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Book reviews for "Thoma,_Richard" sorted by average review score:

The Greatest Speeches of All Time (Unabridged)
Published in Audio Download by audible.com ()
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Misleading Title
It is a wonderful idea to make available recordings of great speeches. I hope we have more of this in the future.
In the case of older speeches, the selection is very good, considering the restraints of time, and the readers are uniformly excellent.
As for the modern speeches, it is a marvel of technology that we can hear these speeches as delivered. It is incredible that we can hear the voice of William Jennings Bryan. I can listen to Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" a thousand times and never tire of it! How I wish I could listen to the voice of Patrick Henry! But this selection is too heavily weighted to the modern, and many of those do not deserve billing as the GREATEST speeches of ALL TIME. Also, some of the modern speeches which are included are abridged, e.g. Reagan is cut off in the middle of a sentence, while lengthy and undeserving speeches are played out in their entirety.
Also, with only a few exceptions, the selection is almost entirely American. It is hard to understand why Jimmy Carter's lengthy speech on energy policy is included, while Pericles' funeral oration is not; or why only a small portion of a single Winston Churchill speech is included; why while Bill Clinton's complete 1993 pulpit address, in excess of 20 minutes, is included.
It would be helpful if the complete list of speeches were available to online buyers, as it would be to shoppers in a brick and mortar store.

Living History
I have listened to this collection twice now, both times with pleasure. Hearing the acutal voices of Amelia Earhart, Rev. Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill and Neil Armstrong made a deeper connection than simply reading their words. The collection showcases different subjects and many times contrasts opposing viewpoints of the ideas. This volume is a fantastic introduction to the moving ideals and sometimes sad truths that have influenced Western Civilization.


Lawrence of Arabia
Published in Hardcover by Greenwood Publishing Group (1976)
Author: Richard Aldington
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The Lawrence Myth
This was the first book to question the veracity of T. E. Lawrence. The author was a well known man of letters and had been a serving British officer on the Western Front. He was indignant that Lawrence had come to be regarded as the greatest English hero of World War I. Today, historians accept that Seven Pillars of Wisdom is mostly fiction; but in 1955, Aldington was put under a virtual boycott for saying so. It is very curious that a neurotic like Lawrence should have become the object of a cult of personality that is almost unique in the 20th century. If, as his many admirers maintain, Lawrence was a sort of genius, his genius lay in making himself a full blown myth. Aldington, a fine writer, is almost forgotten, which is a pity. His book is extensively researched and fluently written.

Good insight into the legend...
Interesting book... picked up in used bookstore. The author has an attitude but admits it early. Excellent research and support of his conclusions... a realistic look at the Legend. A historical piece that will interest those with some knowledge of Lawrence. It is dated but still timely... when looking at heroes, you need to walk around them ... and this book does.


On Law, Morality, and Politics
Published in Hardcover by Hackett Pub Co (2003)
Authors: Thomas Aquinas, Richard J. Regan, and William P. Baumgarth
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Interesting but hard read
The excerpts of Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologica" are well-presented in this book. Aquinas blends together his Christian faith and ancient philosophy, especially Aristotle, to examine questions about law, human nature, faith, politics, and ethics. I read this for a class on political philosophy and found it particularly interesting, a bridge between the ancients (Aristotle, Plato, Sophocles) and the more modern philosophers (Machiavellie, Locke, Hobbes).

It is also a hard read. The structure of each section is rigid: Aquinas poses a question, gives three objections to his answer, quotes other sources to support his answer (be it Greek philosophers, early Christians like Augustine, or the Bible) and then explains his answer and refutes the objections. To read it straight through is tedious, but to read several sections and consider Aquinas' whole thoughts on subjects can be very interesting, especially in the study of philosophy or theology.

For a student of theology or philosophy, I think Aquinas is important to read and understand, even if from another version of his writings. This book does a good job in presenting Aquinas. Aquinas and his beliefs are more interesting than the reading itself, but it's worth a look if you are interested in studying faith and theology or philosophy. As a light read, though, this is not the book.

High quality writing on these subjects
To my knowledge only a threesome authors-philosophers (Sartre, Nietzsche and Macchiavelli) would have been able as well to tell "useful" words on this combination of topics Aquinas chose.

The author - few are more original than Thomas - looks back on, examines some of the most basic, important questions that interest humanity (human nature and ethics, politics and law..) and explores them in the light of Christian faith, as well as ancient philosophy. Of the "ancients" he looks in particular close to Aristotle, whom's version the Bible was of till then. So one could say that he was sort of a predecessor for the great humanists...
Aquinas tries to restore the autonomy of nature and reason, in full harmony with (Christian) faith. The result of his work is genial, both what concerns the scholastic ànd "thomistic" style as well as for the special way of exploring and investigation through which he succeeds to "restore in faith".

Everyone who wants to read Aquinas should know that the author writes in a very specific, difficult way. It looks from time to time he opposes to himself, but after studying his readings one can only conclude that this is REAL top-of-the-shelf literature (for those esp. who like theology, philosophy, politics,...).


Richard Wright's Native Son & Black Boy (Barron's Book Notes)
Published in Paperback by Barrons Educational Series (1986)
Authors: Richard Wright and Michael Gallantz
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Black Boy
I thought that this book was really good. It taught me things that I never knew. I learned about the real differences between blacks and whites. I also had a chance to see out of the eyes of a black boy and it was hard for me to realize that he was put through all of that for no reason. I think that there should not be racism for the things that he had to go through. It also made me see things from a new perspective because living the live that Richard Wright had to live must of been hard. I am glsd that he wrote his book.

Black Boy was a truly rich and fullfilling novel;two thumbs
I really liked this book. I am in eight grade and we had to read part one for school but it was so good i read both parts.


Doing Time: Prison Experience and Identity Among First-Time Inmates
Published in Hardcover by JAI Press (01 May, 2000)
Authors: Richard S. Jones and Thomas J. Schmid
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Doing Time : Prison Experience and Identity Among First Time
Excelent, that topic really excelent to rehabilitation offender in prison.


Electronic Commerce: The Strategic Perspective
Published in Paperback by Harcourt College Publishers (2000)
Authors: Richard Thomas Watson, Pierre Berthon, Leyland F. Pitt, George M. Zinkhan, and Richard T. Watson
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Thoughtful behavioural perspective of e-commerce phenomenon!
This text fills a key gap in our understanding of electronic commerce. Many books on the subject are simply opportunistic - authors promising to deliver knowledge (for example, becoming rich through e-commerce or advice on building a state-of-the-art website) they don't actually seem to possess, and most of these are badly written. Other books are essentially war stories - although often useful for understanding the past, they don't cast much light on the future. A few authors, with a gift for synthesis, offer strategic prescriptions that seem to make sense, and are eminently readable. Very few of this group of authors actually conduct the research they write about, even fewer take a behavioural perspective.

If we think about understanding e-commerce, we soon realise that we have to examine the intersections among technology, economics, and behaviour. While there is no shortage of texts on the enabling technology, it changes so rapidly that any available textbook is likely to be obsolete. Several texts have recently been published that focus on the economics of networks, so that gap seems to be filled. That leaves us with online behaviour, an important niche that this book explores in an interesting way.

Strengths? After a mercifully brief introduction to technology, the text alternates between a demand and supply perspective - Chapter 3 (Web strategy: attracting and retaining visitors) leads us to an examination of the use of web technology to support marketing (Chapter 4), promotion and purchasing (5), and distribution (6). Service quality and pricing are briefly addressed (Chapters 7 and 8), and the book ends with a snappy little review of postmodernism in the context of e-commerce.

Weaknesses? The text is not likely to interest the wirehead audience, even though they really would benefit the most from a change in perspective. The legal issues are left to others, an unfortunate omission from both the business and social science perspective. It is very suitable as the main text for an undergraduate e-commerce survey course, and as a supplementary text for courses in social science, business, Communications, and Law.


Evaluating Books: What Would Thomas Jefferson Think About This?: Guidelines for Selecting Books Consistent With the Principles of America's Founder (Maybury, Rick. "Uncle Eric" Book.)
Published in Paperback by Bluestocking Pr (1994)
Authors: Rick Maybury and Richard J. Maybury
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Sixth in a Series of Nine Books that can Change Your Life!
I have continued to read Mr. Maybury's books and the first five have filled me with knowledge and wonder at how uninformed I have been in the past about simple and basic issues that touch, influence and determine the coarse of a persons life each and evey day.

I have learned a great deal from his obvious intellectual prowess and his all encompassing views on many subjects and how they mesh together to form, affect and manipulate this world we live in.

One gets a sense of awe at how little they can trust those in power but how immensly important is it is that those without it stick together and ensure we be ever vigilante in our observations of elected officials. Those people we used to call public servants but who hav become nothing but self-indulgent life lont politicians. In other words they have become exactly what our Constitution and Bill of Rights were designed to prevent.

In this book, "What Would Thomas Jefferson Think About This?" I have found yet another source of knowledge that I must thank Uncle Eric for. Yet after reading the great book "John Adams." I do not find that I have the awe and inspiration that allows me to make Jefferson my number one hero. Yes, he is a great man and I believe he was one of the greatest founders, however I find that I still place him behind George Washington and Adams on that account.

It is my philosophy just like it was Reverend Johathan Mayhew's and John Adam's that "The people, are required to obey their government's law only when it is in agreement with Higher Law. And if the government violates that charge, it is our duty, and we are bound the fight it with every resourse at our disposal."

In a related topic Mayhew was a true Reverend, and it is unfortunate that the term has been turned into such a basphemous title today for those who use and claim the name are anything but Reverend.

In any case this 6th book in Mr. Maybury's series is yet another collectors item and gives the reader a sound foundation by which to judge the literature they choose to obsorb and contemplate in creating their own ideological awareness and positions of items of critical importance to our country and our people.


J.M.W. Turner "That Greatest of Landscape Painters": Watercolors from London Museums
Published in Hardcover by University of Washington Press (1998)
Authors: Richard P. Townsend, J. M. W. Turner, Andrew Wilton, Philbrook Museum of Art, and David B. Brown
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Master of Atmosphere
The watercolors of JMW Turner have the concise, simplified vision of contemporary art even though they were painted in the mid 1800's. This survey shows the progression of this master of light and delicate color from tightly delineated landscapes to the atmospheric , nearly abstract vistas of his late career. The reproductions are supported by quotes selected from writings contemporary to the paintings. This book provides an inspirational overview of the work of Turner and belongs in the library of the serious watercolor artist.


Laser Ablation and Desorption
Published in Hardcover by Academic Press (15 January, 1998)
Authors: John C. Miller, Richard F. Haglund, and Thomas Lucatorto
Amazon base price: $110.95
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A handy referance for the excimer folks
This book is great for getting a general sense of the physics behind laser ablation. In the first half it treats the reader to a review of laser ablation at several wave lengths (from CO2 to excimer); not only the theory but also some experimental techniques. In the second, the editors present a very nice discussion of various aplications.


Learning and Cognition
Published in Hardcover by Prentice Hall College Div (1993)
Authors: Richard Jackson Harris and Thomas Hardy Leahey
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excellent book
an exciting book, students will learn about pavlovian and thorndlike conditioning to the deepest terms


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