Reviews Books

This collection of poems by bright, up-and-coming writer, Randall Mann, is a stand-out first book. Mann cleverly blends classic form with contemporary themes that challenge, excite, disturb, and inspire readers of these fine works. His poems are neat but not sparse, rich but not overdone, a refreshing and exciting take on themes such as queer experience, Floridian dwelling, and the perlustration of love and beauty. Mann's "Complaint in the Garden" is truly a delightful piece.

I can't stop reading this incredible book of poetry--beautiful poem after beautiful poem after beautiful poem. Mann has a rare gift for describing landscape. His poems about both love and life as a gay man are incredibly moving. But perhaps most importantly, Mann's use of form--particulary in his sonnets and villanelles--is just lovely--and quite brilliant. This is the best book of poetry that I've seen in a long, long time.

Randall Mann lures you into his garden with formal poetic structures and luscious descriptions of Florida. But watch out: Mann's language will pull you around into lands erotic, sad, and sometimes, even a little frightening. It's a dazzling ride. This book won the prestigious Kenyon Prize. Randall Mann is one of the most exciting young poets to come along.

As part of my educational requirements, I was required to write a literature review. While I understood what that meant, the nuts and bolts of doing so was overwhelming to me. Thankfully, I found this title on Amazon. I found this book to be incredibly useful in writing my literature review. What seemed to be the most important factor was that this book lays out a step-by-step plan in writing the review, and what exactly must be done. Additionally, the book de-mystifies the idiosyncrasies of writing style when writing one of these. I firmly think that if I had not found this title, I would have had a much more difficult time writing my review. Highly recommended!

Now in its second edition, Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From The Internet To Paper is an informative guide to identifying, interpreting, and analyzing published and unpublished research literature. Checklists, sample cases, exercises and more illustrate the intricate difficulties and useful methodologies for selecting questions that will make the review most effective, identifying the most appropriate databases, setting inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducting and evaluating descriptive literature reviews, and more. The second edition offers new features including tips for searching the web for research information, flow diagrams to aid the reader in applying each step of the review, new references and other online resources. A scholarly and extremely practical guide especially for students and professionals in need of a strict process to sift through the dross and find the hidden gold within the information highway.

Now in its second edition, Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From The Internet To Paper is an informative guide to identifying, interpreting, and analyzing published and unpublished research literature. Checklists, sample cases, exercises and more illustrate the intricate difficulties and useful methodologies for selecting questions that will make the review most effective, identifying the most appropriate databases, setting inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducting and evaluating descriptive literature reviews, and more. The second edition offers new features including tips for searching the web for research information, flow diagrams to aid the reader in applying each step of the review, new references and other online resources. A scholarly and extremely practical guide especially for students and professionals in need of a strict process to sift through the dross and find the hidden gold within the information highway.

By studying this book the day before the exam, I was able to get a 5.

Amzon is a good seller. I got my book in five days and am highly recommended.

I took both of the macro and micro exams this year. I had a kaplan guide from my teacher, which was very, very confusing and had very few graphs or visuals.
this aide explained concepts much better and had more graphs. I studied more for the micro exam (i didn't take a class in it - I think I easily got 4 just from this book), but what i reviewed from macro was also pretty good.

This book mostly covers the area of 7th and 8th grade math cirriculms in New York. Though it helps you to review, the book covers some materials, but not all you need to know for the test. Some 8th grade materials are not covered thorughout the book. The practice test gives examples of how the actual test will be. It gives alot of details of how to solve multiple choice questions,and short and long responses. If you're serious about getting a Level 4 on the 8th grade math test you should buy this book.

Let me tell you if you are an eight grader you must get this book. This book helped me more than any teacher. if you want to get a good grad on the 8th grade assement test this is the book for you.

My students started using this book and they've really gotten the hang of this new question style. The review sections are very comprehensive and the test-taking strategies described and explained in the book are very good. I plan on using future additions of this book and have already budgeted it in for next year. It will help you if you need it.

I find this book very handy as a brief summary for the GRE, but you have to go through the whole course. There is not shortcuts. Remember, this examination does not test your knowledge but your testing abilities.

I have the 2nd ed of this book. I was worried about the math section, not because I'm bad at math, but that I haven't done math for 5 years. But luckily the math on the GRE is middle school math. The book says that there is no college-level math. If there were, only math majors would do well. I like the practice problems and solutions in the book, but the book could've shown the reader more than one way to solve a problem. I remembered how to about 50% of the problems. After reading the math section, I can now do about 75% with out any problems.

Brandon Simpson

Crash Course for the GRE is primarily about the test itself, not the skills the GRE ostensibly tests, so it's suitable for test takers of all levels. It doesn't try to teach you math, reading, or writing; instead, it arms you with strategies (and an irreverent attitude) for tackling the test itself. You'll learn how to find the correct answer to problems quickly, and how to make an educated guess when you can't find the answer. You'll also get advice about how to make the most of whatever time you do have to prepare for the test.

While a selection of practice problems is included, you'll almost certainly want more. If you can afford a copy of Princeton Review's Cracking the GRE with DVD, 2008 Edition, that's an excellent choice. But if $10 is all you have to spend, or if you don't have time for lots of practice, this book will make an excellent companion to the free test prep materials available from ETS itself.

Whether you're studying night and day to get a perfect score, or just looking for some quick advice to avoid embarrassment on test day, this is $10 well-spent.

Well written and straight to the heart of the matter. If this review does not inspire you to purchase this book, you may count yourself among the hard core cases and should consider reading this inspiring work of words again! Our entire family is getting a copy! Once again, Jamie has captured the essence of the book and captivated her audience with her gift for the written word!

The insight expounded in this review far exceeded any preconceived notions that one would have about book reviews and their usefulness. If Jamie continues to spellbind her readers with the elegant and tactful phraseology, she will surely be recognized by the New York Times.

I have never seen or read anything as good as the review Jamie has written. This is her best work ever. I can hardly wait to read her next review. It was right on!!!!

I really, really enjoyed this story. Probably more than any of the other MacDonald I've read/listened to. The story was engaging, the characters were easy to get into, and it had all the elements of a great work of fantasy. I highly recommend it.

MacDonald's skill in imagery and storytelling are exemplified by this memorable fairy tale. One of those wonderful rare books that's extremely accessible and "light", but also is deeply stirring and has lasting weight. I'm sure it's one I'll enjoy reading to my kids.

I absolutely love this story! George MacDonald has a lovely sort of grandfatherly style, and this is perfect to be divided up as a series of bedtime stories. A boy who has never seen night and a girl who has never seen day help each other cope with their fears. It is available online if you don't mind digging a little. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for them to find it for you. E-mail me if you want the address for the online e-text version. It doesn't quite have the charm of an actual book, but if it's all you've got, it's better than nothing.

This book is for anyone immersed in the human condition, waging a war internally and silently stuggling externally. Galeano's collection of thoughts and essays and stories stirs the emotions of the reader and forces them to consider the entirety of the Latin American canon of literature as a formidable one. It encompasses genres such as autobiography, biography, testimony, prose, and short story. This is poetry of the soul for the soul, and shouldn't be limited to those obscure literature classes dealing with oppression

is as Galeano define "Days and Nights of Love and War". The author open the memory box and let escape the pain and the love, the sadness and the joy. That is not only his box, it's my box too, all latinoamericans' box. So, when we open it we live.

The personal testimony of one of Latin America's foremost contemporary political writers, Eduardo Galeano's Days And Nights Of Love And War blends memoir journaling with an eloquent history to record the lives and struggles of the Latin American people under two decades of unimaginable violence and extreme repression. Galeano combines straight-forward reportage with personal vignettes, interviews, travelogues, and folklore with an impressive and engaging emotional enrichment that includes anger, irony, sadness, and humor. Days And Nights Of Love And War is very highly recommended for students of late 20th century Latin American political history and culture.

Days of Knights and Damsels: An Activity Guide is a wonderful purchase from A Kid's Guide series, especially for home schoolers, or families who love to share educational play! There's a lot to learn with this, and the best part is that it will spark a continued interest in learning about this era for years to come.

Every one of the projects is clearly detailed, so that kids can usually work on a project with minimal adult supervision. There's also lots of historical data to highlight the era of your activity. What more can you ask?

Your family will love Days of Knights and Damsels, and I highly recommend it.

Our outreach education company does interactive historypresentations and medieval theme birthday parties and we areconstantly recommending this book to both educators and parents alike.We suggest it as a primer for activities and decorations to go along with our presentations. Simple yet fun, this book lays out, in easy to follow steps, how to design, build, and play with the suggestions provided. It includes costuming, props, games, recipes, accessories... for ages up to about 12. It is not a historical treatise (it shows how to make a mirror from cardboard and aluminum foil rather than burnished copper for example) but is a fun way to "get the feel" of the time, if a bit fanciful. This book is a delight for the harried parent or teacher. GregRobin Smith and Cymbric Early-Smith.

We're a homeschooling family who've just finished up studying the Middle Ages. We're always looking for resources, just like this one, that let the kids make things and pretend. To get a real taste (literally!) of the way things were a thousand years ago.

The thing my wife and I like about Knights and Damsels, is that the kids can take charge of their own projects with only a little supervision from Mom & Dad. What a timesaver for homeschool parents.

Also, although there are some obvious compromises in costume-making and food preparation, there's still enough there to give our kids the "look and feel" of more primitive times, from making butter from scratch, to various costumes, to games kids (and grownups) played in medieval times. I bet they remember more, too, as their studies continue and they get older. And when they have an opportunity to dig deeper into this era academically, I'm betting they'll be pretty motivated.

If you want your kids to be excited about history, this hands-on, low maintenance book may be your answer.

Written over 150 years ago, Democracy In America is even more important and compelling today than it was then. This past fall, I had the opportunity to teach a Government class for my college. My class studied the second volume of this invaluable classic. It was such a pleasure to study it through a mentor's eyes. It truly came alive for me in a way that it never had before as I prepared to teach it.

Despite his young age, Tocqueville was a master at understanding human nature. Volume II is filled with both compliments for American culture and cautionary advice for us as citizens. It's amazing how accurate his predictions and warnings were. We are falling into the very snares and excesses about which he cautioned. I wish that all Americans would take the time to read this insightful volume. If we would simply heed Tocqueville's admonitions, we would be well on our way to rebuilding our great American culture and securing our liberty.

"When the taste for physical gratifications among them has grown more rapidly than their education . . . the time will come when men are carried away and lose all self-restraint . . . . It is not necessary to do violence to such a people in order to strip them of the rights they enjoy; they themselves willingly loosen their hold. . . . they neglect their chief business which is to remain their own masters." ~Alexis de Tocqueville

I didn't think it was possible for Tocqueville's to outdo volume 1 of "Democracy in Amercia" but I was definitely proved wrong! Volume 2 is more deep and philosophical in its approach to understanding American democracy and ties up any loose ends that might have occured in volume 1. A book that needs to be read now more than ever before, volume 2 deserves to be considered among the Great Books of Western civilization.

De Tocqueville was simply of one of the great social scientists writing about America and Democracy. From reading the book I deduced that De Tocqueville was a social scientist before Marx! He compares European culture and government with the fledgling culture and democracy he observes in America. He is very much impressed with what he sees taking place in America in the 1830's and hopes it will spread to Europe. He at first believed that America's prosperity was simply due to geography and their distance from powerful neighbors, he abandons this idea after his visit to America. He comes to realize that the West is not being peopled "by new European immigrants to America, but by Americans who he believes have no adversity to taking risks". De Tocqueville comes to see that Americans are the most broadly educated and politically advanced people in the world and one of the reasons for the success of our form of government. He also foretells America's industrial preeminence and strength through the unfettered spread of ideas and human industry.

De Tocqueville also saw the insidious damage that the institution of slavery was causing the country and predicted some 30 years before the Civil War that slavery would probable cause the states to fragment from the union. He also the emergence of stronger states rights over the power of the federal government. He held fast to his belief that the greatest danger to democracy was the trend toward the concentration of power by the federal government. He predicted wrongly that the union would probably break up into 2 or 3 countries because of regional interests and differences. This idea is the only one about America that he gets wrong. Despite some of his misgivings, De Tocqueville, saw that democracy is an "inescapable development" of the modern world. The arguments in the "Federalist Papers" were greater than most people realized. He saw a social revolution coming that continues throughout the world today.

De Tocqueville realizes at the very beginning of the "industrial revolution" how industry, centralization and democracy strengthened each other and moved forward together. I am convinced that De Tocqueville is still the preeminent observer of America but is also the father of social science. A must read for anyone interested in American history, political philosophy or the social sciences.