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Lezama is not for everyone... to feel Paradiso there is a need to understand all his previous work: essays, poetry, short stories, critical and cultural studies. For those who have seriously study World Literature, there is no doubt that Lezama is one of the most important, sensible and imaginative writers of the XX century. You might not like him (and that is ok!) but to doubt his artistic greatness is nonsense. Once you enter the poetic system of Lezama the rewards are endless!

Jose Lezama Lima achieved one of the most complex and mesmerizing novels of the XXth century in Latin America. Paradiso is a Bildungsroman (a novel about an individual's growing process) as it is a Kunstroman (novel about the artist). The reader will find many references to Lezama's life, but his work goes beyond a self portrait. Jose Cemi is a little cuban boy who grows up having breathing problems, and grasping the lifes of those who were before him.
His individuality mixes with the other's and the result is a complex narrator, an overwhelming amount of literary, cultural and mythological references, a refined use of the metaphor and a hightened sense of reality. Cemi's world is more than nature... it is supernatural. Cemi attends to the world of death, as he remembers the lifes of his ancestors, as they are told to him by his mother Rialta, and grandmother Augusta. The first half of Paradiso is all about the family... then uncle Alberto's death marks a point of change in the novel. From that moment on, it focuses in Cemi's friendship with two other students: Fronesis and Focion. The three of them constitute a triangle in which homosexuality, love, erotism, unity, mythology and androginy are the main topics. As well as incest.
When this simbolic triangle breaks, Cemi is ready for the epiphany: he meets Oppiano Licario: a friend of his father who promised him, as he was dying, to look after his son (Cemi). Licario also witnessed Alberto's sexual iniciation. He is a poet, and he is the one who can bring Jose Cemi out of the time of desperation into a rythm of reflection and artistic contemplation.
There is so much more to this novel... You can only know what it is all about by reading it. I can here only give you a few pieces. As Lezama believed: only what is hard is really rewarding, and this is particularly true for young people.

This and a handful of other literary creations rank among the best of the 20th century. It is a dense, jungle of images, language, against an elegant background. I can not think of another work to compare Paradiso to, as it stands alone. Once upon a time, I attempted to read it in Spanish, but was overcome by a tidal wave of intricate vocabulary.

It is unfortunate Lezama Lima has been largely forgotton in the US except for a few ardent readers. It is impossible to find any of his poems in translation. Maybe they are not so readily translatable. In any event, the translation of Paradiso is in itself an amazing achievement, as Paradiso explodes in volcanic beauty.

I would argue that Paradiso is the best novel of the 20th century. I don't believe this because of the plot; as a matter of fact, I don't really think there is much of a plot here. I say it because of factors that have to do with the author, the time in which he wrote this, and how those elements combined to make this incredible piece of literature.

A little bit of history: by the time Lezama Lima wrote this novel, he was already a well-known writer in Cuba. He and some friends had started a literary magazine, and actually, he was best known for his poetry. When Castro's revolution came to be in 1959, it marked the end of Cuba's literary life. Writers like Lezama Lima could keep writing so long as they wrote nothing controversial, nothing too "out there," nothing that could even hint a thought of anything that could be deemed "counter-revolutionary." And soon after Lezama Lima wrote Paradiso.

Now a little bit about the novel. Consider it, really, a long, endless conversation with many, many asides. It is complex if only because there are so many run-on sentences, so many thoughts and descriptions and details, that it's easy to lose track and just find yourself thinking, period. And I think that's what he was going for. The book covers just about everything: politics, ethics, philosophy, homosexuality, love, religion, etc. I thought when I read it that basically Lezama Lima just wanted to express his thoughts and opinions on everything (I later learned I was pretty correct about that, but more on that in a minute). What this brilliant man had to say is well-worth reading, even today.

But now, let's go back to the time and place when this was written. A few years after Castro came into power, and after he had declared his Communist intentions. With the publication of this novel, Lezama Lima's fate was sealed. As a homosexual man living in a country with a severely homophobic dictator, life had already been getting more and more difficult for him. But when Paradiso came out, he was officially declared "non-person" by the regime. For those unfamiliar with the concept, I will explain that being declared "non-person" essentially means just that: you cease to exist in the eyes of the government. You are erased from the history books, from the record books, you lose your job, people who visit you or have anything to do with you risk losing their government freebies and suffering reprisals. Lezama Lima was no longer a national literary treasure, and the man who up until that moment was considered one of the most respected writers in Latin America, was reduced to nothing.

I had the honor of meeting his younger sister a short while ago. She was sharing the contents of private letters between her and her brother from the years after the publication of Paradiso to those before his death. They revealed so much about Lezama Lima as a person, how he saw life, how he regarded his family (all of whom were in exile and whom he missed terribly). They reveal his gentleness, the tenderness he felt about nature, his family, his memories. And they also reveal the hell that his life had become: the loneliness, the constant vigilance, the pain he felt over what had become of his country.

Being privy to such an experience really only affirmed my thoughts about this novel. He must have known what lay in store for him, and yet it didn't stop him. He still wrote it. When the government demanded that he denounce his own book, the one he considered his masterpiece, his message to the world, in essence, he refused. It simply fills me with awe. For that alone the book is worth reading.

Some novelists are known for a pared down, no-nonsense approach to narrative, firmly delineated, plainspoken characters, crackling, lively dialogue, and swiftly moving, engrossing plots. Lezama-Lima is not one of those authors. It's hard to recommend a book that I have so many reservations about. Yes, the writing is occasionally beautiful, and as an historical document of a certain type of artistic and literary milieu in Pre-Castro Cuba, it's worth something. But I'm afraid that I'm going to have disagree with all of the reviewers here and say that LL's endless aestheticism must be something of an acquired taste. The problem is that he writes prose too much like a poet--all florid circumlocutions with no feel for the rhythms of everyday life and speech. No doubt he would have felt the everyday to be beneath his austere heights. Nobody talks the way his characters do--it's all lengthy, abstruse theorizing on frequently esoteric subjects. His essentially elitist approach to writing fiction would test the patience of anyone who looks to literature for a more immediate kind of connection. And, sorry, Mr. White, LL is not the Latin American Proust--Proust is far more readable and speaks to more basic human experiences.

Sometimes some of the worst snobs are those (i.e., homosexuals) who have themselves suffered the most heinous abuse because of their dubious social stature--rather than reject the values of the mainstream, a writer like LL ends up embodying them and perpetuating them to an infuriating degree through his snobbish affectations. Or else one could view his aesthetic vision as essentially escapist, understandable given the political situation in Cuba at the time. Still, a more accurate view of what was actually happening might have been of more human interest--it would have been valuable to see how these characters strained to maintain their sensibility in view of what was actually occurring around them. But, as it is, the book seems to exist in a vacuum with no real connection to the political situation in Cuba--its Eurocentric preoccupations offend.

El único pero que le pongo a este audiolibro es el hecho de que el narrador se pasa los primeros 40 minutos dando su aburrido punto de vista y consejos, además de que su voz es un poco ridícula. Me hubiése gustado una voz mas agradable como la de J.J. Benitez.

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This book is the spanish translated version of 'Think and Grow Rich' by Napoleon Hill. It is tremendous in that it helps you not only monetarily; but that it also applies to any other goals you have in your life. The book was a gift to my father - who sometime thought of 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'; believe me after reading this book; his mind has opened up to so many more possibilities, adventures, goals. a must read.

UN EXCELENTE CLASICO DE AYUDA Y SUPERACION PERSONAL

Todos los logros, incluyendo todas las fortunas jamás acumuladas, tuvieron su origen con una idea.

La riqueza proviene de convertir una idea de algo que solamente nuestra mente puede ver en algo que le sea útil a otras personas, y para lo cual estén dispuestos a pagar.

Esto se realiza mediante la autosugestión, la planeación organizada, la asociación de mentes maestras y una armonía interna entre los pensamientos y las acciones así como los logros en la vida.

PIENSE Y HÁGASE RICO

He leído este libro un par de veces. No porque me parezca tan bueno como para leerlo más de una vez, sino porque la traducción al español fue hecha hace mucho tiempo, por lo que no estoy familiarizado con algunas palabras.

Tengo entendido que ya existe una versión con lenguaje actualizado en inglés, pero no sé si en español ya exista algo similar.

Yo no he visto con mucho agrado los libros de superación personal, tal vez porque los primeros que leí fueron obligatorios en la escuela, y además eran aburridos. Sin embargo no podía dejar de leer este libro, escrito por uno de los más grandes exponentes de la literatura de superación personal que jamás ha existido: Napoleón Hill.

"Piense y Hágase Rico" no solamente pretende exponer la fórmula que el autor descubrió para adquirir riquezas económicas, sino que en general contiene los pasos a seguir para obtener éxito en la realización de cualquier objetivo.

Puntos a favor:
· Muestra excelentes ideas, en la forma de 13 pasos, para plantear objetivos, formular planes y ejecutarlos.
· Es un libro que, como lo dice su título, te pone a pensar.
· Contiene palabras y pensamientos que realmente inspiran al lector.

Puntos en contra:
· El autor es muy rígido e insiste demasiado en llevar a cabo los 13 pasos... yo creo que es mejor obtener la esencia de los principios expuestos, y formular personalmente su propia metodología.
· Para lograr los objetivos planeados el autor da por hecho que el lector cree en la existencia de un Ser Superior, o Mente Infinita, o como se le quiera llamar, excluyendo de esta manera a los ateos... entonces quien no cree en la Mente Infinita, o en Dios, o en algún ser superior está destinado a ser un perdedor, y un miserable toda su vida. Por supuesto esto no ocurre en la realidad.
· El lenguaje y algunos conceptos son anticuados.

En resumen, sí recomiendo leer "Piense y Hágase Rico" de Napoleón Hill, pero con una mente crítica, reteniendo la esencia de los principios expuestos en el libro.

Many years have passed since the first edition still this basic manual is a must read for any Cave Diver.

This booklet is the first cave diving manual and although decades old it is amazingly contemporary and still extremely useful to all technical/overhead divers. A must have book for every serious divers' library.

The "brand new fifth edition" of Basic Dave Diving is last copyrighted 1986. I'm intrigued by cave diving, but am not yet a cave diver, so I don't know for sure, but question if some of the equipment discussed in absolutely up-to-date. The addresses for instructors and phone numbers for Florida recompression facilities may also be in question. I'm trusting, though, that the National Speleological Society (NSS) is not continuing to print something that promotes dangerous, discredited, technique. Moreoever, I've seen this book in the dive shops in north central Florida, and it still seems to be in use for cave diving instruction.

First, for those who judge value in the book by the quality of printing, note that this booklet is a typewritten, photocopied, booklet, copied on 8-1/2-x-11 in paper and folded in half with a cardstock cover. I just mention this so someone expecting more is not disappointed.

The book is divided into 10 short chapters, each 3 to 8 pages long, and the book can be easily read in its entirety in one evening. Each chapter begins with an actual accident report and an accident analysis leading into the subject of the chapter, whether it be silt, lights, guidline, air supply planning, etc.. Each chapter focusses on one aspect of proper cave diving, and thus the book divides techniques into small, easily digestible, pieces. Each chapter tells you what it needs to without adding extraneous information to complicate your understanding.

Note that the book focusses on cave diving technique in Florida, and warns the reader that different techniques may be appropriate in other locations.

I think that this book is a good, inexpensive, introduction to cave diving for someone with a curiosity about this sport, whether or not you plan to pursue it. The book is also written by the probably best-known person in the field of Cave Diving. (Don't let the fact that Sheck Exley died cave diving cause you discredit the information in this book - he balanced the risks with the rewards and willingly chose to push the limits of cave diving.)

It would be irresponsible of me to conclude this review without a warning. An open water diver armed with the this book might think that they know enough to safely cave dive, but PLEASE do not attempt cave diving without training from an appropriate agency. I am an open water divemaster, and do not feel that I yet have the experience to even begin cave diving training. Before beginning cave or cavern diving training, a diver requires extensive open water experience, must be thoroughly comfortable in the water, must be able to handle emergency situations without panicking, and must be physically fit.

Very important mind forming book about cave diving. Accident analysis covering the firsts statistical reasons people get killed in cave diving. s.Exley was among the most important people to learn from. All cave divers need this to play "What if..."

There are several dangers that exist with cave diving. This book covers each one of these points with absolute clarity. With the description of each danger an accident analysis is reviewed where divers died by violating one of the basic rules in cave diving. This book saved my life. It is a must for anyone that is considering cave diving. With proper training and equipment Cave Diving can be a safe sport. This is a good primar on the subject

I came across this book because it was required reading for my cosmology course. The book gives a Newtonian (it only briefly mentions the much more complicated General Relativity equations) overview of the current theories about the universe: its mass, its age, its shape and its ultimate destiny. The text is very readable, equations are explained properly and the diagrams are useful. The reader is left with a good impression of why the currently proposed cosmological models are sensible.

The book puts the case for the hot big bang model, which is by far the most popular cosmological model at this time. There is a chapter on the successes of this model: explanation of the cosmic background radiation, universal expansion, and the relative abundance of elements in the early universe. There follows a chapter on the major problems of this model: how come the background radiation looks the same (to within one part in a hundred thousand) everywhere, even when light hasn't had time to travel between all these regions? How did the universe become structured (into things such as stars) when physics predicts that matter should be homogeneously spread? And why does the universe (seemingly) possess the exact right density (to almost infinitessimal precision) to stay flat, as we see it today? Inflation theory offers some help, but at the same time asks a bigger question: which of the many inflation theories (if any) is right? Liddle doesn't go into much detail on this point, but you get a good introduction into what inflation is and why such an odd theory would be proposed.

I'm making it sound as if the big bang model has more problems than it solves, which I don't think it does (heck, it's the best theory we've got). But the problems are more interesting!

On which subject, there are problems (solvable ones!) at the end of each chapter, with brief solutions at the end of the book.

This book is the most clearly written book I have ever read. Liddle has a knack for making difficult concepts easy to comprehend through his use of analogies and vividly accurate descriptions. The cosmological ideas are explained at an intuitive level and have been imprinted on my mind forever. This book is a great introduction for the less mathematically minded though also a great source of information for others. This book book covers a great amount of cosmology the big bang, nucloesynthesis, inflation, cosmological models etc and is set out in a very logical order. I would thoroughly recommend this as an introduction although for those interested in more mathematical rigour other text books may be necessary.

Well done Dr. Liddle ! A great achievement .............

I sent this book back and got my mony back.
Not because it was not a good book, but it was way beyond my mathmatical ability to read it.
This is a very technical book, more geard towards a serious scientist.

This is a highly readable introduction to Cosmology. The author states clearly that the approach is grounded in physics rather than mathematics and indeed, any reader with a basic grasp of single-variable calculus would cope with the derivations that are presented. Its ready accessibility would make it an enjoyable introduction for those working on their own wanting more than a 'popular 'account of Cosmology.I have adapted and used some of the material and problems for my year 13 physics class.

The main body of the book is self-contained and requires no further material for the interested reader to get to grips with the rudiments of the standard cosmological models. More complex results are stated without derivation and some are used as the basis for the exercises. The 'Advanced' topics require a little more of the reader and are presented as brief summaries rather than being rigorous. For example ,the chapter on General Relativistic Cosmology is 'for those readers who have experienced some general relativity'. As a teacher of physics,I found this book to be a very useful addition to my library.

That is a very good introduction book to cosmology at an undergraduate level. Although there are not many complicated equations, the physics ideas are very clear. It covers a lot of materials with easy-to-understand languages. The big bang model is the main part, with concise introduction to dark matter/energy, neuclosynthesis, cosmic microwave background, inflation etc. After reading this book, you will have a general idea about most of the concepts in cosmology and about what is going on in modern cosmology. Each chapter is accompanied by some problems, which are good exercise to understand the context. But I think it is a little outdated now, so maybe you should buy the 2nd edition.

All of Donald Goines books are good and he just captures your attentin to where you don't want to put the book down. It has a surprising ending. I wish their was a movie to go w/this.

Before, I was liking every other book that I read by Donald Goines and I thought this one was going to follow the same pattern. I started off loving it with the hijacking, but then the farmhouse scene was boring. Then the motorcyle ranch and Carol were extremely interesting, but then once that was done, I was bored again. On top of that, there were too many questions left unanswered. I was pretty disappointed with this one but I'm still going to finish reading his collection.

Another slamming book from Donald Goines that displays his wonderful and great storytelling. He gives his readers characters that they can relate with and who they love. Readers can relate with these characters, even the ones that they hate - the dope pushers, the crooked cops, and the racism that permeates law enforcement. This is a great trip with Kenyatta, and the black/white cops that are tracking him. I loved it.

This is number 3 in the Kenyatta series. It starts off action-packed with a hi-jacking of an airplane, but then sort of dies down in the middle of the story. It picks up speed again later on, and towards the end, it keeps you guessing. It's a little different because Goines usually keeps his stories in the 'hood, but in this series, he has found himself branching out and having Kenyatta and his people going all over the country. Can't wait to read the finale.

The story Kenyattas Escape by Donald Goines I would have to say is going down as one of the best books I have ever read. The story was not only exciting but also very intriguing. I'd have to say that this story is up to caliber with others written by Donald Goines such as El Dorado Red and Black Girl Lost (which happen to be two of my favorites). Although I haven't read Kenyattas previous adventure, I wasn't thrown off or given a feeling that I missed anything. This story is a whole new adventure in itself and I can say proudly that it's a great one.

Kenyattas Escape continuously had me wanting to know what would happen next. Kenyatta was pretty much my favorite character because of his leadership skills and determination. Kenyatta would never give up his dream of getting rid of the drug infestation destroying his people. Kenyatta, being a strong black man all about his people, does whatever he has to do in order to get results. This includes hi-jacking planes and of course lots of gunplay. This book is definitely not shy about the use of guns. Although guns are used in the book I like the role they play. To me Kenyatta saw it necessary to result to guns because it's the only way left to gain power, respect and make a change. He seems to be the Jomo Kenyatta of his time.

The story doesn't only focus on Kenyatta and his adventure but also on discrimination based on race in the police forces at this time. This is another aspect of the story that I enjoyed. The story relates to real life events. Although the book is completely fictional it seems as if it were based on a real life occurrence. The book is very realistic and it is very easy to relate to the characters.

Kenyattas Escape is a very good book, which was well written with great plot development. I would recommend this book to everyone. I guarantee you won't be able to put this book down. If you have read any other stories by Donald Goines and liked them this one will not disappoint you.

This is indeed a beautiful poem. I recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about the origins of Buddhism. The Light of Asia is Guaranteed to give the reader light. The actual reading is like a wonderful journey, unvieling a mystery but not explaining it. It left me with a very peaceful sense. Note: I came by this book when a girlfriend's grandmother passed away. It is the original hardbound edition containing dated notations by her grandmother in 1897. They were going to throw it away and not a person in the family wanted it. I will cherish this book forever.

A noble effort in the attempt to bring Buddhist thought into western minds of the 19th century. A lovely tome.

This book is a masterpiece written by Edwin Arnold, viewed through an "Asian's" perspective. He writes this book with a poetic and beautifully descriptive language portraying the life and times of Buddha, which stimulates your mind's imagination. His ability to capture the views of Asian thought and the story of Buddha's life is wonderful. This is a book to read slowly, and with a relaxed state of mind, to fully enjoy and absorb the impact of Arnold's writing. A great book for anyone who wants to expand their literary boundaries.

It is a narration of the Life and Teachings of Buddha written by divine inspiration by Edwin Arnold. Rev Angarica the founder of Mahabodhi Society was deeply inspired by this book whereafter he took the Buddhist Robes. I have read the book several times and propose to read it many more times. Each reading elevates you some what. Any one who wants the book for free may contact me at

navinkumar@hotmail.com.

I find it so sad that so few people have read or reviewed this masterpiece. I'm sorry to say it, but if it was on Christianity or the life of Christ the response would have been very different and this kind of writing would have been equated with the likes of "Paradise Lost." I am not a Buddhist, but I was deeply moved by the power and beauty of "Light of Asia." It follows the life of the Buddha, who was born in Dambadiva, India about 2500 years ago, to the royal family, but left the comforts of his life and all worldly possessions to persue the meaning of life; and gives us a vibrant picture of this great teacher and his teachings, rendered in beautiful verse. An excellent way to find out more about Buddhism.

This is a "real" guide. It has been carefully compiled and includes all the information which any water-borne visitor will need to know when visiting the Windward Islands., These are (in the order they appear in the book); Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Bequia (pronounced Beckway), Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Palm Island, Union Island, PSV and Petite Martinique, Grenada, Carriacou, and, of course, each of the passages between these enchanting islands.

In an informative introduction, which gets anyone who is sitting in a cold house during an American or European harsh winter (like I am!) wanting to reach for the phone and book a flight, we learn something about the local land and the customs of the people who live there. There are also a number of helpful suggestions on any topic from "what to bring" to sunburn - and it's all useful stuff, even for the seasoned traveller.

Then it's on to the cruising information with notes on weather and navigation as well as more general information about scuba diving, flora, fauna and even the flags of the different countries visited. From now on we get down to cases in the order of march already mentioned.

Telling people how they should navigate their boat is a very responsible undertaking. Forget to include that, otherwise well known, underwater obstacle and you can guarantee at least 3 boats will have hit the darned thing within the first 24 hours of your book being published. This book, however, is a professional work and I doubt any yacht or other small boat travelling to and from these small islands will be without a copy.

NM

If you are planning a trip to the carribeans (Grenadines/Windward Islands) - this is your #1 reference. Excellent! Very complete, in colors, pictures...

I used this book more than the charts. The information is up-to-date and accurate. Don't go sailing with out it.

J. Lemke

Doyle's info was very good and the color arial photos and mini charts are very usefull. The book is 9 inches by 6 inches and has 400 pages, however if you were to remove the advertizments and touristy photos you would probably end up with about 275 pages of usefull info.

This is one of my favorite travel guides, ever, period. Even though this book is aimed at sailors, it has plenty of helpful information for land travelers too. Plus it has a lot of information I've never found in another travel guide. The best example is this. One beautiful night as we sat on our terrace enjoying the 180 degree view of the southern skies, I turned to my travel partner and said, "Did you print off those star charts so we can identify the southern cross?" His response. "Uh oh, I never got around to that."

The next day we looked all over the Island of Bequia for a star chart. We were laughed out of stores, some of which even catered to sailors. At one point I suggested maybe the Sailors Guide we have back at the villa will have a star chart. We agreed it was not likely but hot and tired, we decided to go back and see. We get back, look, and sure enough there it is - a star chart of the southern skies along with a date and time table for determining where everything should be and when. Oh my goodness. We had a chart all along. Thank you Sailors Guide!!

We used that star chart every night for the rest of the week and had a blast locating and identifying all the constellations we could see. It was fascinating watching the southern cross gradually rotate around the point in the sky where the south axis of the earth intersects with the southern sky. Ah, the pace of life on Bequia and the joy of a guide book that delivers way more than expected.

Some good tips, think perhaps better for a novice.

this is a great book for people getting started with serious genealogy research. The new version (4th edition) gives useful tips for incorporating internet searching

This is by far the best book general methods book I have found. I highly recommend it to anyone beginning genealogical research and to those who are veterans, as well. I have given several to friends with a fledgling interest in genealogical research. It is indispensible for the beginner & I highly recommend it to everyone. Organized in a logical, easy to follow manner; not too technical; practical -- just plain good.

Croom's book offers excellent advice for beginners and genealogists with some experience. The workbook gives helpfuls lists such as "Where Do I find That?" and gives sources for birth, death and marriage information. It also explains the censuses and Soundex very well.

The appendices list archives, libraries and genealogical societies that are very helpful and up to date. There is also an excellent list of available state censuses.

Excellent information that I've found very useful as I'm beginning to learn basic research methods. My only complaint is that these editions become outdated fairly quickly and constantly require you to buy a new edition. Which might be understandable except I'm having no problem learning from the edition published in 1983. Much of the information clearly would be unchanged, so there seems little reason (aside from cynical tarket marketing) in plunking down a new $20 every few years only to get some updated appendix information or addresses easily found on the internet. Oh, and save your $16 on the workbook, stop being lazy, fire up your word processor, and create your own worksheets (Croom even generously teaches you how -- except for that cynical tarket marketing part). I really don't hold Croom responsible for this anymore than I would hold my grandmother responsible for not understanding the depths to which the marketing people for corporate publishers will stoop to suck money from both readers and authors. I've talked to Emily Croom via Barnes and Noble University and she's an excellent teacher and an obviously kind and patient woman who is very knowledgeable about genealogy research methods. Trust me, I thought I was unteachable! But do your own legwork, find another way to donate money to Croom for being the genealogy elder that she is, and keep your wallet away from what is clearly a corporate marketing scam of constant updates.

A very interesting interpretation with much information

I agree with David Reisbeck's review, but I want to add a few things. Among historians, Fine is one of the best for several reasons. First, his skepticism and fairness to all the sources stand out: he is not seduced by certain authors or philosophies of history as many are. He acutely perceives the difficulties of historical research. For anyone already interested in the history of Greece, I doubt there could be a better book; if you know a little and want to fill in what you're missing it's a great one too. Plus, it encourages further reading, making you aware of the sources available.

I would give two warnings. First, it's dense. It's serious history, directed towards students rather than casual readers. Second, it's not primarily a history of Greek thought and culture except in their broadest outlines. If you want to study the devleopment of ancient philosophy or of Greek art or religion, you'll have to look elsewhere. But if that's all that you're familiar with (this was my situation), it's an excellent coverage of their background.

The most surprising aspect of the book, for me, was Fine's wisdom about human nature--without being cynical. I usually think in terms of naive vs. cynical, and Fine is neither. Very refreshing.

Finally, I want to mention that the paperback binding of this book is wonderful. Few books have survived the beating my copy took, and still it looks good.

"A history which does not constantly cause one to reflect on what he is reading and to be cognizant of the nature and ambiguities of the evidence is hardly performing the function that a historical work should," reads the Preface to Fine's 720 page survey of Ancient Greek history. The work does just that, constantly drawing on the historical sources, both archaeological and literary, and emphasizing the difficulty of obtaining "absolute certainty." This makes for an excellent introduction into serious study Ancient Greek history from the early Aegean world through the death of Alexander the Great.

Readers looking for a lighter treatment of the subject, however, should look elsewhere. Though Fine assumes little knowledge of the subject, his aim is "not to produce a smoothly flowing narrative," and he certainly does not. Readers should bring a serious interest in Greek history with them, because Fine does not motivate it.

The serious student, though, will find the work rewarding. Those with a basic knowledge of the ancient world and a hunger to deepen that knowledge will find all of the major topics of Ancient Greek history dealt with broadly and competently, and will be able to move on from Fine's work into works of a more specific orientation. Though the work lacks a bibliography, the Notes include enough sources to keep a student busy for years. Anyone seriously interested in Ancient Greek history will find this book to be an excellent introduction to the subject and its scholarly methods.

I'm working toward a summer version of the Intro to Greek History Course so I checked out this book. As a critical history it is excellent but for undergraduates during the summer, heck, anytime where I currently teach, the book would bore them to death. I wish I could use it, I think it is very well written for someone really interested in Greek history and the discipline of ancient history. But in all honesty I don't think it would work well for most undergraduates. At the least it needs more maps and some timelines to help ground students.

"A history which does not constantly cause one to reflect on
what he is reading and to be cognizant of the nature and
ambiguities of the evidence is hardly performing the function
that a historical work should," reads the Preface to Fine's 720
page survey of Ancient Greek history. The work does just that,
constantly drawing on the sources, both archaeological and
literary, and emphasizing the difficulty of obtaining "absolute
certainty." This makes for an excellent introduction into the
scholarship of Ancient Greek history from the early Aegean world
through the death of Alexander the Great.

Readers looking for a lighter treatment of the subject, however,
should look elsewhere. Though Fine assumes little knowledge of
the subject, his aim is "not to produce a smoothly flowing
narrative," and he certainly does not. Readers should bring a
serious interest in Greek history with them, because Fine does
not motivate it.

The serious student, though, will find the work rewarding. Those
with a basic knowledge of the ancient world and a hunger to
deepen that knowledge will find all of the major topics of
Ancient Greek history dealt with broadly and competently, and
will be able to move on from Fine's work into works of a less
general orientation. Though the work lacks a bibliography, the
Notes include enough sources to keep a student busy for years.
Anyone seriously interested in Ancient Greek history will find

this book to be an excellent introduction to the subject and its scholarly methods.

I throughly enjoyed this book.

I purchased Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot for my god daughter because I liked the message. When I saw that there was a more in-depth description of the "candy bombing" for adults, I had to read it. Though the story is sometimes a little too detailed with specifics geared to pilots, don't let that deter you from an inspiring read. After reading this book, you can't help but wonder what magic you can make with the smallest of deeds or resources.

After meeting Mr. Halversen and reading his book I feel it should be required reading for every American.

In a world which has all but forgotten how Stalin tried to starve West Berlin into surrender to Communism in 1948, "The Berlin Candy Bomber" is a testimonial to those who say "NO!" to tiranny. Common threads are woven all thru the book - the universal appeal of freedom, even among people who have only know opression; the fellowhip of humankind, found everywhere in children; and, yes, the author's love and compassion for children. Halvorsen's fervor in his humanitarian service is of an almost missionary nature, quite infectious (in a good sense!!!) The only complaints I have are for the editing (better proofreading is needed); the author's tendency to drift at times; the technicality of many sections (not everyone knows enough about aviation to understand the lingo) and the relative lack of information on the Airlift after the author was ordered back to the States.

These factors aside, I loved the book, and was quite moved by it - especially in regards to the personal narrations by the (then) children of West Berlin. It's funny, witty and poignant at turns. Thank you, Mr. Halvorsen - it is a beautiful work.

Gail Halvorsen has written a vivid account of this increadible time in history, and how two sticks of gum were the beginning of a mission that brought hope to the children of a besieged West Berlin. This book takes you back to 1948 like no movie ever could, and makes you appreciate the huge efforts by ordinary people to keep West Berlin free from Soviet opression.
Although the book sometimes drifts in focus, as many autobiographies do, it is such a heart-warming story told by such a selfless and compationate man, that it is difficult to fault.
The story is inspirational and stands in stark contrast to the evils exhibited by men in the wars that ultimately led to the airlift. The world would obviously be no worse off with a few extra Uncle Wiggly Wings.