F Books

What a good way to end the series. I've been taking my time with reading these over the past few years because sometimes I would get fed up with the plot. But this right here, was the icing on a very large, and very tasty cake. It kind of hit me hard that the Fearless series was over now, and the way it happened was kind of hardhitting for me.

As many others are, I'm a huge Ed and Gaia fan. I hope in Fearless FBI, they somehow reunite, because honestly, like Ed says.. "If there was such a thing as soul mates..."

This book is excellent. I read it in one day. After the bull drama Gaia had to go through to get here, she's made it. And even in this book, she doesn't get a break. But even though it was hard to say goodbye to all the characters, I'm prepared to meet some new ones in the new series.

i really loved! this book. There were closures and things coming together. some people whom whe hadn't seen in the last couple of books turn up in this book.the end of the book isn't all that surprising if think about it.If you've been following this series for years, like i have, then you have to read this book. It's a good ending for a great series and now we'll just have to wait for the second book of fearless fbi.I've read the first one and it's a great book. if you loved the fearless series then you will definetely love fearless fbi.

While this series had a few ups and downs along the way, it ended just perfectly. I read the last 5 books in a 3 day period. I cried and cried. To anyone who may have given up along the way, be sure to at least pick up this book to see how it all ends. I am glad that Francine Pascal put in details from the special editions in the last few books as well.

I could identify with Gaia all though her senior year, as irregular as it was. I loved these books. As sad as I am to see them go, I almost died of curiosity over the past 5 (or is it 6) years. I am not sure I can get on that roller coaster again with Fearless FBI. Then again, I would hate to miss out on further Gaia adventures.
I LOVE ED!!!!!

While most high school seniors are getting ready for the prom, and preparing for graduation, seventeen-year-old Gaia Moore is trying to avoid the inevitable: death. Gaia has been trailing Skyler Rodke, playing up the helpless act to get him to believe that she's still scared of everything, when in reality, she's been watching him. Taking notes on his every plan for her. Gaia plans on getting back at the people who have hurt her, and plan to hurt her, then to escape from New York, for it is the home of bad memories.

I have never been so sad to see a series end. Gaia Moore has been one of my favorite fictional characters since the very first FEARLESS book was released over four years ago, and her character has only grown over the years. GONE is an exceptional book in the series that will bring a tear to the eye of all FEARLESS readers. And watch for the LOOK BACK section at the end, for it gives you an update on all of the characters past and present, lets you see bits of the Village School's Yearbook, gives you a peek at Loki's Files, and more. I am now eagerly awaiting the release of FEARLESS FBI. I can only hope that that series is half as good as FEARLESS.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Oh man, picked this up last week, stayed up till 2 in the morning to read it all, even the summary part in the back just for kicks. The book was sad and yet good all the same time, fitting for the end of this portion of Gaia's story. So while I've heard many people complain about this book sucking, I think they need to look at it more, see that it fits well with Gaia and her life. Anyway, onto Fearless FBI! Oh man, can't wait this should be good, I'm hoping some old characters pop up, and we find out what happened to Gaia's dad, because seemed like Francine sorta forgot he existed. And Ed, who doesn't want Ed to come back huh? Anyway, read the book!

Personally, this is no doubt the greatest book on the Tomcat thus far. All you want to know about the plane (and much more) are meticulously presented in this 1998 publication. The numerous photos and scale drawings shown in this masterpiece are not seen anywhere else. Minor errors here and there do not affect at all the editors effort in presenting to the public the true picture about the Tomcat, from the jet's inception through its sad beginning of the end. Wish the publisher will publish an updated edition of this fantastic masterpiece.

Jon Lake who is one of the most authoritative avaition researchers today has put together the most complete book on the F-14. This has all the information needed, from the preliminary designs, to the units served, to its combat record, the information is presented accurately and concisely. I have been a Tomcat fan for many years and I have had the opportunity to read quite a few books on the F-14, but this is by far the best book I have read. A must for any aviation collection. Another book to complement this book would be Tomcat Alley by David F. Brown, which has over 700 images and is purely a pictorial guide of all the F-14 aircraft built.

After reading many books on military hardware, this book is easy to read and informative. A must have for any F-14 fan. I learned a great deal about an aircraft that I considered myself as knowledgeable. A must buy.

This is THE book for Grumman's venerable F-14 Tomcat. Sure, some other books like Tomcat Alley by David F. Brown might beat it in the pictorial department, but overall the information in the articles plus the photos it already has beat any other book about the F-14 Tomcat. Everything about the Tomcat until the books date of publication is covered. From the early beginnings of the Navy's need for a Fleet Air Defense F6D Missileer and the VFX competition that Grumman won all the way to the combat record and current strike attack roles. Every F-14 variant is covered, even the ones that were only concept models. Plus great artistic renderings of historic F-14s. A lot of the articles here came from World Air Power Journal's F-14 cover issue back in the early 90s, but the information here is updated such as the squadron deployments, squadron disestablishments and the wars in Eastern Europe. All F-14 Squadrons in the US Navy are covered, and even some stuff about the IIAF/IRIAF F-14s. If all that isn't enough, there's a foreword by F-14 Tomcat pilot D. Stuart Broce, the VF-1 pilot who shot down a Mi-8 helicopter during Desert Storm. It's very interesting and heart warming to read. This book might be hard to find now, but if you get a chance, get it! 5 / 5 STARS!

This book is published by the same published who published World Air Power and Wings of Fame journals. Part of the pages of this book came from the articles printed on World Air Power before.

World Air Power journal is a high quality military journal with excellent photos. This book has all the excellent quality from the journal plus new materials including the 1991 gulf war.

F-14 is a legend not only to Navy, but to all of the fighters current in service. There are some books in this field, but with latest information, this is the book to read.

everything you could ever need to know in an easy to follow format, dvd actually is useful

This book is a decent text however it's not an easy read. I had to reread some parts to totally get the concept. It's not the worst textbook I have ever been assigned thought.

Free shipping, got it on time, and way cheaper than what I paid at the school bookstore!

This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone learning to administer local anesthesia (dental fields)!! The author really knows his stuff!!

I believe this is an excellent review about this subject, especially for students. its graphics and pictures are very educational.

I have long been suspicious of the all promising hype surrounding "advisory", "consultative", "relationship", "soft" and other kinds of fix all selling methods which take purpose and direction away from the seller and substitute it with vague and unsubstantiated promises of better result. One of the symptoms I am seeing lately is the increased demand for negotiation training for sales people. This is of course an ongoing variable in the selling process, it will of course a major problem in the end when the bulk of the selling process has been wasted with fuzzy and ill defined relationship building.

The authors debunk the soft sell myth, logically and scientifically. They deserve the thanks of the entire population of sellers and sales managers.

Reading The Hard Truth is like taking a cool shower. Its' two most powerful messages are that salespeople don't have to sell the way the gurus say to sell and that how you chose to sell doesn't have anything to say about how ethical you are. The authors say that is question about honor, not selling style.

This book needs to be read by everyone in sales trying to resist being forced into a mold. It might make you mad. Parts of the Hard Truth will sting sales big shots telling everybody else what to do. Salespeople will laugh out loud because every salesperson who has ever been made to sit through training classes taught by the likes of big headed frauds like Rev. Dr. Reginald David Barfkon will instantly connect with the Hard Truth About Soft Selling. The chapter called the final irony at the end whacked me with something I never realized. Their revelation about soft selling and the big guns that sell it packed a jolt that opened my eyes forever. I will never listen in the same gullible way again to so called sales experts telling me what I have to do to succeed in sales. If you are in sales you need to read this book and get your sales life back.

This book is about so much more than selling. The authors use a funny, irreverent style, and story after story to illustrate their points about what makes selling so hard, but good salespeople so valuable. Dr. Tanner is an academic but, other than the lapidary research statistics included in the book as fodder for the authors' claims, the writing style and examples are anything but academic. As a CRM consultant, I'm often vexed by the time spent de-constructing why companies can't compete. This book emphasizes the people issues, and takes on the well-worn sales shibboleths that have ultimately impeded so many corporate strategies. Kudos to Tanner and Dudley for getting it right, and being so original in the process.

Internationally noted behavioral scientist George Dudley and Associate Dean of Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business present The Hard Truth About Soft-Selling: Restoring Pride & Purpose to the Sales Profession, a discussion of the latest trend in "soft-selling", and how modern salespeople are often told they must present themselves as "advisors" or "consultants" while remaining accountable for closed sales same as always. Chapters discuss the lexicon of soft-selling; the many types of selling styles; sales training across cultures; how to sell with "radical honesty"; and much more. Written in terms easily accessible to novice and veteran salespeople alike, The Hard Truth About Soft-Selling is a must for any salesperson striving to stay on the cutting edge of their career path.

The most popular kind of packaged training program bought in corporate America is for sales people. There's a dirty secret though: Those sales training programs are more likely to hurt sales performance than improve it. If you buy such training programs, sit through them or have to deal with their aftermath as sales droop, you owe it to yourself to read The Hard Truth about Soft-Selling.

What is soft selling? The authors lump together a broad variety of styles that have in common " . . . a client-centered approach to sales in which the primary role of the seller is to create an atmosphere of trust and cooperation which enables the consumer to reach an informed buying decision free from pressure or manipulation." Anyone who has ever been made acutely uncomfortable by an aggressive, hard-sell sales person probably wishes that such people could be banned. Since we've all had that experience, that's probably one of the sources of the search for a kinder, gentler side to selling.

But that search hasn't yet paid off, as this book documents. That's the bottom line for this book.

If you are pressed for time, I suggest you begin reading on page 154 and continue through page 161. Everything you need to know is there. If you want more detail on any point, you can use the excellent index and thorough list of references to answer your questions.

I've met hundreds of trainers and people who design training course. Within those groups, rarely have I found anyone who is interested in using experimental techniques to identify best practices, improve on those practices and help people learn how to master better methods. Instead, these are people who feel good with the material they are presenting and evangelize based on faith in the "logic" or "ethics" of their approach. The people who buy training courses usually buy on the same basis. They don't bother to check out the track record of a course . . . but rather look to the feel good qualities and techniques for keeping people awake.

Few new methods can be learned and employed successfully with less than 30 days of continual reinforcement. The typical sales training course is less than a week. That's the good news. People don't learn too many bad habits through adopting soft selling. But apparently, they do learn to be less aggressive . . . and that's what hurts sales after sales training.

The authors also point out that many sales people are demoralized. They know their profession has low public esteem. They are also afraid of offending people. So when asked to change, they assume that they should . . . in the absence of any compelling evidence that this will improve matters.

Beginning on page 156 the authors propose practical ways that sales people can improve their performance. It's good advice. I recommend you follow their suggestions whether you are a sales person or a sales manager. Beginning on page 159 there's good advice on how to find a potentially beneficial sales training program and books that will teach helpful skills. I was particularly pleased to see that this book comes down hard on unethical selling . . . regardless of the style in which the bad behavior is couched.

To me, the most amusing part of the book comes where the authors point out that most soft-sell authors, writers of sales training programs and sales people for soft-selling training use hard-sell techniques.

These days almost every job has some elements of sales in it. I was intrigued by the research reported about bad selling habits that soft-selling approaches can encourage: becoming reluctant to canvass for leads; investing time in "upgrading" presentations rather than going to meet with prospects; over preparation for meetings; and becoming rigid in how sales calls and contacts are handled. In over thirty years of supervising people who have performed in various sales roles for me, I've seen all those bad habits in action. The only thing those with these bad habits have had in common is that anyone with these habits never amounted to a hill of beans as a sales person. I've also found that I could never persuade a sales person with one of those bad habits to change to better habits. My best sales people have always been the most uninhibited, friendly people who enjoyed meeting others and firmly believed that we wouldn't sell anybody anything unless it would do the person a lot of good.

Doctors do not get any nutrition training at medical school. Dr Hauser is no exception, but with the experience of his wife as a nutritionist and his testing
using the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) they have put together a book that makes a lot of sense regarding the different types of people and the five different types of diets that they define. The one area where I think this book is remiss in their coverage of soy. Vegetarians who rely on soy as their only protein source are jepordizing their health. There are studies that show that a diet with soy as
their primary protein source results in osteoporosis. Soy tends to interfere with
the bodies ability to use calcium. Other than this, this book presents the most complete information on dieting than any other diet book that I have read. For a
very common sense approach to dieting, I highly recommend this book.

A very informative well written book. Although I am not a medical doctor by profession, this book provided the information I required so that I will be able to make an informed decision that will allow me to avoid surgery. I would strongly recommend (in fact I have done this with several friends) anyone who is considering any joint relacement or back surgery to read this book and explore the proposed alternative(s) before submitting to any form of surgery.
I plan to explore the use of prolotherapy to correct a back problem and am currently in the process of finding a practitioner of this procedure in Western Canada.

I found this book very informative. The recipes I have tried have been excellent. I would highly recomend this book to those who are concerned with healthy living.

This book is absolutely amazing! It not only gives simple to understand explanations of why your body needs to eat certain kinds of food for optimal health, it gives you sample menus and recipes to get you on your way to implementing this new way of eating. The icing on the cake (sorry) is that the recipes are fantastic! I have made several recipes and they are so delicious that now recipes from other cookbooks pale in comparison and are disappointing to the palate. Eating healthy can be a wonderful experience, and this book shows you how. It's a must have for any person wanting to improve their health.

The Hauser Diet caught my attention because of Dr. Hauser's success using his injection technique to repair my knee (Prolotherapy). I got my leg strength back with no arthroscopic surgery. Now I'm looking for solutions to low energy. I want the energy of a finely tuned Ferrari.

Like the Hauser's, I too have completed marathons, triathlons, and century bike rides. I'm a 55-year-old student of nutrition and sports training. I learn from athletes like Lance Armstrong and his coach, Chris Carmichael. These athletes backup their ideas about nutrition and training regimens with astounding results.

Athletes write the Hauser Diet too. They research for ways to optimize health, energy and human performance. Research shared in this book broadened my awareness of foods' impact upon my energy. If I knew specifically what foods to choose to live fast and strong why shouldn't I choose well? The authors use a clever analogy to animals' diets to show that humans too must make food choices to optimize energy and health. Then they show in plain English why for my `diet type' certain foods are best for me. I am excited about implementing the research found in The Hauser Diet.

This book is logic, well-reasoned, and has lots of footnotes pointing to research studies and reliable sources of data. Even if you disagree with their prescription for how to fix the problem, you will get a lot from this book by following along with their diagnosis of the problems facing our health care system.

The book's greatest strengths may also be it's greatest weakness. This book is "wonkish" -- filled with hard data and logic. If you're looking for entertaining anecdotes or emotional arguments, this is not the book for you.

...but only in the title. A well written book both describing (in surprisingly concise writing) the problem, as well as laying out a path towards fixing it. I can't say I fully agree with his proposals, but I am much better informed, and my views have been altered as a result of this book. In my mind, that is a terrific outcome for any book of substance.

Intellect with humility is hard to come by. Cannon and Tanner define a clear path for all Americans to have health insurance and they have the humility to believe in Americans as wise consumers. Different than politicians who 'know what's best for you,' they trust you to make prudent decisions for yourself. Free markets are healthy and they provide an excellent outline for cost savings and a healthier 'you' by putting you in charge of your own well being. I want to thank Cannon and Tanner for being Americans and loving freedom, especially in the face of fear mongering socialists. God Bless America!

"Healthy Competition" by Michael F. Cannon and Michael D. Tanner of the Cato Institute is a critically important book for both those interested in health care policy as well as for every American as we all eventually consume health care services.

Cannon and Tanner's book starts with a foreword by the Hon. George P. Shultz: "We begin with a riddle. What country's health care system offers the best health services in the world, is consistently criticized for not being accessible enough, and yet is so accessible that overutilization is leading to runaway costs?" The answer is, of course, America.

The following 147 pages offers a detailed analysis of what's wrong with American health care (government and insurance industry policies that lead to overuse of medical services) and what's right (the strong remnants of a free market system that encourages innovation, high quality, at an often lower cost). Both detailed and heavily footnoted, but also very readable at the same time, "Healthy Competition" strikes the right balance between a dense academic paper and a clarion call for action.

In concluding the book, Cannon and Tanner write:

"Despite its marvels, America's health care sector continues to present troubling symptoms: excessive costs, uneven quality, a lack of useful information for patients and providers, extraordinary waste, and enormous burdens for future taxpayers. An accurate diagnosis points to too much government influence and too little choice and competition. Proposals to increase the role of government would aggravate these symptoms. More subsidies or controls would drain from the medical marketplace even more of the dynamics that drive other sectors of the economy toward lower prices and higher quality. The only sure remedy is to restore those dynamics to the health care sector.

"Although there are dark clouds on the horizon, we are heartened by the creation and steady growth of health savings accounts. HSAs have already begun to change private-sector health care from within, and will enable a reexamination of the role of government in health care."

The last citation in "Healthy Competition" comes from a June 1, 2004 Harvard Business Review article by Michael Porter and Elizabeth Teisberg. It deals with the oft-heard argument that we somehow should not apply free market principles to the health care sector:

"It is often argued that health care is different because it is complex; because consumers have limited information; and because services are highly customized. Health care undoubtedly has these characteristics, but so do other industries where competition works well. For example, the business of providing customized software and technical services to corporations is highly complex, yet, when adjusted for quality, the cost of enterprise computing has fallen dramatically over the past decade."

Cannon and Tanner accept this argument while also embracing the argument of many of the proponents of government control of health care because it is special and distinct from other parts of the economy - they just come to the opposite conclusion, concluding in their last paragraph, "...Unlike software, wireless communications, or banking, health care involves very emotional decisions, which often entail matters of human dignity, life, and death. However, we do not see the gravity of these matters as a reason to divert power away from individuals and toward government. Rather, we see the special nature of health care as all the more reason to increase each consumer's sphere of autonomy. The special nature of health care makes it all the more important that we use the competitive process to make health care available to more consumers - and makes it all the more important to get started now."

Two side notes of a personal nature: on February 1, 2007, I introduced AB 245, a bill that would allow the tax deductibility of contributions to HSAs (California is one of only four states that do not treat HSAs as tax deductible); and author Michael Cannon is someone I have grown to respect from our first meeting in 2004 as Lincoln Fellows of the Claremont Institute. I suspect we will be hearing quite a bit from Mr. Cannon over the next few decades - and, if policymakers are smart, they will listen carefully to what he has to say.

Reviewer: Chuck DeVore is a California State Assemblyman, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard and the author of "China Attacks."

I enjoyed the book and found it presented a well organized argument for why it is so critical to allow the markets and consumers to experiment with new methods of controlling health care costs and improving access. I also appreciated the author's acknowledgement that health care is a special service that is critically important in our lives. That is what makes reforming the system so challenging.

The book makes clear that market based proposals to reform health care are designed to lower the cost of care and increase coverage. These are proposals that are critical to all Americans.

Hard Text Book with CD - Excellent Condition no markings, no highlites and bends, the soft books cover has wrinkle.

This is a beautiful book by any standards, I think, and is supplied in a protective box. It is jam-packed with excellent colour images and informative text on high quality paper. I saw an older version of this book in a local shop and when I checked Amazon, found I could buy the uptodate version for far less money. I study interior design and I have found that History of Art is marvellous as a reference tool, or even for just browsing through when seeking inspiration for designs. So much work has been put into this book over many years and editions. It is amazing value for money! Be warned - it weighs a ton!

In the introduction to this edition, Anthony Janson (whose father, H.W. Janson, still has top billing for the volume) talks about the long tradition he and his father have had toward this volume and the larger work that carries the same name. It has been a standard in Western art education for decades, and the revisions periodically placed serve to bring new interpretations, perspectives and finds into the mix of history.

Prior to diving into the depths of art, Janson provides a primer - art history is a relatively new discipline, and often studied by historians and others with interest but relatively little training in artistic areas themselves. This book is about the visual arts (those of drama, music, etc. are not included here, but architecture is to some degree); Janson gives a brief survey of key concepts that are critical to understanding the mediums (artists, Janson states, prefer to use the plural of medium as mediums rather than media). Geometric and visual appreciation concepts are introduced, as are philosophical/aesthetic ideas.

The majority of the text is divided into four broad sections: The Ancient World, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance through the Rococo, and the Modern World. This is a book that really a survey or history of Western art - it does have a brief section at the beginning of the Ancient World on cave art and neolithic art in North America, but apart from this never wanders outside the main courses of Western art even in the modern period. As an introductory text, this is not surprising - many of the values and concepts of art in non-Western cultures require more explanation for adequate aesthetic appreciation of their art than an introductory survey course could cover. Still, it is a deficit worthy of note for those who are looking for a more comprehensive volume.

The Ancient World covers art of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent and Persia, Aegean/Greek art, Etruscan art, and Roman art. The section on the Middle Ages begins primarily with the rise of Christendom as the dominant political power - this includes Byzantine art, early Medieval art (Carolingian and Ottonian times), Romanesque, and the ascendancy of the Gothic style, including the great Abbey of St-Denis. The Renaissance focusses early on Italy, but also explores the Renaissance influences in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and England. The Modern Period is the most diverse, with movements such as Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Art Nouveau and other schools that had a greater tendency to cross national boundaries. The twentieth century brought about a great explosion of artistic expressions, in architecture, sculpture, painting and photography, each of which get a chapter. While the fourth section begins with a discussion of modernism, it ends with the discussion of post-modernism, a period of transition.

The colour reproductions throughout are stunning, and the use of black-and-white images to highlight details is also useful. Two-thirds of the 600 illustrations are in colour. The photographs showing architectural styles are interesting, far from being boring 'sample' shots. The text is engaging and informative, achieving a good balance between the artistic, the philosophical and the historical. There are maps, chronological tables, a glossary of terms, suggestions for further readings arranged topically, and a very useful index (always a plus for students and scholars).

This small review relates to an older edition of the work, and not to the revised and expanded one ( sixth edition) listed here. The Janson Art History textbook I know has a skillfully written text and many beautiful illustrations of the masterpieces of world - art. Janson was a first- rate historian who was in contact with the giants of the generation, Panofsky, Meir Schapiro, and others. The work itself is an overabundant one rich in detail and insights. As a reader I would have liked to take it all in so as seemingly to have in my mind a full - map of world history. I do not think I managed it all, but wherever I read I found much to learn and study.
I do not think anyone who wishes to begin to understand the history of the world's great Art can go wrong with this volume.

I purchased this book to prepare for an art certification exam. I used this test back in 1984 while earning an art degree. It traces the history of art from the Ancient World to the Modern Art. It has four sections stating the primary sources which serve as a self review. The illustrations are beautiful, and the text contains plenty of interesting facts and descriptions of the art and their meanings. I found the typeface size slightly small, but it is clear and precise. The book weighs seven lbs. and it has 1,032 pages. It is a hardback and it comes in its own hardcover pocket.

How to be a woman's best friend is a spirit filled book for both men and women. It's for anyone who is looking for real solutions to the crisis facing male-female relationships and family values. I couldn't put it down.

Well thought out and very interesting

I AM FINDING THAT SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS WORK TO MAKE MY HOUSE A REAL HOME. WHILE I ALWAYS NEW SOME OF THIS THAT IS WRITTEN , I WAS NEVER ABLE TO CARRY IT INTO PRACTICE UNTIL NOW . THANKS AGAIN. P.S. IF THIS IS WHAT FARRAKHAN TEACHES THEM MAYBE HE IS NOT ALL BAD AFTERALL.

I am shocked that so much could be in this powerful little book. I am grateful that I got this book. I use a little something from it everyday. It has helped me in marriage. The book is simple, easy to understand and follow.

I recommend it to everyone!

I AM FINDING THAT SOME OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS WORK TO MAKE MY HOUSE A REAL HOME. WHILE I ALWAYS NEW SOME OF THIS THAT IS WRITTEN , I WAS NEVER ABLE TO CARRY IT INTO PRACTICE UNTIL NOW . THANKS AGAIN. P.S. IF THIS IS WHAT FARRAKHAN TEACHES THEM MAYBE HE IS NOT ALL BAD AFTERALL.

Prof. Dzielska unravels the real life and murder of Hypatia.
Instead of the legendary young virgin martyr for paganism, she sketches a, for the period, remarkable older woman and teacher of neoplatonism and tolerance.
Her murder was instigated by the vicious ploys of a jealous catholic archbishop and executed by his ignorant mob. It was a political murder.

This book should be read because it treats of an age-old conflict that still rages in the world today: the power struggle between the civil (secular) and religious authorities.

This small work is a difficult (based on very few original sources), but very convincing reconstitution of the life of one of the very few known remarkable women of that age. A revealing work.

Those who have an interest in the Fourth Century are familiar with the name Hypatia of Alexandria. Unfortunately she has become a figure of legend and myth. Maria Dzielska's small, short book (106 pages, each about 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" ) first examines the various persons that made her a myth, as well as their motivations. It then goes to the source documents, sorts through the credibility of each, and then redraws our picture of Hypatia. (For example, most encyclopedias give Hypatia's date of birth as about 370. Dzielska builds a strong case that she was born about 15 years earlier than that, and was in her 60's when she was murdered). This book excels in distinguishing fact from fiction - in other words it is a work of historical research. Dzielska also points out where her knowledge ends and her inferences begin. This virtue - once known as humility - also contributes to the value of this book. As one would expect, it has an annotated bibliography ("Sources"), is fully footnoted, and includes a good index. Those whose interest in Hypatia involves "her meaning" may be disappointed; those who want the truth about her will find this a useful piece of research and analysis. Maria Dzielska's book could be used as a sourcebook on HOW historical figures are appropriated for the political or religious agendas of persons less interested in "the facts" than "making a point". This alone makes it of wider interest than it might otherwise appear.

Whether your interest is women scholars or female scientists in antiquity, Christian history or pagan philosophy, this book is a major eye-opener. Hypatia--and all her female colleagues--deserve to be remembered, and Dzielska deserves credit for helping preserve their story.

Socrates was executed by the state of Athens as a scapegoat for its defeat by the Spartans. His crime was being a free thinker in a short age of turmoil. He was however fondly remembered and documented. Hypatia was first brought to my attention by Carl Sagan in his television series Cosmos. She has often been represented as a pillar of wisdom in an age of growing dogma. Unlike with Socrates we know much less about her life and teachings. She is remembered precisely as a martyr who was sacrificed rather than executed by a literalist Christian mob inspired by "St" Cyril, apparently as she was regarded as a threat to Christendom and theology by certain regio-political figures. Enough material on her survived not least owing to the strong memories evoked at the manner of her despatch which turned her into a historical icon.

This excellent short well sourced book is a biographic scenography in the best sense of the word. It does not sadly cover the destruction of the great library or go into great length about the history and politics of 4th century Alexandria but it blows the cobwebs and embelishments that are associated with this enigmatic figure leaving a strong, uncompromising educated presence who would have been of extreme high standing to have obtained the death she received at the hands of bigots.

The importance of Hypatia is that she represents a phase in history where Greek religion was being destroyed by the then politicised Roman state religion. Hypatia represents a tragic victim of this dark phase when a great deal of knowledge was irrevocably lost (e.g.Gandy and Freke, the Jesus Mysteries etc.,).

To know the real Hypatia, and that phase of history, this is one of the best places to begin.

For those who have never heard of Hypatia the back of this book gives you a quick summary of the woman:

'Hypatia - brilliant mathematician, eloquent Neoplatonist, and a woman renowned for her beauty - was brutally murdered by a mob of Christians in Alexandria in 415. She has been a legend ever since.'

This book is thin (106 pages, an additional forty to fifty provide sources, notes, and an index yet, despite its size, it manages to pull together a summary of Hypatia's life from the texts of the time by people lsuch as Socrates Scholasticus and Synesius.

Essentially, it's an interpretation of these historical texts that reconstructs who Hypatia was, how she lived, and why she was brutally murdered.

The book begins by examining the enduring legend of Hypatia by looking at the literary references in which she is portrayed (19th Century novels, and poetry) and continues to examine her by looking at the people who lived around here. Moving on, Dzielska looks at Hypatia herself from trying to determine the year of her birth to describing the terrible death to which she succumbed and, looks at who - ultimately - was responsible.* After looking at Hypatia, the author resolves the woman's history and offers a conclusion to her book.

It was certainly an interesting book in both the uncommon subject matter and the way that the life within was completely reconstructed from writings of the day as none of Hypatia's work is believed to exist anymore. It does not cover life in Alexandria or describe the Great Library but, as the title suggests, this is not about Alexandria - there will, no doubt, be books on that topic.

It's worth reading if a) you have an interest in philosophy or mathematics; or b) you are a feminist looking for a new heroine. (She was, afterall, the only major female of scientific note prior to Marie Curie.)


* She was stripped naked, dragged through the streets to a church, where many proceeded to strip the flesh from her bones using broken pottery. Her remains were then tossed on a fire.

This is a great picture book. I have almost every Kennedy family picture book available. I just happen to come across it in a bookstore near my home. I paid $19.99 for it, pretty good price. You can get here for about $16-17 but remember you have to pay shipping. So it comes out to more but it is soo worth it. When you are going through these pics its like being taken back in time. I'm pretty young my mom was born in 1957 so she was about Caroline's age when these pics were taken.

I highly recommend this book, primarily for the great picutures of JFK. This 40th anniversary volume succeeds in presenting many rare and never-before-seen photos. I especially like the ones depicting Secret Service agent Gerald Blaine on the rear of the limousine in Italy 7/63. Get this!
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"John Fitzgerald Kennedy:A Life in Pictures"is a great way to remember President Kennedy.I'm a young,strong admirer of President Kennedy,and not only are there great pictures of Kennedy,there is a biography of Kennedy with speeches he made,including the speech he was going to make on November 22,1963.The best pictures are of Kennedy with Herbert Hoover and a picture of Jack Kennedy with his daughter Caroline and his niece Maria Shriver.I have seen a bunch of great Kennedy photos,and if you ever want the best Kennedy photo,buy Robert Stack's autobiography "Straight Shooting"and see the picture of Stack and Kennedy. "John Fitzgerald Kennedy:A Life In Pictures"is a must read for all Kennedy fans and even all non-Kennedy fans.

It is a great book !
Although I am not a "Kennedy fan", I have to admit these pictures are awsome. Over 300 pages of dream, glamour, fashion, history & photography.
It is not a political testimony, just a tribute to one of the most famous icons ever.
My advice ? THE perfect Xmast gift!!

This collection of over 300 pages of the usual suspected photographs, as well as many unseen or rare ones, was published to commemorate the passing of 40 years since our 35th President was vicously cut down in his prime.

The layout of the photographs is great. You see JFK throughout his life, from childhood, to Presidencey and every passing moment between. The photos are powerful, moving, show glamour and fun, you see a politician throughout his political career, you see a loving father, son, brother and husband. I have had quite a few photo books on JFk, but this is by far the best and most desirable one I have seen.

This photograph book would make a wonderful and truly appriciated gift for anyone who has any respect, love or interest in JFK. My sister is a huge JFK fan, she had a bust of him on our dresser growing up.

The price on Amazon, is as always, unbeatable. I saw this at a bookstore tonight for the full price.