Spencer Books

This was a major letdown. While one might be somewhat entertained by it, you won't come away from it with any understanding of anything. The writing is vague and the scientific methods are hardly mentioned. I suppose the author or his editors were afraid of scaring people. Here's the entire description of restriction enzymes: "...biochemical techniques can generate DNA fragments of a particular length based on their sequence." That's it. He manages to take a few sentences to vaguely describe gel electrophoresis, but of course never bothers to use the term "gel electrophoresis." Don't bother with this one.

I really got a lot out of this book--it's a bit of a dry read at times, and some of the genetic science gets a little bit heavy (particularly in the beginning), but I learned a lot from reading. A lot of quotable new ideas in here that I wanted to talk about with friends immediately--the extinction of Neanderthals, the early advent of modern humans in Australia, the difference between human and animal as appreciated by a simple grammatical structure, and the ability to track lineage from placental and Y chromosom DNA being some things that spring immediately to mind. Worth dipping into.

I absolutely loved this book! I think the Genographic Project is amazing. Sadly I wish more people could accept Evolution. It's just hard for some to break away from indoctrination.

Excellent reading and documentary. This subject really fascinate me because it provide important information about the origins of population in the whole world -- and I was interested in knowing more about the origins of the Indians of South America. The author's impressive work, allow us to trace our origins via some genetic markers, from the Y chromosome and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and is interesting how, for example, we can establish that Neanderthal could not have mixed with Cromagnons since mtDNA differs a great deal compare to Homosapiens and also because there is no indicative marker in European people about the event in the period of possible mixing between the two "species", so in this way we can discard a likely interbreeding between a male Neanderthal and a female Homosapiens --- though we cannot say that interbreeding was not possible.

The author also makes use of the the history of languages to explain its correlation with our genetic patterns, another very interesting subject to read about (for example, the book "A Short History of Languages"). After reading this book I really would like to know my markers, but at least I have a hint of them.

Note: I already have my Y Chromosome Analysis if anyone with same lastname wants to compare.

I came to know about Dr Wells' work through the PBS documentary and I made sure that I got it on video so that I could slowly digest the information in it. I was amazed at the findings that we all have a common ancestor from Africa and as recently as only 60 thousand years ago! As the documentary stated at the end, any notions of racism and bigotry based on race after this discovery is just plain wrong and parochial and the implications is that we have no excuse to try and segregate but instead it makes more sense to integrate and work to a common cause: the betterment of the human race.

Still, as any movie is constrained by time, I was sure that there must have been more to this than was presented and so I decided to get the book as well. I wasn't disappointed; there are loads more information here that added to my understanding from what I learned from the video. Although it is around 200 pages long, I found it to be an easy read for the layman like myself with little technical jargon used that is not fully explained.

Wells has got a talent for simplifying complex ideas for lay understanding. If you liked the PBS documentary and want to understand further then this book is the one to get.

Highly recommended.

On the plus side we do get a look into the workings of the NYPD which I found fascinating. But Kerik is a shameless self promoter. I was almost embarrassed to read some of his self praise. Of course his story is perfect for an American audience -- we love someone who achieves much more then his background would predict. But we would also like our heroes to be a bit humble while they achieve so much. Some of the writing is uneven, especially the storyline of his mother. Since he has so little data on his mother, its difficult for him to generate a very engaging story there. If you like police stories and can find this book on deep discount you'll be pleased with it.

I could not put this book down! Bernard Kerik tells his story by telling the story of the heroes he encounters along the way. His life experiences are sometimes normal, other times anything but normal and all make for a fascinating read.

GIVEN KERIK'S REPORTED MOB TIES, AMORALITY AND CASHING IN ON THE 9/11 TRAGEDY, IT'S NO SURPRISE TO READ THIS CON JOB PIECE OF FICTION. HIS GHOSTWRITER IS PROBABLY A FICTION WRITER BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT IS WELL WRITTEN, THE STORY IS A FRAUD. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN SAUDI ARABIA? HE STALKED AND TERRORIZED WOMEN ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST. WHY DIDN'T MR. LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO CLAIMED TO BE SO HIGHLY SKILLED THAT HE COULD TRACK DOWN THE BIGGEST DRUG LORDS IN THE WORLD...TRACK DOWN HIS OWN INFANT DAUGHTER --THE ONE HE ABANDONED? HOW ABOUT THE TRUTH? HE IS A CON MAN, ABANDONED HIS OWN CHILD, IS EGOMANIACAL AND IS NOTHING MORE THAN A THUG. HE WRITES ABOUT SOME TEACHER IN SCHOOL WHO TOLD HIM HE WOULD NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. GUESS WHAT? HE WAS RIGHT. BERNARD KERIK IS JUST WHAT THAT TEACHER SAID HE'D BE. A BIG ZERO.

This is an engaging, well-written memoir of a man who came from a disadvantaged background, a high school drop out who, with a little help from his friends, pulled himself up by his boot straps, eventually becoming New York City's fortieth Police Commissioner in 2000.

Born to an alcoholic mother who worked as a prostitute and was eventually murdered, Kerik grew up in the mean streets of Newark and Patterson, New Jersey, and eventually dropped out of high school. A devotee of martial arts, he become a third degree black belt and joined the military, a career choice that was to give focus to his life. From then on, it was a natural segue into law enforcement.

The book takes the reader on a trip down memory lane through Kerik's colorful life from his inauspicious birth to the 2001 World Trade Center attack. Kerik details his rise from warden of a Patterson, New Jersey jail to a member of the NYC police Department, then NYC Commissioner of Corrections, and, ultimately, NYC Police Commissioner. Police buffs will especially enjoy Kerik's war stories of his days as a foot soldier of NYPD, from his early days as a rookie cop to his faced paced, adrenalin rush days as a member of the DEA/NYPD Task Force.

Very loyal to friends and family, Kerik is clearly a complex man with a lot of natural ability, a virtual diamond in the rough with an uncanny knack for rising to the top in whatever he does. Despite his lack of formal education, Kerik was always able to think out of the box and adopt new ways of looking at old problems. This, coupled with natural leadership ability, made him a force with which to be reckoned. His friendship with Rudolph Giuliani, in those early days when Rudy was running for Mayor of New York City, eventually helped secure Kerik a prominent berth in city government. Whether it was as the Commissioner of Corrections, where he was able to bring Riker's Island, a local NYC penal colony, up to snuff, or as Commissioner of NYPD, where Kerik did much to quell community dissatisfaction with the police, Kerik did manage to leave his mark.

Still, there are little hints of an Achilles heel and chinks in the personal integrity of this man of supposed steel and honor that are revealed in this book. I was struck by the fact that Kerik, while Police Commissioner, seemingly thought it was alright to use resources of the NYC Police Department to try and unravel the mystery surrounding his mother's death years earlier in Ohio. Even though years later he was eventually made to pay back the money that those investigative efforts cost, I was surprised to see that at the time he was using members of the NYC Police Department as his own private investigators, he did not think that this was an inappropriate use of public resources for a private matter.

Unfortunately, this little chink in his personal integrity would come to bite him on the butt when Giuliani recommended him in 2004 to President Bush for the position of Secretary of Homeland Security. A background check would reveal a number of problems, some of them minor, some less so. In 2006, Kerik eventually plead guilty to misdemeanors on state charges related to his ethics in having accepted about $165,000 in renovations to his Riverdale, NY apartment in 1999 to 2000 from a construction company with alleged mob ties. At the time, that construction company was seeking to do business with the City of New York, and Kerik is alleged to have used his connections to lobby on that construction company's behalf. Moreover, that same company also gave Kerik's brother a high paying job. This beleaguered former NYC Police Commissioner has now been indicted by a federal grand jury on sixteen counts of fraud and corruption.

This is simply the story of a man who, through his own hubris, thought he could do no wrong, and in doing so, eventually lost everything.

I would have rated in 5 stars for the quality of the story, but now that I know the majority of it has elements of untruth, it gets one star, and only because I can't rate it any lower. He also left out a lot of things, like at least one marriage. How do you forget THAT?

Based on the things that came out later, he probably should have been IN Riker's Island, not running it. He sounds like someone who gets promoted because nobody likes them and there isn't enough on them to get them fired.

It's hard to get a sequel as good as the original- especially if it's the second in a trilogy. Birmingham pulls it off. He writes with such realism, spontaneity, and wit, that one feels like they are actually in the trenches, actually dealing with merging 21st and 20th century technology, actually in a room with Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. We feel the palpable tension of a world going to pot- and we feel this from a nearly infinite number of perspectives.

I found I was missing the chapter introductions of the first book, which told me what time and date it was. I also enjoyed the tighter storyline in the first book, without the constant jumping across continents just at the moment of most intense action. But this reduces Designated Targets to a 4.9 instead of a 5. It is still exquisitely written. It would seem that Birmingham has been in all the places he's described, and experienced everything that his characters have experienced. Nearly every character is round and evolving. It is hard to convincingly write Hoover's perspective as well as that of an enlightened 21st century woman fighting against racism.

Perhaps the saddest thing to realize is the effects the fight on terrorism is having on us all. Birmingham also convincingly writes the perspective of the 1940s and the 2020s. In the midst of the vileness towards blacks, women, and Jews that we see in those of the 1940s, we also see the cavalier attitude that those of the 2020s have towards violence and the deaths of others- innocents or the guilty. Fighting a long struggle has endued them with an incredible lack of compassion, and a thirst for vengence. It is convincing, because one sees the roots of such ideals in today's society, as we slowly become the children of tomorrow.

This is the middle volume in an exciting series of three books in which a force from the 21st century is accidentally sent back in time to 1942 and throws the history World War two onto a completely different course.

I found the first two episodes in this trilogy so fascinating that when I learned that the final instalment had been published in Australia several months before the US and UK releases I could not wait, but had to order this one from Oz. None of the books in the series disappointed me.

The full "Axis of Time" trilogy is

Weapons of Choice
Designated Targets
Final Impact

In the first book, "Weapons of Choice" a multinational carrier battle fleet from the 21st century is accidentally sent back in time to 1942 when a scientific experiment goes wrong. They arrive in the middle of the US fleet which would have been about to win the battle of Midway, which immediately causes a major "friendly fire" incident; meanwhile the Japanese fleet which should have been sunk gets wind that something very odd is happening and escapes.

A different story in which a military unit was sent back to World War II might have given them a dilemma; should they intervene on the allied side, or try to minimise their impact in the hope of getting back through the wormhole to their own time without changing the past? Birmingham never gave his characters that option, as their arrival itself changed events beyond any hope of putting the timeline back in place. In this book his 21st century characters are struggling to make the best of the world they now find themselves in.

What happened at Midway was bad enough, although the the arrival on the Western side of a 21st century carrier battle group is more than enough compensation. But a second problem is that, while the great majority of the multinational force is thrown back as a unit and arrive together, one or two ships turn up in other parts of the world and are captured by bad guys so that some modern technology and knowledge of the future which would have happened fell into the hands of the Soviet Union, Imperial Japanese, and Nazis. Once they have overcome their disbelief, Stalin, Hitler, and Imperial Japanese alike resolve not to repeat the mistakes which in our timeline consigned them to the dustbin of history.

The men and women from the 21st Century face a continuing struggle both to adapt to the very difficult world they find themselves in, and to persuade the "temps" (short for contemporary) from their own side to accept such things as an African-American U.S. Marine colonel, and a Royal Navy Commander who is a half-asian woman. I would like to think that my parents and grandparents' generations would have treated members of the 21st century forces better than they are treated in this book: however, no doubt that Mr Birmingham is right that some people would have treated them well and others very badly. The treatment of J Edgar Hoover, who is very prejudiced against the 21st century people and makes a real nuisance of himself, is quite entertaining.

Mr Birmingham takes the view that Japanese members of the multinational force, and other people in an anomalous position such as a 21st century Russian special forces officer, would regard the current rulers of their home countries as tyrants and put loyalty to their 21st century comrades before loyalty to country. However, the "temps" have great difficulty trusting Japanese and this is perhaps the worst of the many problems with the multinational force have in getting on with their new allies.

The action scenes in the book are very well done and make it almost impossible to put down; there is also some excellent use of humour. One of the members of the multinational force from the 21st Century is Prince Harry, who has become a Colonel in the S.A.S; throughout the trilogy there are some amusing lines and situations involving him.

None of the books in this trilogy are suitable for those of a squeamish disposition. Faced with Axis and Soviet powers who have become even more cruel and ruthless in their desperation to avoid defeat, the allies have to be almost equally brutal to defeat them. I can't remember reading a story in which the "good" guys kill so many millions of innocent people since E.E. "Doc" Smith's Lensman series. (More so even than in the real WW2, which is saying something.) Birmingham rarely goes for the easy answer and this is a series in which horrible things often happen to good people - and in which good people do horrible things.

Nevertheless, if you are into alternative history or war stories, and provided you are not squeamish, you will very probably enjoy the "Axis of Time" trilogy.

One thing that struck me was the usage of bad words so frequently.
Churchill, Heinz Guderian, etc too wrote about World War and he not even once did they use a single bad word.

I found this book while killing some time in a bookstore. Even tho' it was the second volume of a trilogy, and the first volume wasn't available, I took the plunge anyway. I have not been disappointed in the decently-paced and better-than-usual alternate history aspect of this tale. I'm burned out on Harry Turtledove, so I was pleasantly surprised by Birmingham's easy to read prose. The plot line is NOT telegraphed ahead, and a lot of the chaacters are well developed to a point where readers can actually identify with them.There are a few "clunkers" as semi-major characters, but I have enjoyed the careful weaving of many recent day celebrities (i.e.: Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and John Kennedy) into the fabric of the story.

I will read the entire series without fail. Not perfect, but good enough to entertain me...4 stars.

Weapons of Choice (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 1, 2004)
Designated Targets (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 2, 2005)
Final Impact (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 3, 2007)


I've now read all three of John Birmingham's "Axis of Time" novels -- which amount to one long novel, so don't start at #2! -- and warmly recommend the books to mil-SF and alternate-history fans. To reprise, a naval task force from 2021 is diverted to 1942 by a DARPA teleportation experiment gone spectacularly wrong. In the confusion of the transition, the moderns sink most of Admiral Spruance's fleet, enroute to the Battle of Midway. Oops....

The three books go on to re-fight WW2, and show once again that the oldest cliche' can look fresh in the hands of a good writer with a new approach. Birmingham's innovation here is that the world of 1942 suddenly knows how the next eighty years would play out, if nothing changes. So the Big Losers -- Hitler, Tojo and Stalin -- are frantically trying to rewrite history to keep from going down in flames "again". And the winners must guard their "historic" victory... It's a riveting, twisty, violent story, and man, do those pages turn.

The Axis of Time is a good reminder of just how bad the mid-20th century was, and just how monstrous Hitler and Stalin were. And how warfare brings out the best -- and worst -- in "good" people (and bad). Some of the expedients the "good guys" resort to, to win, are appalling. Which isn't to say, not necessary....

Birmingham's near-future is a rather grim place, and the interactions of 2021 with 1942 are very nicely done. The past is a different country, and the multi-racial men and women-warriors from the 21st century make the folk of 1942 *very* uncomfortable. And vice-versa.

Birmingham, a well-known Australian humorist, is making his first venture into SF here. He's done his homework, and he's an exceptionally good storyteller. The Axis of Time books are thoughtful page-turners. His writing style and pacing are still a little rough, and there's a huge plot-logic flaw in the first book. The books still rock. Start with the first, Weapons of Choice, and you'll soon know if the series suits your taste.

Book #3, Final Impact, ends with the end of WW2 -- the three books are WW2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 in the Birmoverse -- but with little resolution, which has upset some readers. Birmingham has a contract to continue the series into the Cold War (CW1.1, 1.2), with the next book scheduled for Fall 2007 (Australia). I'll be reading it. And you should read WW2.1--2.3. Not perfect books, but pretty darned good.

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman
Review first published at SF Site

Someone recommended this book to me ages ago, and it's languished on my TBR pile because I could never get past the title. Even now, knowing what goes on in the book, I hate it. It really does the book no favors because the mystery of Ukiah's heritage which is supposed to carry the first two-thirds of the book becomes not a mystery at all. It becomes a waiting game for Ukiah to catch up to the reader, which lessened my connection to him during that time. I also got drastically slowed down by the florid writing and exposition dumps in the first few chapters. Seriously, I almost put it down. I'm glad I didn't. About a third of the way into the story, the writing smoothed out into something more readable for me, and the story itself started getting more engaging.

There are never really any surprises in this as most developments get telegraphed in advance, but the characters and the depth of feeling between them helps to compensate for that. I liked the relationship between Ukiah and his partner Max best; Max filled a much needed role in the young man's life. Though I liked the character of Agent Indigo Zheng, I didn't really believe the instant love that happened between her and Ukiah. Still, it was nice to see a strong woman who wasn't a bitch. I'll be picking up the second book in the series. In the end, it's worth it to hang around these characters more.

I have read this entire series and just cant get enough. Wen Spencer has to hit my to 10 sci-fi authors list with this series. An absolutely killer twist with character development on steroids. If you buy this book be ready to fork out for the rest of the series. Its like MM's you just cant stop at one.

I just want to know when the next book in this series comes out.

I really enjoyed this novel, and like other readers, it inspired me to get two of the other two books in the series. The characters are sympathetic, and the book is well-paced. If you like scifi and werewolf stories and mysteries, you'll probably like this.

Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. This is a series that pulls you in and engages you with the characters and plot. Very well thought out. I hope Spencer continues with this character, I'm impatient for more of Ukiah's adventures.

I've just finished the series of four Ukiah Oregon novels - twice! READ THEM IN ORDER!!! Detective stories aren't usually a reread for me, especially right away, but I've reread these before they are due back at the library, and I think I'll buy my own copies sometime in the near future. I've loved her other works, and now I think I'll make her an autobuy. Wen Spencer is a good author who doesn't find one successful universe and stick there, rewriting the same type of story over and over (see Tinker), but I'll definitely read more about Ukiah!

I don't "do" literary analysis, but I didn't find the writing style bad, as some have. It must be a matter of taste. I also won't review the plot, as has already been done.

The mystery of discovering who he is drew me in despite the gruesomeness of some of the scenes. The relationships were good. I like characters who I can respect and who are, at the same time, not perfect. I like the slow character maturation.

Warning, the third novel in the series has some "off-camera" violence against very young children.

This is definitely worth a try, and I think you'll be sucked in as I have been by this excellent and inventive writer.

This is, by far, one of the best books that I have ever read. Those folks that have reviewed it and wondered where the "proof" is are stuck in perpetual la-la land. The tragic events of 9-11 are forever ingrained into the American culture. This book should be a "must read" for every American. Jere Longman is a great story-teller.

Deora,Todd,Jeremy,Tom,Wanda and the rest of the heroes, including United 93's original pilots, should all be read about by every American. Reading this book is the best way I can think of to gain a bit of information about these American Heroes and the lives they lived. It's good to know about the people who stopped Mohammad Atta and the four other terrorists on their evil mission.
Well done Jere.

This is a rather large biographical sketch of 40 people who were traveling on United flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco on 9/11/2001. As most people know, four Arab hijackers took control of the aircraft and turned it around aiming it in the direction of Washington D.C. The hijackers never made it to their intended target because probably 5-6 passengers decided they were going to take the aircraft back. The hijackers either lost control of the aircraft or plunged it into the ground.
Almost all the passengers were detailed in this book. Many of them had made last minute phone calls to their loved ones to say good bye, and these were tear jerking moments to read. That is why I rated this book a four star. Most of the other material was rather pedestrian.
The problem I have with this book is that the author leaves much of the material out about the probable struggle aboard the aircraft. Perhaps not much is known, but it would have been interesting knowing the possible scenarios. What we get is sweet memories from relatives of their lost ones on Flight 93.
This should be known, but the struggle needs to more detailed in the book.

I've read hundreds of books over the past few years, but none like "Among the Heroes: United Flight 93 and the Passengers and Crew Who Fought Back." This, to say the least, is an incredibly phenomenal book which touches the deepest parts of the heart, mind and soul. There were countless times when I was brought to tears as I read this book - it is extremely moving.

Jere Longman did an amazing job researching, interviewing, and writing this book. His way of showing us all that each of the individuals on United 93 were heroes is so elegantly done. Originally, four men - Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett and Jeremey Glick - were thought to have been the ones to fight back on United 93 on that dreadful day of September 11th, 2001, but we quickly learn, reading this book, that each and every one of the passengers were heroes in different ways. They all were put on that plane by the higher powers in this universe, for they each brought something which would help bring the terrorist down and reclaim our power.

The mini-biographies of each of the crew members and passengers was extremely well-written and compiled in a manner which makes for an easy and enjoyable read. Of the countless books published on 9/11, I would have to say this is, by far, the best one. There is no other book which comes even remotely close to the caliber of this book.

As someone with a strong interest in the events of September 11, 2001, I wanted to learn more about the passengers and attacks. This book goes into great detail about the passengers on United Flight 93;their personal lives, interests, and their reasons for fighting back against the terrorists. I felt like I practically knew them after reading this book. There is one quote from passenger Deora Bodley that I felt like was well put and fitting for this type of novel:
"People ask who, what, when, why, and how. I ask Peace."
I admired people like Todd Beamer and Tom Burnett Jr. for their decisive actions. You will learn more about the passengers, their families, and the after-effects of their heroic actions as well as the other events that horrible day. Make this one a must-read. A true winner.

I have read this book myself at least twice. This book was purchased as a graduation present for a nephew. I wish someone had made me read this book at the age of 13. Franklin is quite the character. There are a lot of controversies surrounding his life, but for the purpose of instruction, I prefer to quit the debating society. This fellow is the first native born genius of record produced in this country. He may have painted a rosy picture of his life, but any of us would in an autobiography. If you want a critical examination of his life, check out some of the excellent athoritive biographies available. If you want inspiration, read this. Most inspiring are the roles that thrift and hard work played in his success and his practical approach to striving for "moral perfection".

This says Norton Critical Edition, so, of course, designed for academic study.

A man that of course did a whole pile of stuff and came up with a whole pile more.

Entertaining at times, and lecturing at others, as you might expect from someone that had been in a privileged position.

no doubt about it: ben franklin was a bright fellow. brigher than me, for instance. his autobiography, however, and despite what people on amazon are saying, is a shallow piece of fluff. nothing is touched in depth as he skims from one episode to the next like he is racing to finish an unimportant task. his wife? his family? forget them. all people in his life, in fact, seem deserving of no deep consideration to mr franklin. at times he brags about himself under the guise of modesty, and it is both silly and annoying. plenty of excellent biograhy work out there on this man, and one would be much better served to pick up one of those. it simply boggles my mind that anyone could consider this a 5 star piece of literature. there is not the slightest bit of passion in this writing. mr franklin doesn't even seem terribly interested in what he is writing about. amazon reveiwers seem to award 5 stars to almost anything they read, without the slightest trace of critical detachment. yes, this is a book you would not be wasting your time reading, simply because these are the words of benjamin franklin, but that's it. this is not great literature. not even close.

As everyone else has noted, Ben was a brilliant man and an entertaining writer. This is classic American literature, particularly in how it shows a "character" striving to rise up and better himself because that is the promise of the American Dream.

I docked Ben one star because the unfinished ending is not satisfying to someone who comes across this book for the first time. Just so you know, if you get lost during the third part, Ben is discussing the French Indian War.

The Dover edition is very nice and anyone should be satisfied with it.

In many ways, this is, to someone coming to it for the first time, a very surprising book. For one thing, it is amazingly incomplete. Franklin is, of course, one of the most famous Americans who ever lived, and his accomplishments in a wide array of endeavors are a part of American lore and popular history. A great deal of this lore and many of his accomplishments are missing from this account of his life. He never finished the autobiography, earlier in his life because he was too busy with what he terms public "employments," and later in life because the opium he was taking for kidney stones left him unable to concentrate sufficiently. Had Franklin been able to write about every period of his life and all of his achievements, his AUTOBIOGRAPHY would have been one of the most remarkable documents every produced. It is amazingly compelling in its incomplete state.
As a serious reader, I was delighted in the way that Franklin is obsessed with the reading habits of other people. Over and over in the course of his memoir, he remarks that such and such a person was fond of reading, or owned a large number of books, or was a poet or author. Clearly, it is one of the qualities he most admires in others, and one of the qualities in a person that makes him want to know a person. He finds other readers to be kindred souls.

If one is familiar with the Pragmatists, one finds many pragmatist tendencies in Franklin's thought. He is concerned less with ideals than with ideas that work and are functional. For instance, at one point he implies that while his own beliefs lean more towards the deistical, he sees formal religion as playing an important role in life and society, and he goes out of his way to never criticize the faith of another person. His pragmatism comes out also in list of the virtues, which is one of the more famous and striking parts of his book. As is well known, he compiled a list of 13 virtues, which he felt summed up all the virtues taught by all philosophers and religions. But they are practical, not abstract virtues. He states that he wanted to articulate virtues that possessed simple and not complex ideas. Why? The simpler the idea, the easier to apply. And in formulating his list of virtues, he is more concerned with the manner in which these virtues can be actualized in one's life. Franklin has utterly no interest in abstract morality.

One of Franklin's virtues is humility, and his humility comes out in the form of his book. His narrative is exceedingly informal, not merely in the first part, which was ostensibly addressed to his son, but in the later sections (the autobiography was composed upon four separate occasions). The informal nature of the book displays Franklin's intended humility, and for Franklin, seeming to be so is nearly as important as actually being so. For part of the function of the virtues in an individual is not merely to make that particular person virtuous, but to function as an example to others. This notion of his being an example to other people is one of the major themes in his book. His life, he believes, is an exemplary one. And he believes that by sharing the details of his own life, he can serves as a template for other lives.

One striking aspect of his book is what one could almost call Secular Puritanism. Although Franklin was hardly a prude, he was nonetheless very much a child of the Puritans. This is not displayed merely in his promotion of the virtues, but in his abstaining from excessiveness in eating, drinking, conversation, or whatever. Franklin is intensely concerned with self-governance.

I think anyone not having read this before will be surprised at how readable and enjoyable this is. I think also one can only regret that Franklin was not able to write about the entirety of his life. He was a remarkable man with a remarkable story to tell.

The book was nicely packaged in bubble wrap to prevent damages. The book itself was presented in a used, but very good condition for such a cheap price. In the end, I highly recommend!

This book is way more informative than my professor. Also, since introductory biology doesn't change within a couple of years, I'm really glad I saved money and purchased the seventh edition rather than the eighth.

The textbook was in very good condition, just as described by the seller. It arrived very quickly and saved me money by not having to purchase new.

Sometimes text books can be so fascinating that you can't wait to read the next paragraph and learn something new. This is not one of those text books. It is filled with lots of junk that only makes the book thicker and heavier but contributes nothing to your understanding. So you must actively read and take notes on the important stuff or you will fall asleep a lot. This book contains some very nice images and helpful diagrams so know them and use them as a guide when you take notes. This is just a general introductory text, so it's a shame that it's so large. Future editions should be released in cheaper smaller volumes that deal only with certain topics, or they could just cut out all of the junk. You might consider buying an earlier edition or a cheaper international paperback edition because they aren't much different from this edition. I haven't seen the latest edition, but I'm sure the only changes were the pointless interviews and some new and more expensive pictures.

Good Condition, no scratches, pages perfect, slightly bent corner of the cover but nothhing big. Fast shipping

This book is a personal favorite, as it gives so much insight into Tan's writing and her views, but also because the essays are simply so enjoyable to read. The book is a collection of essays that spans her literary career and is filled with her own special brand of humor. Within the pages we find writing on her authorial intentions, her perspective on critics and scholars who interpret her writing and her intentions, and biographical essays. I can imagine using one or two of these essays as material for teaching a writing class. These essays are overall lovely, clever, and engaging. This book is not just for "fans only." If you weren't a fan before, you may become one after reading this collection.

I had no idea. I had no idea what a great writer she is, what an amazing person she is, how difficult her life has been. Now that I've read this book, I know. And I am inspired.

I highly recommend this book to any daughter, any Asian, any writer, and any person with an open mind/heart who wants to know a little bit more about an intriguing, challenging life.

I didn't read The Joy Luck Club; I wasn't interested, it sounded like a chick book, and I don't play Mah Jong. This book is more like taking a peek inside Amy Tan. It was great.

I hated literature in high school and college, because all the professors always talked about all the "hidden meaning" and symbolism in persons, objects and events happening in the book. I thought this was a bunch of BS. So thank you Amy for proving me right!

It is a well written compilation of stories, observations and even commencement addresses. My favorite was her thoughts on waiting to be introduced for a talk and seeing the Cliff Notes of her book on display. Nice touch. I would probably appreciate Joy Luck Club after reading this book.

The book is wonderful, so interesting. It is rather like Eat,Pray,Love with a chinese twist.

The AUDIO version of the book is a revelation: Amy Tan has a lively and lovely voice, she is a gifted mimic, and she does a fabulous job of reading this great book.

There are some very sad parts, you will definitely be moved to think and consider wider concepts, but it is completely delightful and thick with insight.

I've always enjoyed her novels, and The Opposite of Fate gave me an even deeper understanding of the origins of her work. I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear, in her own words, the true history of her family, her thoughts on her childhood, young adulthood, and even current day. She's a fun, funky, formidable, & fascinating woman & someone you'd love to know & introduce to all your friends. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to get to know her better!

Just a slick, cool SoCal book. Winslow mixes in real places that most people on the coast would know with great fictional charachters. He writes this in a very conversational style with dialoge that most surfers and beach dudes use to communicate with their bros. This writing and SoCal surfer slang sets the book apart and makes it one of my favotites. First picked it up in the book store and ended up reading for like an hour and a half before the store closed and I had to buy it.

Note: Your "helpful" votes are appreciated, and thanks for reading my short review.

"California Fire and Life" starts with a slow burn and really grabs you. The fascinating details of Jack Wade's career as a fire investigator pull you into the story. Some were really amazing.

For example, if the indoor family pet somehow survives the fire, there is good reason to suspect arson. It is often the case in an arson-murder that the person will kill his or her spouse, but let the dog out. If the fire has more than one point of origin, then it has to be arson. If the windows are left open, that is also a telltail sign of arson (the open windows increase the draft for the fire). Therefore, if a family goes on vacation and their house burns down, the windows had better be closed.

In this fast-paced story, Jack investigates the fire at a mansion. Another investigator has ruled it accidental (the wife dies while smoking in bed). I don't want to tell too much, but a bunch of little details point to an arson-murder by the husband, a man with connections to the Russian mafia.

It was amazing to learn how much arson occurs after an earth-quake (its a quick way to get out of debt if the contents of the house is highly insured).

The story has a lot of detail and twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.

Highly recommended.

This is an outstanding thriller by a journeyman author. From beginning to end this aptly named book burns at a pace that will surprise and please you. Good characterization -- at least most of the time -- a plot that is far more involved than you ever think it will be at the beginning, and an ending that is surprising, although it borders on disbelief. California Fire and Life is an excellent read. You won't feel cheated and you won't feel disappointed.

This book has enough technical details to satisfy even a veteran firefighter, but not enough to slow down the pace of this sizzling story that broadens a "simple" arson/murder story into a look at the Russian mob in San Diego. Who knew? As in other Winslow books, the characters are compelling from the first mention, and even in this book, Winslow's wry sense of humor is apparent. You'll take the afternoon off work to finish this one.

Lots of folk here love this book but I find it very uneven. When the author is describing how his arson investigator reads fires, he is obviously enthralled. But when he describes how insurance companies and the police conspire to reward the guilty and destroy anyone seeking justice, like his hero, he is less compelling. Is Winslow overreaching to make his villain not merely a ruthless California realtor but also an ex-KGB agent and member of the Russian Mafia? I might excuse that but then comes the funeral of his totally virtuous wife where the love of our hero's life is yelling, "You killed my sister." Naturally this woman is also an honest cop to boot. I will not spoil the ending here except to say that those who read many thrillers should not be surprised at the last plot twist. This book might provide psychological release for latent pyromaniacs.

This is an amazing book. What a great premise. In this book Prof. Sowell argues that the basis of political ideology generally comes from two viewpoints concerning human nature. One, the unrestrained, where man is limitless in his capacity to improve himself and the world, and restrained, where man is forever limited and must rely on reason and caution. Whatever viewpoint one has on human nature naturally is prism for all views on society, issues such as how a government should work, what is real "equality", what is justice ect.

The best part of this book is it generally is unbiased. Thomas Sowell is a conservative economist who works at a conservative institution. However, in his academic works I continue to notice a deep sense of responsibility in not stacking the cards in his position's favor. Sadly in a world where many intellectuals feel far better trumpeting their pesonal agendas, it is good to know there are some in academia who still favor neutrality.

This is a fascinating book that will change the way you see the world. Like all visions, there is much that is left out or oversimplified by Sowell's analysis. Nevertheless, it is an extremely worthwhile read. Sowell is clearly widely read in economics, political philosophy, and social thought, and the book is remarkable for its ability to convey the essence of complex thinkers like Friedrich Hayek in an easily digestible form. Even if you're read your Smith, Mill, and others, you'll still learn a lot from this book.

A perfect introduction on why opposing sides tend to be the way they are and how in their eyes what they think and believe is better then what their competition says.

Makes a clear distinction between people who are optimistic to the point of being brash versus those who are realistic to the point of being stagnant.

This is a heavy book though. Will require complete concentration and probably re reading a few times before the real value of this great text is clear to the reader.

Yet another great book from a brilliant mind. Sowell should be required reading for upper high-school and college students.

I love Thomas Sowell for his clear mindset and philosohy. I read almost nothing else but philosophy, and Sowell is at the top of my list for clarity, understanding and delivery. He does not receive, in my opinion, the recognition for his genius he is due. A must read.... as is all of Thomas Sowells books