Richards Books

Awesome! Very thorough and easy to understand.

I am a legal assistant and I use this book constantly! It gives you great strategies to work more efficiently while getting better results. I had no idea how many legal resources there are online! This book tells you which sites are the most reliable and easy to use. It also demystifies annotated legal codes, case digests, state reports and many other research tools. But most importantly it is extremeley well organized and easy to use. I wish that I had discovered this book when I was a student!

Legal information can seem confusing to the common person which is why this book was written. You need to understand how to find laws, regulations and court cases (if you are representing yourself in court). This is great even if you d not go to court because it makes you a smarter more diverse individual.

This book gives you a straight forward resource on how to find the laws and regulations, how to read the citations, and how to use the law library. It is good for lawyers, judges, paralegals or the layman. It is packed with tons of useful information.

I recommend it to everyone who has to decide if things are legal or not.

Footnote: Nolo press is the best company that produces law books for the common person. They are always easy to read and pact with good advice.


Enjoy

This is an excellent and necessary legal research book for all paralegals,law students and legal researchers.
The hypotheticals and research questions with detailed answers alone make it a must have volume. The authors skillfully guide the student through the legal research process with these problems and answers.This is the most valuable legal research book in my personal library. Highly recommended.

I find this book to be a great resource for non-lawyers. As adjunct faculty at a community college, I use it to supplement the course text for my Legal Research & Writing Course for Paralegals. Well worth the purchase, and a great value!

I would not have survived my recent journey into the world of Homer's Iliad without this lexicon. With its inclusion of irregular forms and its detailed listing of examples of usage, it is my best friend in my Homeric studies and I consider it one of my best investments. Thank you, Richard John Cunliffe. You are a hero among Classicists.

I agree with every bit of the praise from other reviewers, but the criticism from one reviewer about the poor binding is valid in my experience.

I once owned the hardback version which had sewn signatures. It never wore out, but I lost it during a move. I now have the paperback, which is glued, and the pages are coming out after about 2 months' of moderate usage. Others' experience may vary depending upon how the glue sets in their particular copy, but it should be noted that this book is not bound the way a reference book should be. Buyers should limber up the spine by running their fingers down the fold in several parts of the book, but even that is no guarantee (it didn't work for me).

For all that, it beats Autenrieth even for beginners because the ability to match passages to specific definitions is decisive. This is particularly useful when you encounter what appears to be an odd use of a common word. You can simple scan the entry to find the line reference. If we are going to have a contest of praise, let me submit that as the book's best feature.

This one is good for when you're studying a particular passage closely. It also functions as a concordance! It's a bit slower to use than Autenrieth, et al., but much more authoritative and thorough.

This dictionary is a godsend for anyone who wants to have more than a passing acquaintance with the poetry of Homer. Two things make it an indispensable aid in reading Homer.

First, it gives an exhaustive listing of the various meanings and nuances of meaning that any given word has in different passages of the Iliad and Odyssey. Since there are many words, particularly verbs, that vary in meaning from context to context, the dictionary helps one gain a more 'global' understanding of Homer's words.

The second area in which it proves inidspensable is in helping the reader idenitfy obscure forms of verbs. All too often one comes across a verb in the perfect tense that looks like it could be derived from any number of different verbs. Fortunately, instead of rifling through the dictionary, bouncing from verb to verb to find the one that is being used, Cunliffe does the reader the favor of listing virtually all forms whose
1st first person present could prove difficult to identify and refers the reader to the appropriate verb.

All in all an essential reference tool in the Homerophile's library.

This is quite simply the best lexicon for use while reading Homeric (or Hesiodic, generally) Greek. The text is designed specifically with The Iliad and Odyssey in mind; each word is given, followed by information on _where_ in the Homeric corpus those words appear, allowing for line-specific correlations.

The book also has outstanding morphological information on the words themselves, and a small appendix featuring Homeric conditionals.

This book is *far* superior to Autenrieth, and is more useful than the various editions of the L-S-J in that the words are keyed specifically to Homeric usage, and there are no non-Homeric forms to add extra clutter.

Outstanding.

Longevity Made Simple by Richard Flanigan M.D. and Kate Flanigan Sawyer MD, MPH, has a subtitle, `How to Add 20 Good Years to Your Life.' This book is not a diet book or is it an exercise book. It is longevity book that explains in simple language what science tells us about living long, healthy lives.

The book consists of eleven chapters plus an appendix with simple recipes. Some topics covered in the book are how long should we live? Eighty-five if we are in good health. The top 10 causes of death in the U.S. Did you know the 10th leading cause of death is Septicemia? Find out what that is in Chapter 2.

Also included is a personal risk profile. It explains what is good and bad cholesterol. Along with BMI charts, a good predictor of health risk is your abdomen size, that's your waist size. It also states the limits for men and women.

Which is better, to be Fit and Fat or Sedentary and Lean? The Cooper Institute, using data from the Aerobics Center Longitude Study answers that question. The minimum amount of exercise is listed and some cautions on over-exercising.

Health foods are also covered. There is a list of Super foods that help to reduce oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, improve the elasticity of the arteries, and improve blood pressure. Heard of plant Stanols and Sterols? These lower serum cholesterol naturally.

Tea or coffee, which is healthier? Seems like both are. Tea contains antioxidants and coffee is associated with a lower risk of diabetes. Also explained are vitamin supplements and some common medications like statins for cholesterol and different type of high blood pressure medicines. A whole chapter is devoted to common health tests, such as EKG, ultrasounds for heart and arteries, and cancer screening tests to name a few.

Rounding out the book is 10 health tips that are practical and do-able. Several of the suggestions I have already started on, such as eating several veggie meals a week and changing my exercise routine.

With charts, graphs, and lists and concise explanations, the Flanigans have made the medical science easy to understand. They write with just enough science to provide meaning and with common language to make it understandable. The amount of data inside makes this a very good quick reference book to have on hand.

Common sense, practical advice about your health. Readable, understandable, and useful. Explains cholesterol numbers, blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and how these issues affect your health and ultimately longevity. I'm giving the book to people I care about.

This book is wonderful! It is quick and easy to read. All of the information is well organized and to the point, which makes it a valuable reference tool. Many other books are way too long, repetitive, and use language that is difficult to understand if you don't have a degree in medecine.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn how to live a healthier life!

By George Fulmore

In retirement, there would seem to be a link between our health and our longevity. The healthier we are, the longer we probably will live. The trick, of course, is 1) trying to figure out the best advice for our individual situation, and 2) trying to follow that advice, while still enjoying ourselves in retirement.

"Longevity Made Simple," by Flanigan and Swayer, (2007, Williams Clark Publishing), I found to be a book that gives a good, up-to-date overview on how to live as healthy and as long as we can.

The thesis of the book is that we are genetically capable of living to about 85 years of age, but that the choices we make in what we eat and how we take care of ourselves can add or subtract years, even decades, from that age.

The basis advice involves:
1) Lower cholesterol
2) Lower Blood Pressure
3) Avoid Tobacco
4) Eat a diet rich in fish, fruit and vegetables
5) Get exercise
6) Maintain a healthy weight
7) Prevent accidents
8) Drink alcohol (daily in small amounts)
9) Take aspirin
10) Take a multivitamin

Heart disease, cancer and strokes are the cause of nearly 60 percent of Americans deaths. By keeping our cholesterol level below 182 mg/dL, our blood pressure under 120 mmHg, and not smoking or having diabetes, we can greatly reduce our risk of heart disease or stroke. Not smoking, of course, significantly reduces the risk of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer for both men and women in the United States, according to the book. For other types of cancer, early detection dramatically increases the likelihood of survival.

The authors also suggest that other tests be done on a regular basis, including Cholesterol (lipid) panel, Advanced lipid testing, Coronary Artery Calcium Testing, Blood tests for the presence of inflammation, Electrocardiograms and Treadmill Stress tests. They say that coffee, with its "high level of antioxidants," is actually quite healthy to drink in moderation. And they site the recent study that found that exercise and fitness are more important than body weight, plus they note that there is no longer evidence that a type-A personality is directly linked with a higher risk of heart attack.

There is much more than in the book, which, again, I think gives a good, high-level overview of improving ones health and longevity in retirement. I recommend it.

Reading this book gives one the feeling your doctor is sharing everything they can with you...in one visit.

Unfortunately, only later in our life do we tend to get more serious about our health. Even later is never too late, and you can make a difference and you can educate the young now. Absorb it.

Through extensive scientific research, professional experience, the authors, both doctors, have teamed up for a thorough user-friendly book targeting longevity, providing YOU with the choices for a longer better life. And what's more, everything is explained in layman's term. Layout is designed with gray-shaded sidebars to quickly view and digest those very important topics. Lightweight and easy to carry, this is a great book to refer to during those quiet moments.

Understanding the Threats
You will get clear facts on the 10 threats to your health and its risk factors, from the number one killer, heart disease to the number 10, Septicemia. Do you know what septicemia is??

Then, you can assess your own profile. And here, completely understand those HDL LDL cholesterol levels and triglicerydes which you have never understood before.

Happiness...is it in you?
I especially like chapter on your mental health, a critical factor in our lives.

Exercise - "the real fountain of youth"
Don't try to live without it! I cannot stress how much in this book refers to the importance of exercise and how favorable it is to ward off many aspects of diseases.

Facts on Diets of long-lived people, Excellent Food Choices and Menus
Included is fact-based info on diets of various cultures, you are given a simple list of superfoods, learn about fish, nuts, and bad foods. Several menus are included.

Another chapter deals with our medications and/or supplements. Learn what statins are, and the dos and don'ts of your vitamins, etc. Great information!

As I mentioned, make this handy well researched and referenced book your bible for a long healthy life. Carry it with you. Give it as a gift!!

The Italians Newby depicts in this memoir (and also in his "A Small Place in Italy") are often funny, but never buffoonish. Newby's warm admiration for country folk is always evident, as in this passage where a retired stonemason helps remove an enormous boulder from the hideout the locals are making for him:

"He went over it with his hands, very slowly, almost lovingly. It must have weighed half a ton. Then, when he had finished caressing it, he called for a sledgehammer and hit it deliberately but not particularly hard and it broke into two almost equal halves. It was like magic and I would not have been surprised if a toad had emerged from it and turned into a princess who had been asleep for a million years."

Readers familiar with Newby's travel writing will find all his strengths here: his eye for detail, his warmth of character, his humor (mostly self-deprecating). They will also find a love story -- one made all the more poignant by Newby's craftsmanlike selection of few but telling scenes.

During World War II, the rural citizens of northern Italy vowed to assist Allied soldiers on the run in their mountainous region. They were operating on an informed heart, on the Golden Rule, wanting to give aid to those who opposed the hated Fascists and Nazis as they would hope someone would help their own sons. And while the Allies were protected by the Geneva Convention should they be captured, the citizens were not and they were subject to less humane punishment, sometimes torture and death, if their actions were found out. But they did it anyway. It is these people, who otherwise lived a pastoral, ancient way of life, whom travel writer extraordinaire Eric Newby profiles in his memoir, LOVE AND WAR IN THE APENNINES.

Those familiar with Newby's other books will find his signature wit, self-deprecating humor and descriptive powers at work here, but his curiosity and appreciation of other people and cultures is in highest gear. He comes to meet the peasantry of northern Italy after fleeing a prison during the chaos following the ouster of Mussolini in September 1943. He is helped by a succession of individuals and families, including the woman who would become his wife and companion in later adventures, the estimable Wanda. The book ends with his unfortunate recapture by the Germans and in an epilogue he revisits the people who took him in ten years after.

Newby is a hugely gifted writer, his sentences are knowing and clear as a bell. He orders information rhythmically, always knows when less is more and more is more. He never bows to sentimentality, never sells anyone out. He does a remarkable job of expressing the fear and dispiritedness that politics and war heave on a people, at the same time revealing their resilience. There is much to admire in this book.

Eric Newby knows how to tell a story. This is one of the few books that I started over again immediately after finishing it the first time. The insight into the minds of these extraordinary Italian farmers who hid prisoners of war without thought to their own lives and safety is one of the great adventure reads to come out of World War II. Having passed through this countryside so many times traveling between Milan and Florence, I know first hand how rugged it is. Just to get through these mountains by train is an adventure, as there are dozens of tunnels to pass through after one leaves Bologna. Newby brings the setting to life for the reader, and we walk in his footsteps as he falls upon adverture after another. There is almost an unreal quality to this story, expecially his meeting the wonderful mountain men who live in the most remote parts of these mountains. If you want a really good read, grab a copy of this book. You will not be disappointed.

The Italians Newby depicts in this memoir (and also in his "A Small Place in Italy") are often funny, but never buffoonish. Newby's warm admiration for country folk is always evident, as in this passage where a retired stonemason helps remove an enormous boulder from the hideout the locals are making for him:

"He went over it with his hands, very slowly, almost lovingly. It must have weighed half a ton. Then, when he had finished caressing it, he called for a sledgehammer and hit it deliberately but not particularly hard and it broke into two almost equal halves. It was like magic and I would not have been surprised if a toad had emerged from it and turned into a princess who had been asleep for a million years."

Readers familiar with Newby's travel writing will find all his strengths here: his eye for detail, his warmth of character, his humor (mostly self-deprecating). They will also find a love story -- one made all the more poignant by Newby's craftsmanlike selection of few but telling scenes.

Newby's writing can be rather dry, but in this recounting of his escape from the Germans in WWII Italy, he strikes a fine balance between mawkish sentimentalism and tough-guy posturing. An engrossing narration about the extraordinary measures ordinary people can and will resort to, to stay alive and to do what they think is right. Encouraging, inspiring, and highly recommended.

This book is very fun and imformative. It gives us information, but in a fun way...I recomend this book to anyone under the age of 13, and who enjoys history...if you get this book in school, dont be scared it is fun!

I love the writing in this series, it's such a pleasure to read, I wonder why are so many other textbooks so boring?

I'd love to give it five stars, except that there are recurring themes I find grating - some of her "fan club for the US government" stuff is just in totally inappropriate places. For instance, "American slavery was a horror. We should never pretend it was anything else. But the American system of government lets us correct mistakes. When you study history you see we usually do. Of that we can be proud." Gag me with a spoon, slavery was not abolished until more than 240 years after the first slave was delivered in 1619! Hakim does such a great job of fairly telling the story, why ruin it?

Another place I found disappointing was the perpetuation of the myth that the first settlers at Plymouth were called "Pilgrims" and that the Europeans started Thanksgiving. She has a box on Thanksgiving saying the story of the first Thanksgiving is a "real turkey", lists some other European Thanksgiving celebrations, and then neglects to mention that the Indians had been conducting Thanksgiving celebrations at harvest time for generations. I'd love to see someone do such a great job TELLING the story, who could also not perpetuate those irritating little false stories that schoolchildren are always taught.

Gosh, this doesn't sound like the positive review I inteded, but I see others have already told the good stuff. It's wonderfully well written!

I just borrowed this book from the library and now plan to buy the whole set. As a home schooling parent, I am always struggling to find quality materials and this series is just that. Hakim's books are easy to read and comprehend. Most importantly, they give a realistic view of history, not the politically correct one so often taught.

As I teach my children U.S. history, I want them to know that, yes, the white people were sometimes violent and unfair to the Native Americans, but some Native Americans were that way too. Before the Europeans came, they kidnapped and killed each other. I want my kids to know the whole truth and these books are very fair. No matter what the race, some people are good and some are not.

I highly recommend these books for teaching history to children and even adults.

"Making Thirteen Colonies: 1600-1740" is the second volume in Joy Hakim's "A History of US." The first volume covered how the first Americans crossed over from Asia to become Indians and the first Europeans, mainly the Spanish but also the French and English, began settling the New World. This volume focuses on the narrow string of settlements established by the English that became the thirteen colonies whose people began moving westward and who also started to question the relationship they had with England (there is a small amount of overlap between this and the next volume, which covers period of American history from 1735-1791).

Hakim begins with a preface that looks at the vast mixture of ideas that were brought over from the Mediterranean world and took root in the Americas. Along with the first chapter, which talks about the comet that appeared in 1607 as a portent of great changes for the world, this preface sets up several key themes that will be revisited throughout this and future volumes. "Making Thirteen Colonies" has 42 chapters and it the book is divided into five main sections. The first (chapters 2-12) tells how English settlers came to stay by establishing the first permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia. The second (chapters 13-23) looks primarily at the Puritans arriving in New England, although Hakim also touches on what was happening between the Indians and the Spanish in the southwest. The third section (chapters 24-30) tells about the mid-Atlantic colonies, most notably New Amsterdam/York and Pennsylvania. The fourth section (chapter 31-39) returns to the South, looking at not only Ole Virginny but also the two Carolinas and Georgia. This unit also looks at the Triangle Trade and other considerations that united the four southern and nine northern colonies. The final section (chapters 40-42) is a transitional unit, that looks at how the colonists began to move westward and the stage was set for the period of history that would make those thirteen colonies into a new nation.

One of the great advantages to writing a ten-volume history of the United States is that unlike most standard American history textbooks "A History of US" is able to clearly establish the unique identities of each of those original thirteen colonies. I recently finished reading an excellent series of books, each of which was devoted to an individual colony, and Hakim ends up being closer to those volumes than she does the standard textbook. Consequently, in addition to the traditional stories about Pocahontas and John Smith in Jamestown, William Penn and the Quakers of Pennsylvania, the Salem witch trials, Ben Franklin as the quintessential American, and Daniel Boone finding routes through the mountains, Hakim establishes an individual identity for each colony.

However, the main strength of this series is how Hakim engages young readers, the same way you would expect a "real" teacher to do in a "real" classroom. This shows up primarily in her ability to anticipate and answer questions that students might have (e.g., why the Indians were not enslaved). I can easily see why this series is popular with parents who are home schooling their children. The book is richly illustrated with dozens and dozens of historic paintings, etchings, drawings, maps, engravings, and assorted reproductions. The margins are crammed with interesting facts, definitions, and quotations, and features on topics such as Land Green and Africa: The Unknown Continent are sprinkled throughout the book. The After Words this time around are devoted to cartography and has some superb examples of 16h- and 17th-century maps. It is easily to see why this series has impressed so many people and why Hakim is able to get such good responses from young students who are used to getting their information from computers and the Internet.

"Making Thirteen Colonies: 1600-1740" is the second volume in Joy Hakim's "A History of US." The first volume covered how the first Americans crossed over from Asia to become Indians and the first Europeans, mainly the Spanish but also the French and English, began settling the New World. This volume focuses on the narrow string of settlements established by the English that became the thirteen colonies whose people began moving westward and who also started to question the relationship they had with England (there is a small amount of overlap between this and the next volume, which covers period of American history from 1735-1791).

Hakim begins with a preface that looks at the vast mixture of ideas that were brought over from the Mediterranean world and took root in the Americas. Along with the first chapter, which talks about the comet that appeared in 1607 as a portent of great changes for the world, this preface sets up several key themes that will be revisited throughout this and future volumes. "Making Thirteen Colonies" has 42 chapters and it the book is divided into five main sections. The first (chapters 2-12) tells how English settlers came to stay by establishing the first permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia. The second (chapters 13-23) looks primarily at the Puritans arriving in New England, although Hakim also touches on what was happening between the Indians and the Spanish in the southwest. The third section (chapters 24-30) tells about the mid-Atlantic colonies, most notably New Amsterdam/York and Pennsylvania. The fourth section (chapter 31-39) returns to the South, looking at not only Ole Virginny but also the two Carolinas and Georgia. This unit also looks at the Triangle Trade and other considerations that united the four southern and nine northern colonies. The final section (chapters 40-42) is a transitional unit, that looks at how the colonists began to move westward and the stage was set for the period of history that would make those thirteen colonies into a new nation.

One of the great advantages to writing a ten-volume history of the United States is that unlike most standard American history textbooks "A History of US" is able to clearly establish the unique identities of each of those original thirteen colonies. I recently finished reading an excellent series of books, each of which was devoted to an individual colony, and Hakim ends up being closer to those volumes than she does the standard textbook. Consequently, in addition to the traditional stories about Pocahontas and John Smith in Jamestown, William Penn and the Quakers of Pennsylvania, the Salem witch trials, Ben Franklin as the quintessential American, and Daniel Boone finding routes through the mountains, Hakim establishes an individual identity for each colony.

However, the main strength of this series is how Hakim engages young readers, the same way you would expect a "real" teacher to do in a "real" classroom. This shows up primarily in her ability to anticipate and answer questions that students might have (e.g., why the Indians were not enslaved). I can easily see why this series is popular with parents who are home schooling their children. The book is richly illustrated with dozens and dozens of historic paintings, etchings, drawings, maps, engravings, and assorted reproductions. The margins are crammed with interesting facts, definitions, and quotations, and features on topics such as Land Green and Africa: The Unknown Continent are sprinkled throughout the book. The After Words this time around are devoted to cartography and has some superb examples of 16th- and 17th-century maps. It is easily to see why this series has impressed so many people and why Hakim is able to get such good responses from young students who are used to getting their information from computers and the Internet.

I enjoyed the cross section pictures and thought that the text was interesting. There is lots of fine detail, I see something different everytime I flip through it. Be sure to watch the movie "Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World". The movie director did an excellent job portraying life aboard the Man-of-War. In my opinion, the movie is the book put in motion. The movie and book captures what life could have been like aboard the Man-of-War.

This is a great book for getting an overview of the pieces of a first-rate ship of the line. In this case, the British first-rate, triple-(gun)-decker, 104 gun HMS Victory. The Victory was launched in 1765 and commissioned in 1778, but is best known as Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship in the victorious Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 (in which Nelson was killed by an enemy sharpshooter while standing on the quarterdeck).

The amount of detail packed into this book's 25 or so very large pages is mind-boggling. In fact, the book's so large that you may have trouble finding a place to shelve it. Although it took less than an hour to read all the text, I'm still finding new things in the pictures. It provides a great sense of just how crowded these ships were. The illustrations are in the very clear line-and-watercolor style of the rest of Biesty's "cross-section" books.

There is a lot of information on day-to-day life and practice in a ship, detailing foodstuffs (including weevils and bargemen), officer's roles, disease, the working of the guns, the cooking of food in the galley, the use of the heads, floggings, scurvy, etc.

Oddly, the book only concentrates on illustrating the decks; there is almost nothing said about the sails or rigging, which is a real disappointment. I found it very hard to get a sense of the fore-to-aft arrangement, with each cross-section being so narrow.

I wish I had found this book before reading about a dozen series of nautical fiction (Aubrey, Hornblower, Ramage, Kydd, Lewrie, etc. etc.). After all that background, I actually didn't learn anything reading this book I didn't know from reading the fiction and other supporting materials. For depth, you'll need "The Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor" written by Darcy Lever in the early 1800s, and comprehensive on everything from rigging to stepping masts to club-hauling off a lee shore. And its images are both beautiful and a complete contrast to the ones in this book, being early 19th century etchings.

Though some of the photos are a bit funny and maybe a little "crud", but it's a neat book anyway.

Also try another DK ship book called the Visual Dictionary of Ships if you can find it (it's out of print).

Dorling Kindersley has in the past twenty years quickly established itself as an outstanding publisher of niche books--children's reference books, travel guides, atlases, and the such. What I find so remarkable about a number of their children's books is how enormously satisfying they are for adults as well, even adults who are fairly familiar with the subject matter. One of the better series of books in their impressive list are the Cross-Sections books by Stephen Biesty. As someone who is interested both in the history of ships and the Aubrey-Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian, I find this one even more interesting than most.

Two things stand out about this book: its remarkably detailed drawings and the enormous amount of information that gets stuffed into the book's relatively short length. This book provides a pictorial rendering of one of the great ships of the line of the Napoleonic navy, similar to H.M.S. Victory. Virtually nothing gets left out, and the book can actually serve as a surprisingly comprehensive introduction to the Royal British Navy during the time of Nelson and Napoleon. It is somewhat misleading in that the ship depicted was the exception and not the norm, the British navy possessing only a handful of ships this size. Apart from that the book has no serious flaws, except for the unaffordable one in a visual guide that it is sometimes hard to locate information in its closely packed pages.

I would also recommend another Dorling Kindersley book, also unfortunately out of print, THE VISUAL DICTIONARY OF SHIPS AND SAILING. It does a bit better job than this one of defining many nautical terms. Each represents a marvelous addition to personal library of books on the age of the sailing ship.

you should definitely try to get this book. I am a landlubber, who has just discovered the pleasures of Hornblower and Aubrey/Maturin (via Austen's Persuasion). Along with a number of more serious naval non-fiction reference works, notably THE WOODEN WORLD by N.A.M. Rodger (ISBN 0393314693; ASIN 0393314693)I found a copy of this wonderful book first at my public library and then in a sale at my local store.

This is an oversized book, thin but full of detailed information. A man-of-war, one of the mainstays of the Georgian fleet during the wars of the 1700s and early 1800s, is "cut away" section by section and deck by deck to illustrate life on board as well as the structure of the ship. The first works better than the latter, although I got a very good idea of how the ship's anchor works as well as how the ship crew handled guns and gunpowder (as well as the dangers of a loose gun). I wished that the authors had provided a bird-eye view of the ship from the top of the masts, and showed sailors working the sails. Apart from this and other minor quibbles, I think I learned more from this book faster than I had expected.

Yes, this is a children's book, but it is highly recommended by sites specializing in naval fiction of the Georgian and Regency era (think Napoleonic Wars, Revolutionary Wars, as well as sites devoted to O'Brian and Forester). Children will be delighted by various grosser aspects of life abroad (the very basic toilet and bathing facilities, the surgeon in action during battle, and of course the maggot-filled biscuits), not to mention trying to find a certain stowaway. Adults will revel in little details that explain things that have puzzled them.

I started out not knowing port from starboard, and very little else. By the end of this book, while I cannot claim to be proficient, I certainly understand that a ship has three masts in several sections, that it has several decks, and that life at sea was more complicated than is sometimes depicted in fiction.

You might also want to try "The Visual Dictionary of Ships and Sailing" (ISBN 1879431203; ASIN 1879431203) which apparently discusses different types of ships, the sails and ropes, and so forth. I have not seen this book yet, but it looks interesting.

This little book packs a big punch. I start off every morning with this book. I believe it makes a me a little wiser everyday. It really makes you think about a lot of things we usually do not think about. Buy this book. It is a small price to pay for a lot of wisdom.

This is a wonderful book which I purchased as a gift. People enjoy these powerful daily reflections that are thought provoking and inspiring. They point to the awesomeness of God and use short proverbs from around the world that undergird the author's point. Each also contains a prescription for improving our daily lives. Not the usual how-to book.

An extemely stimulaing, insightful book that is in an easy-to-read format. Its call for balance and simplicity in life in this hectic, 21st century world is pertinent and practical. Written by a medical doctor, it includes a daily prescription for applicaion of truth.

This is one of those books that you won't want to put down. Dr. Swenson challenges you to think deeply about the true issues of life. And, after reflecting on what really matters in life, you will be left with no better alternative than to slow down and enjoy life and your loved ones. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is "too busy." It is a simple read and is broken down into two-page reflections, which take (surprisingly!) about a minute to read. Enjoy.

Outstanding book. Short but profound daily thoughts that help keep life and priorities on track. Outstanding gift to business colleagues, family and friends.

I read the reviews then bought Mr. Modem's book. Paul Harvey was right. This IS the book that takes the gobbledygook out of computers. I'm 72 years old. This book was fun, easy-to-read, and helped me greatly. I would recommend it to anybody. Thank you, Mr. Modem. Please write more books.

Mr. Modem's book is filled with wonderful information for surfers of all ages! It's a terrific resource and so much fun to read. I couldn't believe I found myself laughing outloud while reading a computer book.

When my dad got his new computer a couple of months ago and wanted to start surfing the Internet, I let him borrow my copy and now I can't get it back from him. He's learned so much and is now a real pro.

My personal favorite chapter is the one on web sites. This is by far the best collection of web site URL's I've ever come across. I also learned so much in the chapter on search engines which has really helped me find what I'm looking for on the web much quicker.

Thanks, Mr. Modem, for writing such an educational AND entertaining book!

If you or anyone you care about is reluctant or afraid to get connected to the Internet because it seems complicated and time-consuming or because you think you can't teach an old pup new tricks, you should get connected to "Mr. Modem's Internet Guide for Seniors" first. Clear, concise, and all-encompassing, this guide anticipates a learner's questions, allays technical fears, and proceeds in an orderly way to cover what it takes to get up and running on the Internet. Best of all, Mr. Modem keeps it simple, safe, satisfying, and fun for those who did not get to attend Internet classes in a previous life. You can move through the chapters at your own pace and, in some cases, in your own sequence.

Although I have been surfing the Internet for a while, I found many useful tips, new links, and great sites in this guide. If I could have only one Internet guide in my life, Mr. Modem's guide would be that one.

Good work, Mr. Modem!

I bought this book as a holiday gift for my dad (who has always been a bit stymied by his desktop computer) -- he dove right into it & didn't speak to any of us for a couple of hours, so judging by that reaction, I'd have to guess that it was pretty readable for your average intelligent-but-techno-naive senior. Mr. Modem covers a lot of ground (how to get online with an ISP, how to use a search engine, etc.) without going too deeply into any particular topic. Instead, the book gives lots of URLs and places for the neo-surfer to try out his new skills. Hey, maybe Dad will even get the hang of Amazon.com soon ;-)

This is a great book for people intimidated by the Internet. Information is presented in a fun and friendly fashion. Nice work, Mr. Modem!

It was about 5 moose that couldn't find a Christmas tree. It was okay. I rate it three stars.

My 4 1/2 year old daughter is an avid reader. We got this book last year around Christmas time, and so far, I've read it to her way more than 100 times. (At least 3 times a day for the whole month of December 2004 and January 2005. I lost count afterwards.) By around 10th read, she knew exactly where to say "perfectly perfect". By around 20th read, she read aloud with me every "check" and every "perfectly perfect". I dare say by around 50th read, she memorized the book front to back, and would tell you if you skipped a word and which word that was. When we weren't reading, she would mumble to herself this marvelously rhythmic story over and over again. I had to hide this book after the holidays to end her obsession. Now, my daughter is a wonderous adverb-maker, thanks entirely to this book. We've read literally hundreds of stories so far, but no other book rises to this level of loyal infatuation.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. I had trepidations about a moose with a moustache, but it turned out to be hilarious. My 5 and 3 year olds were laughing hysterically. I ended up buying a bunch of these from Scholastic and giving them as neighbor gifts.

I fell in love with Moostache first. When I read Mooseltoe I was hooked again! My daughter is 3 and has already asked me to read it over and over. I even volunteered to read it to her class and it kept the attention of almost 10 2-3 yr olds! I have ordered 5 copies of this book(so far)to give as gifts this year. I promise you will love this book!

Escape the frantic pace of the holidays by sitting down with your child and reading about it in this book. Margie Palatini's wild, rhyming writing style will keep kids entertained. They may recognize their parents' yuletide behaviour in Moose's manic preparations -- and his inevitable forgetting of a key Christmas element. The moral of the story is a tribute to those who will do anything to make everything just right.

I was never much a fantasy fan before. I watch the Si-Fi Channel and I love the fantasy movies but I would refuse to read. Then my dad gave me the original hardcover copy "MYTH Adventures" (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions, Myth Directions, and Hit or Myth) with the original cover illustrations (just to show how old my copies are) and ever since I have been addicted to fantasy books. Especially the MYTH series.

Just to warn you this is a laugh-out-loud story. I would not recommend reading this in public. You might get some odd looks from people that obviously have no sense of humor. Everything is a play on words and the characters are amazingly thought up. The plot is actually imaginable and it flows smoothly. The magik (not magic, there's a difference) has rules. What Skeeve and Aahz can and cannot do in the world of magik does not change throught the series.

To make a long review short, get this book. If you don't enjoy it then don't read it. It just means that you are a boring and unimaginative slouch. However, I can guarantee that from the very first chuckle you'll be hooked. Take it from a fantasy skeptic turned MYTH addict.

First, if you haven't read the first two books in the Myth series, this book is a great chance to correct that. If you own the first two books, there's not much point in buying this collection. However...

According to the Asprin's new publisher, Meisha Merlin, the next few books, Myth Adventures 2 and 3 will both have NEW Myth Adventure novellas written by Asprin and Jody Lynne Nye. The short story in number 2 will be Myth Congeniality.

Also according to Meisha Merlin, there are at least two new Myth titles forthcoming, both of which will be by RLS and JLN. The next is due sometime in 2003 and will be called Myth-Alliances. The one after that is is Myth-taken Identity and is due August 2004.

Just thought you might want to know.

If you like fantasy books, if you don't like fantasy books it doesn't matter you'll love this series of Books. Robert Aspirin (who by the way, edited the theives world books) has written an inceredibly hilarious series of books. Skeeve and ahz are the main characters and the situations they get into and the witty and inventive way they get out of those situations is very comical these books have everything from demons ( not demons as we know them but demons= short for deminsion traveler) to dragons ("Bleep"). I have been blind sided more than a few times by these books they are anything but predictible... you can't even count on the main characters being alive at the end of a book..( of course it's just a cliffhanger for the next book). Each book is a continuation of the last. I could talk about these books for hours, and i can get lost in them for even longer.... I have never met anyone who hasn't finished one of these books after starting it.... It is a good idea to start with the first book in the series, Another fine Myth, that way you have a good idea of what kind of relationship ahz and skeeve have and how they became friends.... the myth series is hilarious witty inventive and overall the funniest books i have ever read. I have read and re-read these books a hundred times and they never get boring

In reading the back of the book you would think this is anything but the first book in the sieres. But it is. Other then that I only have good things to say about this book.

ok! I'm a long time Myth fan, so I was very suprised to see the new (old?) books brought to life again! Now, I hate to say it, but I always felt that pretty much all of the Myth books have pretty....short endings. Some are cliffhangers, some, maybe the publisher said, no only X # of pages and are very abrupt, and some are just totally unexpected.

But the concept of the Myth books is fascinating, and I have gone back many times to read then again and again... Much better when you have the whole series to continue on to! But the series is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a sci-fi fantasy fan! They are hillarious and definately worth the read (I don't suggest reading them IN a library cause I always end up stiffling my snickers and laughs!)