The Basic Bakunin has works that Bakunin did over a short period of time, mostly speaking of the International, but after reading this I can see why it is called the "Basic" Bakunin: all you need to know about Bakunin's views of the State, education, knowledge, work, equality, democracy, freedom, etc, is contained in this 250 page book.

Bakunin is the socialist willing to speak for a truly classless society, with full political, social, and economic equality, where freedom is maximized only through these conditions. He believes the State only exists in oppressive societies, and reforms within the State will only continue class oppression. Hence his many criticisms of Bourgeois Socialists, who he believes aren't true socialists at all. I disagree on a few points Bakunin makes, but everything he says is essential for anyone who is into political philosophy or socialism to consider.

I especially found Bakunin's views of education and equality interesting, as I share many insights with him. He goes a bit into psychology and nature vs. nurture arguments in these viewpoints, and also in his viewpoints on patriotism.

The editor's introduction gives insights into how Bakunin is different than Marx, the words the editor adds in Bakunin's writings make things more clear, the notes serve the same purpose, and the Glossary of terms at the end are a great bonus.

Buy this now.

I found "The Basic Bakunin" to be an excellent, although somewhat limited,introiduction to the political thought of one the West's more dissident political philosophers.Although admiring Marx as an economic/political historian,Bakunin rejected the authority of a revolutionary intelligensia.Cutler adroitly summerizes Bakunin's political philosophy as being thus: The actions of libertarian, anti-authoritarian, syndicalist components of society must be the synthesis of the understanding of the mechanics of society and the effectiveness of free will.Robert Butler has done a remarkable job of condensing Bakunin's anarchist thought into a clear and concise introduction for neophytes to the social movement.

This is a great book. The editor obviously loved doing this job. You can see how much time he spent and the translations are fabulous. Even the footnotes are fun to read. I liked the introduction too, and the index is really comprehensive and useful. Since the only two other Bakunin anthologies in English are rare or out of print, and seem to list at $40 and up, this paperback is a steal at this price. Buy this book! :-)

Just bought the book and it has been useful already. If you are serious enough about computer science to want to know what is in the professional literature this is full of wonderful summaries.

This book is an incredible resource for all people interested in software engineering and AI. I've used numerous ideas in from this book in current research projects, and I'm sure that my copy will become well worn with time! -Ben Peterson, Computer Science student

This book is a compilation of texts on different, very interesting, fields on theory of complexity and theory of algorithms. It is very usefull for all that are interesting in the field. Contains mary recent results and concepts.

As a first-year graduate student, I undersood most topics tangentially at best. Nonetheless, I was able to get a feel for some of the last century's most contributions to all of mathematics. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone with a lot of exposue to various fields of mathematics, even if your knowledge of those fields is limited to the "exposure" level.

So what is mathematics anyway? You may think you know, especially if you are a math grad student, but unless you're familiar with the contents of this book, you don't!

This book was a real eye-opener for me. Basically it covers what is considered to be important mathematics by the math community at large by recounting the discoveries/creations of the Fields Medalists. I found it fascinating how the Fields Medalists' work tied together large areas of mathematics together, and how many times this intertwining nature of their work wasn't realized until years later!

This book is rather incomprehensible initially, even if delightfully put together. The first time I read it, I couldn't pronounce some of the words. The second time, I knew what some of those words meant. The third time, I saw how the words I was comfortable with were related with those I weren't. One can read sections over and over again, each time having gained more knowledge of the mathematics involved, and still get a handy pointer on what to learn next. I think that is the greatest thing about the book: one can see the relation of what one is doing to the Grand Plan of mathematics and how the latter developed and is growing even now.

I've only gone over the topology section in some depth, since that is my area, but I've found it useful for pointing me towards what to concentrate on. The bibliography is very useful in that regard; I feel it could be more extensive, but certainly it does an admirable job in listing some of the more useful references.

Dyson's introduction describes this book as a "roadmap". Seen that way, you should get plenty of use out of it over a long period of time, although perhaps not immediately.

Most professional mathematicians know next to nothing about branches of mathematics outside their own narrow specialty. If this describes you, then you *must* read this book. This beautiful little book of Monastyrsky gives a brilliant exposition of the work of all the Fields medalists up to and including the 1994 winners. It seems impossible in such a small amount of space to assume no more than what the average mathematician can be expected to know, and yet at the same time to provide enough technical detail for the reader to gain an accurate understanding of the content and significance of the major theorems of all the medalists. Perhaps this is actually impossible, but Monastyrsky comes as close as is humanly possible to achieving this goal. This book will broaden your mathematical culture more than any other single book I know. It was not until I read this book that I learned how simply the exotic structures on S^7 may be described, or what Margulis got his Fields medal for.

Warning: if you do not have at least a graduate-level education in mathematics, most of the book will be incomprehensible. Although there are some historical notes and insights into people's personalities scattered throughout the book, the intended audience is unquestionably the research mathematician who wants to know more than just the buzzwords associated with each Fields medalist.

What an exciting and amazing story this is! Against all odds these very strong and tenacious adventurers have skied across a nearly impassable collection of mobile ocean ice to the North Pole and back under conditions of extreme cold - as cold as -72 degrees! All supplies for 4 months for this completely self-sufficient expedition were carried in backpacks and dragged along in sleds. Their pre-trip planning was so complete they knew in advance when every morsel of food would be consumed! That totaled enough for a daily calorie allotment was 7000 calories. To eat less would incur a dangerous loss of strength.

The book is well written and very exciting. It kept me riveted to my seat until I finished reading it. When I was done, I felt as if I had been part of the adventure - except I was still warm and comfortable, with no aching muscles!

I confess an interest - I have skied to the North Pole with Weber and Malakhov. By contrast with the experience outlined in this book, however, my trip was a walk in the park - plenty of food, fuel and sunlight, temperatures above -25C and only 8 days on the ice. No number of words, or for that matter photographs, can even begin to describe the achievement of these two, or the hardships they endured. Weber described to me his experience on their (failed) 1992 attempt to get to the Pole and back as "being a frozen packhorse". There are no more experienced polar explorers in history than these two; they are surely amongst the most modest. For anyone who has romanticised over Peary, or even merely enjoyed an armchair read of the experiences of expeditioners, this book is mandatory. The prose is not perfect (and in large part translated from Russian), hence I have marked it down to a "9"; but this imperfection gives the tale an added air of authenticit

The North Pole is called "the place that wants you dead" for good reasons. Yet these two men are like the "Energizer Bunny" of Polar trekkers. They continued to walk for weeks, from drifting ice flow to ice flow, during the spring breakup while authorities wanted to declare them insane and force their air rescued. They resisted this by satellite radio, partially because they didn't want to pay the $100,000 cost! I am still stunned at the skill, determination and humor these guys displayed. They did what has always been considered impossible - but went about it like ordinary people who get up everyday and commute to work. They even referred to the ice as their "office" where they went to work every morning from their tent. The writing is very good, the achievmentranks as a worlds record, and the travelers are at peace with themselves and with life itself. They won my heart and sincere admiration

This wonderfully written book is the best overview of Roman civilization out there. Anyone wishing to learn about the Roman kingdom, Republic, and Empire should start here.

Rostovtzeff's "ROME" from 1927 is one of the best books, in which you can read the general development of the Rome; from the republican era to the emperial. Using a tune in which everybody can follow, the book does not seem to academic; however it is! - the differense between Rostovtzeff and for example E. Gibbon, is that Gibbon made his book for academic only - Rostovtzeff did not.

The book has many daring interpretations of the decline and eventually the fall of the roman empire: Rostovtzeff says it was due to the rural population rebelling against the urban; whereby he sees a connection to the Russian Empire.

If you want good information on Rome, this is the book for you.

I read this book a few years ago in college and have since found it to be one of the best written on the subject of ancient Rome. Readable and enjoyable, it stands the test of time.

Finally, back in print, the most comprehensive selection of his writings. Edited and introduced by Sam Dolgoff. "Bakunin's insights are refreshing, original, and unsurpassed in clarity and vision. This selection provides access to the thinking of one of the most remarkable figures in modern history. I read it with great pleasure." (Noam Chomsky)

The wild and turbulent life of Michael Bakunin did not lend itself to creating a complete literary legacy for modern day students of his life. This single volume contains most of the important writings of Michael Bakunin, the founder of modern anarchism.

Some of the articles in this collection are unfinished--left in that condition as the author headed off to the next stop in his life as a professional revolutionary. Still, despite (perhaps because of) the incomplete nature of some of the articles, an accurate feel for the tumultuous life of the writer is conveyed through the pages of this volume.

For students seeking a representative collection of the writings of Michael Bakunin, this book represents one of the few choices available in English.

One of the great dancers of the twentieth century, and perhaps of all time, Mikhail Baryshnikov's work is captured briefly but magnificently in this volume. Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to see Baryshnikov in a live performance, but only on videos and DVDs. Even in this limited format however, Baryshnikov is brilliant, and a major reason for his superb technique is his attitude. Another dancer could perhaps execute his movements, but Baryshnikov comes across like someone who knows why he is dancing, and not just following the choreography. He creates the impression that he is feeling every movement, and he is celebrating himself to the fullest extent through every execution of such movement.

How fortunate we are that Baryshnikov agreed to tell us his opinions on the works covered in the book. That gives a special insight into his attitudes and general philosophy of dance. Baryshnikov gave credit to his teacher, the great Alexander Pushkin, for teaching him that on stage one must be free, and not just carrying through the techniques learned in class. "Classical technique", he says, "is like any language: it can be correctly spoken in many voices." And it is refreshing to read that Baryshnikov believed that dancing ability is the result of discipline and hard work, that a dancer is (self) made, not born.

Baryshnikov gives detailed remarks on the works Giselle, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Theme and Variations, Les Patineurs, La Fille Mal Gardee, La Sylphide, Le Corsaire, Vestris, Medea, Shadowplay, Spectre de la Rose, Le Pavillon d'Armide, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Awakening, Hamlet Connotations, Push Comes To Shove, Other Dances, Pas de Duke, Sleeping Beauty, Petrouchka, Le Sacre du Printemps, Once More Frank, and my all time favorite Le Jeune Homme Et La Mort. The photography is all black and white, and superbly done.

One can breathe a sigh of relief that the Soviet government did not choose to eliminate ballet as being too "bourgeois" when it took over in 1917. Baryshnikov and other Russian ballet greats would not have came about if this had been the case. And in addition, the Soviets would have taken away the absolute prerequisite for all healthy civilizations: the dance.

A wonderful book that sadly is out of print. Ballet, like professional sports demands youth, strength, agility, and Baryshnikov was the superstar in his time. This book is loaded with photos that capture the beauty, grace, and skill of a man who admired Fred Astaire. And like Astaire, spent countless hours practicing and perfecting their art. Who can forget probably the best ever rendition of the "Nutcracker" with Gelsey Kirkland, and the scenes are wonderfully captured here. I've never lent this book out to anyone cause I knew I'd never get it back. This is a treasure if you can find it.

Coined in 1922 by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ (1881-1955), in association with Edouard Le Roy and Vladimir Vernadsky, the word and notion of the NOO-SPHERE were introduced to the English-speaking world by Vernadsky's paper on "The Biosphere and the Noosphere" published in 1945 in "American Scientist" (Vol.33, pp.1-12). In "Fundamentals of Ecology" (1962:26; 1971:35) Eugene Odum said, "This is dangerous philosophy, because it is based on the assumption that mankind is now wise enough to safely take over the management of everything!" In fact, Teilhard assumed nothing about the wisdom of HOMO SAPIENS. But, whether we like it or not, we ARE increasingly responsible and accountable for the management and husbandry of everything, starting with Planet Earth but already extending to the nearest "islands" of outer space. As Mikhail Gorbachev said in 1999 in his foreword to this Reader, "We have reached the phase in cultural evolution where we must assume full responsibility for our power... Knowing and reaching our fullest potential within the constraints of the BIOSPHERE must be the ultimate goal - the driving vision of the 21st century. And the NOOSPHERE concept suggests a philosophy for such a necessary balance" (p.x).

With the possible exception of Blessed John Duns Scotus, no one since St John of Damascus has surpassed Teilhard in his reverence for the "stuff" of creation and of our incarnation. He was fascinated at the many forms of matter, culminating thus far in our genes and the brains that stem thereform. In the known {and knowable?) universe, they are unsurpassed in molecular complexity and reflective competence. Potentially linked together globally by a world-wide-web or internet of communications media, our brains constitute that form of reflective or "thinking" matter that Teilhard called "the NOO-SPHERE." It is concentric with the solid, liquid, gaseous and reproductive or "living" forms of matter, which Edward Suess described as Earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.

In this excellent collection of readings, Paul Samson and David Pitt have largely vindicated Teilhard's vision of the NOOSPHERE and will have opened the eyes of many to the depths that are yet to be seen in the mysteries of the universe.

This book has come to fill a gap and to present to students and lecturers an excellent tool for the handling of this subject in a serious and responsible way. I strongly recommend the book, particularly for ecology and environment courses in the social sciences.

Former World Chess Champion and Mastermind M.M. Botvinnik analyses the games at the 1941 ussr absolute championship with great attention to detail. At this tournament, where all the great Russian playes of the time met head to head, Botvinnik triumphed - thus creating the start of his amazing reign. In this volume, Botvinnik extracts the secrets of each game, whilst objectively analysing his own. This edition published by Hardinge and Simpole.

the ussr absolute championship 1941 was one of the strongest chess tournaments ever held-botvinnik smyslov and keres were in it for a start and the players all met each other 4 times so it became a titanic struggle.botvinnik wrote the notes to this book-having won the event-and they are truly magnificent.his analysis is amazingly deep and authoritative as befits a future world champion. it was also a great dry run for botvinnik for his assault on the world championship in 1948.

the notation is descriptive but the book is well printed and very well stocked with exceptionally clear diagrams. everyone interested in the ussr, in the history of chess and in some really great games by top players annotated by a supreme expert will want to own this book.no chess library worth the name is complete without it.