David Sherman Books

The Berlin Haskalah And German Religious Thought is a seminal work of impressive and original scholarship offering a new and fascinating perspective on the Haskalah that will be of immense interest to scholars and students of Judaic studies, Germany history, and the evolution of western religion in an increasingly science oriented and secular Europe.

This eye-witness account of US troop atrocities on civilians can no longer be hidden. Scholars may have had an excuse for ignoring it, but now that excuse is removed by this easily available, beautifully produced university press edition. The majority of the so-called historians who have attributed the burning of Columbia SC to accident, alcohol, burning cotton, etc., are now shown to be the apologist propagandists for a sanitized American history that they most surely are. In contrast to the eye-witness account, their work now appears laughable. How can we take these "historians" seriously in anything else they do? Truth has a way of getting outside its bottle, and like the genie, it can't be put back. Congratulations to the editor and press for a job well done.

SPI's DragonQuest really is a landmark role-playing game. It provided one of the first points-based character generation systems, where random stat rolling was reduced to a minimum - and provided a rich skill/profession system that still stands close scrutiny by the modern gamer almost 30 years later. The combat system betrayed the "hex and counter" wargaming heritage of the publishing company, but again provided an option rich subsystem for mayhem that still stands head and shoulders above the masses. The magic system was based on colleges - each themed to a specific "type" of magic, ranging from the mental, to the elemental, to the demonic (although the latter was removed from the 3rd edition rules). Magic was fun in the sense that a spell had a cast chance, that came with a possible "backfire" result if you were drastically unsuccessful.

The bottom line. This was, and still is, an excellent game - that still supports a flourishing on-line community. If you can find a copy, grab it, you'll be glad you did! It remains my favorite, not because of the rosy lens of 80's nostalgia but because it still is superb!

Some people are turned off by the black and white reprints like these essentials. But you get so much for the money, and there's hours of reading enjoyment. These essentials are a great way to read or reread comics from the past, without having to fork out the large bucks that the after market sellers are asking. Granted some of these issues are corny, but they're still enjoyable to a 40 year old like myself, who grew up reading these issues.

I've got nothing against the various Nortons anthologies. I was raised on them and have written more papers than I'm comfortable admitting based on the contents of many of them. That said, I think the Longman editions may contain more insightful information than the Nortons. This is merely based on my recent familiarity with the Longman edition, and doesn't take in to account any improvements in the most recent Norton.

What a great find. I just stumbled across this book a few days ago and it's going right on my shelf next to THE DOWNTOWN BOOK: THE NY ART STORY 1974-1984, and SO80s by Patrick McMullan. These three will give you a great summary of the East Village and SOHO art/music scene in the late 70s and early 80s. This brief period in NY was every bit as fascinating as that of the Abstract Expressionists in the 1940s and 50s, or The Factory and the Pop artists in the 1960s. That time is long gone, but it is invigorating to see John Sex, the Squat Theatre, the Alien Comic, z'ev (!) and other old NY favorites again. NEW YORK NOISE is filled with great photos and the reminiscences of many of the people who created the scene. There is always more to be written about though - 8BC, Pizza-A-Go-Go, Polyrock, Richard Hambleton, and the Speedies. We need someone to bring out a compilation from the archives of The SOHO Weekly News for some more first-hand documentation. There's still plenty of material out there for all you writers and memoirists to tackle.

Going through the book brought back such great memories from the Broad Street Bullies years. A must have for any true Flyers Fan!

The best new book on the subject, written by America's best young Adorno scholar, and our most promising Sartre scholar. Brilliant, clear,. a must-read.

Collaboratively written by Ron Bernstein, David Binns, Marshal Hyman, and deftly edited by Martin Staubus, Transitioning Ownership in the Private Company: The ESOP Solution examines leveraged employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) as a means of allowing employees to purchase and own a corporate divestiture or a production plant or facility chosen for closing by the parent company. Examining the tax benefits, empowerment benefits for employees, usefulness, and facilitation of ESOPs, Transitioning Ownership In The Private Company is a carefully researched, superbly presented, and thoroughly "user friendly" information guide and reference. Simply put, Transitioning Ownership In The Private Company is a "must-read" for anyone involved in or considering an ESOP solution in acquiring a private company, plant, or facility.

This collection has some of the greatest Trickster figures from Africa, Europe, North and South America, Asia, and some that have traveled. You will find out why Anansi owns all the stories, how Raven brought light to the world, why it is not wise for a caliph to pester a peasent while eating, and how one could paint a person exactly as they are without getting in trouble. It is a delight for me to read such stories, I am a long-time Trickster fan and it was fun reading about characters I knew well like Anansi, Coyote, and Raven and getting to know their bretheren that I didn't know as well such as Tyl Eulenspiegal, Pedro, and Tortoise. The stories are short about two to five pages, which make them ideal for oral telling (and a lot of fun!) Not to many stories featuring the lady tricksters, but this is definately a fun book that should be treasured and enjoyed by all! :D A True Trickster Trove of Treasures! :D