Franklin Books

A must have guide to Pennsylvania Birds. Have a question? The answer can be found in this easy to read and take along book.

One of my favorites! I love bird watching. This book is most helpful to me. I will be referring to it very often!

If you care about how the presidency works or should work, you will purchase this book. Dickinson not only presents a readable, intersting history of FDR, he wonderfully contrasts Roosevelt's techniques and how and why his successors ignored and refused to employ them. It's not a "catch-all" nor a "cookbook" for presidents (although it has both of those elements), but a study into what doesn't work at the executive organizational level. For something that will change the way you look at everything from Healthcare reform to Iran-Contra, this book is definitely a winner.

"Bitter Harvest" discusses the original growth of the White House under FDR and contrasts his staff management techniques with those presidents who followed (and who, according to the author, did a far inferior job of making the staff work for the president rather than vice versa). There is a lot of detail on the 1930s and 1940s here, but it's worth digging through. The book makes a strong argument, and backs it up nicely; highly recommended for those interested in presidential power and the influence that presidential staffs have had on American public policy.

Harrison E. Salisbury is an unusually talented writer. It is worth noting here that I said 'writer'. There are many talented historians... but few talented writers who set themselves to the worthy task of chronicling the epic events of the past. Salisbury, then, is an exception and a welcome exception. Where modern academics seem to treat interesting, artistic writing of history as the invention of Satan himself, Salisbury recognises that by giving history a touch of literary flair it becomes that much more alive, more dramatic, more interesting.
I've heard it often said in high praise of historical work by the casual reader that a given book `reads like a novel'. Unfortunately our esteemed modern intelligentsia largely overlooks the fact that this is considered praiseworthy in a historical work and thus we get myriad volumes of bland, text-book-like accounts of what are in reality dramatic, lively and fascinating events. I think it is fair to say of `Black Night, White Snow' that it reads like a novel.
I know any academics (which I suppose as a matter of technicality I rank amongst) reading this have probably concluded from the above (providing, of course, that they are not familiar with Salisbury's work or indeed this book itself) that this is then a second-rate work of history - a populist work with few academic merits. This is absolutely not the case. Salisbury's work on the history of Russia's three revolutions is marvellously researched, taking in a wide range of Russian and English sources as well as a variety of others. He uses many primary sources - such as the letters and diaries of Nicholas and Alexandra, first-hand accounts of Lenin -by individuals such as Nadezhda Krupskaya, his wife - as well as a variety of accounts by a whole range of people who lived through the events herein told of.
The centre of the narrative is the dual lives of Lenin and Nicholas (a format taken further in Salisbury's later dual biography of Mao and Deng, `The New Emperors' - also recommended reading). Both, as Salisbury points out in his Author's Note had little mastery of the situation and the events and Lenin not so much led the Revolution to its eventual conclusion in a total Red victory as he rode the wave of revolution to the highest pinnacle of power. He deliberately sets out to wade through the sea of myths surrounding the events of 1917 in order to find the truth and to portray things as they seemed to those who lived through them - drawing on extensive primary sources, as mentioned above. The book does well to portray Lenin's nerves and his frequent fits of depression as well as Nicholas' spectacular apathy and ignorance, as well as the ease with which the court personalities were able to manipulate him - especially his German wife and through her a certain Siberian `holy' man.
Despite Salisbury's liberal views he does not fall into the trap of whitewashing Lenin's evils - that is to say the Red Terror he unleashed - and does not even attempt to make them seem morally equivalent to the measures taken by the Tsarist government before its collapse. Indeed the final chapters of this book, taking place after the Red October coup d'état (as opposed to Revolution, one of the myths Salisbury dispenses with), almost make one think that this book could have been called `Black Night, Red Snow' in view of all the blood the Bolsheviks spilt as they became increasingly desperate to hold power.
Salisbury also does well to build the suspense of the book, even though most readers will be well aware how the story ends. Lines such as the following, placed at the end of a chapter, do well to make this an interesting read by building something of a sense of foreboding:

`November 1, 1905, Nicholas II had jotted into his diary this entry: "We've made the acquaintance of a man of God, Grigory from the Tobolsk Guberniya." Grigory, of course, was Rasputin.'

This book, it should also be noted, as considerable scope. It begins with a description of events from the halfway point of the 19th century, continuing through to the winter of 1919-20 in the final pages. This vast, 70-year narrative focuses, obviously, on the period of the reign of Nicholas II and the ensuing years of 1917-8. It gives due attention to the events of 1905-6, talking about the rise, and fall, of the Gapon Society and Bloody Sunday, as well as the original Soviet. The accounts of the escapades of Rasputin, the veritable dictator of Russia for about a decade, are colourful indeed.
Suffice to say this is a fascinating book, and exciting read and highly informative and well-researched. I recommend it to anyone interested in the events of this era - it is certainly amongst the best of the works dealing with this particular topic. I am personally of the opinion that this is even better than the much-acclaimed `The 900 Days: The Siege of Leningrad', if only because the events it deals with are that much more pivotal to the history of the world and that much more dramatic. Though Salisbury is little read these days it is not a fate deserved by such a talented writer and historian.

Harrison Salisbury, correspondent to the "Second World" of Russia during some of the most dramatic moments of its 20th Century history, occasional novelist and intellectual representative of a bygone (American) liberal elite, is now increasingly relegated to footnote status in most texts dealing with the time. Nonetheless, he had a first-rate mind, was "fair and balanced" in his reportage (meaning he neither knowingly lied about the social horrors of Communist regimes like Walter Duranty nor became an apologist for the West like many emigres from Arthur Koestler on down). He was a good reporter and a gentleman, in the old sense, who found himself, time and again, the only correspondent available to write about the bad conditions constantly emerging from even worse situations within the "Communist bloc" nations.

His magnum opus, it seems, is and will be THE 900 DAYS: The Siege of Leningrad. I recall being greatly impressed, as well, by THE COMING WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA, especially when the border war between Vietnam and China, in 1979, seemed to bring this nightmare scenario one step from realization.

BLACK NIGHT, WHITE SNOW is a valuable retrospective on the three Russian Revolutions, the one in 1905 and the two in 1917. The book's structure is generated by the juxtaposition of two lives, that of Czar Nicholas II and Vladimir Ulyanov, AKA "Lenin", whose character (or lack of it, in Nicholas' case) was to become so crucial for the lives of the subjects they would rule.

About Nicholas II, then and now, about the best thing you can say is that he was a tragic figure, and leave it at that. Salisbury's Nicholas displays the worst features of what I call "inherited wealth syndrome". Moving beyond entitlement into realms where it seems somehow unnatural to lift a finger to help yourself, he proved fatally susceptible to the worst kind of sycophancy, and compounded this error by an almost psychopathic denial of reality, sacking all of his underlings who dared tell him the truth about the rot at work in the foundations of Russian society.

When Stolypin, (the Russian Premier after 1905 and, according to Solzhenitsyn, the last man who might have averted the catastrophe of Boshevism), was assassinated, in the presence of Nicholas II, the Czar didn't even go to his funeral. Little things like that say alot.

Where reform and positive action seemed too much for the Czar to contemplate, mysticism took over, resulting in the elevation of the demonic Rasputin to de facto control of the country. When Rasputin, in 1916, in his turn was killed, the Czar and Czarina Alexandra treated it as the ultimate national tragedy, and blamed all the horrors that happened afterwards on the inability of the aristocracy to tolerate the "holy man."

Salisbury's treatment of Nicholas II is eye-opening, but his Lenin is a revelation, particularly for those who think that the evils of the Soviet system began and ended with Stalin. Lenin is generally seen, even now, as basically a bourgeois intellectual derailed from following a university or magnate path by the execution of his elder brother, Alexander Ulyanov, when the latter was implicated in a plot upon the life of Czar Alexander III. From then on, Vladimir was bound to be a revolutionary - but one who would not make the sentimental mistakes about people that had led to his older brother's death.

So - working against the government, Vladimir was exiled, ending up out of touch and frustrated in various foreign countries, until the final explosion of 1917 brought all non-resident chickens home to roost.

But Salisbury deftly, if sketchily, depicts the adult Lenin as a functioning manic-depressive, capable of instances of Hitlerian assertion of willpower, followed by (transitory) sieges of "nervous collapse", black moods devoid of energy and meaning, when it seemed he'd given up on himself and everybody around him, and would withdraw into the nearest tolerable natural setting to recoup his energies.

Everybody has faults, of course, but Lenin's rollercoaster fanaticism is the kind of defect that should disallow one from public service. And it was this mental attitude, chockful of the meanest kind of spite and petty vindictiveness, which set Bolshevism on the course it would take, into Stalin's hands.

Such insight into the progenitor of "Leninism" is one of many things that make BLACK NIGHT, WHITE SNOW stand out, at least in comparison with more "textbook"-like tomes as Robert Goldston's RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, or even Solzhenitsyn's imaginative "biographical novel" LENIN IN ZURICH.

Another aspect of those times that is ably recaptured by Salisbury is the sheer chaos, the anarchy of "the dark people" (ie., the Russian masses), which propelled the Revolution into an arena where a dedicated madman like Lenin could take control.

But one could go on and on about this book. Judging by the absence of reviews, either editorial or customer - not to mention its current unavailability by this bookstore and others - it seems not to be read that much anymore. There are other things one should read first, of course, when it comes to literary work about the Soviet Union. Solzhenitsyn springs to mind, Rybakov and others. It was after all, one thing to write ABOUT Hell on Earth, and another thing to write about it after living through it: the second P.O.V. definitely has higher moral standing, however decent a human being the "writer from outside" may be.

If there were just time enough, both Salisbury and the "more authentic" Soviet-era dissidents would be read. Make time to read this book.

I agree with the last reviewer - this model is great. I bought the NIV with KJV add-in module so I can switch easily between the 2 versions. The large type setting is easy on "elderly" eyes - the screen is small but you only have to hit the spacebar to go to the next screen-full. With the Franklin Electronic Bible you can find passages or specific phrases quickly, so it is a fantastic help with everything from witnessing to Bible crossword puzzles. And it fits in most shirt pockets or hip pockets. A little pricey, perhaps, but worth it. Thanks to Him.

I just wish I had this when I was young. I have been a bible student my whole life. But now that I am over the hill, I have such a hard time rememebering where my favorite verses are--now in a second or two I can find where they are in the Bible. In the Search area, you can enter or Bible verse or a word search. The word search will list all texts that have that particular word in them. Narrow the search by listing more words. Another plus is the text size. There are three sizes to chose from. If you have a hard time seeing, the large size is very helpful. I don't recommend the bible for just reading. It is mainly for studying. (well, it is also great for taking with you because it is so small.) Another big plus is the slot for another cartridge. I haven't use it yet but am sure that it will be a lot of fun. I would like to get the NIV version so that I can campare the two translations. If you get one of these bibles, everyone will want it--so make sure you keep good track of it. Or better yet buy two. You'll love it.

It is refreshing to find a resource like Bouncing Back in a school's library collection because I am an educator who is in constant contact with large numbers of young adolescents. Ideally, veteran teachers may see Jones' work as an additional opportunity to get their students to use a resiliency strategy--- reading to learn about ways to resolve problems and meet the challenges they face. Primarily, her work offers a concise, easy-to-read set of strategies for teens, and our students, to identify and sharpen their own skills to learn to cope with the daily ups and downs of life. Therefore, it may be an invaluable resource for middle school and high school teachers who are beginning their careers in classrooms.

Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is that Jones writes from the perspective of the young adolescent. Ironically, many of us in the adult world might wonder why 14-year-old Meredith would be stressed about being in a wedding or why 17-year-old Greg is lonely because he is an only child and his parents "work crazy hours" because they own a restaurant. Nevertheless, these teens may appear traumatized partially because their brains have not completed psychological and physiological developement. Often, adults ridicule them and do not realize that such negative reaction only increases the teen's anxiety. Teens, as well as educators who work with them, will find that Jones keeps it simple for a reason. Many teens fail to identify their strengths and build on them. The strategies for becoming resilient incorporate skills teens can develop and continue to improve and master if they wish to have fulfilling lives. In essence, they require a conscious and active commitment to life-long learning.

Critics may find fault with the reading level or the manner in which Jones summarized the research that provides the foundation of this book. While Bouncing Back is research based, it embraces adolescent readers at various levels by NOT overwhelming them. In addition, it is apparent that Jones' motivation is to reach adolescents who are functioning, but recognize the there is room for improvement.

As a professional who works with troubled kids, I am concerned by the simplicity of the review in the School Library Journal. The reviewer does an excellent job identifying the strengths of the book. Where she misses the point is in her statement re: the books therapeutic potential for troubled kids. No book should be seen as a "cure" for troubled students. This book's strengths lie not only in its usefulness for 'mildly' troubled teens, as acknowledged by the reviewer. They lie in its usefulness as a tool both for teachers and other school personnel to reach out to those teens that may need support and referral for additional help; and for therapists as a framework of strategies to offer teens to guide their participation and work in therapy. Most notably the book educates teens, guides their reflection, and offers strategies for strengthening themselves. The book will help teens identify and address stressors; as well as build their capacity to overcome new challenges and stressors, including seeking and maintaining outside support. This book has multiple uses and should be part of any school or public library.

This was my favorite book as a child. It's a charming story about a boy who is virtually ignored by his wealthy parents. The ending is a lovely surprise.

This is a wonderful book for reading aloud. It's short and sweet and very clever. My almost three-year-old loves it, as do his older friends. Five year olds think it's really funny, and like to talk about the pictures. The illustrations are half the fun; I notice something new each time.
One of our favorites!

A captivating story of love for a white woman and a Cheyenne man in the territorial West made difficult by the hardships and prejudices imposed by the Army and the hardships of attempting to live as settlers in the West. This is not just a story for women, but a story that a man would enjoy.

The Bride Price is an amazing story, written with a depth and understanding of the human heart that surpasses the abilities of so many writers. Barclay puts her characters in your lap.I still think about 'Shine and Sarah . . .I think I always will.

This is wonderfully informative and well written book! It takes the reader on a fascinating journey of the mysterious House of David, and allows you to take an exciting ride into the lives of a rare and wonderful group of individuals that very well may have accomplished more than any small group in America. The book is on display at the House of David Museum and is used as a reference guide for those that stop in for a visit or to learn more about this fabulous religious colony. Mr. Adkin lived in the area of the House of David, and had the fortune of becoming familiar with many of those that still survived at the House of David Grounds in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The book is the best to date in regards to telling the complete, unbiased story of this great piece of American history!

This history of the House of David is objective, informative, and very well documented. The author conducted interviews with members, ex-members, and people who were in one way or another had interactions with the group and has many first hand stories included in the book. I enjoyed reading about all the things the group was involved in, made, invented, and the impact they had on the surrounding area and America as a whole.

The pictures included in the book enhance the text by giving faces to associate with some of the people involved in the group.

A fascenating history of one prophet, two cities, and the many good people who lived the religion. Well done, Mr. Adkin!

This book is a fabulous and transformative addition to the literature on the New Deal, which will incite all its readers to reevaluate a host of truisms. It has implications today as well for the potentially pervasive effects of the current administration's retrenchment from the New Deal.

I found this book an engaging, important work that makes an important historiographical argument about the role of public works in creating the modern American middle class and making it possible for the United States to emerge as the superpower that it became after World War II. For more than thirty years there has been an assault on the history and policy of liberal ideology in the United States. In the process, many have reappraised and castigated the New Deal and Great Society programs as failures of American politics. The author of this important study offers a strikingly different, and constructive, perspective on the New Deal. By undertaking a close investigation of the place of New Deal programs in the development of modern America--using a remarkable range of sources--the author demonstrates how state-sponsored social and economic policies prompted a positive transformation of the United States.

I've had this book on my shelf for 18 years, ever since I first decided to learn C programming back in 1990. I've looked over several other texts on C since then, and they either read more like a reference than a text, or they are at such a low level that you barely get any instruction on the hard parts of C, which are details on structures and pointers. This book has it all, and has it in detail. Also, it starts from the beginning, showing you the easy parts of the C programming language. It spends six chapters on the basics of the C language, including functions, before it gets into meatier topics. The book is full of well-commented sample code and there are exercises at the end of each chapter. Kernighan & Richie may be the definitive book on the C language, but learning C from that book is like learning English from a dictionary. I wouldn't advise it. For less than a dollar plus shipping get this old book used and learn the C language inside and out from the beginning. The following is the table of contents:
1. Introduction, Program Design, and Problem Solving
2. A Working Overview of the C Language and Functions
3. Constants and Variables
4. Operators and Expressions
5. Looping and Flow Control
6. Functions
7. Standard Character Input and Output
8. Scope, Storage Duration, and Storage Classes
9. Arrays
10. Pointers
11. Structures
12. Disk File and Record I/O
13. The Preprocessor
Appendix A - Using the Turbo C Compiler
Appendix B - Using the Quick C Compiler
Appendix C - Trigraphs
Appendix D - Standard Headers
Appendix E - ASCII/EBCDIC Character Codes
Appendix F - MS/PC-DOS OS Specifics
Appendix G - Unix OOS Specifics

This book is concise and well-written. It provides clear, and useful (real-world) examples. I now use this book as a reference, but used it as a beginning C programmer.