Smith Books

I collect design books of all types and this was a great book for a great price. I only buy these books in the book stores when they are on the clearance table. On Amazon I find great deals on great books to add to my collection. Love it.

This is a great primer for anyone decorating in a traditional Southwestern style. It is beautifully photographed. It's a small book but you will browse it over and over again !!!

This book is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Perfect condition and rapid delivery. Excellent service.

Adobe Details is a small but powerful book. It is well written and beautifully photographed by Karen Witynski and Joe Carr. This book satisfies the reader's appetite for Mexican and New Mexican decor while challenging him or her to venture out to one of the several locations featured. Ideas abound for the novice decorator. If landscape design is more your style, this book will also energize your outdoor spirits!! The vivid color and simple elegance make the book a "must have" for any library, especially those chocked full of information on the southwest.

Adobe Details by award winning Mexican design specialists Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr is an impressive survey at the culture, furnishings, and especially the architecture prevalent in the American Southwest and the mountains of Mexico. The majority of Adobe Details is devoted to breathtaking, full-color photography of grand living spaces; brief text captions and essays provide rich detail on the history, functionality, and symbolism of these inspirational edifices. Adobe Details is especially for architecture buffs and a welcome addition to academic and community library interior design reference collections.

This is a must have for anyone who likes adventures in odyssey because it has the first epissode with the imagination station in it.

Where do they get the names for these albums? It's a great name and it contains many, many good episodes. We also get to meet Dr. Blackgaard in this album, which may be the highlight of it.

"Daring Deeds, Sinister Schemes" contains a mini-series in itself, which build a foundation for the ultimeate album, "Darkness Before Dawn" (#25) There are also several other stories that lead up to the awesome episode, "Waylaid in the Windy City" This album is definitly worth buying!

This set of six tapes (12 episodes) contains the original Dr. Blackgaard story line. Not all are related to that story arch, however.

It starts with the first IMAGINATION STATION adventure, in which Digger Digger Digwillow goes back in time to experience the death and resurrection of Christ. I'm now 26, have heard the program multiple times, and this simple two parter still moves me to tears.

Other non-Blackgaard episodes include the classic Barclay family vacation in Odyssey (OUR BEST VACATION EVER) and the introduction of Wonderworld in the hilarious HEATWAVE.

The other episodes all revolve around the initial Blackgaard arch. They include A BITE OF APPLESAUCE, EUGENE'S DILEMMA, CONNIE GOES TO CAMP, THE NEMESIS, and THE BATTLE. These last three are two parters. As a whole, these make a great story, but are even more interesting when listened to in relation to later Blackgaard episodes. The summer they first aired, they kept my brother and I glued to the radio wondering what would happen next.

I highly recommend this great collection. It's radio drama at its best: good story telling and great characters.

This set of six tapes (12 episodes) contains the original Dr. Blackgaard story line. Not all are related to that story arch, however.

It starts with the first IMAGINATION STATION adventure, in which Digger Digger Digwillow goes back in time to experience the death and resurrection of Christ. I'm now 26, have heard the program multiple times, and this simple two parter still moves me to tears.

Other non-Blackgaard episodes include the classic Barclay family vacation in Odyssey (OUR BEST VACATION EVER) and the introduction of Wonderworld in the hilarious HEATWAVE.

The other episodes all revolve around the initial Blackgaard arch. They include A BITE OF APPLESAUCE, EUGENE'S DILEMMA, CONNIE GOES TO CAMP, THE NEMESIS, and THE BATTLE. These last three are two parters. As a whole, these make a great story, but are even more interesting when listened to in relation to later Blackgaard episodes. The summer they first aired, they kept my brother and I glued to the radio wondering what would happen next.

I highly recommend this great collection. It's radio drama at its best: good story telling and great characters.

I read this book 20 years ago and still consider it one of my very favorites. It is so good to see that it is still in print. I'll just add a bit more to what the other reviewers at amazon have said. This book was a favorite of Picasso, and it's easy to understand why. Huysmans was the ultimate modern artist, and had he not become a writer he would have assuredly become a painter. Des Esseintes decorates the shell of a living tortoise with jewels and colored glass so that the light, reflected off the roving gems, accentuates the colors of the room, adding continuous and subtle variation. Now that is a sense of color! His heighten senses go further to invent new art forms: a perfume organ, for instance. Des Essentes, is also a bit of a sadist. He conducts social experiments, turning innocent ordinary working class youths into criminals by cultivating within them a taste of luxury. By the way, if you can, try obtaining a copy of the book with Arthur Zaidenberg's illustrations; they are an exquisite addition. Huysmans other books are also worth reading, especially Down There (la-Bas), a book about 19th century French Satanism that nicely weaves stories about the extreme Medieval sadist, Gilles de Rais, whom Huysmans portrays as an aesthete much like Des Esseintes. Both books are gems.

Des Esseintes, the protagonist (and basically the only character) of this book, is a man of noble descent who has tried everything in life: he has mingled with the frivolous and found them vulgar and empty-headed. He has lived among the intellectuals and found them petulant and arrogant. He is tired of life, especially in these (his) vulgar and superficial times. So he sells a number of properties and buys a house in the countryside. His idea is to reject everything that is "natural" and concentrate on art and artifice. He lives in complete solitude, barely interrupted by a couple of silent servants. He spends much time choosing the colors, the furniture and the pictures for his house. Along the book we are witnesses to his tastes in a number of realms, such as painting, literature, flowers, perfumes and music. Sometimes it seems to be just a long catalogue of sophisticated, rare and decadent pieces. This book is a big fantasy of reclusion, of elegancy, of sophistication. Give yourself some time and be an eccentric for a day. If you read it with a sense of humor, you'll find an enjoyable piece of French décadentisme, certainly on the periphery of the Western Canon, but representative of a way to view life.

Its atmosphere is very Gothic, gloomy, silent and full of beautiful things. The main character is a bit of a lunatic, but his bored and irritable personality has a touch of glamour. If you sometimes feel filled up with the world, if you sometimes fantasize about winning the lottery and then buying a big house full of the things you love, a place to retire and reject society and all its annoying and ugly characteristics, then you will find this book a very cool way of retiring from the world.

It really doesn't surprise me that this novel has been reviewed by only one person at this site. What a statement about the reading patterns of present-day culture! From my teens through my twenties, I snatched up every Penguin Classic I could find on the bookshelves in NYC and San Francisco. I guess I just came up in a different literary milieu. This novel was one of the true gems that I encountered at that time. This is probably the seminal avante-garde novel. It's hero, Des Esseintes, is basted on Absinthe (or hashish) half the time and his life is one prolongued hallucination. The author takes the reader so intricately into the main character's life, that we are living alongside him, absorbed in his decadence. We are invited to his parties (which rival Trimalchio's), are absorbed in his fantasies (which rival Fellini's)and basically are tripping with him in his unique and solipsistic universe. Oscar Wilde described this as the strangest work of fiction he had ever come across. Though not a great Wilde fan, I couldn't agree with him more on that point.

This review is a copy of one I wrote for 'A Rebours' under its alternative title - 'Against Nature'. Perhaps it will be useful to readers of 'Against the Grain' - and act as a vector to the other reviews of this novel under the alternative title.

This is an extraordinarily self-indulgent work, a tirade by the author against all those sensual things that we enrich our lives with - food, wine, literature, religion, music, travel ..... And yet, in the end, the hero of the story, Des Esseintes, fails in his attempt to isolate himself and cocoon himself in all these things he treasures so much - he becomes ill and has to abandon the attempt. So why does this 'novel' work? It is a very strange one, but it is certainly a novel(ty), perhaps even a nova! Is it the fluidity of the writing (and the translation I read by Margaret Mauldon)? Is it the content that connects in so many ways, in so many directions? For me there was a special fascination although the basis for me as I had lived my life was totally different to Des Esseintes. His experience was a withdrawal from the world after extravagant and self-damaging, self-indulgence. For me, I had imagined doing exactly what Des Esseintes did (but my life turned in a different direction), but my basis had been one of rigorous but perhaps equally self-damaging, self-denial. Would the outcome have been different? I can only speculate but I suspect not. I think Huysmans is right on the money!

Des Esseintes, the protagonist of Against the Grain (A Rebours), is, without a doubt, literature's ultimate social dropout. Dissatisfied with the limitations of the natural world, he hides from human society, constructing his life so that even his own servants are invisible to him.

While looking at others with disdain (and this is putting it mildly!), Des Esseintes's opinion of himself grows ever higher until he has "no hope of linking up with a mind which, like his own, took pleasure in a life of studious decrepitude; no hope of associating an intelligence as sharp and wayward as his own with that of an author or scholar."

Just as Des Esseintes eschews the natural, he embraces the artificial. In an early chapter, he chooses the colors for his country house near Paris based on their appearance under artificial light. He comes to the conclusion that one can obtain a satisfactory sea bath at home because "without stirring out of Pris it is possible to obtain the health-giving impression of sea-bathing...for all this involves is a visit to the Bain Vigier, an establishment to be seen down on a pontoon moored in the middle of the Seine."

Eventually, Des Esseintes moves beyond mere artifice and seeks to remove from his life the natural in all its aspects. When he becomes unable to ingest food orally, he feeds himself through enemas and finds this method far superior.

Des Esseintes's realm of artifice soon becomes his only god. He is safe in his virtuality, enjoying travel without risks, lust without passion and social interaction only with imagined beings.

The heart and soul of Against the Grain is really the debate between nature and artifice and man's role as the creator of his own universe. Des Esseintes is the ultimate aesthete; a man whose desire to obliterate the natural is transformed into the limitless experience of artistic creation.

Against the Grain represents typical French decadent literature in which the whole is subordinate to the parts. It must be understood that decadence in literature is an aesthetic, rather than a moral conception; the opposite of classicism, in which each part must subordinate itself to the enhancement of the whole. Each has its virtures, and in order to appreciate one to the fullest, we must learn to understand and appreciate the other.

Against the Grain may well be the greatest novel to emerge from the French decadent experience, and it has exerted much influence over later writers. It is the fullest, most detailed account of the search for artifice, a search that is particularly akin to today's virtual world of cyberspace. As such, Against the Grain is more relevant than ever and should be highly recommended, even required, reading.

Although this book is described as being for the 4-8 year-old group, it seemed to me more like a 7-9 year-old book.

I was attracted to the book by realizing that the various animal-related stories that Alexander McCall Smith includes in his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books were among my favorite parts of those books. It occurred to me that the Akimbo books might have such stories in them.

Well, not quite . . . but the series is full of Akimbo learning about wild animals, the threats to animals from people, and deals with the problems through Akimbo's brave deeds. Children like to see themselves playing important roles in the world, and Akimbo and the Lions is very good for appealing to that desire.

Akimbo's father works as a ranger at a game preserve in Africa where some near-by farmers have been losing cattle to lions. Akimbo's father is asked to do something and goes to trap the lion. The results end up differently than expected and Akimbo learns a lot about the challenges of balancing domestic and wild animals in the same areas. The story is a heart-warming one that both boys and girls will enjoy.

The book is nicely illustrated which adds to the realism of the story.

Purchased these books for my grandsons and was told that they really enjoyed them.

This book was a fun book to read. I liked it a lot. I think it was my favorite book that I've read so far in my life. I am going to buy my own copy.

This book is McCall Smith's second book in the "Akimbo" series and like virtually all his books, it is masterfully done. In this book, Akimbo goes on a trip with his father, the new Head Gamekeeper of the wildlife preserve. They have gone to check out reports that a lion is eating cattle. The loss of cattle is akin to the loss of pure gold in Akimbo's part of Africa. Thus, such a lion must be handled.

Akimbo begs his father to take him on the trip. With some trepidation, his father agrees. The team of Gamekeepers and Akimbo travel to the farm which has reported the problem. No one actually has seen the lion, but they believe by the sounds and the results that it is surely a lion. The Gamekeepers set a trap, using a goat as bait. The trap is supposed to work by capturing the lion when he goes to get the goat.

The trap is set up, and Akimbo and his father get set to wait out the night and see what happens. As luck would have it, the lion does show up on that night. The trap is sprung, and Akimbo's father goes to check the trap. As soon as his father leaves the hiding place, Akimbo notices, he has forgotten his rifle. His father approaches the trap, and is dismayed to find, the lion is not in the trap. The lion is standing outside the trap, and starts to close in on Akimbo's father.

Akimbo has never shot a rifle before, but he has observed his father use it. He picks up the gun. He aims, and his father tells him, "Shoot into the air." Akimbo does so twice. The lion leaves quickly. Then they go to find out why the trap di not work, and find that it is sprung. Inside is a very small baby lion cub. The rest of the book discusses Akimbo's relationship with the lion cub, and the eventual release of the lion into the wild.

Once again, McCall Smith has created a wonder of a book. It is highly recommended as a children's story. It provides a look at a very different society and world than the American world. In addition, it shows the respect of the people for the animals. All parents with young children should find this book a great addition to their children's reading library.

It was one of the most passionate books I ever read. It made me cry. The pictures were wonderful. The book had very good descriptions. People who like animals, stories that take place in Africa, and love will like this book.

It is nice to finally find a book like this--one that explains basic math and chemistry principles together.

I am more verbal than mathematical, by nature, but this book helps me to understand the world of math.

Although this is geared towards nursing students who need basic chemistry, I found it very helpful as a general math overview for studying for the GRE and helping my child with his math homework, etc.

Has cute little drawings and interesting tips too. It's actually a lot more fun that it looks from the outside cover.

Great book!

A wonderful book that makes math and chemistry understandable for those who struggle with such subjects. The author makes the concepts concrete and interesting and can make math lovers out of anyone.

This book is very helpful for anyone needing to brush up on math used in chemistry classes.

This is the 7th of the 8 volume history which the late Page Smith (he died Aug 28, 1995) wrote on the history of this country. I have not read the 8th volume, but it is not correct to say it is a 10,000 page history. The first 7 volumes only have a total of 6,823 pages. My comment on finishing volume 7 was "I'd say about 5000 of the 6823 pages were really interesting reading." One of these days I want to find volume 8 and read it so that I will have read the whole set. Nor do I agree that this work was what Professor Smith devoted his life to. He has a two-volume biography of John Adams which I am going to read some day, I hope. (I know exactly the library where I can borrow it and I have been planning to do so for years--and some day I will.)

Although I offer the following thoughts in connection with Volume VII of the late Professor Smith's magnificant eight-volume, 10,000 page, history of the United States, what I really want to do is to express my affection and appreciation for the entire eight-volume work. I commend what must have been Professor Smith's life's work and proudest accomplishment to anyone seriously interested in learning in detail about the history of America, with both its shameful and its pride-justifying aspects. Smith's skilled story-telling commences with the first English settlements in North America and ends in about 1940, though the author also provides, at the end of Volume VIII, an abbreviated discussion of the succeeding forty years or so. The scope of his coverage ranges from each quadrennial presidential election and congressional politics to literature, art, and architecture. Well written, entertaining, and comprehensive, making ample use of diaries and other colorful primary sources, Smith tells the story of America in a manner that reveals his palpable patriotism and love of country, despite his keen awareness that, like any other human endeavor, the efforts to build a new nation in North America involved a great many incidents about which no modern person would be proud. Smith believed that the typical yeoman eighteenth-century white American, removed from the active control of England for more than a century, had become a new kind of man who, unlike the more compliant peasant of Europe then and previously, simply would not give up his freedom without a fight. This ornery "new man," though drawing on the tradition of English liberties, was the true founder of modern democratic government. Smith portrays the American of the early frontier as a rather uncouth and violent, if indomitable, specimen, whose desire for land, expressed in westward migration, was to reshape the face of the world. The two broad recurring themes in Smith's eight volumes are racial relations and the ongoing struggle! between labor and management. Although an obvious liberal in his politics, with great sympathy for the African Americans, Smith is by no means cynical or overly judgmental in his description of Euro-Americans of the past. In fact, his vivid descriptions of figures such as Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt help bring life to these giants, whose personalities are no longer vivid in the minds of many modern Americans. Sadly, Smith completed his opus before the collapse of the Soviet Union, and thus did not have the benefit of the end of the Cold War to influence his world view. As a result, he ends his work by suggesting that we need to learn how to get along better with the Soviets. We may easily forgive him this lapse of vision into the future, however. Smith was plainly a man of great heart and a true patriot. It saddens me to see that his magnificent written legacy is now out of print. I have seen all eight volumes, however, in many used bookstores. I therefore encourage would-be readers to request Amazon.com to contact its network of used booksellers to try to track down copies. Perhaps enough such requests might prompt one of the two companies that previously published Smith's history -- McGraw Hill and Penguin -- to issue a new edition. Such republication would be a great public service in a world and nation in which ignorance of history is appallingly widespread and in which patriotism strikes many as an outdated concept.

It is a sad commentary on public literacy and civic awareness when a whole series of books so splendid, educational, and damned readable is allowed to go out of print, such as has the quite literate eight book series by noted historian Page Smith. This massive and spectacularly executed series is organized around the continuing themes of American History, and centers on our emergence into the larger world as a main player in the world community. This is modern history at its best; masterfully retold, entertaining and edifying to read, and organized around central themes that make the subject both approachable and more understandable.

The present volume, "America Enters The World: A People's History Of The Progressive Era and World War I", is the seventh of an eight volume series Professor Smith published, and represents the culmination of the series in approaching the entry into the 20th century and the modern era after masterfully threading through the mass of American history. Dr. Smith begins here focuses on two key figures, a dynamic and energetic Theodore Roosevelt, on the one hand, and an austere, professorial, and intellectual Woodrow Wilson, on the other. With Roosevelt's gravitation to the Oval Office, an incredibly turbulent and event-packed two decades of momentous change commences, marked for such tumultuous struggles as the battle between management and labor, and the emerging progressive political movement.

This was also the period of international reawakening that found the United States increasingly drawn into world events, culminating in our reluctant and begrudging participation in the First World War. Of course, initially it was Roosevelt swinging that `big stick' of power and enthusiastic involvement, swaggering confidently onto the world stage that first opened our doors to increasing involvement in international affairs. Yet, it was much more Woodrow Wilson's intellectual thoughtfulness that led directly to our enthusiastic flag-waving yet fateful entry into the growing darkness of the world war. In due time, the enthusiasm flagged, turning to disillusionment and an increased national mood of isolationism. In twenty short years, we had seemingly come full circle. Yet things had changed, changed utterly, and would never be the same again.

As with his previous volumes, Professor Smith guides us masterfully through the particulars of the lives of a stream of extraordinary people, individuals who rose to the manifest challenges of the era with energy, imagination, and selfless enthusiasm. In so doing, they reshaped and redefined the meaning and possibilities for America, and eventually helped in the effort to transform the world in the process. As with each of his previous volumes, the author uses his narrative to tell the story of individuals both famous and anonymous, and in so doing helps the reader to better appreciate what it meant to be alive and involved in one of the most amazing periods in modern history, when America rose mightily and purposefully from the obscurity of provincial isolationism to greater international responsibility and involvement, spurring America onto the stage for the events of the twentieth century, where she has remained since.

In sum, this is a work of a great and singular historian, one offering a unique perspective on a most momentous, dangerous, and exciting time in our history, a period during which America came of age internationally. It is the story of two decades that did so much to define and forge the modern nation we are all so familiar with, and helps to explain how it is we have come to arrive at our present destination, and in the process gives the reader great cause for celebration and concern. I highly recommend you search out this book as a used commodity and then hang onto it for dear life. I do. Enjoy!

This series is an all-encompassing narrative of our history from pre-colonial times to the twentieth century. Smith spent over 50 years as an academic and popular historian, and his life's work was A People's History. The series is written in an engaging but detailed style -- only two or three times in over 10,000 pages does it become difficult to read. Smith obviously had digested large volumes of primary source material, because his explanations of events often reach far before and after the events, linking them insightfully with their deep causes and effects. An author who writes piecemeal from one source at a time could never make those kinds of deep connections.

Smith also remains balanced and fair througout the text. He is not a liberal critical historian (like Howard Zinn), but even more importantly, he is not one of the newer conservative historians (like Russel Kirk). Smith manages to avoid the two extremes of paranoia and zealotry.

I was initially disappointed at the lack of footnotes in the text, but I did come to trust in Smith's philosophy that if a point were well-worth making *and* well-supported, he would make the point in the text itself, thereby eschewing what he felt was an underhanded academic trick of making footnotes of ill-supported assertions or attacks on other schools of thought.

The end-notes and indices are more than adequate for researchers and critical readers.

All in all, this series is the best way I've found to really understand American history as more than a sequence of events, characters, and trends. Smith weaves them together into a coherent story.

In America Enters the World, Page Smith recreates a masterful account of the Progressive Era. He does not follow a strict chronological path (though there is more or less a sequence of events) but once the reader gets accustomed, it flows pretty well. Smith makes clever use of colloquialisms ("skedaddled" "smashed"-meaning drunk, and "skulduggery" are but a few) which helps make the reader feel comfortable. Finally he states his thesis on page 140 (barely 1/10 of the way through the massive book) of viewing history as a part of a larger whole.

Smith often extols the virtues of socialism as the great counterbalance of industrial capitalism, which since this is a "people's history" makes some sense. He has the ability to enter the shoies of those he writes of, an admirable trait in a historian. However, at times he gets carried away with the socialist undercurrents, sometimes to the point of annoyance. He does give great leaders like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson their just dues, and comes down hard on stupid leaders like William Howard Taft and Warren Harding, and this gives the book balance. Unfortunately by giving lengthy accounts of the doings of Big Bill Haywood and Emma Goldman Smith seems to elevate these people to the unwarranted level of greatness as well. The Roosevelt-Wilson rivalry is the most dominant political theme in the book. Smith admires them both, Roosevelt for his populism, Wilson for his vision, and he covers each objectively and fair.

Smith never cites his sources so it is difficult to verify, but the reader learns to trust Smith as an authority on his subject. He makes an un-stated advocation of how committees served the country well in winning World War One, then attempts to illustrate how the Soviet Union emerged as a model of efficiency ("soviet" is defined as a governmental council). He makes great progress in some chapters then takes one step back with his unwavering advocacy of the socialist state. He seems to fall victim to his own conclusion on page 642 that "obsessions make bad politics".

But Smith is able to recognize genius when he sees it. Wilson's vision was the apex of the Progressive Era. When the unqualified Harding assumed the presidency, Smith ends his historical narrative. It is clear to Smith that Harding did not represent "progress" (one could conclude Harding didn't represent anything). The final several chapters are dedicated to technology, arts, education, and religion. He covers the American scene. Racism, bigotry, women's rights, philanthropy, mainstream and side stream politics, war, peace, industry, and many other themes are all handled with equal care by this prolific, intelligent author. His conclusion is well supported and his mastery of English would impress any wordsmith.

I got my first dover coloring book about 30 years ago and have been hooked. I now have a collection of about 20. They are kind of hard to find in retail and when you do the selection is poor.

I find coloring to be very relaxing when you are stressed. I also cannot just watch tv I like to be doing crochet or cross stitching, coloring.

These books are very well done as far as the drawings are concerned. They can be very intricate. Some are made more for children but many would be hard for a child under say 10yrs old to do and feel good about.

They are best done with colored pencils as you can get really good at shading and make them really pretty.

I highly recommend this and many others. I do own this specific book.

I greatly enjoyed coloring these exceptionally well rendered drawings.

All kinds of dwellings/houses are featured, including foregrounds of trees, etc., and occasionally tiny people are pictured dressed as they would be from that period. There were also comments made about each, which I found interesting and informative.

The pictures contain small details. Definitely not for a child. I would say this is a coloring book for adults.

Highly recommended.

This coloring book has highly detailed, architectural pictures for grown-ups who still love to color. And while children might possibly enjoy this type of coloring book, the finely detailed, intricate pictures would be more fully appreciated by older teens or adults.

great book source, easy to use and has most anything i need.thanks russ patrick

I just purchased these Dover COloring Books for my mother and she loves them. The detail is out of this world and the variety of colors you can use are only limited by your inagination. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I got this book along with ELPSI-12 and just finished it.

Wow, reading this book took me on a journey that I still feel like I am on.

Angels, Sataniel, Christ Yeshu(?), Earthly Mother???

This was an adjustment for me but once I got into the book, it flowed.

I recommend it.

Good read.

Having previously read the Essence Gospel of Peace, I ordered this book as a comparision and it is basically the same. Rev. Smith's addition is a pleasant presentation and the usage of Yeshu and Yehovah made the text more personal.

I gave this book 5-stars for the total message, peace.

There are a few typesetting errors but no worries, a little correction tape worked well.

Cheers Rev. Mel, God bless you and your work.

This book teaches oneness in thought, speech, deeds plus so much more.

I enjoyed this book and having newly discovered books by Reverend Smith, I can honestly say that I am a new fan.

Yuyian

Purchasing this book series on a whim has enriched my life enormously.

I love so much about this book but one of my favorite among many phrases is:

"Here and now is the mystery revealed, here and now is the curtain lifted, be not afraid O'man!"

I have been enlightened by this book and recommend it as a good book.

Reading this book made me feel as though I was being prepped before going on a journey.

Be prepared, this book is different.

There are soooo many angels, so much is taught and learned about the angels, Christ Yeshu (We all were know him as Jesus), God, the earth plus so much more.

It is a little overwhelming, while reading it I used Google to research Sataniel, Asmodeus and other names and terminology that I was unfamiliar with.

It is one of my favorite books now and I highly recommend it.

Upon having read this book, I now have additional questions such as why was the information in the Gospel of the Holy Twelve left out of the New Testament?

I have others but on the whole, this book is a keeper.
Ty

Gee, what can I say......these two books have helped me a lot!

Thanks Rev.
Rob

Every believer in Christ should read this book.

Having read my bible more than once, it was nice to read this book.

Though it is like the New Testament, it is not.

It is enlightening and can be used in one's word ministry.

I really like Rev. Melissa's books. Though I have only read two, these two have impacted my life for good.

A new fan.
God bless you!

Having read The Gospel of Peace, I am now reading this book and so far, I do not find it in contradiction with the New Testament. I have not finished the book and am still reading it, I rank it 4-stars.

Interesting.

Rev. Melissa, the Ancient Word Series is a good concept, thank you.

Cheers,
A. Harrington

This is a great book for any one that wants to re-learn math with out the fear; the author explains arithmetic and algebra in a very easy steps understandable for any one.

I received the book in a timely fashion as well as in great condition. Thanks for being reliable!

I had to prepare for a test for certification in middle school math and was terrified. I hadn't studied algebra or statistics in over 20 years. I ordered several books online and got more at the public library, and this was the ONLY book written in a way that allowed for effective self teaching. The other reviewer said it best, the language they use to explain concepts is the key. I wanted a book that talked to me like I was 6 years old. It needed a bit more on geometry, other than that is was an excellent study guide. Great for Praxis preparation.

This is a very well-thought-out book. I've looked at many many math books, looking for one with good, clear explanations. This one is deceptive - at first glance it looks just like any other math book, but this is what I was looking for. For example, the explanation of why we invert and multiply when we divide fractions is clear and understandable - few other math books even bother to try to explain why or how this works, but this book does and does it well. Another wonderful thing about this book is that the authors are aware that words used in math can be confusing - they take the time to explain, for example, why we often use the word "of" when multiplying fractions (1/6 of 3/4) instead of saying "times" (1/6 times 3/4).

The explanations in this book are excellent (and that is what I was looking for) and they always show every step of a solution, so it is easy to follow along. They also use visual explanations, again making sure to show every step.

The focus in this book is on relating the math to practical life - this also really aids understanding.

There are lots of exercises to practice with - and answers are provided for all of them.

The best thing about this book is the "tone" of the authors. They write in an easy-to-understand, clear way. The book doesn't seem to have been written in "mathese" another language, but in normal English for normal people. It gives the feeling of being written by people who are caring and helpful and want the reader to understand - as opposed to most math textbooks that seem to be written more to impress other math educators than for real people who aren't used to math-style writing.

The book covers all the usual topics of arithmetic and goes up through elementary algebra.

Even though the intended market for this book is adults or college students who have already been through years of math, much of which they've forgotten, I recommend it also for homeschoolers. This inexpensive book can take the place of purchasing curriculum for years. It also can be used as a reference for finding good explanations and examples of specific topics - it has an excellent table of contents and index.

I am back to school after how many years and was half panicking when I was told I would have not one but TWO math classes. This book is one of the texts. It is easy to follow and quite thorough. Out of the 6 books I need for these classes, so far I understand this one the best.