Richardson Books

General St. John Richardson Liddell was a biased, cantankerous, violent man devoted to the Confederacy yet doubtful of its ultimate success. This is history with the varnish off; Liddell wrote this record immediately after the war and never expected it to be published in his lifetime. It's one of the essential texts for understanding the Confederate Army of Tennessee and provides great insight into the personalities of its commander. More importantly, it reveals in great detail the mind of one former Confederate.

This is a social history of life in ancient India targeted at late elementary schoolers.

It is organized into 14 two-page, thematic spreads that follow a general chronological progression (from the Harrappan civilizations through the Aryan conquest, Mauryan Age, and and the rise of Buddhism) but have a way-of-life emphasis. The packaging, full of drawings, artifacts, and photographs of people and places, is very well done, and the text is clear.

The only drawback is that the presentation is rather dry and textbook-like. However, it is still a very good introduction to an area that is rarely covered by books of this level.

Cordoni wrote from the perspective of her job as coordinator of a support program for LD students at Southern Illinois University. The students she describes are college undergraduates. Target audience: parents and anyone who works with LD students. Dr. Cordoni addresses what she calls the "social skills" deficits of LD college students. In fact, the book deals with certain personality traits that seem to accompany LD; their effects on the LD student's social interactions with others; and what the student and his family, friends and educators can do about them. What can and should be done about undesirable behavior is emphasized throughout the book. Some behaviors (e.g.insensitivity to body language) appear to be symptoms of LD. Others (e.g. unwillingness to accept responsibility) may develop as defense mechanisms. Regardless of the causes, Cordoni believes: (1) that the student is often unaware of it; (2) that the student can be made aware of the behavior so that he can correct it; and (3) that tutors and parents have the responsibility to address and correct these problems. There is little discussion of younger students; what there is, is provided by Cordoni's observation of her own children. Reviewed by Stowe Davison

This is a very good resource for grades K-3. The concepts are easy to understand and the lessons are valuable. Along with a solid introduction to faces and shadowing in drawings and painting, this book provides a good introduction to some major artists such as van Gogh and Picasso. This is not an extensive book on the subject so it should only be purchased for fairly young children as a short introduction to the topics.

I checked out this book from the library because, as an adult, I felt I didn't know enough about paintings to appreciate them fully when I visited an art gallery. This book briefly covers a large number of aspects of art including color, perspective, portraits, and landscape. The paintings used as examples are many and varied and they are beautifully reproduced. I learned many things but as I read, I came up with many more questions the book did not answer. However, I am a 36-year-old college graduate. I believe that the book is quite informative for its recommended age group: 9-12. I am getting a copy for my artistic nephew's tenth birthday.

A Walk Through LifeLoonyology delves into the mind of notorious UK prisoner Charles Bronson, known for his daily 3,000 press ups a day and numerous prizes for strength and endurance.Bronson gives a detailed description of life behind bars and the scary judicial system, Bronson has spent over 30 + years in solitary confinement. Loonyology explains his side because it is all in his own words other books by him have been co authors and ghost writers, this book is 100% Charles Bronson in his own words!.

After the murder has been committed, the author spends time giving us the backgrounds of the three principle characters. Even if you aren't a history fan, don't skip these chapters because they'll help you understand the account of the actual trial. This is the story of a talented and intelligent woman who finds both the courage to leave and divorce her abusive alcoholic husband and to fall in love with a brave and decent man in spite of she went through. Then she loses her true love when her scum ex kills him. The chapters on the trial were difficult to endure because the defense team was so slick and the prosecution team was so lame. I was so angry with the prosecution team because they didn't even try to counter the defense team's "sanctity of marriage" ploy with the theme that no one on the jury would want to have his sister or daughter married to a drunken brute such as the defendant. Thank goodness the book tells us what happened to these people! ! after the trial, or it would be very depressing to read. I like the fact that the author gives us so many actual quotations from the original sources. I *really* hate books which are supposed to be factual accounts of true crimes but the authors include thoughts and dialog that are pure speculation because there is no reliable source for that information! Don't let the fact that this murder and trial happened over a hundred years ago stop you from reading it. Similar stories are happening today. Ann E. Nichols

Richardson's work is poetic and focused on telling the story of an occultist from a fellow occultist's perspective. Despite this he remains focused and objective managing to skirt the line between admiration and hero worship. It is definitley the best book on Fortune around, much better than "The Quest" book.

The Maïeutologue is a revelation, a book of reference that one should read attentively. It is a source of inspiration that offers a new way of life and an intelligible perspective on religion and science. Its principal objective is to make people spiritually self-sufficient. I encourage everyone to purchase and read it for it help shape one's perspective on the essence of life.

While the title may suggest something about cloning or eugenics, it is really just a handy way for the publisher to package two classic horror novels about humans who "played God" -- cautionary tales that might be appropriate reading for a range of literature-based courses on technology, ethics, science, environmentalism. There isn't much of an introduction here, and so the only thing that would draw you to this text is to read Shelley's Frankenstein and/or Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau. Both exceptional and interesting novels -- though written by authors who had very different aims and outlooks.