J Books

This was a gift and replacement order. This is a fabulously interesting, inspirational, and readable book! I had loaned my original out so often that it needed to be replaced, plus I bought several for gifts. I will read this book many more times! Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics

I am a doctoral student in Theology, so I have read much deeper explanations of many truths of the faith and explorations of how to live it. I don't want to read heavy theology all of the time, though; sometimes I just want something light and entirely oriented towards my practice of the faith. This book hit the spot. My wife and I read it concomitantly and it has really energized us and given us a lot to talk about. We are both cradle Catholics and very informed, but everyone needs continual spiritual nourishment. While the book might not have taught us anything "new" per se, it provides a great vision of the faith overall and very helpful vignettes and action points to indicate how to live as a Catholic in the modern world. As the book unfolds, it enters into some of the typical stumbling blocks that Catholics have (e.g. why priest don't marry, why contraception and NFP are different). Again, not much new or different from the academic explanations I've heard, but the approach is much more engaging than most. Chaput simply unfolds the beauty of the Catholic faith in a convincing way.

I think the book is at its best in its emphasis upon mission/evangelization in the modern world. We often think that families are not capable of this--this is for crazies willing to take vows and give up everything. Taking the cue from Vatican II and recent Church teaching, Chaput insists that the family is the domestic Church capable of cultivating heroic holiness, and the laity are the primary interface between the Church and the world. We Catholics aren't as good as our separated Protestant brethren at inviting others to consider our faith, but I was challenged to do this in the ways recommended by the book.

Given my studies and goals, I am likely to find myself teaching introductory courses on Christianity or the Catholic Church. I will most likely try to use at least portions of this book to cover the basics of Christianity in a compact, informative, but attractive way. I would also recommend this as reading for engaged couples. Due to the family-oriented nature of the book, it might not be as useful for teenaged audiences, which might not care for this perspective as much.

I highly recommend this book--it will enrich you and challenge you to live Christ and be Christ to the world!

This book is completely out of touch with every day life. It's not worth your time.

Addressing both those Catholics who adhere to Church teaching and just need a refresher, and those Catholics are happy to be "cafeteria Catholics" accepting those tenets of the faith that comfortably fit their lifestyles while rejecting those they find challenging (or as one reviewer put it "out of touch") Archbishop Chaput presents a concise teaching of Catholic belief which is essential to these times. He explains what we believe, why we believe it and the negative repercussions of deviating from these parameters. He builds up belief from the theological to the practical. From what we believe about God to its significance in our daily dealings with our neighbor.

Contrary to his critics, Archbishop Chaput is not the least out of touch, in fact the book is peppered with annecdotes from popular culture as well as annecdotes from classical works. He very ably discusses current affairs, and he insightfully points out just where the world is going off-course.

Archbishop Chaput is one of the stars among the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. He speaks clearly, concisely and without fear of offending people with the truth.

This book is well worth your time.

Anyone who follows any type of sports knows that the best teams or players, year in and year out are those that have most clearly mastered the fundamental basics of the sport. For years in American College football, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Alabama dominated the sport. These teams accomplished their goals, not by doing anything fancy or unusual but by simply lining up and running over their opponents. Put another way, they won by relying on the basics. Many Catholics, including myself could learn a valuable lesson from these football teams as we try to live our Catholic faith.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has written a playbook to allow us as Catholics to get back to the basics of our faith and to more fully appreciate the scriptural authority behind these core teachings of the Church. He does this in a very appealing and straightforward way that is easy to understand and very easy to read. There is no heavy theological jargon nor are there any unexplained Latin terms in this book and even someone who is totally unfamiliar with the Catholic Church will have no trouble grasping the Archbishop's points.

To his great credit, the Most Reverend Chaput takes on the issues he discusses head on and never swerves to avoid hurting someone's feelings. Almost any Catholic who reads this book will find that at least some of the author's arguments hit mighty close to home. The author also takes on the hard issues like abortion, contraception and suicide, issues that may be controversial in some quarters but which are at the heart of the Church's teachings on the sanctity of human life. The learned author also takes the time to explain in very clear terms some of the most basic tenants of the Christian faith and I found his point by point discussion of the Ten Commandments to be very enlightening.

The Archbishop does all of this while relating it to the world that we live in today. I found his analogy of two twentieth century films to be particularly poignant and to be charged with unpopular truth. Sometimes the truth hurts but it does us a world of good in the long run.

This book is highly relevant to the world today and especially to Catholics facing the challenges of the twenty-first century. The good Archbishop has given us a wonderful blueprint to follow as we try to live our faith and spread the gospel to the whole world.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

Lost in the Woods is a wonderful way to share the beauty and wonders of nature with a child. The photography is amazing. I should hhave bought one for myself as well!

This is an awesome picture book. The photos give you a sense that you can touch the fur on the small fawn. It is educational and has a fun game of locating small animals within the larger picture teaching everyone how to see the tiniest creatures.

This book is an outstanding photographic treasure and accompanying story! Beautifully done and much appreciated, a GREAT gift!

This is a wonderful story about a fawn and all the woodland creatures he meets. The photography/pictures are BEAUTIFUL and the story is fun and interesting. We've owned this book for almost 2 years and it's a bedtime story my children, now ages 8 and 4, pick over and over again. This is one of those keepsake books that you never get rid of because it is so beautiful, educational and entertaining. I also highly recommend the DVD that goes with this book, as it, too, contains beautiful photography, adorable voices and a very funny ending.

This is the story that got it all started. If you haven't read this book then you are in for a treat, and before you finish this book make sure you have chances, lady boss, dangerous kiss on hand because you are going to need to know what happen next. I assure you.

Readers, please get all of Jackie Collins books, they are sensational. Get the book (Chances) first, then continue on to Lucky. The books will knock your socks off. All of Ms. Collins books are rated 5 stars as far as I'm concerned. Good reading material. You will like all of them.

Jackie Collins' Lucky, is a novel about power, love, lust, sex and crime. Daughter of a powerful man, Lucky Santangelo, an erotic and wild beauty, plans on continuing the family tradition with honor. Hungry for power, success and pleasure Lucky sets out seeking for her desires. Before she knows it, Lucky embarks herself on an adventure full of glory, passion, trouble, sex, vengeance and suspense. From Vegas to New York after her father's unexpected and undesirable wedding. Pregnant by the world's richest man, Dimitri Stanislopoulos, a passionate lover, Lucky lives her life between her East Hampton home in New York and her son's father's private Greek Islands. Off on business in Atlantic City, Lucky hits the road with power, money, glory and love. Her glory is cut short, when her dangerous past catches her back leading her to court.

This novel is extraordinary. This novel kept me reading, I couldn't take my eyes or mind off the book. Jackie Collins gets deep into descriptions making you feel the characters emotions and desires. As you read on and learn more about each one, you feel that you know these people. You can just imagine each scenario in your head, and feel that you are part of the scene but that no one can see you.

In an earlier review, I said Collins wrote trashy reads; I regret that now. "Trash" is sexist as it often only refers to light fiction written by women and there's LOTS of pop fiction by men that is hardly prize-worthy. I also think calling her work "trashy" was a way for me to act as though I was above it and just reading it ironically. The truth is, Collins is great at what she does and that's writing compelling, "can't put them down" novels that can make you turn off the phone so you won't be disturbed.

"Lucky" is Collins at her best. Don't worry if you haven't read "Chances": Collins summarizes the previous book in the opening chapters. Also, don't be turned off because there is a Mob element if that's not your thing because the Mob barely figures into this tale. What we get instead is a sprawling, multi-character tale full of coincidences, surprising developments (at least once a book, Collins springs something on me that I didn't see coming) and the usual doses of sex and money.

"Lucky" is an insanely fun read. Despite the fact that it was published in 1985, the novel is as enjoyable as ever and is my highest recommendation for a fun summer read of 2007.

What more can I say? All of the money in the world could not get me to pry my fingers off of this book. In Collins' sophomore release of the Santangelo saga we get reaquainted with the awe-inspiring, business savy and headstrong Lucky Santangelo, daughter of the notorious Gino "The Ram" Santagelo -- former mob boss.

Not one iota of what Collins' writes in this book comes off as being unrealistic, boring or repeptitive. Writing a book like this takes pure, unadulturated talent!! How she manages to come up with new and exciting characters, keep us thouroughly updated on old ones, intertwine all of their storylines FLAWLESSLY and leave her fans begging for more is harder to comprehend then learning Chinese Arithmatic in Latin!

Lucky comes back geared and ready for a whole new peril. I don't know if there is much I can say about this book without giving too much away... It's just all so JUICY and addictive! I will say that we are introduced to some new characters -- Lennie Golden being the main one. As well as reuniniting with some characters some of us may have thought wouldn't come back -- Olympia and Dimirti Stanislopolous ... These three characters will influenece Lucky's life in a MAJOR way... You will just have to read to find out. This is yet another 10 star read from Ms. Collins.

I've watched a lot of television in my 28 years. I've read newspaper articles, seen press conferences, and listened to radio interviews. But I never realized the deliberate steps those people were taking to get their message across.

I had no idea that there was a thought process behind how often to plug your new venture in a radio interview (as opposed to a newspaper interview). I didn't realize that you should address a T.V. reporter differently (and more often) than reporters in other media. And I certainly didn't think about the methods used to create those "talking points" we hear so much about these days.

I'm not sure this book prepared me to immediately jump in front of the cameras. But, it caused a definite shift in my thinking. This book is an important first step for anyone who is naive about the effort required to effectively communicate with the public (via the press). It's also vital for those who are cynical about preparing for interviews, or worried about "selling out" for the purpose of gaining attention.

This book could easily be subtitled "How To Respect Your Audience." Mr. Walker spends a fair amount of time explaining that when you don't properly prepare yourself and your message, you do a huge disservice to your audience. I recommend this book as a primer in dealing with the media. It gives lot of techniques with examples. But, most importantly, it explains the rationale for each tip. Because all the techniques, tips, and tricks in the world won't help you if you don't firmly understand and believe in the power of preparation.

I wasn't to excited as I started reading this book, but it got much better. I found quite a few great ideas and helpful information if you are going to be on television. TJ Walker really gives some good tips and advice on how to sit, what to wear, what to do with your hands, and common mistakes so that you can avoid them.
I have been researching analogies since I came up with my 3 message points and am trying to come up with my own.
I would recommend this book, it is a quick read and will give you some valuable information if you have to go "on the air".

T.J. Walker is a true genius when it comes to looking good in the media. His advice, based on decades of media exposure himself, paired with a solid foundation in media best practices, have yielded the #1 methodology for getting the right message across and looking good in all forms of media. His advice is sharp, insightful, accessible and immediately applicable. His books, CDs and his personal coaching have been invaluable to me and my business.

Media Training A-Z is the #1 book I've found on this topic and I recommend it highly to anyone who plans or hopes to be in any form of media spotlight - TV, radio, or print. The advice in this book is packaged concisely enough to be read the day before you're on air, but dense enough to prepare you thoroughly - and even teach the pros a new thing or two...

TJ Walker is a clear and concise in his Media Training A-Z book. this is a very user-friendly book that is a perfect handbook for anyone who needs or wants to work with the media.

When it comes to talking to the press, people are largely divided into two camps. The first doesn't think it's anything to worry about and the second is terrified of the prospect. Media Training A-Z from TJ Walker has a little something for both groups.

I've worked with a few people who fall into the first camp. The CEO who doesn't think he needs to "waste" any time preparing for the interview ends up having a rambling, hour-long conversation, during which no message is communicated. The reporter is left with little that's usable and often takes their pick from the dozens of messages they heard. Once the interview is published or aired, the CEO complains about being misquoted or "taken out of context."

To them, Walker communicates the importance of preparing for the interview. He advises that you not enter an interview "without knowing in advance precisely the exact quotes you want to see in tomorrow's newspaper or tonight's newscast." He includes examples from the political world of how communicating can make your career (think Ronald Reagan) or break it (Howard Dean).

For the novice about to face an interview, Walker dissects it into its various parts and lays out a systematic plan of attack. The book is also loaded with tips and tricks that Walker has drawn from more than 20 years of media training experience. From what to say, wear and even drink, Walker conveys it all.

The book is not flawless. Some people may find them helpful, but the acronyms Walker uses for memorization reminded me of high school and were so long that the acronym was almost as difficult to remember as the concept to which it was related. I also could have gone to Walker's web site to find his other products and thus have done without the 30 pages he devotes to them at the end of Media Training A-Z. But those minor detractions are more than made up for by the balance of the book.

A final note for leaders (of non-profits, companies, churches, etc.): speaking to the media will most likely be unavoidable at some point in your tenure. Because what you say to the media could eventually be seen/read/heard by thousands of people, you should do your best to make sure you say it well. Media Training A-Z made me a better communicator and helped me teach my clients to do the same. Whether you're a public relations pro or prepping for your first TV interview, this book is a valuable resource.

Fulton sheens wisdom is present in these short, daily readings. I highly recomend it to anyone searching spritual encouragement.

An earlier reader, who claims to be from San Jose, states that the readings are nothing more than sayings... perhaps he or she is unaware of the old adage, "Big things often come in small packages." The definition of "Reading" as a noun, does not state the number of words, length of sentences or time required in order to be called a "reading."
Perhaps our friend from "San Jose" should meditate more on the messages contained in each reading and less on the length of them... the unwarranted attack on Ms. Heirich speaks volumes of this individuals character and lack of understanding about meditation and how to best grow and benefit from a book such as Mornings With Fulton Sheen.
The simplicity of the selections is what draws me to this precious little book each morning. Over the past 2 years I have gained much...learned much and in turn, shared much of the simple wisdom found in it.
I encourage you to get a copy and carry it in your car or handbag or backpack...for those times when, as Winnie The Pooh said, you need a little "something."
Ms. Heirich did an excellent, may I say, profound job of editing the massive volume of Bishop Sheen's work. The simplicity of Mornings, reflects her skill as an editor and is what keeps people, like me, returning to it morning after morning.

Mornings with Fulton Sheen was HILARIOUS and IT HAS A GREAT striking words. I STRONGLY recommend to buy this book, It is inspiring as well as encouraging to anyone who reads it.

I have never heard about Fulton Sheen's name before, as well as his writings too. There is one short stories that I like, this book is called Mornings with Fulton Sheen.

As I was reading these pages of this book "Mornings with fulton Sheen" it was about A tough man named John who is subject to sentence to die, after he murdered his wife. John doesn't like to talk to anyone in his cell room. Fulton Sheen shared his words to John. Amazingly, John turns to Fulton Sheen and begins to focus what Fulton Sheen has something to say to him..

Each pages I read is TRUE. He shares many hilarious stories and good advice. He speaks about himself, too. I can imagine, that after I read the pages of this book, I realized that all the writings speaks about ourselves, our neighbors, virtues, and most of all, OUR DEAR LORD!! I think, if you read this book, you may find a good quality of the stories and you may want to share this to your love ones. They too, will laugh..and ask for a copy of Fulton Sheen's too.

This wonderful resource will lend insight and depth to the time you spend in daily prayer. Each of the 120 chapters contains a thought provoking reflection and a related scripture passage. An excellent addition to your devotional library.

What an amazing book! I'm a Christian who has used Transcendental Meditation (TM) and practiced Yoga, but I had never heard of "the ancient and powerful practice of Christian meditation." Of course I knew monks meditate, but this book encourages purely Christian meditation for all Christians, and explains why the difference between Eastern techniques and Christian meditation (which Fulton Sheen said is not the same as devotions) matters a lot! "In meditation the ear of the soul is more important than the tongue. St. Paul tells us that faith comes from listening. In a daily Holy Hour, we wait for Him to speak--and He does!"

This book tells how to meditate on 120 of the hardest questions in life by connecting the heavenly wisdom of Fulton Sheen with down-to-earth action from the Book of Proverbs. I'm a reader and I've read books with 600 pages that haven't had anywhere near the level of practical knowledge and godly wisdom that I've gained from this small book.

Here are just a few of the questions the book asks and answers, each in a few words on a single page with a space to record what you hear from God: How can we teach children to work hard? What is the secret of the missing link? What is the only personal favor Jesus ever asked of His followers? What is the connection between beauty shops and worms? What can you learn from golfing with Jack Nicklaus? What is a five-minute health routine? What is the connection between dirty rivers and bed-hopping? What are the saddest words of all? What is the great fallacy of some types of sex education? How can I know for sure if I'm a true follower of Christ? What three surprises are waiting for me in Heaven? Why do so many acts of rape end in murder of the victim? What are three fool-proof steps to build self-esteem?

I found this book (a first edition) in the dusty corner of a library in New York. The title intrigued me, so I had to check it out. I honestly do not think I have ever read a more enjoyable memoir....and about such a subject. There is absolutely no other book out there that describes a patients stay at a TB sanatorium. Sure, there is the Magic Mountain and various others that are tiresome and not REALLY and simply about a stay in a sanatorium....interesting, because so many people had that experience-and no, not everyone died. This is the only book of its kind and I am thrilled and honored to have accidentally discovered it. I was even more shocked to find out that she was Mrs. Piggle Wiggle...hey, I grew up with her!

If there's anything good about a disiplinarian TB institution in the 30s (not 40s), it's the opportunity to meet so many different kinds of people. Macdonald is an observer and nailer of people's quirks on a level with Dickens (both of them, Charles and Monica). I love this book. There's one thing I would like explained, though. American readers talk as if Macdonald's "racism" was an understood and obvious thing. I see no racism in this book. OK, she calls somebody "coloured" and another girl "black". She also mentions that her roommate is Japanese and her workmate an Eskimo. Is she racist for not using today's PC terminology? She praises the institution for accepting everybody and mixing them together. She quotes some racist comments from other patients, but doesn't say she condones them, in fact "Betty" in the book answers back and disagrees. Please, please, somebody tell me why it is currently PC to say Macdonald is racist?

I read this book long ago, have forgotten a lot of it, but just about every December I find myself singing "Deck the Halls in Old Crepe Paper, fa la la" etc. Used to confuse my kids no end. For those who haven't read it yet, look for the scenes of holiday celebrations in the old TB sanitaruims-- sad & funny.

as "The Egg and I"--her statement in that book that "I do not like Indians and I think we did a good thing in coming over and taking this beautiful country away from them." made my part-Cherokee blood boil--could write another that was so UNracist. While the author does use terms like 'colored' and 'Negro', those were (one can understand) the accepted terms in the 1930s, and while she records the racist attudes of some of the patients and staff, she apparently does not agree with them. She formed a close attachment with a Japanese patient--whom she later urges to go to college--and when an African-American (to use the accepted term of today) patient tells her that she doesn't mind being in isolation because the white patients don't want her as a roommate anyway, she thinks this absurd.

It is difficult for us today to understand how very scary TB was back then. While TB is not unknown today, if caught early it is easily treated with appropriate medications; not so, then. The only treatment was a rest-cure with pallitive measures; many people recovered, but many did not. There were some surgical treatments (collapsed lung), but they were painful and not terribly effective. It was known to be contageous, although not nearly as contageous as many people thought it was. The nearest modern equivalent might be HIV/AIDS, except that the latter is always fatal.

As other authors have mentioned, one hardly thinks that such a story would be funny, but BMacD is able to find humor in any situation. I've read all four of her books for adults and enjoyed them very much--even 'Egg'. That she was able to be discharged from the sanitarium after only about a year shows that laughter is, indeed, the best medicine.

This book is filled with an off beat sence of humor. It isn't the slap you in the face kind of humor but rather the kind of humor that hits you later. For example, I found myself smilingat something I read earlier in the day while cooking dinner. At the end of this book you feel like you know each of the people personally. I wanted a follow up to find out what happened to each person. It's that good.

Basically this book is about Betty MacDonalds stay in a sanitorium while she had TB. She can take such a serious topic that could be pretty morose and turn it into something interesting and funny.

t is beyond 5 stars This is the most clear,compelling information. I wanted to get another copy but it was not available.

We've all been taught since childhood that one person's need is a claim on the property of another - particularly if the 'another' is well off.
Galambos demolishes this fallacy and clearly shows how this false belief leads to the state predation that we all suffer.
But he goes farther than any current writer to construct mechanisms that protect property without the use of state coercion.
Read it if you have the courage.

If there were only one book I could read...it would be this book.
If there were only one book I could own...it would be this book.
I believe this book will change your life forever. Word-by-word page-by-page you'll be fascinated, challenged and enchanted by the rational dialogue. I studied under professor Galambos for over 4 years and it changed my life. I am very grateful to him and I cannot urge you strong enough to read this book now.

First off, this is not a book. It is a course. A lot of college loan money could be saved by investing in this tome first, then not reading but digesting it. After this feast of fine dining, an education might take on a different hew. As Galambos says: the difference between a human and a turnip is the degree of curiosity. Don't you really wonder:

What IS "freedom," really?
How do you know you're right?
Where does "morality" really originate?
What is happening to the world?
Is there any reason at all to be optimistic?

This "book," then, is really a course in thinking. I bought a copy about 2 years ago and have gone through it about 6 times now. I have ordered another copy to have a fresh one on my book shelf. Judging by the Turnips I encounter each day, there will be a time when a clean copy will be worth a lot. And to think, for around a hundred bucks you could get this close to real genius! Buy it. Read it. Study it. You will not see the world the same again, ever!

Read this book ... only if you are ready to have your assumptions challenged to their very core ... only if you want to assume full responsibility for your own life ... only if you are ready for the final challenge to personal growth!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime book that will change your life for the best!

Most highly recommended!

This is a must read for people interested in either history, the environment, or people. It is well written and provides an excellent view about the history of the twentieth century that most people do not usually know about. Everyone should read it.

Boom. This is a biggie. Yowzah! If you want a clear view of our specie's impact on our world there is no better place to start than here. J.R. McNeill offers a balanced and comprehensive look at the century which changed everything, and his title, contradicting Ecclesiastes' assertion that nothing is new, says it all. The core idea here is that in the last century humanity moved beyond affect of local systems to dominance of the biosphere. We are everywhere. McNeill covers our impact on all of the life on our planet, from his prologue discussion of economy, population and energy, to his deeper analysis of soil, air, water and the whole of living systems. He offers clear views of the demographic and technologic forces which have shaped our modern world. Most illuminating of all are the complicated ways in which each change we have wrought has brought both destruction and remediation. Oil, the number one eco-villain in recent history, particularly when pumped through internal combustion engines, has also cleaned up city air enormously when it replaced coal and wood for heating and power generation. It also eliminated the need to remove 10-15,000 horse carcasses from average large cities each year and saved the great whales from extinction. Nuclear energy, an utter failure economically and with wastes which will be our generation's longest lasting heirloom, at least doesn't pollute the air. Population growth has had enormous impact on environmental damage, but less than I would have estimated as a percentage, and in some places it has even permitted improvements impossible without many hands. We are, in his words, the "rogue primate" which became smart enough to threaten every other life form on the planet, from smallpox virus to blue whales. Our success has paradoxically been very good for the viruses that cause the common cold and for rabbits. From the general to the specific, whole systems to individual tools (automobile, chain saw) McNeill has achieved a grasp of how and what we did, and tells the story masterfully. For readers who took up my recommendation of A GREEN HISTORY OF THE WORLD (Clive Ponting, St. Martin's Press, 1991), this one is better (and Ponting's work is one of McNeill's sources). Bingo.

I wrote my economics undergraduate thesis on development and environmental management back in 1976-77, and surely I would have enjoyed and valued to have Professor McNeill's book in my hands in those years.

His book is remarkable in many ways. It is a well written book, extraordinarly documented and well supported with eye opening statistical tables and illustrations. His material is useful for graduate and undergraduate students alike, and also for wider audiences interested on reviewing a different approach on history's complexities.

As the book front page indicates, the author centers his work on the 20th century's humankind events, termed by himself as the most influential on the process of ecology's evolution.

The book is very well organized so the reader keeps information organized in a properly way. At the end, Professor McNeill leaves many questions open that will be ample material enough to study in the years to come. Among those questions is the one concerned with society's will to deal seriously with environmental crises that have accumulated on the latest decades. We can have a readily answer to that subject if political leaders continue to privilege the narrow view of economic growth, instead of considering to seriously discuss the implementation of more integral strategies that would deliver environmental friendly sustainable economic development at the end.

Without question I recommend this book.

Sub-titled "An Environmental History of the 20th Century", this is a sober and objective survey of environmental changes over the past 100 years. I was concerned this would be an emotional appeal or judgmental polemic from the left - but not the case, it is academic and professional history from an environmental perspective (the environment, not "environmental movement"). It's encyclopedic in scope and style.

I would not call this an "entertaining" read (although some of the facts really fire the synapses), but it is deeply rewarding as a broad survey of a very large and complex problem. The chapters and sub-sections are arranged in a logical outline making it possible to read the chapters in any order.

The main idea of the title "something new under the sun" is that humans have so fundamentally changed the environment that things really are very different now than they have ever been historically. To regard our current conditions of energy availability, access to water, unending economic growth - as enduring and normal appears to be an interesting gamble given the facts.

Some interesting trivia: humans did not become the dominate primate until about 8,000 BC with the rise of agriculture (baboons outnumbered humans before then). About one-fifth of all humans that ever lived did so in the 20th century. In sheer energy terms, if all modern technology and energy sources were not available, the average American would need about 70 human slaves to maintain the current standard of living (each American "directs" 70 energy-slave equivalents). Each year, humans move more earth and soil than glaciers, wind erosion, mountain building (plate tectonic uplift), and volcanoes combined. Probably the single most damaging biological organism in earths history was the human primate Thomas Midgley Jr from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania born in 1889. He invented Freon (which destroys the Ozone layer), and also leaded gasoline, which has polluted most of the worlds soil lasting thousands of years (all of us carry elevated lead levels because of it and will continue to do so for centuries to come, leading to birth defects, lowered IQs, etc..). Midgley contracted Polio at age 51 and invented a system or ropes and pulleys to move his crippled body off the bed - he became tangled and was strangled to death in 1944 by his own invention, before learning how damaging his inventions were.

This book may be the best historical survey I've ever read. (And with an M.A. in history, I've read a few!) I got this book to complement my hard science slogging on global warming, and found so much more than I hoped for or ever imagined! McNeil's book provides the historical background and the human context for all the graphs and numbers in the science texts. If you're looking for one book to give you a focused overview of just how much human civilization has accomplished, good and bad, in the last 100 years, this is it.

The organization of the book is excellent. McNeil sources everything, ends each chapter with an excellent summary, and wraps it all up with his own thoughtful commentary on climate change. He uses an inspired mix of the small detail (birds dying mid-flight) and the enormous concept (the Aswan dam affected the entire Mediterranean ecosystem). He describes chains of cause and effect and makes connections other historians and scientists seem to miss. The chapters dealing with agriculture are, I think, particularly relevant to our everyday lives; but students in nearly every subject will find this book useful. My husband is a family physician, and has read the sections on public health; my neighbor is a biologist with the USGS, and is reading the chapter on dams and irrigation.

I have to add my 5 stars for this informative resource. It was my textbook for two courses. However, even after my classes ended I found myself referring back to the loads of information provided within the pages of this book. It is extremely comprehensive and well worth the investment.

*If you are not a student required to purchase a newer edition, I recommend looking at an earlier edition - I know that you'll get the same great information, just at a much discounted price.

Book was exactly as described. Brand new and in shrink wrap. Very happy with purchase!

This is a great book, it's easy to read, it has excellent, detalied and graphic photographs. I highly recomend this book as a text or reference book.

This a must read & a book to hold on to for reference.

All the information you need for death investigation...has a couple extra chapters in the new edition that were not in the last one...

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!! I LOST MY SISTER KATHY IN 2006 TO CANCER. MY WORLD THAT I KNEW WAS GONE.HOW COULD MY SISTER BE DEAD. I DID NOT THINK I COULD GO ON WITHOUT KATHY IT HAS BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS SINCE MY SISTER DIED. READING T.J. WRAY'S BOOK IS LIKE SHE IS IN MY HEAD WRITING MY STORY!ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU HAVE LOST A ADULT BROTHER OR SISTER GET THIS BOOK IT HAS HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY THANK YOU T.J.WRAY FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.I TRULY DO UNDERSTAND YOUR LOSS DEBRA

I lost my 37 yr old brother suddenly & unexpectedly. I found this book extremely comforting & enlightening: setting my reactions into a context of normalcy, and clearly articulating feelings that I too have been experiencing yet hadn't consciously associated and understood to be a part of my grief. So many of the stories hit the mark. In one case, T.J. Wray's explanation of sensations experienced while on a trip to the store had me in awe; I'd 'been there' just a day before. I'm grateful to have found such a grounding & wonderful reference.

My only sibling passed away from cancer at age 38. I found this book through the Compassionate Friends web site. It was a wonderful read. It didn't help ease any of my pain, but it did help to know I wasn't alone in any of my feelings. The author talks about how society doesn't value sibling grief and we are made to feel that our pain is less than the spouse, children, and parents who also grieve. I highly recommend this book to anyone grieving the loss of an adult sibling.

This is very well written and I am amazed at how much I can relate to the author. I am very happy with this purchase.

This book really helped me to understand the emotions I was going through. It also helped me to understand what the future holds with this grief. I lost my only sibling and am now responsible for my 91 year old mother. I will keep this book with me forever and recoomend it to anyone who loses a sibling.