Burns Books

Like every American kid, I grew up knowing the names "Lewis and Clark." But (also, I suspect, like most American kids), I really knew (and cared) very little about their incredible journey, or why it was undertaken. Then, 10 years ago, I stumbled across Dayton Duncan's wonderful Lewis & Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery, and I was hooked.

Duncan's book is a wonderful introduction to the Corps of Discovery (even the name itself is exciting, isn't it?) in that it offers information about the expedition without overwhelming the reader new to the topic, illustrates the text with fine photographs and reproductions, all of which are instructively captioned, contains a number of sideboxes and page-long essays on specializied subjects, and includes several essays from other Lewis and Clark authorities, including Ken Burns, who produced the companion film, and Stephen Ambrose.

Duncan ends the book with an essay, "We procceded on," that is as reflective a meditation on the deep meaning of the Corps of Discovery journey as I've read. It also serves as an excellent preface to another of his books, Out West, a fascinating and entertaining account of his recapitulation of the Corps of Discovery's route in a volkswagon camper.

If you're new to Lewis and Clark, this is the book to read. But it's also pure pleasure for afficionados.

The book is good and interesting (especially for someone with very little prior knowledge about the Corps), but the reading is absurd! He (I mean the narrator; the supporting cast is good) is so melodramatic as to be incredibly distracting. GOOFY. Only buy it if you are able to ignore the reader's voice and style; otherwise, order it in print form!

I've been looking for the audio version for a long time and found it easily on amazon. You can keep your eyes on the road and still learn something about the the most mindboggling journey in American history.
It makes me want to follow their trail (by road of course). Fantastic set of CD's

I enjoyed this book completely...it really gave me a sense of the human experience of the journey, and made me appreciate just what an incredible accomplishment it was. The illustrations really add to the enjoyment of the book, as do the excerpts from the journals of several of the men. I also liked the background information on what goals were actually behind the exploration and how they worked to meet those goals. There's only one reason that I didn't give this book 5 stars, and that's because it lacks a good map to help understand where they were during some of the events described. But that can be found in other works, and this really is a good introducion to Lewis and Clark...it's a relatively easy read but full of interesting facts and adventures.

This book was so hard to put down! The way the author combines the facts with the actual quotes from the Lewis and Clark journals (complete with spelling errors), the original sketches and descriptions by Lewis and Clark, old pictures and paintings, and the attention to the sequencing (i.e., he walks you straight through the entire journey and makes it flow) really makes this book come alive for me. I highly recommend it!!

In "Macrobolic Nutrition," Gerard Dente offers an introduction to sports nutrition for beginning bodybuilders who want to gain muscle mass. What sets this book apart from many other sports nutrition books is that it explains the science behind the principles that underlie a sound bodybuilding diet including the roles of protein, carbohydrates, and fats in building lean mass; the need to spread meals out throughout the day in order to continuously feed muscles the nutrients they need for growth; the benefits of achieving balance among different food sources; and the importance of managing the glycemic index. Dente also recommends foods proven to work and offers guidelines that individuals can follow to plan their meals.

In order to gain muscle, the body requires continuous intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fats from the right sources and in the right ratios. Dente explains that achieving this continuous intake requires consuming a small-to-medium-sized meal about every three hours. He offers strong scientific evidence to suggest that the best possible combination of calories for these meals would include 45 percent carbohydrates, 35 percent protein, and 20 percent fat. The book presents this ratio as optimal for fueling gains in lean mass. Dente then offers a formula that users can follow to calculate the number of calories that each meal should contain. The formula takes into account a person's current weight, percentage bodyfat, and physical activity required on the job. The book makes these calculations relatively easy to understand and perform.

"Macrobolic Nutrition" addresses each nutrient's role in the muscle building process. Protein provides the building blocks necessary to create muscle. Carbohydrates provide energy and can restore muscle glycogen levels. Dietary fats, such as monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, are necessary for the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and manufacturer certain hormones. Dente lists the best sources from which to obtain these nutrients including lean steak, eggs, chicken, fish, and pork tenderloin for protein; green vegetables, oatmeal, and brown rice for carbohydrates; and peanut butter, almonds, walnuts, fish oil, and olive oil for fats. The book also offers an extensive listing of vitamins and minerals necessary for muscle growth, as well as examples of foods that contain them.

Most importantly, Dente discusses the glycemic index extensively. Failure to understand the glycemic index of various carbohydrates is one of the most common problems among beginning bodybuilders. The glycemic index essentially refers to the speed at which consuming a particular carbohydrate causes glucose to enter the bloodstream. The body must produce insulin in order to manage blood glucose. If it must produce insulin very rapidly, fat utilization will be suppressed and sugar will be stored as fat. Dente explains exactly why causing an excessive insulin response stops the body from converting nutrients into muscle and causes it to store them as fat instead. Understanding this insight, and avoiding carbohydrate sources that cause this problem, are absolutely essential to improving one's physique.

"Macrobolic Nutrition" is an outstanding resource for the beginning bodybuilder or athlete who wants to build muscle mass and strength. Dente explains complex scientific concepts clearly in terms that everyone can understand. He also provides all of the information necessary to build a comprehensive dietary plan. For readers who are interested in bodybuilding who have researched weightlifting routines and want to learn more about nutrition, this book is an excellent place to begin.

Make a life change today by learning to plan nutritious meals. These tips will also set you on the right path to lose fat and gain more muscle.

I have been weighlifting for awhile and believe that proper training and nutrition go hand and hand. I am a nutrition major and agree with the information he has regarding the protein/carb/ fat ratio to make quality gains. The only thing I dont like in the book is that he pushes his supplements but then again we cant knock him he does own the supplement company and has to make his money. Overall great book.

I have been interested in Bodybuilding for 6 years. If you like new information and love to try new things to keep the game exciting, you should read this book.
It also gives good guidelines on how to calculate all your cal needs before calculating your new metabolic diet.
Enjoy,
Vince

In the midst of the low-carb era and post low fat era, this book makes the general public think in a new light. I used this book with great success in how to nourish my own body. It has kept me strong, energetic, and definately a lot more muscular.

The book isn't meant for just those of a body building mentality. Anyone who wants to make a life change is required to do many similar steps in this book as would a professional body builder. Meal planning, nutrient ratios, exchange lists, weight training, supplements... it's all part of planning to succeed in a plan to gain muscle and lose fat. All successful diet/exercise plans are based on the priniciple of muscle gain and fat loss. Admittedly the photos of athletes in there are those who most likely take steroids and perhaps some of their words don't apply to you... you can still go the website and see real people who use this program successfully without the use of steroids.

This book was published by the creator of the company MHP which is a supplement company. The products they make are specifically tailored to this program and those who are seeking the edge in gaining mass and losing fat. So it comes as no surprise that the supplements suggested are made by the company. It's really hard to find others with the same benefits and nutrient ratios.
For one month's worth of the products that are minimally needed is around $130 from the lowest discounter. This include Multiple Vitamin, Pre-workout booster, protein, and weight gainer. Not bad considering that it will take the place of about three meals a day. However for optimal usage (The book being published before their new products were made) you'd have to spend $430. This includes fat burner, both anabolic agents, Glutamine, more protein, weight gainer, Multi vitamin, joint soother, GH secretion helper, and pre-workout booster.
A tip from me is that if you're just starting go with the vitamin, protein, and weight gainer first. Then add others as your goals become apparent.

Enough about supplements. Overall this book is a good introduction to those who have never done serious weight lifting or dieting before. It also provides a few good bits of information to those who are experienced. However, this program is not for the casual lifter nor the person who is not serious about looking and feeling better. The diet is not for the carb phobic or fat phobic. It takes intensive planning and calculation to do this diet right. You don't need to be a body builder to eat and train to gain muscle. In fact, trust me... unless you're REALLY genetically gifted you're never going to look like one (male or female with or without steroids). So train hard, eat right, and read up. If you succeed with this book and it's your cup of tea then power to you. Building muscle isn't easy but this book definately takes some of the mystery out of it.

Precalculus (8th Edition) is a great textbook. A little on the heavy side (as in the weight of the book, need a wheel barrel to get it around).

I taught 2 sections of precalculus with this book last spring. This book is well designed for self study. Examples are keyed to specific exercises so the student is directed to use a concept immediately after seeing it employed in a suitable exercise.

My one quibble with the book is the way trigonometry is introduced. It seems to be needlessly convoluted so if you are thinking of adopting it you should read the first two or three sections covering trig. I chose to supplement it with my own notes.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to supplement a high school precalculus course with a book that is stronger on theory vs. graphing calculator techniques. There are some very inadequate precalculus texts out there. If you are serious about mathematics and your school is using an approach that employs graphing calculators in a heavy way, you may want to use this book. In that case consider an older (cheaper) edition.

Update: Another reviewer comments that the 7th ed and the 6th ed may be significantly different. Well, they are not.

Bought the teachers edition and 2 solution manual books (1500+pages each) all for 63 bucks. BRAND NEW!

Anyways, this book I find to be a lot better than many many of the other math text books out there. What is nice about this book is the simple fact that it doesn't try as hard to fool you as the others. Other text books seem to be written by people that are really advanced and think, in a way, that we are as well. They sometimes don't realize that the stuff they put down into text books might be a lot harder to someone that doesn't have a firm gasp and understanding as they have.

I mean...don't you hate text books that give you examples and solutions, but all of the examples are of easy problems and the ones that you do want to know are not shown? In highschool, I didn't know weither to use my math text books to learn or use it as heating fuel for the winter nights. Listening to the teacher wasn't very helpful because he followed the pace of his more advance nerdy students and using the book to catch up helped as much as little if nothing.

This book, however, can actually teach you pretty much everything step by step, especially if you use it with the solutions manual which shows you step by step how the answers are achieved. For once, I'm learning more from the book than from the teacher. They should hire the book, it would be cheaper. I'm sure the book will grade us by a curve as well and be nicer to us. This whole summer semester I've been learning almost everything from the book, the teacher is just extra.

The way the book is made, its an accumalative (spelled wrongly I bet) kind of thing. You can learn it all if you go through it from a to z, beginnig to end. Of course you'll still need guidance here and there, but it is made so clearly that it gives you a peace of mind. Suddenly, the secret codes are being decoded.

A pretty looking book that'll probably cost you a bundle (USED in textbook store for $109!?) however is all worth it. Spend your money on something that is really worth it and get this, solutions manual about $35 more or less.

COLLEGE MATH: 1+1=3 (Learn it well young grasshopper, cause one day, we shall see which affects the other more)

why are the reviews for the 6th and 7th edition of this book the same? is there no difference between editions, such that reviews for the 6th should be kept for the 6th. the 7th edition might have changes that could cause some to review/change a viewpoint about its content. maybe at the core they are the same book/method, but it is overall a different book and the reviews should be kept edition specific.

it is my opinion that amazon will not post this as it obviously not a review, but it my contention that the 8 posted are not reviews of this edition, either. why are they posted?

At the beginning I was a bit worried about the way the book explains the material. It seemed too simple for a book dealing with more complex subjects in math such as functions, trigonometry and analytic geometry. Then again it could be said that this quality is the one that makes the book such a joy to read.

Not a single time did I felt lost or confused by the presentation. Most of the graphics and photos do supplement the explanation, and help the reader grasp the information better. One of the highlights, one that perhaps most people will miss, is the simple review questions at the beginning of each section. These little snippets of previous material force the reader to review those concepts that will be essential for further understanding.

Every new section in the book is short and clear; thus reducing the amount of explanation, but at the same time maintaining just enough so that the reader will not feel lost in the many formulas and derivations. If this book does not get "5 starts" from my review it is only because it could be more mathematically rigorous by presenting more proofs. But by not doing so it increases the clarity and easy presentation the book possesses - great book well worth the price.

Follow the adventures of a too-observant young girl and a mysterious one-eyed stuffed bunny as they face down a liberal best friend, a sell-out psychiatrist, Al Gore, vivisectors, prison guards, and space aliens, on the way to the revolution! Sound like an unlikely plot? Yet it somehow works, with a story that finds its own edge between naturalism and the mythic, perfectly illustrated by Stephanie McMillan's naif-style illustrations. You'll be cheering by the end, ready to join the determined army of the wild rising like the tide in a last-page effort to save the planet. And where the story ends is where we have to begin.

Funny, grim, delightful and dead serious all at once.

While Jensen's two-volume "Endgame" is the summa of his arguments in favor of "radical" eco-defense [the quotation marks because, as he teaches us, there's nothing radical about trying to keep yourself from being killed], this homely comic may prove to be his most influential work.

Aimed at younger readers whose innate attachment to nature and living things has not (we may hope) yet been completely leached out of them, it makes uncomfortably clear what the stakes are - and the necessity for direct confrontation.

So well-meaning parents are on notice: the heroes in this book use dynamite. [In fact, I'll bet that simply visiting this product page flagged your ISP number somewhere in the bowels of the National Security Agency.] Unless you have very unusual ambitions for your children, you may prefer to give them less thought-provoking reading material.

Derrick Jensen and Stephanie McMillan's As the World Burns is a revolutionary graphic novel decrying the failure of the green movement. We have become a self-congratulatory society of "green" consumers, recyclers, yogi mediators, and letter-writers. Utilizing pigtailed girls, a one-eyed eco-revolutionary bunny, and a wise bird, the authors expose the fallacies of patting ourselves on the back as we continue down an unsustainable consumption path headed straight for world destruction. Some quick math performed by Kranti (a character from McMillan's Minimum Security cartoon) reveals that even if everyone (100% of the US population) changed our light bulbs, recycled half our total waste, cut our driving in half, installed low-flow showerheads, and adjusted our thermostats by two degrees, the end results would be a ONE-TIME 21% reduction in carbon emissions, which given our current rate of growth, would be offset in 10 years.

The real culprits in our ecocide? Corporations and the government they have in their pockets. And what are they doing? Running marketing campaigns and releasing movies to convince individual consumers to take the blame. In As the World Burns, a former-politician-turned-activist conspires with corporations to distract individuals from the systemic predicament, knowing full well that green consumers will pay more to feel good about themselves.

As the World Burns is much more than sharp dialogue about the futility of eco-friendly consumerism. Aliens have also arrived on the planet, intent on eating up all Earth's resources, and expecting to have to fight the planet's current residents. To their surprise, the Bible-thumping Dad-worshipping President gladly gives away the planet in exchange for bars of gold, which the aliens know is absolutely useless, not even giving the humans a buzz, but they go gaga for it. The plot thickens even farther as a pill-pushing therapist tries to medicate away our heroine's societal discontent, the one-eyed Bunnista starts his own campaign to free tortured animals, and the government locks bunnies and any suspected bunny sympathizers in terrorist detention centers.

The authors of As the World Burns argue that modern industrial society is inherently unsustainable, requiring a no-compromise stance from activists who truly want to change the direction of the global population. In the novel, a raccoon advises, "Stop insisting on your growth economy, on acquiring more and more until you consume the entire planet." We can no longer ignore the natural world, but as the wise bird educates us, humans lived in harmony with nature for thousands of years and could learn to again if we were willing.

This graphic novel presents a satiric view of the most destructive elements of our society: human beings, especially the ones who are devoted to money, progress, and technology. The story line follows a disparate group of characters: space alien robots, corporate CEO's, government functionaries, children, a "terrorist" bunny named Bunnista, and an assorted cast of various animals, plants, and even fish. The first panels depict two girls discussing why changing your light bulbs and recycling bottles aren't enough to save the planet. The plot thickens as space alien robots pay corporate and government agencies for the right to consume all the earth's resources (except for a token 70 trees, 70 rocks, 70 fish, etc.) Bunnista releases animals from a research lab, the authorities round up ALL rabbits in retaliation, and the scene is set for a big confrontation between rabbits, animals, children, and indigenous people against the evil forces of the aliens/government who wish to annihilate all life forms that do not directly lead to corporate profit.

The comic-style drawings are amusing, appealing, and at times heartbreaking, as when a little bear says goodbye to his mother as she runs off to do battle with the aliens. There is most definitely a message in this fine stew of eco-tragicomedy: Jensen and McMillan have teamed up to provide a rationale for activism that goes beyond putting a few things in the recycle bin each day.

This graphic novel would work well for high school students, 14 and up. Art classes, history or government classes, leadership classes, journalism classes, or literature classes could hold some fine discussions after reading this book, or selections from it. Teachers could assign students to create their own social commentary by way of a comic strip or graphic novel. Highly recommended for adults as well. Danger: this book will make you feel as well as think!

I understand the hubbub about global warming. I want the world to do something. I realize that realistically, the world is basically done for.

But this book was absolutely terrible. I've read good graphic novels; I've read the most banal and idiotic things ever printed. But David Gonterman's work is more appealing than the absolutely terrible art in this book.

Not only that, but the script is so heavy-handed that I wouldn't be surprised if the author tied weights to his hands while editing. From the most obvious cliches (Hey, the President likes money? Who knew!) to the absolutely false claims (Gold is viewed as a backup to our national monetary system. It's valuable because it's rare. If not for its existence, the American monetary system would have collapsed at least three times in history), it's a chore to slog through.

The issue of global warming is huge. I'm not saying I could have done a better job, though; I'm saying that Derrick Jensen and Stephanie McMillan could have. When I progressed through my high school library's most important books, I went from Miller's Watchmen, a magnum opus, to Persepolis, an important (if tiring) achievement in global writing, to the incredible work of Art Spiegelman... to this. I don't recommend this book to anyone. To those looking for a good graphic novel, read any of the works I just mentioned. And to the global warming opposers... why are you wasting electricity on your computer? Go out and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Historian James MacGregor Burns and Georgia Sorenson have written an interesting book about Bill Clinton's failed effort to be a success by becoming a "centerist" U.S. President. Their excellent book, title DEAD CENTER: CLIINTON-GORE LEADERSHIP AND THE PERILS OF MODERATION(1999), is worth reading.

The authors contend, rightfully, I think, that Bill Clinton tried to please everybody, and ended up pleasing no-one (well, almost no-one). Pulitzer prize winning historian James MacGregor Burns and his co-author Georgia Sorenson argue that the price of centrism is high. They state that in choosing a centrist strategy, Bill Clinton rejected the kind of leadership that might have placed hiim among the historic "greats."

They review Clinton's presidency (which they imply was a failed presidency), and state that Clinton lacked creativity in fashioning new policies, the courage to press for reforms and other changes despite popular apathy and opposition, the conviction to stick to grand principles no matter how long their realization might take (they imply Clinton was a notably mediocre President, and that he must really be grouped in the unprestigious ranks of Presidents who were fence sitters).

Most interestingly, Burns and Sorenson contend that Clinton (and by association, Albert Gore) was notable for his lack of commitment to the people to fight for their welfare at any personal cost. This is quite a charge considering that the main Gore Presidential candidacy battle cry was "I will fight for you!"

Burns/Sorenson review the disasterous faillure of Clinton's 1993-94 health bill and ascribe the failure of it to Clinton's centrism. They remind readers that Clinton rejected the highly intelligent Canadian health plan model, which has been successful for decades in attaining a liberal good, universal health care. Clinton tried to avoid alienating highly paid doctors and insurance companies. The result was that his health plan had no particular idology, pleased nobody, really, and failed miserably. The ironic thing was that Clinton's health bill was the most noble effort he made in his Presidency, which went downhill from that point.

Buy and read this excellent book. It's a good read, and great discussion of how not to be a U.S. President.

This is a good but seriously flawed book. As a history of the Clinton administration, this is probably the best book on the market right now. But then again, there aren't many books that seek to define the Clinton era, considering that we are still in it. But, according to the authors, this is not the theme of the book. Instead, the reader is supposed to come to the conclusion that "centrism" - the political ideology of Bill Clinton- is misplaced, and even dangerous. The authors never prove this. What is actually proved is the anger of the authors at President Clinton's abandonment of liberalism. The authors harp on the need for "transformation leadership" but scorn Clinton's best attempt at this approach - welfare reform. Why? Not because it wasn't radical (it was) but because it didn't fit with the authors' ancient ideology. The fact that they see Hillary CLinton as the president's most important and benevlent political adviser is all you need to know about that. Nevertheless, this book is a good start for the debate over the Clinton administration. But it is not the last word.

This book will be a tad bit aggravating for those of you out there that are fans of President Clinton and do not like criticism placed at his feet. If you do not mind an upfront and realistic review of his presidency then this book is a good start. First off a bit of a warning, this book the purports to try and gage the Clinton Presidency and how it will be judged historically yet it was written while he was still in office. A minor point given when the book was published, but still worth noting. I also want to touch on the fact that this book lists four authors, I usually shy away from books with multiple authors, because I am always bothered by different writing styles commingled. I find I am always on the look out to see if I can find when one author stops and the next begins. This book had none of this; the authors did a very good job of speaking with one voice.

Ok so now we get to the real meat of the review, did the authors do a good job of presenting the Clinton Presidency? I think they did, this book is one of the few I have read that did not spend more then a few pages on the personal scandals and the right wing witch-hunt that took place. The authors spend a good deal of time on the domestic policies issues that Clinton worked on. I think they also did a good job in bringing out the working relationship Bill had with Hilary in regard to the heath care program and subsequent defeat. I would have liked it if the authors had spent more time on the foreign affairs section of the book. I felt they skimmed the Middle East section and could have spent more time talking about Europe. Also completely missed was the issue of terrorism and what the administration did or did not do.

Overall the book was good. It was a well thought out and written book that is a good overview of the first 7 years of the Clinton Administration. It can be a bit dry and it is not a book that can be read with an eye on something else. The authors main point, inserted maybe a bit too freely, was that by always moving to the center and governing by public polls produces an average result and truly great Presidents follow an agenda based on philosophy regardless of public opinion. As for how the authors summed up the Clinton presidency I will leave you with a quote from the book. "If Clinton truly aspired to presidential greatness, the strategy he had chosen ensured that he would never achieve it."

Twenty years from now, when time has allowed for an author to look back on and write on the Clinton Presidency with some emotional detachment and real perspective, this book will be in the bibliography. Burns and Sorenson provide the most complete review of Clinton's legacy to date, superceding, as an academic source, Joe Klein's more recent, more opinionated and more reader-friendly "The Natural". That said this book has many flaws. It is denser than frozen cookie dough. Stuffed with the kinds of details that only poltical science professors and their students could stand to bear for even one page (for example, I came across the book while writing a senior thesis on the Post-modern presidency...if that excites you this book might be of interest)so it can be a sluggish read. It is also tilting to the left but that actually makes it's criticisms of Clinton stick more then say, a book written by Right-Wing Conspirators (and there are plenty of those if you are just into Clinton bashing for the love of it).

The book also suffers from the fact that it was published before Clinton actually left office so issues like his last minute pardons are not touched on. In contrast to The Natural, where Hillary comes off as a villain, here, for virtually the same reasons Klein criticizes her, she is the star of the Clinton Era. An oasis of ideolgical purity, striking in its contrast to the vacuous desert of the"the Third Way" centrism that enslaved Clinton and Gore. A bit hyperbolic, but that's the gist of the epilouge, incidentally written before Hillary's run for the Senate so perhaps Burns and Sorenson were on to something.

The book deserves kudos for focusing on substantive policy issues and evaluating Clinton on those rather than getting caught in the trap of focusing the many personal scandals and confusing them with his professional failings. Burns and Sorenson on one page offer one of the best retorts to the vicious, partisan and very often malicious attacks on Clinton. Yet,they aren't soft on him themselves and therefore one can not dismiss this book as propaganda. Rather, it is a truly substantive study that may be driven by the authors policy concerns but makes evaluations based on substance not smoke.

A good academic book. The Natural's conclusions, I think, will stand up as being more historically accurate than Dead Center's but for a really detailed look at the Clinton Presidency this book is indispensible.

This provocative yet thorough analysis of Bill Clinton's tenure in office provides an almost convincing argument against Centrism and its implementor. As a Bill Clinton fan, I must say that the author's arguments nearly swayed me to believe that Bill Clinton may have failed in what they called "transformational" and "principled" leadership of the country. They trace the beginnings of Clinton's presidency, from his inauguration speech of change and renewal, his failure of health care reform, his foreign policies to the Gingrich revolution and finally to impeachment. Within each, the authors argue that Clinton failed to bring any sweeping reform or decisive leadership but instead brought tactical politiking, dealing and governing from the vital Centre. The reader is left wondering whether Centrism is good at all. In fact, one gets the impression that Clinton's legacy lies in a tangled web of disjointed policies and no over-arching vision.

However, I think the authors miss the point that whilst Clinton did promise change and succeeded in some ( balancing the budget, welfare reform, NAFTA) and failed in others (health care reform,arguably race, campaign finance), the political environment he was in and also the post cold-war era constrained such sweeping changes. The Gingrich revolution forced Clinton to think more pragmatically and more tactically as re-election loomed. Impeachment (his own doing) poisoned Congress to a standstill in enacting any later reforms. In fact, whilst I agree that Clinton failed to deliver the high hopes he had promised from the start of his presidency, the situation changed to such a degree, that to survive politically, he had to govern from the centre ( see his triangulation). To a small degree, Clinton's presidency was a product of its times; there was no Cold War or major crisis to display "principled" leadership as with Reagan.

Not everthing is bad news of course. They outline Clinton's foreign policy successes in Ireland and the Middle East but also his hesitant meandering in Haiti and Bosnia.

The overall picture is one of a work in progress - a President learning on the job, trying to enact "bold change", later displaying tactical and political skill and subtly reforming the people's view of government. At the very least, this book strongly initiates the debate on the Clinton legacy and his leadership. It is by no means the end.

If you have to choose just one book to read dealing with adoption issues, this is the best book you could ask for.

Practical information combined with actual life-experience imbue this well-written guide with important insights into the maze which often surrounds the adoption process.

"How-to" information as well as important caveats about the whole journey are included, making this the outstanding reference book on the subject.

"Two Thumbs Up".

My wife and I will use the adoption process to start our family. Like many couples, medical reasons have us pursuing this avenue. We've begun by reading a number of books and engaging adoptive support groups. We both read Fast Track Adoption, and will undoubtally pursue the approach that Dr. Burns explains. The book gave us confidence in knowing that we'll be successful, because of its many practical tips.

Our attorney recommended this book. I read it from cover to cover. It's fantastic. If you're serious about adopting, take the proactive roll, advertise and forward the calls to your personal cell phone. This book is easy reading and so informative. I can't tell you how great it was. We were very fortunate and adopted quickly and smoothly. Get involved with the adoption process and the search for a birth mother. Your communication with her is essential. Best of luck!

This book seems to be more about how to gain a birthmother's trust and confidence in order to get her baby, and how to work the adoption system. In so doing, the book loses sight of the fact that adoption exists in order to provide children with loving homes, not to provide infertile couples with children.

She does, however, help to explode a myth: that children placed for adoption are "unwanted." This is of course far from the truth, as Burns points out that birthmothers today usually aid in picking their child's parents and nearly always want to see, hold, and spend some time with their newborns prior to relinquishment.

Still, some of the advice can get potential adoptive parents into trouble, such as placing ads for a baby. In many states this is illegal.

Some advice in this book is helpful, but I must still urge potential adoptive parents to seek the assistance of a licensed adoption agency.

Fast Track Adoption is a wonderful book full of practical advice on everything from how to write a good letter to a prospective birthmother to how to handle the birthmother's hospital stay. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone considering adopting.

When I was a doctoral student, I wrote my dissertation about transforming leadership. As a full-time doctoral faculty member at one of America's leading online universities, I now mentor students in leadership and organizational change, among other specializations.

Leadership, by James MacGregor Burns the Pulitzer Prize winning author, is the most important book I have read in the field of leadership. In it, Burns coined the term, Transforming Leadership, and distinguished it from its more mundane counterpart, Transactional Leadership.

In so doing, Burns catalyzed much of the theorizing and research into transforming leadership (also called transformational leadership, visionary leadership, and charismatic leadership, among others) from the latter part of the 20th century through today.

In this foundational book, Burns argued that there was a "crisis of leadership" because people did not understand the essence of leadership. Whereas traditional, transactional leaders concern themselves with exchanging money for services, the modern, transforming leader "seeks to satisfy higher needs, and engages the full person of the follower" in a "collective purpose," that is, a common vision or shared goal. The end result is leadership "that can produce social change that will satisfy followers authentic needs" (p. 4).

A classic, the message of this book is as meaningful and urgent today as it was when Burns wrote it. We need a new form of leadership to help us deal with the problems of an ever shrinking, interconnected world. Those who would be part of a collective effort to make the world a better place, would do well to read this book.

Robert E. Levasseur, Ph.D., author of "Leadership and Change in the 21st Century"

This is the definitive book on leadership. It is long, dense with historical facts, sparkling with insights, and is essential reading for the leadership scholar. Few other leadership books merit a place on the essential reading list for this field.

Burns's accomplishment of recognizing the taxonomy of leadership is unmatched to this day. He distinguishes, for example, intellectual leadership from executive leadership, and explains how each is forged in the "crucible" of circumstances.

Rather than serving as a "how to" guide on leadership, Burns provides the reader with a framework for understanding his or her leadership role, and the requirements that accompany each role. Finding one's own reflection in this catalog of leadership roles can be an exciting and satisfying moment for the reader.

Burns is best known for developing the concept of "transforming" leadership, or "transformational" leadership as he calls it in this book. It stands in contrast to "transactional" leadership, which holds that every leader-follower encounter is an isolated event.

Whether the reader perseveres through the whole book, or just reads the introductory chapters, he or she will be in the presence of some of the best thinking to date on leadership.

The world of leadership is examined through a sweeping assessment on its power and purpose to its origins in James MacGregor Burns's book, Leadership. This book is a very comprehensive overview of the study of leadership as it distinguishes not only what are the two basic styles of leadership: transforming and transactional, but evaluates the theory and practice of leadership skills as well. Burns stated in Leadership, "I define leadership as leaders inducing followers to act for certain goals that represent the values and the motivations¬-the wants and needs, the aspirations and expectations-of both leaders and followers" (19).
Throughout the book, Burns discussed the leadership styles of political leaders to religious and social leaders. From Martin Luther King, Jr to Moses to Mahatma Gandhi to Napoleon, plus Machiavelli and even Adolf Hitler, Burns cited how these leaders made vital distinctions between wants and needs. According to Burns, "the process of leadership must be seen as part of the dynamics of conflict and of power; that leadership is nothing if not linked to collective purpose; that the effectiveness of leaders must be judged not by their press clippings but by actual social change measured by intent and by the satisfaction of human needs and expectations" (3).

The prose is well written.... BUT that's it. Few insights that can be used in practice for people who aspire to become future leaders.

The reviewer below is right. This is not a how to book. But then, it was never written with this intent so marking it down is not right.

If you want to truly understand leadership, historically, socioligically, psychologically, then buy this book. EVERY scholar of leadership has read it and often references it. It is a really monumental book and Burns is a really honest and authentic scholar (unlike the popular authors who know zero about leadership and are in it for the money). VIVA BURNS!!!

The Earl of Melton, Sebastian Rockwood, is in a brothel. He isn't looking for a paramour, but to see if he can find his brother's missing girlfriend. Stepping further into the house, he is a bit intrigued at how normal the house seems. That is, until he is greeted by the owner and told that the auction he has come to see is almost beginning. It is at this time that Sebastian knows the rumors he has heard about this particular house to be true. His eyes suddenly focus on the still, beautiful woman on the stage and he can't stop looking at her. When an enemy starts bidding on the beauty, Sebastian decides then and there that she will be his.


Helen Rivenall came to London to find her family. The victim of a false friend, she can't believe that men are bidding on her body for the night. Drugged senseless and unable to do anything but watch, she is somewhat relieved when the handsome and broad shouldered man wins the bidding war. Once in his carriage, Helen tries to communicate but can't. The next morning, Helen finds herself in the man's study where she tells him exactly what happened to her.


Sebastian once again falls under Helen's spell and agrees to rescue her brother from the madam at the brothel, for a price. Helen agrees to pose as Sebastian's fiancé in order to get his aunt off of his back about marriage. Sebastian figures a few months with a fiancé will appease his marriage-minded aunt and then he can quietly let Helen go on her merry way. Oh how the mighty fall because Sebastian soon will never be able to let Helen go.

Obsession is a sweeping, historical tale. Set in London, I enjoyed reading about the different soirees and parties. I found Sebastian's plan, while somewhat ingenious, totally hilarious. There is nothing I like better than for a man not searching for love to find it and Sebastian was just the man for me. Helen was a cute heroine in that she wasn't impressed with the trappings of Sebastian's society and she just wanted to love him. Add a few foes in for good measure, and you have the making of a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance.

Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (4/07)

In "Obsession," Helen is tricked into becoming a prostitute. She is drugged by her madam, and she is auctioned off as a rarity--a virgin. Sebastian buys her, but not because he longs for her or any other woman. He has more self-control than that. He is only in the brothel, because he is searching for his brother's love; she is there against her wishes, also. He buys Helen so that Templeton, his nemesis, does not buy her.

Helen is a bit headstrong, to say the least. This is not a valued characteristic in the days of corsets and suitors. She becomes a challenge to Sebastian, a man who prides himself on self-control and order. She gives into Sebastian in several lustful romps; however, Sebastian wants more; he wants to marry Helen.

Helen explains to Sebastian that her younger brother, Edward, was also kidnapped by the madam. She begs him to save Edward.

Helen is kidnapped, and Sebastian is worried; there is a serial killer on the loose. He sets out to save Helen. Will this show Helen how much Sebastian loves her?

The sex throughout "Obsession" is incredible. The readers will feel as if they are the object of Sebastian's affection. "With long strokes of his tongue, he lathed the heated velvet of her before surging upward to swirl around her sex." Because Helen is a virgin, Sebastian acts as a sexual teacher for an obviously willing Helen. "With one hand, he undid his trousers to release his erection. Capturing her hand, he made her wrap her fingers around him. She jerked with surprise, but when his tongue swirled in her mouth, she relaxed against him, her hand gripping him snugly."

"Obsession" is a book that you will not want to put down once you begin. With incredible sex mingled with a love story, you will become enthralled from the beginning. The sex scenes are very explicit (and amazing); this is not for those who blush easily. "Desire claimed his senses as her slick, tight passage clutched at him with delicious abandon." Read, enjoy, and recommend to others.

The broodingly handsome Sebastian Rockwood, Earl of Melton, lives a strict, structured life caring for his estates and family, priding himself on self-control. When his brother's fiance is abducted, little does he realize that he would be caught in a trap of lust and passion that would grow into an obsession. In their search, Sebastian and his brother arrive at a local brothal to discover Helen Rivenall, drugged and being auctioned off on stage. Sebastian is immediately drawn to the lovely Helen and soon finds himself bidding and winning her. He then rescuses her brother, takes the small family in, and plans to care for them. Each time he is in contact with Helen, Sebastian struggles with his deep lust. Soon his self-control spins out of control and his lust become an obsession. Helen is drawn to the handsome Sebastian wanting to give into her passion, but she is holding back, as she sees Sebastian as another controlling man in her life. Sebastian is frustrated with Helen not understanding her secret, that for years she has been abused by her overly controlling, religious uncle - the same uncle that arranged to have her auctioned off for her sins. Lust and desire grow and soon Helen and Sebastian give into their desires, coming together in moments of intense passion. But Helen is still holding back. It is not until after many months of misunderstandings that Sebastian discovers Helen's secret and past abuse, and Helen comes to understand Sebastian's reasons for living a strict, controlled life. When Sebastian must save Helen from her uncle's wrath once again, they both come to realize that love will free them from the bonds of the past. Obsession is a dark, sometimes frustrating, intensely passionate story that keeps the reader riveted to the pages. A well-written story, with beautifully written, passionate, love scenes, blended together to create a pleasurable read.

Helen is rude, inconsiderate and ungrateful toward Sebastian. He asks questions and she won't even answer them. He has her best interests at heart. She refuses to tell him anything about her grandfather so that he could help her find her grandfather. I don't find anything to like about her. The sex through much of the book is simply his imagination of what sex with her would be like. If you're only seeking explicit, graphic erotica you might like it. I couldn't like this book because I didn't like her.

In Monica Burns's OBSESSION, believable and interesting characters pull you into their story and keep you there. Ms. Burns has very effectively interwoven romance, spicy sex scenes (with just enough tenderness), and a little bit of suspense into an enjoyable and memorable historical erotic romance that takes place against the backdrop of Victorian London terrorized by Jack the Ripper.

I recommend this book to other readers who enjoy erotic romance or historical romance - you will not be disappointed.

We live near the Adirondacks and they have been a part of our life. The mountains and the wilderness are beyond words. To find this book that describes how a couple claim their part of this world was a delight. The book will appeal to the romantic who enjoys the beauty of life as we live it and cope with it. There is the broad view of the Adirondacks and also the details of coping with nature. If one of your fantasies is living in the forest and foraging for sustenance, you will thoroughly enjoy the writing and the detailed descriptions of life in the Adirondacks. If you cannot live in the Adirondacks, this book is as close as will ever be to the joyful experience of this beautiful piece of nature. My wife and I enjoyed the book so much that we give it as gifts to people who visit us. Just a beautiful book.. :)

Those of us lucky enough to have read Ed Kanze's essays and articles in regional publications, and enjoyed his wonderful books on John Burroughs, New Zealand and Australia, are overjoyed to see that he has collected a number of his shorter pieces into this volume. Ed, after spending time in the natural worlds of suburban New York and the Gulf Coast, as well as on the other side of the world, now lives in the Adirondacks with his wife and two small children. He apparently spends a good part of his time there sharing his vast knowledge of nature with others, and one of the ways he does this is in the form of these quiet, humorous, lyrical and informative essays. There's a narrative of discovery in the Moose River Wilderness area and the West Canada Lakes, a scientific and philosophical meditation on snow and a disquisition on the rigors of cabin life called, fittingly, "Rodents of Mass Destruction." He is an environmentalist, but might better be called a natural historian in the tradition of Burroughs, whom he admires, relishing his subjects and happy to tell us about them without beating over the head with lectures on environmental depredation. But of course, as a result, his rapier points are ever the sharper. This book is really a treat for the Adirondack aficionado and anyone else intrigued by the intersection between nature and human beings.

Our family really loved this book. We live in the Adirondacks and found reading it aloud was a delight for all. It reinforced so many of the pleasures of exploring the world around us. We learned lots of new things, and became more observant amateur naturalists.

This book is not really written for those simply looking for a travelogue of the Adirondacks. There are already too many of those available. "Over the Mountain" is for those interested in something more than a superficial tour of the region.

Ed Kanze takes you up close to a world many visitors to the park really don't see. He provides a wonderful collection of essays about the natural world of the Adirondacks. Through his writing you feel you are on the ground with him, exploring with wonder all nature has to offer. From scrambling under and around his house to trace mice, to a wonderful night float trip, you are there with him. And it's a wonderful journey.

But be forewarned; if you buy the book, your next stop will be to the travel agent to book your own trip to the Adirondacks!

Who hasn't wanted to lay claim to acreage and trees, a brook and an old, abandoned house all in need of human appreciation? Ed Kanze takes you on this journey of watchful discovery, in prose that informs, challenges, inspires and gives ease. You'll float the Saranac River at night, hike toward Pigeon Roost, dunk mice into flourescent orange powder in order to trace their many points of household entry, and climb, shovel in hand, onto the rooftop without using a ladder--on snow piled up from the eighteen feet that fell during Kanze's first Adirondack winter.

The moral of these very fine essays: if you're going exploring, take a naturalist.

A well designed book, not for the beginner but straight forward enough to clearly understand the process. The design of the book stimulates and enhances the creative juices with enough information to help you to move on to newer and bigger things. I would certainly recommend this book.

This was one of the rare books that really explain how to make art with Photoshop! I love that the images he uses are hi res on the CD that comes with the book!
Debbi

I know photoshop fairly well (intermediate) and I find this book very advanced. The instructions are also difficult to follow, and what I got onscreen didn't follow what they got. You have to already have some understanding of masks and channels to begin with to grasp the concepts, and even then I found it hard. I would only buy this book if you want to learn advanced techniques that the average person will never use or remember.

If your into Photoshop and are at the intermediate level or more, this book can help a lot. It is full of interesting techniques. I'm very glad I purchased it.

I found this book amazing, it teaches you some tricks and special effects you won't find anywhere else. Definitely for a more advanced user, however if you are knowledgeable about the basics you will learn a lot. My only complaint is within 3 days of use the book fell apart. I now have 3 sections that tore off from the book that I need to refer to. Perhaps it was just my luck to get one with a binding whose glue was missing; whatever for such a great book its sad it is in pieces on my bookshelf.


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