Campbell Books

This is an enticing little book about a glorious place. Elkhorn Slough is a seasonal brackish-water estuary which drains into Monterey Bay, about 100 miles south of the Golden Gate. It's a National Research Reserve, managed by Cal Fish & Game, not a pristine wilderness by any means, but a "rescued" and partly restored coastal wetlands. The initial efforts to rescue it came from The Nature Conservancy, an organization to which I contribute more willingly than to any political campaign. More than 75% of California's coastal wetlands have been ravaged by development, and the efforts to destroy the remainder for short-term profit have been assisted by the current Republican administrations in DC and in Sacramento.

The little book gives a history of the salvation of Elkhorn, and an eloquent description of the ecological value of sloughs and marshes. It also includes descriptions of the flora and fauna, including life habits and significance to the hills above and sea below the slough. There are wonderful pictures of the estuary and its fauna, particularly of the birds and marine mammals. One is certain to see large numbers of birds there, even in the months between migrations, as well as seals, sea lions, and sea otters. Elkhorn is probably the finest place to observe otters in all of California.

Bird-watchers, take note: on a single day, from my kayak, I've seen pelicans, two species of grebes, loons, four species of gulls, cormorants, mergansers, pintails, buffleheads, shovelers, ruddy ducks, all manner of common ducks, geese, dowitchers, stilts, avocets, willets, curlews, clapper rails, night herons, blue herons, two species of egrets, three species of hawks, and a rabble of songbirds.

The best way to visit Elkhorn Slough is by kayak or canoe, although there are a few walking paths also. Boat launches are maintained at the mouth and at two places toward the source, but most visitors rent a kayak at Moss Landing, a hamlet by the bridge of Highway 1 which crosses the mouth of the estuary. No freeway has been allowed to ruin the coast of the Bay Area from SF to Monterey, and I suspect that if bulldozers arrived to build one, I'd be among hundreds or thousands of protestors throwing our bodies in their path. There are glorious state park beaches north and south of Moss Landing. The rugged hills along this coast include huge tracts of park and nature preserve, with glorious hiking trails, and Monterey, with its research aquarium, is well worth a visit. The whole area is a year-round wonderland for outdoorsy tourists, and a vivid living sermon on the importance of conservation and preservation. Off-shore oil drilling would potentially doom this fragile national treasure; any politician who advocates it should hasten to kayak up Elkhorn Slough, to see first-hand what he/she risks destroying.

Later: as the comments that follow reveal, there are current and ongoing threats to the viable ecology of Elkhorn Slough. Agricultural run-off of pesticides and fertilizers, a nation-wide crisis. Biological hazards to the sea mammals, especially the otters, from rain drainage that carries feline disease organisms. A desalinization plant at Moss Landing. Etc. I focused above on the issue of oil drilling because that issue has become a political smokescreen, an attempt by Sen. McCain and his party to use the current high gasoline prices to scare their way into power again. The alignment of the bulk of Republicans with oil interests and against environmental protections and regulations, in my opinion, should be a central issue of the upcoming presidential election.

Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Simply written. Honest account of this man's journey. Sincere, account of his spiritual journey. Great little book. *****

I attended a reading by the author of an excerpt from this play. It was very moving. It would be a very good introduction to Emily Dickinson. The play got five stars at the 2005 Edmonton Fringe (the biggest Fringe in N.A.)and was sold out for all performances.

There are many taboo subjects in the world of academic research, and emotional involvement with subjects is certainly one of them. Here Dr. Campbell refutes the idea that there is such a thing as value-free, non-biased research when exploring the experiences of survivors of sexual violence. Using examples from her own research, she explores how the researcher's thoughts and feelings shape the research process itself, and demonstrates that emotional involvement can enhance the quality of research with survivors of sexual violence.

As a doctoral student involved in research on violence against women, I found that the book helped me with some of the difficulties I encountered trying (and failing) to remain objective as I interviewed women about their experiences with violence at home and in the workplace.

I recommend the book for researchers everywhere engaged in the delicate process of understanding how members of both sexes cope with psychological difficulties.

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history.

The glory that was Rome came with a price. Some historians have said at too high a price--the fall of the Republic and the reinstitution of a monarchy. This political change came about for two important reasons. The first reason was that the political structure of the Republic could no longer adequately serve Rome's expanding empire in the last century BCE. Secondly, politically ambitious generals facilitated changes in Rome's military structure from a volunteer force to a professional force. This change gave them total control over the military, which they used to usurp the political power of the Senate. This precipitated the bloody political revolution, changing the government from a republic to a dictatorship and eventually a monarchy.

The goal of this book is to examine the importance of the development and the effect that a professional army had on the downfall of the Roman Republic. The focus of this book includes such topics as how the Roman army developed from a volunteer force into a professional, mercenary force, created by generals and politicians who coveted power. Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, Mark Antony, and Augustus are four examples of men drunk with power who plunged Rome into Civil War to wrest power from a weak Senate, which proved to be inadequate in coping with the intricacies of a burgeoning empire. In addition, this book examines how by changing the traditional pay structure, bonuses, and retirement payments made to the legions, these politically ambitious generals changed the traditional allegiance that the legions had to the Republic and essentially not only bought their services, but also brought the legions under their control for their own personal and political gain. This book proves that the successful subversion of the Roman Legion's structure for personal gain had a direct correlation in the downfall of the Republic and the rise of a permanent monarchy.

A critical change to the Roman army came after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Once again, Rome was plunged into Civil war, this time the two protagonists were Mark Anthony, and Caesar Augustus. Caesar Augustus learned how to use the army to gain political advantage with efficient alacrity from his great uncle Julius Caesar's example. Once he defeated his rival Mark Anthony, he took Julius Caesar's military reforms to new heights solidifying his political power and reinstituting the Roman monarchy. Under Caesar Augustus' reign, the potential for a soldier to gain wealth, rank, and upward mobility in society was much greater. It was not uncommon for a soldier to reach the rank of centurion after fifteen years of service, with the potential for earning an even higher rank. During this period, the rank of centurion garnished him fifteen times that of the ordinary soldier. Almost half of the centurions would succeed to the office of primipilares--the senior centurion of a legion for one year. With this rank came the honor of becoming a member of the Roman equestrian order, which provided a step up the ladder of the Roman social class structure. Upon their retirement, these successful military men would receive a substantial payment of 600,000 sesterces. This payment, coupled with their savings from pay and booty they earned while on campaign could propel a man well beyond his original station in life. However, one of the most important military reforms Caesar Augustus made was to introduce a permanent garrison of troops into the city of Rome itself.

Campbell noted that one of the most important military reforms Augustus made was to introduce a permanent garrison of troops into the city of Rome itself. Augustus created the Praetorian cohorts soon after his return to Rome from Egypt around 27 BCE. There were nine cohorts in number and they were staffed with between 500 to 1,000 men each. Their commanding officer, known as a prefect, answered directly to the Emperor. The cohorts served as a police force within the city of Rome. The best of these men were formed into a bodyguard unit for the Emperor, known as the Praetorian Guard. The military reforms that Caesar Augustus instituted in 13 BCE and again in 6 CE demonstrated how he solidified his control of all the armies of the Roman Empire, which he was then able to wield as an effective political instrument. They gave the Emperor control of the only military power in the city. Augustus lengthened the terms of service from 16 to 20 years for legionaries. Augustus insured that all bonuses known as donatives, as well as severance pay and territorial grants made to soldiers and veterans were made in the name of the princeps. These actions insured that the soldiers and veterans would remain loyal to Augustus; it essentially turned them into clients and him into their patron. In addition, as his legionaries conquered new territory he gave them large tracts of land when they retired; thus, founding several new towns in Italy and the provinces. His patronage to the army insured that he controlled a network of armed and devoted garrisons throughout the Empire. Augustus could do all this because he had become the richest and most powerful man in the Empire. Thus, his patronage to the army insured that he and subsequent emperors controlled a network of armed and devoted garrisons throughout the Empire.

The fourth critical change to the Roman army came as a direct result of Caesar Augustus' reforms that were played out over time. First, the Praetorian Guard became a potent political entity in its own right. At several junctures in Roman history the Praetorian Guard were active participants in political intrigue. Such was the case when the Emperor Caligula's own Praetorian Guard successfully assassinated him and installed his uncle Claudius on the throne. Secondly, the military reforms made by Diocletian 284-305 CE and Constantine 305-337 CE effectively split the army into two distinct entities to deal with maintaining order in the Empire--the field army and the border troops. The border troops were organized to defend the provinces and were garrisoned in fortress communities around the edges of the Empire. Once the Empire had ceased to expand and the cost of maintaining it became exorbitant, the emperor instituted reforms in military recruiting that had a profound change on the army and the Empire. From the late fourth century onwards, the Romans made increasing use of recruits from barbarian allies and garrisoned them in far off provinces. This reform to the army had a profound effect on the western portion of the Roman Empire to govern effectively. Since the Empire found it increasingly difficult to pay for its army, quite often the officers and soldiers turned to extortion and plunder of the very territories and communities they were given charge to protect. In addition, the western Empire's army became a much weaker fighting force and eventually fell prey to its enemies easily.

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.

This book is considered a must have resource for SANE nurses and anyone who will be caring for women and children in a clinical setting. This book allows you to not only understand the dynamics of domestic abuse, but help to undestand the best way to document, care for, and advocate for survivors of abuse.

Sure, everybody is concerned about the endangered status of whooping cranes, ocelots, and bald eagles -- and so is Linda Campbell. But her book --Endangered and Threatened Animals of Texas -- deals with many more species than those high-profile ones with which the public has already become familiar. Toads, bats, snakes, even cave-dwelling spiders are every bit as important to the great web of life as are their more celebrated fellow creatures; and Linda Campbell is quick to point this out. Her book, in addition to its beautiful photography and well-researched zoological data, contains workable management plans for the conservation of ALL of the Lone Star State's threatened species -- even the less cuddly ones. Anyone who truly wants to know what animals are in danger, and what they can do to help preserve them, should read this book.

I was very pleased with this book and I have read other books by Mr. Campbell and found them very helpful. Specifically, I took away from thios book the exact construction of the "David" class torpedo books. I fill this book helped to fill a void dealing with the construction this type of vessels.

Miss Campbell does a wonderful job explaining the history and lifestyle of the English Yeoman. This book in time will be an equivalent to a precious artefact of England's rural history prior to the age of industry and commercialism. The English countryside and the disappearance of a class of society that only existed in England during the middle ages is quite unique. The loss of the English countryside lamented by Tolkien and others shows its connections with the loss of a society that was once self reliant away from the bustle of industry.

This is a book any serious student of Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart era studies should have on their bookshelf.

I got used book, it's worth it. Great lesson for children..... how to get help and what to do if you get lost in the mall or anywhere.