it is like a dictionary and you can find every ship you want to know in this book

This is the last (in chronological order) of a famous serie of four books dealing with the history of the steam and iron navies from the beginning (1861) to the present days. It's a very exhaustive book, which covers almost every nations that ever manned a naval ship, from the huge US Navy down to the smallest African or Pacific ones. In this way a reader can have a very good idea of the power and evolution of the world's navies through the desing of their ships, built or not (the book contains the description of a lot of projected ship classes that were never built, but that are interesting in order to better understand the evolution of some navies). As usual, for all the ships built before the period covered by the book, the reader is referred to the other similar books of this serie (mainly the third one, covering the 1922-1946 period). Every ship or class is described quite in detail (overall the main types, like battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines), with a description of the project evolution, a brief account on the modifications occurred during the ship's life and the final fate of each one. A lot of photographs and some drawings complete what can be considered one of the best purchase a naval enthusiast can ever do!

This is an update of Conway's formerly 2-volumes (Western and Warsaw Pact navies), first published in 1982. This is now 1 volume, large format size of the other Conway's, 1860-1946. It is an impressive book, covering the cold-war era, describing in minor detail, the survivors of WWII, and in more detail, new construction from 1947. It's the only book of its type because it covers all types of vessels and all navies; each entry has a brief description (sometimes insightful) but usually just a recitation of public info (because very few of these vessels saw combat). They are accompanied by a medium-size photograph, and often a line drawing (but the drawings are of medium quality, and plainly "hand drawn"). The book is not a thorough treatment of any particular ship or type of vessel; for that, you will have to use other books such as Norman Friedman's (now dated) series on US Navy battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines, etc. It lacks the descriptive nature of H. Lenton's books on the British WWII navy, or the graphic intensity of the dedicated battleship, cruiser, etc. books. Nevertheless, no other book is as comprehensive as this one, and remains the seminal work on naval vessels in the cold war era; it's richly illustated and has sufficient text.

I have sat through 2 lectures of Prof. Bokenkamp and found that his knowledge of Eastern thought has followed through in this book. Though not for a person looking for an introduction into Taoist thought, this book is informative in the fact that it has content I have not found in other books. Also, the book is written more for a western audience, which isnt necessarily bad, but Prof. Bokenkamp has taken some liberties with the English language that may have been better kept in Chinese context. For those with a background in Taoism, I recommend this book. Others might want to try the Tao Te Ching first to gain insight into what Taoism is about.

Can be complicated and difficult to read, so take your time. You won't regret it.

This is a collection of Taoist canon books from the early Mao shan, Showing the Spiritualistic roots of the Taoist religion before it was sanitized by those who could not trance or perform as the founders did. It is easy to say and think that everyone is the same but some have improved themselves so much we say they are myths. History is a joy when you can see the ideas of the best minds that lived and the poetry of their lives expressed in these texts. I enjoyed the Purple texts especially as a map to the higher mind.
To those of you who study the Source enjoy, I did.

This book is the fifth of five (so far) from the Osprey's Men-At-Arms Series on "German Army". The other four are:-

MAA 311 The German Army 1939-45 (1) Blitzkrieg;

MAA 316 The German Army 1939-45 (2) North Africa & Balkans;

MAA 326 The German Army 1939-45 (3) Eastern Front 1941-43;

MAA 330 The German Army 1939-45 (4) Eastern Front 1943-45.

These books basically cover the German Army uniform and rank insignia of specific time and place during WW2. Each book includes 30 to 40 b/w photographs of German soldiers in different types of uniform. There are also 8 pages of colour-plates in each book depicting the uniforms in colour. Since I own all five books, I observed that the drawing skill of Stephen Andrew improving gradually over the years.

These books are by no means a comprehensive account of the uniform of the German Army during WW2. However, the contents (text, photos and colour-plates) are excellent source of reference materials for modelling enthusiasts focusing on WW2 German Army.

This review applies to all five books.

Osprey books are a great place for anyone who is interested in a specific military history subject. The book is a concise history of the organization and use of German infantry on the Western Front. The full color drawings are an excellent resource for modellers, collectors and general enthusiastists. There are plenty of black and white photos to complement the text. The book focuses on the finer details of the average German soldiers life. Even though I've read the book, I refer to it frequently and still love looking at the drawings.

This work is a splendid example of the new emphasis of the publisher on producing comprehensive works in a handy format compared with the earlier broad brush treatments which covered too much in too little detail.
The new emphasis is on sets covering various national armed forces in as much detail as is available, consistent with the current purpose of the works in the series, which have evolved from an original emphasis on serving the military miniature maker market into works intended to enlighten the general reader in enough detail to satisfy the merely curious and to point the way to further reading.
Most of us, including myself, have little need for, or the patience to read, voluminous studies, often in foreign languages, covering many eras and nations. My main interest is in the US forces, their allies and their enemies in the twentieth century.
That said, these works should be purchased as presented, in sets within the series. Since they are produced as a set, the volumes cover only relevent parts of the general history and the clothing and individual equipment is covered as it appears in each period. The French Army, US Army, British Army, and Italian Army series all have three volumes, covering the major theatres and time periods of the war. The German set has five.
The German Army set should be read in conjunction with many other individual volumes covering their allies and opponents and the other German fighting forces such as the Waffen SS, and the Parachute units, which were part of the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe.
If you want an introduction to the fascinating variety of clothing and equipment of the forces covered, this set is for you.

If you want to know what the Bhagavad Gita is about and are too lazy to actually read it, this is the next best thing. Great review of jnana, karma and bhakti (knowledge, action and devotion) concepts.

This book gives a relaxed and informative treatment of the essential doctrine of the Bhagavad Gita. If you're too lazy to read the Penguin Classic translation of the Bhagavad Gita, get this. Knowledge is the first step to enlightenment!

I have read and loved many of Steve Rosen's books. GITA ON THE GREEN is a welcome and worthy addition to my collection of his books. I had previously read the Bhagavad Gita, but had little knowledge about golf, and hadn't yet read The Legend of Bagger Vance.

The reader will benefit most by reading Bhagavad Gita As It Is, The Legend of Bagger Vance, and Gita on the Green together, or in quick succession. With both simplicity and thoroughness, Rosen ties together and explains this ancient and eternal tradition expressed in the Bhagavad-Gita and how it is explained in the new context of golf for the modern reader in Bagger Vance.

Now, for it all to come full circle, I await the Sanskrit translation of Gita on the Green!

We've used this book when away from city lights. It's pitched for kids and adults, and is very easy to use (with instructions with each illustration to orient you by month and time). Great illustrations, but very little text. But you can't read in the dark anyway, and you'll be too busy learning the constellations!

A very simple and beautifully illustrated book for all ages. We spent many summer nights in the hammock exploring the universe. I have given this book to both children and adults as a gift, always with excellent results. Easy to follow, no reading skills necessary for younger viewers.

Something you don't get these days in astronomy class is the perspective of the ancients and how they saw the night sky. This book very nicely illustrates figures around the constellations as celestial maps from the past have. Orion is the only constellation most people seem to be able to visualize, and this gives "faces" to many others. The glow in the dark feature is especially fun for my three year old and we've shortened the life span of many a light bulb.

Beckwith and Parrish use their evidentialist ideas to tackle four major philosophical world views: Mormonism, secular humanism, Baha'ism and the "New Age" movement. Philosophy is their speciality as they set up the basic mistakes made by many Christians in an attempt to show how these views are logically faulty. As they indicate, the Christian too often is left hanging as he uses improper logic--logical fallacies are named throughout the book--to prove his point. The authors show how a person could do better.

The book contains many good ideas, but there are some shortcomings. For one, their ideas about Mormonism are pretty much detailed in a book co-edited by Beckwith titled The New Mormon Challenge. If you read the latter, especially William Lane Craig's chapter, you will have a much better look at what these authors try to say in their limited pages. The chapter on secular humanism is probably their best. The Bah'ai chaper...well, I'm not sure how many American evangelicals have ever even met someone from this faith, which by no means is extremely popular in the U.S. Besides Beckwith's interest in this group--he did write a book on this topic--I'm not sure why they included this chapter. Finally, the "New Age" movement--do we still call it that?--is so general as to not be very useful.

This book is certainly worth a look, but there are other books I would suggest first.

...non-Christian worldviews. I'm sure many Christians have used many of the same resources in combating Mormonism, secular humanism, Bahai'ism and New Age philosophies. Stick with those resources and add this book with it. It stresses more philosophical issues with these cults. Here's a sample reading (p.151): "...God is a necessary presupposition of all possible knowledge. That is to say, in order to justify knowledge, one must assume the existence of God. If this is true, then obviously atheism cannot be rationally affirmed." Although Beckwith and Parrish are evidentialist, they use presuppositionalism and evidentialism hand-in-hand.

Here are the Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Philosophical Analysis and Christianity's Rivals
Chapter 1: The Importance of Critical Thinking and Philosophy
Chapter 2: The Classical Christian Concept of God
Chapter 3: Mormonism
Chapter 4: Secular Humanism: Religion Without God
Chapter 5: Baha'ism and the Unity of Religions
Chapter 6: The New Age Movement
Appendix A: Of Logic and Lordship: The Validity of a Categorical Syllogism Supporting Christ's Deity
Appendix B: What Does Jerusalem Have to Do With Provo?
Appendix C: A Critical Analysis of David Paulsen's and Black Ostler's review of The Mormon Concept of God: A Philosophical Anaylsis by Francis J. Beckwith and Stephen E. Parrish (by Dennis Monokroussos)
Appendix D: Why the Classical Concept of God is Biblical
Appendix E: Separation of Guru and State?: Influence of the New Age Movement in Public Education

In See the Gods Fall (STGF), two fine Christian philosophers present a powerful critique of four prominent religious movements. In all, the authors appraise the fundamental beliefs of Mormonism, Baha'ism, Secular Humanism, and the New Age. In comparing these worldviews to Christian theism, Drs. Parrish and Beckwith convincingly show the latter to be the only one worthy of adherence.

The book is divided into six main chapters. The first of these is devoted to the importance of logical thinking in dealing with religious viewpoints. Here, the reader is given an overview of what goes into sound philosophical argumentation. Further, it is explained why Christians should employ such reasoning, as such a practice is highly valued throughout the Bible. This chapter is crucial since it is the very use of logic and philosophy that sets this book apart from most Christian works dealing with competing faiths. Many such resources look mainly at biblical issues and interpretations. STGF goes further and probes the philosophical assumptions of these traditions.

Chapter two explains the various attributes (e.g. omniscience, immutability) of the Christian God. Each attribute is given its own section and is described in detail. These discussions are quite helpful in clarifying many of the concepts Christians themselves often misunderstand. Moreover, the authors effectively answer some of the difficulties non-Christians typically bring up against Christian notions of God's qualities. Also provided here are informative, concise discussions of the Trinitiy and the Incarnation of Jesus.

Chapters three through six interact with the respective religions mentioned above. Each deals with one of these traditions in-depth. The third chapter concerns Mormonism. It begins with a look into the Mormon concept of God. This form of theism is then critiqued using philosophical and logical principles. For example, problems with the Mormon belief in an infinitely old universe are exposed. Additionally, the typical Argument from Design for Mormon Theism is addressed and defeated. This section of the chapter is enormously interesting and important for Christian apologists to grasp. Various smaller arguments are also aimed at Mormon theology, showing its inadequacies.

Secular Humanism is the next belief system critiqued. Among the things of interest in this portion is the brief review of humanism's historical development. As with the other belief systems covered, the basic tenets of Secular Humanism are provided and then evaluated. Examinations of religious neutrality, the objectivity of truth, and naturalistic criticisms of miracles are all included. The chapter concludes with a nice statement of the theistic Transcendental Argument. Roughly, this shows that, of the three explanations of the universe's existence, only the Necessary Deity hypothesis is adequate. The truth of this contention obviously falsifies secular humanism.

Baha'ism is covered in chapter five. This faith seems less popular than Mormonism and the others, but it is a considerable movement. Dr. Beckwith does a masterful job of highlighting this tradition's logical errors. For one, he explains why the Bahai affirmation of the unity of religions is either devoid of content or question-begging. Likewise, the incoherence of the Bahai creation account is demonstrated, along with several other problems. Readers are also presented a short glance at Bahai's historical roots.

The final chapter takes on New Age belief. Three main aspects of this worldview are interacted with: pantheism, relativism (both epistemological and moral) and reincarnation. Myriad philosophical errors are found in all of these. Also, the typical New Age rejection of logic is shown implausible.

STGF ends with six appendices all dealing with several relevant issues. Appendix D sets forth reasons why classical theism is, in fact, biblical. And the first appendix presents an interesting argument for Christ's deity. These various considerations nicely bring the book to a close. One other positive aspect of the book is the large number of bibliographical references and citations given. Those interested in further research can easily find the necessary scholarly resources here.

Clearly, STGF is a treasure for Christians interested in defending their faith against rival religious systems. It provides a nice introduction to critical thinking and uses these tools to show why these four specific faiths fail compared to Christianity. The argumentation used is both respectful and forceful throughout. Anyone interested in these topics ought to seriously consider acquiring this volume.

Preparing for a trip to Hungary, I enjoyed Sisa's rather old-fashioned narrative history. Suprisingly, the opening chapters proved gripping, filled with enthusiastically rendered anecdotes about early rulers, medieval battles, and lots of double-crossing diplomats and nobles. There's material here for a dozen epic (English-language at least!) novels or movies. Extracts from historical novels sprinkled throughout the book from otherwise untranslated Hungarian authors spice up Sisa's entrees vividly.

As Hungary becomes its own empire, then falls under Turkish and Habsburg dominance, the story keeps pace. When the Austrians take over, and nationalism emerges, you root for the heroes even as Sisa fairly tries to show how other Hungarians and minority peoples allied with the imperialists for their own reasons. Distinguishing the "state" from a "people" and a "nation" clarifies his presentation for Western readers who may lump these terms differently than they apply to Central Europe and the Balkans.

I found the latter part of the book a bit less engrossing; I expected more on 1956 and especially the Kadar period up to 1989. This post-revolt stage seems glossed over too quickly, even as other sections elaborate (especially in the second and third editions) in too much detail for the novice diplomatic and territorial confrontations with Romania, the former Czechoslovakia, and the Balkan states regarding Hungarian minorities and the aftermath of Trianon. This material may better suit political students of this period than the first-time reader wanting a panoramic view of Hungarian history and culture.

The absence of tanchaz music and the 1980s folk-music revival (Muszikas, Marta Sebestyen, romany/gypsy artists for example) bringing Hungary onto the "world music" scene means that you find a lot deservedly on classical music but not its modern folk offshoots and grafts. However, plenty of coverage of art and literature balances this omission, I suppose.

Written with obvious love and passion, yet remaining fair-minded about, say, the mixed blessings and upheavals Jewish immigration caused in the 19th c., the betrayals of its leaders, or the demands of minorities within Hungary's shifting borders, Sisa's book filled a need for a popularly aimed, solid work--belying its coffee-table size and rather rough-hewn cut-and-paste (pre-word processing) layout. Best read a few chapters at a time, the old-fashioned way: in a comfy armchair, propped open on your lap.

Stephen's Sisa's book is a very illuminating and thought-provoking one on Hungarian history and culture. In my opinion, it provides a very accessible book for those who wish to gain some insight into Hungarian history and culture. It sheds light on many little-known facts in Hungarian history. A good example is the chapter on Miklos Wesselenyi. A virtual unknown outside of Hungary, but by all accounts, a revered and well-loved nobleman in the Hungarian consciousness. My sole regret is that the book is very Hungarian-centered - some chapters tend to paint Hungary's neighbours in a singularly unfavourable light. (Ex. chapters describing Hungary's geopolitical situation, and the alleged extreme bias towards Hungary displayed after WWI). While it is no doubt true that Hungary's neighbours and the victors of WWI were not angels or the epitome of virtue and fairness, it is in my mind foolish to think that the Hungarians are implicitly one step above everyone else as alluded to in the book.

However, this is a minor complaint, and Sisa can be forgiven for getting a little carried away by the spirit of the book. Who wouldn't?

Nevertheless, I still highly recommend this work, and be prepared for a fairly enjoyable and enthralling read on Hungarian history!

I had the opportunity to read the book's third edition, appeared in 1995, comparing it with its original edition and found it considerably improved. Besides giving very good data about the facts of Hungary's history, it is also spiced with chapters from famous historical novels, which gives an additional insight to some important historical moments (I liked specially "The pagans"). It also contains an ample panorama of Hungarian culture, an explanation of the origin of Hungarian language and a description of Hungarian music, literature and art. A very recommendable book for all persons, who wish to receive an insight to Hungary's history, past and present. After five years, a new edition, with updates of the latest events, like the 1100 years of the establishment of Hungarians in the Carpathian basin and the Millenium year of St. Stephen's crowning, would be welcome.

The story of the invasion is laid out beautifully before the reader as seen through the eyes of those who were there. The accounts are quite vivid and give the reader a succinct discription of D-Day.

Men rose up and took charge while others shirked their duties. Young boys barely men, lost their lives and friends witnessed comrades being blown to bits before their very eyes. Yet, the will of the men was to persevere, and on they came.

The accounts take us back to that fatefull time and allows the reader to see into the horrors of war. The only addition, if any to this work, would be stories of those from the Axis side of the battle; along with a few smatterings of what took place in the lives of these men after 6 June 1944.

A enjoyable book to read that flows quite nicely. Highly recommended!

"Voices of D-Day" is the powerful testimony of some 150 different participents of the Normandy invasion. This book is a thouroughly facinating read, and the relaxed manner in which these stories are told, makes the D-Day experience come to life. However, Drez does not go far enough. Although he starts off by giving accounts of how and why soldiers joined up to fight, he does not follow up by revealing how their post D-Day experiences fared. There are a handful of old pictures of some of the soldiers discussed but there are no new photos. There is no mention of how these guys got home, what they did after the war, and where they are now. There are even a few pictures of soldiers who are not at all mentioned. Drez includes one personal account of a French girl who came out on to the beach to help with the wounded. He mentions at the end of her segment that she ended up marrying an English soldier, but he neglects to explain how they kept in touch during the war, when they got married, or where and how they lived. It is (I assume) quite unusual for two people to met, and eventually marry, right in the middle of history's largest invasion. What a story! Yet Drez doesn't tell you the whole story; no details. He doesn't even include a picture of the couple. This book is an excellent companion as a follow up to the movie "Saving Private Ryan", but it does not go beyond that point. I would like to know more about the lives of the men who fought and died for freedom and democracy. Voices of D-Day does not give you more; it only gives you the basics.

This is not a book that details planning, strategy or tactics. Instead, this is a series of interviews collected in connection with a decade-long project by personnel of the Eisenhower Center of the University of New Orleans. In addition to selecting and editing, Ronald Drez actually collected many of these interviews himself. The result is a skillfully pieced together vision of D-Day utilizing the authentic voices of the men who were there, who witnessed first hand the carnage and success of the largest amphibious invasion in history. These are the words of men who lived through the night jumps, the hellish push from the sea to the coast, the inch-by-inch clawing up the sand flats and cliffs of the Overlord beaches to hookup with the airborne troops already inland. The voices are French, German, British, Canadian and American. From 1st Sergeant Len Lomell on Pointe du Hoc with the 2nd Rangers, to Frank Simeone of C co. of the 116th on Omaha making his way up the Vierville draw, to my friend and neighbor, Ken Russell, of the 82nd Airborne hanging from his chute on the church at Ste. Mere Eglise before taking out a German AA truck, these are words chosen by the fighting men themselves. Contained in their words are the voices of the dead, voices felt and heard only with the heart and who perhaps speak loudest of all. And they speak to us of the price of freedom they and their comrades were willing to pay for us.

Published on the fifty-year anniversary of D-Day it is a fitting tribute to the gallant men of that generation who lived and died that day and is a fine companion piece for Ambrose's excellent "D-Day".

**Strengths: distribution maps for species in North and South America, good history of early researchers, nice cladograms, nice drawings of all species, brief descriptions of behavior and habits of ants in North and South America, fun to read. **Weaknesses: not comprehensive, keys are difficult, does not directly address Bolton's synonomy of Pogonomyrmex and Ephebomyrmex

One reviewer thought that the author did not provide reasons for disagreeing with someone else's view that the two harvester ant genera should be seen as only one genus instead of two. In reality, it is this book that provides the only analysis of the problem. It was an unfair criticism.

Dr. Taber has come up with a practical and informative narrative style that told me everything I couldn't find elsewhwere in a straight forward, convincing manner. I am persuaded that the chromosone distinction he has drawn between the Pogos and Ephobos is a conclusive evidence of different genera and a more scientific key than the often jumbled attempts to describe morphological characteristics which leave much to be desired.

I am curious who did his excellent ant drawings? If one were to focus in on the gasters depicted, and could use these reliably and with ease under a microscope, it would certainly be a lot quicker to identify specimens than looking for offset teeth, non-concentric rugae or trying to differentiate amongst verbal descriptions of epinotal armature when a single species may have more than one variety of worker in the same colony.

Mr. Taber's book is a must for any serious myrmecologist or wanna-be scientist. My own work on the diet and nutrition of horned lizards (Phrynosoma) led me to this excellent book. I would like to talk to and/or meet Dr. Taber and commend him personally for opening the door to my better understanding of Neartic harvester ants.

Buy this book. Don't even think about it. It is positively the latest thinking and best for its manageble size on the market.

R. Joseph Collet JD Horned Lizard Study Center 2330 Guardian Circle St. George, UT 84790 FAX (435) 628-4492

One of the country's leading legal philosophers collects a series of essays (most originally appearing in the New York Review of Books) which examine the ... basis for the United States Constitution, and attack the "original intent" interpretation, most famously spouted by Bork.

The book's strength is Dworkin's accessible writing style (which may stem from the popular press origins of most of these essays) and his tight analysis of several cutting edge issues--abortion, affirmative action, free speech, as well as some historically important battles--the Bork and Thomas nominations.

His bottom line is (although he does not say this explicitly) that the recent Supreme Court, abbeted by a series of Republican presidents, has begun a revolution in legal thinking which rejects the 200 year old liberal tradition of judicial interpretation, and in the process has substituted results based, conservative politics for any semblance of judicial reasoning.

The weakness of the book is that many examples and arguments are repeated between essays, covering the same ground in virtually the same words from different times.

A much easier read than "Taking Rights Seriously", although the latter clearly is a more complete exposition of Dworkin's philosophy.

For a counter argument, see any of Judge Posner's recent work, which explicitly takes on Dworkin's philosophy.

Since this book consists of occasional pieces collected under a common rubric, it's persuasive thrust will find its target in a readership that is already sympathetic to Dworkin's legal and political philosophy. The arguments are not finely made, as they are in, say, *Taking Rights Seriously*, or in *Life's Dominion*. Many of the illustrative parables he uses, he's used before. That being said, *Freedom's Law* is a good collection highlighting the contours of Dworkin's fundamental objections to legal positivism. I think it is possible to follow Dworkin's non-interpretivist method without arriving at the same(moral)conclusions. But if you aren't already familiar with Dworkin's intellectual base of operations, a better place to start would be *Taking Rights Seriously* (easy to find) or, even better, his early and very important essay, "Is Law a System of Rules?" reprinted in *The Philosophy of Law* ed. by Dworkin (harder to find). To his credit, in this latter collection, he gives ample space to views contrary to his own, such as Hart's positivism, and Finnis' moral arguments against abortion.

Ronald Dworkin is perhaps today's Bentham. His views on Constitutional Interpretation in this book are so vividly written and lucidly explained. His views on Judicial Activism equating it with natural interpretation are worth considering if not fully acceptable.