Smith Books

As a child care provider for over 24 years I found this book to be enlightening and thought provoking. The children I share this book with want to read it over and over again. It stimulates plenty of conversation about accepting each other and understanding our differences.

This is just the sort of book I wanted to find for my grandson! The illustrations are brilliant and the simply special story reminds the little ones that we are all the same. It brought up wonderful dialog and was very thought provoking - I could just see his little brain taking it all in. Now he walks around with the book under his arm wherever we go! Just wonderful!

This book goes to the heart of the matter, showing how similar we are under our skins. It's friendly and sweet-natured, a perfect antidote to the climate of fear and suspicion. Nice to look at too. Children will enjoy it.

I can't say enough about this delightful book. From the beautiful
faces that greet you on the cover to the simple, but important message
found inside. Yes, we are all different...on the outside, but inside we
are really all the same. In this world we live in today this message
is so important and I highly recommend this lovely book.

Henry M. Beaton

This wonderful book is incredibly illustrated by Duncan Smith with rich colorful images that bring the various people of the world to life. Ann Clarke steps us through the variety of people - which is life. From this story we learn to accept people for who they are, because it does not matter if someone is your Sister, another child on the playground, or someone across the world; all of us have feelings and want to be loved for who we are. That is the priceless message of this wonderful book which every child needs to hear; that the world is full of people who are different from ourselves and that each and every one of them has feelings - just like us! Imagine if you can Clarke's world, where everyone is respected and loved, no matter how different from us they may be.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, which incorporated fascinating facts about history and geography with some of the most memorable characters to come along in modern literature. I cared about these people and came to know them and want to know more about them. As one other reviewer commented, the book ended all too soon!

Smith not only creates a credible world, but tells the tale within an imaginative framework.

I'm off to find other books by this wonderful author!

This book brings to mind Shakespeare's The Tempest , and not only because Prospero, in the character of Augustus Starwood, is constantly reciting from it.This is another telling of the classic incidental gathering of travellers on a journey. This time the quest is for bones, old and buried in Northern Montana in 1876. The author has given each character a full life and when they disperse, as all such gatherings do, it's a hard and sorrowful thing.I really liked this book a lot. And I don't say that about every book I read.

I read this book at a gallop. But when I was finished I was sorry I had reached the end so quickly.

Diane Smith has an utterly original mind. Her books are unlike any others I have read. She is intelligent, witty and imaginative and so are the characters she invents. Ms. Smith is never predictable. If you think you know what is coming next you will find yourself proven wrong.

I have been reading and thinking for half a century and I found things on the pages of this book that left we breathless with wonder.

I won't go into detail. Read this one for yourself and see if you, too, aren't pleasantly surprised.

After reading Ms. Smith's first book, "Letters from Yellowstone", I eagerly awaited the release of this new effort. Set again in Montana, the scope of her new story is grander and even more riveting. Once more, the main character is a woman whose fate is cast amongst a group of men in pursuit of their own peculiar ambitions. Smith has created characters here that are rich and complex; and the story, which revolves around the search for dinosaur bones in the 19th Century, is a marvelous journey into our American past and into the minds & hearts of the principles involved. The star of the show is most definitely Augustus Starwood, the eccentric artist who accompanies our heroine....Eleanor Peterson....on her commission to illustrate the potential findings of the Montana expedition. And though the narrative revolves around his work and his oft bizarre personality, the narrative itself is told through the experience of Miss Peterson who evolves into an enduring and fascinating figure. Beyond the enticing prospects of fossil discovery and the importance (or frivolity) of these efforts, we are treated to a group of people literally torn loose from their moorings after the Civil War; thrown into the most extraordinary circumstances.....and the revelation of their innermost desires and fears are amplified throughout this finely crafted book. A true pleasure to read.....and certainly a treat for anyone who enjoyed Smith's previous effort.

I also read Diane Smiths first book and while that was a good read this book is head and shoulders above it. Augustus has to be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. Its the way Ms. Smith weaves the tale that makes this book so memorable.She brings together all the different races, politics and nature colliding that were the west.I never knew that Dino digging started that far back and the skulduggery that went with it. I also did not really think of the newspapers playing to public opinion by using pro Indian or Wild Savage photos to promote a cause. This is a heartbreakingly beautiful novel.My only complaint is the Library Journal review above in which a key plot line is given away.Can't you get better reviewers than this.

This was a cute book. I use it as a first grader teacher in my math unit.

Pig, Pigger, Piggest should not be overlooked! This is a great example of why authors change a memorable story like the three little pigs into something imaginative and innovative. Pig, Pigger, Piggest also bridges the gap in reading from read to me, to let me try to read. My 5 year old loves pigs and requested this book on the name alone. Pig, Pigger, Piggest is cute, funny and a great wierd read. My son still reads this one. Its illustrations are hysterical. The plot is wierd but semi predictable. And yet, it's not the same old story. Pig is the smallest, Pigger is larger, and Piggest is the largest pig. They are a bit uppity and meet three witches: Witch, Witcher and Witchest. The story rolls from there but it's cute and worth a read. I love it, my son loves it and he can read it himself so I guess that's more of a review in itself. He likes the book. I think it's cute and it's worth a read!

I have a growing collection of works that are variations of classic folk and fairytales. This is one of the cleverest reworkings of the 3 Little Pigs I've seen. In the literacy program I am working on in Chicago Public Schools, we are using this book in several intermediate grade classrooms as an engaging way to teaching a point of grammar (comparative and superlative forms) and as one of a series of 3 Little Pig stories we are comparing--the end goal is to turn the kids into authors of their own "fractured fairy tale."

In a loose retelling of the story of the Three Little Pigs, author Rick Walton provides a romp through the world of superlatives. Join Pig, Pigger, and Piggest as they build their homes from the mud, muddier, and muddiest places. Of course there are the mean witch, witcher, and witchest, who seek to bring trouble into the lives of the pigs, but in a surprise ending everything turns out for the best for everyone. A fun book that is sure to keep children entertained Pig Pigger Piggest gets a high, higher, highest recommendation.

As a first grader teacher, this is the BEST book to really drive home the comparison of big, bigger, and biggest (and similar ideas). The students really enjoyed predicting what the next -er and -est would be once they heard "cheap sheep", "tall wall", "squeak", "cat", "witch", "huff and puff", etc. The story line was even OK for a children's book, but it's definitely worth it just for learning the skill of adding -er and -est to words!!

This book hits the nail on the head. Derek Hess' beautifully disturbing art is punctuated by the smart, provocative words of Kent Smith (and vice versa).

In addition to capturing the malcontent of a huge majority of this nation, Hess & Smith have created the perfect forum in which to exercise their First Amendment rights. For all of us that are tired, saddened, infuriated and so forth by what our government has become in the past eight years, this book is a mandatory as it provides a voice for all of us.

Also, as a long time fan of Derek Hess' art, it is refreshing and exciting to see him break away from his rock-n-roll roots and utilize his skill and creativity to convey such an important message to the masses. Please God Save Us is an important and worthy addition to any book collection.

We're all irritated with the Country and Christian Right telling us how to vote on Proposition 8, but do we say anything about more than "this sucks"? Fortunately, Kent Smith can, and does so in an educated, rational manner, addressing everything such as Dick Cheney's Halliburton debacle, the cost per day of the Iraq war, the perversion of Christianity's original message, reasons behind the continual veto of Stem Cell Research and lighter topics such as why Santa and SpongeBob were blacklisted and Jimmy Buffett ties with Slayer on the evil scale. More than just a complement, Derek Hess's brilliantly messy and melancholic Ashley Wood meets Bill Sinkiewicz style paintings (his frequent icon is a morbid Red Elephant), sketches and collages appear on each page, echoing Smith's words (and vice-versa). If the publishers of Ad Busters worked in cohesion and employed a sh**-hot illustrator, the result would be this book.

Having been a fan of Hess's art for years, it is great to have a collection of his work in print. This book showcases his art in an interesting format, with a narrative that will make you think. It's not just pretty pictures, it's some power packed imagery that acts as a visual tour guide to some of the points coming across in the text. It's also an interesting story how Hess came to create this work, and his personal notes are insightful. The books is put together and paced very well. Now that I have had a taste of a collection, I am now ready for the full on retrospective of Derek's work, Bring it.

Please God Save Us is Brilliantly written By Kent Smith and art work by the truly amazing Derek Hess. It exposes the GOP for what it really is, VERY closed minded. Kent and Derek have truly explained the spin the GOP has put on eveything from religion, war, and constitutional rights.
My favorite page is Jose attacking a fox. Myspace, who is owned by the Fox network, removed the "Please God Save Us" page. what ever happened to freedom of speech? Please get a copy of this book before the GOP has it banned.

Anti GOP thoughts on paper & art that shows the GOP as Red BLOODLY elephants (that they are) IT'S PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take well written Smith & combine Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Covers Artist Hess
& MAGIC Happens!!!!!!!!!
i've been waiting for this book since Ronald(6)Wilson(6)Reagan(6), not to say at least for the last 7 1/2 long years
it's a Best Seller in the making
i hope it sells more copies than the Bible
buy it before it's Banned!

I couldn't put this book down! The Politics of Deceit challenged my thinking on many levels. Though I am a regular voter, I often feel a sense of disconnect from the political process. By deftly blending the ideas from a variety of philosophers with his own anecdotal evidence to form a coherent argument for what he calls "freedom-to-experience", Smith has motivated me to engage in a more meaningful political dialogue with neighbors and friends. This intellectually stimulating book has reawakened my desire to explore more fully this grand experiment of democracy -- not as a bystander, but as a full participant.

While this book is titled "The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction" it is, above all, about freedom.

Smith breaks freedom into two primary categories. Freedom to will, he says, imposes restraints on others. Freedom to experience is a more extensive kind of freedom that, while limited at the boundary where others' liberties are encroached upon, also calls for responsibility to find common ground within our various differences.

From his experience in political campaigns he shows how political advertising is calculated for maximum psychological effect and that even those who are aware of its manipulation are not immune from its persuasion. If you remember, for example, a childhood memory of holding Bugs Bunny's hand at Disneyland then you'll be interested to read the chapter on televised ads.

Smith answers the question of "What is to be done" and foresees the internet and the emerging social media web sites such as web logs (blogs) as a means of democratizing the political process by encouraging broader participation.

I recommend this book for those who want to understand the deceitful manipulations of the political machine from a political insider who has a profound command of varied philosophical and scientific perspectives.

For the past several years, I have been disenchanted with the business of politics. The dishonesty, insincerity, and condescension was maddening and insulting. After reading this book, I understand why. According to Smith, we have been robbed of an authentic public sphere. Politics of Deceit delves into the roots of our democracy and defines what freedom means for us all. Smith has done his homework, as he refers to many of our greatest thinkers to back his own ideas. Smith says, it is necessary to redefine freedom because the politics of deceit demoralizes us all by substituting false idols for human freedom, by driving too many from the public sphere, and by creating a virtual polis inhabitied by oppressors who masquerade as liberators. In tackling the subjects of political advertising, news media, and voter suppression, Smith's credibility shines because of his obvious first hand knowledge. He has several practical solutions which give me hope that, if followed, I can make a difference.

Writers like Molly Ivins and Al Franken make us laugh and sometimes angry at how the conservatives maintain so much control in America. Glenn Smith makes us think -- about how we truly got here and how to get out. Smith shows how modern campaign practices -- the politics of deceit from the title -- corrode the system and rob us of our freedoms. To overcome the far right, Smith says progressives should quit trying to fight a war under rules written by the right. Instead, we should turn to the Net and grassroots organizing to reach out to the millions of non-voting Americans who can ultimately turn the tide. In the end, we must embrace the idea that none of us is truly free as long as one of us is not.

Smith is a troubadour of collectivist jingoism. A superior writer he employs the spectrum of propagandist tricks. From the non sequitur juxtaposition of the lynching fest (in the democratically run) old south with the unverified claims of "disenfranchisement" in the 2000 election to the skillfully employed passive voice -- the active voice requires a (falsifiable) subject -- to the howler that MoveOn.org is a grass roots organization he spins a bag of wild hairs from a crackpot old goat into a yarn thats convincing and elegant.

His flawless, graceful composition gives the perpetually banal socialist litany a lyric voice.

If only he used his powers for good instead of evil.

p.s. He took the time to proof read my review and email to me his delight in having a rightwing nutjob review his book. You're welcome.

I've read and/or studied just about everything I could get me hands on regarding using Basic with my PIC's. This book is by far the best.

The author did a fantastic job! It's really a shame that MBasic is an OBSOLETE product that hasn't been updated in several years and does not include any new Pic processors that has been released in the last couple of years.

What Jack Smith has done in this book goes far beyond what the title indicates. It is an excellent tutorial, AND an excellent reference book AND a great project book.

Unlike many programming books, this one also demonstrates the author's engineering expertise by providing details of circuity including the hows and whys of interfacing to PICs, reasons for component parts and values selection, timing charts, 'scope pictures, etc. His choice of projects is excellent, and touches on virtually every application in which a PIC would likely be used.

He also provides a CD loaded with support documentation, source code for all the projects for both the current release and 5.3.0.0, which is due out shortly. He details the differences between the two versions, and provides lots of info on undocumented commands and errata in the MBasic manual. He also includes a free version of 5.3.0.0 which is limited only in the chip it will support, which is one of the best and most popular ones in use today.

As far as the "obsolete" comment made in an earlier review, all I can say is that MBasic has the best feature set of any Basic compiler for PICs that I have seen for the chips it supports, which includes all the most popular ones, incuding my favorites, the 16F876 and '877. The fact that Basic Micro obviously worked with the author to provide a pre-release version of the next release tells me there are no plans to obsolete the program.

I own MicroBasic Pro 5.2. Although the BasicMicro's manual is large and informative, it left out too many facets and explanations for features. In fact, knowledgeable users were constantly alluding to 'hidden' features and undocumented commands and/or extensions in the forums. New and intermediate users were operating at a disadvantage for this reason. This book easily fixes all those shortcomings. The contents cover both the present version, 5.2, and the newest yet-to-be-released version, 5.3, represented in the demo version on the CD.

Jack Smith has done a real service to everyone seeking a pathway to develop projects with one of the industry's most popular and best supported processors - the Microchip PIC. He has documented all the compiler's features, in a clear and concise fashion, that allows the user to realize all the power of this compiler. Every chapter clearly explains the hardware and software relevant to the chapter's subject, and provides numerous useful code examples to get the user started.
The chapter on using ISRASM, MB Pro's interrupt handler, and the chapter that collects together and summarizes all the previously unexplained commands and features, easily makes this book a 'must have'.

The demo compiler supports only the PIC16F876 and its -A version. At present users report that this program doesn't work with Win9x or ME machines, but is OK for Win2000 and XP. This is probably due to the 32 bit nature of the new software. This may change, so refer to their forums and home page for news about this. Basic Micro promises to upgrade from the present version to version 5.3, when released, for free.

After two years of experimenting with different BASIC compilers, I find MB Pro easily the best of the bunch. It has a mix of features and a command set that, for the money, easily makes it a real value. Check it out at basicmicro.com.
If you decide that MB Pro is the compiler for you, then make it a point to buy this book to achieve maximum return on your investment.

This is much more than just a fantastic replacement for the MBasic manual (although it's very good as that). I haven't seen any MBasic tutorials with this much depth anywhere.

It's an AMAZING resource, easily one of the best-written textbooks on any subject that I've seen in a long time. It's laid out in a tutorial format, with each chapter building on the ideas in the previous pages. The book is also easy to use to find specific techniques as you would with a reference book, either with the index, or with the thorough way Jack cross-references related chapters within each chapter.

Jack introduces one or two major concepts in each chapter, such as working with digital outputs, I2C, stepper motors, or HSerial, and then shows how to design the electronics parts of the concept as well, and gives solid reasoning for how he's making design choices along the way. He has a deep understanding of both computer theory and electronics design, but presents both of them in a friendly, non-jargon-y way that I think many experience levels could understand.

It covers everything from the stock MBasic commands, to how to use in-line and standalone assembler where needed, to the undocumented (except in the forums) commands hidden in the language. You even get a CD with a FREE version of MBasic Pro 5.3.0.0 called MBasic876 (It is limited to the 16F876 / '876a parts only, which is not a huge limit). Jack also explains the differences between 5.2.1.1 (the current full release) and 5.3.0.0, AND gives working code for both versions! He even documents all of the mistakes he - and others - have found in the 5.2.1.1 manual, saving much frustration when learning the language.

If you wanted to use this as a textbook, there are "Ideas for Changes to Programs and Circuits" at the end of each chapter, that would make good homework assignments.

The CD also contains all of the code examples from the book (in both 5.2.1.1 and 5.3.0.0 versions, with comments), Linear Technology Circuit Simulation Software\SWCADIII (LTSPICE) circuit simulation tools, and datasheets for all of the parts used in the book.

An extra bonus is the nearly page-long list of references at the end of each chapter, containing information about everything from good 8-bit microcomputer design guides, to where to find current datasheets for the parts used in the chapter, to great freeware resources for the PC.

So far, I have found answers to every question that's stumped me even after reading the Basic Micro forums.

I hope some others can enjoy this as much as I have. It's made me excited again about how much MBasic allows you to do with a PIC.

All the essays in this collection were thought-provoking, but one that I especially enjoyed was by Dan Vogel, "The Prophet Puzzle Revisited." Vogal notes that in one incident, Joseph Smith used his magic stone to see a treasure buried deep in the ground. He also saw the tail feather of a bird on the treasure chest, but when they dug into the earth, they found that the treasure had moved. The tail feather, however, was still there---an obvious case of salting.

In reply to Mormon apologists, Vogal says, "Despite an attempt to minimize his early involvement in treasure searching, Smith was in reality an aggressive and ambitious leader among the competing treasure seers of Manchester, New York" (p. 51).

Vogal was too kind in his use of "minimize." A more accurate description of these efforts would have been "lying for the Lord." See my review for the collection of essays by Mormon "scholars" edited by Donald Parry. Click below on "Echoes and Evidences for the Book of Mormon."

John Sorenson's essay in that collection is especially enlightening. Speaking of Humboldt's "Researches," Sorenson says "the chance is vanishingly small that the learned German's esoteric work would have been accessible anywhere in America except at a handful of the best libraries on the Atlantic seaboard, to which Joseph had no access before the Book of Mormon was published" (1830).

This confident, scholarly statement is completely false.

First, Alexander Humboldt was not an "esoteric" writer; rather, he was one of the most celebrated scholars (and explorers) of his age. Further, I own the book that Mr. Sorenson is referring to, and it is not "esoteric" but written for the general reader. Humboldt visited Thomas Jefferson, and they went to Philadelphia to see the "ninth wonder of the world," the first reconstructed mammoth in about 1805.

Second, Humboldt's "History of New Spain" was advertised on the front page of the Palmyra newspaper (Palmyra Register, October 6, 1818). Thus, there is every reason to believe that Humboldt's "Researches" was also advertized (the surviving issues are incomplete, especially for early dates).

Sorensen was being intellectually dishonest in saying "Researches" was only in east-coast libraries. He knows better. BYU has the microfilm of the Palmyra newspapers.

Every week, long lists of books appeared in the newspapers. The farmers were better informed about the classics than the people living in the area today.

Third, the Smith's subscribed to the newspaper, and they only lived two level miles from the Grandin Book Store. Earlier they lived on Palmyra's Main Street. Joseph's father had been a school teacher, and Joseph's brother Hyrum was on the Manchester School Board. Hyrum was also a member of the Masonic Lodge of Palmyra. Thus, all kinds of books could have easily come to the Smiths by simple borrowing, and lastly, the Smiths taught Bible classes at their house, according to Bushman.

This is not to mention that Joseph Smith's grandfather, Solomon Mack, wrote a religious autobiography when he was 78 (Joseph was ten). The book begins: "I, Solomon Mack" and talks about his parents. The Book of Mormon begins, "I, Nephi" and talks about Nephi's parents. Thus, at an early age, Joseph Smith had a novelists hardest question answered for him: "How do I begin my story?"

The Smith's could have had any book they wanted. Seventy percent of the books sold in the US were published in England and the book trade (both ways) was great--$2.5 million dollars for around 1820 (Joseph was 15 then). Lastly, some 200 book wagons roamed the American countryside selling books--money not being a problem because they accepted produce and bookstores accepted "clean rags" in payment.


Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon

The Prophet Puzzle is a collection of 15 essays about Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith. Previous reviewers have done a great job summarizing the merits of these essays. I echo their fine reviews. The Prophet Puzzle works as a wonderful supplement to any biography on Joseph Smith (be it Brodie, Bushman, Hill, Vogel, etc.), or simply as a stand alone work. The essay by Karl C. Sandberg is worth the purchase price alone. Mormons everywhere, expand your understanding of our great prophet and buy this book! You will come to a better understanding of the man from these 15 essays than you will from a lifetime subscription to Ensign. To everyone else: buy this book and get inside the mind of a complicated man and religious genius.

Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, was one of the most significant religious leaders of the nineteenth century. His efforts sparked the rise of a new religious movement that has proven to be lasting and dynamic. But who was this man Joseph Smith, and what made him unique? That has been a subject of considerable investigation by many observers. This book collects some of the more thoughtful recent explorations of this theme. The fifteen essays in this volume collect several of those previously published in journals as well as adding three that appear here for the first time.

This collection is a welcome addition to the literature on the Mormon prophet neither for its exhaustive consideration nor for the insights offered, but because it collects in one place several important articles on the place of Joseph Smith in the history of American religion. Several of the leading scholars of early Mormonism-among them Richard Bushman, Jan Shipps, and Thomas G. Alexander-are represented in the collection, as are outstanding non-Mormon scholars such as Alan Taylor and Lawrence Foster.

These interpretive essays on Joseph Smith (JS) are a fresh air in the never-ending discussion of this remarkable man. He wasn't like the mysticists or like other grand persons of history, but a farm boy, low-educated, poor: but just after two-three years, he become divine, talking to Jesus and listening to the voice of angels nearly every day. The essays concentrate on this man and on his surrounding. Some essays bring up the work, which were translated/written by him, others go thru some specific points of his history. The essays contribute therefore to a holistic approach of this man.

Sandberg's essay is one of the best about JS. Thru the famous psychologist Jung and his works, he presents a JS who has transcended the material boundaries of language and sign and reached a spiritual salvation - which he describes in plain Enlighs language. This is particularly shown in the last essay, which is JS' own King Folett speach. JS sees himself to have solved the mystery of godhood, glorification and why we are on earth. How wonderful it would be for us normal individuals without any religious connotation to have this self-confidence like JS. I - to be more personal - admire JS. I would never be able to preach polygamy and say it came from god or that I have met an angel and been called for prophethood. Did he ever get nervous?

The answer is sort of ambivalent. The essays of Anderson and Foster tries to analyse JS psychologically. Anderson questions the fact that one could put a diagnose on a dead person, relying on contradictory sources. Foster however, believes that JS was mano-depressive. He means that the only way he could implement polygamy was thru this mano-phase, where one is absolutely sure that everything depends on one issue and is eager to change the world - like becoming a president - JS tried that too, without succes.

Bergera touches this issue of presidency and JS leadership - a good perspective. He bases his essay on the Weberian types of leadership, where charismatic is one of those and apply it on JS. Huggins and England are more interested in JS' as a theologian and a romanticist. Huggins goes thru JS own translation of Romans and finds that already in his revision of Romans, JS tries to excuse polygamy .... England, his style of writing is like a melody, making her best to find JS behind among others the King Folett speach.

One of the best - again - is Staker. Her essay appears for the first time in this compilation and sheds a light on the Book of Abraham and its relation to polygamy. JS introduced polygamy little by little and confined on his closest friends, marrying several of their wives. She finds an interesting link to the foundation of Relief society, which today has become a sort of charity organisation. Read it!

Jan Shipps and her way of ignoring the charlatan-prophet paradox is also in the book. Vogel - like his psychiography "Making of a prophet" promotes his model à la Shipps and treats JS as a pious fraud, a one that believed if white lies could bring humans close to jesus and god, why not lie, ie. the means justifies the end.

Two wonderful backgrounds, one about the New York area of those days - by Bringhurst and an overview of the biograhpies on Smith, from 1830s to 1970s by Alexander, are worth reading too (I'll end up recommending every essay soon....). Two essays treat what was introduced and analysed by Quinn, the magical tradition of early LDS.

Owens - depending a bit too much on "Refiner's fire" enhances JS hermetic side and Taylor, puts JS' treasure seeking in a similar magical context. Very briefly - it seems that the early LDS or the rest of people did not view magic as contradictory to religion. As this changed over time, LDS tried to minimise this context. I believe that this magical adventurous side of JS actually prepared make a prophet of him.

It is wonderful that a traditionalist appears in Signature among all the "heathens", hihi! We have Bushman, who thru his balanced view of history writes about JS' as a translator. His way of mentioning Book of Abraham is diplomatic. A very very "quoty" essay is the one by Wagoner and Walker. They go thru several sources about the translation process.

Will the book change a traditionalist view of prophethood? I don't know. I believe that much of being a prophet, is to be confirmed as such. In Swedish we say that beauty lies in the viewer's eye - funny it sounds in English. I have learned that being perfect - which is expected from president, popes and prophets - is a process and you can never say I am perfect and all-knowing today. If JS had the research about bible close to hand, maybe every thing would have been different. Maybe. If JS would be a feminist, he wouldn't introduce polygamy, or if he would, he would allow women to have several men. But as always, he was a child of his time and this influenced his religious and spiritual expressions. I don't believe he lied, I think he was sure of what he was doing, I think that he had this burning in the bosom all his life and tried to express this wonderful feeling by writing spiritual work. Gosh, I sound so "Pollyannish", hm.

Signature Books should be congratulated for their "Essays on Mormonism" series. Each volume gathers together important, even classic essays on a single topic in Mormon studies in convenient book form--essays that usually appeared in hard-to-find, rare periodicals. This book in the series is devoted to Joseph Smith, with essays that range from orthodox defence of the faith like that of Richard Bushman, to naturalistic disbelief like that of Dan Vogel. Other volumes in this series include "Faithful History", "Tending the Garden" and "Multiply and Replenish."

Some women might want to call "The Red Green Show" chauvinist because there's nothng but men on it. Have you ever noticed that? Actually, I can remember one episode that had a beautiful model pretending to be Bernice, Red's never-seen wife. But that was the one and only woman I have ever seen on the show. I said women COULD call it chauvinist, but if they watched it, they SHOULDN'T. It's a show that does nothing but make fun of men. And it is funny.

This book takes some of the best material from the show and kind of throws it together. You'll meet pretty much all of the Possum Lodge members; a wierd collection of some of the goofiest regular guys you'll ever meet. I'm a particular fan of Buzz Sherwood who alledgedly can fly his airplane around Possum Lake, but when you're that stoned all the time, how do you do it? You might be glad to learn O.L.D.M.A.N. Sedgwick's full name.

If you're a regular viewer of the TV show, then you don't need me to tell you to buy this book. If you haven't seen the show, find it somewhere on you local PBS station, or gripe to the station for not carrying it and get one of the videos. Then, maybe you'll appreciate this book and maybe you'll buy it, or something.

Well, Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati. (you'll need to read the book or watch the show carefully to figure that out.)

This book is all of the hilariousness of The Red Green Show laid out in book format. There's Red giving advice to middle age guys, Harold's advice to teens, Red's songs, Harold's for-sale and other announcements, and so forth. I recognized some of these from the show, but by no means all. (Then again, I have not been lucky enough to see every episode.) Then, there's piles of information on Possum Lodge: the pledge, the charter, the rules (yes, they have some), Lodge merit badges, a history of Possum Lake, the transcript of a Lodge meeting (complete with Old Man Sedgwick, Stinky Peterson, Moose Thompson, et al.), a Meet Your Member bio of many member, [pant, pant, pant] and so much more!

This book is great. As soon as I got it I immediately started reading it out loud to my wife (her gardening book couldn't possibly have been as good as this one!). Don't be fooled, the jokes start right at the beginning of the book (if you can find it). This is a great book, a must-have for all Red Green Fans. Hurry up and buy it!

Nobody should be without this book! It is a real piece of humour in writing!!! Great as a gift idea for anyone!!!

If you love the show you'll love this book!

I bought this book for my husband, because he loves the show. He has had to fight me to get hold of it to read. It is a must buy!

For many years I gleaned new insights and fell in love with God all over again through this wonderful collection of inspirational works. Early in my Christian life I encountered A.W. Tozer's great pastoral works and have remained challenged with each reading. It has been said that modern American Christianity is 3,000 miles wide and less than an inch thick; Mr. Tozer's work is a challenge to that assertion. Of all the Protestant writers/teachers, his work seems to provide the greatest depth in mysticism and practical implications of living one's faith since Jonathan Edwards in the 17th century. It would be difficult to find a more spiritually rewarding evangelical Protestant devotional work than this one.

This book is great news as the author A. Tozer is not afraid to expose the Apostate church and those who sit in its pews. The book does not entirely focus on the subject of Apostasy, but it does just about every chance he gets. This book will open your eyes and will help you not to be deceived by false prophets. I am the owner of James Russell Publishing.com who does not publish Tozers book, but I highly recommend it to our readers.

Tozer was a man out of time. This devotional, a culling of his writings, is profound in its prophetic vision, providing a far more serious challenge to the life of committed believers than most of the pap that passes for devotionals today.

More than anything, the profound depth of Tozer's wisdom and his love for the people of God come sparkling through. If the purpose of a devotional is to get one thinking and meditating on the Bible, Renewed Day by Day more than accomplishes this task.

A must have for those looking to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ.

This book rivals Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Hightest" in clarity and depth of spiritual thought. Tozer's full theological understanding and personal experience are represented in personal daily devotions. His concern is for the individual believer's walk, scriptural understanding and the mental and spiritual health of the church. Definitely worth having in a devotional library!

This book rivals Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Hightest" in clarity and depth of spiritual thought. Tozer's full theological understanding and personal experience are represented in personal daily devotions. His concern is for the individual believer's walk, scriptural understanding and the mental and spiritual health of the church. Definitely worth having in a devotional library!

There are many, many bits and pieces of useful advice and direction to guide retirees or soon to be retirees floating around in the book world. This book has done a masterful job of bringing most of the key decision factors and issues together under one "roof". Not only are the standard factors-finance, climate, entertainment etc covered but personal emotional and physciological issues are covered. The handling of death, care giving, emotional trauma are covered. Perhaps a most useful feature are the numerous matrices and check list tables throughout the book. Example-the check list of values Vs time allocated to these values will let a lot of people decide what is really important to their retirement "health".This allows management of time and prevents frustration.

The Retirement Sourcebook is a buoyant guide to the later years. Loaded with possibilities as well as helpful realities, this book is an invaluable asset in refining your vision of the life you'd most like to lead. The authors are ebullient examples of retirees who have blossomed after leaving the structured workplace. They share their wisdom ("when you have time, you have options") as well as their considerable practical knowledge. And there is no shortage of inspiration with role models cited ranging from Colonel Sanders to Mother Teresa.

The chapter on financial issues alone is worth the price of admission. The authors, experts at "working the web," sift through the mountain of information available for the nuggets that will help you make an informed decision.

If you yearned to see Alaska but considered it too expensive or thought a condo on a golf course would be a tranquil place to live, read this book before you make any decisions.

The Retirement Sourcebook covers nothing less than the entire gamut of human experience from stress and living wills to how to get rid of junk mail.

You'll be referring to it for years to come.

This is a fantastic book about that most exciting life cycle stage--retirement. But retirement doesn't mean "to retire" as in relaxing, taking it easy or doing little. Retirement can be the most fulfilling and rewarding time of your life and it is often the most active time as well. But to get the most out of it requires careful planning...and that is what The Retirement Sourcebook provides. Mary Helen and Shuford Smith have thoroughly researched their subject and leave no aspect unexamined. The book is full of ideas and answers. Nancy Holmes, Retired from private practice in family therapy and currently manager of an art gallery

This book, which is aimed at the mid-life adult contemplating retirement, is comprehensive, clearly written, and wonderfully current. I purchased it for the Senior Collection our local library, and I will use it myself as I look ahead to retirement.

Mary Helen and Shuford Smith recognize that successful retirement is a process requiring much more than choosing a pleasant place to live. Lots of decisions, opportunities and challenges accompany the retirement journey, and the authors offer excellent tools for addressing them. Some of the tools are self-evaluative, while others look outward, pointing to other avenues we can explore along the way.

In fact, part of the book?s success stems from the fact that it provides sound advice on a variety of topics without getting bogged down on any one subject. Instead, it offers suggestions about other resources--books, documents, organizations, web sites, etc. The web sites, especially, extend our reach in remarkable new ways.

The highlight of this book for me, however, is the way it is written. Every time I pick it up, I feel as if I?m being introduced to yet another member of a circle of wise friends. The authors draw much of their material from interviews with retired people, and nuggets from those conversations are sprinkled liberally throughout the book. These new friends are people who have done it right--or who have learned from a mistake or two?and I mean to pay attention to what they have to say.

I picked up the book at10 p.m and couldn't put it down for an hour. Three years ago I left my job to begin a dream; so I was fascinated with how it might apply to me. This book gives you ideas, data, and places to find out more. I found myself in the pages and it made me laugh. Most importantly, it conveys a vision of what this part of our lives can be.