Okay, folks, like a lot of books from the eighties eras written about michael, basically they're the same thing. the authors seem to copy each other. so basically this book is like Mark Bego's books about Michael. The cover is of Michael in the Beat It Jacket. with like blue lights gleaming all on the cover.

This is the fourth book on pressure points written by George Dillman and Chris Thomas. The text has been written specifically with the younger martial artist in mind, and the authors make good use of photographs showing instruction with children.

The use of "pressure points" in martial arts refers to strikes to small points along the body which are used in acupuncture. As such, this book includes a very brief introduction to Asian internal medical theory (i.e., why stiking acupoints can be so effective), to help the reader understand the point terms and concepts, and makes references to Mr. Dillman and Thomas' earlier works.

Unfortunatly, the authors have chosen to only cover 17 of the 350+ classical pressure points (ten on the inner and outer arms, five on the lower torso and two on the legs). Regarding the selected points (L-5, L-6, L-8, H-6, EX M-UE-28, LI-7, LI-10, TW-11, TW-12, SI-7, CV-3, CV-4, CV-5, CV-6, SP-10, SP-11 and SP-12), the authors provide excellent anatomical diagrams, but provide limited descriptive text on where those referenced points are located and their martial function / application. In fact, the "how they work" paragraphs are so simplified, each of the discriptive texts numbers 14 words or less. While I can appreciate the fact that the authors are writing this text with a beginning martial arts student in mind, I think they simplified the text too much. A few areas do footnote Mr. Dillman and Thomas' earlier works, and suggest the readers learn more about the points once they become more advanced. But the existing text is so limited in the extent of its explanation, I am not convinced this is the best manner in which to write an introductory primer on a subject rooted in Chinese Dim Mak theory.

In addition to the few pressure points covered, the authors give a brief historical overview of the development of karate, and provide application overviews on the basic building blocks of a martial arts curriculum: stances, punches, blocks, kicks and kata. The final chapters include some training and drill advice.

Marvel really seems to be scraping bottom by reissuing this already--although the Perez art is nice, the multipart story with Warbird doesn't make a whole lot of sense, and the Squadron Supreme story seems to have been written in 1975.

This book is not wholly an Avengers title. In actuality, it is the story of a Kree invasion crossing over into Captain America, Iron Man, and Quicksilver, as well as into the Avengers. As a result, the storyline is a bit confusing, and the writers try to put too much action into each chapter. As is the case with most crossovers, the storyline becomes jumbled and the original intent seems lost in the mix. The secondary story is the story is Warbird's alcoholism and how it affects the team. The resolution is to dump her off of the team rather than to offer help, which seem unsatisfactory. Perez art in the Avengers chapter is nice, as usual. We also get a Squadron Supreme story tacked on the end which is not really related to the main story at all. All in all, this book seems hastily thrown together to cash in on the current Avengers' popularity. However, haste makes waste.

George Otto Simms didn't delve very deeply into the facts and fancies of Brendan's voyage in this book. The book is targeted towards "both child and adult," but Simms must think his adult readers to be fairly superficial in their curiosity about the Irish saint and seaman. He sticks to the legend, relating brief anecdotes about the monsters, friendly whales, condemned souls and other creatures and places of interest without ever looking very hard at the reality beneath the myth.

Brendan the Navigator may whet the appetite of a child to learn more about this amazing historical figure, but it certainly won't do much for anyone with even a passing knowledge of the history or legends about the man.

This seemingly innocuous book still graces the shelves of my church library, much to my dismay. I picked it up when I was 11 and found it fundamentally biased. Ostensibly addressed to both women and men, it placed the responsibility of a sexually pure life entirely on the shoulders of women, using incentives such as keeping her reputation sound and not losing her boyfriend because he might think she's a slut if they sleep together. He also encourages men to go as far as they want with a woman, promoting it as a way to find out how easy she really is. In the last sections of the book he even admits his bias, doesn't even try to hide or excuse it. I would never give this book to one of my children. It's an amazing example of everything that's wrong with gender conceptions in America today.