Parties Books

Reading Turd Ferguson brought back a ton of hilarious college memories - definitely a hysterical reminder of college life. This book is perfect for anyone who went to college, who plans on going to college, who thinks about college, who lives near a college - you get my drift. Go out and buy this book!

Ben and Derrick serve up a manure-pile serving of the best college slang dervied from their site - CollegeStories.com. I've been a fan of the site for a while (hey - anything that originates from Wake Forest University has to be pretty damn good). The stories are hilarious and addictive to read. Buy their book for some good laughs.

With their new book "Turd Ferguson," the editors of collegestories.com take college slang to the level of high art. A delicious blend of the lowbrow and the highbrow, "Turd Ferguson" covers an impressive range of college
terms, from Greek life to studying, bathroom humor to dating. Whether you're a recent grad looking to reminisce or an incoming freshman hoping to learn the lingo, "Turd Ferguson" is guaranteed to leave you in stiches. Highly recommended.

Fraternity Pledges should be required to have this resource on their bookshelves, next to Webster's, Bartlett's, and Cliff's Notes. These two authors will have you in stitches recalling (or trying to forget) all of these terms!

These two authors have a great website "collegestories.com" and I was very excited to see they finally published a book. Some of the slang they have written here is just hilarious. If you're looking for Hawthorne, or Dickens hit your back button, but if you're looking for basic crude, hysterical humor check this book out!

This book contains more than just cocktail recipies, but also plenty of information on the main spirits and liquers (with mention to many specific brands) as well as a very brief guide to wines and beers. The reader will learn the history and production of many of these beverages. There is also a section on equipment needed for your own bar and some basic bartending techniques. The recipie section is full of vivid photographs to give the aspiring bartender a better idea of what the final product should look like. Stuart Walton is very knowledgeable about the different products and brands, and makes many reccomendations for serving drinks as well as foods that accompany them well. Although the book sometimes contains more pictures than information (as is the tendency among books from this publisher), it is overall a very good introductory source and is a worthy purchase at a low price.

This a good coffe table book to own, the appearance of the book is fabulous and the information in it is even more interesting. The guide has not only a long list of some of the best drinks but also how to make them, what goes well with them, what kind of glasses to use and a little history on the alcohol itself.
I've tried mixing several of the drinks and they came out fabulous.
***This book appears at the Bargain section of Borders a lot. It's usually less than 5 bucks.

"The Ultimate Book of Cocktails" is an amazing addition to the ever growing number of books about alcohol, alcohol mixing, and bartending. From the cover to the very last page, the entire thing has a very flashy, professional style, rife with literally hundreds of full color pictures, clearly displaying what each and every bottle or mixed drink should look like. The paper used is a high quality, heavy type that will stand the test of time, as well as all your spilled alcoholic concoctions.

This massive tome starts off with a brief, but highly informative, introduction to the history of all of alcohol's various forms. Several artifacts are shown to highlight whatever historical point is being made, such as a small statue dated around 2300 BC of an Egyptian woman mixing beer. All the information presented in the introduction is just a broad overview, though, as the real meat of the history is scattered throughout the book in every entry. Essentially every type of hard liquor that could possibly be imagined is presented in all it's glory, along with it's history and what it tastes good mixed with. Both broad categories, like "Vodka" and specific types or brands, like "Southern Comfort" are given due attention. Several of the entries are rather surprising. Grand Marnier is listed, along with what it mix it with to actually drink, although it's most typically used solely as a cooking aid, or as part of a mix for marinating fruits. Pisan Ambon, an Indonesian liquor made with banana, is just one of many little known or hard to find liquors explained here, and most of them will have the reader out the next day trying to track the thing down. Following the hard liquor is an equally comprehensive section on champagne and wine, which is then followed by a necessarily shorter segment on beer. There are simply far too many types of beer to give a whole page for each without having a two thousand page book. Several non alcoholic mixers, from the most ordinary to most exotic, are also described in detail.

The obligatory "bartending techniques" section is present, with all the tools of the trade and the various foods and liquids any bartender should have stocked before entertaining. The bulk of the book is in the drink recipes - and this is where "The Ultimate Cocktail Guide" really shines. Hundreds of cocktails are listed, utilizing nearly every liquor previously mentioned in the book, all with full color photos of the end result and a short little blurb about the drink and it's history. A good variety of styles are present, ranging from fruity tooty drinks, to hardcore "knock you off your seat" drinks, to absolutely bedazzling drinks that exist more for presentation than for drinking.

Anyone interested in getting absolutely sloshed, in style, owes it to themselves to purchase this book as quickly as possible.

I received this book from my parents for my 21st birthday. Now, I knew that such things as beer, wine, and vodka existed and I've had my share of encounters with alcohol before my 21st birthday but I would have never guessed that there was so much information. This book has an introduction which talks about the history of alcohol. Then it has a section on the types of drinks and information about them (I would have never guessed how many there really are: spirits, gin, vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, brandy, kirsch, etc., etc., etc.). It even talks about non-alcoholic mixers with information on how to serve drinks. Then there is an entire section on bartending techniques (which are very useful when trying to impress guests). And then there are over 130 pages of colorful (ie. pictures) drink recepies with a glossary and an index in the back. This book is easy to use by anyone who has no clue what they are doing and in no time the novice can be impressing their friends at parties and making some interesting and yummy drinks. This book is so easy to use because it spells out how to make these yummy and complicated looking drinks in clearly written steps (and the pictures help too). It will be a long time before I get bored of this guide, I highly recomend it to anyone.

I got this book as a gift and assumed it was just another cocktail guide. Little did I know this book is also a wealth of information on the history of spirits, liqueurs, wines, beers, and more. Also contains bartending techniques, tips and proper etiquette, as well as superb photography of most drinks and popular reccomended brands. I was never too big on cocktails or drinking but now I want to try and make and sample everything.

Beautiful book, definitely worth the $12 it's being sold here for.

This game is great -- easy to learn, and moves much faster than scrabble! Much more engaging, as everyone has to pay attention all the time. We gave it to our parents for Christmas, and the family became instant addicts.

This is a clever new word game which is simple yet incredibly addictive. My husband and I play this game almost every night. It is cleverly packaged and takes up little room, so we keep it accessible on the kitchen table and consequently, play often.

It has a simple premise and scoring method, is fun for 2 or more players, and keeps all players involved in the game. It takes little time to play one game, so it's a great option for after dinner. It only takes a game or two for new players to become very competitive with experienced players, and thus is great for mixed groups. Good spelling is a help, as is a good vocabulary, but even those skills are less important than being able to track the words and letters in play and keep possibilities in mind for when the right letter appears. My 17 y/o stepson can routinely beat us, and he's not an avaricious reader as we are, he just sees --and seizes-- the opportunities available.

The game is great fun for all ages and I highly reccomend it.

I seriously adore this game. Never did I think that playing with my snatch could be so much fun. I love to beat my friends while we play with my snatch. I haven't picked up boggle or scrabble since I started playing with my snatch...game. It is quite possibly one of my favorite word play games of all time! Seriously!

If you like scrabble then you'll love this game. It's super simple to learn and great for teens or adults. I'd definitely recommend it!

I gave this to my neices (11 and 15) and apparently they love it and play it all the time.

I received this book as a gift this Christmas and let me say that is was one of the funniest I have received is some time. I tend to be what some might call a political junkie and this book takes a nice shot right at the overly partisan and greatly increased sense of importance me and my fellow political geeks have placed on the differences between the Dem's and the GOP. If you are strongly in the one of two camps and have a thin skin, then you will probably only like half of this book, but if you can sit back and laugh at the extreme view of the political masses today, then this book will put a smile on your face.

The format is a two sided take off of the funny "You know you are a red neck if.." series. If I have one criticism is that the book was just too short. Thirty minutes is about all you need to read the book and I finished thinking that the author could have done so much more. For example he stayed away from jokes on any particular political figures. Then again the books gives you just what it claims, light humor that is perfect for any politically focused friend or family member. Buy it and prepare to laugh.

Really loved this book. It was fun to look at the jabs taken at both Democrats and Republicans.. and to be honest, they both are very accurate. Democrat or Republican, you'll enjoy this book!

Full of good laughs and some deeper jabs that stay with you. Interestingly, my wife, a Democrat, thought the writer really stuck it to the Republicans, while I, a Republican, thought he was merciless on the Democrats. That's quite a trick. You'll enjoy it. Your friends will love it. You'll find yourself marking your favorite pages so that you can read them again and share them with friends.

It may not be "gut-buster" humor, but I found myself (and others) making punctuated outbursts of laughter, delight and recognition while reading through the book. It cleverly portrays the knee-jerk-stereotypes, which are so ingrained in the Republican / Democrat ideology, as to make each feel the other is getting roasted while one's own camp gets off relatively easy! If truth is in the eye of the beholder, this work shows each one of us as being oblivious to our own biases and the assumptions underlying them...which is pretty laughable!

When I picked up "You Know You're a Republican/Democrat If..." I expected a collection of off-color, just the usual "I hate Bush," or "Kerry's just a rich liberal" puns. I thought, given the title, the writer, like Jeff Foxworthy in his redneck series, just picked low-hanging fruit.

It is quite witty. Some jokes are reiterations of ones heard on Leno and Letterman, redone in the "You know you're a" style, but others are current, fresh and funny.

I tried to guess the writer's political leaning, but the jokes are well-balanced. He honestly pokes fun at whatever his side is, and thoroughly jabs the other. My hat is off to him for not revealing who will get his vote.

Ironically, left side of each spread is a Republican joke, and the right side is a Democrat joke.

Some of the jokes are based on simple stereotypes, like, "You know you're a Republican if... you think Florida election officials are fair and unbiased. You know you're a Democrat if you think 'fair Florida elections' is a contradiction in terms."

Other jokes show keen wit, and understanding of the deeper philosophical differences and inadequacies between each party and their adherents, like, "You know you're a Republican if you've thought about becoming a Libertarian, but have trouble with their philosophical support of prostitution, gay marriage, and uninhibited personal freedom. You know you're a Democrat if you've thought about becoming a Libertarian, but have trouble with their support of free trade." Another: "You know you're a Republican if you prove your racial sensitivity by saying 'gracias' to your gardener. You know you're a Democrat if you're strongly committed to racial equality even if you don't personally know anyone of a different race."

Two of my favorites is, "You know you're a Republican if you're afraid of the IRS. You know you're a Democrat if you're afraid of the FBI," and "You know you're a Republican if you support George W. Bush's plan to put a man on Mars. You know you're a Democrat if you want that man to be George W. Bush."

Maybe the gem in the whole book is "You know you're a Republican if you think Colin Powell might make a good President, if he wasn't black. You know you're a Democrat if you think Colin Powell might make a good President, if he wasn't conservative."

This is a book worth stocking in the bathroom, or for reading aloud on trips. Both sides take some heat, so no will be offended.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

It is not a beginner's book. Sometime it can be too complex for a normal person to do. If you are intermidate or up then enjoy...

This is an outstandig ballooning book. Captain Visual gets 5 stars from me. After reading this book you can turn any room into a super party fun zone! Congradulations Captain Visual! If I could give this book 100 stars I would. The ballons I made from this book saved me from a crisis when i forgot to get decorations for my sons big birthday party. This book truly lifted my spirits.

This is an outstandig ballooning book. Captain Visual gets 5 stars from me. After reading this book you can turn any room into a super party fun zone! Congradulations Captain Visual! If I could give this book 100 stars I would. The ballons I made from this book saved me from a crisis when i forgot to get decorations for my sons big birthday party. This book truly lifted my spirits.

WOW! This book is a MUST for anybody who wants to learn ballooning! It has everything, from simple to complex! And it's got great diagrams to help explain the process. This is the only Captain Visual book I own, but I've seen others, and they are ALL wonderful. He does some really good stuff. I highly recommend this book!

This is an outstandig ballooning book. Captain Visual gets 5 stars from me. After reading this book you can turn any room into a super party fun zone! Congradulations Captain Visual! If I could give this book 100 stars I would. The ballons I made from this book saved me from a crisis when i forgot to get decorations for my sons big birthday party. This book truly lifted my spirits.

For anyone wanting to recapture the nostalgia and "family friendliness" of the Christmas season, Wilhelminia Ripple's Christmas Parties: What Do I Do? is a terrific place to start! This attractively presented compendium offers more than 125 creative ideas for games, crafts, and holiday snacks that will make every Christmas gathering fun and memorable. The themes offered for consideration including Christmas Trees, Stockings, and Candy Canes; Snow, Snowmen, and Snowflakes; Santa Claus and His Elves; Rudolph and His Reindeer; I Believe in Angels; and Christmas Here, There, and Everywhere. 36 easy craft projects are clearly laid out with step-by-step illustrations. Christmas Parties is enhanced with 40 simple and delicious recipes for Holiday treats and drinks; 36 "Santa-Approved" games; and more. There's even suggestions for celebrating the end of the Christmas season with "New Year's Tips and Fun Party Ideas" from here at home and around the world. Christmas Parties is a thoroughly "user friendly" instructional reference that will be appreciated by one and all, year after year, Christmas after Christmas.

A sparklingl book and many ideas to use for Chritams affairs. The games and crafts are tremendous. This book is great for anyone hosting a Christams Event for any ages. The chapter of The What, Why and How of Christmas Parties is a great beginning for any type of party and gives you a starting point. Suggestion: Purchase a complete set.

I bought this book hoping that it would have some fresh ideas for my kids' class parties instead of the same old games and crafts we've been doing it seems year after year. I was worried that even if it had new ideas they might be too invovled/time-consuming for the hour and a half we typically have for the whole party. I was pleasantly surprised that this book had so many ideas to choose from that were original and fit into our limited time frame. I highly recommend this book.

So you're planning a Christmas party, one where there will be fun and games, and lots and lots of kids. But where do you start? Well, first of all, purchase CHRISTMAS PARTIES...WHAT DO I DO? Wilhelminia Ripple has created the perfect book for anyone planning a Christmas party. Filled with over 125 wonderful ideas for crafts, games, and holiday snacks. Wilhelminia teaches you everything you need to know to throw the most fantastic Christmas party of the season, complete with instructions on how to create Elf Handprints, how to build an Edible Snowman, make a Human Christmas Tree, and much, much more. Whether you've thrown Christmas parties before or not, CHRISTMAS PARTIES...WHAT DO I DO? is the one thing you'll need to make your Christmas party better than anyone else's. A wonderful book that absolutely must be a part of your book collection.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This book has Christmas Spirit on every page, with holiday games,crafts, and goodies from all around the world. It really brings out the child inside us all. With an added bonus of 13 pages for New Years Eve. I am a Parent and Day Care Provider, to me this book is as much a part of Christmas as the Tree.

Witty and fun to read. Very well done.

I enjoyed this book more than I enjoy bowling, and I like bowling a ton. A huge plus is that the girl on the cover is really cute. So it's like the best wrapping paper for the best Christmas present ever, pretty much. Oh, the present also makes you giggle. So it really can't be beat and you have no excuse for not buying this book. It's cheap and besides, what else are you going to buy? You don't really even know how to read.

This book is thuroughly amusing but is laced with a twinge of saddness. It made me want to change my name to Sahmahthah.

Maggie Brinkmann is hilarious. She is hands down one of the funniest authors I have ever read. From menstrual blood to snotty, rich, little girls (and their snotty, rich, little mothers), Ms. Brinkmann has a knack for flawless, extremely funny description. I could not put this book down after it arrived in the mail. Hopefully, you won't be able to do the same. Buy this book. It has EVERYTHING!

I just read this book in one sitting. It's funny, it's sad (in a good way), and I just really like it in general. I seriously reccomend this book!

My mom gave me this book for my birthday, and I read it, and I was like, totally, amazed! It's like so good, and it teaches you how to party with Satan! Rock on everybody!

this book will give you tips on how to not let Satan get you. anyone who wants to read a feel good holy Jesus book look no further. this is one of the best little books I've ever read

Reading this book opened my eyes even more in recognizing the enemy and what he and his spirits try to do to the saints daily. This book re-affirms that God has not given us the spirit of fear. Reading this book assists in "polishing" the armor that we already possess and making us strong soldiers in the army of the Lord.

Dr. Thompson's insight into spiritual warfare is phenominal. This book is very easy to read ( I read it in one day ) with many scripture references which allows the reader to have a better understanding of God's Word. Anyone who is "going through" and wants to be delivered should read this book.

Dr. Thompson presents a message of hope and victory through life's storms and battles. Her spiritual insight, biblical knowledge and personal experiences invigorates and releases the power of the holy spirit to liberate us from Satan's chains of bondage and dispair.

Refreshing. This is a good word to describe The Ex-Debutante by Linda Francis Lee, for refreshing it is. I have never before read a book by Ms.Lee, but you can be sure that I will be looking for her backstock very quickly.

Carlisle Wainwright Cushing (the name alone is different---perfect!) goes home to Texas to deal with her mother's 4th divorce. The fact that she ran away from all things Texas years before only to be dragged back now is one of the best plotlines in the book. The secondary plot of the debutante ball is easily as important as the divorce, but ties all aspects of the other characters into the story so well, that it almost isn't a secondary plotline, but like a tie for first. And I haven't even mentioned the 501 Levi wearing Jack Blair---attorney-at-law. Mmmmmm, Jack. Yum. Sorry, it was the jeans reference.....back on topic now. Do you think there are Jack Blair's in Texas right now? Reason enough to take a "field trip" there to find out----I'm just saying.

Okay, so if you haven't figured it out by now, I liked the book. The characters all ring true (even the ones you want to slap upside the head) and had me struggling to put the book down for such menial reasons as to take care of my family. Whatever. For books like this, sacrifices have to be made. Take out was ordered. Family was fine. Book was finished. Alls well that ends well. Enjoy.

I love this author and I loved this book. I could not put it down and finished it over the weekend. I have read both of Linda Francis Lee's books and I can not wait for the next one! I loved the heroine,Carlisle, and I loved her Texas family! Do not miss this author.

I started this book yesterday afternoon and was up until 1:00 am until I finished. My 8 year old son's spelling homework didn't get done, my 4 year old son tried to drown me while he was taking a bath by kicking all the water out of the tub onto my reading figure hudddled by the vanity, the kids didn't get into bed until after 9, my husband kept trying to pick a fight with me but I kept ignoring him and reading, and the dog kept sneaking into the den and trying to get onto the recliner with me since I wasn't paying attention to him. That's how much I loved this book. I was oblivious to my life going on around me. ~sigh~ I was sorry when it ended but what a great read! It's a great book and I totally loved it! Hurray for Linda Francis Lee!

Two prime reasons propelled Carlisle Wainwright Cushing to leave Willow Creek, Texas three years ago. First the lawyer could not deal with her family's lofty social position especially her mother's marriage of the moment; worse she needed to leave behind Jack Blair, the man she has loved for fifteen years going back to high school.

She returns home when her mom asks her to represent her in her umpteenth divorce after divorce lawyer number four botched the proceedings so that ex hubby four has a line on the family accounting sheet. Her mom's spouse hires Jack. To her chagrin although engaged to Boston Brahmin attorney Phillip, she still wants Jack; he feels the same way. As she gets roped into planning the annual debutante gala hosted forever by her family but on the verge of collapse, Jack makes a move on her to regain the woman he let get away.

This is an amusing contemporary romance starring two likable lead characters, a horde of eccentric protagonists especially the families and the debutantes and an out of place Bostonian fiancé. The story line is humorous as Carlisle with her chick lit asides understands how Michael Corleone felt about being dragged home into the family business. Readers will laugh with the vulnerable heroine who wonders whether she can escape her DNA in time to keep her brain from frying while also pondering about her and Jack especially after the men's room incident.

Harriet Klausner

Carlisle Wainright Cushing has successfully reinvented herself. She's living in Boston, is engaged to Phillip and enjoys her career as a divorce lawyer. Nobody would guess that Carlisle is a member of THE Wainrights of Willow Creek, Texas. What made her flee? The reasons include a botched attempt at the Texas Dip during her Debutante Ball and falling in love with Jack Blair. However, when Carlisle receives the phone call, she knows it time to go home.

For Carlisle, going home is like having a supporting role on a soap opera: Her mother, Ridgely, is getting a divorce (for the fourth time). Her older brother Henry and his family have relocated back to Willow Creek after their oldest daughter was expelled from numerous schools. Her older sister, Savannah, is desperate to become pregnant. When Carlisle becomes her mother's attorney, she must face Jack Blair, who is representing her stepfather.

Carlisle's stay coincides with the Hundredth Annual Willow Creek Symphony Association Debutante Ball where eight young ladies from the best families are presented to society. A Wainright has always chaired the ball, and Carlisle is asked to do her part for the family. Unfortunately last year's ball was a disaster and no one wants to be a part of this year's ball. Rejected by respected families, Carlisle finds herself with a motley group of candidates: party girls, rebels and misfits.

Even though it seems like a complete fiasco, could returning to Willow Creek be the best thing for Carlisle?

Humorous and heartwarming, this tale of family and love is hard to put down! It provided a juicy look into the world of Junior Leagues and Debutante Balls. Carlisle is a wonderful main character: she's smart, sassy and has a big heart (which she tries to hide). Her family is also wonderfully kooky: pedigreed, at times neurotic, but also loving. This family dynamic works-like Carlisle, I found myself caring about these people and wanting to help them. I highly recommend the Ex-Debutante!

Armchair Interviews says: A wonderful, juicy story with lots of heart. Two thumbs up.

Holt describes the dark period leading up to the civil war brilliantly, with new ideas instead of the normal canned answers. He uses support from the great thinkers and leaders of the time including president Abraham Lincoln. Holt continues his famed career of historical insights with this amazingly insightful story of one of the most important topics in our nations history.

In The Fate of Their Country, Professor Holt skillfully and helpfully clarifies the vexed question of slavery extension, a controversy that played an important role in dividing North and South and setting the stage for war.

This is a relatively short book, and for a reason: Professor Holt wishes to acquaint a larger audience with some of the important issues that he has covered at greater length in some of his other work. Hence this accessible introduction.

What I find so interesting about the book is that it shows rather convincingly that debates over slavery extension were often not about slavery per se. The question of extending slavery into the territories became an issue of Southern honor: whether or not Southerners actually wanted to bring slaves into, say, New Mexico Territory (none were there by 1860), the issue became a matter of principle between sections of the country that had been so often at odds in the past.

The insistence upon slavery's extension into the territories was often a matter of saving face for the South rather than (necessarily) a matter of actually desiring to bring slaves there, particularly since neither North nor South seriously expected slavery to take root in most of the places over which they argued at such length.

Moreover, the subject of slavery extension came to symbolize all the differences between North and South, including controversies over the tariff, a homestead bill, internal improvement legislation, and the like.

Professor Holt is certainly not saying that slavery played no role whatever in the coming of the Civil War. But the issue has often been misunderstood, and it is Holt's aim to provide the reader with the evidence and the historical background he needs to understand the context in which slavery extension was debated. He concludes that irresponsible politicians, for their own narrow partisan advantage, all too often exploited the issue for demagogic purposes, with (ultimately) tragic consequences. A superb book.

I have been visiting Civil War battlefields for over 20 years. The more I learned about the war, the more I wondered how it had ever happened. Michael Holt's book discusses the issues that rocked the country during the 1850's. But it also discusses how these issues affected the thinking of ordinary people in the North and the South. It helped me understand why the events from John Brown's raid to the firing on Ft. Sumter aroused such anger in the country.

Michael F. Holt makes a great argument on past historical events leading up to the Civil War. He states clearly in the preface that he is writing this book to reach a wider audience. (And from the other reviews I can see he did!)

It is a resource book containing thoughts he previously used in his books on the Whigs and the 1850's, but if you're an American History teacher or professor this book could be used in the classroom. It is a great addition to my library and would easily work in an academic setting to hit on all the major "coming of events" before the War.

The only probably I have with this book is that Mr. Holt portrays John C. Calhoun as a radical. While me might have been in the 1830's by the Mexican War and the Compromise of 1850 Calhoun predicted the future of our Contry and in his address to Congress in 1850 urged for compromise over disunion.

I still would recommend this book to anyone who wanted some straight answers to the Antibellum period of United States history.

This short book by Michael Holt is the story of politics in America leading up to the Civil War. On the one hand, Holt makes a convincing argument that political leaders between 1820 and 1860 often acted out of raw political ambition rather than what was best for the country. In calculating the risk of taking certain actions Democrats, Whigs, and nascent Republicans took into account how their decisions would most affect their own political fortunes.

While principle sometimes played a part, this can be seen in Calhoun's staunch support for slavery no matter what and Republican's anti-Southern stance in 1858 and 1680, in too many instances all that mattered was how issues can be leveraged to gain the most support for you in the next election.

This is not a new idea in Civil War histories, but Holt makes an impressive case for it in just over 100 pages. The other theses of the book, the danger of sectionalism and the need to compromise, are also portrayed well. However, it is the danger of putting one's personal interests above the national that is the main lesson of this book. I don't believe another civil war is in any way imminent, but it would be wonderful if today's politicians would relearn that lesson. This book would be a great place for them to start.