Adams Books

this book is amazing!! Mr. Bellow is my teacher in Long Island, NY and he is the greatest teacher ever!! His book is one of the best i have read ever.

This book was incredible. Don't be fooled it is not based on or about that crappy movie. This book was great. I saw it online on some website about up and coming books / authors - oh man was this cool. A short book, but worth it. The writing is superb with a story that really gets under your skin. A great summer read - Derailed!

I am not in the habit of writing reviews for things I like, but this book was different. I work in New York City and saw someone reading this book on the subway riding home from work. Being curious, I asked the guy about it and he talked about the book for the next three stops. I ordered the book from Amazon and when I read it the night it arrived. I can't tell you stongly enough how great this book is. It has action, suspense, and a creepy ending that left me breathless. I hope that this gets turned into a movie or something - it is really an awesome story... check it out!

This book was great. I loved Derailed so much that I actually read it twice to go back and catch all the little hints which lead up to the big ending. The writing is really pretty. That may sound odd for a book that makes more than one reference a dead baby, but the language the author uses is really captivating and vivid. I just finished the Da Vinci code, and I must say that although this is a different style, this book was throughly entertaining and engaging. You all should read it - you won't be disappointed!

This book was really great! It is suspenseful, creepy, entertaining, and really enjoyable. I loved it and totally recommend it!

This is my third or fourth year with the Dilbert daily calendar, and once again I am not disappointed. At least 2 or 3 times a week I find myself laughing out loud when I read the strip of the day.

I'm a living and breathing creature of cubicle land. So I can very much attest to the fact that Scott Adams nails the proverbial nail on the head. Beware! This calendar is funny only because it is the Truth! Buy it, enjoy it and know that others out there feel your pain too.

Being stuck in a cubicle farm, I can (unfortunately) relate to almost all of the strips Dilbert represents. It also doesn't help I'm in IT either... for the government. ::ugh:: From managment's incomprehensible requests, to co-worker quirks and finally the almost endless cycle of meetings this one-a-day calendar manages to keep in tune with what goes on in my office.
I've still got 2003 wallpapered all over my cube... guess it's time to start making room for this year. I give it 4 stars. (Only Farside has made me laugh more)

Have you worked in a corporate setting? Then you'll connect with Dilbert.

Scott Adams has created a world all-too-familiar to us who delve into cubicles for employment. Laughing at his cartoons hurts a little because we work for bosses like the pointy hair guy. We know consultants like Dogbert, and Elbonia reminds of too many clients.

Planting this calendar in your cube is a safe way to say to your boss, "I'm on to you." It might not change the inefficient culture of overwork for not clear goal, but you'll feel better in the process.

I fully recommend the Dilbert daily calendar. It is fun, and unlike a monthly calendar, you get a new panel everyday. It stays fresh this way.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

I enjoyed every single cartoon, though sometimes they made me sad - they mirror real (big) company life, and I was more than once tempted to take the cartoon to my office and slip it onto the table of my boss... And so the cartoons help to endure the harder hours of business life! Maybe I can get a prescription for the 2004 calendar...?

Finally, a clearly written, comprehensive book packed full of information to help women (and men) develop a business that will generate the kind of income all networkers dream of earning. Thank you Cynthia Stewart-Copier for writing such a helpful book!

"Cynthia Stewart-Copier has identified and outlined a pattern for success, that if followed, will give women the opportunity to break the chains of mediocrity and experience a life beyond their woldest dreams."

I loved this book! Cynthia has a great way of presenting information clearly, and at the same time motivating readers and helping us understand that it is possible to build up a substantial income through network marketing. Good job!

Copier has hit the nail on the head with Dream Big! Finally a comprehesive, no fluff book that deals with the specific issues women face while trying to manage a job, care for a family, and develop a business. Copier has outlined simple steps, when if followed with propell the reader to the heights of success that we all dream about when we first start out in network marketing. She has also included motivational stories from other successful women in the industry, proving once again, that there is room at the top for women in network marketing. Great book, for beginners and veterans alike.

The only thing wrong with this book is the title! It is definately NOT just for women. In fact, I took notes! Dream Big was a pleasure to read. From cover to cover it just flowed. The information that seemed primary at first, developed into a wealth of knowledge and easy to follow steps to launch the reader into success in network marketing. I really enjoyed the way Cynthia mixed the success stories with the tips, making this book fun to read.

Yesterday I heard Miriam Cohen read "Eddy's Dream"; it was a powerful, tear-inducing experience. This book is a living testimony to the emotive power of children's imaginative play. Cohen calls it a "docu-drama," and rightly so: it is full of drama (and humor), and it accurately documents the process of play in a classroom of young children who are eager to act out their dreams, and who so effortlessly combine their personal dream-plays with their classmates'. Eddy's Dream corresponds with Vivian Paley's work (ex: The Boy Who Would be a Helicopter) in that it focuses in on one child who is feeling different from the others and manifests this in a negative way. The other children do not scorn him for his difference; rather, they rally around him in a beautiful display of unconditional love and community, and in the end, he is transformed by their love. This book shows us that what can happen in a classroom that opens itself to the imagination of children is nothing short of miraculous.

Miriam Cohen's stories bubble with the energy of children. They address the real stuff that's on kid's minds without being preachy or moralistic or stodgy. Eddy's Dream reminds me of the "Jim" series of books that are now classics and in every school library across the country. What's so amazing about this book is it's fresh approach: using Adam Cohen's intimate photographs insead of illustrations. Together, Miriam and Adam Cohen give us a vivid story of how kids interact and what they dream of.

It's a great story for parents to read and for kids to listen to (or read themselves). Best of all, my seven year old son picked it over and over as the book we'd read together at reading time.

You'll love it! And so will your child!

I just had the opportunity to see this book up close, and it's just amazing. I was so moved that these kids used their imaginations to transport a boy mired in sadness to a dream trip to his beloved grandma in Puerto Rico. I just loved Miriam Cohen's ability to lift the spirits of both children and the adults who read to and with them with this book.

It isn't often you get a book these days with black and white photographs. Somehow I think we think kids won't look at them, but what a mistake! This book is simply special. There's room in the text and pictures for the reader to find her/his own magic. And that's what it's all about isn't it. Can't imagine a kid not getting caught up. Thank you Miram and Adam Cohen!

I loved this book. As a teacher for over twenty-five years, I feel the story is real, the portrayal of the chidren is accurate, and the whole feeling of the book is beautiful. I used this book in class to start a discussion about feelings, pretending, how we treat one another, etc. It was a great success. The children loved the photographs. Some children spent a long time pouring over the pictures and commenting on them. I think they liked the pictures so much because they weren't drawings. They were of real, identifiable kids, like themselves. Picture books illustrated with photographs are not too common, and my students were fascinated by them. They wanted to play a dress-up game like the one depicted in the book (which we did), and they asked to read the story again a few days later. My students especially liked the colorful children's drawings in the front and the back of the book. They immediately wanted to draw their own pictures of the scenes in book, so the book worked as a story, a discussion starter about feelings and helping each other, a stimulus to drawing, an exploration of photographs, etc. My thanks to Miriam Cohen and Adam Cohen for producing such a lovely book.

This education guide serves as a great resource when considering alternative health care. The book presents the history and a clear description of each method and modality. It is reassuring to see what the educational requirements are for your new practitioner before you put your body and mind in their care!

This book -- co-authored by Bastyr ND Nathen Gabriel (2000 grad.) -- is an excellent example of naturopathy's 'purposeful life spirit' / 'vital force spirit' sectarian premise.

And I quote, from the naturopathy chapter:

"naturopathic medicine is an integrative and vitalistic medical system [...] there are seven principles of modern naturopathy [...#2] respect the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae). There is an innate healing force within all life that is always attempting to prevent and/or heal every possible illness [...a] 'life force' [...] naturopaths help their patients to optimize this innate force [p.119...] most medical systems in place before the rise of modern western medicine [...] were 'vitalistic' in nature, meaning that a spiritual 'vital force' or 'life force' was believed to be both the source of existence and the essential healing force for every person. Ayurveda's 'prana,' Chinese medicine's 'chi,' and Hippocrates' 'humours' are all versions of the vital force [p.120]."

I highly recommend this chapter for anyone interested the the central article of faith of in this form of sectarian medicine.

-r.c.

As a layperson who happens to work in a holistic environment, i found this book to be exceptionally well-researched and comprehensive. I can imagine all the students out there getting really excited reading this book and perhaps finding some clarity as to their actual specialty. It's truly inspiring to read about all the different, effective modalities one can choose from, or simply add to their knowledge database. Really well organized and easy to read.

I'm an undergrad student tentatively on the `pre-med track' but feeling somewhat dissatisfied with the conventional MD route, and have been looking to explore other areas of healing modalities as a career. This book has been an invaluable guide for me, especially in terms of placing allopathic medicine within the context of other healing traditions and practices (some of which go back thousands of years!). Truly integrative in its broad assessment of so many practices.

Coming from a science background, I am somewhat skeptical of the more alternative practices included in the guide (homeopathy, rolfing, iridology) but was pleased with the objective descriptions that acknowledge drawbacks, uncertainties and criticisms in the different modalities. Non-judgmental, just the facts.

One of the best features for me were the lists of professional organizations, websites, and further resources associated with all the various modalities. In this way the guide is a great jumping-off point for further research and career-searching.

This is a unique and valuable reference source that is a one-stop guide to careers in the alternative medicine universe. What I particularly found useful and interesting is the extensive background information and history of each of the many healing areas covered. The listings seem to be very thorough, with lots of helpful sections for people thinking about a career (or even really just wanting to learn about the background) in these practises. I haven't found anything like it in researching the range and scope of educational options. In sum, it's a commendable addition to the public's introduction to training possibilities in integrative medicine and a great place to start (and maybe finish) any search for the learning possibilities in alternative healing. Top marks.

One of the first of the American manga-imitators, Warren's work stands out from the pack because of his writing, his own, personal knack for simultaneously celebrating, parodying and exploiting multiple elements of pop culture (superhero genre tropes, cyberpunk sci-fi techno-babble, good girl art, hong kong action films, etc.) often on the same page, and even in the same panel. (In this his work recalls' Harvey Kurthzman and Will Elder's gag-filled work for the early Mad Magazine and their "Little Annie Fanny" strip for Playboy Magazine). So long as you can tolerate (or better, enjoy) good-natured cheesecake and copious amounts of fan service without getting enraged, you're almost guaranteed a rollicking good time reading one of his books (Recommended titles include "Titans: Rock Paper Scissors," for DC Comics and "Grunge: the Movie" for Wildstorm Entertainment).

However skilled Adam Warren is as a comic writer, he rarely gets the accolades he deserves for his talent for creating endearing characters, and writing engaging adult-orientated romantic comedy. The first time I noticed these strengths was when I (belatedly) read his tragically truncated run scripting Wildstorm's "Gen13" (with Rick Mays providing pencils). Here Warren managed to make even the most uninteresting secondary characters, Burnout and Rainmaker interesting, and in the latter case, even compelling. It's true that the careful reader can find hints of these talents in his early work (even the utterly mindless delirium of his "Dirty Pair" adaptations) however the sheer amount of fan service, techno-babble and high-speed action he crams into his layouts usually obscures those strengths. Ultimately the problem was that comic book editors rarely gave him writing stints that were long enough for him to display this side of his talent as a writer....

... Until now, with the advent of Warren's presumably creator-owned "Empowered," published by Dark Horse Comics, home of mainstream writer/artists gone independent, like Mike "Hellboy" Mignola and Frank "Sin City" Miller. (May Warren reach similar levels of success: now that audiences are used to comic book movie adaptations, they might just be ready for a movie version of "Empowered," a faithful adaptation of which would go a long way to make up for the lackluster, "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," a well-meant dud if I ever saw one.) Though once again, the book is primarily a genre satire, and, as usual, Warren piles on the manga-esque fan service (primarily parodies of bondage art), the heart and soul of "Empowered," and the real reason (other than the assurance of irreverent comedy) I think readers come back for more, is his appealing characterization of his spectacularly inept, yet unreasonably enduring and good-natured heroine, Empowered (Emp to her close friends), and Warren's ability to convey a convincing of warmth and affection between the members of her primary supporting cast, which includes: the her ever-supportive boyfriend, Thugboy, a former professional Witless Minion-for Hire (by supervillains) who also hides a violent past as a killer of both superheroes and their adversaries, Ninjette, a usually upbeat runaway ninja princess (and borderline alcoholic) with a bounty on her head, and the dangerous, conquest-bent outer-space demon lord, who lies trapped inside a power-draining piece of space-alien bondage gear (a leftover from one of Emp's more embarrassing misadventures) that rests on the coffee table in front of the roommates TV set.

To sum, in "Empowered," Adam Warren's really at the top of his game, infusing the more recent volumes with a surprising and refreshing warmth (so long as you don't mind good girl art - something that declines in emphasis as the story goes on... sort of) as the relations between those near and dear to our plucky heroine take center stage in the third and fourth volumes. For those who can tolerate a lot of good girl-style imagery (which serves instead of stops the story) "Empowered"'s definitely worth a try. (For those doubting Thomas out there, who want to settle the issue quickly, I suggest starting with the third volume.)

Happy Reading Folks,....

Yes it's a T&A book. Yes the lead heroine has a bad habit of getting tied up.

But it's also got a real story, powerful characters and laugh out loud humor.

Warren is also not afraid to make fun of himself and the inherent silliness of this book.

Get it. It's good.

There is nothing so enjoyable as a book written by someone who is simply...writing what they want. Warren has a long career of taking well-know characters and imparting them with his own spin, and yet remaining true to the original (Iron Man--read Hypervelocity and tell me the writers of the recent Iron Man movie never read it), Gen 13, Dirty Pair...the list goes on. He has a knack for clever dialog and memorable scenes but never forgets a overarching plot that ties it all together. As you read you'll realize who clever he is at putting in foreshadowing. He's a dab hand at characterization and has the guts to show the good and bad of everyone. Empowered can be hilarious...and moving...and dead serious. His deep knowledge of...well, just about everything is not as obvious in Empowered as most of his other works, but he's one smart and well-read dude.
Empowered is the product of a creator having the time of his life. Relax, ride along the Warren and have fun. I can't wait for the next volume.
(Kudos to Dark Horse Comics and his editor, Chris Warner, for stepping aside and setting him free to do what he wants.)

I got this for a reasonable price including shipping. If you're a fan of Adam Warren you're going to get this anyway. As always he delivers the goods. Enjoyable.

I was originally a little skeptical about buying this volume simply because I was uncertain as to the direction of which the story was going, however I am happy to say its doing rather well and the storyline is developing nicely, a tad bit slowly than desired but very nicely none the less. I look forward to the next exciting volume.

My 9 year old started reading these when he was 7. He absolutely loves them. He can read them in one day because he will just not put them down! There are 9 books so far and he can't wait for the new ones to come out. It is so great that I can use these books as a reward for him. Wonderful series if you want to get your youngster to read.

I am typing this review for my nine year old son. Here are his exact words. "I expect people to read this book which are eight and up. It is an extremely good book. I am just starting to read the second one. The book is about a boy freeing a dragon. He meets a girl named Elenna. Elenna has a pet wolf. They have a great adventure. I hope to get the rest of the books"

The dragon was cool and it had a very neat ending. Very well written.

Beast Quest: Ferno the Fire Dragon, is a story about a kingdom plauged by a mysterious power that is drying up rivers, destroying villages and crops, and causing mast turmoil. A young boy namd Tom vows several times to defeat this power, and travels to the king's place. What goes on from there is great adventure, quick-paced action, and cool magic.
For 2-3rd graders.
The print is very large, and the story is very simple. But if I was in the lower grades, I would have thought it the next big series. But Adam Blade does a very good job in writing this series.
Definently a series your elementary grade child has been looking for to make reading more fun.

I bought this at the book fair, trying to find an exciting adventure series for my son. This is the first book he truly could not put down. I read the first chapter to him and then he continued to read, after dinner, in the tub, before bed, until he finally finished it that same evening. It was great to see him enjoy reading so much. We are buying the next one in the series now.

Not a typical how-to-fish book although there is some advice on fly selection. Mostly deals with when and where to find fish in the various habitats which are described in detail (marsh, mangrove, surf, etc.) Essential reading if you want to understand the habits and food preferences of the coastal species you are targeting.

I don't know how many times I've read that the angler should know his quarry, study their habits, etcetera, only to find that there wasn't any actual information about such habits in the book! The reason for this is that it is difficult for anglers to amass such knowledge in anything shorter than a full lifetime, and even then he's only aware of a tiny fraction of the fish's ecology. That's an indispensible part of the experience of fishing, of course. For those of us who like it to take place within a wider breadth of real knowledge about fish, however, there are books like this one. Dr. Adams has compiled a wealth of interesting information from the scientific literature on the ecology of the fish we love to pursue, and presents it engagingly and in a well-organized way in this book. Much of it is applicable worldwide, not just to the areas covered. You will start thinking about fish and fishing in a deeper way after reading this book.

Fisherman's Coast is a unique balance of angling techniques, personal anecdotes and environmental information. Aaron J. Adams seems to mentor his readers of all ages and experience through fish behavior and life cycles, and fishes' and anglers' reliance on and relationship to healthy sea grass, mangroves, salt marshes and other warm-water habitats. As an educator, I hope my students and their families will translate Mr. Adams' approach to their own locales, and use it when visiting southeastern and gulf coast states, and/or the Carribean. How generously he shares his scientific knowledge and personal experience with his readers. Only fish - possibly - know more than Mr. Adams.

Aaron Adams, a Ph.D. in marine ecology, has given his readers a way of discovering and defining "good spots"--not with GPS numbers, but with a systematic understanding of coastal marine ecosystems and how gamefish fit within them. He puts the emphasis where it belongs and provides a model for others to follow in other books (I hope). The prose is clean and clear--no small achievement for a scientist writing in his area of expertise. Some useful photos are included. One could have wished for more), but there are enough examples to communicate the connectedness of life--and the responsibillity we have to protect it.

This book is not an easy read but it is well worth the effort. If you are looking for a "go here and do this" study guide this book is probably not for you.

If you want to understand the habits and habitats of fish you'd like to catch so you can figure out the how-when-where for yourself you will find this book extremely helpful. I have only fished Florida's inshore a couple of times on my own and while I enjoyed the experience I had no clue as to what to look for. When I go back now I will be much better prepared because of this book.

When I was looking for book that dealt with foods from the Bible I ordered several different kinds. I found this one was the best. It gave the history of the Bible times and a section of recipes that would be available during Bible times.

We had our church service last Sunday and had a social hour where we served three tables full of foods from the Bible. We were studying the books of Jonah and Ruth so fish and grains for Bread recipes were available in this book. It was very helpful and easy to prepare. I recommend this book if you are interested in studying foods from the Bible

Food At The Time Of The Bible: From Adam's Apple To The Last Supper
We are using this wonderful resource to help us recreate the village of Bethlehem on the eve of Jesus' birth at our large parish hall this December. It was recommended as an accurate resource by a recreated village in Israel.
I was delighted to find that it contained far more than recipes. It explains the foods, crops, and agricultural practices from the time. The farming practices bring the food to life! You will read about the "Seven Species as well as a multitude of other foods. You will read about farming and harvesting year round; the barley harvest in Spring, grapes, wheat, and pomegranates in Summer, dates and raisins in Autumn and leeks, onions and garlic in Winter. These descriptions are often tied to biblical customs or references: "They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest..." (Ruth 1:22)
Profusely illustrated with photographs and drawings you will see images of tilling, planting, cutting, threshing, winnowing, milling, and finally baking with grains. The photos are thoughtfully presented using people in costume as well as farmers today still using the old methods. I've bought and handed out at least 6 copies of this great resource to people involved in our recreation project.
It is a great general reference as well as an agricultural tour and cookbook.

Although this book includes recipes, it contains far more regarding food's role in their culture, lifestyle and religious beliefs. What Scripture forbade and why, sacrifices at the Temple, the agricultural year and its festivals, and other tangible ways that it played into their lives are all included here.

The book begins with a culinary history of the Bible, a timeline and an explanation of dining customs in the `biblical' era, where biblical includes both the Old and New Testaments. It continues with fifty-plus pages on the various kinds of food, including the main crops: Grain and Bread, the Fruit of the Vine, Olives and Olive Oil, Other Fruits of the Good Land, Vegetables, Fish and Other Fruit of the Ancient Sea, Meat, Milk and Milk Products, Biblical Sweets, and Herbs and Spices.

Each section has subsections and pictures; for example, the section on fish includes `Fishing in the Sea of Galilee,' `Hook, Line and Sinker,' and `Fish Dishes,' as well as a recipe for St. Peter's fish. The section, which runs from page 57 to 60, contains color illustrations of anchors from Jesus' time, fish, a mosaic of a fisherman returning with his catch, a mosaic depicting an ancient boat, fishermen pulling a dragnet (Matthew 13:47), fishermen using a trammel net, an excavated boat from the Galilee, a mosaic depicting two fish and a loaf of bread, a carving of fishermen working on an Egyptian canal, a mosaic depicting fishermen from Jordan, modern-day fishermen on the Galilee, the fish market in Acre, and a modern-day fishing net in use.

Other sections have parallel sections and illustrations, and the book finishes with sections on `Keeping Food and Keeping it Fresh,' the Last Supper, `Biblical Weights and Their Equivalent in Our Terms,' `Biblical Recipes' (40+), and `How Much Did Food Cost?'

I have several books on food in the bible, and this is my favorite. You can see other alternatives on my ListMania for `Food in Jesus' Time.' Click `Emily Jamison' above, and scroll down to my ListMania section.

GREAT BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON FO0DS IN BIBLE TIMES. PICTURES ARE GREAT. I WANTED A BOOK TO HAVE A BIBLE FOODS PARTY FOR YOUNG TEENS. WELL PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT ALL COULD TAKE A PART. BROUGHT IT TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND THEY WOULDN'T LET ME TAKE IT HOME. I THINK THERE WILL BE MORE ORDERS FOR AMAZON.

If you're a pastor or Bible studier, this is an excellent, fun, and interesting book. There are lots of illustrations, although the quality of some of the pictures is lacking.

If you're a cook or someone looking into healthier eating, it may not be exactly what you're looking for. There are a couple dozen recipes at the back of the book, but explanation on ancient food techniques related to the recipes leaves you wanting more information.

If you're just curious and interested in the way the Old World esteemed and prepared food this is probably just the book for you. Whatever your reason for considering it, it is a nice book, although a little thinner than I expected.

"A Gilgamesh Play for Teen Readers" is a GREAT teaching resource! I've taught seventh grade social studies ancient history for a number of years, and this play exactly fits the bill! Written for teens, this play tells the classic story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu in language that middleschoolers can understand and learn from. Sumerian culture and history are embedded so subtly, that students won't realize how much they've learned!

For teachers, this book offers reading within the content areas, excellent higher level thinking questions, and enough open-ended questions to lead students to write at a deeper level than simple lecture would lend itself to. Students become engaged with the material, are active participants in learning, and become engaged and proactive learners through this play.

I hope the author writes more plays like this, his talent and understanding of middle schoolers certainly shines through! This is the same author as the book "Teacher Under Construction", a how-to book on teaching at this level. I highly recommend this book to all teachers, public, private, and home-schools, who work with students in this study.

Who knew ancient history could be so fun?

Just finished (3 days) using this play with 8th graders. The kids enjoyed the play (though the 'surprise' ending was considered a bit too cute for them), while I was impressed with the many (many) insightful and analytical questions provided after each 'tablet'.

Also helpful to the teacher are the lists of topics which could lend themselves to a week's worth of class discussion. I would recommend 1-2 days using the 'Sumer-vocabulary' to prepare the students. About 3 days is right for reading aloud the play, although I had tryouts (kids loved this). There are too many questions to assign them all, but I had the kids do about a third of them.

Writing lends itself to predicting outcomes, reflecting, analysis, and (as mentioned) much topical discussion.

There is a dearth of performable material on Mesopotamia, and this whole book is very good. I just wish it were less expensive so that we could buy a classroom set instead of having to copy the script (legal, I hope!).

In short, I was amazed at how thoroughly this little book covered the stories, traditions, vocabulary, inventions, names, and parallel mythology of ancient Mesopotamia.

Anyone teaching ancient history, especially the Sumerian culture, understands that the story of Gilgamesh is one of the first and greatest stories every told. But there are few teaching models which teens will enjoy as much as this performable play which covers most of the story without exposing younger teens to the sometimes inappropriate aspects of the epic.

The book includes a wonderfully helpful vocabulary of ancient Sumerian terms, as well as a (very) short history of the background of the story.
The finest inclusion is a long list of themes in the Gilgamesh story. Teachers can take these to infinite lesson-applications.

Teens learn best by doing--not by lecture--and although this is more of a reading of roles than actual performing, nevertheless, it is an excellent treatment of this wonderful story of friendship, pride, humility, and death.

This book is nicely done in an 8 by 11 format, which made it easy for my high schoolers to follow the script in class. I have to say that even though it is listed for teen readers, it might be a little more middle school oriented. The script--though an excellent adaptation of the Gilgamesh story--appeared to be a little trite for older kids.

The play begins in a Sumerian classroom, and the setting is not a part of the Gilgamesh story. Only about halfway through does the actual Gilgamesh Epic begin. This is actually a nice touch, by giving students a more thorough exposure to Sumerian customs. The ending is a nice touch, reverting back to the setting.

The play is nice, but to be honest, the reflective questions at the end of the chapters are the strength of this little booklet. If you are teaching Sumerian life, they are probing, analytical, and insightful.

Since there's really nothing to compare this to, I guess I'd say it's excellent. It certainly is the finest adaptation of the Gilgamesh story which can `safely' be used in a public school classroom.

When I read "A Gilgamesh Play for Teen Readers," I became jealous of today's middle-schoolers. I don't recall there being, when I was their age, anything both as fun and as informative as this play is. Dr. Parks has written a fast-paced entertainment that's also a masterpiece of education. While playing a variety of vivid and well-drawn characters, the students will learn, not only the main points of oldest epic poem still in existence, but also the heart of the world's first civilization.

In his play Dr. Parks does something brilliant and unexpected. He doesn't just retell the story of Gilgamesh; he sets it within a larger story in which all kinds of Sumerians go about their everyday lives of study, work, and play. Thus, the actors and the audience don't just relive the mythical friendship of Gilgmesh and Enkidu, and its tragic outcome at the hands of the jealous goddess Inanna, but they also see how the epic reflects the lives of the Sumerians who imagined it, and what it meant to them.

Beyond the play itself, Dr. Parks has filled his compact book with a number of valuable resources. His introduction gives an overview of Sumerian civilization and a summary of its greatest story, as well as a comprehensive list of themes and topics that one can teach from the play. Some of the scenes (or "tablets") of the play end in lists of questions that challenge the students to reach a deeper level of understanding of what they've acted. Finally, there's a "Sumer-cabulary" that clearly explains key terms highlighted in the play.

Too often, students miss the lessons of history because they're taught dully and dryly. Students who benefit from "A Gilgamesh Play for Teen Readers" will retain history's lessons as these come to life around them and become part of them.