First hand accounts of nearly anything except war, violent crime and weather, are scarce as hen's teeth for much of our history -- except of course for the lives of the endlessly quoted rich and famous. What Margaret Buchholz has done here is to collect an extraordinary range of first hand accounts from two centuries of observers concerning their visits to, occupations at, and thoughts about the New Jersey seashore. It may be easy to discount as mere anecdote, but historians and ethnographers turn again and again to the unimpeachable witness of those who actually lived in(as opposed to wrote opinions about) real places and real times. Hurrah for Buchholtz for finding, preserving and sharing such precious documents! The fact that this is a delightfully easy book to read only adds to the pleasure.

Visitors have been coming to the New Jersey shore for relaxation and recreation for 200 years. Some things have changed during that time. Not only did people at one time wear woolen "bathing costumes" in the ocean, they could rent them if they didn't have their own. (Yuck!) Before the Garden State Parkway was built, people experienced inconvenience and downright hardship to get to the shore. And yet, I also realized, reading this book, how little people at the seashore have really changed: Over the course of 200 years, people "bathed" or swam in the ocean or bay, held parties, ate their fill of seafood, walked the beaches or boardwalks in sunlight or by moonlight, went fishing and crabbing and hunting, flirted and otherwise had a good time--just as they do now. What I most like about the book is not just that it gives the reader a glimpse of the seashore over the past two centuries but also insight into the people who came to the shore, in their own words: What they thought about, what they hoped for, what they valued, how they lived, and how they played.

Through the words of those who have lived the history of the Jersey Shore, the authors have captured the essential spirit of this unique part of America. The people and their stories are fascinating. It was a real pleasure to read this book. Highly recommended!

This is one of the best books you will buy as a medical student or intern. It is a requirement for your pocket. At Barnes-Jewish Hospital they give this to all the interns in July. If you know read it a couple times it will make internship easy...except for the 100 hours a week you will put into the job...Honestly...BUY IT- I would have bought it in medical school if I knew about it.

Buy this book if you are a fourth year medical student or intern

I wish I had had this book as an intern. It's a concise, pocket-sized guide covering the essential need-to-know information for interns. I especially liked the sections on cross cover, triage, and internet resources.

A must have for soon-to-be interns.

I first read this book about 16 years ago after my Dad gave it to me. I have read it about ten times since and still have it. I honestly do not think I will ever read a book again in my life that will have the same profound effect on me that this book accomplished. Everyone has someone who they look up to, Pat Pattle, to me is that person. If there is anyone who has any photos of Pat Pattle other than the general two published in books I would be most interested in getting a copy from them.

I do hope this book will be printed again. My Dad flew with "Pat" Pattle in 80 squadron in the Western Desert and was one of his best friends. The book cannot be faulted for accuracy as I gave my parents a copy some years ago and they read it avidly. My Dad, by the way, was "Old Man Evers ", so called because he was the oldest pilot on the Squadron. Enjoy the book and remember those brave lads.

this book the most intriging book because he was the youngest pilot ever to become the worlds ace of aces.

This is an excellent book for studying advanced math. Important concepts clearly explained with good matlab examples. But I was surprised to find this book titled "Engineering Math" with the miss out of some thing like probability and random variables which are of the critical importance for Electronics/Communications students.

If you are not already a superuser of MATLAB or a mathematician and want to choose one single book on MATLAB that also brings a solid math base, this is the one. The authors have chosen the subjects very well, with emphasys on the use of mathematical principles coupled with the use of the computing power offered by MATLAB.

In addition to a sound presentation of concepts - without however being extensive (or boring) on theoretical details that probably would not be relevant - this book addresses most areas of University Math (Physical Sciences undergraduate curriculum) with a wealth of good practical programming examples. I specially liked the chapters on Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues, those on Differential equations, Fourier analysis and the simple but very clear and didatic one on Discrete sytems.

In summary, although not a complete text, the subjects addressed in this book are so well presented that it can be forgiven for not covering some areas (like complex variables and calculus of variations, to name only two). There is no waste of pages in this book, but as a suggestion for future enhancement I would mention the inclusion of a chapter dedicated to exploring the graphing power available in MATLAB.

Also as a reference, for most needs you'll probably be able to start doing something productive right away after reading. Well worth its price!

This is an excellent reference book not only for matlab, also an excellent reference book for the basic concepts such as Fourier Analysis. I think any engineers who work in electric design filed must have a copy.

I enjoy reading Kurzweil because he's an adventurous thinker. This book is particularly fun because some other fine minds take him to task. Ray holds up well because he's a reasonable thinker. Although some of his predicitions seem outlandish, they may not be. You can't read this book without engaging in a lot of interesting visualization about the future. Some of it is frightening, but there is hope as well. Will the future runaway on it's own or will we be in charge? I don't know, but I'm sure thinking about it, now.

This is Ray Kurzweil's third book concerning the future of reductionist artificial intelligence design and it's possible effects on us in the decades yet to come. In THE AGE OF SPIRITUAL MACHINES, Kurzweil's previous book, which I enjoyed also, and this volume, he uses technological trends, including Moore's law and other tools, to show that a desktop computer will have achieved human level computational ability around the year 2020. Also, Kurzweil envisions that we will be able, sometime in the next few decades, to scan human brains and download that 'software' into these advanced computers to give them human level reasoning abilities, with the speed of computer neural nets, leaving humans behind, so to speak. Accordingly, it may also be possible to scan individual brains and load that information into an advanced computer (attached to a body of some kind), giving that person a sort of immortality. This is the gist of Kurzweil's argument, I hope I got it essentially correct.

What Kuzweil means by computers someday becoming 'spiritual' is that they may become conscious, and 'strong A.I.' is the view that "any computational process sufficiently capable of altering or organizing itself can produce consciousness." The first part of this book is an introduction to all of the above views by Kurzweil, followed by criticisms by four authors, followed in turn by Kurzweil as he refutes these criticisms.

Personally, I found most of the views expounded by the critics here to be either non-sensical, or 'beside the point'. One critic says that the life support functions of the brain cannot be separated from it's information processing function. Of course it can be, even the effects of hormones can be programmed into a downloaded brain, as well as other chemicals used by brains. Another critic states that possibly evolution is in error, and yet another criticism is that our machines will not be able to contact a divine entity and would thus be inferior.... give me a break, well...perhaps this is all true and maybe pigs will one day fly over the moon unassisted. I could go on and on, but this is the job of Ray Kurzweil and he defends himself admirably in the final chapters of this volume. Kurzweil does mention in this book that brain scanning machines are improving their resolution with each new generation, and eventually will reach a point where they should be able to image individual neurons and synapses in large areas, and allow the brain 'software' to be transferred to a suitable non-biological computing medium, my only criticism of Kurzweil here is that I think he should discuss this technology more, and where it is headed, his next book would be a great place for this.

One final point, it seems to me that when a new idea appears to be difficult and complicated to achieve, the pessimist says: "This is difficult and complicated, and may not work", whereas the optimist says: "This is difficult and complicated, but may work". Only time will tell for sure.

The work, inventions, and opinions of Ray Kurzweil in the field of artificial intelligence have captured media attention and the attention of philosophers and researchers in artificial intelligence. But not only is Kurzweil one of the most brilliant and controversial of all the individuals working in artificial intelligence, he is also the most optimistic. This optimism holds not only for the future technology of artificial intelligence, predicted by Kurzweil to give independent thinking machines in the next three decades, but also for its social impact. Kurzweil believes that artificial intelligence will work for the benefit of humankind, but that this benefit will depend to a great degree on his belief that humans will take on technology that will effectively make them cybernetic.

The controversy behind Kurzweil stems from his recent book "The Age of Spirtual Machines", which is a detailed accounting of his predictions and beliefs regarding artificial intelligence. Many individuals objected to his visions and predictions, and he answers a few of them in this book. In particular, he attempts to counter the arguments against him by the philosopher John Searle, the molecular biologist Michael Denton, the philosopher William A. Dembski, and zoologist Thomas Ray. With only a few minor exceptions, Kurzweil is successful in his refutation of their assertions.

But even if Kurzweil completely refutes the arguments of these individuals, and possibly many more against him, the countering of arguments will not by itself solve the problems in artificial intelligence research. The fact remains that much work still needs to be done before we are priveleged to see the rise of intelligent machines. Kurzweil is well-aware of this, for he acknowledges this many times in this book. He points to reverse engineering of the human brain as one of the most promising strategies to bring in the robotic presence. The success or failure of this strategy will take the mind-body problem out of purely academic circles and bring it to the forefront of practical research in artificial intelligence. The 21st century will thus see the rise of the "industrial philosopher", who works in the laboratory beside the programmers, cognitive scientists, robot engineers, and neurologists.

Each reader of this book will of course have their own opinions on Kurzweil's degree of success in countering the arguments of Searle, Denton, Dembski, and Ray. But one thing is very clear: Kurzweil is no arm-chair philosopher engaging in purely academic debates on the mind-body problem. He is right in the thick of the research and development of artificial intelligence, and if the future turns out as he predicts, he will certainly be one of the individuals contributing to it. He and many others currently working in artificial intelligence are responsible for major advances in this field in just the last few years. Their ingenuity and discipline is admirable in a field that has experienced a roller coaster ride of confidence and disappointment in the preceding decades. All of these individuals have proved themselves to be superb thinking machines.

I have a few of John Bear's books in my study and this book is a terrific publication. If you would like to earn your Education degree via distance learning...this is the book for you. You will find its authors have compiled an excellent resource pointing you in the right direction. Plenty of information is given concerning specific state certification and how you can navigate the need for student teaching via distance learning.

Buy this book if you are serious about earning an education degree!

You can trust Bear to give you acurate, honest information on the schools he covers. This book is specifically written for anyone looking for a degree in the education field. Childhood development, elementary, ect. He covers it all including teaching credentuals, bachelor's degreees, master's degrees, and doctorates. I've bought other distance learning books but it's hard to go through each school looking not only for creditionals you can trust but also for the degree you want. I like the fact that this book only covers the type of degrees I'm interested in. Bear's also has several other distance degree books if education is not your field of study.

Dr. John Bear has once again provided the distance learner with an excellent resource volume. This newest addition to the Bears' Guide collection is a must have for those interested in educational programs via distance learning. Co-authored by Mariah Bear, Tom Head and Thomas Nixon, "Bears' Guide to the Best Education Degrees" profiles over 350 fully accredited distance learning credential and degree programs, ranging from the bachelor's through the doctorate. An entire chapter is devoted to meeting teacher licensing requirements, along with contact information for all fifty states.

As in previous editions, the value and importance of a properly accredited degree is discussed. Since degree mills have become problematic, both in the US and abroad, a degree from a properly accredited school is essential. Accreditation by an agency recognized by the US Dept. of Education, or its foreign equivalent, assures broad utility and recognition of a degree. By profiling only schools with this type of accreditation, Bear provides the distance learner with credible, legitimate and substantive options.

Several specific areas are detailed in terms of degree emphasis and specialization, e.g., administration, educational technology, religious education, library science, special education, distance education, K-12 and early childhood education, curriculum, etc.

Without reservation, this book is recommended for anyone interested in distance learning educational programs, as well as for reference use.

A Bicentennial Malthusian Essay(Conservation, population, and the Indifference to Limits) by John F.Rohe is an extremely interesting, must-reading, for all responsible people. Alarming, yet exciting, to gain a realistic understanding of conservation. Thinking non-conservationists will become conservationists. Conservationists will find the back-up information to substantiate their beliefs.

Richard M. Shuster, Retired Circuit Judge
5th Judicial Circuit Court, Barry County,
Michigan

At a time when many people downplay Malthus, or even ridiculed him, his predictions are coming true-if we just take notice. This is certainly not visible in the suburban supermarket where many of the people who affect what is happening shop. However, for growing numbers of malnourished people on our planet, this is all too apparent. This fine book looks at the underlying causes for this predicament and suggest that the only final way to resolve this problem is to face up to our population problem. Increasing food production, if that were still possible, only postpones the worst, and because the world's population would be larger, would make the suffering even more terrible. Everyone should read this book.

Rohe addresses the natural limits that we face, population, resources, environmental degradation, the earths carrying capacity whose totality is a disease of being indifferent toward these limits. He write with the precision and logic of a lawyer which he is.

The Encyclopedia of Louisville is an incredible reference guide and history of the city from its beginnings to the year 2000.The information on African-American life in Louisville is vast and interesting.I encourage anyone who loves or lives in the city to purchase this book. You will not be disspointed.

While growing up in Louisville, I did not have any interest in my "little hick town". I dreamt of leaving for the big city. At 22 I left, for the west coast, eventually hitting the big cities of Dallas and Detroit, on my way back home. Now here, I find this the perfect place for raising my children. This book completes my journey, and brings me home. This is the most interesting book I have ready in years!

This wonderful volume covers people, places, events and things in the Louisville metropolitan area from a historical and cultural perspective in encyclopedia style entries written by Louivillians. As a native Louivillian I am finding it a delight to browse thru the entries learning delightful details about my birthplace and its history. It takes many more universal topics and relates how they have impacted the city and its people. A must for Louisvillians that want to learn more about our rich history and cultural legacy.

This book gives you a great insight in what it is important in life and inspires you to take charge of your own life and happiness. It helped me during one of the most difficult periods of my life. I recommend it highly.

This book helped me through one of the toughest times of my life. It made me look at myself in a totally new way, and I came away with such an improved image of myself and my life that I am now truelly happy! Something I thought impossible a year ago. I am not a deeply religious person and that is not a necessity even though the author is a Catholic priest. I have passed it on to my children and hope it will give them a positive start on their young lives.

My ex and I have split up 9 times in 15 years. I started reading Mr. Powell's books about three weeks ago. I have learned so much from John Powell's series already that I believe my ex and I will be able to try one more time to make it work due to these books and the improvement we see in each other and communication already. I was truly inspired by his books to learn about myself, my loved ones, and God. Thanks so much Mr. Powell!!!!

I will admit that I was not immediately enamored with this book. The luciferous introduction on Keane's predecessors in Paineite biography was engaging enough, but I found his systematic, nit-picky demolition of each work to be just plain egotistical. In Keane's eyes, each previous biography "failed" or "floundered" for various reasons, thereby opening a window for his own, earth-shattering tome on the subject. Granted, it has become common practice for authors to "justify" their reasons for writing "yet another biography on _______" in the preface of their books, but this sort of self-serving, hypercritical overview left me with a seriously bad taste in my mouth. I seriously worried that the 540 pages that followed would be tinctured with the same sort of pomposity - thankfully that was not the case.

The book is a solid biography, and I can very well see Paine enthusiasts flocking to this as one of the best biographies ever written about him. As this is the only biography of him I've read, I'll reserve my judgment on that question, but I will admit that it is an exceptional study of a peculiar man. What the general public knows of Paine is often just his authorship of Common Sense, but of course there was so much more. He penned not one but three of the best-selling books of the 18th century, and, arguably, he initiated modern political thought on the subject of democratic republicanism. Paine was born an Englishman but for most of his life considered himself a "citizen of the world," which prompted a major change in how we view national citizenship - no so much as a gift from the state, as was the 18th century perception, but rather a promise from it to preserve certain rights indigenous to its people. Yet despite his cosmopolitan leanings, Paine managed to ostracize himself from all three countries in which he declared citizenship - England, France and America - thanks to his revolutionary ideals and his fervent insistence on airing his views publicly regardless of their popularity. He would eventually face public execution in both England and France - the story of his brush with death in La Luxembourg prison during the French Reign of Terror is decidedly spine-tingling - but would survive both to end up back in America, ostracized by the generation that remembered him, and nearly forgotten by the generation that followed.

Keane doesn't devolve into hero-worship, despite several initially-worrisome hyperbolic descriptions of him as "the greatest American revolutionary." Instead, the author deals with each of Paine's failings in a forthright manner. Paine was certainly a man driven by ego, though certainly an ego unaffected by cares for money, power, or public approbation. To put it simply, he just knew he was right, and he would never back down from any of his arguments, regardless of their popularity. Even his most unpopular anti-Christian sentiments displayed in the Age of Reason could not be moved, despite the efforts of many to make him recant on his deathbed. As for Paine's legendary alcoholism, Keane suggests it was just that - a legend. According to Keane, Paine never drank to excess when in social situations. He only drank himself into stupors later on in life when the pain of gout and bedsores became unbearable. This may or may not have been the case - I lean towards may not - but in the end it is of comparatively little importance when calculating the worth of a man whose ideas have arguably shaped many of our own modern ideas on government and civil rights.

All told, the biography earns four stars from me on a scale of five. The rating falls short of the final star more because of style than substance. Keane's prose is certainly readable, and in most cases enjoyable, but it was a bit dry and academic for my tastes in several places. On top of that there was some strange editorial snafus, including several instances of sloppy repetition and an imprecise policy of when and when not to translate from the original French. In one chapter Keane includes an entire paragraph of French extracted from a letter (p. 405), with no accompanying translation, and yet in the next he feels it necessary to include a parenthetical translation of the decidedly uncomplicated Dissertations sur les Premiers Principes de Gouvernement as, surprisingly, or not, "Dissertations on the First Principles of Government" (p. 423).

Regardless of my editorial trifles, the book is strong and well recommended to anyone interested in picking up a book on the life and works of Tom Paine. You'll find his life, in many respects, reads like an adventure novel, and his ideas on government and society are surprisingly, shockingly, modern.

As I read this book, I couldn't help but think, where is the Tom Paine of our time? The insights that Tom Paine had are needed today more than ever.

Crackerjack biography of Old Tom (Paine) in the four stages of his life, from his early years in England til Ben Franklin advises him to reach America, the period of _Common Sense_ and the American Revolt, then the _Rights of Man_ and the French Revolution, and finally his return to America, where the reputation of the _Age of Reason_ caught up with him, and his great early popularity was replaced with the jibes of those in a suddenly religious republic, whose liberties were won by more secular sorts (cf. Gordon Wood's book on the Revolution, such as Paine. It is a sad ending to a magnificent tale for a true champion of freedom, one who brought the democratic idea to a republican experiment in constitutions. The phenomenal nature of the sales of his books, whose profits he renounced in the name of his cause, is an episode almost world-historical in its seminal influence. Paine's trek is also a classic snapshot of the 'classic' liberal in his revolutionary phase, and the subtleties of great tomes politcal philosophy seem prefigured in the sheer horse-sense of this man who saw the gist of it all, and somehow at a glance. Witness his instinctive in the spectral course of the French Revolution from the Girondins to the Terror to the dungeons, which he survived. It may finally be that his reputation has recovered at last its nineteenth century shadows where the truest of patriots was consigned.