Biggs Books

I found great information for my senior project in this book.

This book has really helped me learn about science. It is simple and really explains complexted matters in a way anyone can understand. I recomend this book to anyone who feels that they want to understand sicence. Happy reading.

This is not a biology book; it is an exercise in consciousness-raising, written to accompany a series of videos. Each section opens with instructions such as "while you watch the video, note ..." The first section is ostensibly "Matter & Energy" but the opening topic is "The Biology of Trash" & the first video is the saga of the garbage barge Mobro. The text reads, "You may be asking, 'Why should I study garbage? The answer is simple: because gargabe is part of biology." Page 28 contains an overt anti-smoking message. Section 2 is about industrial pollution; section 3's video is based on a film by the Zero Population Growth organization. Many people oppose overflowing garbage, smoking, pollution, and overpopulation, but these are social concerns, NOT biological science. The videos were not available for viewing, but if their content can be inferred from the text, the book has a political subtext. The section 6 video deals with the case of a murderer whose defense was that he had been exposed to toxic insecticides. (I looked up the case on the internet.) The jury didn't buy it, but this text SEEMS to be sympathetic to that defense. Section 7 deals with "biodiversity." The accompanying question, on page 427 is "How did the video increase your appreciation of the need to maintain and respect diversity among humans?" Section 8 lauds teh Earth Summit and the UN Environment Program and asks the question, "What right do we have to develop, or even explore, the planets?" (page 497) I compared this book to two other biology textbooks. They both emphasized such things as cell structure, chemistry, and the classification of plants and animals. This book is one of a series of colorfully illustrated texts from the same publisher, all of which emphasize "issues," giving the impression that such concerns are more important than factual knowledge. Apparently, a great many people agree. A reviewer of the paperback edition of this book gave it a 5-star rating for exactly that reason! I do not know if the paperback edition requires the videos, but this edition is not a self-contained text, as a good textbook ought to be. I give it a 3-star rating ONLY because it DOES contain a minimum of the basics of biological science, and a good teacher can emphasize this if he or she so chooses. However, I would not select this text for any serious academic study. It is very poor preparation for a college course in biology.

A very good concise book on Delaware clocks...the state is small, only three counties large, so the book is also small, but a good read with some very nice pictures. W.B. Goetz, Lemoyne, Pa

Kelly Garritson and Chance Reitchelle meet working on a racehorse theft case. Her ex-husband left her taking everything with him but his P.I. agency and her classic Vette. He refuses to love a woman in a dangerous occupation having lost one already because of her occupation. The sparks fly from the first time they meet, both try to hide their attraction with anger and nasty words. Devil of a Chance is an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the characters, the plot worked well and actually kept you curious as to who was stealing these horses. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, feel good read with enough conflict between the hero and heroine to keep you turning the pages to see how they'll work it out.

Through her autobiography A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH (but full of potential) Latisha Biggs allows the reader a glimpse into her life and past experiences that made her who she is today. Throughout her story Biggs weaves scriptures into her experiences showing that despite what comes at you in life it is possible to overcome those things with the help of God.

Biggs was born in 1949 in Kentucky and grew up in Mississippi where she lived with her five siblings and mother. Growing up she dreamed of having a life similar to sitcoms like Ozzie and Harriet or Father Knows Best. Instead, Biggs lived in a house with a mother who worked two shifts a day to provide for her family but who did not show her children affection or verbally say she loved them. Biggs' father was an abusive husband who left his wife to raise the children alone. Two major events that affected Biggs' childhood were the rejection from her father when she visited him and a rape that occured at the hands of boys she knew and trusted. Later, Biggs' tells how she graduated from high school and moved to California where she eventually meets her first husband and the father of her child. It is during this time that she begins to use drugs and is scarred by the affairs and betrayal from her husband. After leaving her husband, Biggs' life seems to get better but hardships come again in the form of a near fatal car accident and more drug use. As she tells her story the majority of the events Biggs describes are negative; however, she does mention positive things such as the birth of her child, the relationship she has with a couple that helps to change her life forever, and meeting the man of her dreams who became her second husband.

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH is a touching story that will draw you into the pain and triumphs of one woman's life as she struggles to become the woman God has predestined her to be. In her own voice Biggs describes the events that shaped her life with a strength that shows no matter what an individual goes through, there is a way out. After living through a rape, drug abuse, betrayal, and rejection, Biggs is able to deliver her testimony and include scriptures to help anyone who has experienced the same things. With her life as an example, Biggs shows the world what it takes to turn a lump of coal into a diamond, a jewel that is treasured throughout the world.

Reviewed by Criss Coles
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

When war broke out between England and Spain in 1585, Sir Frances Drake (c.1540-96) raised a company of adventurers, and sailed to the new world to bloody Spain's nose, and make a great deal of loot in the process. One of the men accompanying this expedition was Walter Biggs (or Bigges), who commanded a company of musketeers. This short book is Biggs' journal (he died during the expedition, so it was finished by an unknown comrade), and in it he takes the reader through the many battles and adventures that befell the company.

Overall, I found this to be quite an interesting read. The narrative was written by an actual participant in the raid, which means that it is an excellent view of what happened from the inside. Now, the language is a little out of date (English has changed some in the last 400+ years), but not enough to keep a modern reader from understanding what the author is saying. Plus, the author's matter-of-fact stories of plunder and execution certainly show how people's views have changed.

Overall, I found this to be an interesting and quite informative read. If you are interested in Sir Frances Drake or the history of the Anglo-Spanish wars of the sixteenth century, then this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.

When people here someone say they are from Washington, they think D.C. or the other Washington "the state" which is associated with Seattle, rain, goatee's, Starbucks, Cobain, etc. Well this book talks of a quiet man from the other, other Washington (Eastside or Inland Empire) who rose through the political ranks to become a 20 plus year democrat from a conservative district to the 3rd most powerful man in America, Speaker of the House. Growing up in Eastern Washington, Foley was a familiar name but now I know why. Great story of his life. Mr. Biggs tells his tale, plus educates about the House of Representatives and the internal structure and processes. Along the way are stories and brief interjections by Speaker Foley. I learned a lot about Tom Foley, the House of Representatives and the process of legislation from this book. Sometimes it is tough to get through parts because there is so much political process and information to digest but I enjoyed it. Worth the read.

I have been interested in doing mosaic projects but did not know anything about how to get started. This book is very understandable, it tells exactly what tools are needed for each project. It also has a variety patterns to follow outside of the pictures. I highly recommend this book for the beginner or the experienced. There are a lot of great ideas!

I previously reviewed Red String Volume 1 and found it rather disappointing. I had written off the series until I saw a copy of volume 2 in my friends bookshelf and thought "Why not give it another chance?". Well, I'm very glad that I did because it has improved considerably! Miss Biggs really did an excellent job with with fleshing out the characters, now it's much easier to relate to them and become swept away in the story. Very very good, I strongly recommend it!