Science Books

The book arrived it great shape without any damage. Book was brand new just as stated in the description. Also, the book arrived in the amount of time that was stated.

As a soon-to-be medical student, I am very glad I read this book and would highly recommend it to anyone going into the field. It was thought-provoking through and through and fairly easy to read even though it dealt with weighty topics. Since I came from a non-medicine related undergraduate major, I had to keep wikipedia close-by to look up terms and indulge curiosities as I read, and I ended up learning a lot that way, so I recommend others do similarly.

In this litigious time when physicians and all medical care workers tend to live under an umbrella of suspect brought on by the intervention of the media, vast lawsuits, big business (pharmaceutical companies) intervention, and computer access to data, there has occurred a response in the medical facilities to promote 'defensive medicine' to instruct the nascent students how to cope with the antagonistic world outside the halls of the teaching hospitals. This has resulted in less emphasis on the learning of the skills of the time honored Doctor-Patient relationship and in creating the aura that physicians dwell in glass dome sanctuaries of science: the quiet moments of sharing personal fears and concerns and relieving the pain in the souls of the patient and patients' families seem relics of the past house-call/caring-physician image.

Michael Kennedy in his book A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISEASE, SCIENCE & MEDICINE has done more to rectify this widening gap between physician and patient than any volume I have read. This meticulously written, dignified yet very warm and honest look at medicine from the Ice Age to the era of molecular and genetic concepts for the present and the future reads more like a fascinating novel than an academic treatise. There are facts and histories discussed here which will enlighten not only the general public but also the men and women of medicine - from premed student to retired doctor. It is simply an amazing source of knowledge while simultaneously being an honest, no-holds-barred review of how we came to this point in healthcare. And if ever there were a time when this book was needed, it is certainly now. Read this fascinating tome and learn not only the extraordinary progress made in the mystery of disease and physical meanderings away from the 'normal', but at the same time see just how vulnerable is the scientist and physician in dealing with new aspects of the art of practicing medicine through time.

Kennedy and his colleagues have added an important adjunct to the re-entry of humanism in the teaching of medicine at his alma mater: this book demonstrates that journey of commitment to resurrect the precious healing relationship between the doctor and those who approach him for succor. Read this book for a highly dignified history of medicine, for some amazing insights into disease process, and for reassurance the perhaps the return of the sanctity of healthcare delivery is a possibility. A fine and very important achievement, Dr. Kennedy! Grady Harp, January 09

Brief this is not, but compared to some dry academic tomes it seems brief. University of Southern California professor Dr. Michael T. Kennedy has the all too rare gift of writing well which he combines with a passion for detail so that this history is packed with the bizarre, the fascinating, the arcane, and the all too often revolting facts of medical delusion, malpractice, and triumph that have characterized the long and tortured history of the healing arts.

Note well that this is a history not only of medicine and disease, but of science as well. The emphasis is on twentieth century developments, which is as it should be since so much has happened in recent times. This is not to say that the more distant past is neglected. Kennedy starts with the pre-history and follows the quest for health through Greek and Roman times to "The Rise of Islam and Arabic Medicine" (Chapter 5) with excursions into ayurvedic medicine (from India) and the traditional Chinese practices from antiquity. He even looks at European health, or the lack thereof, during the Dark and Middle Ages before the rise of science. When he gets to the modern or nearly modern era, Kennedy organizes less by chronology and more by subject matter. Some of the later chapters are about "Cardiac Surgery," "Transplantation," "Psychiatry," etc. I particularly liked the crisp way he dealt with psychoanalytic theory and the inefficacy of psychoanalysis.

Frankly, I don't know if there is anything else quite like this available. The recognized authority on the subject of the history of medicine in English, University College London's late Roy Porter wrote both a popular account, Blood and Guts: A Short History of Medicine (2002), and a full blown treatment, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind (1997) which Kennedy cites. I have read the former and it is to Kennedy's book as Mary Poppins is to Hamlet. There are other histories, but most are either not current or too voluminous or too restricted in content.

Dr. Kennedy shows how various ideas and methods were developed, how they stemmed from, or were in contrast to, earlier methods; and he highlights the personalities of the practitioners as he describes what they did or discovered. He also focuses on patients and their stories. His style is sharp and uncluttered. Sometimes he employs a dry, cynical wit. At other times his report takes on extra-medical aspects that lend depth and familiarity to his portraits, as when, for example, he reports on the tragic death of transplant pioneer, Dr. David Hume. (p. 388)

Here are some examples of the kind of detail that I found fascinating:

"The early Middle Ages saw little consumption of animal protein by the peasants, but legume production, which increased with the agricultural revolution, reduced the dependence on carbohydrates and led to rapid population growth again." (p. 69)

And on the following page: "Women lived shorter lives than men in the Middle Ages...This is attributed to the hazards of childbirth, but also to an iron deficient diet...[because] animal protein was not available."


"...[A]lthough opium offered some relief of pain...until the anesthesia era, speed was the sign of the good surgeon." (p. 85)

"Infectious diseases were uncommon in primitive societies because the available pool of susceptible individuals was too small and the contact with other groups was not common." (p. 87) Indeed, infectious disease is part of the price we pay for agriculture and civilization.

Quoting Freud: "I often console myself with the idea that, even though we achieve so little therapeutically, at least we understand why more cannot be achieved." (p. 401) This is doubly ironic since Freud was even deceived in what he thought he understood. A few pages later Kennedy drily remarks that psychotherapy "is useful in helping adults to deal with life stress. It has little or no role in treating psychosis. The serious mental illnesses are increasingly seen as biological disorders." (p. 424)

The only weakness of this book is that it could have used a more meticulous editor. (The proofreading is excellent.) Kennedy's writing style is fast-forward, actually suggesting to me how medical history might be written had somebody like, say, novelist James M. Cain taken his hand to it. The words just rush down the page. Kennedy has so much to say and he wants to get it all said. Sometimes one has to read a sentence twice since sometimes his tenses are a little eccentric, and parallel construction is not always strictly observed.

There are two indices, one for names, but I notice that the aforementioned Roy Porter, for example, does not appear in either of them. Probably the names in the footnotes were left out. Also the references (545 of them) are collected at the end of each chapter, which is fine, but there is no overall alphabetized bibliography. This is a pet peeve of mine since one has to chase through chapter after chapter to see if a particular work is cited.

However Kennedy more than makes up for this deficiency with what he calls a "Postscript" which is a lightly annotated bibliography organized into the categories, "Recommended Reading," "General Sources," and sources by individual chapters.

Bottom line: the best history of medicine that I have found and a delight to read.

This is the paperback edition of the hard cover book that has been available since 2004. It is a trade paperback and exactly the same size and content as the hardcover edition. The book has been adopted by a number of colleges as a textbook in general biology courses and even in some high school AP summer programs. This change to the paperback edition will keep it available indefinitely and the sales of the hardcover edition were still going pretty well. I decided not to do a third printing as I was unsure of the continued level of interest. This is the same book. The second printing had correction of a few typesetting errors in the first but this version is exactly the same as the second printing.

I served with Jim Botting as an FBI Agent for many years. Jim's book is a gutsy, tell-all of many of the critical incidents he was involved in. Jim was not only a hostage negotiator but a leader, a mentor, a great instructor, SWAT Team leader, and now an author. Jim was one of those guys you wanted with you when you went through a door. He always had your back or was the first in. His accounts give great insight into how things really work and the goings-on between the various law enforcement agencies who overcome all for successful resolutions of life and death situations. He knows of what he writes. He's not a phony expert, he's been there. He's not afraid to tell it like it was or is. Great book!

If you want to know what's going on behind the scene, this book will reveal it. I was riveted from page one till the last. Pick it up and enjoy the thrilling ride.

This books is not your typical memoir. This book is a roller coaster ride through some of the most intriguing crime scenes of the 20th century. From start to finish the humor and the human aspect of working on the front lines of the FBI is demonstrated. Not a slow moment in the entire novel. James Botting I salute you.

Jim Botting has provided the reader with a special glimpse inside his real life adventures as an FBI investigator, SWAT team member, and hostage negotiator. Jim Botting's talent, skill, and ability set him apart and made him one of the FBI's "go to" agents during crisis incidents of all shapes and sizes. Most agents involved in crisis incident response choose to pursue a career on the SWAT team or as a negotiator; Jim did both with equal skill and success. His skillful description of various incidents brings the reader along with him for the arrest, the raid, the shootout, and the successful negotiation. If you want to understand the proflie a successful "agents agent," then this is must reading. Jim is the "real deal" and as a close friend and colleague of his for many years I can state that there was no finer or more dedicated agent than he. Read this book and learn, but most importantly, read this book and share the incredible career journey of a very special FBI agent.

Jim Botting doesn't pull any punches as he gives the reader a box seat to some of the most fascinating incidents in recent law enforcement history. Jim chronicles the events with not-so-subtle humor punctuated by the fact that he is honest with the readers. This guy is NOT a legend in his own mind! Down to earth and a must read! Forget about the Hollywood [...]-- this is the real deal.

Charles Lewis and the Center for Public Integrity provide a lot of campaign finance information and numbers in this book. Call it following the money trail. They do that very well!

One of the more disturbing observations in the book is that the race for the White House is basically narrowed down to the two major party contestants the year before the election by way of the money amounts collected. The wealthiest interests often have a heavy influence on that selection.

There is plenty of financial information on who backed George Bush for president as well as a brief, intriguing college and business bio of Mr. Bush.

This book has some of the most detailed numbers and information on the Florida fiasco of election 2000. It's on par with the work done by Greg Palast. The "false positives" as collateral damage in the felon voter purge was driven home with an example of an African-American preacher falsely purged and how he had to argue for his right to vote. Equally disgusting was the story of the lobbyist/former Florida state official who profited from her own incompetence by making a commission(profit) on both sides of a transaction when she sold some Florida counties new voting machines.

The author even turned up some connections between active lobbyists and the infamous BCCI bank. The lobbyist connection with the national party committees is another topic covered in the book.

Of the books on the subject of Bush and Enron, this book shares some of the details of letters sent between Ken Lay and George W. Bush demonstrating the long, friendly relationship between the two.

Dozens of cabinet and other key posts were filled by people working for the industries that they would be responsible for regulating. This administration has been arrogant about conflict-of-interest violations. As well as secretive and when it comes to releasing proposals, oppurtunistic. Take the release of controversial proposals on Fridays or on holidays to avoid public visibility as much as possible.

There is a wealth of political and financial information on the president, but this book is anything but partisan. The last section of the book investigates the Democrat candidates of 2004 and their finances as well.
This book answers the question of who bankrolls the candidates and what they expect in return in a clear manner.Highly recommended reading for an understanding of how presidential campaign financing works. It would have been interesting to have a 2008 version available.

Whether you like President Bush or not, you should read this book. It paints a disturbing picture of the realities of his administration. And it educates the reader how our political process has gone astray. This is another example of the fact that the best non-fiction books rarely make the top seller's lists because mainstream publishers are politically motivated.

This book contains enough history about each candidate to make anyone feel confident with their vote. And, unlike almost any other political book I've read, it is suprisingly non-partisan. Furthermore, it really opens you eyes on the political fund raising system and what the candidates actually have to do before the become president.

After reading this book, it will become much easier to see through the candidates rhetoric, and this book or one like it should be a pre-requisite before voting.

This book is THE benchmark for investigative journalism done by the people at www.publicintegrity.org. An honest, fair and balanced presentation of the facts surrounding the Democratic candidates for President 2004 (which has since been whitled down to Kerry) and President Gearge W. Bush. You simply cannot say you are an informed voter until you read this book.

Let me start by saying I do not want George W. Bush re-elected, and I don't have any interest in John Kerry running the White House for the next four years either. I left myself open to have my opinions on American government influenced by this book, but I could never have imagined the magnitude in which this book changed my beliefs of our political process. It's no secret to anyone that money rules each and every major player in our political system. But what this book does is demonstrate just how out of control it's gotten. Author Charles Lewis uses indisputable facts and figures to show the shortcomings each of this year's presidential candidates, especially each candidate's willingness to let money and particular groups dictate the policy he feels is best suited to run the country. He hammers Bush in a bad way, but nothing he says can be considered untrue. Lewis uses the Freedom of Information Act to compile a body of evidence that implicates Bush in a dozen shady financial undertakings and also describes the way in which many of Bush's closest advisers landed high-level positions in government. You simply cannot fathom the number of Bush's advisers who were once employees or board members in companies (pharmaceutical, energy, law firms, etc.) that make up Bush's chief campaign donors. That is, at least until you read this book and Lewis starts listing them one after another. Lewis and the Center of Public Integrity maintained their own integrity by taking a completely non-partisan approach to this book, unafraid to tackle Bush and Democratic challengers alike. I cannot wait until 2008 to see what Lewis uncovers next. Hopefully, Bush and his cronies (or Kerry, for that matter) won't further gut our rights as Americans and refuse us the right to read it -- and Lewis' right to write it.

This book doesn't cover all there is to cover in Calculus 1. It can't, it's too tiny. But what it does do it take you through the logic of increasingly abstract concepts. I found this enormously helpful beyond just helping me understand the concepts (though it did so admirably). I found that this careful progression helped me formalize my own thought process, helped me get more logical.

This won't cover everything you need to know, but I'm a big advocate of the more you know, the better, and this book will help you fill in some gaps.

This book is well written and the author explains the material in an easy to understand manner. I haven't had Calculus for over 10 years and a lot of the material is coming back to me because of the author's style of presenting it. I whole-heartedly recommend this review for those who have been away from Calculus for a number of years.

Amazon is linking this product to many reviews of Gootmans' classic Calculus (College Review Series). That book is not available on the kindle, unfortunately.

*This* book is a dry but thorough introduction to a wide range of basic calculus topics.

Great book it helped me pass Calc in high school and helped me get an A in college. Highly recommended. Easy to read and understand

Professor Gootman is the master of moving from practical everyday arithmetic to higher layers of algebraic abstraction. In Calculus, I too memorized the formulas, rules, etc. and did fine but never really fully understood the purpose of it all. To start with the simple notion of s being a 'position' of an object (ball thrown up in space) and t being time and answering the 'instantaneous rate of change' / feet per second for s(t) was such a refreshing explanation to see. Moving carefully into the next layer(s) of abstraction ( f(x) dy/dx,... ) is his forte. He helped me feel more confident knowing that even with subjects such as abstract algebra and number theory, remembering to try and move carefully 'up' the levels of abstraction will assuredly alleviate pain and frustration.

Lai's book shows us that through silence and listening a person has a better understanding of his or her pet. Her book is insightful and a fun read.

Author, Lia , has written such charming stories of pets and their unconditional love for their people. I look at my own dog and cats now in a new light, and with more than a touch of curiosity. Lia has a very special talent and has shared it with us with humor and style. A great read...and a delightful gift.

I bought this book for a friend, fell into the the fun of it;
found myself reading it first.
Enjoyed the length of it...great for a train or
plane ride....as my cat, "Lily" would say,
"Purr-fect!"

Howard D. Coffman

Being a professional consultant, i was very pleased to find this look into the thought life of animals,
sincere and charming.
It was like having "tea with tabby cats," and "crumpets with critters!!"
Conversationally Magical.

Pamela Ross-English _NH

As intimate companions to famous humans, celebrity pets have a unique and privileged vantage point. In some cases, pets know these celebrities better than other human members of their families! The animals interviewed in this book gifted Lai with their trust. Assured she would accurately reflect their thoughts, they offered glimpses of the person behind the public image. Lai's gift to us is not just the information divulged. Of equal value is the insight into the personalities of the animals. You will be charmed, entertained, and touched by their comments. Through Lai, these animals offer the ultimate gift...to know that our love for our pets is reciprocated in ways we could never imagine.

This is the second volume of Janet Browne's superb biography of Charles Darwin (1809-1882). Browne, who is now Professor of the History of Science at Harvard, wrote both volumes while at the vital WellCome Trust Center at University College London (also the locale of the late Roy Porter). The book is just excellent all the way through. It picks up just at the point when the march of events is forcing Darwin to publish his finding in the epic "On the Origin of Species," when he is 49. Browne develops some interesting insights; such as the importance of the excellent British postal service to Darwin's work, since he communicated and exchanged information with individuals all around the world. In addition, she focuses upon the importance of that most unique institution, Mudie Library, which did so much to circulate Darwin's books throughout Britain, thereby altering CD's intention that his book would be targeted for a small elite audience. The author also has something to say about one of the most interesting Victorian figures, published John Murray, who benefitted from the surge of publishing and literacy in the mid-Victorian period. The profusion of journals and periodicals, such as the Edinburgh Review and the Westminister Quarterly Review, also did much so disseminate Darwin's ideas, as did events such as the Huxley v. the Bishop of Wilberforce debate ("I'd rather be a monkey than a bishop").

Equally interesting and important is Browne's discussion of how Darwin conducted his research and wrote a number of books. His research of heredity, facial expressions, worms, reefs and other topics are all covered. Browne does a good job in discussing all of the debates that erupted after the publication of the "Origin," and this tells us much about the development of Victorian science and intellectual history. Also of note is her discussion of how Darwin's ideas spread, the effects of celebrity on CD and his work, and his views of Christianity. The book is so well written that it is a pleasure to read, as Browne discusses some difficult concepts with such clarity and skill and every reader, no matter how extensive a scientific background, benefits from her treatment.
The book is supported by 63 pages of excellent notes, some helpful illustrations, and a 36 page bibliography. Browne is generally acknowledged as one of the world's leading scholars on the life and work of Darwin. Her involvement as Associate Editor of the 14 volume "Correspondence of Charles Darwin" has finely honed her understanding of Darwin and his thought. We should all be thankful that she is now at Harvard where more Americans can benefit from her superb expertise and insights.

Darwin's tightly held theories on natural selection are let loose to a resistant public but a public that was also proud of their intellectuals. Darwin's network of scientific friends and associates provide strength to a highly disruptive theory and in so advance their own scientific careers.

This one is also great, get both of these wonderful books on Charles Darwin. The first one is slightly better than this one, as one expects from biographies. CD is settled down, mostly writing and promoting his beliefs. He is sick a lot, but carries on. There just got to be too much detail toward the end of this, for me. Otherwise the level of detail and tone was pitchperfect throughout. What an astounding, amazing effort these two books represent. A real gem.

Along with the rest of the well-deserved high praise that comes to Janet Browne's biography of Charles Darwin I would add, with others, that its most extraordinary aspect is its readability. Biographies are almost always irritating in some way or another--Browne's volumes are effortless in any genre, miraculous in the difficult work of biography. It's quite true that both _Voyaging_ and _Power of Place_ are books you can't put down; they are so absorbing that you instantly forget you are reading. I find myself recommending them to people with no interest whatsoever in the subject simply for the reading pleasure. For scholars of the historical subject, the volumes provide a unified and inspiring reference. Browne's is a tremendous gift to Darwin's legacy and to the reception of his work.

This the second volume of Browne's Darwin biography has evoked high praise from a number of Amazon reviewers. It's praise well deserved. Her theme, the importance of Darwin's social position and his dedicated use of it to promote the uptake of his theories, makes a nice counterpoint to the path-breaking Desmond and Moore biography, whose theme was the `tormented evolutionist'. Not that Browne downplays the ghastly burden of Darwin's invalidity on his person and family: torment it assuredly was. Yet he persisted in his labors, which included extensive involvement with many helpers, and somehow managed to bring it all to fruition. What were the emotional springs of that endurance? Dedication to the glory of the Nation, or to Science, or to Mankind? No, the poetry of ideals is missing. Exaltation in his ever-increasing celebrity? Again No. While Darwin kept a detailed record of every review of the Origin and other publications, and took measures to promote them, fame was not his defining horizon. If it were, he probably would not have anguished, as he did, about the expected heat entropy termination of life on Earth some millions of years hence. Consistent with that gloom, his final publication was on worms, whose habitat, he well understood, he would soon join. Browne writes: `He was in the grip of a vision of time as powerful and as bleak as anything in Victorian culture'. The source of his endurance seems to have been his immersion in the routine of Downe House. The routine included his dependency on wife Emma and the kids, especially Henrietta and Francis. He kept a detailed account of household expenses and, in pinchpenny manner, insisted on avoidance of extravagance despite his wealth, which he more than doubled thanks to astute investments. Although he could have easily created a state-of-the-art research station at Downe, he persisted (against Francis' appeals) in the use of crude and meager equipment, much to the amazement of scientists who visited him. Yet greatness somehow arose from just this obsessive immersion in routine that stretched over four decades. Browne notes that his devoted friend Joseph Hooker exclaimed on receiving a photographic portrait that he `looked like Moses'. Sons William and Francis agreed. So have millions who've seen the expression of deep thoughtfulness in the numerous portraits of the frail, aging Darwin.

What was his illness? His death certificate specified angina pectoris syncope as the cause. Today an autopsy would probably confirm cardiac arrest. He had experienced heart pains periodically for years, although several physicians found no symptoms of heart disease. I was surprised that in her illuminating discussion of his illnesses Browne doesn't notice that Darwin's fatigue, which greatly reduced his mobility for about two decades, is consistent with heart failure. When we add the information that Darwin was a long-time smoker, confidence in that diagnosis increases. And the retching and flatulence? Browne mentions the proposal that these symptoms could be effects of Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which he might have contracted in Chile. Retching, skin rashes, and heart disease are symptoms of the disease in its chronic phase. This is an attractive diagnosis, since it achieves concordance of clinical signs from two causal pathways. Browne puts it aside because, it seems, she suspects an interaction between Darwin's stressed emotional life, his peculiar withdrawal into the Downe House refuge, and physical symptoms (pp. 235ff). Alas, she seems unacquainted with contemporary psychiatry, which would easily read her symptom list as indicative of the Avoidant Personality Disorder (`Grief and guilt surely played their part in his psyche. Fear, too, especially in the way his body would most often fail when he intended make a public appearance, suggesting some deep-seated dread of exposure. His customary reticence may have reflected a wish to avoid getting involved with other people's emotions-reticence and modesty could have been the polite face of dissociation, the spurning of closeness' p. 237). APD would link Darwin's strong avoidance pattern with his equally strong striving for approval, and pain on the occasion of disapproval of friends and strangers. It also incorporates his many self-deprecations and his anticipations, even from friends, that they might respond to a thought of his with extreme disapproval, eg, `crucifixion'.

I turn briefly to Browne's rendition of the Huxley-Wilberforce debate at the June 1860 BAAS meeting in Oxford. The debate is a paramount icon in the Darwin legend and a `defining moment in Victorian history' (p 115). The confrontation occurred on the last day of a conference that had been dominated by public and academic excitement about the Origin of Species. A large audience turned out expecting to hear Bishop Wilberforce `smash' Darwin's theory. They were not disappointed, for the Bishop, who was Bishop of Oxford and hence on home ground, did indeed criticize the theory on a number of points. The presiding officer, Darwin's former teacher Rev Henslow, called on Huxley to speak. He defended the logic and evidence of Darwin's theory, and finished with the damning declaration that if he had to choose between accepting an ape as his grandfather and a high dignitary who obfuscated science to defend prejudice, then he would prefer the ape grandfather. The Darwin legend interprets Huxley's retort as a one-line `proof' of the superiority of science to theology which also shifted the mixed feelings of the audience into emphatic support for Huxley and science. But did it happen? Did Wilberforce taunt Huxley about his ancestry and did Huxley respond as claimed? Did the audience convulse in laughter at the Bishop and treat Huxley as a hero, as he boasted? Doubts arise because the first report of this incident was an aside in a 1898 article, `A Grandmother's Tale', in Macmillan's Magazine-38 years after the event! The critical literature on this event has pretty well reduced it to wishful thinking of Darwin partisans, beginning with Huxley's imaginary self-congratulatory victory. Even if the facts were as claimed in The Grandmother's Tale, they would have no bearing on the substance of Wilberforce's criticisms, which he detailed in a lengthy review of Origin. As for Huxley, he had publicly expressed doubts about the compatibility of Darwin's theory with the long periods of stasis in the fossil record; and he never accepted natural selection as the main mechanism of evolution. Browne's narrative of this iconically central issue is unsatisfactory. She does not advise readers that serious criticism of the story has been made and her narrative incorporates Huxley's tale as fact. Yet she knows that the celebrated triumph is imaginary. Solution? `The gossip running through the crowd afterwards quickly crafted an epic narrative, a collective fiction with an inbuilt meaning much more tangible and important than reality. All felt they were witnessing history in the making' (pp. 124f). There you have creative history: gossip frankly declared to be better than reality. Smacks of postmodernism.

I found this book very clear and informative. I know one of my great-grand parents was Cherokee but have found tracing that branch of the family tree very difficult. The records come to a dead stop in Tennessee. Thanks to Mr. McClure's hard work I now have different avenues to take in my search.

I think it is a great information guide to help people finding their Cherokee heritage. I discovered that I am related to the author.

This is a must have for those who are serious into looking into their Native American Ancestry. Its a great book!!

I think the title says it all... great book if you want to learn about your Cherokee past.

I just rec'd the this book and after only flipping through just a few pages on my great grandmother's MCCLURE lines, I'm impressed! Not only am I looking forward to reading this book but I plan on using it for future reference, as I see a few made at the end of one of the chapters and I haven't even read thru it yet - and can not wait! Thank you Dr. Tony MCCLURE. You did your homework because you know your homework. Buy this book! You will not be disappointed!

Another wonderful Chicken Soup book. Stories that will make your eyes well up. If you like this, you may love: The Ultimate Volunteer Guidebook for Young People. Buy both as a gift today and the volunteer in your life will love you for it.

'Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul' was well received by our volunteers, and it has also touch many people's hearts.
Marion Jones
The Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill

I am a volunteer my self at the my cities animal shelter. And I am going to let the president of the volunteers borrow it after I am done. I hope they make more about volunteering.

I just finished "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer Soul," which is an excellent and inspirational book. Also, a few weeks ago, I went on a Social and Service Justice Retreat. Since reading this book, making the retreat, and other inevitable signs, I feel inspired to find a place to volunteer.

Sarah

Gurnee, Illinois

I would recommend reading "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul" to anyone who has a sincere interest in his fellowmen and possesses the capacity to relate to the needs, sorrows, and joys of others. I was impressed by the work's intent, format, and content. The selections are comprehensive and meaningful, offering a wide range of volunteer experiences for the information, delight, compassion, and consideration to the book's readers. Hopefully, this publication will encourage countless individuals to find the necessary reason and desire to give of their own time, talents, and hearts to those in need in our society. For others, it will provide an understanding of the wonderful gifts of volunteering for the volunteer.

Great book. I recommend it to anyone interested in virus outbreaks, which should be all of us; it also provides a look into Asia, and China's bureaucracy, that is hard to come by. If you're thinking about getting it, get it.

This is a very interesting look at the outbreak of SARS, told in a journalistic narrative voice by the editor of Asia's Time Magazine. It takes you through the eyes of many of the doctors and victims involved, and gives a strong sense of the feel of the time, the various cover ups, and how the discoveries unfolded. A quick and interesting read.

A fiesta for infomaniacs. Fascinating microbiology, world history, and an especially nice introduction to China today.

Favorite vignette: Q: Is it possible SARS can be transferred from humans to livestock?

A: You will be held accountable for your words!

My wife read this book first and urged me to do so. I'm glad I did. As a non scientist, I found Greenfeld's writing and analysis very understandable and riveting. From patient zero, a chop shop employee in one of Hong Kong's teeming "Wild Flavor" eateries, to the pursuit of patients in the steppe of China's rural areas, he has put together a concise and chilling treatise on how fragile life in this world can be, and make you wonder when another killer virus will emerge. I recommend this book to every infectious disease specialist out there and any lay person who wants a great summary on the killers that are waiting for their genetic lottery tickets to get punched.

Karl Taro Greenfeld (KTG) in his book follows the SARS virus from its early beginnings in Guangdong Province (China) in late 2002 right to its end during 2003. He starts off with the rumours flying around Guangdong in late 2002 and then follows the virus around to wherever it goes. He also covers the science effort to identify it and the efforts to contain it.

KTG calls SARS the first pandemic of the 21st century. Perhaps it should be called the first pandemic which didn't happen. The figures of infected people and casualties he quotes at the beginning of each chapter are an approximation only as KTG admits at the end of the book and I can well believe that because when you read about the virus's impact on China you would think that the casualty figures should be higher.

China comes out badly in all this. As official policy dictates that the virus does not exist, it does not exist and therefore it spreads virtually unhindered until official policy changes, which eventually it did. But guess how many lives could have been saved if official policy had changed faster or if it hadn't been formulated in the first place. When you read KTG's bit on how China works you can see that it will happen again. That's the terrifying bit I took home from reading this book. Imagine a virus that outpaces the speed at which bureaucracy moves. We could be all dead by the time they make up their minds.

This was an awesome audio production of the second book in the
C.S. Lewis "The Chronicles of Narnia" series. I was drawn spell bound into the story and was deeply impacted emotionally everytime Aslan, being a type of Christ, appeared in the story. It was powerful and I immediatley ordered the entire audio series to enjoy and share with others.

This book is about a girl named Lucy and her 3 siblings named Peter, Susan, and Edmund. They have to go live with a relative that they call the "Professor." On day they decide to play hide and go seek. Lucy runs to a closet and there she meets a kind faun named Mr. Tumnus in a really cold wintery place. Lucy returns to her brothers and sister and tries to convince them of what she saw. Lucy and her siblings have now entered the land of Narnia where the evil White Witch lives who dislikes children and it always trying to capture them. At the end of the book, there is a big battle between the witch's evil side and Aslan's (the lion) good side. Aslan's courage and loyalty to the children and people in Narnia brings Spring to their land.

This is the best fantasy I have ever read because it keeps the reader always involved. It is really hard to put this book down. Although this story seems complicated and hard to follow, it is fast moving and always keeps the reader in suspense. I loved reading this book and recommend it for both girls and boys. I know this one will be on your top ten list.

I love this BBC version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." The story is a classic, and this script is very true to the book.

The production is very well done, like most of the BBC's audio theatre. The voice actors do a great job, and actual children play the four kids. The various accents of the British Isles are on display, which adds a realistic touch. Music and sound effects are well used to evoke mood and excitement. Imagination is one of the main benefits of radio theater, and the BBC knows how to do it right. The White Witch is terrible. Aslan is good, but not safe.

I think that they have produced, or are currently producing, the entire series as audio dramas. I will definitely be looking into the others.

The audio drama version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is nothing short of brilliant, and worthy of the classic book it is adapted from. Lovingly produced by Focus on the Family Radio Theater, it features an exceptional cast of voice actors, spot-on writing, amazing sound effects, a beautiful original music score, and production quality that simply sets the standard for audio drama.

Pretty much everything is done right. The script is extremely faithful to the book, nothing watered down, nothing altered, often down to narrating C.S. Lewis's rich descriptions word-for-word. The pacing is perfect, never dragging, but long enough to savor the story's sweetness. (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe fills two CDs to capacity; some of the later books fill three.) The voice actors were picked from some of the top British talent, and even the children give incredible performances. And of course, Lewis's Christian faith, so central to the Narnia stories, is ever-present, never insulting the listener's intelligence with in-your-face self-interpretation, but flowing richly through the story itself as in the books.

Though usually classified as children's stories, the Chronicles of Narnia do contain some scary scenes, which are done vividly and without apology in this audio drama. Indeed, the far-fetched cheesiness often associated with modern children's cinema is largely absent here, replaced with a simple sensitivity and honesty reminiscent of the classic Disney films, making it enjoyable, on its own merits, to any age group.

The only down side to these dramas is that they will spoil you. I've recently bought and listened to several other audio dramatizations, including the Left Behind series, and though many are fine productions, I've never been able to truly enjoy them, simply because they've paled in comparison to the perfection that is Focus on the Family's adaptation of the Narnia series. And although I love film, I've now lost interest in any Narnia film project, for no film could possibly bring Narnia to life the way that these pictureless dramas have.

I bought The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe out of curiosity while browsing in a bookstore a few years ago, and it hooked me instantly. Since then, I've bought each new drama as it's come out (as of this writing, The Silver Chair, the sixth out of seven, has just been released), and each title has lived up to and even surpassed the sky-high standards set by the first. Ecstatically recommended, without reservation.

The BBC presentation of this C.S. Lewis classic gripped our entire family (parents and boys aged 5 and 8) as we headed to the mountains to ski. Although we were already familiar with the story line, we could not get back to the car quickly enough at day's end to hear the conclusion! This is not just another story tape with a voice reading text. The book is acted out by excellent and engaging actors. Captivating. Our family cannot wait to see what other books BBC has "presented."