Companies Books

This series is great and this was another chapter in the ongoing story of Maturin and Aubrey. Their adventures are of another world and provide a great contrast to other books.

This entry in the Aubrey-Maturin seagoing saga was probably my least favorite that I've read so far in this series. My quibble was with the novel's plot, which was pretty thin and derivative of other action novels and movies. And Diana Villiers, Dr. Maturin's love, is starting to remind of the character of Irenee in The Forsythe Saga. Everyone is always talking about how fascinating she is, but darned if I can see why. On the plus side, as always O'Brian serves up amazing historical details and makes Jack and Stephen witty and real. And the on-going story of their lives advances to a very eye-opening and surprising ending. So you can bet I'll look forward to the next installment of this series.

The focus is on Stephen Maturin in this seventh installment of the Aubrey-Maturin series, which, though it isn't the best or most exciting of the first seven books, is still a ripping good read. Returning to England following their escapades in North America, Aubrey and Maturin try to settle into life at home -- Jack with his family and Stephen with his scientific pursuits -- but their pasts catch up with them, compelling them to join forces for a spur-of-the-moment mission to the Baltic. Will they succeed? Will they overcome the old problems that dog them? And just who is the surgeon's mate? Read this tale of spying, diplomacy, and (of course!) naval combat to find out.

Patrick O'Brian's scope of imagination is staggering. We are now into the seventh book in his series, and Captain "Lucky Jack" Aubrey and surgeon/naturalist/spy Stephen Maturin continue to find themselves in realistic-yet-dire circumstances of a personal, military, and intelligence nature. Through it all, these two characters never seem like invincible juggernauts, but instead very human, very capable men living by the best their wits and luck can offer.

At the outset of the novel, Aubrey and Maturin need to flee the New World for the old, but find themselves hard-pressed to do so. Thanks to Dr. Maturin's single-handed destruction of French spy networks in Boston (including a wee bit of murder), a wealthy intelligence figure hires ships to track down the fleeing Maturin. The result is a thrilling chase off Nova Scotia and the nearby waters - while I prefer Aubrey's sinking of the Dutch 74 the Waakzamheid in "Desolation Island," this chase is one of the most thrilling in the series so far.

And the joys of this novel don't stop there. O'Brian once again finds various ways to inject humor into his novel. Dr. Maturin hits a personal and professional high (as a naturalist) when he gets the chance to address a body of learned scientists in Paris . . . only to bungle the presentation horribly. Aubrey allows himself to be seduced by a wanton woman while celebrating his escape from the jail in Boston, and is confronted with news of the natural biological result of such a transgression. Maturin and Aubrey are accompanied on many of their adventures in "SM" by the Swedish captain Jagiello, a supremely attractive young man, and Aubrey finds himself at a loss as to why the women fall all over themselves for this young buck when they could have a sailor "with the handsomest set of whiskers in the fleet." There are joys in this novel that you just don't find in most swashbuckling thrillers.

But at its heart, "SM" is an adventure yarn, and O'Brian does not disappoint. In a story that sweeps from the New World to Paris to Denmark to the infamous Temple Prison back in France, Aubrey and Maturin find themselves thrown from one pan into another fire. And God bless them for it!

Confession time. THE SURGEON'S MATE is the fifth book in the "Aubrey/Maturin Series" of seafaring novels that I have completed; however, it is the seventh book in the logical series order. Having subscribed to receive the entire series, I began reading the books in the order that they arrived, assuming that the publisher would send them in proper sequence. Such turns out not to have been the case, and some of my discontent with other volumes I have reviewed derived from the fact that I had missed some events because of reading the books out of order. Allow my experience to stand as evidence that, for maximum enjoyment and even comprehension, these books should be approached in their logical sequence.

I have now edited those earlier reviews to correct any misstatements as to the books' places in the sequence of novels and have removed comments pertaining to missing events that actually were addressed in preceding volumes. Nonetheless, I find that my overall assessments of the books remain unaltered. I feel that Richard Russ (Patrick O'Brian's real name) is essentially a "three star" author. When he writes of naval engagements aboard men-of-war, sloops, frigates, and the other fighting ships whose maneuvering capabilities are largely at the whim of the prevailing winds, he is a most engaging author. However, when he delves into the interpersonal relationships of his characters, he is less successful in engaging his readers.

Two other continuing weaknesses in Russ' writing are his heavy use of now-archaic seafaring terminology that often clouds the meaning of the passage and his frustrating lack of time transitions. The first problem could have been alleviated by judicious use of explanatory footnotes. The latter could have been corrected by use of transitional commentary. As it is, however, in one sentence, the captain may call for one of his officers, and in the very next sentence he is speaking to that officer. It is as though a time warp has occurred and the officer has materialized next to his captain at the very moment he is called for. This annoying truncation of time appears in each of the five volumes I have read thus far, and I fear it is a weakness to which the author is blind and may well continue throughout the series.

By itself, THE SURGEON'S MATE, while subject to the general criticisms I have mentioned, is, by and large, readable and engaging. Is Russ/O'Brian improving as he writes additional volumes, or am I becoming accustomed to his style and more accepting of it? In either event, I found this volume a much faster and more intriguing read than some of the others I have already encountered. The single most perplexing thing about this book is its title. There is no focus on any "surgeon's mate" whatsoever, and where Russ/O'Brian found his inspiration for the title remains a murky mystery! (Some reviewers have identified the title as referring to the character of Dr. Stephen Maturin; however, he has hitherto been described as being much more than a naval surgeon, being a skilled physician while a naval surgeon was essentially limited to chopping off shattered limbs. If this is indeed Russ/O'Brian's intent, then his choice of title essentially demotes Maturin from his former position, which is not, I think, the author's intent.)

If, gentle reader, you are determined to read the entire Aubrey-Maturin series of novels, you will certainly not want to miss this one. However, you will perhaps enjoy it most if you have read the preceding six volumes first. On the other hand, if one is interested in merely sampling Russ/O'Brian's work, this would not be a bad example to choose, although I would still suggest reading at least the first work, MASTER AND COMMANDER, before delving into any of the succeeding books, including this one.

I bought this book at the American Book Center in The Hague, Netherlands, a few years ago. As I knew many of the places mentioned in the book, it took on an even deeper meaning for me. I love this book, and I list Diet Eman and Hein Sietsma as heroes. Definitely 5+ stars!

Excellent book. The book is fast paced, exciting and touching.

The risks and sacrifices that the author and her fiance went through for their beliefs and for unkwown people amazed and inspired me. Highly recommended.

The account of the author and her experiences fighting the German occupation of Holland during WWII is harrowing. It is hard to imagine that any human being can display so mush courage at such a young age.

The true story of true Christians, and Dutch patriots, Diet Eman and Hein Sietsma, and their courageous risk of everything to resist Nazi tyranny and hide thousands of Dutch Jews.
True Christians always love the Jewish people and Israel, and true nationalists are opposed to both Communism and Nazism, both the antithesis of national self-determination.
Diet recounts her own life, and experiences and what she saw and heard, as well as her deep faith in G-D, that guided her in all she did and thought.
Diet recounts her experiences in Scheveningen prison, where she describes how Jewish families, who were caught in hiding, were hauled into the prison, mothers, fathers and children: 'On the nights the guards brought Jews in, we always heard the children crying all through that place. It was bad enough for us to have to suffer through a place, like Scheveningen, but it was terrible to hear those poor innocent children crying.'
It is up to true Christians and righteous gentiles to stand by the State of Israel today, in the struggle for her survival and that of her children, against the monstrous Islamic-extreme leftist hate machine.

I have read more than 75 books of this genre depicting this period of history. "What would I have done under the same circumstances?" That is the question I am always asking of myself whilst reading these stories. This is the story of a group of people with the courage of their convictions...Diet's story is inspiring and touching. It illustrates perfectly that the power of prayer is undeniable and when 'all one can do is pray' one has done everything.

Lovejoy's gardening help and humor have been assembled over a long time as a gardener--in good times and bad. She knows bugs. She knows weeds. She understands my gardening pain. Her remedies for problems are safe and effective, and best of all, tend to be created out of stuff we all keep on hand. On a few gray, rainy days I have read her book simply for entertainment. Also, this book is a terrific gift. Enjoy!

From clever outdoor decorating ideas to eco-friendly pest repellent recipes, this little book is a wealth of simple tricks to transform your garden. The first time I read it, I couldn't put it down. Page after turned page, I found myself gasping "who knew?" or "genius!" Having only a light-green thumb myself, I especially enjoy Sharon Lovejoy's humorous and uncomplicated approach to a wide variety of gardening challenges. There probably isn't a whole lot of information in this book that would be news to the seasoned gardener. But for the beginner or the well-intentioned-albeit-lax like me, it is informative and delightful. My only complaint is that the book is not water/dirt repellent ... the amount of time this book has spent by my side in the garden SHOWS! :-)

He loves it so far, and I'm enjoying the bits I''m getting to read.

This is a great "sitting by the garden" book. I have learned a lot, and it has reinforced some things I thought I already knew. Lots of great ideas, and I love the organic ways to take care of gardens/pests/etc.

As an avid collector of gardening books, I am proud to add this to my library. It is a fun, quick read with no nonsense everyday tips and remedies for the novice to the experienced gardener. It is easily becoming my first reference when tackling the out-of-doors, and it is small enough to tote around the yard as I work. No more "rummaging thru" pages of information. Everything is at my fingertips. THANK YOU Sharon !!

This is a no none sense view of precious talent. Tulgan does an excellent job of showing managers don't have to just let their talent walk out the door. Sometimes the solution to keeping good people is a simple change of schedule of 30 to 60 minutes. This book has good ideas that don't cost money!

Winning the Talent Wars: How to Build a Lean, Flexible, High-Performance Workplace is the recent softcover edition of Tulgan's workplace classic. His workplace philosophy, "Talent is the Show" is applied to all areas of HR: staffing, compensation, coaching-style management, training, and career paths. The only difference between this book and the original hardcover edition, Winning the Talent Wars: How to Manage and Compete in the High-tech, High-speed, Knowledge-based, Superfluid Economy, is a new forward.

So we're not in the go-go late 90's early 2000's anymore.

That doesn't change the basic theme of this book.

Even in the recent economy, the power at work is shifting from the employer to the employee, especially when that employee is among the best performers.

The point Tulgan raises is that that this is not a matter of salary, but a matter of *compensation* Employees, especially the best employees, are seeking more and more to craft their own dream job or dream career. If someone doesn't get that with one employer, they are likely to leave for a place where they can come closer to accomplishing that.

What is ideal for one individual is not likely to be ideal for another individual, so Tulgan advocates a negotiation process, where the company and the supervisors, work to figure out what makes a person "tick" and to change the nature of employement to make the work environment fit that as much as possible. This could be flex schedules, work conditions, more/less travel, office location, etc.

However, this is not solely the employee in charge, as, by doing this, the business will keep their best and brightest and most productive employees, instead of losing the valuable training investments. Also, productivity will increase, and the carrot is mightier than the stick in Tulgan view (how strong is the threat of firing when people are more likely to pick up and leave?)

Tulgan also mentions thinking in terms of "work" rather than "jobs" and devotes sections of the book to management by coaching (in a number of respects) rather than "command and control."

While this book was written in 2001, the arguments are even more relevant as the economy has gotten more global, especially for the top performers. While some of the "power" may have shifted back to companies in the workplace for industries subject to outsourcing, giving them a larger worker pool, the top performers have a greater pool of EMPLOYERS. The need to have the top performers is stronger than ever.

Whether you're managing, looking to manage, or just looking at how to deal with managers (and what you CAN and SHOULD ask for as a term of employment) this book will tell you how the workplace will operate in at least the early part of this century.

The book lucidly explains the fundamental shift in employer-employee relationship in the new economy. Bruce Tulgan does an admirable job of showing that managers do not have to just let their talent walk out the door. This book has useful ideas that can save your company a lot of money. It is written in an immensely readable style and has some good humour.

Tulgan argues persuasively that in the new economy, every term of employment, including schedules, training, career paths, location, assignments, co-workers, pay, among others, will best be agreed through a negotiation process, so as to tailor it to the individual needs of the scarce talents, which he explains will enable the organization to retain the talent. Naturally, the most precious talent will have the most negotiating clout. All this entails a novel set of organizing principles for employing highly productive people in the new economy.

Companies are advised to reflect and take note of the kind of work place that Tulgan describes in his book. Unless action is taken timely to recruit and retain talent, then the future prosperity of an organization may be in doubt. As a senior manager in my organisation, the book was a wake-up call and showed me the things I can do right now to make the workplace a place where the best people will want to come to work.

The book is essential reading for both managers and workers. The managers will learn how to build a lean, flexible, high-performance workplace. The worker will be able to understand better the background of some people policies, such as why managers are more accommodating to "talents" demands and how they can adapt their aspirations accordingly.

In Good to Great, Jim Collins and his research associates learned that the great companies "...first got the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats -- and then they figured out where to drive it. The old adage 'People are the most important asset' turned out to be wrong. People are not [italics] your most important asset. The right [italics] people are."

The right people share the same values and, together, sustain their organization's commitment to those values. If involved in their organization's recruiting and interviewing process, as they should be, they will help to ensure that the right people will be hired (i.e. allowed on the "bus"). Obviously it is important to get talent and task in proper alignment. It is equally important to keep an organization's values in proper alignment with its objective.

Tulgan's important book is even more relevant and more valuable now than it was when first published about two years ago. As its subtitle correctly indicates, he explains "how to manage and compete in the high-tech, high-speed, knowledge-based, superfluid economy." That is to say, he wrote the book for decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of size or nature) to help them determine HOW to get "the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats"...and then keep them there.

All of the companies which Tulgan discusses (e.g. Johnson & Johnson and J.P. Morgan Chase) demonstrate one of Tulgan's core concepts: "In the new economy, every term of employment -- schedules, location, assignments, coworkers, pay, and more -- will be negotiation, whether you like it or not. The most valuable talent will have the most negotiating power. Every employment relationship will last exactly as long as the terms are agreeable to all parties." There is a new set of organizing principles for employing people in the new economy:

' Talent is the show.

' Staff the work, not the jobs.

' Pay for performance, and nothing else.

' Turn managers into coaches.

' Train for the mission, not for the long haul.

' Create as many career paths as you have people.

Tulgan devotes a separate chapter to each of these principles, explaining with meticulous care how to apply each to his reader's specific business situation. Note how these principles apply to any organization which competes for available talent and then is challenged to keep its best people who, more easily now more than ever before, can leave the "bus" whenever and wherever they wish. This situation is as common among the great companies whom Collins discusses as it is among the local merchants from whom we purchase various products and services.

Extensive research indicates that only one in 28-30 dissatisfied customers ever complains to the provider of the given product or service. All others simply never do business with that provider again...while continuing to express their dissatisfaction to family members, friends, and business associates. More often than not, customer dissatisfaction is the result of an unpleasant personal experience rather than because of a product defect. To extend Collins' metaphor, customers are among the "passengers" and can also get off the "bus" whenever and wherever they wish. Much has been written about the power of BUZZ (i.e. word-of-mouth) and the importance of creating "customer evangelists." From my perspective, winning the "talent war" is essential to winning the competition for customer's repeat business. A careful implementation of the strategies and tactics which Tulgan recommends in this book will help to achieve that ultimate objective.

Otherwise, not having "the right people on the bus...and in the right place," the "bus" will either never reach its destination or in the highly unlikely event that it does so, arrive with few (if any) "passengers" aboard.

Another Boynton fun book. A great 'read to me' book and also good for early readers. I left it on my grandson's night stand so he would have it when he woke up on his 5th birthday. The story has 5 birthday monsters so it was perfect.

Love this book! My two year old grandson has me read this at least 10 times a day! He calls it "favorite".

My daughter is 2 and loves this book along will all of Sandra Boynton's other books. She can't get enough of them. You will laugh so hard when you read them all. She has a wonderful since of humor and the books are very easy to read. My daughter has many of them memorized already, so do my husband and I from reading them over and over. This book along with her other ones are a must have.

My son loves all of Sandra Boynton books...it is a great Birthday book for a boy or a girl!!! I always keep a copy on hand for birthday parties that are short notice!!!

Once our family got hooked on Boynton we had to have all of them. This is one of my favorites and the one that my 2 year old and 4 year old ask to have read to them just about every day. I think we love this one just because it's so much like birthdays at our house.

It's fast pace is great for toddlers and preschoolers. Boynton books are generally great to start out with as early as possible, but even if you don't pick up your first one until your child is a preschooler they can be great for learning to read. They're very quick to memorize.

This book is a non-stop argument for successfull thinking. Mr Castro reminds us that we are in charge of our own potential and it is never too late to begin to accomplish your dreams and goals. This no excuses approach is motivating and inspiring.

When craziness breaks loose in your life, how will you handle it? Not that each of us will experiences the type of heartbreak often inevitable in life, but Critical Choices examines how overcoming difficulty is largely a matter of how you choose to focus your mind. What do you think will happen? Now that might sound easy when not faced with difficulty, but the author talks to so many people some famous and some not, and shows us examples on how focus and belief in an outcome will cause us to act accordingly. The examples from Martin Luther King, Walt Disney, James Earl Jones and countless others are inspiring and uplifting. While we may have heard the believe it, achieve it homily before, Castor motivates readers, inherent in the examples that there are ways the average person can achieve a hero's status in life.

Critical Choices by Dan Castro is one of the largest sources of inspiration I have come across in many years. The book is a quick read, and packs an incredible amount of motivation.

Each success story is easy to understand, and all of them are relevant to every day life, and the bulk will likely help you do what needs to be done; make choices to change your life for the better. All the short accounts of the Hero's lives are bound by common themes which led them to success.

Critical Choices will likely change the way you think about many things for the better, and positively change the way you perceive the world.

I learned a great deal from reading Dan's book, and I plan on sharing it with my friends and family. I suggest you do the same.

One day I was in a very cool book store People's Books) in Austin, Texas; you know those lazy, Summer afternoons when you find yourself all blissed out with the very, very rare opportunity of time? Time to think about your place here, your life and the bountiful world we create around us. Well, as soon as I walked into the store, I felt this magnetic pull toward the second floor...as I rounded the corner up the stair case, I came across this handsome gentle, sweet man in a suit, with this impressively large poster sized cover of a book. It was clear he was getting ready to speak, not privy to the topic of this book or if even this bright soul had written it, I checked out the cover and asked if he was going to be speaking soon and if he had written this book? His warm reply cemented my interested in hearing what this intriguing stranger had share with an intimate group, in a funky book store in Central Texas. When the time approached for him to begin, I took my seat quietly at the front of the room. The beautiful little voice inside me said that I was in for delicious surprise! As soon as Dan Castro stood up in front of the room and began to speak, I was captivated! His beautifully woven tale of how this book came to be was like watching an artist recreate with love and compassion. The light in his eyes as he held the room for more than an hour was so incredibly vibrate, that it made you lean forward with the concentration level of a surgeon. I was so taken by the heart, drive and message coming from this man that the hour felt like only seconds had passed. It was such a gift to have stumbled across this book that I bought two copies that day right after he was done and I have bought three more since, for family and friends. In today's busy world, I know we all wish we had more time to read; please let me personally assure you this book is worth the precious spare time you indulge yourself to read a wonderfully good book!

Like many inspiring, self-help books, Castro's contains myriad stories of "success" under fire. But to me, the most important point he makes is that we all face decision points in our lives. We can CHOOSE how we respond. A common thread ties together almost all of those briefly profiled in this book--they chose to act in an "heroic" manner.

I was especially interested in Castro's first chapter where he laid out his thinking about the difference between what he defines as "heroes," and the rest of us. The secret, he asserts, lies with how they answer three questions: 1. What are you focusing on? 2. What do you believe? 3. What are you expecting.

As a life coach, I think these are excellent questions for anyone who wants to achieve anything outside of their comfort zone. In fact the entire first chapter of the book where Castro develops his thesis about why "heroes" make the choices they do, was informative and helpful. His Seven Laws of Critical Focus could be a roadmap for people who are looking for ways to help them meet challenges in their own lives.

Every time I read this my eyes well with tears from laughing so hard! Every mom, young or old needs this book. The comedy is side slipping and so true. With the stress of parenting someone needs to poke fun at these events and changes. I order several at a time so I can hand them out to friends. Don't think twice... get this book!

I love this book. I read it when I had my first child and picked it up again when I was pregnant with my second. It is a must for any parent. Lots of truth and humor. It is jam packed with little tidbits that make me laugh out loud!

I read this book during the final weeks of my first pregnancy. There are a lot of anxious feelings during this time and it was great to take a break and laugh for a while. Some of the stories made me laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes. The only downside was that some of the things that were supposed to be funny were actually a little depressing. The section about your body after pregnancy is a great example. I've been looking forward to having my body back so it was a little disheartening to hear about your body after pregnancy even from a humorous source.

Otherwise the book was light-hearted and gave me a lot of laughter. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I received this as a gift from a friend, and it had me laughing for hours. I would recommend for any first time parent that needs a laugh, especially moms on bedrest who could use fun read. I loved The Diaper Diaries!

My husband bought this for me right after our daughter was born. It offered me a few much-needed moments of laughter in what was occasionally a very intense and overwhelming time. I especially love the part about what it's like the first time you try to get your baby to the pediatrician's office.

This is by far the most thorough exegetical work I've found anywhere on the book of Romans. It is a masterful commentary full of pertinent insight and many nuggets of considerable import. My only negative critique is that this commentary is not more Pastoral. It is extremely useful (read "invaluable") for scholars, theologians, seminarians, etc., but is not nearly as easily digested and presented for Pastors or Sunday School Teachers or Church Bible Study teachers, etc. I only wish Moo had included more pastorally, but nevertheless this is a magnificent work and highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand Paul's message to the church at Rome. I would recommend that perhaps some other commentaries be included (even such trustworthy classics such as Calvins or Luthers).

Dougas J. Moo has written the greatest one-volume commentary on the Book of Romans!

Two other books by Moo on Romans are also helpful:
1. Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey (Encountering Biblical Studies)
2. Romans: The Niv Application Commentary: From Biblical Text to Contemporary Life

This commentary is probably the most exhaustive and careful study of Romans I have ever read (and I have read quite a few books on Romans). Douglas Moo stresses that the overarching theme of the letter to the Romans is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He says that Paul wrote Romans for a number of reasons: to defend his gospel against those who were accusing him of saying things like "Let us do good, so that evil may result." He also wrote to show that both Jew and Gentile are in equal need of the gospel, and that one cannot boast against the other. Paul also wrote to galvanize support for his mission to Spain (Romans 15).

Romans 1-3 shows that both Jew and Gentile are lost in sin without faith in Christ. Romans 7 shows the futility that Paul and other unsaved Jewish people in general experienced under the law, and Romans 7:24ff depicts deliverance through salvation in Christ.

Romans 8:29 means that God foreknew us in relationship, not that God foreknew that we would believe in Christ (I disagree, but this is Moo's viewpoint, and he argues cogently).

According to Moo, Romans 9 speaks of God choosing certain individuals to be saved because of His own purpose and grace, and not because of any faith he foresaw in His people. Jacob I have loved means "Jacob I have chosen," and Esau I have hated means "Esau, I have not chosen."

In a tour de force of careful argumentation, Moo shows from Romans 9-11 that God is not through with the Jewish people, and that "all Israel" in Romans 11:25-26 means that all the Jewish people alive at the time of Christ's return will be saved.

Romans 12-15 has ethical material found in a number of other Pauline epistles, and Romans 13 was written because Paul wanted to show that submitting to governing authorities was part of the pleasing will of God mentioned in 12:2 (although he leaves open the possibility of Christians responding to the government when it goes against the clearly expressed moral and ethical will of God.

The list of people in Romans 16 doesn't make for the most scintillating reading, but it shows that Paul's missionary ventures were not solo performances. He relied on others, both men and women.

What else can I say except that this is an awesome commentary. The heavy duty Greek stuff is mostly in the bottom as footnotes, but this is still a commentary I would recommend mainly for pastors and educated lay people. Moo's NIVAC offering on Romans may be a better choice for beginners.

I do not quite agree with the Calvinistic interpretations of Romans 8:29 and 9:22, especially since 9:30-10:21 make it clear that faith plays an important part of the process. In my opinion, God does not choose apart from his foreknowledge of the human response, and I think Romans 9:30-10:21 brings this out.

But otherwise, this commentary is exhaustive (and exhausting if you try to read it in a short period of time!) and extremely helpful. Thumbs way up!

Moo's commentary is good not excellent. I find he tends to chase rabbits. I would have prefered to have read more of his own thoughts on the verses as to so many different opinions of others. Over all he has done a good job, but I would not say his commentary is better than Hodge or Cranfield or some of the other older commentaries on Romans.

Moo is officially classed as a dispensationalist, however, it is known that he disagrees with a lot of traditional dispensational thought, as he is more progressive than most. For one, he is post tribulational in end time thinking, and believes in the 'now and the not yet' of the Kingdom. This book clearly shows that.
I am not a dispensationalist at all and yet I was amazed at the clarity and balanced thinking of this commentator. As he, himself states - he believes more in 'fullfillment' theology. And that's where this book is at especially in the murkey waters of ch 9, 10 and 11.
If he was as dispensational as one reveiwer above says, then Fee or the NIC committee would not have had him, as the niether the series or Fee are at all dispensational.
What Moo does do is bring traditional reformed / replacement thought toward a more Christocentric understanding of Israel as a people, who together with gentiles form God's one fulfillment people, and yet he also deals with the traditional dispensational thought that says Israel are God's earthly people and the Church His heavenly people ( or less in some cases).
I think Moo deserves credit for this book - it is outstanding, and will hopefully clear up a lot of the terrible dispensational mess in the West, and bring Christocentric fulfillment views rather than dual covenant views into people's understanding.

The quilts in here are beautiful. They are also pretty simple to make. The patterns can be done quickly and I'm a beginner quilter. Like other people mentioned, the pictures are very helpful in selecting fabric and they're big and glossy so it's easy to see what the quilt will turn out like. This is by far the best of the Quilts for Baby books that Ursula has published. I can't wait till she puts out another one.

Book came on time and in good condition. I'd buy from this seller again.

I found that this collection of baby quilts offers the best options for simple quick quilts. I have always returned to this book everytime I make a baby quilt even though I have others to reference.

I love this book and have already made a baby quilt from it. The instructions were great and easy to follow and the project did not take a long time.

I borrowed this book from the library twice in a row, and am finally buying one for myself. Most of my books only get used once or twice, but I've made 5 of the projects from this book and don't see an end in sight. Awesome presentation (fun to read and browse through) and good value (very versatile).

When Hitler was asked about the possible negative consequences of the "final solution" in gassing all the remaining Jews in the world, he is reported to have responded by asking the question of "Who remembers the Armenians" who were killed by the "young Turks" at the end of the Ottoman Empire. While the numbers are in dispute, the reality is that over a million were killed outright or died of hunger during the campaign to exterminate the Armenians. But the real hidden holocaust took place over a decade later, when the Communist jackals running the "Evil Empire" in Moscow set about to eliminate the Ukrainians by systematic starvation, in far greater numbers than Hitler was able to accomplish with his ovens in concentration camps all over Europe.
Whoever Miron Dolot is, since he wrote this under a pseudonym for some reason, he lived a horror for many years that is incomprehensible for normal human beings. His description of the day-to-day struggle to exist under a system so evil that it boggles the imagination was very eloquent. Dolot talks about the neighbors who starved to death, families who engaged in cannibalism in order to survive, mothers committing suicide after the last of their children had died from malnutrition, frozen bodies stacked like firewood, roads littered with the remains of those who died trying to find a kernel of corn to ingest, and many other horrors that bring tears to your eyes. The Soviets did everything they could do to kill their opposition, including killing dogs and cats to keep them from becoming the last remaining food source for farmers who had no other option to stay alive. Even birds were shot from the trees to keep them from the starving peasants. But it was not limited to the Ukrainians; just ask the relatives of the millions of Chechens, Ingushetian's, and others who wanted independence and were rewarded with death in Soviet concentration camps called Gulags. Most of this story deals with a small Ukrainian village, but it is a microcosm of what happened in the Communist utopia under Stalin. Some of the stories from those who returned to the village after the horrors of being transported in cattle cars and escaped from the gulags are no different than the pictures of the same form of transport shown in many Holocaust movies.
But this story is far better than many of the holocaust films we have seen from Hollywood that concentrated on the one committed by Hitler. And why have we not seen this book on film to put all of the holocausts committed in the last century in context? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that McCarthyism still exists in its original form, when the communists controlled Hollywood in the 30's and apologists like Walter Duranty of the New York Times, who carries the label of "Stalin's Apologist" won a Pulitzer prize for his misreporting from Moscow about how great Stalin was. Ken Billingsley and his masterful book "Hollywood Party" shows that the real "blacklist" existed when loyal Americans veered from Moscow's party line, and explains Ronald Reagan's contempt for the communists who controlled his union until he won election to rid the union of these lice.
This is a great book. Hopefully someone like Mel Gibson will convert this to film for those who do not read, but are mislead by the Hollywood elite who condemn the USA and would have lasted two minutes under the Stalinist regime they glorify.

In 1929, Joseph Stalin ordered the collectivization of all Ukrainian farms. During the resulting upheaval, some seven million Ukrainians died of starvation. But, while it ended with mass starvation, the Soviet program of oppression started with property confiscation, arbitrary arrests, judicial and extrajudicial murder, and a whole constellation of unspeakable mistreatment.

One of the survivors of this holocaust was a young Ukrainian boy, who survived the conflagration and World War II, and succeeded in escaping to the United States. Written under the pseudonym of Miron Dolot, this heart-rending book tells the story of what he saw throughout the holocaust, and what he felt and thought.

I originally picked up this book because my own family, who were Russian Mennonites, left Ukraine before this time, but all of the relatives that stayed were annihilated to the last man, woman and child. Even so, I dare anyone to read this book and not be moved. The author does an excellent job of bringing the heartless insanity of this holocaust home to right where you live.

So, if you are interested in Russian or Ukrainian history, then I highly recommend this moving book to you.

This book is a record of what some daily life was like in the Ukrainian villages during the Great Famine.
It is his memoirs, so it cant really be judged for facts and such, but it seems very intresting to read, and accurate.
The numbers couldt be a tiny bit too high, but it might actually have been that, but we will never know due to the destruction of any documents concerning mass death in The Famine.
I say its a good book, but would only recommend it too people intrested in Russian History specifically, because its such a specific and narrow read on a subject, from a first hand account, which usually dont know everything. There are better academic books out there documenting the famine well, but this is nontheless a good read and history.

Excellent first hand account of the attempts of collectivization under Stalin; attempts that met with little or no success. I earned and received a Bachelor of Arts in History and this subject was never covered as well as it should have been. The "less hidden" Holocaust always seems to take center stage in this society. I became interested in the subject due to the flight of my paternal grandparents from the affected area prior to the full onslaught being felt.

It seems impossible that, in a place comparable to the American Midwest for rich soil, that the people who live there, millions of them, starve to death in spite of the bounty of their land. But their Ukrainian farms are collectivized by orders from faraway Moscow. The food is shipped to wherever the authorities decide it will go. This is not a dry history of bushels shipped and numbers of private farms collectivized, but a compelling depiction of lives progressively ruined as an ideology takes over. Families who resist collectivation are demonized as dirty, selfish kulaks, and are punished. The promises to the communities sound good, early on, but the resulting devastation of the Ukrainianian people that results ultimately reveals that there was not much in it for the people who worked the land.