the book, I carried it everywhere with me because I couldn't put it down! And after I finished it, I couldn't stop thinking about it! If you love tearjerkers, this is definately the book for you. I recommend this book to anyone! It is definately a worth-while read!

The Christmas Box is a book to be purchased for treasured friends and family memebers. It is a timeless story that need not be saved for the holiday season. The book offers the reader an opportunity to search within oneself for the 'first christmas gift'. Because I don't want to spoil the ending, I will not reveal any of the content; however, my advice would be to have a box of kleenix ready. To truly experience this book, read it alone first and let the emotion of the story creep into your soul and overtake your being. Finally, if you like this book, read "Message in a Bottle." It too will provide one an opportunity to search one's emotional being for the answer to the age old question, "Does true love really exsist?"

I hope this story lives on forever-if it's survived this long, that's a good sign. It holds the Christmas box trilogy, making it a fat little book but one you can sit down and cry in front of.

"The Christmas Box" is the story of a young family who moves in with an elderly widow, MaryAnne Parkin, who holds sad secrets in her past, as the hero becomes far too wrapped up in his job. MaryAnne befriends the hero's young daughter and his wife, as he begins dreaming of angels. It's not entirely clear when this takes place, but I believe it was either the 1940s or 1950s.

"Timepiece" is the story of how MaryAnne and David Parkin met. We are also introduced to the excellent characters of Victoria, a creepy socialite; Lawrence, an elderly black friend of David's; and his business partner. We follow them through about five years, from when a new secretary comes to work for David, later marries him, and their child, Andrea is born. But a horrible tragedy due to racism causes an attack on Lawrence and a terrible fate for Andrea.

"The Letter" is the final part of the trilogy, taking place about twenty years after "Timepiece." MaryAnne has grown miserable after Andrea's death, because David has completely shut himself off. When she vanishes, David sets off on an obsessive quest to find his long-long mother, accompanied by a bright young woman who has definite designs on him.

Some may find the overall story too cloying, but it has a refreshing innocence, that after hundreds of icky books I find very relaxing. David is one of my favorite literature characters-he is human and flawed, and his flaws make him all the more vulnerable and lovable. A story for your whole family to read.

Your book is truly frightening in its final chapters, while much of the initial chapters are seductively scientific, biological and, thus for me, quite compelling. You suggest no realistic neurological mechanisms for "limbic resonance" which is offered as a means of fundamentally communicating love, and also (by implication) as a means of therapy for the love-dysfunctional. You suggest that such therapy may take many years. I find it hard to believe that we are sufficiently ill to require this degree of intensive relations with a professional who is, after all, conducting uncontrolled experiments with our minds (this will remain true until we completely understand the mind). The initial biological basis of your book is compelling, but it falls short when you simply walk away from the essential questions of "how" and "why." You correctly note that at least one side of our neocortical brain processes emotional information, yet you totally ignore the connection that this part of the neocortex has with its limbic foundation. This is critical if there is to be any real hope for those who believe that "insight therapy" (based on neocortical function) will in any way help their problems. Your last chapter is utterly devoid of hope for the epidemic of anxiety and depression that, as you correctly observe, plague our modern culture.

As an evolutionary biologist, I welcome your refreshing approach to psychobiology, but I have three concerns about your work. (1) It ignores the power of our recently-evolved neocortex to influence affective disorders. Although I do not understand how this can occur, I would suggest that more research should be done in this area. The physical connections between the two parts of the brain exist. Why? Truly debilitating affective disorder did not develop with the limbic system alone (these organisms would be extinct). Modern affective disease requires interaction with the neocortex. We are missing something here, although I certainly lack the expertise to tell you what it is. You completely fail to recognize that cultural evolution is far faster and potentially more powerful than biological evolution, and how this might relate to the problems that you pose. (2) You offer no mechanisms for the central feature of your theory, "limbic resonance." It could be that we are simply not using our neocortex to its fullest capacity to solve these problems, or perhaps, we are failing to understand the appropriate way to communicate between the two parts, i.e., your poorly defined "limbic resonance." (3) Your final chapter offers no explicit solution for affectively ill individuals, or, for that matter, our society as a whole. While much of the pathology of modern society that you cite is without question true, your link between the limbic brain and these ills is merely assertion, although, I admit that the possibility of such a link is frightening in the context of our evolutionary future.

In sum, this work should go through the peer review process. I would be very interested to learn what your anonymous peer-reviewers might have to say about this book.

For a tri-authored book, this is remarkably clear, eloquent and thoroughly engrossing. Drawing on the latest scientific discoveries and 70 years of collective clinical experience, plus a host of literary references, three psychiatrists posit that a primordial area of the brain, far older than reason or thinking, aka the lymbic system, creates both the capacity and the need for emotional intimacy that all humans share. In short, our brains link with those of the people closest to us, and establish wordless, powerful ties that determine our moods, stabilize and maintain our health and well-being, and change the wiring of our brains. It also means that better relationships can be cultivated to rewire negative structures. It makes total absolute sense. It FEELS right. Who we are and who we become depend, in great part, on whom we love. At least the authors have convinced me of this.

I'm an emotional intelligence coach, that is, I teach people how to understand and manage their emotions and those of others for better living and feeling better, and this book has probably advanced my understanding more than any book I've read in the past 5 years. I think it will be a landmark book and don't know why I don't hear about it more. It provides a solid understanding of the what's and why's of LOVE, and a good number of other things. Like why we need one another ... why isolation is so bad for us ... why we can't talk ourselves out of anger or make ourselves love someone when we don't ... why coaching works while reading self-help books doesn't! If you're seriously interesting in finding out what makes you -- and the rest of us -- tick, read this book. And whoever wrote it, writes like a poet. An absolute lyrical gem and a treat for both the limbic brain and the neocortex, I might add!

I had enjoyed the tv movie of this with Richard Thomas and Maureen O'Hara, but never liking to read a book once I've seen the movie, I avoided picking this one up. Surprisingly, I won it while playing 'Dirty Santa' at a neighborhood party and felt compelled to read it. What a treat! This is one of the most heartwarming stories and probably the best by the wonderful Richard Paul Evans. Readers will be enchanted by the story of the young father who with his wife and daughter take up residence with an elderly lady in order to make ends meet. Instead of mere companions and housekeepers to the woman, they become dear and trusted friends. They, like the reader, are mystified by her past and want to know more about the Christmas box in the attic and the secret of the letters it holds.

This book answers the profound question, 'What is the first gift of Christmas.' As every parent knows, it is a parent's love for a child and without being overly sappy on the religion angle, this book beautifully illustrates God's love for His children in sending His Son.

Speaking directly to parents who have lost children, this book will appeal to everyone who believes in Christmas and the importance of cherishing family. For an uplifting renewal of your committment to yourself and to your family, read this book.

This is a beautiful little story that is just the right length to read in a single sitting. That is what I did, and then I went back and read it again. The message of the story is two-fold. First, to remind us that the first Christmas gift ever given was not wrapped up and placed underneath a tree, it had nothing to do with St. Nicholas, but it was placed in a box. That gift was the Son of God that He gave to us because he loved us so much. God knew what was going to happen to his son, but he gave him to us anyway so that we would be saved from the devil. The second lesson was learned by the father in this story - to spend less time at the office and more with his family.

There were times when I had to wipe away the tears while reading this book. It really is very touching to see how an old woman adopts the family she has hired to take care of her aging mansion. In return, they grow quite fond of her and share many things with her. She shares her Christmas Box however and reminds the family what the true meaning of Christmas is.

Why 5 stars?:
A very touching tale to remind everyone what the true meaning of Christmas: because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that all who believe in him may not perish, but have eternal life. The tale is just the right length - easily read in one or two sittings. The lessons apply to all seasons and this book should be read all year round, not just at Christmas time.

In between books on December 31, of 2001, I thought about reading a memorable book to finish off this calamitous year. The book I chose was The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans which was actually a re-read for me but proved to be even more meaningful this time than the first time I read it sevevral years ago. Coincidentally earlier in the month I read The Christmas Box Miracle where Evans described how he came to write The Christmas Box and the tremendous popularity this small book has received. Both titles, seemed then and now, most appropriate choices.

Today many readers are familiar with the book and the movie based on this book which starred Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas. Originally written as a gift for Evans's two daughter, The Christmas Box provides readers with a rather simplr and inspiring story of an elderly woman and the young family who she hires to help her out with her large home. As they live with this woman, her story of love and devotion is told through an antique Christmas Box that is also connected to the elderly woman's daughter. The message which is time;ess allows one to realize not only the true spirit of the holidays but a parents unconditional love for their children.

The events of Septemebr 11th were certainly on my mind then as they are now, and as I finished this book I grieved for the many parents who lost children and the many children who lost parents. In some ways I found this inspirational book provided me with the profound hope for better days in the future.

I opened this book hoping to be moved by a well-written epic about the effects of a traumatic childhood. I had already seen the movie some years ago, so I knew what to generally expect. I was put off pretty quickly by the extremely longwinded descriptions and the totally overwrought dialouge. Who talks like this? Even if (especially if) you're a well-read football coach from the South? To his credit, Conroy has written a very fast-paced and entertaining story. The problem is that the reader does not ever forget that this is a work of pure fiction. Nowhere is this more true than in the "Free Willy" episode of the rescue of the white porpoise. Also, other than the climatic event of their lives, the parents don't seem really that bad. Certainly not bad enough for the poet sister to call her childhood "Auschwitz." In short, a fast read made slightly above average by the likeability of the narrator, Tom Wingo.

I first read this book in the winter of 1988 -- along with a majority of my friends. At that time I proclaimed it to be my favorite book of all time and hurried to read all of Pat Conroy's other works.

I just finished The Prince for the 3rd time a few weeks ago. While Tom Wingo's images stayed with me for ten years (Tolitha laughing with her legs in the air, sibling love and devotion), I found myself getting more out of this book than I ever had before. I like Conroy's writing a lot, and am able to overlook his five-dollar words to get to the heart of the story.

Pat Conroy writes a beautiful story about a boy's love for his brother and sister and his strange relationship with his parents. This book touches upon all our raw emotions -- love, hate, friendship and lust. You will dive into this book and feel what Tom Wingo feels, cry when Tom Wingo cries and laugh uproariously at the foolishness of some characters.

As I say to all my friends, read The Prince of ! ! Tides, then let's talk.

Pat Conroy's novel, which is a long read if you've seen the book or if you've read it, is a rich and romantic story telling of the lives of Tom Wingo, a Southern man with a dark past, and his love affair with New York psychiatrist Susan Lowenstein. But then novel is much more than that. It looks at the world of children, innocent in play and fancy in imagination, their trauma with an abusive father, issues of morality and of parental love. The novel is very narrative, Tom Wingo is a character whose mind can fill an entire palace of memories. There are many elements of the story that people nowaday can relate to. Look at the characters of Tom's mother, his sister Savannah and the charming urbane Dr. Lowenstein and her father-deprived son and you will see how closely connected to reality this novel can be. It is a romance, and in fact, in its depiction of an affair almost close to Bridges of Madison County. This novel will make you cry, will make you think and will warm your heart. So pick up a copy and read it before bed, perhaps listening to the music of Bach, who is the favored composer of Dr. Lowenstein's son. You will fall in love with Conroy's imagery and romanticism. A five star read.

Native Son is an excellent book that is quite deep on many levels. Richard Wright does an incredibly nice job of developing his main character, Bigger Thomas.

Bigger is a twenty year-old poor black man hired by a wealthy white family, and then accidentally kills the prominent young daughter out of fear. In covering up her death, he allows his emotions to get the better of him, and he rapes and kills another girl.

The first two sections of the book are loaded with intrigue, suspense, and drama, as the reader is right there with Bigger as he tries to mislead the murder investigation, and then runs from the large angry masses once his cover-up is foiled. The third section allows you to get into Bigger's mind and feel his confused emotions. Here, the reader is treated to Wright's views on society mainly through the voice of Bigger's trial attorney.

The language in the book is easy-flowing, and not terribly descriptive, which was done intentionally, so the reader could read between the lines and make clear assumptions. All in all, the novel was quite entertaining and rather eye-opening.

It`s my personal opinion that Richard Wright`s Native Son is one of the best books ever written by an African-American writer. In his book he desribes the pains of ghetto life for the negroes in Chicago`s black belt, cira 1920. Never has an author ever caught the thoughts and feelings of a single person as Wright did with the main character Bigger. Bigger`s life is portrayed as bleak and dark but, things start to look up when he accepts a job as a driver for the millionaire Dalton`s. He is getting paid well with extra spending money and the opportunity to get an education. His first job is to take the Dalton`s daughter to a university function but, there is a change of plans, a change that turns out to be fatal. I don`t want to give the whole book away so I highly suggest read and find out what happens to Bigger. So if you enjoy reading classic American books you will enjoy Richard Wright`s Native Son.

The novel, Native Son, is a great story that illustrates racism in America. The main character, Bigger Thomas is continually treated unfairly because he is black. When he gets a job with a wealthy white family he accidently murders their daughter out of fear. He tries to cover up the murder and burns her body. He continues to try to escape because he is afraid that he is going to get arrested. He continues to run and gets into more trouble trying to escape. All of Bigger's acts of violence were done out of fear. Bigger is arrested and treated as a violent criminal. This novel illustrates that people can be mischaracterized by their actions when people don't actually know the person. In this novel, the reader gets to know Bigger's innocent, fearful character. This makes the reader feel sorry for Bigger and allows the reader to understand the effects of racism. The novel is filled with action and suspense that keeps the reader interested.