Smith Books

No Contest book by Ralph Nader and Wesley Smith.... In their book No Contest by Ralph Nader and Wesley J. Smith, the authors give a series of examples about law at the corporate level. Many of their examples deal with wronged individuals suing a corporation. Frequently the plaintiffs are frustrated by a series of delays, misrepresentations, intentional misunderstandings, and multiple appeals. The judges do not discipline the lawyers, at least not to any effective extent, and the judges do not throw out frivolous motions. The judges tend to side with big law firms and with clever lines of reasoning, and not with the plaintiff. The original plaintiff injury, such as a wrongful death due to negligent corporate behavior, is forgotten in the mire of lawyer activity, and the judges fail to consider the need for relief of the plaintiff, without further anguishing delay. The plaintiff is faced with interminable costs and tedious delays without relief. There is no doubt reform is needed. ................ For a remedy, authors Nader and Wesley suggest an Appleseed Foundation, formed of local community volunteer groups, together with some overseeing coordinating committees. They mention Harvard graduates as playing a prominent behind the scenes part in overseeing reform. .............. The problem with this approach is: first, volunteerism, presumably without pay, is insufficient motivation to overcome such entrenched and profitable bad habits. Second, it is not clear just what specific steps these groups should recommend, other than complain, and point out injustices of which many persons are already aware. . Third, there are already volunteer groups (I have a list of over 20) around the country who are angry with their treatment by the law and yet who have not been able to bring about a change in habits.

This is one of my favorite books I've read in recent years. It opens your eyes to the horrible tactics used by corporate lawyers to deny victims their full day in court. Also, Nader and Smith present bulletproof arguments against tort reform. You will learn a TON by reading this.

As a law student, I have to say that this should be on every law students "must-read" list! Nader and Smith clearly describe the hardball ruthless tactics used by today's corporate lawyers. This is not the kind of stuff they teach you in law school!

It took real guts and courage to expose the unethical tactics used by too many lawyers today, and I'm grateful that they did so. Highly recommended.

A detailed and methodical look at corporate lawyer's corruption of our legal system. The book explains all relevant terms, cites numerous fascinating examples, and suggests ways that the public and the Bar can improve today's legal system without tipping the scales of justice toward those with the most money. An easy read

Beware of the multinational corporations. Not only do they stick it to the taxpayers in forms of bailouts, tax "incentives", and other similar accounts recievable, they are quite willing to stick it to citizens in court and screw up the meaning of the word "due process" in America and the world. A sad commentary on our justice system but a MUST READ.

If something just seems to be not quite right, you have an unsettled feeling about what God is up to in your life...this is a Must Read. What about that deep down gut pain- that no medicine seems to be able to reach?...read Scotty's story. Truly amazing.

God used Scotty's book to let me see some of my deepest hidden, yet denied pains. I can truly say this was a great instrument in God's continuing Grace to disclose and heal my brokeness. I have given this book to several of my family and friends- and they shared similar experiences with me.

Through the tears- of pain and joy... this is Good News- you will be blessed.

Like Heinz 57 on a delicious steak, this book brings godly seasoning and satisfaction to the soul.

This I'm sure is an eloquent exposition of the (hesed) love of God. It burns bright with hope and fills the heart with astounding encouragement. There's no better subject than the love of God properly propounded and proclaimed.

This is a book I want to read and maybe reread.
Light My Fire with your love, Lord! Light me up!
Scotty is a godly man and pastor on fire with the love of God.
I have a friend who is into "chasing God" but Scotty shows through his preaching and writing that God is the Chaser and we must allow ourselves to be caught by his love seen in the finished work of Christ.

For too many Christians, who take the Bible and their duties seriously, God's love is a concept that is comprehended without being apprehended. Scotty Smith's very personal account of how God moves us to a greater understanding of His great love for us is a wondeful tool for people who only know duty and doctrine in their Christian walks. But, this book is doctrine as well, in the best way! It is doctrine applied, and since all theology is practical, Scotty Smith shows how understanding and receiving God's love changed him.

Here is a sample from the introduction: "In essence, this is the story of God's pursuing and passionate mercy revealed in his Word and through his Son. It is the story of how subjects of futility and foolishness become objects of God's affection. It's about how God makes worshipers out of idolaters, a wife out of a whore." (p. 6).

Each chapter has a prayer at the end to ask God to apply some aspect of what the chapter has covered. There are some thought provoking and heart probing questions in the back of the book for each chapter, to help you apply the book to your life and walk.

Personally, I read this book when I really needed to hear its message (and the message of the Bible that it explains), and it has helped me to "have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge" (Eph. 3:18-19, NIV).

I highly recommend this book, not as some quick fix formula to "jump start" your walk, but as a starting point, on a journey to grow in your understanding of the God who has loved you with an everlasting love! Pick one up today - you won't be disappointed!

As you can guess, there is a story behind how exactly I came to own "The Foremost Medieval Treatise on Painting, Glassmaking and Metalwork". It really is not a book for me. I am not a very crafty person. I cannot even make jewelry with any reliability. While I have a healthy RPG based history with medieval trivia I would be laughed out of any good SCA convention and cannot claim enough interest to really own this book. I am an armchair historian, at very best. So. How did I get here?

While I was hiking through France several years ago, I made do with English books that I found/stole/bought/borrowed along the way. If I was in a major town, I would go to the bookstore and hope that they were big enough to have a few English books in stock.

Anyhow, when I arrived in Vezelay, I was excited because there were several bookstores in the center. They turned out, however, to be a bit of a disappointment. The first two I went to had no English books at all in stock. The third, run by an enthusiastic and friendly Frenchman in wire-rimmed glasses, also apparently had no English books. However, he remembered that somewhere in the store, he had an English book.

That man turned over boxes, looked behind shelves, peered in closets, ran upstairs and down. I wanted him to give up, but he would not hear of it. Nearly a half an hour later, he appeared triumphant from the upstairs waving this book: On Divers Arts by Theophilus. It was actually way too big to be carried while hiking and, as I said, not exactly my subject matter, but after all that fuss there was no way that I could not buy the book. He was so very very pleased.

Anyhow, the book went in the post back to the Netherlands and I begged a few romance novels left behind from one of the local hotels. And here On Divers Arts has sat, to this very day, beaming guilt at me from my to-be-read shelf. While sick in bed this year, I decided to finally give in and read the darned thing.

It was surprisingly interesting. I will freely admit to not following the technical details of Theophilus and his work. However, I really appreciated the glimpse that it gave me of the medieval craftsman's mind. And despite myself the listings of exotic techniques and ingredients were really rather cool.

This is a completely vacuous review-- "really rather cool" as a key message. But there you are. I do not have anything smarter to say on the subject.

The book (in the Dover edition) is translated and edited by John G. Hawthorne and Cyril Stanley Smith. It comes with a neat bibliography at the back. I very much appreciated that the footnotes were apportioned per page rather than making me flip back and forth to the later pages.

Great book for techniques of medieval artist. A must for the library of any medievalist.

This book is a must-have for anyone interested in early Medieval art or glassworking or metallurgy. It includes detailed how-to instructions and formulas - not all of which are safe to follow, however!

Written by a man of the medieval period, On Divers Arts (Hawthorne & Smith translation) offers instruction in several of the artisan crafts (e.g. stained glass vitrines, paint mixing, and silver work). In minute detail, it covers the creation process from the gathering of raw materials to the finished product. At times, this dialogue can be hard to follow; however, diagrams and b&w plates help the reader with these difficulties. Additionally, the translators provide notes for scholars, which give a brief overview of various editions and revisions, as well as a slew of footnotes to help with the sticky bits.

This book has great information in it regarding how things were done in period. I bought it for the information on stained glass. It was very helpful when I had to write my documentation paper

The book I am reviewing is On the Field with... Emmitt Smith written by Matt Christopher. I give this book five stars. This book is about a person who loves to play football. A problem in this story is Emmitt Smith breaks his hamstring. Emmitt Smith played running back for the Dallas Cowboys. I'd recommend this book to a friend. Other books written by Matt Christopher are On the Field... with Terrell Davis and On the Court with...Shaquille O'Neal. This book is awesome!

Emerson, NJ Fifth Grade

If you like football and Emit Smith than On The Field With Emmit Smith is a great book for you. It also tells Emmit's life story. It tells where he went to collage and about when he became pro. I like the book because I want to be like Emit. I think it is a good book for people who like sports.

This book is really really good. Its dot life facts about him there all real, the records he set. All about his life and how hard he tried to make it to the N.F.L. and made it. I think its a really good book read it sometime.

I choose this book because I like the Dallas Cowboys. The book listed facts about Emmitt's career, and a little about his life. I think this book is similar to the book The Amazing Bo Jackson.

Emmitt Smith loved football from the time he was a baby. He would play and sometimes be too big to be able to play. In high school, he was a star running back but he had a time where he fumbled a lot. After he went into the NFL draft, the Cowboys, unlike many other teams, thought even though Emmitt didn't have very much speed, he could still be a really good running back. So the Cowboys were able to pick him as the 21st player picked. He became a star and led the Cowboys to three Superbowl victories and won four rushing titles for himself. It is a good book because it tells you about him at every time of his life.

If you're like me, a book lover who enjoys interesting, non-fiction, concise reads this book will satisfy your desires. I love reading about Chicago. Getting to know the characters who serve and protect the city was a treat. I think Smith is truly an emerging author. I find myself bringing it up in conversation and recommending it to friends and family so why not recommend it to the world? Enjoy.

On the Job is simply OUTSTANDING! Author Daniel Smith provides an original insight into the highly touted and predominantly mysterious Chicago Police. Smith threads history, poetry, and human interest through a series of interviews that produce a compelling and surprisingly easy to read-and relate to-book. This book is bound to challenge your perspective and raise new questions and support for the men and woman who were the star and serve the city. The contents of the book are electrifying and appropriate for people of all ages and backgrounds. On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police, read it today!

Daniel Smith's book about the culture and history of Chicago Police was a fascinating read. Anyone who enjoys Chicago history as much as I do will love this book. Smith gives us a treat with insight into what exactly goes into the job of being on the most famous/infamous police department in the world with candid interviews of the officers who do the job every day. The 19 officers Smith interviewed all had unique stories to tell that will take you on a emotional roller-coaster. Enjoy!!!
-Graham Waller

This book is written by an author who was born and raised in a Chicago Police family. Smith provides you an inside look into the real lives of Chicago Police officers who have gone above and behind their duty to "serve and protect." A collection of many short stories, the book takes you through the lives of 19 distinctly different police officers and their dedication to the Chicago Police Department while also providing you the history of the Department and the great city it serves. A must read for history buffs, fellow Chicagoans, police officers, and anyone who aspires to live their life with honor and courage.

This book is not an account of a group of rock 'em sock'em tales. The book let's us in on what officers feel, deep down in their hearts. We learn what goes on in the hearts and souls of the "Real Police". If you want to read about the lives of the men and women who sacrifice daily to protect us, buy this book.

Every child should read this book to instill empathy and the belief that anything is achievable with human kindness and compassion. I purchased 2 copies of this book: one to keep and one to donate to my daughter's school. I strongly believe that these are principles and values that should be taught early in a child's life so that they are able to change the world.

This book is terrific. We can so easily fall into thinking that our world is limited to the things we see everyday, and the book is a great journey through what life is like in so many parts of the world today.

I recommend reading this with your kids, your students (if you have any), and even just for your own personal enjoyment.

Also, the book has sparked a great website as well, which helps to educate young and old on the merits of microloans -- http://www.onehen.org.

Two of my grandchildren read this inspiring story to the third grandchild and me as we made dinner. After the meal, we decided to send money to one of the opportunity companies. Each grandchild contributed $2.50 of their chore money they had earned by raking leaves, moving gravel, cooking, and picking up sticks. Thanks to all those responsible for this book.
Ann Rauscher Hagler

This little children's book shows how big the world is. One Hen simplistically shares a personal story of a little boy who buys a hen and how it impacted his life, family, entire village, and country. Beyond just micro-finance, One Hen communicates global poverty, community development, family values, charity and justice issues. helpful to begin educating American children in a "me, me" culture about not just giving to those who are poor and disenfranchised but how to give in such a way that has sustainable, holistic effects on an individual and community.

This book is a great way for families to teach their children about the value of giving and the effect a small kindness or gift may have on many lives. The illustrations are an added plus. It is a good and easy introduction into microfinance and how one person can help make the world a better place

This was extremely interesting and diverse; there's something in here for everyone. We bought this for our 22-year-old son who just graduated from Purdue, but I found myself reading it long into the night. A real accomplishment, full of wisdom.

This was extremely interesting and diverse; there's something in here for everyone. We bought this for our 22-year-old son who just graduated from Purdue, but I found myself reading it long into the night. A real accomplishment, full of wisdom.

I loved this book. It's both inspirational and educational and the speeches are chosen with great care. Five stars all the way

Compilations only work if well edited - and this one is. Brilliant novelist Smith brings his wit and originality to this anthology of the best graduation orations of recent years, creating a book which is no mere collection of speeches, but rather a thumbnail history of contemporary American thought and history. Let someone else buy that CD player, because this is the gift your grad should have.

This was extremely interesting and diverse; there's something in here for everyone. We bought this for our 22-year-old son who just graduated from Purdue, but I found myself reading it long into the night. A real accomplishment, full of wisdom.

THIS WONDERFULLY WRITTEN LOVE STORY, WAS INVOLVING MISS MASON AND SLADE BRAXTON, AN UNDERCOVER AGENT, THAT TOLD HER HEART AT FIRST SIGHT. GOOD READ, BUY IT!!!!!

This is a pretty good book. In this book you will see the story from everybody's eyes & not just the 2 main characters. You get a really good sense of the characters in this book. You feel like you know them all & what they look like. I really enjoyed this book but everything was predictable & reminds me of many other books where you are led to believe that the man is going to hang for a crime he didn't commit & in the end something happens so he will be saved & then of course there's always a kidnapping of the woman & the man comes to her rescue. Overall though, this is a good read.

I've yet to find a BS book that I haven't enjoyed. Although westerns aren't my favorite genre, she has made me a fan. In Outlaw's Lady, the characters are so real, whether they're good or bad, you feel like u know them. Alyssa and Slade are meant for each other but the side characters in this story leave me with the feeling that there should be at least 2 sequels......Slade's friend Ken and the sheriff Rob both deserve stories of thier own. This is a winner. However the first BS book I read, "Lady Deception" is at least a 6......find that one and you'll smile all day long......

An under-cover hero falls in love with an unusual heroine. She thinks he is the outlaw responsible for the death of her father and tries to resist their mutual attraction - especially when she is the judge at his hearing! How the truth is revealed and the real desperados are caught makes a really good read.

Westerns aren't my favorite read but Bobbi Smith has me nearly
converted. This book opens with the undercover pinkerton man trying to round up a vicious gang. While playing the role he tries to keep harm from befalling "citizens" but in one instance he's unable to. The man is killed. Our hero is subsequently charged with his murder and is in a quandry. Does he give up his cover and forgo his mission or hang! Well he decides to trust the sheriff who doesn't believe him anyway. The judge happens to be the dead man's daughter and she has met our "outlaw" once before and been attracted to him. Of course she fights between the integrity of her job, the justice due her father and this outlaw she is coming to love. The sheriff is a wonderful. The Pinkerton "boss" comes to town to save his partner and he's a hunk. The entire book is filled with action, great characters, angst and a believable story line. It was worthy of at least one sequel.

What's nice about this book is it's different from other books on atheism and skepticism I have read. As reflected in the "path" being in the title, it focuses more not only how the author ended up being an unbeliever, but how anyone could arrive at the same conclusions. In other words there's a lot here about how a person moves from being a staunch believer to being the complete opposite.

Another nice feature is the inclusion of much more that criticism of religion. Also included are revealing discussions of things like Magic and the New Age.

As far as I can tell the author is really interested in showing the reader how to best use their minds in order to arrive at an accurate model of how reality works. In this I think the author is to be applauded and highly recommend this book to anyone.

Excellent discussion for those of us who have questions about religion. Mr Smith has the ability to ask and explain about ideas which have confused many of us but have never been truly answered. I highly recommend this for those who have wondered about the unquestioned philosophy of religion.

Bruce A. Smith's slim but vital volume belongs in the library of every thinking person. Smith raises the magnifying glass of reason to fallacies most of us have believed at one point in our lives, including:
Office clichés ("Change is good" - but is it always?),
Astrology (in which the twelve signs are so generalized we can see pieces of ourselves in every one, no matter what month we were born in),
The nature of truth (which remains truth no matter who says it or whether or not we like it),
And that tangled mass of doublespeak, hypocrisy, and bloodletting known as the Holy Bible (after you read this chapter, you will never again see it as a moral guide).
He also shows us what's left when we learn to see the world clearly - a peaceful acceptance of life as it is that, believe it or not, can bring us greater joy than any superstitious fantasy we can come up with. Reason, it turns out, is not a cold, heartless tool -- it's our friend, and it can steer us away from beliefs and actions that are just bad for us.

I enjoyed reading about Bruce A. Smith's journey from religious follower to agnostic and finally to atheism, through logic and reason. My journey, although along a different path, ended up at a similar destination. This book was easy to read, it was easy to follow his reasoning and logic, and although I may not agree with all of his conclusions, I enjoyed the journey. But then, we all must follow our own path and hope we find other travelers along the way. He makes his case through wit and logic, not through preaching nor insults. I recommend this book to anyone who is either curious as to how someone can be swayed from the path of belief, or to someone who is starting their own personal journey. Your destination may ultimately be a different one, but it's worth the trip.

Courageous! Bruce A. Smith applies critical thought to man's oldest questions. He doesn't pussy-foot around. Rather, he dives right in, immersing the reader, forcing the reader to follow his personal journey from the Bible belt to atheism.

Shuck the idea that philosophy has to be packaged in gigantic tomes crafted centuries ago by writers long since converted to dust. Smith is a modern day wit and thinker who presents his arguments in an easy, down to earth style.

"The Path of Reason" may not be for everyone. For some, it may frighten, possibly offend. Others will find comfort. I guarantee you "The Path..." will, absolutely, challenge you to think. For anyone who has ever pondered thoughts about why are we here and where are we going, this one is must reading. I rated this work a solid A plus!
William DeNisi - author of Trinity, and Choking Sam.

Once again, editors of the well known textbook of pediatric surgery publish an obligated refernce book for all pediatric surgeons, pediatricians, and practitioners. This new edition is updated and the refernces at the end of each chapter are an excelnet complement.

Very nice text covering pediatric surgery. Covers a multitude of topics w/ good explanations and well drawn pictures outlining the key points of the operation. More oriented to the actual surgery, would recommend something like Ashcraft for more in depth discussion of pathophysiology.

A long overdue updated edition of the Paediatric Surgery 'Bible'.The new panel of authors have maintained the traditionally excellent charecter and readability of the book.It has been throughly updated and many sections rewritten.A extensive and exhautive reference book for all surgeons involved in the care of babies and children.

This is the new edition of the "classic" textbook of Pediatric Surgery. It is the most comprehensive text available on the subject, a must for all practicing pediatric surgeons and aspiring pediatric surgeons. Perhaps a bit too comprehensive for non-pediatric surgeons looking for a simple reference book to keep on their shelf. Nevertheless, even in its fifth edition, this remains the "bible" of Pediatric Surgery.

This two-volume textbook is the definitive reference book for pediatric surgery as practiced in the U. S. and Canada. As a pediatric surgeon, I use it frequently to refresh myself on the more complicated or unusual cases that I encounter. In addition, it is a good source of material for preparing educational presentations for other health care professionals. Every pediatric surgeon or resident in a pediatric surgery residency training program should own this book.

That said, this book is perhaps a bit too much for the general surgery resident or medical student in the middle of a busy pediatric surgery rotation. He or she might do better with Principles of Pediatric Surgery, a single-volume textbook covering the essentials of the subject, also published by Mosby. This other book would probably also best serve other nonsurgical pediatric physicians for pediatric surgery reference purposes.