This guide provides excellent pre-retirement planning suggestions. Has traps, obstacles and helpers outlined for quick review and advice. Has a number of "tools" in the form of worksheets to assist in planning for both before and after retirement events. Presents a number of post-retirement ideas with several suggestions of how to manage and/or increase your income in retirement. Authors are somewhat short on information for the mid 50's retiree concerning how to access 401k and IRA funds without penalty between 55 and 59 1/2. No info on what forms are needed and where they are available, or what needs to be filed and where. Has one slight reference in the appendix on how to accomplish withdrawals without penalty. Having read a number of retirement planning books available on the bookshelf, I found this volume excels in providing useful information not found in similar guide books.

Although this book deals with many aspects of retirement and retirement planning, what distinguishes it from the dozens of similar books I have read is a truly outstanding calculator for determining how much money will be available then and how much needs to be saved or invested to eliminate any shortfall. It includes pensions, social security, and savings and investments. It factors in life expectancy, income sources that will automatically increase with inflation and those that won't, savings and investment growth rates, withdrawl rates that must increase with inflation(which--unbelievably--some calculators don't consider). It allows for early retirement (that is, it doesn't factor in social security until it's available). Similarly, it allows for staggered commencement of retirement income sources (for example, a pension that starts at age 65 while you may start social security at age 62). I've not found another calculator that does ALL of these things! I couldn't recommend it more highly.

This guide really lays out, step by step, how to think and act to plan your retirement. I found this a surprisingly quick read, comprehensive, easy to understand and specific -- from spending, lifestyle, insurance, investing issues. The book makes a great gift for friends or parents because too many of us are not paying attention to the easy "Action Items" that each chapter ends with. Highly recommended!

This is an interesting introducing to basic properties on polymers. Specialy chapter five, wich talks about mechanical properties. I would recommend this book as a guide text for an introductory course to polymers, specily on mechanical properties. The mathematical treatment is just enough, without unnecesary ecuations but clear and simple.

An excellent and a must read for anyone with an interest in polymeric materials. It easily is the best introductory book on the subject and I'd recommend it to all students - believe it - i've been taught by the authors! I only wish they'd also write on more specialized topics in Polymer Science.

This is a lovely introductory text for polymer science, hitting on all the major concepts of characterization, structure, mechanical properties, and synthesis. Topics are covered very concisely, but with sufficient detail to be useful in several different graduate level courses on polymers. Great background for understanding Flory-Huggins theory, chain dimensions. And an excellent price as well! Just my opinions as a grad student in some polymers courses...

This is a wonderful collection of literature of all kinds. If you're worried about having complete coverage of all aspects of literature in an introductory way, this book is for you.

Assistance on how to write about literature is a great plus. Explication of poetry, essays on prose, and many other kinds of writing is discussed. Examples of writing are also given.

The one complaint that I have is in how the much of the literature is accompanied with perhaps too many notes for the reader. It by no means filters out one's ability to interpret the literature on their own, but sometimes the editor should let the reader think on his/her own!

On the whole, definitely a good book.

This book has a companion video series called Literary Visions. That series alsoo includes a study guide. I would highly recommend it.

This is not a review. I am searching for a teacher's manual for this book. Is there one?

Robert E. Lee has been a hero of mine since I was a small boy. With Confederate ancestors on both sides of my family, my father made sure that respect for Lee's character was instilled in my impressionable mind when I was just a lad. Growing up and playing on my father's ancestral home and land that was the site of an engagement between Federal and Confederate troops, love and respect for the gallantry of Lee came natural for me.

I began collecting quotes and anecdotes from the life of Lee many years ago and started dreaming about a book in 1999. This book is the result of that dream. The book is specifically directed to "young gentlemen," or those who aspire to be, but I believe the book can be enjoyed by everyone. It is full of some of the better quotes culled from reliabile biographies and Lee's personal letters. Some were Lee's "personal maxims" that were found after his death in a worn military satchel by CSA chaplian, William Jones. The book also contains some little known anecdotes from the life of Lee that illustrate his sterling Christian character and humility. Many that have reviewed the book have been complimentary:

"The Maxims of Robert E. Lee for Young Gentlemen is inspiring and full of anecdotes and quotes, some long forgotten, that will guide men of all ages towards the lost art of being a 'gentleman.' " ~ Joe Farah, Editor in Chief and CEO of WorldNetDaily.com.

"I can think of no better guide for young men embarking on the adventure of life than the maxims of Robert E. Lee." ~ From the Foreword by Harry W. Crocker, III, author of Lee on Leadership and Executive Editor at Regnery Publishing.

"The example of Robert E. Lee illustrates in stark colors what it means to be a man - a model essential for all of us who are products of this distinctly unmanly age. Rick Williams has placed us all in his debt with this wonderful anthology of Lee's wisdom and grace. Must reading for all fathers and sons." ~ Pastor J. Steven Wilkins, author of Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee.

"This riveting collection of Lee's own stirring words and personal thoughts give amplified insight into the life of a rare and much-needed role model. Imagine for a moment the impact just one hundred young men could have on our land should they develop Lee's passion for personal purity and selfless pursuit of Christian honor. My prayer is that many will read these words not as antiquated or romantic philosophy, but rather as a challenge to humbly follow - and then boldly lead." ~ James McDonald, Publisher, Homeschooling Today® Magazine

Samuel Johnson once quipped, "Any man honored by both his enemies and his compatriots is a man worthy of our closet attentions-for in him you may be sure to find authenticity. After all, authenticity is the rarest of all human traits." Of all the men who fought during the un-Civil War Between the States only R.E. Lee stands out as universally praised by both sides.

The English historian Paul Johnson had this to say about Lee: "General Lee has accomplished in both life and death what few, indeed, hardly any have ever accomplished in all of the annals of history: ubiquitous respect, renown, and acclaim."

In this concise and handy little book of Maxims, Richard Williams Jr. has provided us a window into the man who accomplished ubiquitous respect, renown, and acclaim. In a generation dearth of real heroes it is vital that we put before our children men of valor, duty, and courage. One need look no further than to the example of Robert Edward Lee to see these principles brilliantly exemplified. This is a book that can be read in one sitting, but you will not want to read it just once. If you are like myself you will use this book over and over again. My copy is already marked up and the pages ruffled from where I keep drinking from the wonderful wisdom of the man.

It's my hope that with the publication of books like this one, we may yet again see a generation of leaders who embody the principles of Robert E. Lee.

In an era where the primary role models for our children are self-absorbed entertainers, out of control professional athletes, and corrupt politicians, where does one turn to find credible examples of how to live one's life that you can point to when counciling your children? Granted, there are some fine modern role models, but they aren't usually being highlighted in the news, or being profiled on TV. However, Richard Williams, Jr. has provided us a handy book that gives us a glimpse at a role model that is timeless.

Whether one believes Robert E. Lee fought on the right side of the War Between the States or not, his life is a great example of self-sacrifice, devotion to duty and always acting in a manner so as to do the right and honorable thing. Not by today's modern selfish, materialistic standards, but by standards that were the foundation of all that is good about Western Civilization.

This book contains a treasure trove of maxims by Lee that he used to guide his own life and to influence the lives of his children as well as those who served under him in the military and were under his care while they attended Washington College (later Washington and Lee University). It is not a cumbersom tomb, but a simple, straight forward book that is broken down into sections that lend itself to being a quick reference book as well as a wonderful insight into a man whose life is truly an example to all.

If more people followed R.E. Lee's maxims, this would definitely be a better world. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to buy a special graduation gift for that special person graduating from high school or college. This is something that will last a lifetime.

Well, I can honestly say that I haven't enjoyed this book much. After all, who would want to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, drive 1/2 an hour to school, just to make it to an Honors Chemisty class using this book? But overall, the book is pretty nice...I've gotten numerous paper cuts from the edges of the paper, and it sure does weigh a lot for its size...

Our school recently upgraded to this chemistry book for the honors level. personally, i like it a lot. all the math examples have clear instructions, and the pictures really helped. a few chapters were a bit fuzzy, but more intense topics (ie, subatomic particles & thermo) made up for any lack of information. ... . i would definitely recommend purchasing a SAT II review book, as it contains valuable information that goes along nicely with the book itself. the book covers nearly everything one would find in a college-prep chemistry course, so i would definitely recommend taking the SAT II in may.

Our school recently upgraded to this chemistry book for the honorslevel. personally, i like it a lot. all the math examples have clear instructions, and the pictures really helped. a few chapters were a bit fuzzy, but more intense topics (ie, subatomic particles & thermo) made up for any lack of information. i would definitely recommend purchasing a SAT II review book, as it contains valuable information that goes along nicely with the book itself. the book covers nearly everything one would find in a college-prep chemistry course, so i would definitely recommend taking the SAT II in may.

Bruce Roberts may be the best lighthouse photographer working in the U.S. today. The books by him and his partner Ray Jones are really lighthouse travel guides. For each lighthouse featured, you'll get a great picture from Roberts, a little historical story from Jones and directions of how to get there. The lighthouse lover could scarcely ask for more.

This book is great if you love exploring and finding lighthouses. The authors give a nice overview and history of the lighthouse and then give detailed directions on how to find it. We just spent time finding many of the lighthouses described by the authors on the Maine coast and had a great time.

excellent review of all lighthouses in the area. photos superb. recommend it to anyone who loves lighthouses.

I bought this one for my daughter who was studying Robert Frost in first grade. The illustrations are lovely, and she treasures the book. The only disappointment was that it doesn't contain the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" (one of our favorites). From the cover picture, I'd expected it to contain that one.
Still, I'm glad I bought it for her.

I have read this book by Robert Frost end to end. When I first saw this book I had to read it. I read Robert Frost last year in school. This book can be read to any age at any time. I thik some of Robert Frosts pomes can tech kids about life. That is what I think of this Robert Frost book.

I love Robert Frost's poetry and was looking for a good way to introduce his wonderful words to young children. I have found that way through this beautiful book. I am an assistant principal and can't wait to share this book with my teachers and students. As I read this book, I felt like I was in New England during all four seasons. A must buy for poetry lovers and Robert Frost fans.

While this is far from a bad book, it does fall short of the standard Robert Arthur established in the first four books of this series. The story line was rather loosely put together and failed to merge the two sub-plots to my satisfaction. Honestly, even though I am quite open-minded about the paranormal and such matters, a story centered around "gnomes" begins life with some disadvantages. Be that as it may, it may well be that young readers would be attracted most by the things my adult mind shied away from--after all, what kid doesn't like to read about gnomes? As for the "vanishing treasure" at the heart of this mystery, the means by which it was stolen seemed a little far-fetched to me. As for the investigation, the boys sort of stumble through it. While I guess it is important to show Jupiter Jones as human after all, I frankly don't like seeing the youthful genius miscalculate and overlook clues. Jupe's a little slow in this book, but he fortunately does make up for his mistakes in the end. Finally, while the boys do figure a lot of things out (eventually), the sad fact is that luck, even more so than in the previous books, basically saves them from disaster. Success often depends on luck as well as skill, but the boys just seemed a little too lucky this time.

All in all, it is certainly an enjoyable story. If you've never read a Three Investigators book, I wouldn't start with this one, but I would certainly give it a place on my bookshelf and make a point of reading it after gaining a satisfactory introduction to the young sleuths elsewhere. I personally am reading all of these great books from my childhood in order of publication.

Think the Hardy Boys are too old-fashioned? Had enough of Scooby Doo and "those meddling kids?" Here comes a great alternative. I admit much preferring the Three Investigators to the Hardy Boys, et. al., when I was a kid, and with good reason. Unlike the fairly old-fashioned Hardys, the Three Investigators books always had a contemporary feel. It's three appealing heroes, Jupiter Jones, Pete Crenshaw, and Bob Andrews, unlike the too-perfect-too-be-real Hardys, were everyday, ordinary kids, much like those you knew. And, as befitted Hitchcock and his literary right arm, so to speak, Robert Arthur, there were twists and turns and "hare's breadth 'scapes" aplenty, more than enough to keep your interest.

And what great news to see that "Mystery of the Vanishing Treasure" and the other early Arthur volumes are back with us again. This book was probably the best of the eight that Robert Arthur wrote, and an excellent introduction to the series, for this is a book where all the elements I spoke of earlier come into play. Robert Arthur, incidentally, was the editor of the earlier, and better, Hitchcock anthologies, and contributed several excellent stories to them, as well (Don't read his "Death is a Dream" late at night!). But the Three Investigators were his greatest legacy. As a librarian, I recommend them to my patrons all the time. None of the later authors of the books really got the formula right. Robert Arthur did, and we "Three Investigators" fans, young and old, are grateful.

I think I may have already listed other Three Investigator books as my all-time favorites, but how could any list be complete without the inclusion of The Mystery of the Vanishing Treasure?! This book has got it all! And just when you think that brainy Jupiter Jones has figured out the mystery... Robert Arthur keeps you guessing to the very last chapter! A definite must-read for any fan of the Three Investigators, and an easy and thrilling read for any child who is reluctant to pick up a book with summer just around the corner. Looking to keep your kids occupied this summer? BUY THIS BOOK! (And all of the other re-issued Robert Arthur titles!)

All in all, this book turned out to be okay. I couldn't really give it a much bigger rating than that because the topic was pretty boring to say the least. The only reason the book was good was because the author has talent and can make boring things seem at least interesting. I usually go for the more spectacular topics, but if you're looking for a relaxing read that doesn't make you think, try this.

This is a fun book, a realistic rather than romanticized story about the trials of growing up and working with horses. A good read for older horse-lovers.

i lovad this book it was very emotianal and exiting. i escpecially liked the horse in this book.

This book does exactly what it promises by providing a biography of O'Brien's life and a review of her career to date. For any fan of M.B., this is an enjoyable read. What is especially interesting is that this is not a lurid tale of a former child star descending into an ever darkening pit of pain and confusion. It is the story of a survivor who might have transitioned into adult superstardom had it not been for the ever changing tastes of the viewing public and the disintegration of the studio system. I was glad to see that someone cared enough to present an honest and fair picture of Margaret's career and life while a good number of her co-stars were alive and able to be interviewed.

This book has everything about the wonderful little actress, Margaret O'Brien. Not only does it have a biographical section, but details every film she every made with a complete listing of cast, crew, synopis, a behind the scenes look at the making of the film and comments from costars and O'Brien herself. The author has put a lot of research into this book and it deserves to be read.

Neatly organized book on the greatest of all child stars. Includes complete listing of all television appearances - she did a ton of them!! MOB comments on all her film rolls which is fasinating. Also some very rare photos from MOB'S private collection. Author is close friend of MOB which adds authenticity to this book