Windows Vista(TM) Resource Kit

Windows Vista(TM) Resource Kit
Average customer rating:

For experienced Users

Pretty solid content with an odd flow

VISTA Resource Kit - Book

Great for Enterprise implementations, not for home or enthusiasts

Dig in

Windows Vista(TM) Resource Kit
Mitch Tulloch , Tony Northrup , Jerry Honeycutt , Ed Wilson , Ralph Ramos , and The Windows Vista Team
Manufacturer: Microsoft Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Windows - General | Operating Systems | Microsoft | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0735622833

Book Description

Get the definitive reference for deploying, configuring, andsupporting Microsoft- Windows Vista(tm)--with expert insights fromMicrosoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and the Windows Vista Team.This official Microsoft RESOURCE KIT provides more than 1,500 pages ofin-depth technical guidance on automating deployment; implementing securityenhancements; administering group policy, files and folders, and programs;and troubleshooting for Windows Vista. In addition, you get detailedinformation on Microsoft Internet Explorer- 7, Microsoft Windows-Firewall, and Windows Defender. You also get more than 150 timesavingscripts to help automate administrative tasks, additional job aids, and aneBook of the entire RESOURCE KIT on CD.

Customer Reviews:

For experienced Users.......2007-08-23

Perfect reference manual for the experienced IT person. As always, Microsoft has kept up the quality of their Resource Kits.

Beginners, or light users, this book is not for you. It is not a learning tool, rather it is a wonderful, complete, reference guide.

Pretty solid content with an odd flow.......2007-06-27

The Vista RK is full of good information that can be difficult to find in other places. However, it being a MS book, some of the content comes directly from MS whitepapers. The deployment content seems very disorganized although most of the needed content is included in one section or another. Still a very useful resource for anyone supporting Vista.

VISTA Resource Kit - Book.......2007-06-13

One of the first good, early reference manuals for Windows VISTA which I purchased in May, 2007. There will be better ones, perhaps, after more of the problems in VISTA become known. As of now, this is the best book out there.

Great for Enterprise implementations, not for home or enthusiasts.......2007-05-29

The Vista Resource Kit is a decent resource for Enterprise Class customers. Unfortunately, past product resource kits did not focus entirely upon the enterprise distribution functionality, and could be used to benefit the management of stand-alone systems.

Much of this edition requires the use of Ultimate, Business, or Enterprise editions of Vista. Implementation focuses upon group policy management in lieu of more detail access to registry settings, as was done in prior resource kits.

It is still a valuable tool, but if you are an individual user looking for detail insight of the funtionality and control of the Vista operating system, you will need to look for another book.

Dig in.......2007-05-25

Vista Resource Kit isn't exactly the kind of book you sit down and read cover to cover. There are better books for that purpose. What this book is good for - and I'll risk saying exceptional for - is digging in to exactly how things wrok. Great resource for research!

An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't

Average customer rating:

Some People Have No Sense Of Humor
Nothing quite as frustrating as an extended intellectual misfire
THIS BOOK DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL ! !
Disappointed
a great book

An Incomplete Education: 3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't
Judy Jones , and William Wilson
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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An Underground Education : The Unauthorized and Outrageous Supplement to Everything You Thought You Knew About Art, Sex, Business, Crime, Science, Medicine, and Other Fields of Human
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1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Everything You Pretend to Know And Are Afraid Someone Will Ask
The Intellectual Devotional: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Roam Confidently with the Cultured Class

ASIN: 0345468902
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

You'll find everything you forgot from school--as well as plenty you never even learned--in this all-purpose reference book, an instant classic when it first appeared in 1987. The updated version takes a whirlwind tour through 12 different disciplines, from American studies to philosophy to world history. Along the way, Judy Jones and William Wilson provide a plethora of useful information, from the plot of Othello to the difference between fission and fusion. It's not a shortcut to cultural literacy, the authors write in their introduction, but it's an excellent "way in" to the building blocks of Western civilization: the "books, music, art, philosophy, and discoveries that have, for one reason or another, managed to endure." Think of it as finishing school for your brain; study up and you'll gain a lifetime's worth of cocktail conversation--as well as a new list of books you simply must read.

Book Description

When it was originally published in 1987, An Incomplete Education became a surprise bestseller. Now this instant classic has been completely updated, outfitted with a whole new arsenal of indispensable knowledge on global affairs, popular culture, economic trends, scientific principles, and modern arts. Here’s your chance to brush up on all those subjects you slept through in school, reacquaint yourself with all the facts you once knew (then promptly forgot), catch up on major developments in the world today, and become the Renaissance man or woman you always knew you could be!

How do you tell the Balkans from the Caucasus? What’s the difference between fission and fusion? Whigs and Tories? Shiites and Sunnis? Deduction and induction? Why aren’t all Shakespearean comedies necessarily thigh-slappers? What are transcendental numbers and what are they good for? What really happened in Plato’s cave? Is postmodernism dead or just having a bad hair day? And for extra credit, when should you use the adjective continual and when should you use continuous?

An Incomplete Education answers these and thousands of other questions with incomparable wit, style, and clarity. American Studies, Art History, Economics, Film, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Science, and World History: Here’s the bottom line on each of these major disciplines, distilled to its essence and served up with consummate flair.

In this revised edition you’ll find a vitally expanded treatment of international issues, reflecting the seismic geopolitical upheavals of the past decade, from economic free-fall in South America to Central Africa’s world war, and from violent radicalization in the Muslim world to the crucial trade agreements that are defining globalization for the twenty-first century. And don’t forget to read the section A Nervous American’s Guide to Living and Loving on Five Continents before you answer a personal ad in the International Herald Tribune.

As delightful as it is illuminating, An Incomplete Education packs ten thousand years of culture into a single superbly readable volume. This is a book to celebrate, to share, to give and receive, to pore over and browse through, and to return to again and again.

Customer Reviews:

Some People Have No Sense Of Humor.......2007-09-14

People who pan this book can't seem to grasp the fact that a reference book doesn't have to be dry and boring to be informative. Not only does this book provide a wealth of information about everything from chemistry to classical music, it is also laugh-out-loud funny!

I bought the first edition of this book years ago, and I still refer back to it often for the simple joy of reading it. I learn something new every time I pick it up.

Highly recommended!

Nothing quite as frustrating as an extended intellectual misfire.......2007-08-12

I appreciate brevity. Seems to me most commentary and analysis goes on too long. That was my attraction to this title, but that's not the problem here. Every topic is handled concisely though often not very effectively. The problem here is a twisted central view that produces sheer nuttiness like this books anachronistic take on Freud. I wish I had more time to elaborate, but, suffice it to say, you WILL be disappointed. This book is about a dozen re-writes from something worthwhile, and I wish I'd looked the reference section over a little more rigorously before wasting my money on this tome.

THIS BOOK DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL ! !.......2007-08-03

I had given this book 4 stars in an earlier review, but AFTER READING OTHER REVIEWER'S COMMENTS (below) I am upgrading my rating to 5 STARS !!

I think that people need to read the book's introduction to see what the book is SUPPOSED to do before they slam it.

No, the book isn't going to be exhaustive or complete. How can it be? It's only one book and it's not even that thick!

The idea is just to learn enough of someone else's subject so you can navigate and know what they are talking about. You will need to read about it in more detail elsewhere, but at least this book will help you get started.

I did not find any SIGNIFICANT factual errors in the book. Perhaps in a book that attempts to cover all knowledge of the known (and unknown) world there might be an itty bitty error here or there, but I did not notice any. One assumes the authors used appropriate consultants for certain subjects. In the subjects that I am trained in, there were no errors.

Also, I did not find the authors to be condescending, nor did the humor interfere with my learning. In fact, my enjoyment and learning were increased.

That said, I would have to agree that completely serious, humorless people will not be happy with this book.

Disappointed.......2007-07-29

"Should have learned" is the key phrase in my review. Should have learned according to whose opinion is the question? This authors, apparently in order to sell books. I ordered this book, reviewed it and then returned it. It is packed with factual information, but 90% of it is irrelevant and you will never have the use for it. I am an elementary school teacher and I bought this to use as a reference for tid bits of information here and there to engage my students. There is nothing engaging about this book.

a great book.......2007-07-26

It doesn't fill in every gap, but it offers a chance to get some learnin' from two interesting, opinionated intellectuals.

Average customer rating:

Great service!
Great textbook and a useful reference.
social psychology
Eh, for Social Psych, I guess it is good
Good read

Social Psychology
Elliot Aronson , Timothy D. Wilson , and Robin M. Akert
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0131786865

Book Description

Updated with the latest research findings and revised chapter-opening vignettes, this renowned book maintains its infamous story-telling approach to convey the science of social psychology in a fascinating, memorable, and entertaining manner. Complete with a video CD-ROM, the authors bring the material life through real-world examples that capture readers' attention and motivate further exploration. New research findings, integrated coverage of culture and gender, and a chapter on methodology are included. For professionals with a career or interest in social psychology and/or social work.

Customer Reviews:

Great service!.......2007-09-02

My book came in great condition and there were no hassles or complications. It was my first time ordering through amazon and I found the website easy to navigate and understand.

Great textbook and a useful reference........2007-05-14

I needed this book for a class and I usually trade them in or sell them at the end of the semester. I'm going to keep this one and add it to my personal library.

The chapters can be long, but they are all filled with good information and very useful examples. Most of my Professor's lectures were taken directly from the contents of this book. The book also references well and lesser known Psychology work to bring you important information from the field.

I probably could have gotten a good grade without going to class every week and just studying this book. As it is, I'm sure I owe a lot to the A I got in Social Psychology to this book.

social psychology.......2007-01-18

I needed this book for school, it was priced way below the cost the schools were asking for. The book arrived prior to the date indicated, which was great. I had the book a week prior to my class starting. I love this site for school books.

Eh, for Social Psych, I guess it is good.......2006-12-13

This book is way too long for the info it teaches. I took social psych as an elective so that I could have it on my transcript for grad school as suggested by my advisor. However, this book could have been about half as long and gotten the point across. It exhausts every single topic to the max and is basically a waste of time to read the entire thing.
I am a textbook reader for my classes. But, I found myself just reading the terminology and skimming quickly through the rest of this book. I think the authors would do themselves justice to accept that introductory social psychology does not need this much explaining.
I guess I would recommend this book to people who are unfamiliar with introductory psych. But, if you are familiar with psych, get ready for a luke warm ride.

Good read.......2006-05-02

This is one of the better textbooks that I have been assigned to read. Throughout my introductory 101 Social Psychology class I've read pretty much the whole book. The examples were interesting, and I enjoyed how many of the concepts introduced at the beginning of each chapter correlated with something that had happened not too long ago in the real world. The illustrations facilate a better understanding of the theory or subject matter. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to gain a better understanding of social psychology.

Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives

Average customer rating:

The Evolution of Everything
wow
Gee Whiz Science
Incredibly stimulating
Evolution as religion

Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives
David Sloan Wilson
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0385340214
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

What is the biological reason for gossip?
For laughter? For the creation of art?
Why do dogs have curly tails?
What can microbes tell us about morality?

These and many other questions are tackled by renowned evolutionist David Sloan Wilson in this witty and groundbreaking new book. With stories that entertain as much as they inform, Wilson outlines the basic principles of evolution and shows how, properly understood, they can illuminate the length and breadth of creation, from the origin of life to the nature of religion. Now everyone can move beyond the sterile debates about creationism and intelligent design to share Darwin’s panoramic view of animal and human life, seamlessly connected to each other.

Evolution, as Wilson explains, is not just about dinosaurs and human origins, but about why all species behave as they do—from beetles that devour their own young, to bees that function as a collective brain, to dogs that are smarter in some respects than our closest ape relatives. And basic evolutionary principles are also the foundation for humanity’s capacity for symbolic thought, culture, and morality.

In example after example, Wilson sheds new light on Darwin’s grand theory and how it can be applied to daily life. By turns thoughtful, provocative, and daringly funny, Evolution for Everyone addresses some of the deepest philosophical and social issues of this or any age. In helping us come to a deeper understanding of human beings and our place in the world, it might also help us to improve that world.

Customer Reviews:

The Evolution of Everything.......2007-10-18

It is distressing to see yet more unnecessary arguments revolving around evolution: misunderstandings on the one hand and dogmatic insistence on the other. And it may surprise you to discover where we find the scientists and the people of religious faith.

A key point, and one that it developed exceptionally well in this terrific book, is that evolution is not just about human origins, dinosaurs and fossils. The model can be usefully applied to almost every facet of existence. Living systems have a natural tendency to evolve toward ever-greater order and complexity, while "inorganic" matter tends toward increasing entropy.

David Sloan Wilson has written some excellent scholarly works on evolution and this is his first book for a general audience. He is a man on a mission. Five years ago he attracted considerable praise, but also some controversy for his book Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society in which he attempted to bridge the gap between evolutionary theory and religion.

Wilson is distinguished professor of biological sciences with a joint appointment in anthropology at Binghamton University. He has become convinced that evolution can be more widely accepted once people understand its consequences for human welfare and he now directs a campus-wide evolutionary studies program called EvoS that is being adopted by other universities.

He is on record as saying that, "When evolution is presented as unthreatening, explanatory, and useful, it can be easily grasped and appreciated by most people, regardless of their religious or political beliefs."

Wilson must be a natural teacher: his language is straightforward and evocative and he knows when and how to insert the compelling anecdotes. He outlines the basic principles of evolution in a way that should be easily accessible for non-experts. He then uses these evolutionary principles to explain a range of phenomena: Why do wild dogs have curly tails? Why do some beetles commit infanticide? Why do people engage in behaviors that do not seem to be adaptive, like laughing and creating art?

He uses published research to try and answer many other questions. For example, is there a biological advantage to being a highly sensitive person? One answer is that under very stressful conditions, they are able to find meaning where other cannot. This brings to mind the work of Viktor Frankl who found that people who could find meaning in the face of terrible adversity were more likely to survive the concentration camps of the Holocaust.

Wilson also believes that religion is a social glue that enables groups of people to interact, function and survive as coherent units.

Nobody will agree with every one of his hypotheses, but they are fun and interesting reading, and his writing always stimulates and challenges. Even if you disagree with some of his conclusions, or feel that they undervalue human spiritual experience, they are well worth reading.

Highly recommended.

Richard G. Petty, MD, author of Healing, Meaning and Purpose: The Magical Power of the Emerging Laws of Life

wow.......2007-10-02

David Sloan Wilson is riiight. It's so simple! Oh thank you, jeez! My eyes are opened! Hey everyone, I'm an atheist! No, I totally get it now! Evolution explains everything! There is no great mystery to life, just evolution and God's a spaghetti monster! Thank you, David!

/sarcasm

Gee Whiz Science.......2007-09-06

I've never met David Sloan Wilson, but he strikes me as one of those professors we've all had at least once. You can imagine him clasping his hands together, looking straight through those large glasses and shouting with joy, "gee isn't that great!" "Evolution explains everything." Okay, maybe he didn't exactly say that, but the take home message is implied. A more accurate statement might be that most everything has been shaped by the forces of selection.

In his book, he sets out to show us that not only is biology best explained by natural selection but so is art, medicine, politics, war, economics, infanticide and religion. That's quite a tall order for one book, but in places he does uncover some nuggets, especially in group selection theory. Some of this ground has been covered before and if you can get past his gee whiz enthusiasm coupled with his goofy braggadocio, he is at times an engaging and entertaining writer.

Unfortunately, his anecdotes and case histories of art, dance and music rest on pretty shaky scientific grounds. And it is precisely this weakness that makes it hard to know who would benefit from this book. The evolutionists already know this is probably right, but the antievolutionists will be inclined to select his weakest arguments to bolster their case.

Nevertheless, I must admit that his intellectual journey provided a stimulating ride. Surely, he's no Dr. Feynman, but you come to realize that Wilson himself is the culmination of some rather curious selection forces.

Incredibly stimulating.......2007-09-03

I really appreciate this book. Well written, funny, precise, documentated and full of anecdotes. Undoubtedly a must read. I recommended it to all my friends and collegues.

Evolution as religion.......2007-08-14

I'm a broad reader and an evolutionist. I'd read a review, bought the book, read it and am truly disappointed. Wilson brags constantly about a previous book he wrote, saying he described religion in evolutionary terms. Sadly, he's doing the reverse in this book: Describing evolution as an acolyte rather than a scientist.

He spends too much time making a claim, waving a wand, and claiming he's proven something. His chapter on laughter is a good example: Lots of muttering, no scientific linkage and then a claim it must be evolutionary. He writes well so even that might have been passable and he does have occasional real examples that are worth reading (keeping this review from being a 1).

What's bad are the sections that completely lack logic, such as on page 184, where he's claiming the importance of dance in evolution. Not only does he show no evidence, he makes a false logical claim while talking about the military. As he writes: "The visceral power of dance made it possible for armies to be formed out ot people who had no objective reason for fighting. Merely by marching in time and other intense communal activities, they become emotionally bonded to each other. ... J. Glenn Gray puts it this way in 'The Warriors: Reflections on Men in Battle': 'Many veterans who are honest with themselves will admit, I believe, that the experience of communal effort in battle ... has been the high point of their lives...."

Notice, first, that he's quoting one man's opinion ("I believe") as factual support. More importantly, notice how Gray is specifically describing the effects of shared combat. Not dancing. Not marching. Not "other intense communal activities." Combat.

I hate it when people on my side are just as ignorant and pompous as the people I oppose. I'm afraid that people will not learn about evolution from this book, only that some evolutionists believe in it as strongly as others believe in the false science of ID. This book damages our cause, and I suggest people avoid it.

Maternal Child Nursing Care (Wong, Maternal Child Nursing Care)

Average customer rating:

Too much
Good but too much

Maternal Child Nursing Care (Wong, Maternal Child Nursing Care)
Donna L. Wong , Shannon E. Perry , Marilyn J. Hockenberry , Deitra Leonard Lowdermilk , and David Wilson
Manufacturer: Mosby
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0323028659

Book Description

Designed for shorter pediatric and maternity nursing courses, this useful textbook provides students with the "right amount" of maternity and pediatric content in an up-to-date, easy-to-understand manner. Divided into two sections, the first part of the book includes 28 chapters covering maternity nursing content and the second part contains 27 chapters covering pediatric nursing content. Numerous illustrations, photos, and tables help illustrate and clarify the information for the student. Many special boxes, pedagogical features, and an inviting full-color design also help make key information easy to find and review.

Customer Reviews:

Too much.......2007-09-12

Take it from a nursing student that this book has way too much detail.When trying to read for class you need a book that gets to the point while supplying a sufficient amount of detail.My classmates and I both complain about the extra information in this book.

Good but too much.......2006-11-06

While I think this book has very accurate information and is well organized, I also feel that there is too much supplementary information surrounding the core concepts. I honestly feel that the authors write like they were speaking and they like to hear themselves talk. I had to buy this book for class, so I did. If you do not, I recommend buying something where the information is a little more condensed and to the point. If you do have to use it, like me, then understand that you will be reading a lot of information in order to understand a few concepts.

Average customer rating:

Exciting ending, boring beginning
Most heartbreaking ending ever.
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where The Red Fern Grows
Bought it for my son after reading it myself in my younger days.

Where the Red Fern Grows
Wilson Rawls , and Wilson Rawls
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Island of the Blue Dolphins
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ASIN: 0440412676
Release Date: 1996-09-01

Amazon.com

Author Wilson Rawls spent his boyhood much like the character of this book, Billy Colman, roaming the Ozarks of northeastern Oklahoma with his bluetick hound. A straightforward, shoot-from-the-hip storyteller with a searingly honest voice, Rawls is well-loved for this powerful 1961 classic and the award-winning novel Summer of the Monkeys. In Where the Red Fern Grows, Billy and his precious coonhound pups romp relentlessly through the Ozarks, trying to "tree" the elusive raccoon. In time, the inseparable trio wins the coveted gold cup in the annual coon-hunt contest, captures the wily ghost coon, and bravely fights with a mountain lion. When the victory over the mountain lion turns to tragedy, Billy grieves, but learns the beautiful old Native American legend of the sacred red fern that grows over the graves of his dogs. This unforgettable classic belongs on every child's bookshelf. (Ages 9 and up)

Book Description

Billy, Old Dan and Little Ann -- a Boy and His Two Dogs...

A loving threesome, they ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains -- and Billy had the will to train them to be the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. And close by was the strange and wonderful power that's only found...

An exciting tale of love and adventure you'll never forget.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Exciting ending, boring beginning.......2007-10-04

I found the beginning of this book to be quite boring. It felt like the same thing happened in practically every chapter up to about page one hundred. He would hunt, get in danger, and get out of it. Same thing every time. After that, however, it got better. More things happened like him getting in the competition, and the tragic ending. Overall it was a decent book.

Most heartbreaking ending ever........2007-08-16

This book was great until the end. I read it as a kid in the 5th grade and enjoyed the story and the journey of the kid earning money for the dogs and his bond with them.

But, the ending is horrible. You will cry, you will be angry, and you will feel betrayed by this book forever. My husband and I still can't beleive how depressing the end is.

If you must read this stop before the last couple of chapters. Then imagine the dogs living a happy long life by the fireplace.

Where the Red Fern Grows.......2007-08-06

This book is great for anyone who has ever lost a dear pet. This novel explores the adventures of a boy and his dogs; dogs which he remembers well into adulthood. The story is a real tear-jerker.

Where The Red Fern Grows.......2007-07-09

Everyone who has ever had a faithful dog should read Billy's story at least once in his or her lifetime. It's an ageless tale that touches the heart and mind.

Ten-year old Billy lived in the Ozark Mountains with his parents and three younger sisters. The family was extremely poor, as were most of their neighbors at that time, and could only afford the bare necessities of life. Billy's dream of having a pair of coonhounds of his own seemed to be only that until he found a resourceful way to earn the money for himself.

For two long years, Billy trapped and sold animal pelts until he had finally saved enough money to finance his lifelong dream. With his grandfather's help, he ordered two pups and then walked several miles to bring them home. That's when the real adventures began.

If the story is beginning to sound familiar, it should. "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls is an unforgettable classic that has been enjoyed for generations.

So where does the red fern come into the story? You'll just have to read it for yourself, and don't be surprised if you hear the distant bawling of a couple of dogs who have tree'd a `coon each time you open the book.

It's just Little Ann and Old Dan, for they've never really left these Ozark hills.

Bought it for my son after reading it myself in my younger days........2007-06-08

Maybe only country boys can appreciate it, but I thought it was a simple, yet great story, timeless.

Average customer rating:

Lovecraft for people who don't like Lovecraft
A great Lovecraftian suspense!
this is a companion to Wilson's "Mind Parasites"

Philosophers Stone P
Wilson
Manufacturer: Tarcher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0874775094

Customer Reviews:

Lovecraft for people who don't like Lovecraft.......2002-11-09

Colin Wilson wrote this book because although he liked the basic ideas behind the "Lovecraftian" genre, he did not like the writing style of H.P. Lovecraft. His goal was to develop a well-written novel using the rules of the genre, such as making everything as real as possible in regards to references, events and places.

This book also deals extensively with the concepts that are more at home in a Frank Herbert novel, such as the limits of what it means to be human and what human beings are capable of. This book is part mystery, part science-fiction, part primer to Wilson's occult philosophy.

A great Lovecraftian suspense!.......1999-07-23

This is one of the best Lovecraft-style stories I have read. The suspense in this book is great. You never know what will be uncovered in the next page. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good suspense story.

this is a companion to Wilson's "Mind Parasites".......1997-12-20

Colin Wilson continues his exploration of "Intentionality" as a key element in his existential philosophy. If you liked The Mind Parasites, then you owe it to yourself to read this book (as well as The Space Vampires). His use of fiction as a vehicle to philosophical discourse is worth the effort to find these books.

Average customer rating:

The Facts!!
Important but boring
A Classic Read
last minute purchase
Al Gore surely loves this

Silent Spring
Rachel Carson
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Sand County Almanac (Outdoor Essays & Reflections)
The Sense of Wonder
Our Stolen Future: How We Are Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival-- A Scienti
The Edge of the Sea
A Sand County Almanac

ASIN: 0618249060

Amazon.com

Silent Spring, released in 1962, offered the first shattering look at widespread ecological degradation and touched off an environmental awareness that still exists. Rachel Carson's book focused on the poisons from insecticides, weed killers, and other common products as well as the use of sprays in agriculture, a practice that led to dangerous chemicals to the food source. Carson argued that those chemicals were more dangerous than radiation and that for the first time in history, humans were exposed to chemicals that stayed in their systems from birth to death. Presented with thorough documentation, the book opened more than a few eyes about the dangers of the modern world and stands today as a landmark work.

Book Description

First published by Houghton Mifflin in 1962, Silent Spring alerted a large audience to the environmental and human dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides, spurring revolutionary changes in the laws affecting our air, land, and water."Silent Spring became a runaway bestseller, with international reverberations . . . [It is] well crafted, fearless and succinct . . . Even if she had not inspired a generation of activists, Carson would prevail as one of the greatest nature writers in American letters" (Peter Matthiessen, forTime's 100 Most Influential People of the Century). This fortieth anniversary edition celebrates Rachel Carson's watershed book with a new introduction by the author and activist Terry Tempest Williams and a new afterword by the acclaimed Rachel Carson biographer Linda Lear, who tells the story of Carson's courageous defense of her truths in the face of ruthless assault from the chemical industry in the year following the publication of Silent Spring and before her untimely death in 1964.

Customer Reviews:

The Facts!!.......2007-08-07

Perhaps her cause was just in writing this book, but her short-sighted ignorance of the repercussions was inexcusable. Because of the ban on DDT which largely resulted from Silent Spring, the WHO has estimated that around 20 MILLION children have died of malaria.

DDT was, & still is, one of the very best insecticides to control mosquitoes, the sole transporter of this deadly disease. Best of all, DDT is very NON-toxic to humans.

The need for DDT is so urgent that even the Sierra Club is justifying it's use inside houses in malaria stricken locations of Africa, South America, & Asia.

Way to go Rachel. Save the Birds, Kill the Children...Wake Up People!!

Important but boring.......2007-06-13

I thought that "Silent Spring" would be an interesting book to read. After all, is supposedly launched the modern environmental movement. However, after reading about 80 pages into the book I started to feel like I was reading the same thing over and over again: pesticides and herbicides are bad and should not be applied to the side of the road. OK, I get the point. I then flipped to page 250 or so, and do you know what I saw? More discussion of how pesticides and herbicides are bad!

Maybe back at that time it was not a self-evident truth that it is a bad thing to go around spraying shit all over the side of the road. But even then, you would think that a disucssion of this matter could be confined to 100 pages or less. A final issue is that the book does not seem to possess a modern understanding of certain subjects (since when do hydrologists refer to groundwater as "underground rivers"?). Although this is not the fault of the book, I do not know why anyone other than a science historian would want to spend much time on it.

Oh Yeah, this book also killed millions of people. The banning of DDT probably led to millions of deaths from malaria. Even today, about 2 million people die from it every year.

A Classic Read.......2007-05-11

Joni Mitchell perhaps most aptly summarizes the driving idea of Silent Spring in her song "Big Yellow Taxi": "Hey farmer farmer / Put away that DDT now / Give me spots on my apples / But leave me the birds and the bees. Please!" While both the book and the song are a bit outdated in the United States as DDT was banned in 1972, it's still an interesting analysis of insecticides/herbicides, societies relationship with science, and the effects a capitalistic driven culture has on the environment. Likewise, the interaction of the natural web and human's impact on it is greatly emphasized. Something I've always found interesting about Carson and her book was the publics (often misogynistic) reaction to her as being "hysterical" and my favorite quote from a board member of the Federal Pest Control Review Board: "I thought she was a spinster. What's she so worried about genetics for?"

last minute purchase.......2007-04-04

My daughter had to have this for English and of course she waited till the last minute. To her surprise, she enjoyed the book and the author's writing very much. As usual Amazon saved the day with a huge selection and fast shipping.

Al Gore surely loves this.......2007-03-26

Hurrah for "sustainability" and "biodiversity"! Down with the human race!

Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words

Average customer rating:

Words that moved a nation
First-rate work
A Scholarly Analysis readable by Anyone
insightful
A wonderful read, and contains important material on what Lincoln actually wrote and said and why.

Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words
Douglas L. Wilson
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows
Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney: Slavery, Secession, and the President's War Powers
This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War
Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails: The Untold Story of How Abraham Lincoln Used the Telegraph to Win the Civil War

ASIN: 1400040396
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Book Description

Abraham Lincoln now occupies an unparalleled place in American history, but when he was first elected president, a skeptical writer asked, “Who will write this ignorant man’s state papers?” Literary ability was, indeed, the last thing the public expected from the folksy, self-educated “rail-splitter,” but the forceful qualities of Lincoln’s writing eventually surprised his supporters and confounded his many critics. Since his assassination in 1865, no American’s words have become more familiar or more admired, and their enduring power has established him as one of our greatest writers. Now, in a groundbreaking study, the distinguished Lincoln scholar Douglas L. Wilson demonstrates that exploring Lincoln’s presidential writing provides a window onto his presidency and a key to his accomplishments.

Lincoln’s Sword tells the story of how Lincoln developed his writing skills, how they served him for a time as a hidden presidential asset, how it gradually became clear that he possessed a formidable literary talent, and it reveals how writing came to play an increasingly important role in his presidency. “By the time he came to write the Gettysburg Address,” Wilson says, “Lincoln was attempting to help put the horrific carnage of the Civil War in a positive light, and at the same time to do it in a way that would have constructive implications for the future. By the time he came to write the Second Inaugural Address, fifteen months later, he was quite consciously in the business of interpreting the war and its deeper meaning, not just for his contemporaries but for what he elsewhere called the ‘vast future.’ ”

Illustrated with reproductions of Lincoln’s original manuscripts, Lincoln’s Sword affords an unprecedented look at a distinctively American writer.

Customer Reviews:

Words that moved a nation.......2007-08-05

Author Douglas L. Wilson once again hits the bull's-eye, this time with a painstaking study of Lincoln's rhetoric (the President's personal "sword"). This book should appeal not only to persons interested in the Great Emancipator, but to those interested in the craft of writing. Wilson takes us step-by-step through the process Lincoln used to hone some of his most famous statements, a journey revealing principles of clear writing. Wilson shows that Lincoln's clarity of expression wasn't effortless, but resulted from hard work.

First-rate work.......2007-06-02

Bold in concept and careful in execution, this work is a gem. Lincoln's constant revising, his sense of what was appropriate in given situations, and his surging command of the language over decades impress the reader. Wilson's understanding of the context of Lincoln's deployment of language is impressive. Cautiously revisionist.

A Scholarly Analysis readable by Anyone.......2007-05-30

Lincoln's Sword illuminates the power and clarity of Lincoln's words. Even if the reader is not a Lincoln devotee or scholar, this book's treatment of Lincoln's speeches are clear, concise and pleasureable. This is a book that anyone would enjoy reading.

insightful.......2007-05-07

well worth the read to gain insight into an often little understood man. the depth of the writing gives testimony to the depth of the man. read it and learn - not just about lincoln - but also how to use communications to move people towards your goals.

A wonderful read, and contains important material on what Lincoln actually wrote and said and why........2007-02-09

Lincoln has become one of those tests where someone can tell you their thoughts about him and you can often tell where they are on any number of issues. The problem is that much of what people think they know about Lincoln is only a bumper sticker or sound byte version of what went on. We try to judge Lincoln (and most of our great historical figures) by our lights rather than seeing him in the context of his own time. Of course, it takes some work to learn what happened and why rather than wringing our hands over, say, the suspension of habeas corpus.

This excellent book can be a great contribution to your education about the real Abraham Lincoln and how he conducted himself as President. He came into office with the elite dismissing him as crude and hopelessly unsophisticated. This book shows us how carefully he worked on his public speeches and the letters and articles that were published during his time in office.

Sometimes we forget that by the time Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861 that the movement for secession was well underway and the firing on Fort Sumter was on April 12, 1861, just a few weeks later. His second inaugural address was given on March 4, 1865, Lee's Surrender at Appomattox was on April 9th, and Lincoln was shot by Booth on April 14th. He died the next day. So, his entire service as President was bounded by that terrible war.

Douglas Wilson takes several of the addresses and letters central to Lincoln's Presidency and shows us what the extant drafts reveal to us about Lincoln's purposes, approach, and the political realities he faced. He also brings in testimony by those who were involved with those documents, worked with Lincoln, and contemporaries who wrote about them. It is all quite fascinating, especially because it is focused on what was happening and what was thought at the time rather than imposing anachronistic views from our day on those events. However, Wilson does spend some time examining what some contemporary critics have said about these documents and events. For example, he uses a few apt quotes from Garry Wills' wonderful book (one you may want to read) on the Gettysburg address because they are among the best things said about it in our time.

While other documents are considered in passing, the central documents examined in this book are: Lincoln's farewell from Springfield for Washington, his First Inaugural, the July 4, 1861 address, the Emancipation Proclamation (and its antecedents), a letter to Greeley, the Corning letter, the Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural.

I would suggest that you get a copy of Lincoln's addresses or get them from the Web and read the documents along with the book (most are not provided in the book because of their length and their wide availability). I recommend the two volume set of Lincoln's "Speeches and Writings" from the Library of America (only the second volume is needed for this book). Reading what Lincoln actually wrote and said is quite edifying because one learns first hand what he said and did rather than being the prisoner of what others selectively provide you to promote their own agenda.

This is a great read, is very informative, and I strongly recommend it to you as part of your self education on what American History really is.

Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times

Average customer rating:

Hopefully, the movie doesn't screw up this story
A great true story
four and 1/2 stars.
Great
Hard to read

Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of How the Wildest Man in Congress and a Rogue CIA Agent Changed the History of Our Times
George Crile
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Afghanistan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
Sleeping with the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude
Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror
See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA's War on Terrorism
First In: An Insider's Account of How the CIA Spearheaded the War on Terror in Afghanistan

ASIN: 0802141242

Book Description

Charlie Wilson's War was a publishing sensation and a New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times bestseller. In the early 1980s, a Houston socialite turned the attention of maverick Texas congressman Charlie Wilson to the ragged band of Afghan "freedom fighters" who continued, despite overwhelming odds, to fight the Soviet invaders. Wilson, who sat on the all-powerful House Appropriations Committee, managed to procure hundreds of millions of dollars to support the mujahideen. The arms were secretly procured and distributed with the help of an out-of-favor CIA operative, Gust Avrokotos, whose working-class Greek-American background made him an anomaly among the Ivy League world of American spies. Avrakotos handpicked a staff of CIA outcasts to run his operation and, with their help, continually stretched the Agency's rules to the breaking point. Moving from the back rooms of the Capitol, to secret chambers at Langley, to arms-dealers' conventions, to the Khyber Pass, this book presents an astonishing chapter of our recent past, and the key to understanding what helped trigger the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union and ultimately led to the emergence of a brand-new foe in the form of radical Islam.

Customer Reviews:

Hopefully, the movie doesn't screw up this story.......2007-10-05

There will be three main kinds of people who won't read this book. The first are those who see no reason for military intervention anywhere, ever. The second are those who are hypersensitive to any speaking of ethnicity, race, gender, etc., within a kilometer of earshot. The third are those who don't like long books, and "Charlie Wilson's War" is certainly longer than most. All this would be too bad, because the book is a wealth of little known and critical current history, as well as a real rip-snorting adventure. The most intriguing icing on the cake is that Charlie Wilson, one of the boldest and effective national-interest congressmen of the last century, was a Democrat. He was a Democrat who pushed Republicans forward for a decade, mostly to do the right things. How many right things, of course, remains to be seen in coming decades.

Much of the book is written in colloquial style, as the author reproduces many discussions among a very wide variety of people. This sometimes comes out sounding a little coarse, but the reader should see this quickly as a writer trying to be accurate. Charlie Wilson, the man himself, also might turn many readers off. He abused his body with food and drink, mostly drink; he was a maverick to the point of almost being a loose canon; wild, he certainly was. No one, though, can deny that he was one of those rarest of politicians. Here was a man who did not stop with saying what he wanted to do, he found ways to do what needed to be done. Then he kept at it, and at it. Here was a man of his word.

This interesting story suffers only a small weakness as a narrative, and only if the reader minds. The action chapter by chapter, even section by section, does not always tell us what was happening at the same time with other people, and at other places. Rather, the author likes to keep a thread of a theme or thought and follow it to the end. This can be irritating and a little confusing if you are trying to keep things straight for any particular group of years at a time. If this does not make a problem for reader, then so much the better. A last suggestion: this book goes down especially well by audio CD, and the voice narrator does well with dialogs and accents.

A great true story.......2007-10-04

This is a truly amazing tale. Never told until now and soon a movie. Buy this book and read the true story about how a "wild" congressman and a rogue CIA agent changed history. Better by far than all those fictional adventures!

four and 1/2 stars........2007-10-01

steve coll's excellent book "ghost wars" whet my reading appetite for more on the soviet war in afghanistan. since that military action, with the unanticipated consequences it spawned for the united states, was such a catalyst for the 9/11 attacks, it seems essential for an american to get a grip on what took place there. "charlie wilson's war" is a thrilling account of that international drama. though much of the book deals with funding america's covert involvement through congressional appropriation subcommittees, and with CIA office politics, the narrative is interesting page for page throughout this long work. not once did i find it a chore to continue, or feel an urge to skip past anything. george crile brings the colorful personalities of those involved to vivid life through his clear prose. he actually makes appropriation subcommitees, and their methods of work, interesting. and his portraits of afghanistan and pakistan, and their respective political environments and key political players, is brilliantly executed. the story is told completely from the american perspective, true. you will have to seek elsewhere for a more balanced view (by this i mean one that takes into account the soviet soldiers side of things). but this book being what it is, is a fascinating read, and one you can learn much from.

Great.......2007-09-08

One of the most intriguing stories of American foreign policy making. This book was recommended to me by a staffer for a military oriented Congressional committee. He was quite emphatic in stressing that this book, better than any other, offers a great perspective on the influence Congress can have on foreign and war policy. I don't know how representative it is of the day to day activities of members of Congress, but it certainly shows how a dedicated member of Congress CAN get seriously involved in an issue.

Charlie Wilson is one of the most interesting politicians to have walked on the stage in the past 50 years. Part JFK, Nixon, LBJ, and Clinton - both good and bad parts - Wilson was a smart and dedicated defender of CIA efforts to support the mujaheden in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union. More than any supposed hardline conservative, including President Reagan, Wilson, a socially liberal Democrat from Texas, was the most agressive elected official to back the CIA in its anti-Soviet effort in Afghanistan. Wilson was also wildly able to get in the worst kinds of trouble: womanizing, drunk driving, and questionable uses of public money. I guess it goes to show that people are incredibly complex and contain a much more dynamic mix of good and bad within them. Kind of like the Incredible Hulk, but with less green.

Hard to read.......2007-08-29

Content was OK, I'm sure acurate, but about 210 pages into this 500+ page book I had to give in - I just couldn't make myself want to read it. I am only 31, so I do not know of Charlie Wilson, or the political temperature in the 80s, but this book was recommended to me so I tried, but couldn't make myself do it.

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