S Books

This book is an outstanding read. Concise, to the point and loaded with facts pertaining to the issue at hand make this a refresher course to bring the layman up to speed on his First Amendment knowledge and what it does and does not cover.

Read this book(!) if you care about the freedoms we enjoy in America or wonder about the limits that have been placed on them. It is history.., but the book reads like a set of short stories. It is enlightening, insightful, surprising, engaging, and down right scary in parts (the whos and whys of many court decisions) . Whether your interests are in freedoms related to speech, the press, or privacy, or all of the above; this is your primer.

In this brief history of the First Amendment one sees the array of interests that have so decisively shaped the interpretation of the First Amendment. Racism, religion, history, and politics are just a few of the more obvious forces that have shaped and reshaped the laws governing our freedoms. Less obvious forces that Lewis highlights are just as intriguing. Experiencing, through Lewis' non academic writing style, the chronology of events and court decisions, from Dred Scott to Guantanamo related (habeas corpus) decisions, this is a great read.

The fact that a book like this is even being written for the layman is very encouraging. It demonstrates that there is an emerging interest in what our freedoms are, how they evolved to this point, and by extension, how they can continually be refined to satisfy our ever changing needs as a "liberal democracy".

If you know the "enemies" of the First Amendment, you will be better prepared to fight them. If you know the effects of excesses in freedoms, you will be more likely to avoid them. Lewis gives you both, along with his humble thoughts on the major issues addressed in his book.

Thank you Mr. Lewis for taking the time to write this book. I cannot stop talking to friends, colleagues, and strangers about how it has brought to my attention just how recent our "freedom of speech" really is. Although our founding fathers might have written the text over 200 years ago, men and women were still being jailed under the libel laws and Sedition Acts. Current and future reporters please read this book and use it as a reminder of the importance of your role in our democracy, by keeping our leaders honest with your thorough research and candid accounts. Every American should read this book!

Unless a person goes to law school, it is unlikely that he or she will learn the 200 year old history of the First Amendment...yet is is a fascinating and necessary history to learn. The thesis of the book is that our common notion of what "freedom of speech and press" means in America is not self evident law. In fact, the author explains, our right to criticise the government and its leaders was developed and protected by "activist judges."

Think about the role of activist judges - many of whom are criticised today in certain political circles. Anthony Lewis reminds us that American activist judges used the language that all persons are born free and equal to issue rulings that slavery was against the law as early as 1783. 150 years later it was again activist judges and lawyers who struck down the Espionage Act of World War I which punished speech against the war. So it was only in the twentieth century that the First Amendment was used to protect free speech and condemn a statute that infringed this liberty.

Author Anthony Lewis takes us on a historical journey through First Amendment cases from its beginnings in the constitutional convention to its interpretation by the Jeffersonians and the Federalists to Woodrow Wilson's oppressive statutes, and finally to the more recent cases of flag desecration and the Patriot Act. Mr. Lewis is clear headed and forceful in his history and arguments. As I see it, this volume is one of the top 10 books on the law that I have ever read. I suggest it as a gift to your sons and daughters, to your high school or college students who care about what America means. Highly recommended.

One of my favorite things about reading history is getting a perspective on how new some ideas are even when they feel like they've been around forever. This book absolutely has that effect... and it's a really healthy thing.

Lewis does a nice job of laying out the history of free speech. He starts before the founding of the United States, but spends most of his time exploring the development of the right since the United States founding. What you see is how, even in two short centuries, the understanding of freedom of speech has evolved into what we take for granted today.

Starting with the Alien and Sedition Acts during John Adams presidency and working his way forward, you really come to understand that the freedom of speech we enjoy today is far in excess of what citizens of the very same country enjoyed 200, 100, or even 50 years back. It's truly fascinating to get that perspective and it helps you to understand that rights can go as easily as they can come if they aren't defended vigilantly and vigorously.

Highly recommended for fans of history or for anyone who wants to understand a little more about where one of America's fundamental rights came from. Lewis has written a clear, concise history of an idea and a right.

Do you remember Golden Books as a child. Do you still read them to your children? Then you won't want to miss this fascinating history.

If the names Poky Little Puppy, Tawny Scrawny Lion and Tootle bring a smile to your face, than this book might just be for you. Golden Legacy is extensively illustrated with a detailed history of the writers, artists and publishers of the Golden Book series. As a Disney fan, I especially appreciated the piece on Mary Blair's Golden Book work. I would have given this book 3-4 stars if I were just interested in the illustrations, but it is definitely a 5 star book because of the extensive history of the books.

I ordered this book because I worked for the company for 5 years and so I had a special interest in the subject. Honestly, I can't imagine why anyone else would have a burning interest in the subject. Too bad I wasn't able to read the book before I went to work for the company...I would have known who was most important there and why. In any case, I liked the book but am not sure I would recommend it.

If you grew up reading Little Golden Books, you will likely find this book very worthwhile. Along with it being an enjoyable trip down memory lane, it's full of interesting "behind the scenes" information. 2 things prevent me from giving it 5 stars: narrative is not the author's strong suit, so it's often difficult to keep track of the various people and logistics of the company, and the book ends rather abruptly. The other minor aggravation is that the captions for all the pictures on any 2 facing pages all appear under one picture. Nevertheless, I'm glad to have this volume in my library.

For the last 65 years, children have grown up on The Poky Little Puppy, The Color Kittens, The Saggy Baggy Elephant, Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever, dozens of other Golden Books titles. To celebrate the legacy of this innovative publishing venture, Leonard S. Marcus has released the art book "Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way." The collection is not only an exquisitely beautiful celebration of our collective childhood, but the rich history of the publishing company that changed the face of literacy in America.

The first Golden Books, published in 1942, were distributed through supermarket chains at a retail price of 25 cents. At the time, paper shortages had increased the average cost of children's picture books to $2, putting them financially out of reach for many consumers. Librarians initially resisted the mass-produced books with a place to draw your name inside, but parents could purchase a title a week, children could devour the books on the go like any other toy, and television and cartoon marketers quickly seized cross-promotional opportunities. Golden Books succeeded at their goal of democratizing reading and personal book ownership for families across America.

Given that this title was published by Golden Books, the overall tone is rather celebratory, but author Marcus does not censor all detractors. He covers the controversial flat fee payments to the creative talents behind early titles. Those authors and illustrators have received no residuals from books which are still bestsellers today, 65 years later.

A 2007 copy of The Poky Little Puppy is nearly identical to the original 1942 edition that launched a publishing empire. After reading Golden Legacy, the reader may well be inspired to seek out copies of both for his or her personal library.

...it's a "bathroom" book, and it serves this purpose well. The short stories are interesting and factual, albeit slightly over-dramatized. Each tale is about two pages long, and even if one particular story isn't great - guess what? It's only two pages long and then a new one begins.

I bought 5 of these books for freinds and family. This book is very entertaining and easy to read. If you enjoy short stories and are interested in presidential facts, then this book is for you. A must read!

Carl Mark

I bought this book for my husband, and he loves it. He is not the kind to sit and read for very long. This book is just right. Each story is two pages long. Very interesting!!

I married a history buff, and never know what to get him as a gift. I usually go through old used book sales looking for out of print history books (which are so contradictory and funny) for him to read and compare to the present day truth (ok, who knows). I love it when I get a hit on a search from Amazon.com and I am able to find a book that doesn't require being around smelly people selling books out of cardboard boxes.
This book had funny tidbits of each president that could never be denied or proven.

I bought this for my husband who loves books on historical trivia (Bathroom Readers, Almanacs, Malcolm Forbes' "They Went That-a-way"). We own all the books in this "Strories Never Told" series--three so far--and we are anxiously waiting for more!

Bob Nozik knows happiness! It isn't that he was born happy; he found happiness after many years, starting off by doing the wrong things, then through a journey of study and self-discovery. In Happy 4 Life, he offers a short cut by condensing it all into his twelve keys to happiness. Master these, and you will be happy for life.

Bob Nozik does a wonderful job of explaining happiness; providing real-life things we can do to further our own journey towards lifelong happiness. In countering the arguments of the sceptic Glumbunny at every turn, he adds an extra dimension for a balanced, easy to read manual and checklist for happiness.

One thing I really liked about "Happy 4 Life" is the amount of detail given to the effect that happiness is likely to have on you and those around you. It is strange, but true that not everyone will like you being happy!

Here's my "Bottom Line" - This is a wonderful book!
Bob Nozik, MD has written a great book to give us the valuable understanding on how to create a happy life. I highly recommend
this book! Of course we each have to take the time to read it and then decide on how to change.

Happy 4 Life: Here's How To Do It is a straightforward and recommended self-help guide by Bob Nozik (Professor Emeritus, University of California Medical Center, San Francisco) offers psychological secrets for pursuing and achieving lifelong happiness. From the importance of self-esteem, appreciation and gratitude; to balancing responsibility with a non-judgmental view; to the detours and pitfalls to watch over as one works to improve the quality of one's mood and life, Happy 4 Life is useful, accessible, and offers concepts that are easy for the nonspecialist general reader to put into the practice in the course of their everyday living.

Nozik's little how-to-be-happy book is a field manual for pilgrims on a quest for the grail of happiness. Happy himself, Nozik has organized his accumulated wisdoms into a step by step map for how to get to the Emerald City. For a literary Strawman we have Glumbunny, who over the course of the book misunderstands every principle of happiness, but Glumbunny and glum readers are slowly helped onto a more positive path to happiness by means of patient explanation, assigned homework and various mental exercises. All this in a succinct package of new age insights and popular, self-help psychology. The book is an easy read, as hopeful as a John Denver song, non-judgmental of human foibles, and packed with practical tips. Recommended for the glum, especially those who derive benefit from self-help exercises.

We have the Twelve Commandments, Twelve Step Programs, and now the Twelve Steps to Happiness, Bob Nozik's very practical and systematic guide to living happily. As one has a cooking book of recipes for creating culinary feasts, Bob serves up a series of life feasts providing all the ingredients necessary for life to be a feast of happiness. As a physician, his academic background is quite evident. He sets up a dialogue throughout the book between himself, the teacher, and `glumbunny', the student. He deals with `glumbunny's skepticism about living each step of the happy life, i.e., conscious awareness, self-like/love, self-esteem, appreciation, acceptance. These steps have practical anecdotes included with excellent quotes. Each step has its own very intriguing and unexpected approach. His exercises and practicums are very worthwhile.
However, beware this is not an academician's tome. It is meant for someone looking for a `how to' approach. I would recommend it to coaches, psychotherapists, those who are pursuing and are curious about self-development.

I found the book compelling. It is a warm, human book, capturing well what seems today as the innocence of an earlier time. With touching humility, Kelly brings to life Truman's humanity and the deep sense of responsibility he felt as president to help create a truly democractic society. Kelly's many personal anecdotes and reflections take the reader back into this simpler world and helps create hope for the future of real democracy.

In all of Frank K. Kelly's books, especially this one, he writes with the objectivity of a seasoned reporter and the heart of a compassionate observer.

Truman's humanity is profoundly related to us in this carefully crafted work. We now know a softer and warmer side of Harry Truman because Kelly has been able to focus attention on a major aspect of a very complex man.

This is a report of the observations of a man who had long-term personal contact with Truman and is uniquely qualified to present a perspective of him in context with the times.

The book itself is a good read because of Kelly's story telling style and his organizational skills with regard to documenting historical information.

A local author known to me has written an engaging book. It is a beautiful testimony to the fact that politics can be about the pursuit of high ideals. Frank captures so well the interdependent dance between people, their leaders and their values. What I love most is how easily people of varying degrees of prominence move in and out of the story Frank weaves. He creates the proof that we are one wonderful human family - flaws and all!

Too often the political process is something that takes place far outside our own lives, which is why voters tend to be either emotional partisans of their celebrity heroes or apathetic or cynical. Frank Kelly's understanding of one very human and accessible man, Harry Truman, made me rethink what the American Presidency is about. By interweaving his own lifestory with the Truman presidency, Kelly creates an absorbing drama into which we are all swept. He sees politics not as a game, but as the means to realizing a nation's highest potential. Yes, he is an idealist, but we have too few of those. Kelly's vision of one president and his world-changing decisions is transferable to every presidency. As we prepare to elect a new man to that office, there's no more appropriate reading for us than Kelly's book.

This book is by an insider in the 1948 campaign that everyone thought that Truman would loose. Mr Kelly gained a lot of respect for Mr. Truman as an honest man in a flawed system. Truman didn't seek the presidency but was thrust into it by the death of Roosevelt. President Truman had a vision for America and America's position in the world. Special interests in Congress blocked many of Truman's dreams. Mr Kelly's later disallusionment with the Washington scene echoes the chaos we see today in Washington.

Mr. Kelly sheds light on Truman's difficult decisions to use the atom bomb, the atmosphere around Jor Mc Carthy,the Berlin Airlift, the occupation of Japan, the Korean War and many less well known actions by President Truman. This was for me the most enjoyable bok on Truman since "Plain Speaking" by Merle Miller.

brilliant psychiatrist, I recommend That's How the Light Gets In: Memoir of a Psychiatrist by Susan Rako, M.D. The title comes from a song by Leonard Cohen: "There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Rako's book is remarkably candid, freshly insightful, and wonderfully well-written. It is a great read. The writing just flows.

This is a must read for counsellors working with dissociative clients. It is well-written, easy to understand (although the problem of dissociative disorder is very complex) and gives practical advice and strategies.

Treating people with dissociative disorders is a very difficult enterprise for which most mental health professionals are poorly prepared. Education programs neglect the area and even otherwise reputable textbooks are unhelpful. Many members of the community and even quite senior mental health professionals display a lack of understanding and even scepticism and antagonism to the very concept of dissociation. This is directed towards those who suffer from dissociative disorders and those who try to treat them. Thus sufferers are often isolated from effective help and clinicians also are isolated, poorly prepared and often at a loss as to how to embark on the complex task of therapy when they do encounter people with such problems.

"The Haunted Self" provides a scholarly, comprehensive and practical work for everyone interested in the area and is particularly helpful as a guide and a resource for poorly isolated clinicians. It is a wonderful work of creative synthesis of 150 years of work in the field of dissociation. While not neglecting the work of more contemporary thinkers, the authors own their great debt to the work Pierre Janet carried out 100 years ago. With some important exceptions, Janet's brilliant insights into the field of "hysteria" and dissociation have been neglected in the English speaking world. The authors' enviable command of European languages gives them access to his and other important works not published or neglected in English.

The book provides an excellent balance of the theoretical and the practical. It is set out in 3 sections. The first deals with the authors' concept of structural dissociation, the second deals with chronic traumatisation and links it to Janet's theories while the third sets out an approach to treatment.

Traumatic experiences at any age can have serious consequences and this is covered in the book. In childhood,in particular, early trauma such as abuse and neglect, of a physical, sexual or emotional nature, exert pervasive, destructive effects, which may extend far into adult life. The authors point out that children have pathetically inadequate resources with which to cope with the horrors to which, tragically, they are sometimes subjected. They refer to Janet's concept of their having an inadequate "mental level" i.e. integrative capacity to cope adaptively with these experiences. They coined and developed the term "structural dissociation" to describe the complex response to such abuse.

They revisit Janet's concept of "action systems." These are psychobiological responses which can be divided into two major groups - those in response to attractive stimuli and those which defend against noxious ones. Traumatic situations in childhood often evoke both responses simultaneously e.g. a response to an abusive caregiver in which fear and attraction are mingled giving rise to intolerable conflict. Such intense feelings and the unbearable terror and arousal produced by trauma are referred to as "vehement emotions."



The book describes the impact of these powerful feelings in producing a loss of integration and cohesion in the personality. As a result intolerable feelings and memories are segregated from complete awareness and traumatised people move between different identity states. In some states they are locked into traumatic events which are constantly re-experienced with their associated overwhelming emotions. In other states they are cut off from the memories and experiences of the trauma and are phobic and avoidant towards anything that threatens to remind them of the trauma and of the internal states which carry the trauma experiences.

Charles Myers' work with soldiers from World War I is recalled. He described splits into what he called "Apparently normal personalities" and "Emotional personalities" in response to combat trauma giving rise to structural dissociation.

The second section focuses on Janet's theories in relation to trauma. As the authors say, "the inclusion of Janet's work is not a romantic flight into history. His ideas on actions are most helpful and practical in understanding the plight of trauma survivors"

And so they are although, initially, I myself had to exert a fair amount of effort to understand and start to apply these concepts. I think most people unfamiliar with Janet's work would have similar problems but the effort is very worth while. Interestingly, although clinicians brought up with other theoretical models may share my problem, I have found that the concepts, are easily grasped and make perfect sense to people struggling with trauma related disorders. Concepts such as synthesis, presentification, personification and action tendencies and their hierarchies are discussed in depth and applied to clinical problems.

The final section on treatment begins with a useful section on assessment. It then outlines a three phase approach to treatment. The first phase involves stabilisation and symptom reduction, the second the treatment of traumatic memories and the third personality integration and rehabilitation.

Those who read The Haunted Self will quickly discern that it is the work of highly skilled clinicians not simply theorists. All who have battled with the problems of trauma affected people will recognise that the authors have travelled the same paths and will find their guidance very valuable.

I have stressed the worth of this excellent book to clinicians but a number of my more sophisticated patients have also found reading it very valuable. It is certainly a wonderful validation of this body of work that it does make so much sense to those very people who have to live their lives with the consequences of trauma.

David Leonard

This book is just wonderfull! I deeply enjoyed reading it - and much more :) - applying its concepts and practical guidelines into the complex clinical work with traumatized individuals. Myself, psychotherapist, child and adolescent psychiatrist in Ukraine - I found this book most clinically useful book I have read in few last years about trauma-related disorders. It gives clarity into this very complex dimensions of inner and outer lives of chronically traumatized individuals and it helps to empathically understand their suffering. From this empathic understanding well-paced and well-structured therapy can take place. And from my clinical practice I saw how useful and effective are concepts and practical therapeutic guidelines from this book. So I highly recommend this book for everyone working in the field of trauma-related disorders, and I also highly recommend this book to publishers for translations and publication in other languages. This knowledge must become widely available so we can better assist traumatized individuals in their inner healing. Special thanks to authors for their great work!

What an exceptional book! The step-wise didactic clarity and innovative content of The Haunted Self alone would suffice to justify making the book required reading material for all health professionals encountering trauma victims. However, it is also a remarkably thrilling reading experience, reminiscent of the "haunted-house" stories of my youth. One finds oneself led to familiar areas through "hidden stairways" and suddenly comes to perceive and comprehend things from unexpected angles.
As a psychiatrist specializing in trauma as a clinician, a lecturer and a researcher for nearly 20 years, I found this book to be a fitting and eloquent summary of over 25 years of innovative thought, thorough research and ongoing re-assessment of the theoretical and clinical applications of Trauma-Related Structural Dissociation of the Personality by Van der Hart, Nijenhuis and Steele, whose ongoing publications in leading journals I have followed avidly. The theoretical basis is coherently and systematically presented in the opening section, followed by a section which concisely and didactically addresses the clinical applications, from guidelines for patient assessment and formulation of the treatment plan, and then deals in detail with each stage, with ample guidance and clinical examples. The lay-out of the book also conveniently enables selective reading of independent sections and topics. There is a refreshing undercurrent of humility to the book - the reader feels encouraged to examine and comment freely.
Without seeking to replace or compete with other trauma theories or treatment modalities, the authors present an over-arching and unifying conceptual approach to comprehending the psycho-biological underpinnings of a highly variable and challenging population of patients, who quite commonly present with a complex and confusing array of atypical and changeable clinical and therapeutic issues, only partly addressed by current diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines.
The structural conception of dissociation enhances ones understanding not only of PTSD and Complex PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder and cases of severe protracted physical and sexual abuse, but clarifies the contribution of trauma to Borderline Personality Disorder, Somatoform Disorders and certain physical syndromes characteristically associated with emotional trauma and stress.

Dr Mike Matar, MD (Psych)

The South Carolina Coast is one of the best places. It's the south at it's best & hasn't surcumb to the Northern nonsense.

I picked this book up again yesterday having read it several years ago. I just finished a few moments ago and felt compelled to leave this review.

This book is a true delight. To those of us who have the low country in our blood, this book captures it all. I loved it even more the second time around. And even knowing about the tragedies that Mrs. Peterkin has endured I still cried. She is such a fine example of the indomitable southern woman or I guess I should say "Lady". I truly hope that one day I will have the distinct pleasure of meeting her.

My only regret is the book just ends too soon and too fast. I wish there were a sequel, I would love to know what she has been up to. And I would so dearly love a print of the watercolor that is on the front of the book.

I was not going to read this book, figuring it was yet another trivial book by a local person with famous connections (Julia Peterkin, a novelist who won a Pulitzer, was the author's mother-in-law). Was I wrong! This is one of the most riveting books I have ever read. Peterkin is a gifted storyteller with amazing stories to tell, stories that are right up there with the best fiction. I want to compare her to Flannery O'Connor, to Nabokov, to Kipling, to Dickens, to any fiction writer whose stories linger with us for the rest of our lives. Yet these powerful stories are true and open a window into recent times. Some of her stories prove that truth is stranger than fiction. They are in turns hilarious, outrageous, tragic, moving and illuminating.

Please, get this book. I don't know Peterkin but I wish I did. I picked up the book by accident and never put it down till I finished. Beg, borrow or steal it, whatever it takes to get it in your hands.

I have heard many of these stories through the years but was thrilled when I heard she was going to compile them in chronological order. I loved the way Genevieve told her life stories in a way that not only did I learn about the wonderful people in her life but the history of the area she loves so much. One of the many things I admire about Genevieve is that she lives her life and does not sit on the sidelines and continues to do so today. She has touched many hearts, mine included.

When I read Heaven Is A Beautiful Place, I felt that I was sitting on Genevieve's front porch overlooking Murrells Inlet and listening to her tell the stories. I have heard the Peterkins and Chandlers tell wonderful stories most of my life and this book truly captures their collective spirit. I finished the book at 35,000 feet over the Atlantic, but it seemed to me she was there relating the story of the loss of three of those closest to her. In spite of many adversities she has always worked to make the world a beter place.

I recently bought "Cretaceous Dawn",by these authors,after reading several passages from both books,it appears to be the same book.

It's hard not to compare any book about humans encountering dinosaurs
to "Jurassic Park" but in the case of "Hell Creek" I liked the pace and
the scenario much better. The book appealed to my curiosity in science
fact and adventure. Hell Creek is not written in a dry scientific way,
it's well written, well paced and the characters are believable.

Humans are accidentally cast deep into the past and have to survive in
an alien environment with unusual encounters at every turn. I now feel
I know what the Cretaceous period was all about.

The Grazianos have written a real page turner, from chapter one to the
end, you can't put it down or stop thinking about it. Well worth
reading and reading again. A real "keeper".

This book is a page-turner! I read it literally overnight!

The story evolves around a scientific experiment turned bad and projecting a group of very different characters back in time, that is, 65 million years in the past. They are obviously trapped with little to no rescue to expect from present day people. Of course, the next thing for them is to find a way to get out by themselves, hence a journey throughout the territory of these fabulous living creatures, the dinosaurs and the early mammals.

Beyond the storyline, I believe the real intent of the writers was to have us share their love of this extinct world by putting their description in a nice, enjoyable format. They hit their goal bull's eye. The dinosaurs and, more importantly, their behavior, is credible. They take some initiatives as to the attitude of some of the larger hunters (T-Rex for one). Some of today's questioning about this specific species is: was it either a scavenger, or a hunter? Could it run or was it limited to fast walking? Was it numerous? Actually, the authors bring their own responses to these questions.

But more importantly, they describe a beautiful, pristine yet ferocious world that has the reader wish to jump into it physically.

Also, I was very pleased to see, for once, the Japanese female character of Yariko, as Far-East people rarely find their way among the top contenders of western novels' characters. Beyond Yariko's beautiful description, I found the group of heroes well described, each coming with a thoroughly thought-out personality.

In short, a very good book with a fast-paced drama, a never-ending tale of a long-gone world that has you sigh in awe at the end of the story.

When's the sequel planned???

Some earlier reviewers commented about the quality of the editing of this book -- not so! Whomever did the proof reading apparently used spellchecks and did not bother to read -- or else they do not know the difference between discrete and discreet. And let's not even mention the differences between loose and lose! Good writing does not deserve sloppy preparation. This kind of sloppy copy-editing is a major pet peeve. It is unnecessary and unacceptable.

That said, this IS good writing. Good character development, fast moving plot, well-researched and with enough suspense to leave readers looking forward to a sequel.

Earlier reviewers also commented about giving the book to a younger reader. My copy went to a grandson who shares the name of the hero. It is a little more graphically violent that I ordinarily choose for him, but there is no explicit sex, and what youngster does not love dinosaurs?

The Grazianos have given us a page-turner, based on scientific fact, and it is worth your time to curl up with it. Would I like to take a trip to the Cretateous? No, thankyouverymuch, I would miss indoor plumbing -- but I will eagerly wait for their promised sequel.

Two physicists, a paleontologist, a security guard, and a dog walk into a bar . . . Okay, not really. But, two physicists, and their dog, are working on an experiment in a sealed vault in a small university in South Dakota, when odd items begin appearing inside the vault, and then disappearing. They begin to suspect that they found something much more Earth-shaking than what they sought, and invite a paleontologist on staff to help them figure it out. A security guard catches the unauthorized staff-member there but, before he can do anything about it, everything blows up, with startling effects on the four people and the dog.

The quartet ends up in the same location, but sixty-five million years earlier, in the Cretaceous period, when mammals were beginning to get some numbers and variety, dinosaurs were dwindling, the Rockies were big, rolling hills, the middle of North America featured vast jungles and an inland sea, and humans were sixty million years into the future. The physicists use a complex equation to calculate where they have to be, at a certain time, to stand any chance of "reverting" back to their time of origin, just as the items that appeared in the vault had reverted back to the past, after a short time.

Thus launches an epic journey across a thousand miles of harsh, dangerous territory, with only their wits and creativity to help them survive. Their journey is long and loaded with peril, plus they encounter several surprises, not all of which are unpleasant.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, er, university, the police, led by Chief Sharon Earles, who reminded me of the police chief in the movie Fargo (ya, you betcha), had to figure out what happened to four people and a dog, who seemed to have vanished. Well, actually, four-and-a-half people and a dog vanished, as a second security was cleanly sliced in two, by the phenomenon that caused the disappearances. Is it murder? Did the missing people just leave, or were they abducted? Chief Earles calls in two more physicists, to help solve the riddle --- or will they end up helping themselves?

All of this adds up to a wonderful novel that combines an adventure story, part Jurassic Park, and part Dinosaur Summer by Greg Bear, along with a crime or detective mystery, with plenty of scientific tidbits sprinkled throughout. The science part emphasizes, in descending order of prominence: paleontology, physics, and geology.

The writing here is generally excellent, with vivid descriptions of settings and great character development. There is plenty of action and suspense, as well. However, the story does get a little slow, in a few spots, right after the characters translocate to the Cretaceous period, which, by the way, immediately followed the Jurassic period, whose critters were made famous in Jurassic Park (book and movie). The pace does pick up quickly, and then remain quick and steady after that, and those few slow spots did not detract from the reading experience, for me.

Who will like this book? Anyone who enjoyed Jurassic Park and/or Dinosaur Summer would, an this one has a bit more scientific meat on its bones. Anyone who enjoys a good adventure story, with pieces of detective work, education on several scientific fields, and even a touch of romance mixed in, should love this. I know enough about paleontology, physics, and geology to enjoy this book, but experts or amateur aficionados in any of those areas might find a flaw or two.

Who will not like this book? If you are squeamish, you might be put off by a few scenes. If you are strong in your beliefs of opposing the theory of evolution, I suggest you avoid this novel.

This book has also gone under the title Cretaceous Dawn. It is written by Lisa Graziano and her brother, Michael Graziano. Lisa M. Graziano is a piano teacher, freelance writer, and editor. Michael Graziano is a professor of neuroscience at Princeton University.

-- Chris McCallister, author of Coming Full Circle

I loved if from start to finish! The world that Payne created is intense and easy to fall for. Highly recommended.

If you're after a story as gorgeous as the picture on the front, this book is absolutely what you want. The character development is fantastic and she makes you fall in love with them within a few pages of meeting them--in fact, it's the kind of thing that should be read twice in a row. The end makes you want to start over and see the characters develop again. I'd even say it's better the second time around.

Unfortunately, S.A. Payne has horrible punctuation. She desperately needs a copy editor. I couldn't read it without a pen and some white-out to fix it, it was so bad. But the story was so good that, once I got into it, it stopped bothering me. If bad punctuation doesn't bother you, then you won't be dissapointed. Let's just say this: even the epilogue was good. If bad punctuation grates at your nerves, well, keep a narrow pen with you and fix it yourself. It's worth it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The most amazing part about it is that the plot is so detailed, complex, and believable. This book is most definitely NOT all about sex. There is suspense and drama. It would be a page turner even if there was no slash. Believe it or not, the plot is what makes this book great.

On the downside, there are some remaining typos, but they can be overlooked. I was a little disappointed that the post-pet recovery phase was cut so very short. I would have preferred a more gradual improvement in Rye and more detail descriptions of his progress.

All in all, though, it was an excellent book that I would highly recommend to anyone that enjoys slash and extremely light D/s stories.

I had originally read this on the author's website a while ago. It's nice to have it in book form. While there are some well worn themes in this that you find in other "original" works like Psi abilities and anarchy type communities, this story still feels original and not hackneyed.

I like that this story it isn't just an excuse for smut (although I rather enjoy smut). The fact that Ichi resists taking advantage of his "pet" no matter how many times the pet tries to tempt him makes this not your usual yaoi story. There is a romance, adventure, mystery.

To address some of the critical parts... as another reviewer mentioned there are times when it could have gone through the editing process a little more thoroughly for grammatical and spelling errors. Mind you on the website the typos were more prevalent, so I know that it did get proofread and much of it has been corrected but there are still a few errors here and there. Also the page layouts could be improved. The gutter is too narrow so sometimes when you are reading the verso (left side of the page) you almost have to break the spine because the words are tightly in the folds.

In any case I would hope that someday the author will write a sequel to this story. She's written some shorter side stories to some of the characters but I would love to read more about Ichi and Rye.

Heroes and Ghosts should be on all homoerotica lover's bookshelves. Payne is a master at capturing your attention and holding it relentlessly throughout the story that beautifully unfolds. I found myself not just reading text, but becoming wholly immersed in the tale of Ichi and Rye as they struggle to find and come to terms with themselves and each other. Romantic and sizzling, engaging and interesting... I highly recommend Heroes and Ghosts.

I liked the book because I am a history major but some parts are hard to get through. It is a classic however and is a great stepping stone to use when reviewing ancient history

Cornelius Tacitus knows perfectly what the cardinal human characteristic is: `From time immemorial, man has had an instinctive love of power.' And, `the reward for virtue was inevitable death.'
His book is a mighty illustration of the ruthless fight for the top spot: emperor. The ambitious and the wealthy fight one another without mercy. `The truth is that revolution and strife put tremendous power into the hands of evil men.' The vanquished are brutally slain.
For Tacitus, the most important factors in the power struggle are money (`money was the sinews of civil war') and control of the military (`the lesson that an army can create an emperor'). If you could `reward` your soldiers, you could win. However, the legions were not interested in war itself only in looting, plundering, raping and enslaving. `The men wanted campaign and set battles, as the prizes here were more attractive than their normal pay.' The victims were innocent peasants, women and children.
Overall, `Italy found it hard to put up with such hordes of infantry and cavalry, and with violence, financial loss and acts of lawlessness.'

While the `Annals' contain more human touch, the `Histories' are nearly completely centered on military, diplomatic and tactical manoeuvres, followed by terrifying and merciless violence after the battles (`the fury of the soldiers').

This for mankind severe and pessimistic book is a must read for all those interested in the lessons of history and for lovers of great classical literature.

Every now and then a pivotal moment in history is witnessed and recorded by a master communicator. The mid-first century of Rome was such a time and Tacitus was such a communicator. The Histories will forever be a benchmark of good history with its observations on human nature and behaviour along with their impact on history. The historian will do well to read Tacitus not just for the historical lessons but for his approach to history as a record of human activity. While observing and commenting on the human element in history, Tacitus avoids making moral judgements and remains as objective as possible in the midst of turmoil, wars, and rumors of wars. His beloved nation and people were suffering under the barbarity of fratricidal war yet he remains above the madness and records the events with passion tempered with objectivity. His example is one that has remained difficult for others to follow.

A word on this translation in particular - I found Mr. Wellesley's translation very readable and poetic. He seems to have captured the literature value of the text as well as the content. Well done.

Most people don't need a review of Tacitus's work. Most people want to know if a particular translation is any good. With that in mind, I recommend this Penguin edition of Kenneth Wellesley's translation. The translation itself is highly readable, and Wellesley indicates the rare instances where he emends the Latin text in footnotes. Wellesley also uses the footnotes to help the reader keep track of some of the less prominent characters in the work, a feature which is a big help for the non-specialist. Probably the best aspect of this edition is the map section at the end. The book contains 11 maps that include maps of large areas, maps of cities, and diagrams of important battles. Wellesley also refers the reader to the appropriate map through the footnotes. This review makes it sound like the book contains a lot of footnotes, but really there are usually just one or two a page. The one minor defect of the book is that the index only contains personal names. A general index would have made this user friendly book even better. But like I said, this is a great English copy of the Histories.

Reading Tacitus' Annals I oft remembered Thucydides' account of the Peleponnesian wars. An important theme of the latter work was the corrupting effects of prolonged war on the morals and intellect of the Athenian people, who were ultimately degraded so much that they voted the destruction of the people of a small island just because they had chosen to remain neutral. Tacitus, on the other hand, seems to have dedicated himself in this work to examining the corrupting effects of absolutism on the Roman people after the fall of the Republic. He shows how absolute power brought out the worst traits in the character of rulers like Tiberius and Nero, who grew more and more tyrannical with every year on the throne, and how members of the illustruous Roman senate and other sections of the Roman political society turned into a horde of spineless sycophants, informers and debauches. There were still a few honourable individuals, but as Tacitus shows in an endless series of judicial and non-judicial murders, most of these paid the price of sticking to the ancient traditions of liberty and honour with their lives. Tacitus also deals at length with the relations of the Romans with the subject peo-ples. I may be wrong here, but it seems to me that in such passages Tacitus draws a parallels between the fate of these enslaved peoples and that of the enslaved Roman people -the first a slave to the Romans, the second a slave to the emperor and his bureaucracy made up of ex-slaves. Many subject peoples rebelled and some like the Cherusci under Arminius (towards whom he does not seem averse at all) could successfully preserve their liberty against the in-trusion of the Romans. Those Romans who dared defy the tyrant on the other hand, and especially those who could wisely remain independent and yet stay alive, were far fewer, Tacitus seems to imply. Insofar as it demonstrates how closely liberty (including liberty of thought) and morals are intertwined, this work is still relevant today as a central work of liberal humanism.