G Books

Another great discours from Aimee Cesaire reagrding the Europeans bumbling excuse for justifying the illegal acquistion of others peoples land and resources, and slavery. No wonder I personally have BLACK RAGE.

the quality of the product was the very best. it also arrived when i expected it too. i needed it in a crunch time and it came through beautifully.

This is a fascinating book for folks interested in the international decolonization movement of the 50s and 60s, and its relation to the Black Power movement in the States. The Discourse is beautifully written and passionately argued. The interview helps clarify Cesaire and Senghor's concept of "Negritude" as an early form of Black pride, rather than racial essentialism. The essay introduction is worthwhile since it puts the book in relation to Cesaire's poetic work and the Surrealist movement in France, America, and the Antilles. It's unduly dismissive of Cesaire's Marxist politics, especially since it goes against the spirit of the interview appended at the end.

I read Cesaire's 'discours sur le colonialisme' in one afternoon at a coffe place and it was captivating in how intellectually he wrote, with tinges of attitude in the words. A lot of the things he wrote about I already knew from studying a lot about Africa before and what ethnocentricism vs. ethno relativism means when applying yourself and perceptions of other cultures. This book is as applicable in the 1950's as today, I found that America seems to be the new France and Britain, as far as imperialism goes.

This book has so many good points about how one must look at the non Occidental world. Whenever I hear people talking about Africa in a degrading way in that the continent needs the Western world to give it medicine, schools, etc . . .it infuriates me with the lack of research these people have done. Although one can't expect everyone to know, but they would at least get a glimpse if they read this. They would see that it is the fault of the Occidentaux which is why Africa is in the state it is now. Before Europeans went there, the people of this rich, great continent had their own cultures, laws, languages, writing, religions that worked very well for them. Because they were different than Europes ways, they were viewed as primitive and uncivilized, but you can't measure a civilization by the same standards of another, far different one. Just because they didn't write their history down, doesn't mean they didn't have it. They used oral tradition for this, which is just one example of the European's prejudice. If Europe never went there, these African civilizations very well could have flourished and become great as the passage of time went along.

Colonization has done it's damage, Cesaire talks about decolonizing our minds, I wonder how long that will take to accomplish? I would recommend this short read to anyone who wants to try to get out of their own cultural shell and think about the way the world is viewed from the viewpoint of others, even though this book is seriously outdated and seems like the author has never even been to Africa.

Frantz Fanon is a more compelling read though (even though he's a bit of a misogynist), try "black skin, white masks" or "l'an V de la revolution algerienne/a dying colonialism".

In Aimé Césaire's "Discourse on Colonialism," She very blatantly voices her opinion that a (European) civilization that is:

...incapable of solving the problems it creates is a decadent civilization. A civilization that chooses to close its eyes to the most crucial problems is a stricken civilization. [and finally] A civilization that uses its principles for trickery and deceit is a dying civilization. (31)

As well as applying for both Britain's presence in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, and France's colonial presence in Africa and the Caribbean, this powerful statement could become an equation for the line drawn between one country's involvements with another.

For example, here is an unmistakable connection here to the US' involvement in Iraq. Are we as a nation decadent? Stricken? Dying? The over $155B spent in Iraq (...) instead of other national priorities. Cesaire's points are very relevant to the times as she brings further knowledge and past histories into the damage of Colonialism: "...at the present time the barbarism of Western Europe...being only surpassed...by the barbarism of the United States" (47).
She talks about the `gangrene' of impartiality, in regards to the French hearing stories that are disturbing and pornographic. "Colonization, I repeat, dehumanizes even the most civilized man" (Césaire 41). A theme prevalent in films such as Black Girl, Chocolat, and Xala. It is easy to be impartial when one is ignorant.

Since I work closely with my business sponsors on long term projects, I found this book's approach appealing and suitable for me.

I also found this book to be deeply insightful and useful at work where I have to deal with salespeople who use old style sales techniques. I wish more salespeople would read this book and not waste their time or mine.

I wished I had read this book before I started my own business, but nonetheless, it was helpful at reinstating fundamental concepts that I had forgotten to practice daily. This book was a great read, and I highly recommend it.

Highly readable,easily understandable from an expert.
A must have for any aspiring entrepreneur.

Pages 96-97 alone are worth the price.

Think-Be Knowledgable means just that. Don't either overthink or underthink

Be Likable--Why would anyone wish to associate with a person they don't like?

Speak-Be Credible--There is already too much BS out there

I have owned this book for a while and find its advice pertinent to my day to day interaction with business people and their advocates. This is not some collection of random thoughts, but rather a distillation of some of the best thinkers who have addressed the issues of business and just interpersonal communication. This is a must read for anyone who wants to get anything done in the world of business and it is a pretty good guide to getting to yes in your personal life.

There is a wonderful feeling that grows inside as you progress through these pages. You know your getting smarter and being given tools that will help you in all areas of your life. This book is for everyone who wishes to communicate more succcessfully. Rogoff's book empowers you to benefit from more collaborative and proactive conversations in and out of the workplace. The writing is clear, concise and smart. Rogoff demonstartes how to engage your clients, co-workers and even friends in dialogue that benefits all the participants.

Beaudette has revisited the cold fusion controversy and teased the actual findings of Fleischmann and Pons He has also evaluated the intellectual atmosphere of the first months and years from the 1989 announcement. He did a good exposition on the difference between good and bad science for the lay audience.
He also showed the politics of big science and the poor showing of protocol for the evaluation of the cold fusion phenomenon. The phenomenom is real. It just doesn't work as hot fusion would.
The conflict of paradigms is fascinating to see played out in the world press.
The book is quite readable without complex mathematics to bog down the mind.
Highly recommend the book for moderately educated layman.
With the gas prices being what they are cold fusion deserves more than a cursory look and it does a good job delineating the various sources of xs heat
Sincerely
Doug Hulstedt

This book is a magnum opus on this fascinating field. Together with Fire from Ice : Searching for the Truth Behind the Cold Fusion Furor by Eugene J. Mallove, this is one book you really need to read. Not only because it is highly interesting, and a great work and example of what really good scholarship means, but also because it is very readable, detailed, honest and accurate. It provides a excellent insight about the early days of cold fusion, the confusion, and the later shortsighted, stupid rejection of the entire field by scientific establishment and mainstream media. The latter can be forgiven, they have no knowledge nor interest in the truth, but the scientists are really to blame. As you can see from previous reviews posted here by exceptional great minds like Arthur C. Clarke, prof. Bockris, and others, this is no joke at all. This is pure, honest, cutting edge science. This is the frontier thinking and research that made our age of technology possible. This is the science the world is needing so badly. Mr. Baudette has done a excellent job of presenting the fact and history of this exciting field of science. For people like him, and like Mallove, Clarke, Bockris, Pons & Fleischmann, and many, many others, I personally have the deepest respect. The truth will come out, one day. Let the critics state one desperate non-argument after the other - this is stuff is for real, and it's here to stay, boys and girls! And it's going to change our world for the better - sooner than you think. I wish I could rate this book 6 stars.

As a journalist covering cold fusion, I turned again and again to this book to check or confirm facts, data, dates, chronologies, and other details and have found it to be the definitive resource in the field. Written by an engineer and vetted by scientists who participated in cold fusion research, the book is an indispensable guide to anyone interested in the history, data, issues, and future of this subject. Recommended without reservation.

I am a teacher. Several months ago I received an e-mail message from a high school student. The girl wrote; ". . . In my chemistry class, I am doing a project on Cold Fusion.. . . I was wondering if you could give me some advice or information?. . ." Beaudette's book is an excellent summary of what has been done in the field of Cold Fusion since 1989. It is a must for any teacher who is interested in the subject.

In addition to summarizing results of many interesting projects the author offers several philosophical observations about scientific methodology and protocols used in various scientific disciplines. Referring to the Cold Fusion controversy he writes: "to discard a well made observation is to violate modern protocol [scientific methodology]. If widely practiced, such a course would quickly undo science. The most interesting and perplexing observations, though accurately measured, would have to be refused by the scientific community because their cause was obscure. Does this mean that any claim of observation must be accepted as worthy of scientific study? Certainly not. It means something quite different. It means that the controversy must center about the quality of the measurements and not about the source or cause of the phenomenon. . . If conflicting data is prohibited from contention, then theories are no longer falsifible. Were it to enable such practice, science would evolve into secular theology."

Beaudette's book has many other interesting observations and quotes, together with the scientific background of major cold fusion researchers. It certainly deserves a place in libraries, especially in high schools and universities. The level is appropriate for an educated layman.

I have read this book, "Excess Heat". I simply could not lay it down until I had finished it entirely. During the process of reading it, I kept repeating to myself (and my captive wife) how excellent a job "this man" did on setting down in philosophically logical terms the convincing facts and logic of the science of cold fusion. At one point I remarked to my wife that "this man" must have taken Apologetics in college and received an "A" mark, but then I remembered that such courses might not have been offered at our Alma Mater (MIT). I was impressed with the way the heretical errors developed, flourished and were brought out in clear plain logic in the book. I want to humbly congratulate the author on such a masterful account of what has happened in this important field. I predict this book will be required reading in some of the "truly best", finest universities in the future. Historically, it will be recorded that Beaudette wrote the truth at a time when science was a bit confused and not quite willing to accept it right away. Slowly it will gain momentum, understanding and finally acceptance. Congratulations on a book that is very well written with class, authority, and no doubt, with hard work, the old fashion way: a book for all seasons.
Dr. Michael R. Staker, P.E.

For the first few pages, perhaps the first chapter and a small way into the second, I found this a difficult read. It is my policy, however, to read at least the first 100 pages of a book, and then decide whether to read on. I am very glad I did! This is a fine tale of a boy growing into adulthood, and all the trials he faced. It rings true with what I know of the period, and is a wonderful example of good literature. It is not a light read, but it is certainly worth reading, if you are interested in the period, sword play, sailing, history, or a good tale. Enjoy!

I am a die hard Lamour fan having read all of his novels (several times).

I bought this novel as it puts a lot of history and philosophy of the early exploration of America in a good context. You will get a good feel for life in England during the early days when England, Spain and France were fighting over imagined gold.

I bought this for my 14 year old son so he would learn the times of early exploration really were and the forces in play at the time.

louis lamour is easily my favoritest author - and this is my favoritest book of his.

superlative action, adventure swashbuckler.

the story of an irish prince who becomes a fugitive, becomes the greatest swordsman of his time and wins back what is his by right.

action, adventure, romance, a little bit of history, mystery, drama, sentiment, earthy philosophy - this book has it all!

pity that lamour never got to writing a sequel to it - though apparently he did desire to do one.

I thought that this book was very well written. I really liked the way Lamor described the fight scenes and the characters in extreme detail. This really gave me the idea of what it was like in those times. People made a lot of money through trade just like Chantry. If you like the art of fencing, this book is for you.

My grandfather collected and owned every original Lous L'Amour western novel. When I was 15 he passed the collection onto me. While this is not the best example of L'Amour's work it is certinaly my favorite. Another favorite of mine is "Last of the Breed", but "Fair Blows the Wind" is the book that I come back to read over and over time and again. I would recommend this book to anyone. No book collection is complete without this.

In this book, Dr. Weinzimmer points out many of the errors in normal business thinking by providing common sense alternative that will provide value to any company's customers. For example, he says to throw out SWOT analysis, but he provides an alternative that focuses on the customer instead of focusing on the firm. I had this professor for my undergrad capstone project and know that he truly believes in his ideas because he forces us to apply them in our senior consulting project (which uses actual companies as clients). This book allowed us to produce original ideas that will help our client grow their business. This book was even entertaining to read and, depending on the amount of analysis you want to put into it, can be a quick read.

Dr. Weinzimmer provides an excellent alternative to the common views on strategic management. I was a student in his strategic management course during my undergraduate study, and we used this book. Comparing it to other strategy classes, I can honestly say his view comes out on top. I would recommend this to any college student looking for an alternative to what is commonly included in books.

Although his examples and strategies tend to focus on large corporations, his approach to the issues and challenges of growth are applicaple to the smallest of entreprenaurs. Few books I found that don't have a lot of fluff, and give you usable ideas to implement. There are not many books I have read twice...but I am on my second time around with this one. So have I accomplished fast growth? Not yet but it feels like we're on the right track. Ric Hansen/ Radio Parties- Seattle
Hey if you are planning a party or wedding and need entertainment give me a call 1-800 954 3535. See, I am already using some new marketing strategies!

I'll admit, when I saw the 'PhD' after the author's name, I was afraid this would be a bone-dry and obscure piece of academic writing. But it is written with great clarity and is highly readable as well as informative. It's worth reading.

Unquestionably, fundamentals are the key to sustained business success. In today's dynamic and scattershot corporate environment, buzzwords and instant "must-do" paradigms abound. In "Fast Growth", Dr. Weinzimmer has blown through the confusing clouds of "must do's" spun by hypothetical consultants to deliver a product of strategy fundaments focused on additive value creation. Dr. Weinzimmer doesn't stop there, but continues on past strategic identification through all important steps of its implementation. A beautiful combination of the "WHAT" and the "HOW". Surely a gift for every businessperson - from college students through CEOs.

I was on this diet for a year a few years ago. A friend and I walked for an hour a day for 5 - 7 days a week also. I stuck with this diet,which just became a way of life that I enjoyed. I lost 40 or more pounds, which brought me down to 126. My walking friend's husband passed away and we stopped walking. For the first few months I slowly began to eat what I wanted again but I had built so much muscle on this diet that it took a good 6 months or more to even begin to gain weight. Before I went on the diet I had sinus problems alot. When I ate right and exercised I never had sinus headaches, or any kind of headache. I was never sick with a cold or any other problem and I felt great! It's approved by every association out there; heart, diabetes, ect. It's the diet I go back to when I am serious about taking care of myself. I just started it the past couple weeks and plan to stick with it. It works and is healthy and provides what your body needs. They explain why you eat what you eat. It's a very good education in nutrition and diet that you will use your whole life. I love it.

I purchased this book in March of 2002 and began my "diet" in April. I was obese to say the least. I have since lost a total of 60 pounds and overall 22 inches (13 from my hips and waist alone)I am sure that my personal motivation has had a lot to do with my success and I now have more energy than I have had in years. I am now able to wear a pair of jeans that I purchased my senior year of high school (I know... why would you save them?) which was 15 years and 2 children ago. I am absolutely NEVER hungry and actually crave drinking water now. (which I used to gag just at the thought of drinking) I have promoted this book to EVERYONE I know and even laugh about the fact that it was published so long ago, but still applies and is so useful.

My additional motivation is that I have gone from a size 22W pants to a comfortable 12 and often a 10. I run /walk 3 - 6 miles each day with my son, something I would not have been able to do 6 months ago and this also gives us some special time together.

I will say that this is obsessive, and my family hates to eat with me. Everytime we cook or eat together I do a lot of "do you know how much fat that has" or "I can't believe you ate sausages for breakfast!"

If you are even thinking of buying this book ... DO IT... RIGHT NOW!

I first saw this diet in " Ladies Home Journal" back in 1989ish.
It had a page size color chart to figure your fat index, which the paperback book lacks.

I used this diet back in 1992 and lost 48 pounds. However, during the holidays over the years, the weight crept back.

Now my wife and I are both on this diet and in the first two weeks, I have lost:

14 pounds

2 inches in the hips

3 inches in the waist

1 1/2 inches across the breast

My wife keeps her weight secret, even after 14 years of marriage, but she has lost 4 inches in the waist, 3 inches in the hips, and 2 inches across the breasts, in our first two weeks. HINT: Buy a scale with a memory!
I would say the diet still works. In addition, I don't feel any hunger pangs between meals.

The exercise is important, but drinking 64 oz of water each day is more important, to wash out those fatty acids that accumulate from burning your stored up fat. DON'T WAIT until you are thirsty, start with water before the first cup of coffee.

There is no mention of increasing your water intake after drinking caffeinated drinks, that in hot weather would leave you dehydrated. The typical rule is to drink 2 times the amount of water for each amount of caffienated diet soda. Apparently, the fluid intake and outgo with 64 ounces of any liquid is enough to flush the system.

Our sample supper meal for one person:

Fruit: 4 oz high pulp Orange juice

1 Vege: 2 cups salad mix with 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar dressing

Protein; 1 Vege; 2 starch & 1/2 dairy:
2 yellow no fat tortillos
1/2 can no fat refried beans
1/2 can diced tomatoes with green chillies
grated cheese on top

Heated in microwave 2 1/2 minutes. Magnifique!

I whole heartedly recommend this diet. DON"T FORGET to exercise at least 30 minutes every other day. Walk, spade your garden, put up stuff upstairs or like I'm doing this morning...unloading 20 sacks of humas, 40 pounds each, which I found last night @ 49 cents each.

I love this book! This is the only "diet" I have ever followed and I am still my high school weight at 45 years old. I first ordered the paperback from the back of the Special K cereal box at least ten years ago and have completely worn out the book. I've just ordered a hardcover edition hoping it will last into my old age. If you're new to this book, keep in mind the fat comes off slowly - replaced by muscle. It's not an overnight diet - but a forever body change. Give yourself a couple of months to really see the difference. Also, you won't be hungry. The only thing I do differently from the book is to have two starches at lunch and one at dinner; this seems to work better for me. Also, I've found that water-packed tuna with BBQ sauce for flavor really sticks with you. Have fun and be creative!

I only had to read about 1/2 of the 1st chapter of this great book(I dont like to read), but thats all i needed to understand why "diets" dont work. This book is a must for anyone who want to lose weight(fat). I lost 25 pounds in about 40 days. The concept of this "diet" is so easy i had to slow my loss down because i was afraid of losing too much too fast. Now that the holidays are over, i'm going for another 25 pounds. My wife lost about 33 pounds also.

I really enjoyed this book. It had good detail, and you really felt like you were going on the rounds with Dr. McCormack. I have read it several times since I bought it, and it is hard to put down each time, even though I know the outcome!

I enjoyed reading how tough it was to convert some of the farmers to the methods of modern veterinary medicine, and it was interesting to read the different methods the farmers had preferred to treat the illnesses in their livestock and pets until their was more modern help available.

My people are not from Choctaw County, but we're from "around there." This is not only a sympathetic and heartfelt account of a rural vet practice in the sixties; it's a very accurate look at the folks you were likely to meet then and there, both the good and the bad. I have met most of the folks he talks about, or at least their near relations. Dr. McCormack's extended meditation on the verbal mangling of his job description by his neighbors is alone worth the price of admission, although the account of his visit to the Governor's Mansion driving the "rounds vehicle" and a too-long-delayed boar cutting run it very close. Excellent book.

This book relates some of McCormack's adventures as the new vet in a southern country town during the early 1960s. McCormack grew up on a farm in Tennessee. His college roommate, a pre-vet major, interested him in veterinary science. Once he earned his veterinary degree and had a few years of experience under his belt, he set off in search of a town where he could hang up his shingle with an independent veterinary practice. At the time, Butler, Alabama had no licensed vet, so it seemed like a reasonable place for a new vet to make a start. In this book, McCormack describes the characters he met, both human and bovine, during that first year in Butler.

McCormack is a master storyteller. With his careful choice of words, he conveys the character of the place with all its color. While chatting with some locals at a general store, McCormack quipped he went into veterinary rather than human medicine because he didn't like dealing with people. But he tells us that this is absolutely not true-if there's one skill that a vet must have above all others, it's the ability to deal with people, to understand their needs and character. In this book, McCormack regales us with tales of how he came to learn this lesson.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and entertaining. I loved the Herriot stories so much, this is another great book about vet stories. It will definately be worth your time.

I own the hardback copy of this book...actually I have owned it for a few years now. It is one of those books that become a literary treasure in your bookcase. I was so hooked on this book when I first got it, I read it from cover to cover in one day...I just couldn't put it down!

Dr. McCormack in the US can be likened to James Herriott of England. His stories of animals that he treated and the start of his career in the 1960's makes the reader feel they are right along side him assisting in whatever procedure needs to be done to his animal patient.

I am a person of great compassion for animals and as a reader, I was truly appreciative that the love and compassion that Dr. McCormack has for his animal patients shines through to the reader's soul. I laughed with this book..I have cried with this book...I have pulled for the sick animal in this book...I have rooted Dr. McCormack through as he treated tough cases in this book.

There are books about animals and then there are the special books about animals because the respect, compassion from the writer is there and the animal patients become real as one reads along the journey in the book.

If you are a James Herriott fan or an animal lover who is a reader, I highly, and I stress highly, suggest getting this book and reading it!

"The Fossils of the Burgess Shale" written by Derek E.G. Briggs, Douglas H. Erwin, and Frederick J. Collier and photographs by Chip Clark is simply a marvelous book about early Cambrian life some 540 million years ago. We get a rare look into life's past and what makes the Burgess Shale such a significant part of life's mystery is that these fossils, in most cases, are soft- bodied fauna and flora.

"The Fossils of the Burgess Shale" is a snapshot into life's past and there are only a few locations (30) left that can afford such a look ( China, Central America, Greenland, Spain, Poland, and Southern Australia). Found in 1909 by Charles D. Walcott, high in the Rocky Mountains of Canada, now part of Yoho Park in British Columbia, who had a huge collection of these remarkable fossils shipped back to the Smithsonian Institution where he was Secretary. Today the Cambrian is among the most intensively studied intervals in the history of life, and the debate rages over what triggered the rapid appearance of most major groups of animals.

The photographs in this book are a major accomplishment as it affords the reader with an example of the fossil in question along with a line drawing of what this particular flora of fauna looked like. Thus, making the reader aware of what the authors are talking about.

If you've ever read "It's a Wonderful Life" by Stephen Jay Gould or "The Crucible of Creation" by Simon Conway-Morris "The Fossils of the Burgess Shale" will make a great companion book that explains some of the personalized conclusions that are found in these books and it makes it very clear as to what they are discussing. The preservation of soft-bodied animals is not evenly distributed through the fossil record. Thus, making this book all the more important concerning about what life was like.

The first few pages of the book explains where the Burgess Shale is and its significance and the major players in which have played an important part in the furthering the knowledge of these fossil remains, how fossilization probably occured.

The remainder of the book is devoted to the fossils of the Burgess Shale, with illustrations, discussions, full page photographs and reconstructions of 85 out of 125 recognized genra. The text accompanying the illustrations aims to provide an outline of the morphology, mode of life, and the affinities of the organism. There is ample identification of the sample fossils so the specialist can search for further data.

"The Fossils of the Burgess Shale" is rated a solid 5 stars and is one of the best books that I've found for life in the Cambrian. You will not be dissapointed with this book as it delivers in spades.

If you've ever kept a scrapbook of old photographs, you'll understand the fascination of this collection. Instead of grandmothers, aged aunts or toddler cousins, this book reveals life from the dimmest past. With photographs and drawings, Briggs and his colleagues have restored to view rare animals that lived in ancient seas. These are our earliest forebears, and for that reason alone, this book is worth repeated scrutiny. The images, with their stories of discovery and restoration, are offered in a spirit of shared discovery. These are very special creatures and it behooves us all to understand their value.

Although the book is targeted for professional paleontologists, the authors give us text nearly as illustrative as the images. They are part of the team who personally enticed many of these fossils from their lithic prison. Beginning with an account of Charles Woolcott's trek into the mountains of British Columbia, they go on to describe the environment in which these creatures lived. The significance of the Burgess Shale fossils, of course, is that they are images of soft body parts, usually lost as fossilization proceeds. At the time of the original find in 1909, such artifacts, especially ones of such ancient deposition were pricelessly rare. Woolcott himself understood their value to science, but never dedicated the necessary time to tease out their full secrets. It took Briggs and others, particularly Simon Conway Morris to apply the painstaking effort to recreate the body forms locked in the shale. In so doing, they overthrew a number of blithe assumptions made by a number of commentators, in particular Stephen J. Gould who had popularized the Shale finds, but sadly misinterpreted what they represent.

As you slowly turn over the pages of this book, reflect on the vast ages separating you from these creatures. The sea has always kept some bizarre secrets, but few can match the multi-spined Hallucegenia or mud-burrowing Ottoia. Haplophrentis might be mistaken for a Roman dagger lost in the sea until you read that its maximum length was but 30 millimetres long. A more formidable denizen of these waters is the Anomalocaris, with its hooked feelers and rasping mouth. Swimming in a sea with this half-meter long predator might not have been dangerous, but observing it might best be done from the beach.

This book is a clearly valuable contribution to our understanding of life's history and the process of evolution. It belongs on the shelf next to the other albums of family history. Take it down from time to time and simply open it at random. With half-closed eyes it isn't difficult to see these creatures in their daily lives, clutching rocks, swimming through the water, or burrowing into the bottom. They are your forebears, and deserve as much of your respect as does Aunt Matilda.

The Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies contains rarely preserved fossils of the soft body parts of animals, including many from the Cambrian. This reference provides good quality black and white photographs and illustrations of 85 of the 125 recognized genera of the Burgess Shale. Of interest, the proportion of the total Burgess Shale fossils a given specimen represents, is given.

This is a wonderful book. It is chock-full of photographs of Burgess shale fossils. The photographs are full page photographs and are accompanied by drawings that illustrate what the plant or animal probably looked like. The text is informative and easy to follow for a layperson.

"The Fossils of the Burgess Shale," the non-geologist will find this book fascinating and understandable - yet the author did not "water down" the facts for those of us who have the technical background in the fields of geology and paleontology. The only drawback of the book was that some of the species listed in the back were not included in the pictorial portion of the book. I do understand that if Briggs had placed them all in the book the volume would have been over a 1,000 pages in length; however, several of the species not included are equally spectacular!

The first third of the book provides a brief history of the site and it's significance within Cambrian paleontology; the remaining two-third portion of the book provides clear photographs and line drawings of the animals entombed in this special location. I have used this book in teaching about the Cambrian explosion. Students were awed by the content of the book. If you are interested in invertebrate paleontology; this book is a must!

I'm a 3rd year graduate student in neuroscience, currently studying synaptic transmission with an electrophysiological approach. With biotechnology as an undergrad, let's just say my neurophysiology background was far from being strong. My PI recommended me this book a couple of weeks ago and I'm just loving it. The part on synaptic transmission (chapters 9 to 11) is simply great. I find things that I've read about MANY times before, on books like Kandel's, Fundamental Neuroscience, and many of the classic big textbooks, but none of them deals with this part as this one does. It's kind of the same issues but with a slightly different perspective, a perspective that I think you're able to appreciate more as you gain some experience in the field. Little details, certain experiments that you might have overlooked as a first year student, suddenly make all the sense. I don't think this is an overly simple book. It is really well written, and that's what I think makes it kind of reader-friendly but again, somehow it gets to deal with classical issues and concepts in a much deeper and USEFUL way (particularly for people actually working on this) than the great majority of other textbooks in this area. As I said in the title of my review, I wish I had learned about this book before, and that's the reason I'm writing this. Hope it helps :)

I realize that Amazon uses different shippers and stuff but I would not recommend buying this book from Amazon b/c, first of all, it took 6 days for it to ship to me when I have 2 day shipping and because I paid for a new one(direct from Amazon) and the copy I was shipped already had scratches and water damage on the inside pages although it was wrapped in clear plastic and supposedly new. This is not the first time where things like this have happened but I think this will be the last time. I am canceling my 2 day shipping and have decided to use other sources for my textbook and other book needs after my vouchers are used up.

I am a physics graduate student who happen to become interested in neuroscience. I had been searching for an introductory book when I stumbled upon this one. Although I am only half-way through the book right now, I could already tell that it is exactly what a newcomer to this field would need. With the terminology clearly defined, the book gives a very concise, clear, and logic description on the fundamentals. It further keeps one's interest high by relating the fundamental knowledges to everyday experiences. What I like most about this book is that it does not shy away from pointing out what is not yet known. With the last chapter devoted to "open questions", it presents the real questions to be answered. This book is really perfect. Highly recommended.

Neuroscience is generally considered a very dry area of research where people do research for years together to discover some meager facts. Still, even to a person who is averse to Neuroscience, this book might seem appealing. This speaks about the lucid, simple way of explanation in this book. This book is well written and explains the basics of Neuroscience better than any other giant books in market. Buy this book irrespective of your discipline to know the intricacies of Human Brain and have a pleasant reading.

I am a first year graduate student "accidentally" entering the field of neuroscience. I needed a basic text to help me "catch up". This book has been wonderful! The authors' have a great writing style- easy to read. More importantly, the authors are expert at choosing and presenting important, basic aspects of neurobiology to inexperienced neuroscientists without bogging the reader down with unnecessary and confusing detail. In particular, the authors thoroughly discuss ion channels and their role in neuronal communication, presenting electrophysiology as a valuable tool for studying these channels. This text was "just right" for me. However, if you are an advanced "neuroscientist", this text might be a bit on the "simple" side.

I ordered the book for a class I'm taking. I find the book to be very interesting and it keeps my interest. Key points that I need to know are included in the text. Excellently written.

The book's content is precise, to the point and not repetitive in hard to understand grammer. The context was really reliable for the course I am currently taking. The chapters are not long and drawn out yet the examples the author uses are up-to-date, on point and target. I truly liked this book because it is a great read outside of higher education.

Kim Klein is a nationally known expert in the area of fundraising, and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of fundraising in the book. She presents the information in an easy to understand format, and shares her expertise in a motivational manner. I highly recommend this book, even if you have been in fundraising for a number of years.

This is a must read for any staff member of a small not for profit organization. It's a bit freeky how she knows so much about my group, and then cuts to the chase on how to address the problems identified.

I love this book. It's been around for a while in one form or another. Currently it is in its 5th revision. And with each revision the author has refined it. As a result, it is very well written and outlined. It is also really good because the author is a fundraising practitioner and teaches what she does. She really knows her stuff when it comes to fundraising. At least that's the impression I get from reading her book.

Fundraising at a nonprofit, whether large or small, is basically a profit center. It's a business! This book treats it as a business and has the feel of a startup guide for that business. As a SCORE volunteer believe me when I say this book has the feel of a startup guide; I've read my fair share of startup guides for for-profits and counseled enough wanta-be entrepreneurs on how to start a business. This book is a startup guide.

So how is this book a startup guide? Well, it advocates preparing a written fundraising plan BEFORE you put together your fundraising office and start raising funds. It describes a "fundraising framework" that you must understand before you can prepare a sound and successful plan. Then it tells you about time-tested strategies for acquiring and keeping donors - the strategies that will enable your nonprofit to build a foundation or base of donors from which all successful fundraising will emanate. And next it tells you about the time-tested strategies for upgrading donors so they will (or can be expected to) give larger gifts as time moves forward. There are also sections that explain how to setup and manage a fundraising office, and how to prepare a budget and write a fundraising plan.

The book could have stopped there. That's all that a startup really needs to know and do to be successful at raising sufficient funds to provide its services and distribute its products. However, the author tells us more. She talks about feasibility studies and capital campaigns. And she talks about actually being a professional fundraiser, and about special or unique circumstances where traditional fundraising methods don't always work well.

I really have only one problem with this book. I would like it so much better if the author would change its title to something like - A Fundraising Startup Guide: The Nuts and Bolts to Building a Successful Fundraising Profit Center. I realize the author's background is in helping cash-strapped nonprofits that advocate social change, and that this book was initially created to help her help those organizations (and herself). But the book is not merely about nonprofits that advocate social change. And I wish the title would properly reflect what the book covers. 5 stars!