James Wright Books

This book is a great book for children and adults who want a basic introduction to art mediums. DK always does a good job of describing and it is an enjoyable read.

I had to get this for school. It's not a bad book and certainly is useful. I flipped thorough it to get some ideas.

I've seen books like these on clearance at book stores, so I think paying full price for this was silly.

DK books are always a "best buy" when it comes to bringing clear, concise information on how to do almost anything.

The book is in wonderful shape! My daughter needed it for a college class so the price helped her out a lot. I am an art teacher and was very impressed with it. I told her when she is finished with it she needn't pay me back...just give ME the book.

We bought this for our 14-year-old nephew, who is just starting to exhibit an interest in art. It is truly a great introduction to drawing and perspective, painting (oil, watercolor, acrylics), and even mixed media. Don't expect great depth in any one area, but its easy to read and use, heavily illustrated to keep kids' attentions, has a nice glossary. All in all, a really really great value and a book that is exactly what its title says it is.

This book is so good and a breath of fresh air. The bad part is having to put it down.

This is a compelling tale of a family's deep love coming painfully apart over the agonizing loss of a beloved child. The surprising magic of redemption will make any reader smile for the rest of the holiday season pondering how such wonders can arise while knowing that they do. Loved the book and will give it liberally to those I cherish.

I read this book in manuscript form last Jan. and absolutely loved it!!! I read it to my husband in about 90 minutes or so and we both were crying at the end. It makes us realize how VERY important families are and should be. We need stories like this more. I love heartwarming stories like this and the story gives us so much to think about, as we both felt it is so life-affirming. This will make a great Christmas gift for all. We both highly recommend it. We have our own personally autographed copy and I will be spreading the word around for friends and family to buy it for Christmas gifts.

The James Miracle inspires hope and reiterates the power of family.
The James Miracle had me hooked from the first paragraph. The perfect mix of humor and real-life challenges make the characters so real. I was able to directly relate to their feelings, challenges and success stories. The author touches an emotional chord and teaches the reader about the strength of a family and the amazing faith of a child. When I finished the book, I realized that I had experienced a whole range of emotion including laughter, sorrow, and hope. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

I am very picky about what I read but thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is captivating to a very broad audience because of its relevance. Throughout its humorous, entertaining, yet dramatic story line it reminds us of important truths about family relationships, dealing with life's challenges, and faith. It reminds us of what is most important in life and motivates us to live so we have no regrets. I enjoyed the warm, interesting writing style and definitely recommend reading this small literary masterpiece.

The majority of most military histories tend to dwell solely on the combatants and the battles fought, and ignore non-military life as it occurred before and after the event. This masterpiece by Frassanito investigates the battle of Gettysburg, paying attention to the town life of Gettysburg before the battle and after the battle. Frassanito has made his imprint in military history by focussing on the photographic legacy that has remained. This book examines hundreds of photographs of the battle in minute detail. Included are the photographic studies made famous by Alexander Gardner and Matthew Brady, including the rebel sharpshooter lying dead in Devil's Den. Also included are the rare photographs, such as shots of the afore mentioned sharpshooter lying in the field where he actually died, before Gardner dragged him to the spot where he was immortalized. But the most important element of the book is the way that Frassanito examines life (by photograph) of the town of Gettysburg before and after the battle. He provides the historian with many invaluable aids, including panoramic shots of the town, and a photo study of the creation of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. He introduces the reader to the inhabitants of the town so well you come to almost know them. During a recent visit to the battlefield, I stopped at the Evergreen Cemetery and was surprised at the sense of attachment I had to people who had died almost one hundred years before I was born, especially Peter and Elizabeth Thorn, the keepers of the cemetery Gatehouse, which features prominently throughout the book. This is truly one of the greatest treasures of Civil War history, and one no historian should be without.

Although the majority of this book is about the battle that took place in Gettysburg, as well as its after-effects, I have to mention that there is quite a bit of scholarly information on the town itself. The pictures, and especially the accompanying text for each photo, gives the reader a window-through-time view of the little village shortly before and just after the events of early July 1863 so one can see exactly what those who were there saw. Gives me chills just thinking about it.
I never realized just how well photographically documented this particular battle was until I flipped through the pages of Mr. Frassanito's books. The then and now photos are fantastic, and the maps of each section where the shots were taken was an excellent inclusion.
Having been to Gettysburg twice in the last two years, I made myself a promise that I will not return without this author's two books ('Journey Through Time' is the other I am alluding to) as I find these to be an invaluable resource that, when I do return in '08, will help me to get a better understanding of the lay of the land, so to speak.
Truly a great and complete overview of that horrific battle. A must for Civil War fans.

One would think with it being so many years after Gettysburg and with so many books written about the battle that there would be little room for anything truly unique on the subject. However unique is a great word to use in describing this book.

This isn't just any Civil War book and William Frassanito isn't your normal Civil War author. He's a trained photo interpreter and the first man to truly take a careful study of the early photographs of the Gettysburg battlefield. The result is an amazing book that changes our perspective of many famous Gettysburg photographs and in some cases finds important new information.

For example, Frassanito in his book shows a photograph never published before of the remains of soldiers being interned in the National Cemetery. The only problem is the graves are in a straight line and the gravemarkers today at the Cemetery are in a curved line meaning the markers likely don't accurately mark the positions of the soldiers. Another photograph in the book is the famous snipers nest photo. Frassanito however shows proof that the soldier was moved to that position and that the picture was staged. He even found the dead soldier in another photograph of dead on the battlefield.

This book is a must have for anyone seriously interested in Gettysburg. It will not so much help you understand the battle as much as help you understand the battlefield.

While most volumes of this genre tend to emphasize research over readability, Frassanito manages to combine both to produce this authorative work. A sequel to his excellent "Gettysburg, A Journey in Time", this book can be devoured by the casual Civil War buff, as well as the researcher needing solid reference documentation. Over 400 pages of seldom seen photographs of the battlefield at Gettysburg cover everything from the battle itself to the history of the photos and the photographers. With a price of $49.95 this Thomas Publication is a must for any history collection.

This book presents the whole impact of the Gettysburg battle during our Civil War. Life at Gettysburg and related skirmishes are described beautifully. The text flows smoothly while not compromising historical facts. But the photographs just bowled me over. I have seen numerous Civil War photographs but Frassanito has rendered us a jewel here. Rare and not so rare photographs are described relative to events and places. Many show the locale as it appears in the present day. What a treasured work that obviously took immense effort, knowledge, and a genuine love of history.
If you are into history or even a casual peruser of history get this volume. If you are a Civil War buff then you probably have this book. If you do not. Get it. Excellent work.

It's a book for my masters program, I have no opinion, it's a requirement.

An essential book for every American both young or old, male or female, Democrat or Republican. A delightful discovery on the need of God and guns (or perhaps swords) in the United States and the intolerance of a government in charge of all but answerable to noone. An undeniably perfect fit for todays culture.

Discover your roots from the men that gave their lives for the signing of the Constitution; true heroes. Their resolve was unquestionable and the love for country without reproach.

They brought us so far. We've walked away. Read it and weep. BK

The Federalist was an astonishing political document. Written for public consumption during the debate over adoption of the U.S. Constitution, it combined immense learning and sophistication with shrewd insights into the nature of politics in a republic. It's an essential text for anyone interested in American political history or constitutional theory. In fact, the Federalist should be essential readingt for any educated American: it remains an unparalleled example of realistic political analysis being placed in the service of political ideals.

After more than 200 years, the Federalist has lost little of its relevance. The sections on judicial review and Presidential nominations, for example, could have been written about current controversies over judges. Likewise, the discussion of Presidential war powers, or the emphasis on checks and balances as essential to the preservation of liberty, are eerily topical in an age of pre-emptive war and one-party control of Washington. Even when the analysis is wildly dated -- as with the Commerce Clause or slavery -- the reader can see how far Constitutional doctrine has wandered from the "intent" of the Founders.

The Federalist is also superb as literature: the writing is droll and eloquent, once you get used to the long, convoluted sentences. The introduction by Benjamin Wright is excellent and helps to place the text in political and intellectual context. I don't know why I wasn't forced to read the Federalist at law school! Six stars.

Note: Contrary to one review below, God is hardly mentioned in the Federalist, and then only as a rhetorical flourish. The Federalist has countless references to ancient Greece and Rome, but none to the Old or New Testaments. It is a thoroughly secular document. Religious nationalists and other conservatives should actually read it.

When you read this, you can't help but wonder where all the great minds have gone. This assessment of basic human rights and freedoms should be required reading for all kids, and repeat reading for adults with any appreciation of history and/or politics. Its lessons and statements are universal, and should not be examined as simply a part of US history, but rather how the lessons may be applied elsewhere in parts of the world that are still stuck in the Dark Ages.

We want our founders to be demi-gods and our original texts to be divinely inspired. For an example of this nonsense, please see the first review on this page.
I want to offer a vision of The Federalist in historical context. I will argue that to see it thus enlarges its greatness will allowing us to admit its faults.
In many ways, the developments that led to the Constitution of 1787 started as soon as colonists reached our eastern shores. We had at least 150 years of experimentation in writing charters and in representative governance behind us by 1787. After the Declaration of Independence the States either wrote new constitutions or reaffirmed old charters. The national government wrote the Articles of Confederation and we lived under that from 1781 to the late 1780s.
The Federalist should be seen as part of that ongoing development. More specifically, it should be seen as part of the ratification debates in New York. Largely written by Madison and Hamilton, these papers reflect the compromises that the founders made in regards to the Constitution. Madison had wanted the President to have a veto over any state laws. Hamilton had favored a President for life during good behavior (read #78 in re the appointment for life of federal judges to sense the fervor that Hamilton felt for the benefits of lifetime tenure). Neither man believed in the necessity of a Bill of Rights. Madison eventually saw the political necessity of such amendments. During the first United States Congress he wrote up the Bill of Rights and guided them through passage. This way he could make sure they did not grow too numerous.
As a whole then The Federalist should be seen as rhetorical and political arguments for passage of a Constitution that the authors had some doubts about.
Of course, as Publius they could express no doubts. Madison, Hamiltion and Jay used this pseudonym which was a typical rhetorical device of elite writers at the time. (See Saul Cornell's The Other Founders for a nice discussion of the variety of rhetorical strategies used by writers during the ratification debates.) The idea was that hiding their identities would allow readers to focus on the quality of their arguments. As a result, there are many passages that can strike the modern reader as duplicitous because Publius pretends to know nothing of what went on during the convention. Madison and Hamilton, of course, were instrumental throughout the Constitutional Convention.
Publius works his explication of the need for the Constitution by critiquing the Articles of Confederation then by going thru the new document, article by article supposedly answering all objections. His counterarguments are largely of two types. In the first type, he will state a political principle so "obvious" that any "candid" reader will instantly agree to it. Publius then builds his arguments from there. The famous paper #10 is one such chain of argument. Or Publius will demolish the arguments offered against the Constitution by pointing out that the article objected to is contained in some or many of the States' constitution and have resulted in no such problems. Many of these arguments are justly famous. Number 10 is very much worth reading. (Although I still find it curious that when Madison asserts that a man's property holdings has a great influence on the way he thinks it is celebrated as political realism but when Marx says much the same thing it is decried as class warfare. But that's just me.)
But the reader really does get a sense at to how much thought went into the various checks and balances and the competing claims of the states and the new national government. To me this is where the glory of the book lies. We as a people thought our way out of the failure of our first experiment in nation building. We avoided civil war (for a while) and did not become the victims of foreign manipulation. We don't have to make our founding fathers and mothers demi-gods. In their fully flawed humanity, they dazzle aplenty.
Finally, it should be noted that The Federalist as a piece of political rhetoric avoided some issues entirely. The main problem that most Anti-Federalists had with the proposed Constitution in re jury rights had to do with the following phrase: "such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed" (Article 3, Sec.2, Para. 3). Whig thought at that time insisted on juries being as local as possible. Blackstone stated that jury trials should be held within the county of the crime. This guaranteed that local knowledge of the crime, the defendant and the victim would be maximized in the jury pool. Trying cases in distant jurisdictions or without juries had been some of the main provocations of the British prior to the revolution. Men like Patrick Henry saw that phrase in the Constitution as a clarion of the tyranny to come from the new national government. The Federalist does not speak to this issue at all. Instead, Hamilton focuses on arguments about whether jury trials are guaranteed for civil cases and even has Publius argue that maybe we should limit jury trials a little because juries are so bad with complicated issues, blah, blah.
Should all Americans read this book? Yeah, probably. Are we the worse if they don't? Again, probably yes, but what we really need as a people is more of a sense of our history. I would rather have more people read a good series of books on our history as a whole (I recommend the Oxford History of the United States as one excellent ongoing series).
But if you want to get to know two great minds at work on political issues that are still relevant then this is your book. Forget Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau. Their philosophies are antiquarian in a way that Publius is not.

We can learn much from the true spiritual giants. GM was one of them. Through the Spirit and discipline he succeeded to serve God in spirit and in truth. It's doable!

This powerful biography gets to the real story behind the legendary sinner-turned-saint, George Muller. This bio is a reader's dream! The author has a masterful way of turning a phrase and more importantly he shows us how and what and who made Muller who he became--a man of God extraordinaire. I was deeply moved by his story. The faith that distinguished his Christianity from mediocre believers of his day was unclouded by sentimentality or mystical notions, it was steeped in Scripture and bathed in the love of Christ. A fiery life that I will refer to when I need an inspirational pick-me up. A wonderful book that truly brings glory to God!

I bought this book looking for anecdotes of some amazing ways God answered prayer in George Muller's life, especially ones that could be used as illustrations for teaching, sermons, etc... What I didn't expect was God to work in my heart so much while reading it. The book certainly contains many amazing accounts of how God provided for George Muller and his ministry, but more than anything the book is a powerful narrative of how God responds to faith and prayer. Muller's life goal was to show that God is a living God who hears and answers prayer, and God richly blessed this life of faith.

The refreshing thing about this biography is that you learn just as much about the almighty God whom Muller served as you do about Muller himself. The author also often steps out of the narrative to help the reader to apply lessons from Muller's life. However, these asides never feel forced or interrupt the flow of the narrative, they only add to the reader's enjoyment and edification. I'm certain that the writing of this book itself was bathed in prayer, and it will show in the heart of the reader.

As mentioned before in other reviews, the language is a bit formal, as was common style in the late 1800's, but it's still very accessible, even to High School students. I heartily recommend this book!

The ultimate George Muller biography, written by a man who knew him, and the one approved by Mr. Muller's own son-in-law. This biography breaks down George Muller's life into sections and explores each section thoroughly. Tremendous insight is gained into why and how he became a great man of faith and prayer. And as if the unfolding of this isn't enough, there's the added bonus of author A.T. Pierson's insightful commentary on biblical principles for deeper-level Christian living. I am reading this book a second time just to take in and digest all he has to say about these things, especially in relation to following the call of God on one's life. I was not expecting this from a biography and all I could think while reading it was "Where was this man when I was starting out?" It's like sitting at the feet of your own personal mentor. While some of the writing style is a bit "too late 1800's" it does not detract from what is being said. This is an extremely rich read. (The DVD "Obstacle to Comfort" serves as a great companion to this book.)

This work, for the young reader, is an excellent additon to one of the best series for young people over the past fifty years. This is the story of the Wright Brothers, from their early childhood through the time of their invention of the "flying machine." It does stress the influence their parents, particularly their mother, had upon them. It is simply written and very direct. The story is quite easy to follow and gives the young reader a very good insight to the minds and work ethic these brothers had. It is an excellent introduction to the subject of flight. Overall the book is quite inspirational. I can remember reading it as a child (mid-fifties) and am quite gratified to see my grandsons read it today. Recommend quite highly.

My 7 year old really liked this, and more generally this whole Landmark series is very good for young readers. Vocabulary and sentence structure are age appropriate. Content is good solid history. As opposed to much of the stuff for this age which is "silly" reading, this series lets them learn something while improving their reading skills.

This book was easy to read and helped me gain an understanding of the Wright brothers and the influence their mother had on their lives as well as their accomplishments and what drove them to invent, and invent, and invent! Not only did it provide a good review of their acccomplishments, but it also provided inspiration to my 11 year old daughter. These men had a can do attitude and never gave up. I recommend this book for anyone who wants knowlege of the Wright brothers, and inspiration to always keep trying.

A book that truly describes what happened to the Wright Brothers. It tells of how they went from almost nothing to building arplanes. It tells how they worked to build the airplane, and always wanted to build one. Recomended for anyone who wants to know more about Orville Wright and Wilbur, and wants to read a good book

The work presented in this book stands as a shining example of how social science research should be conducted. The authors' ability to set aside their preconceptions regarding gun control establishes their qualifications as preeminent researchers in the field and true professionals (as though this was necessary). Contemporary social science research is too often lacking in integrity; thankfully, these practitioners have made a contribution to the truth rather than some political ideology. The work cannot be classified as conservative or liberal. Rather, it represents a full and exhaustive exploration of the dynamics associated with the gun control debate as it is framed today. True students of the field should be grateful.

Intending to build the case for comprehensive federal gun restrictions, the Carter administration handed out a major gun control research grant to sociology Professor James D. Wright, and his colleagues Peter Rossi and Kathleen Daly. Wright was already on record as favoring much stricter controls, and he and his colleagues were recognized as among sociology's brightest stars. Rossi, a University of Massachusetts professor, would later become President of the American Sociology Association. Wright, who formerly served as Director of the Social and Demographic Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, now teaches at Tulane. Daly was a relatively young scholar at the time, but she has since gone on to win the Hindelang Prize from the American Society of Criminology. The Hindelang Prize is awarded for the most significant contribution to criminology in a three-year period. Daly is the most recent winner, for her studies of women's issues. Anyway, Wright, Rossi, and Daly were asked to survey the state of research regarding the efficacy of gun control, presumably to show that gun control worked, and America needed more of it. But when Wright, Rossi, and Daly produced their report for the National Institute of Justice, they delivered a document quite different from the one they had expected to write. Carefully reviewing all existing research to date, the three scholars found no persuasive scholarly evidence that America's 20,000 gun control laws had reduced criminal violence. For example, the federal Gun Control Act of 1968, which banned most interstate gun sales, had no discernible impact on the criminal acquisition of guns from other states. Washington, D.C.'s 1977 ban on the ownership of handguns which had not already been registered in the District was not linked to any reduction in gun crime in the District. Even Detroit's law providing mandatory sentences for felonies committed with a gun was found to have no effect on gun crime patterns, in part because judges would often reduce the sentence for the underlying offense in order to balance out the mandatory two-year extra sentence for use of a gun. The Wright/Rossi/Daly team exploded scores of other gun control myths. They discussed the data showing that gun owners-rather then being a violent, aberrant group of nuts-were at least as psychologically stable and morally sound as the rest of the population. Polls claiming to show that a large majority of the population favored "more gun control" were debunked as being the product of biased questions, and of the fact that most people have no idea how strict gun laws already are. As the scholars frankly admitted, they had started out their research as gun control advocates, and had been forced to change their minds by a careful review of the evidence. Review by Dave Kopel, Independence Institute, http://i2i.org.

Interviewing felony prisoners in ten state correctional systems in 1981, Wright and Rossi found extensive information suggesting that gun control laws have relatively little effect on violent criminals. For example, only 12% of criminals, and only 7% of the criminals specializing in handgun crime, had acquired their last crime handgun at a gun store. Of those, about a quarter had stolen the gun from a store; a large number of the rest, Wright and Rossi suggested, had probably procured the gun through a legal surrogate buyer, such as a girlfriend with a clean record. Fifty-six percent of the prisoners said that a criminal would not attack a potential victim who was known to be armed. Seventy-four percent agreed with the statement that "One reason burglars avoid houses where people are at home is that they fear being shot during the crime." Thirty-nine percent of the felons had personally decided not to commit a crime because they thought the victim might have a gun, and eight percent said the experience had occurred "many times." Criminals in states with higher civilian gun ownership rates worried the most about armed victims. Despite the popular myth that criminals preferred small, inexpensive handguns (so-called "Saturday Night Specials" or "junk guns"), the felony prisoners preferred larger, more powerful handguns-equal to the guns which they expected the police would have. Although the criminals rarely bought guns in gun stores, the overwhelming majority stated that obtaining a gun after their release from prison would be a simple project, which might take a few hours to a few weeks. Armed and Dangerous has lost none of its importance. In the years since it was published, no-one has done any research on criminal gun use and acquisition that is even half as significant or detailed. Armed and Dangerous is also a great book to give a library. The new paperback includes an introduction by Jim Wright that discusses the reaction to Armed and Dangerous in the years since its first publication.

When I first read Michael Meyerhofer's poems, I immediately saw him as poetry's modern messiah: a poet that could save poetry from being regarded solely as "high art," or too confusing for modern readers. The poems in Cardboard Urn do not intimidate us with esoteric language; nor are his poems timid or pretentious. While many poems in this collection approach sensitive subjects with barefaced conviction, Meyerhofer tapdances on the line between the tragic and the humorous. He writes not of the mind, but of the physical world, and in such a way that we feel enriched by language instead of burdened by it. Meyerhofer's poems are purely luminous in their simplicity and touching in their sincerity.

One of my favorite books of poetry, hands down.

Mike Meyerhofer's book, Cardboard Urn, manages to cultivate a trustworthy level of sentiment while remaining objectively analytic al to such an extent that the reader truly begins to "understand" Meyerhofer's personal experiences and the effects that they have had. Brilliant use of language, form, register and aesthetics. Get this book and read "Digger", which is my personal favorite

I am just kicking myself. I had the chance to see this wonderful poet read, and I missed it. The poems in Cardboard Urn are pure, elegant, and moving. Meyerhofer's work covers a variety of subjects, but is consistent throughout in quality. Get this book!

Manufacturing is a combination of soft and hard skill. The soft-skill is about people and how to manage them. This skill is obvious in several text and business management book. The hard-skill, however, is quite rare. Fortunately, Wright combines it in nice -easy to read format.
The strong point of this book is "comprehensive". Wright composes his thought of manufacturing system today and projected to the future. All manufacturing processes are seamlessly combined from one chapter to another. The integration of CAD/CAM is also mentioned. In addition, his viewpoint of manufacturing system for biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology are quite interesting -and practical.
If I have to use one book for manufacturing class, I would use this book for teaching. For anyone new to manufacturing process, this book is a must for your jorney to the manufacturing world.

This book is like a breath of fresh air - A totally new and innovative view of manufacturing. It was very different from the traditional boring and dry manufacturing texts I have been used to reading. The book takes a look not only at manufacturing processes but also other aspects like product development and business plans - parts I have not seen in any other textbook. To sum up, I would definitely recommend the book !

This book provides an excellent overview of manufacturing in the new economy. From the perspective of an entrepreneur in today's internet driven world, all aspects from product design to rapid prototyping and computer manufacturing are discussed in detail and with strong reference to the real world. In addition, conventional manufacturing processes like basic machining and metal forming, as well as fairly new industrial directions like biotechnology are outlined with an emphasis on the strong relationship between engineering and business. The book concludes with a realistic vision for the future of manufacturing, and therefore proves to be a 'must have' in the world of engineering and entrepreneurship.

Although long and a little hard to follow at times, Ad Infinitum is a thrilling look at one man's voyage through time as the result of a freak nuclear accident. Along the way he is hounded by an enchanting witch of astoundishing power.

James A. Wright shows tremendous promise as a writer, and readers will definitely demand sequels, following the hero's new divine mission and more on the role of the enigmatic Hyksos aliens.

The Wrighter gives a rich detail of many different historical periods, ranging from the feudal Old World (in several different locations) to the modern world, to the future and beyond.

Don't let the price tag scare you, Ad Infinitum is worth the money and time to read it.

This is one of the best in the genre. The author weaves a spellbinding plot with edge-of-your-seat action to produce a thrilling book that I couldn't put down. Spanning the farthest reaches of time, this book weaves a convincing theory of time travel. That, combined with the writer's in depth knowledge of all of the timelines in the past, makes for great reading. James Bond meets the TV Show "Seven Days". If you're a Sci-Fi fan, this is a must have in your collection.