At the age of thirteen, I fell on a beat up copy of Norstrilia, and fell in love with Smith's works. I soon got a copy of "The Best of Cordwainer Smith" and it vanished on a summer camp trip. It took me years to replace it. Imagine my delight to have all those loved stories in one (heavy) volume, unlikely to go astray!

As you probably know, Smith was actually Dr. Paul M.A. Linebarger, a Johns Hopkins professor and specialist in Asian affairs. He was a master of psychological warfare.

His stories fit no easy category. They are not fantasy, they are not hard science fiction, they are not alternative history. They incorporate bits and pieces of Asian culture and myth. They are often troubling, haunting. "The Dead Lady of Clown Town" ends with most of its characters dead or with their minds wiped, yet it is a happy ending for all that, with Joan's views obviously spreading through the underpeople. "Under Old Earth" is a fascinating tale, filled with allusions that must be beyond the scope of this note. Even "War No. 81-Q", the original version of which was written by Smith as a teenager, is an excellent story. "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" is simply one of the great SF short stories of all time. I could go on, but . . .

The volume also includes the Casher O'Neill trilogy, that I had read of, but not seen before.

If you haven't read Smith before, this is how to buy his stories, so that you have them all. If you have--well, again, you'll have them all.

It's worth it. Buy it.

I first encountered Cordwainer Smith when I was in grade school, checking every book out of the library that I could find under Science Fiction. Some of my favorite stories were the often-anthologized "Game of Rat and Dragon" and "Scanners Live in Vain." I began seeking out his stories anywhere I could find them, but aside from the wonderful novel Norstrilia, I could find few more.

How exciting that the NESFA Press has brought all of these stories together in one book. It was such a joy rediscovering old favorites, and also finding real gems (such as "The Dead Lady of Clown Town") I had never seen anywhere before.

This volume is a must-have for anyone who cares about classic science fiction short stories. In it are some of the best examples of the genre. A short list of the stories in this volume that you MUST read would include: "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard", "The Game of Rat and Dragon", "A Planet Called Shayol", "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons", and the aforementioned "Dead Lady of Clown Town."

The title of one of Smith's collections that originally contained many of these stories was You Will Never Be the Same. What a great title, and how accurate. You won't be.

Cordwainer Smith was actually the pseudonym for Dr. Phillip Linebarger, who was a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University, if I remember right, but anyway, at one of the Ivy League colleges. He was a sometime advisor to the government and wrote a classic book on psychological warfare back in the 40's that I read was still in use by the CIA in the 60's. Perhaps it was this background that gives Smith's stories about the future such a darkly pessimistic tone. As someone observed here in another review, such a view was in stark contrast to the other authors of the Golden Age of Science Fiction (circa 1930 to 1960), during which it was still believed that science would solve all of society's ills. Wherever it came from, Smith's vision is certainly different, his writing style is like no other sci-fi author's, and even his titles are different--giving them names like "The Game of Rat and Dragon, "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell," and the sinister sounding (for a psychological warfare prof) "The Burning of the Brain." If you've never encountered Smith's stories until now, you are in for a rare experience, because Smith is a great storyteller with a uniquely dark and disturbing vision of the future.

I bought this book while visiting the UCLA campus to attend a mens' basketball game. I received "Practical Modern Basketball" from my high school coach as a gift when I began my teaching and coaching career in 1976. This became my coaching bible for years to come. When I saw this new book, Wooden, I bought it without hesitation, thinking that John Wooden's "Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court" was as much a mystery as it was curiosity relative to my appreciation and utilization of the words of wisdom provided in the book I received as a gift in 1976.

My career in public education has allowed me to seriously reflect on my life as it pertains to personal gratification of preparing for unknown opportunities and being able to rationalize with poise and confidence. I attribute many successes in my life to the Wooden philosophy that I followed in my early years of my career. Wooden's, reflections, is an outstanding assessment of what a man of Mr. Wooden's character achieved through hard work, dedication to his own philosophy, and the love for life and people. I have recommended this book to personnel within my organization,to coaches and friends. It is also a great asset for parents who need direction in how to raise their children, basing all dialoge and communication on respect. I truly respect the real value of this book as an asset to my future and my family and my responsibities as Assistant Superintendent of Schools!

Thanks, Eddie Booth, Winnemucca, NV

Listen to anyone who speaks about him, or read anything that anyone writes about him, and you will instantly know that John Wooden is truly a national treasure. This book of Wooden's wisdom and life philosophies is definitely on my short list of the best books of all time about character and leadership.

This book is a collection of the simple and direct beliefs and observations of John Wooden, arguably the best (college) basketball coach of all time. Interestingly, very little of what Wooden wants to teach is about basketball. His quick stories, short vignettes, and detailed memories focus on life and relationships with others.

Coach Wooden is a gentle man with the courage and discipline to live his life according to his deepest held ideals, values, and principles. Despite his teams' unbelievable success (10 NCAA national basketball championships in 12 years (including 7 in a row!), 88 consecutive victories, and 38 straight NCAA tournament victories), and his own fame (many coach-of-the-year honors, "Sports Illustrated's" sportsman of the year, a lifetime winning percentage of over 80%, and the first man to be elected to college basketball's hall of fame as both a player (3-time All-American at Purdue) and coach), he resisted the public pressures and temptations to stay true to himself and his beliefs.

Coach Wooden defines success as the "peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." The book finishes with 30 pages devoted to Wooden's legendary "Pyramid of Success" and another 5 pages of his favorite sayings - 35 priceless pages in a priceless book.

At a time when America is re-defining and searching for true heroes to lead us forward from our darkest days, this book is a beacon of hope and guidance and should serve as a blueprint for making heroes of us all.

This book has had perhaps the greatest influence on me as of late. I have drank from this book deeply, and read it several times. In fact, when I seek advice, I open up the little blue book and look for something that says about problems. Not only has this book took my basketball skills to a whole nother level, but it has made me a better person all around. I have changed many of my bad habits, and I'm pretty glad I have changed, as many of my friends like my new attitude, etc. For basketball players, this book will get you into it mentally. Before I read this book, I only had the physical talent to play the game, now I feel as if I have a stable mental view and I am in the game mentally. This book teaches you so much, I cannot say enough. Coach Wooden even guides you step by step, pillar by pillar, through the period of success. This book is a must for basketball fans, players, and for the average person. Even if you despise sports, this book contains information on life itself, it's a must for all.

This is a fantasy you will never forget. The pages are covered with superior remembrance. The book is so wonderful, you won't put it down till the last page is read. This book has changed my life because it has taught me to never give up and keep trying. Like when Score, Pixel and Renald, (the main characters), were stuck in a jail cell and kept on trying to get out. They couldn't figure out a way, but they kept on trying. They tried climbing out the window, but it was too small and too high. They tried to melt the lock by combining their powers but they found out their powers weren't strong enough, yet, to melt the lock. So they took some hay and stuffed it into the keyhole. And by combining their powers again, they could catch the hay on fire and that melted the lock. The biggest reason I think this book is the best is because you didn't know what was going to happen next. This book constantly kept me in suspense. It also makes you feel like you are a part of the book. Like it was happening right before your eyes. I going to continue reading these books until I read them all!!!!!

When I first picked up this book I was skeptical, but I had extra money on hand and got it for the heck. Well, I had the same skeptism with Animorphs but the same thing happened - I love these books. The stories and plots are well thought out, and when you finally set it down you want to read it some more. The characters (Score, Pixel, Helaine and co.) are enchanting, but I would like a little more character depth, which has been happening in the Animorphs series and which I read in other such books. Overall I highly reccamend this for those who want to have a good time and get out of this dull world. Find the magic

What is John Peel Thinking? He has to be CRAZY not to continue his series! I have Read the books from there Debut in 98(I think it was then) and They are Fantastic! (Even though i read the 2nd book first[I thought the books contained diff/ stories and , being a Huge fan of medival times and magic , bought it instead of the first. I was really confused who was who] Back to the review) Score (Max) has to be the best out of all of them. It just really confused me why he would drop this Sleeper hit.(one of my friends and me are the only one in my Middle School whose ever read any of the books) The Diadem Series have to be the bestest , best collection of books ever created! You know maybe John Peel Is waiting write know for the Perfect moment to strike with the rest of the series....I just have to say I Love these books so much , I'm going to buy brand new versions of each and keep them in Mint condition. Yes , New Diadem Fans , I love it that much.

N.BlackSky

These whimsical, fantastic tales explore the Borgesian themes of mirrors, cults, plots, and history. Borges is a modern master, with one foot planted firmly in the traditions of Miguel de los Cervantes's age, the other foot planted in solidarity with (post)modern writers such as Umberto Eco or even Thomas Pynchon. It's a shame that Borges never achieved the fame of the latter two, at least not in the United States.

Perhaps this comparison is off-base, but this collection makes me think of JS Bach's "inventions": brilliantly written, innovative little morsels that you must take sensitively and savor long after you are done with them.

The only criticism I sometimes hear about these short stories is that there are no genuinely human, fleshed out characters (besides perhaps the narrator), and the plots tend to be about abstract ideas and individual conflictedness, rather than the more conventional plots about human interactions. What can I say? That's just how Borges is. I think he's a great (and underrated/underappreciated!) storyteller and literary craftsman, but maybe if you like a lot of character realism and musings about interpersonal relationships in your stories, Borges isn't for you.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable collection, especially if you like "magical realism" and short stories that read like clever inventions.

Colección de cuentos en los que se mezcla la fantasía, la historia (real o fingida) y la meditación filosófica sobre la esencia del ser humano. Aparecen aquí mitos universales, y a la vez tan borgianos, como el laberinto, el paso del tiempo, el Uno y el Otro, la doble personalidad, la presencia fantástica de seres ficticios, etc. Debe destacarse el cuento "La biblioteca de Babel", resumen de las preocupaciones de Borges sobre el tiempo, el universo, Dios, la perfección, el libro infinito, etc. Una lectura imprescindible para estos tiempos tan "ligeros".

If you are lucky enough to read Spanish well, you might you want to try Borges in Spanish. That's not to say that this is a poor translation but rather there are so many minute details in Borges' prose that they are sometimes lost in the translation. Regardless, this collection of stories represents one of the greatest literary accomplishments in 20th century latin-american fiction and beyond. Borges is a writer of the mind, and that's where most of his stories live. You'll find yourself asking questions about what is real and what is not; what is a dream, what is a nightmare. Borges prose is flawless and his imagination is like no other's. Influenced by philosophy, history, and art, Borges captures a piece of humanity into a collection of stories and he only leaves you wanting more and more.

This book is such an eye opener. A really amazing read that is so hard to put down. I was a dedicated meat eater but since reading this book, I am adopting a vegetarian diet, the arguments that John Robbins puts forward for doing so - personal health, animal welfare and environmental concerns - are so telling it seems stupid not to.
Read this book and if you take in only a portion of his ideas you will be on track to better health and together we can help save the planet. Yes, we really do have that much power with our food choices.

He's done it again! John Robbins, author of the classic Diet for a New America, has written another ground-breaker, published just late last year- a riveting sequel to Diet for a New America. In the area of diet and the environment. Robbins is unmatched. This is a transformational book. Dr Dean Ornish (Founder, Preventive Medicine Research Institute) wrote the forward, in which he states: "John Robbins has dedicated his life to the journey of trying to make the world a better place for the next generation". Ornish goes on to say that he remains inspired by Robbins' extraordinary compassion. Dr Neal Barnard (President, Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine) states "If every patient in every doctor's office read this book, it would revolutionize the health of America".
Robbins shows the fateful link between our health as individuals and the health of the planet that gives us life. It is one of those books that once you start reading, you won't be able to put down, and your life will never be the same again. Robbins believes, and proves, that plant-based nutrition and particularly a vegan diet (free of meat, milk and eggs) leads to long life and good health. Citing statistics and researches, he shows that animal products are hugely responsible for heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, cancer and argues that most stomach ailments that people suffer are a result of pathogens introduced into our bodies through animal agriculture. He also raises concerns about fad diets, genetic engineering, BSE and vCJD. Robbins brilliantly exposes the myths about the need to eat meat and drink milk that leads people inexorably to poor health. He encourages his readers to save their lives, end the ghastly treatment of animals, the irreparable harm to our land and water, in order to save the earth. Craig Winters (Executive Director, Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods) considers this book the most sophisticated study of the political, ethical and sane choices for a healthy diet, and that Robbins' research into the dangers of GE foods makes this a 'must read' or anyone concerned aout the health of the environment. There are some insights in this book that many non-vegans may find provocative, and many may be blown away by the facts that seem too incredible to be true.
If you've ever been asked to quote which study supports facts used by vegans, this book provides that inormation. If your main interest is the environment, The Food Revolution is for you. Whilst agribusiness claims that global warming evidence is inconclusive, 49 Nobel Prize winners wrote to the US President, stating it is the most serious environmental threat of the 21st century. Global warming, animal rights, meat safety, GM foods are now recognized as important issues, but what can we do to help stop global warming, feed the hungry, prevent cruelty to animals, avoid GE foods, be healthier and live longer? First we must eat vegetarian, says Robbins.
Robbins has meticulously researched for this book, and his conclusions are inescapable. The book is in 4 parts: (1) 'Food & Healing'. (2) Our Food, Our Felloow Creatures, (3) Our Food, Our World, (4)Genetic Engineering, and there is an excellent index, resource guides, notes and a number of photographs. However, it is not a dry listing, but an immensely readable, compelling, and facinating book that will leave you inspired and motivated. Robbins empowers us to take control of our lives, our health, and our environment. He answers all our questions, and reading the book is like being in a conversation with this warm and intelligent, compassionate person. In writing The Food Revolution, Robbins has given us a wonderful gift. As Howard Lyman (President, Earth Save and author of Mad Cowboy) says, "Give a copy to everyone you care about"

If (and the big word is IF) you are serious about changing poor eating habits and choices as well as looking at the bigger picture, and actually giving a damn about where your food choices come from, and who grows and often more important whether modern day slaves are used to harvest and/or process your food, then this book is one you need to read and in my opinion, need to own and use as a reference book.

The Great American Diet Roller-Coaster chapter is one that is timely, since recent 2001 research (reputable studies) show that America has reached an all time high obesity rate of over 60%. Healthy Heart, Healthy Life is a chapter that addresses personal responsibility and deals with the high cost of eating poorly, and especially a animal based diet.And the book overall is about how we in the developed world rape the third world and how our arrogance is going to kill us. Better yet, how our ignorance IS killing us.

Misery On The Menu, and A Healthy Plant-Based Dietchapters reminded me (and I do need reminding at times) that the meat, chicken, dairy products I see in the grocery store, are NOT always (or usually) raised in humane manner or as logic suggests, slaughtered in a humane manner. Hmmm "slaughtered in a humane manner" is a bit of an oxymoron isn't it? Something I learned our son is that the meat cases in the meat department of your local grocery store are called Meat Coffins. If that doesn't tell you what you are eating when you buy meat then nothing will.

I also am happy to see John Robbins addressing the whole new world and big business of genetically altered foods, that over years and decades could easily end up providing less food and food that isn't any better than the fast food garbage that one finds in their own communities we drives down main street. Where a fast food hamburger joint oozes the smell of animal fat into the air, and when obese people buy their drug of choice.

I was an avid reader as a child, and the GREAT BRAIN books were some of my favorites. I am now a mother of an avid reader, and tried to locate the books in several book stores. (For some reason, the library did not occur to me--shame on me!) I am so glad to have found them on Amazon.com that I am buying the whole set. This will be a great way to spend time with my son this summer! To parents--you will enjoy reading these with your children (sons or daughters)To children--you will enjoy reading these yourself (or listening, if you don't read yet). Very humorous series! Have a great time reading!

John Dennis Fitzgerald intended to chronicle his youth in Utah for adults, not children. His publisher thought otherwise and the result are these gems. I don't even call them children's lit gems because I find them just as enjoyable as an adult. Before I go on, you should know that Fitzgerald wrote one book about his youth that is for adults, called "Papa Married a Mormon". It is one of the most amazing books on the American west that I have ever read. Sadly, it is out of print, and you may, like me, have to pay an exorbitant sum to get a copy. Trust me, save up and do it. Now back to this book. Every single Great Brain book in the series is pure gold, and the entire set can be had cheaply, so I say buy them all at once. I "put my money where my mouth is" as Tom the Great Brain would say, and bought the lot.

I first read this book and the others in the series as a sixth-grader back in the mid-70s. I, too, read them over and over! I was so enthralled with the stories that I did what I always did with terrific books: looked for any other books by the same author. I was thrilled to discover that in addition to this fictionalized version of J.D.'s childhood, he had also written three non-fiction books detailing his family history and experience in late 19th century Utah: Uncle Will and the Fitzgerald Curse, Papa Married a Mormon, and Mama's Boarding House. I promptly checked them out of the library and devoured them all. They are wonderful stories and an informative background to the Great Brain series. I add my plea to that of another reviewer: SOMEONE, PLEASE REPRINT THESE BOOKS by John D. Fitzgerald! They are a treasure that should not remain relegated to the dusty shelves of used bookstores!

I am currently reading The Great Brain to my six-year old son. At first I was afraid that the writing was a little too sophisticated for him, but with an explanation here and a definition there, he's doing just fine with it. He laughed uproariously at the scene in the opening chapter of the public uncrating and display of the first water closet (indoor flush toilet)in Adenville. These stories are terrific entertainment, as well as history lessons. They give kids a sense of how daily life was a century ago from a kid's perspective.

"Rights of Passage" is one of the most comprehensive books I've ever read on the job search process, and is a must for the library of any senior level executive that is serious about furthering his or her career. As a search consultant myself, it's obvious that Lucht knows his subject very well, and has some very savvy advice to offer ... especially to those wishing to pursue a career change through an executive recruiter. At ~650 pages, though, "Rites" can be a bit imposing for the busy executive.

Another excellent book on the job search process is "The Secrets of Executive Search ... Professional Strategies for Managing Your Personal Job Search," by Robert Melancon. "Secrets" is similar to "Rites" in that both were written by seasoned executive search consultants and are chocked full of very helpful job search advice. But "Secrets" is more "reader friendly," relates to a broader spectrum of professionals, executives, and salary levels, and is easy to use as a professional reference throughout the job search process. I highly recommend both books!

The book covers the essentials of job change at the upper end of the job market. It deals with all aspects of job change, however, the unique contribution is that it provides essential reading for anybody who changes jobs through 'recruiters'. - independent of what the salary is. The value of the book lies precisely in the detailed and authoritative explanation of what is going on behind the scene, i.e. in the recruiter's mind. The author - being a recruiter himself walks the reader in detail through the potential pitfalls of dealing with a recruiter. The different ways of working with a 'retained' versus a 'contingency' recruiter are in essential knowledge for you if you ever receive a phone call.
The writing is easy going but competent, suggestions on what to do are given ranging from your first thoughts on job change to negotiating the contract.
A particular highlight for me was the Appendix: ' Behind the Scenes with the Retainer Executive Recruiter' which walks you through a fictitious recruiting process from the recruiter's standpoint.
Shortfall of book: The book could have benefitted from a more marked breakdown in major parts, rather than going directly into 20 chapters. I highly recommend the book based on its insights.

I am Executive Vice President-Sourcing of a listed U.S. company. Rites of Passage by John Lucht has helped me more than I can express in words when I had to look for a new position. The book was easy to read, very succinct and provided all the information I needed to prepare a strong resume and letter. Following the advice in the book, I sent my resume to companies I wanted to work for and was able to get a new position within a few weeks in my preferred location, Hong Kong. I owe Rites of Passage my new career! Any Executive looking for a new position could not do any better than use the guidance and help Rites of Passage provides. It is an invaluable tool and one that I will treasure always, because it helped me have a great new career. Recently, I have purchased the book for a couple friends who have been helped by Lucht's coverage of Internet job-hunting for executives, a real problem if you're stranded abroad.
Erna Zint, Hong Kong

I am the mother of a first year medical student. My daughter was at a loss in her first month at school - struggling with her Gross Anatomy Course. Our family doctor (he is actually a Neuro-Surgeon) suggested that I purchase Netter's "Atlas of Human Anatomy" swearing that he could never have gone through Anatomy it. I live in Malaysia and my daughter is studying in the Philippines. In both countries, we could not find this book! I found it right here at Amazon! The book was shipped by DHL and it has since been my daughter's bedside companion. She is still struggling with her Anatomy Course...but definitely this book of Netter has helped her SO MUCH. I have read through it myself and realized how difficult it is really to be a doctor. Atlas of Human Anatomy is a genius's work of art. Netter clearly defines the anatomical parts of the human body. Other reference/text books that are of great help to Anatomy students are: Grant's Atlas of Human Anatomy (which also has a Dissector) and Rohen & Yokochi's "Color Atlas of Anatomy" which is a photographic atlas of cadavers - a very good guide for practicals. Both books (Grant's and Rohen's) are found right here at AMAZON

I have used the second edition of this beautiful atlas for several years. Now I have acquired a copy of the new, revised, and improved third edition published in 2003. It has not disappointed me. I highly recommend it.

The third edition is longer by at least 60 pages, and the pages devoted to each body region are now color-coded for quick access.

Each section devoted to a body region now begins with a surface anatomy plate. In addition, a significant number of normal radiographic images are included.

In the foreword, Consulting Editor John T. Hansen states the following:

"We balanced the addition of new surface and radiographic plates largely by eliminating several plates that contributed little to the quality of the [Second Edition]. Several plates from The Netter (formerly CIBA) Collection of Medical Illustrations were added and several plates were altered slightly to correct anatomical errors consistent with our current knowledge.... Finally, the References and the Index have been updated.

"The anatomical terminology is consistent throughout the Atlas and conforms to the International Anatomical Terminology (Terminologia Anatomica) approved in 1998 by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists. Common eponyms are retained parenthetically, and the leader lines and labels have been checked, and where necessary, corrected to ensure their accuracy."

You will hear Netter is God and although that statement is blasphemous in my book, it is fairly close to the truth. I have netter (the second edition) as most every med student on the planet has, really.

I plan to get the third edition for my reference library because my 2nd edition got gooked and dripped on in the lab as I'm sure yours will.

Netter is excellent in book form. However, whatever you do don't get the cd. It is poor in terms of clarity...

Nobody comes close to Francis!!!
Just beautiful art, you'll appreciate him once you start dissecting.

Anyone who sets out to buy an old Volkswagen will hear this book mentioned again and again, usually with great reverence and a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. Well folks, it is simply not all that. Don't get me wrong -- I'm happy I bought this book, and I refer to it often -- but like other reviewers here have pointed out, it's awfully overrated within VW circles. The instructions are biased towards pre-68 cars and often gloss over details; it's very hard to track down specific solutions when all you know are the symptoms; and the diagrams, though extremely well-drawn, aren't always as effective as real photographs of the car and its parts. When I'm trying to learn how to repair something on my Beetle, I read this book first to get a friendly introduction to the work involved... but the other manuals are the ones I actually take outside to the car.

So if you've just bought a "new" Beetle or Bus that needs a lot of repair, buy this book -- but get the Bentley shop manual for your model and year at the same time as you will need to refer to it a lot. I recommend the Haynes manuals, too; they give the same procedures but in a highly effective "steps + pictures" format.

The Volkswagen bible. Get this book. It's funny and insightful, and really a good read. It's one of those shop manuals where you read it just because you want to, not because you have a problem. Arguably, it's more geared towards the 70's and earlier VW, due to when it was originally written, and it does have a few errors, but the ones that are there are actually funny.

If you have but one book for your Volkswagen, get this one. You can add to your book collection later, but this should be your first if you are even considering driving your VW. My grungy Chilton's is fine, but this one is written from a driver and mechanic's point of view, with real experiences, and real solutions. One of the best auto related books I have read ever, and it has some great information in it too.

Don't look to this book for restoration information that would cover trim details, and paint schemes. Look to this book to help you keep you Volkswagen alive.

It all began in 1970, with my first VW, a 1967 Squareback, found in a backyard in our nation's capitol. I had to replace all hoses,belts and external gaskets, plus overhaul the dual Solex carbs(not covered bu the Guide!) just to get that babe running. It was worth it! That $200.00 car took me and my sweethart to the Grand Canyon and further, and was sold to a man who had a lot of money and time on his hands. The "Guide" has helped me through 14 or so VW's, including a "66 Ghia, '78 2 liter van and a 412 4-speed wagon(actual German edition). Now I own an '81 Vanagon, an '84 rabbit deluxe, and several parts cars on my property. Thanks be to John Muir

This is the most wonderful Bible I've ever owned, and I have tried many over the past 20 years, including a variety of study Bibles.

Although study Bibles do offer value, I think that sometimes there is too much of man's option for me to use these as my every day primary usage Bible. The New Thompson-Chain offers something truly different from other study Bibles... it fully uses God's Word to explain itself without the help of man's opinions. It is an incredible tool to dig deep into the Word of God easily - it can be used by beginners or "road scholars" of God's Word alike. Top of mind benefits are easy to read text, incredibly thorough reference system, the pages just the right thickness, extensive maps, great archeological section, many blank pages in the front and back of the book to write your own notes. But what I like best of all is the unique index system where you can look up a topic and see all the scriptures on that topic printed out together, not just the scriptural references to look up on your own. That way, you can read 10+ scriptures on the topic, all on one page viewing, rather than flipping through 10 or more scriptures.

New King James Version + Thompson Chain Reference = AWESOME BIBLE!

For many years, I searched for the "ultimate" Bible. Being an avid New King James Version reader, we don't always have as many resources available as the King James or NIV people. My most useful Bible study tool is many, many cross-references, which I always looked for in NKJV Bibles that had the most. The Thompson Chain has much more than the standard cross-references. The chain references are just that: you go to the alphabetical index to find your subject, (which there are listed around 4,400 different topics) and you go to the first reference, and simply chain through the scripture references. In other words, they are cross-referenced in sequence order! The topics are as detailed as "blue" and as extensive as "God"; these more extensive subjects are then broken down into various sub- topics. Also, in the back of the Bible, the subjects are listed by title, then all the references are given, and the more main ones are chained throughout the scriptures, and some topics' scriptures are written out in the back also! There are also absolutely no commentaries, nor any conclusions drawn in this Bible! I would 100% recommend this Bible (in any version you use) for those of us who love many, many cross references, and believe first and foremost to compare scripture with scripture (1Cor. 2:13) in Bible studies. For those who like this, this Bible has everything!

I purchased my first Thompson Chain Reference Bible as a new believer back in the 70's. It was and continues to be the best study Bible for those who desire to search out the Word for themselves and compare scripture with scripture. And, the extensive Bible study helps in the back of the Bible do add a rich dimension in addition to the topical chain references.

I was a little concerned about the "new" TCR's as several reviewers mentioned degradations in quality and I certainly didn't like the thin glossy paper I saw in the hardbacks in the bookstore. I was delighted today when I received my large print deluxe leather edition Bible.

The Bible I received has excellent flat, opaque Bible paper perfect for note-taking. And, the binding appears to have stitching in addition to the glue, so I'd say the quality of the binding is fine and should serve one well for years.

One caveat in regard to the large print edition--It is LARGE! Not the print (it's 9 point instead of the regular 8), but the Bible itself. It's not so unwieldy that I would think twice about using it, but if size is an issue for you, check the dimensions and choose accordingly.

I can't say enough good things about this Bible. It has my highest recommendation; you won't be sorry in choosing this Bible.