F Books

WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK! IT RELIVES THEIR PAST LIVES AND SHARES THEIR UPS AND DOWNS THAT WE ALL FACE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. IT IS A GREAT ASSET IN MY LIFE TO KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS HUMAN AND EXPERIENCES THE SAME HIGHS AND LOWS AND WITH GOD'S HELP ALWAYS GETS US THROUGH THE TURMOILS THAT LIFE SO OFTEN GIVES US.

A GREAT INSPIRATIONAL BOOK!!

What a wonderful book - to have the thoughts behind how/why particular songs were written! Very insightful and makes the Gaither standards even more meaningful! Excellent!

This is a great book. It is inspirational and makes you have a greater appreciation for the Gaither's and their music. After reading this book, the songs have more impact on the heart and soul.

I am 13 years old and I love Southern Gospel Music. From the first time I read this book I had a new look at their songs. Where they came from, why they were written. Some stories will make you think, some will make you cry, and some will but a smile on your face. I love this book, and i would highly reccemend it to everyone.

We bought this book for our 5 year old. Every night she loves to see what her little sister looks like, even if she is still in mommy's tummy! Of course there are some things that we skip over. Would be great for a first time mom also, to get to know her new little one.

I think this book is pretty good. The informaion presented is different from what you get in the 'what to expect' pregnancy books. The pictures, however, make me worry. I just somehow got the idea that maybe some of the pictures where taken of babies who were stillborn, or worse. As a person who is normally very sensitive to these types of things, being preganat, hormonal, and overly emotional, I can't look at the pictures when I read this book. Maybe I'm all wrong, and there is nothing to worry about, but still...

This book (which concentrates on the baby) is the perfect complement to other pregnancy books (that focus on the mother). I gave this book as a gift to several of my expecting friends. It wasn't until I used for my own pregnancy that I realized how extraordinary it really is. I am a third of the way through my pregnancy and I feel totally 'connected' with my child! This book is great for a first, last or anywhere in-between pregnancy because it provides detailed information about my unborn baby's day-to-day development that I haven't seen anywhere else. I loved the way the information was presented...with adorable images and places for me to jot down notes about how I was feeling and what I was thinking. I use the book each day to see what has changed today in my baby and to jot questions that come up to take with me to the doctor's. This book makes a magical time even more real.

I gave this book to my wife when we found out she was pregnant. It enabled us to follow along each day with the changes that were occurring in our new baby. The book shows a picture of what she looked like, what physical changes were taking place and what she could do. There really is no other book like this. We really felt connected to our unborn child earlier.

The story captures you from the very beginning and right until the very end. My nephew loved the parts surrounding the war, while I enjoyed the love story. There is something for everyone, young and old alike.

This book is a great book. It's about going to war to save a queen who has been captured which is very touching.My favorite part of the book was when Lady Bug meet King Purple. My opinion on this book is that it is a very adventurous story and you will like it very much.

Taylor from Lowell

I am in the sixth grade. I have just finished reading Beetle and Lady Bug. It is the best story I have read since Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary. Even my little brother liked it because of the war with the ants. It was a sad story, but in the end Lady Bug was the real heroine because she never quit. My little brother says the Beetle was the best because he was so ferocious. I recommend reading this book. I give it five stars.

This is a very cute book for middle school aged children. It reminds me of similar stories and movies such as "Bugs Life" and "Ants" where bugs take on human characteristics. A love story and war story in one. The Lady bug is captured to hope her secret love the Beetle (who also loves the lady bug) will come save her. A story of staying strong and helping others is a perfect theme for this story. A must read for children. Also uses words such as monarch and paradox that will keep a child challenged. Excellent quick read!

"A certain mother habitually rewards her small son with ice cream after he eats his spinach. What additional information would you need to be able to predict whether the child will: a. Come to love or hate spinach, b. Love or hate ice cream, or c. Love or hate mother?"

This quote from Gregory Bateson's preface to his Steps to An Ecology of Mind (1972) returns to haunt a fine chapter by Eric Turkheimer, Spinach and Ice cream: Why Social Science is So Difficult. The chapter is one of fourteen that summarize the current status of behavioral genetic research in development, personality, and psychopathology as they celebrate the career of one of the truly outstanding psychologists of our time, Irving I. Gottesman.

If any career can be said to be the defining touchstone of research into the genetics of mental disorder, especially schizophrenia, over the past half-century, it is that of Gottesman. Mention the genetics of schizophrenia to informed behavioral scientists anywhere on the globe, and Irv Gottesman is the first name that will come to mind. Since the publication of his Schizophrenia Genesis (1990), now dated because of its publisher's indolence in supporting a revision, the same can be said of many thousands of educated laypersons.

These chapters were initially prepared as presentations for a gathering of his colleagues and former students who are now themselves accomplished investigators in the field of behavior genetics, organized by the book's editor, Lisabeth DiLalla, in Minneapolis in June, 2001, on the occasion of Gottesman's retirement from the University of Virginia, and his return to his doctoral alma mater, University of Minnesota (UM) after a forty year (and counting) career.

It is a tribute to Gottesman's influence that the contributions DiLalla invited and assembled here are much longer on the meat of good thinking, research, news, and informed outlook than on the soft flesh of praise and genteel honorifics. And for the nonspecialist reader like myself, there are some big surprises.

For example, Thomas Bouchard, et al. report and summarize research on the genetics of social attitudes. (Recall that Bouchard, is the principal investigator of the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart [MISTRA], a study that commanded worldwide attention in news reports of amazing similities of twins separated at birth or shortly after and reunited as adults at UM. For example, the Jim twins, reunited 39 years after their separation at 4 weeks: both men had performed well at school at math but struggled with spelling, enjoyed mechanical drawing and carpentry, had first wives named "Linda" and second wives named "Betty," named their sons "James Allan," owned dogs names "Toy," got headaches at the same time of the day, drove the same color and model of Chevrolet, chain smoked Salem cigarettes, bit their fingernails, and vacationed in the same spot each year.) Of course, the heritability of things like IQ and personality traits such as introversion-extroversion have been known for some time, but social attitudes? The things one learns at mother's knee? Yes. Such attitudes as authoritarianism, Religiousness, even political conservatism are shown to be strongly influenced by genetic factors. And there are other surprises that await the reader.

The book closes on a brief warm note by Gottesman himself, reflecting on his career, a few of his influences and colleagues, behavioral genetics and human rights, and the future.

A perfect book? No. I would have liked to have had a complete list of of Gottesman's publications included. However, given their number, such a list would have added considerably to the length of the book.

Knowledgeably compiled and professionally edited by psychologist and academician Lisabeth DiLalla (Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University) Behavior Genetics Principles: Perspectives In Development, Personality, And Psychopathology is a compilation of contributions by experts in the field of behavior genetic research. Behavior Genetics Principles is a superbly organized and presented introduction to the cause/effect connections between genes, personality development, and the frontiers of research into genetically based psychopathologies. Behavior Genetics Principles is a seminal work and strongly recommended for academic library collections and supplemental reading lists in the fields of genetics and human behavior.

"A certain mother habitually rewards her small son with ice cream after he eats his spinach. What additional information would you need to be able to predict whether the child will: a. Come to love or hate spinach, b. Love or hate ice cream, or c. Love or hate mother?"

This quote from Gregory Bateson's preface to his Steps to An Ecology of Mind (1972) returns to haunt a fine chapter by Eric Turkheimer, Spinach and Ice cream: Why Social Science is So Difficult. The chapter is one of fourteen that summarize the current status of behavioral genetic research in development, personality, and psychopathology as they celebrate the career of one of the truly outstanding psychologists of our time, Irving I. Gottesman.

If any career can be said to be the defining touchstone of research into the genetics of mental disorder, especially schizophrenia, over the past half-century, it is that of Gottesman. Mention the genetics of schizophrenia to informed behavioral scientists anywhere on the globe, and Irv Gottesman is the first name that will come to mind. Since the publication of his Schizophrenia Genesis (1990), now dated because of its publisher's indolence in supporting a revision, the same can be said of many thousands of educated laypersons.

These chapters were initially prepared as presentations for a gathering of his colleagues and former students who are now themselves accomplished investigators in the field of behavior genetics, organized by the book's editor, Lisabeth DiLalla, in Minneapolis in June, 2001, on the occasion of Gottesman's retirement from the University of Virginia, and his return to his doctoral alma mater, the University of Minnesota (UM), after a forty year (and counting) career.

It is a tribute to Gottesman's influence that the contributions DiLalla invited and assembled here are much longer on the meat of good thinking, research, news, and informed outlook than on the soft flesh of praise and genteel honorifics. And for the nonspecialist reader like myself, there are some big surprises.

For example, Thomas Bouchard, et al. report and summarize research on the genetics of social attitudes. (Recall that Bouchard, is the principal investigator of the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart [MISTRA], a study that commanded worldwide attention in news reports of amazing similities of twins separated at birth or shortly after and reunited as adults at UM. For example, the Jim twins, reunited 39 years after their separation at 4 weeks: both men had performed well at school at math but struggled with spelling, enjoyed mechanical drawing and carpentry, had first wives named "Linda" and second wives named "Betty," named their sons "James Allan," owned dogs names "Toy," got headaches at the same time of the day, drove the same color and model of Chevrolet, chain smoked Salem cigarettes, bit their fingernails, and vacationed in the same spot each year.) Of course, the heritability of things like IQ and personality traits such as introversion-extroversion have been known for some time, but social attitudes? The things one learns at mother's knee? Yes. Such attitudes as authoritarianism, religiousness, even political conservatism are shown to be strongly influenced by genetic factors. And there are other surprises that await the reader.

The book closes on a brief warm note by Gottesman himself, reflecting on his career, a few of his influences and colleagues, behavioral genetics and human rights, and the future.

A perfect book? No. I would have liked to have had a complete list of of Gottesman's publications included. However, given their number, such a list would have added considerably to the length of the book.

"A certain mother habitually rewards her small son with ice cream after he eats his spinach. What additional information would you need to be able to predict whether the child will: a. Come to love or hate spinach, b. Love or hate ice cream, or c. Love or hate mother?"

This quote from Gregory Bateson's preface to his Steps to An Ecology of Mind (1972) returns to haunt a fine chapter by Eric Turkheimer, Spinach and Ice cream: Why Social Science is So Difficult. The chapter is one of fourteen that summarize the current status of behavioral genetic research in development, personality, and psychopathology as they celebrate the career of one of the truly outstanding psychologists of our time, Irving I. Gottesman.

If any career can be said to be the defining touchstone of research into the genetics of mental disorder, especially schizophrenia, over the past half-century, it is that of Gottesman. Mention the genetics of schizophrenia to informed behavioral scientists anywhere on the globe, and Irv Gottesman is the first name that will come to mind. Since the publication of his Schizophrenia Genesis (1991), now dated because of its publisher's indolence in supporting a revision, the same can be said of many thousands of educated laypersons.

These chapters were initially prepared as presentations for a gathering of his colleagues and former students who are now themselves accomplished investigators in the field of behavior genetics, organized by the book's editor, Lisabeth DiLalla, in Minneapolis in June, 2001, on the occasion of Gottesman's retirement from the University of Virginia, and his return to his doctoral alma mater, the University of Minnesota (UM), after a forty year (and counting) career.

It is a tribute to Gottesman's influence that the contributions DiLalla invited and assembled here are much longer on the meat of good thinking, research, news, and informed outlook than on the soft flesh of praise and genteel honorifics. And for the nonspecialist reader like myself, there are some big surprises.

For example, Thomas Bouchard, et al. report and summarize research on the genetics of social attitudes. (Recall that Bouchard is the principal investigator of the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart [MISTRA], a study that commanded worldwide attention in news reports of amazing similarities of twins separated at birth or shortly after and reunited as adults at UM. For example, the Jim twins, reunited 39 years after their separation at 4 weeks: both men had performed well at school at math but struggled with spelling, enjoyed mechanical drawing and carpentry, had first wives named "Linda" and second wives named "Betty," named their sons "James Allan," owned dogs names "Toy," got headaches at the same time of the day, drove the same color and model of Chevrolet, chain smoked Salem cigarettes, bit their fingernails, and vacationed in the same spot each year.) Of course, the heritability of things like IQ and personality traits such as introversion-extroversion have been known for some time, but social attitudes? The things one learns at mother's knee? Yes. Such attitudes as authoritarianism, religiousness, even political conservatism are shown to be strongly influenced by genetic factors. And there are other surprises that await the reader.

The book closes on a brief warm note by Gottesman himself, reflecting on his career, a few of his influences and colleagues, behavioral genetics and human rights, and the future.

A perfect book? No. I would have liked to have had a complete list of Gottesman's publications included. However, given their number, such a list would have added considerably to the length of the book.

Many and many tales of myth and legend have survived the countless years since their conception. But, very few of them are as compelling as Beowulf. Any fan of mytholology theology and philosophy will have a field day with this tale, and any fans of such other classics as the Odyssey, the Iliad, and the Gilgamesh, will deeply love, adore, and cherish this tale of trial and tribulation, and conquering the greater evil.

Beowulf is an amazing story, and Donaldson's translation is suberb. HOWEVER, the black cover that just says beowulf in script is NOT a norton critical edition, it is just the Beowulf text with an introduction, and none of the essays that go with the actual Norton Critical Edition, which actually costs less. The Real Norton Critical Edition based on Donaldson's text has a blue cover, and says it is the "prose edition." I made the mistake, so don't make it yourself. The Black covered version is only 55 pages long, so the Beowulf text is all there, but nothing else.

I was getting very tired of learning about every culture but my own in school. We were learning about Africa, South America, and Asia nearly all the time. I suggested to my teacher that we read Beowulf, and celebrate Anglo history. Being a reasonable man, he agreed. Well, let me tell you- it was one of the few times the public school system gave me my assignments that excited my "passions for learning" .................... Buy Beowulf and learn about a hero and his quest to save his people.

Review of "Beowulf," Norton Critical Edition edited by Joseph F. Tuso and translated by E. Talbot Donaldson.

This is one of those works that has stayed with me, and I can understand the fascination it has exerted on so many people for such a long time. "Beowulf" is the jewel of Anglo-Saxon literature, written around 1000 AD, but composed most probably a couple of centuries earlier. This is a "primary" epic, like Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey" because it shares with them its oral origins. Unlike "secondary" epics, such as "The Æneid," which has a clearly identifiable author creating the verses, "Beowulf" belongs to the oral tradition of the Old English "Scop," the teller of tales. The story is a known one, but fascinating nonetheless: Beowulf, a man who was not appreciated by his own people, the Geats (in Sweden), finally earns their respect and admiration, so much so that he can render assistance to a foreign king, a Scylding (Dane), whose realm is under attack by Grendel, a monster who kills men and eats them. Beowulf fights Grendel, and Grendel's mother, ridding the Scyldings' land of their presence, earning the king's gratitude and reward, and earning honor and glory for himself. But the story continues: Beowulf goes back to the Geats, in time becoming their king, until he must fight a dragon that is devastating his kingdom. Behind this very succint description of its plot, "Beowulf" has magnificent digressions, details, and a very effective challenge to the system of feuding. The digressions are necessary to explain the customs of that particular time and people. One of the most effective ones happens in pages 35-36, when we are told of the arranged marriages between members of feuding nations, and how that tactic is doomed to fail in a society that never runs out of reasons, or excuses, to feud and wage war. Another important digression takes place in pages 51-52, related to the battle of Ravenswood, and is again firmly tied to one of the poem's most powerful themes: the feuding society of vendettas that involve entire kingdoms must be disposed of.

"Beowulf" is glorious and tragic epic at its best. It opens with a funeral and it ends with a funeral. There is treasure given as offering to a king at the beginning of the poem, and treasure that is buried in order to get rid of the problems of society at the end of the poem. The men are brave, violent, and long for the death of heroes. The women are given as war prizes and considered booty (not much room for feminist characters in epic tradition). Old age is cruel because a society of feuds values youth and strength above all else. The monsters must be destroyed if the world of men (and women) is to go on. Grendel, the "walker-alone," must die if the wine-hall of the Scyldings, Heorot, is to have scops telling stories, and men drinking and eating as before. Here is the principle of "until" applied to its best effect: things are just fine at Heorot until Grendel shows up and kills so many men that nobody uses the wine-hall for fun anymore. Things are fine in the land of the Scyldings until Grendel starts killing people. Everybody celebrates Grendel's death at the hands --literally-- of Beowulf until the next night, when Grendel's mother avenges her son by killing a man. Beowulf goes back to his land, becomes king, and everything goes well until an angry dragon starts destroying towns. Basically, this is life: things go well until they don't. The poem manages to remind us of something so obvious that we yet tend to forget, especially if we drift toward happy endings.

As with most Norton Critical Editions, this one has been put together with the student in mind but is still interesting for the general reader. Donaldson's prose translation is clear and to the point, and the footnotes, even though not as abundant as I would have liked, are helpful. The essays cover almost everything you always wanted to know about Danes, Geats, Feuds, Old English Scops, Prosody, and Poetry, Historical background, and more, including perhaps plenty of what you really do not want to know. Particular attention deserve two essays: Edward B. Irving's "The Feud: Ravenswood" (my teacher, Mrs. Georgianna, really likes this one), and J.R.R. Tolkien's "Beowulf: The Monster and the Critics." This last essay is also included in the excellent, and sadly out-of-print, book "An Anthology of Beowulf Criticism," edited by Lewis E. Nicholson, and it has become a classic.

The only thing I would add to this edition, apart from more footnotes, is the original text in Old English. Other than that, this is simply an excellent addition to the vast Beowulf literature, presenting us with the true grandeur and pathos of epic glory at the threshold of enormous social changes.

This book unlocks the secrets of saving for college like the 401k plan did for saving for retirement. A real must for all families to understand. Makes a great present.

This book should be read by anyone planning to send a child to college.After reading this book, I started college savings accounts for my daughterin New York and New Hampshire. This is definitely the "sleeper" tax break which everyone should know about. Forget the pitiful Education IRA. The 529 plans are where it's at!!

No doubt, a very useful guide to methods of financing a college education. Also check out "WEST POINT", by Norman Thomas Remick, which clues you in about West Point, the college at which everyone is there on full scholarship paid by the government.

Highly recommended. This is the first comprehensive analysis that I've seen of an extremely important and relatively new way to save on a tax-deferred basis for your children's or grandchildren's college expenses. It's well-written, comprehensive, and objective, and it gave me enough data to make an informed decision. Before I opened the book, I had researched New York's plan through another source; I was delighted to see the discussion in this book present all of the plan's features (pro and con) that I had discovered--and more.

I haven't met the author (Joseph Hurley). But when I e-mailed a question to him at the address published in the book, I received a thorough and helpful answer later the same day. That's great service from the author of an exceptionally valuable guide.

Charles Pfeiffer's book is essential for understanding how and why Jewish culture changed during the silent 440 years.

'Is it not written in the Book of Jasher? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day." (Joshua 10:13)




The Silent Years:
The Christian looks upon the Old Testament as preparatory, looking toward the fulfillment of its hopes and promises in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is interested in the history of the centuries preceding the coming of Christ, the advent, and a progress toward that period of history termed "the fullness of time" (Gal. 4:4)."
The time between the close of Old Testament history and the beginning of the New Testament period has often been called "the four hundred silent years." To the historian, however, these centuries were anything but silent, and they seem to become more vocal with each passing decade. Proceeding from the Old Testament into the New Testament you notice changes in their political and religious milieu. Apparently no Hebrew prophets were speaking or writing, and God was revealing no new word to the Palestinian Jews. It was a time of wondering and waiting for the Diaspora, and mother land being acted upon by other nations. Now appear Jewish groups within Palestinian Judaism; the Pharisees and the Sadducees are two-which did not show up in the Old Testament, but appear in the New.
The Jew notes during these centuries the development of synagogue worship, the successful Maccabean revolt, and the emergence of those parties within Judaism which have set the pattern for Jewish life and thought during the past two millennia.

Palestine under the Nations:
To the student of ancient history, names like Cyrus, Darius, and Alexander the Great make this period one of paramount importance. There is a new political power on the scene. The Old Testament ends with the Israelites under the control of the Babylonians. As the New Testament opens, Rome rules Israel. What has happened? Palestine, because of its location on a major travel and trade route, was often invaded and ruled by other nations. Those times of invasion-and the ensuing occupation-had profound effects on the nation and its religious life.The Assyrian Influence. Although the Assyrian influence came before the Inter-Testament period, there was an effect that lasted into the New Testament period. After conquering parts of Israel in 722 B.C., the Assyrians carried off some of the Jewish inhabitants and replaced them with other people. The resulting intermarriages resulted in the Samaritans, a half-breed people racially and religiously.

- The Greek Influence, through the conquests of Alexander the Great, had two major effects. Greek culture and the Greek language became prominent. The New Testament books were written in Koine, Old Greek and some of them utilize Greek concepts to convey the message of the Good News. On the other hand, the overwhelming Hellenizing influence led to a split among the Jewish people between the those who adopted Greek culture and the Nationalists who defended a pure Jewish culture and traditions.
- The Egyptian Influence. One major result of Egyptian rule was the translation of the Old Testament scriptures into the Greek language. This translation, known as the Septuagint, made Jewish ideas readily available to non-Jews and, at the same time, laid a foundation for the spread of the Christian faith.
- The Roman Influence, colonizing of Palestine by the Roman Empire as the Caesars expanded their power and territory. In order to rule their vast empire, the Roman government constructed and maintained a system of highways. They also saw that travelers on the highways were protected.

Intertestamental literature:
While some of the political changes were harmful to the Jews, they proved later to promote the emerging of Messianic faith in the nations, expected by the Essenes and the Therapeutae, a holy Jewish coenobetic monastic community. We get the literature of this period to find out how the people were thinking, to what their minds were being given. A large part of that literature appears in the Septuagint Old Testament, and is incorporated in the Roman Catholic Bible. In our Bible the Roman Catholics make their insertions of the Jewish literature as follows: Just after Nehemiah they put in two books, Tobit and Judith, neither one of them historically good, and a good deal of Tobit is exceedingly silly. To the book of Esther they add ten verses to the tenth chapter, and then add six more chapters. That these additions were written in this period, and after the inspiration closed, is evident from the reading of them. Just after the Song of Solomon, they put two Apocryphal books, Wisdom and Ecciesiasticus. These books, while not inspired, make very good reading, but they are written, as I said, in that interval between the two Testaments, and rather late in that interval. Just after the Lamentations of Jeremiah, they put the book of Baruch. Baruch himself was the scribe of Jeremiah and a good man. This book, some of it, is exceedingly silly, and evidently not written by Baruch.

Pseudo.epigrapha:
Old Testament Pseudepigrapha are a variety collection of ancient works inspired by the spirit of TaNaKh, some parts of which are so vividly close, that in Jebna they could have been included in the Jewish canon. The imaginary milieu and adventures of biblical characters; Enoch, Moses, Ezra, and Ezekiel, fill the pages of this heterogenous corpus with marvelous faibles. Oracles of such sages as Ahiqar and Sibyl, their apocalyptic prophecies and sacred legends provides a fantastic description of celestial realms.
Pseudo: false, epigrapha: inscription(Gr.), Psedoepigrapha: false ascribed writings, a collection of intertestimental writings of Jewish and early Jewish-Christian origins, not found either in Hebrew Bible or the Septuagint (Alexandrian translation in Koine).
The Pseudepigraphic writings were preserved in Eastern (Coptic, Ethiopian, and Syrian church traditions, and were often transmitted in those church original and ecclesiastic languages, and translated into Armenian, Georgian, Slavonic even if originally composed in Hebrew or Aramaic. Early Christian, Essenes and Gnostics may have added to writings or interpolated into some of these then existing books, as some fragments of pseudo writings have also been discovered among Cairo Geniza, Chenoboskion Gnostic library, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Book Review
"Pfeiffer's book on this subject is a gem. It is not so weighed down with scholarly material to be dry to the average reader. Meanwhile, it's not so light on material to be useless to anyone. This volume on the inter-testamental period covers those four hundred years in about 125 pages-- enough to give you fairly significant detail about what happened (and suggestions for where to look if you care to study the matter further), but not so much that it will put the average reader to sleep." Editors, Standing-Alone.com

Charles Pfeiffer's Authority:
I encountered Pfeiffer's scholarship in his two books, Ras Shamra and the Bible, and Tell El-Amarna and the Bible, and his book 'The Biblical World' is a masterpiece. He is concerned more with archaeology as, then, the new tool for checking history. That is why his book, Between the Testaments, was aimed at clarifying the impact of Persian and Hellenistic periods on the Jewish nation, before the Romans took over. The book's final chapters, 'The Origin of the Jewish sects,' and 'Rrise of Apocalyptic Literature' are compelling. This historical book is a good preparation for its Synonym, by D. S. Russell which elaborates on these two chapters literally and theologically. In an authoritative essay on Jewish Sects (IX): Zealots and Herodians, Fred Shewmaker referred to Charles Pfeiffer eleven out of seventeen times.

This book is an accurate and sound book. If you are looking for factual information about the intertestament period, get this book.

This is THE book to read on what heppened in the 400 silent years between the Old and New Testaments. This exciting time in Jewish history set the stage for the coming of Jesus. Why did the whole world speak Greek? What was the Jewish Rebellion? How did the Edomite line of Herod come to rule over the Jews? All of this background and more is in this book. It is written at a college history level, it is not light reading but it is well worth the effort.

A Bicentennial Malthusian Essay(Conservation, population, and the Indifference to Limits) by John F.Rohe is an extremely interesting, must-reading, for all responsible people. Alarming, yet exciting, to gain a realistic understanding of conservation. Thinking non-conservationists will become conservationists. Conservationists will find the back-up information to substantiate their beliefs.

Richard M. Shuster, Retired Circuit Judge
5th Judicial Circuit Court, Barry County,
Michigan

A Bicentennial Malthusian Essay(Conservation, population, and the Indifference to Limits) by John F.Rohe is an extremely interesting, must-reading, for all responsible people. Alarming, yet exciting, to gain a realistic understanding of conservation. Thinking non-conservationists will become conservationists. Conservationists will find the back-up information to substantiate their beliefs.

Richard M. Shuster, Retired Circuit Judge
5th Judicial Circuit Court, Barry County,
Michigan

At a time when many people downplay Malthus, or even ridiculed him, his predictions are coming true-if we just take notice. This is certainly not visible in the suburban supermarket where many of the people who affect what is happening shop. However, for growing numbers of malnourished people on our planet, this is all too apparent. This fine book looks at the underlying causes for this predicament and suggest that the only final way to resolve this problem is to face up to our population problem. Increasing food production, if that were still possible, only postpones the worst, and because the world's population would be larger, would make the suffering even more terrible. Everyone should read this book.

Rohe addresses the natural limits that we face, population, resources, environmental degradation, the earths carrying capacity whose totality is a disease of being indifferent toward these limits. He write with the precision and logic of a lawyer which he is.

All ex ASA'ers should read this one.

Havin Been there at this period of time at this army post I can say Mr Kistner knows his subject well and is very accurate as to the life of the men stationed there and having been there I know what is fiction and what is not. The men used even though fictious reminded me of many that I served with there . fine Job.

As a former member of this type of team, I found that I could not put the book down. Memories of that time in my life flooded back. Tom's description of the actual day to day life of this ASA team was on the money. His portrayal of the men and their mission may be fiction, but then again, is it? An excellent book.

I found The Blankenship Solution to be a very riveting piece of fiction. Having served in the Army Security Agency in Chitose and Wakkanai in the same time frame as the book (1955-1957), I swear I knew at least four of these characters, although there was no crabbing or sunbathing when I was there. From November through March only snow (17 feet when I left in March), and cold (as low as -40). Mr. Kistner really knew his subject in this one.

Russian accounts of the world wars seem to be rare, this book is a unique treasure. Not only does it describe World War II from a Russian point of view, the narrator was a naval commando, and one of the greatest war heros of the Soviet Union. Mr. Leonov begins the story with how he volunteered for commando training when he was a machinist at a submarine base. He served mainly in the arctic region of Scandinavia and northwest Russia, and eventually Japan's northern islands at war's end.
The Soviet naval commandos were probably the major fore-runner of what would become the various Spetznaz units in later decades. Most of Russia's special-operations concepts seem to have originated with the navy, with the army greatly contributing to the institution as the war progressed.
Much must be said in praise of the Russian fighting-men (and women) in World War II. In 1941, the Soviet military was inept, obsolete, and poorly equipped, with most of its officers long-since executed in concentration camps at Stalin's orders. It was Russian patriotism, not communist ideology, that saved them. At the end of the war, the long-suffering Soviet troops had developed new weapons, tactics, and strategy. They learned from their enemy, and some of the most significant developments were in special-operations.

What these men did simply defy reality. I took this book out from the library years ago and read it within two days, I simply could not put it down. Later on I was able to find a copy of it here on amazon and every now and then go back to skim through my favorite parts. The stories in it are incredible, what these men had to endure and what they were able to accomplish are feats that not even the greatest writer can put into words. The author reveals them through the simplest language, that of a soldier, and yet I couldn't help but to read and reread some of the scenes over and over again. As an example: stuck in a cave trying to hide from the Germans, one of the soldiers a marine recon platoon, chewed on his hand rather than scream out from the pain he was under as a result of the wounds he had received. Never in my life could I have imagined such courage and selfrestraint. This is one of the more memorable stories but by no means the most interesting or the 'best', although I'm sure my opinion will differ from yours as to which story the best. If you can find a copy I promise you won't be disappointed. I've read hundreds of books on the war, fiction and non-fiction, to date this is still the greatest and most interesting of them all.

This book tells of the experiences of Viktor Leonov and his fellow Naval Scouts during World War II. They were sent behind enemy lines near Murmansk, Finland, and Norway to battle German forces and report on military activity. This book was written in the early 1950s but delayed for publication until 1990. The translation is by James F. Gebhardt, a retired US Army major now employed by a defense contractor in Kansas. Viktor Leonov's exploits are comparable to Sergeant York or Audie Murphy.

Leonov joined the Red Navy in 1937 and worked as a submarine mechanic and then in a repair facility. When war started in July 1941 Leonov joined the Naval Scouts (comparable to the US Navy SEALS). Most of this book tells about the operations west of Murmansk, the only Russian port that is ice-free the year around. Leonov's descriptions have a classic restraint that avoids dramatic stories (but you can read between the lines). There is little about personal lives and thoughts. Combat at Cape Krestovy resulted in decorations for all, and a "Hero of the Soviet Union" (comparable to the Congressional Medal of Honor) for Leonov and two others. The victory in Europe on May 9, 1945 saw the Naval Scouts transferred to the Pacific.

In early August the Soviet Union renounced its Peace Treaty with Japan and attacked the Japanese aggressors (p.180). Their big battle was at Seisin. While Japan surrendered on August 17, fighting still went on at Wonsan. Leonov and nine other scouts went to meet the Japanese garrison commander. The book describes the psychological negotiations with the colonel (pp.197-208). Finally the Japanese colonel ordered all his troops to lay down their arms and surrender. This gave rise to the legend that ten Naval Scouts surrounded 3,000 Japanese troops to get their surrender! Leonov won a second "Hero of the Soviet Union" award for this action.

This is a book that won't appeal to the general reader but offers interesting insights about the First Front of World War II and a force that may have served as a model for the Navy SEALs. [This is the paperback version.]

It is little known to Americans that, during WW2, an elite commando detachment of the Soviet Northern Fleet was formed to conduct raids on enemy bases in Finland and Norway. Their mission was largely to provide support for Allied convoys along the most perilous passage of the North Atlantic route to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. This book contains the translated memoir of Viktor Leonov, twice-decorated recipient of the highest military honor, Hero of the Soviet Union. In his own words, he tells of his team's specialized training and the daring strikes they conducted, greatly outnumbered, against the enemy. The action and adventure is fast-paced and reminiscent of that in Marcinko's "Rogue Warrior" series, but its presentation is delivered with more restraint. Like all Soviet war-memoirs, Leonov's account is straight-forward and tends to emphasize the strong camaraderie and patriotism of his unit. More attention is paid to the deeds of his comrades than to his own heroism, so that the reader feels personally acquainted with each man. Eight pages of wartime photos are included. Accompanying the story are hundreds of footnotes. Some of these provide additional personal information and anecdote. Others cross-reference previously unobtainable Soviet military sources with German records. Besides verifying the accuracy of Leonov's memoir, these provide historical background data of great value. So numerous and fascinating are the footnotes, that I had to read the book with one finger marking place in the Appendix. This proved quite distracting to the flow of the narrative, so upon completion I reread it. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in World War 2, Soviet military operations, or special-warfare.