This book consits of explanations of diagrams. It is repetitive, boring and monotonous. In large part, the book focuses on the various ways that a circuit using a relay can be constructed, without ever explaining how all of this fits into the working of a computer.

For anyone who has read scientific literature, you know just how horribly unbearable the author's ego can drag out a simple fact, into a display of gravity, and his absolute confidence (unjustifiably, of course). How refreshing it is then, for someone to just be their own real self, and honestly discuss a topic starting from absolute zero, and yet so deftly.. almost imperceptibly.. guide you into the darkest depths of understanding, beyond the reach of mere scholarship, and into the esoterica of what must be a lifetime of study?? This book would be an excellent satisfaction to those with hungry minds, who do not work in the field. Alternatively, if you are new and entering, or merely a bit rusty from veering into the fringes of your true chosen field, this will 'snap' you quickly into the upper tiers of expertise amongst peers. In short, I would highly recommend this work.

This is a great book for anyone who has ever wanted to know how computers really work. The book starts from scratch and is suitable for the complete beginner and yet complex enough that even the best hardware guru would be intrigued. I'm a Computer Science Major and I wish that my upper division hardware class would use this book, its great! It's straight to the point and is very clear in its concepts. I would definitely recommend this book.

Ross's "Druids, Gods and Heroes from Celtic Mythology" was the first book about the Celts I ever got my hands on, and it is one I keep going back to -however, in continous Celtic study, it is getting less and less value. As a first book, it is great. Ross offers a simple glance at the Celtic world, along with a few of its gods, but it is very shallow. The stories, which are beautifully illustrated, are in short versions, leaving out much of the detail (which in itself slightly kills the Celtic spirit). As a prologue for continued study, it works just nicely, but I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone who's read a couple of books on Celtic mythology. As a camp-fire, story telling or general interest book, though, it is wonderful.

I loved the artwork and the stories about the celtic myths. I was a little disappointed that there was so little information about the gods like Cernunnos, Epona, and others. But the book gave a very good explanation to why and I admire Anne Ross' as an author.

It's good news to see this book back in print. Originally aimed at children, this book was written by an able, insightful archaeologist and folklorist. The content reflects the author's professional expertise, her gifts as a teacher, and the insights she has gained from living among Scottish bearers of tradition. If you are looking for a wonderful and accurate book to share with children, this beautifully illustrated volume is ideal. However, I also recommend it to those who are new to the subject because it combines tales and archaeological evidence in a delightfully informative way.

Fathers of the American Presidents by Jeff Young is unique in that it includes all the fathers of all the presidents. Inclusion of personal information about each father is interesting. Young also indicates how presidents were influenced by their fathers. The book should be included in public and school libraries so students can find out more about the presidents and their fathers.

Young seems to get at the heart of all the Presidents. An excellent reference to pick up and read chapter by chapter. Not that all the fathers are that exciting, but Young gives the reader his money's worth and then some. Quite a few surprises among the backgrounds of the highest in the land.

Luck of Troy is about the events that took place during the 10 year Trojan War in Asia Minor. It tells about the actions of the Greek Heroes such as Odysseus, Achilles, Paris, and Hector. The war began because of a beauty contest among goddesses, which led to the theft of the Queen of Sparta by a Trojan prince. There is constant violent fighting among all Greek and Trojan warriors. The book is full of action, suspense, tension and adventure. There are many characters and details, which sometimes makes it difficult to follow the sequence of events or use your imagination. Some of the words are challenging and difficult to pronounce. Reading this book is challenge for 11 and 12 years olds. If you are interested in accurate information about life during the Trojan war, this book for you. Our class read the book and some of us liked it and some of us didn't.

its a book full of fasinating stories by the best aurthor ever. i also recommend The adventures of robin hood also done by green i hope you read and enjoy this great book

Firstly, I would like to say, contrary to what is written elsewhere on this page, that this book is not meant to be read by children between the ages of 9 and 12. It is, in fact, recommended for environmental NGOs, policy makers, teachers, youth workers and community leaders who work with children.

This book was commissioned by UNICEF to further growing concerns of global importance: the environment, sustainable development and children's rights. All over the world, children are becoming enthusiastically involved in environmental issues. While the child is defined as any person under 18 years of age, the focus of this book is on childhood and early adolescence to about 14 years, rather than upon the older teenage years.

Roger Hart is convinced that all children can play a central and lasting role in sustainable development if their genuine participation is taken seriously and if communities recognize their developing competencies and unique strengths. Using detailed case studies from urban and rural, poor and middle-class communities in both the developed and developing worlds, and including photos, figures, tables and boxes, this guide introduces the organising principles, successful models, practical techniques and resources for involving children in environmental projects, with useful further reading and contact addresses.

Roger Hart is Director of the Children's Environments Research Group at the City University of New York and Editor of Children's Environments.

Reviewed by Azlan Adnan. Formerly Business Development Manager with KPMG, Azlan is currently managing partner of an education and management consulting practice based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. He holds a Master's degree in International Business and Management and may be contacted at azlan@azlan.org.

this is very helpful in dealing with the rape of a close friend. I recommend it to others in my situation.

The other side of tomorrow is a collection of short science fiction stories geared toward the reading level of young adults. Stories include the life of youths in a futuristic prison designed for youth traffic offenders who couldn't put away their racing gloves; the prison is designed to let them race until life in the fast lane takes its natural course. Among other stories is the tale of a very Orwellian society where children learn by plugging themselves into a computer. With goverment-controlled media and eyes everywhere, one youth is determined to tear down the goverment's shroud of virtue to reveal the intentions behind it...

Tales of Ancient Egypt is a wonderful collection of fables and legends from Ancient Egypt. I personally loved all of them, but for some they can be boring. Overall it was a wonderful book and is a good read especially for readers aged 10-13, but any adult would enjoy them. Roger Lancelyn Green has a wonderful foreword and his tales are organized and well told. I loved it!

The Godbeites were a group of Mormon intellectuals and businessmen who dissented from the allegedly autocratic rule of LDS President Brigham Young during the 19th century. Ron Walker, a professor of History at Brigham Young University, probably knows more about the Godbeites than anyone else alive. This book is the summation of his career-long researches into the controversy. Previous accounts have emphasized the dissenter's platform of capitalism, free speech, and separation of church and state (features which finally became part of Utah life 30 years later.) Walker stresses a lesser-known and lesser understood aspect of the Godbeites: their adventures into 19th century spiritualism. They were fond of seances and contacting the dead. In Walker's view, this made them unstable and too subject to their own subjective whims, and cut them off fron mainstream Mormonism. This book is partially sponsored by the Smith Institute of Church History at BYU which suggests they want to present a less flattering portrait of the Godbeites, as an indirect way of commenting on more recent dissenters from the church. This possible agenda, however, doesn't really detract from a fine job of history-writing.

The translation done by Lloyd C. Parks is the best, truly rendering the flavor of Stendhal's style into English. Amazon has it - just look for ISBN 0-451-51793-8. As a French major in grad school, I was studying "The Red and the Black" in one of my French Lit courses and the instructor happened to mention that a colleague in the English Dept. had done an excellent translation of it. I was curious enough to buy it and read it so I could judge for myself. I was so impressed that the very next semester I took a 19th Century Lit course taught in English by Dr. Parks. The course included Stendhal's book (nothing like picking a book apart in two languages!) - and yes, he did use his translation of the book! ;-)

Some things never change. In the world today we're used to hearing about corporate climbers who are willing to do anything to move up in the company. Sacrifice their wife or husband, time with their children, and sometimes even their soul. All in pursuit of the American Dream, a.k.a. materialistic eden. In THE RED AND THE BLACK Stendhal shows us that things weren't much different in 1830, when the book was published in France. Julien Sorel is a young man who was cursed with a scumbag, loveless father who has no interest in his family except in what they can do for him financially. After bargaining with the local mayor of his hick town, his father negotiates Julien to be the tutor of the prestigious house of Renal. One thinks of a slave auction as his father milks the mayor for all the money he can connive out of him in return for Julien's services. Of course Julien has bigger plans, after all, his idol is the great destroyer of the aristocracy, Napoleon. Julien glances over the fact that Napoleon set up his own aristocracy. Yes, Julien is a closet revolutionary who despises the very people he has to serve or suck up to. This brings up the largest idea of the book. Namely, that to get ahead in the world, you have to be a chameleon who changes shades according to what influential man or woman's favor you are trying to curry. Kissing butt is a polite way of phrasing it. While he is being bored by the Renal's children he falls into an affair with the mayor's wife. While this might have helped his career he unfortunately falls in love. He seems to start all of his plans of advancement pretty well, but in the end he always messes it up by actually having a conscience. By showing the superficialities of love, he falls in love. One of the most ironic points in the book is when he starts studying to be a priest when in actuality, he is an atheist. Even with this against him, he shows more morality and godliness than his colleagues at the seminary. Julien is feared no matter what circle he travels in, because who better to recognize his below level rebellion than the hypocrites of every level of society. This is ultimately the horrible conflict of Julien. At what point will he be unable to retain his identity? At what point does acting like a sellout make you a sellout even in your own heart? This book is divine. I am shocked that only 4 reviews have been written about it. It is hard to know what to make of it because it is so futuristic, looking more towards the 20th century than the 19th. There is none of the crippling sentimentalism of Dickens or Eliot here. He is more comparable to Thackeray or Balzac. This is a powerful book with flashes of erotic power which I am surprised made it through the censors of his time. It looks more towards Camus but Stendhal is ten times the artist. I highly recommend reading this and will soon move on to THE CHARTERHOUSE OF PARMA. Almost forgot, Catherine Slater does a great job translating this work from French to English.

This is one of the finest novels of the 19C. It chronicles the relentless rise - and inevitable, brutal fall - of a talented and highly ambitious young man during the French restoration. You witness Julian, from his abusive childhood at a sawmill, as he gains the position of a tutor with the local gentry on the strength of his having memorised the entire Vulgate Bible, into the highest ranks of the aristocracy. All around him, there are characters in equal parts fascinating and pathetic, perhaps more interesting than he and yet eventually his victims.

The protagonist Julian is at times cold, calculating, shrewd, a fool, and very sad, desperately in need of love. But he is always realistic psychologically and cunning, if lucky and then very unlucky. Julian bursts all of the limits imposed on him and in the process indicts the society from which he sprung and gained. This is utterly spellbinding fiction, into which you can go as deeply as you wish, from simple emotional reactions and an exploration of a rigid society, to structuralist symbolism if that is your bag. I started reading this in a bout of insomnia and continued, rivetted and repelled, through the entire night.

Highest recommendation.