Trials Books

Having read McCaig's other books, I found this one fascinating, but I agree that you might have to be a border collie enthusiast to really enjoy it. The trip through Scotland and finding Gael held my rapt attention. I agree with the Publisher's Weekly review, that McCaig should have stayed on the theme of his new dog and her subsequent life. He left me hanging on that one and I'm hoping there will be a sequel. Despite that, I loved the book anyway.

The only problem with his books are that they seem to read far too quickly. I find myself putting them down just to make them last. He knows how to pull you into a good story. "Nop's Trials" is a particularly great story. Unfortunately for me I stayed up all night with this one in hand until the very last page. Tired but glad to have read this one.

"Eminent Dogs, Dangerous Men" reads great but I'll lose no sleep from this one. A wonderful and captivating read. A real insiders perspective on working dogs and the sheepmen who work with them.

This is a fascinating read for dog lovers.

I have occasionally had friends decide they wanted a Border Collie - friends I knew should not get a Border Collie. I give them this book and it does a great job of changing their minds. And it entertains them at the same time.

I liked this book so much and it stuck with me so when I first read it - the many comments of his "wee bitch" and naming her Gael that my Gael was named from this book. Border collie enthusiasts who see just names on the papers of their dogs may well see some of those names in here. Wonderful people and dogs in real life and an enjoyable read of working dogs, both trials and every day dogs, in Scotland. Loved the book...as someone else mentioned if you're not a fan of border collies you might not find it quite as engaging. Recommended reading for border collie owners!!

A Border Collie owner, I could hardly wait to read this book, and the author's other books, Nop's Trials and Nop's Hope. A one-time visitor to Scotland who can't wait to go back, I eagerly looked forward to this book. And, I was not in the least bit disappointed on either count! The author's style is easy-going and readable, with a subtle humor throughout. His images are brilliant and I just felt like I was present for each scene that he wrote and a part of the action. Someone who has no interest in the working Border Collie might find the book dull. So also might someone who is not particularly interested in the very different lifestyle of the shepherd of Scotland. But for us who love the working Border Collie and find the life of the Scottish shepherd and his/her dog intriguing, this is an absolutely must-read book, over and over again!

This impeccably reasearched and skillfully written analysis of the baby products industry is a "must read" for all--not only just parents and child care providers. As a collegiate professor, Department of Business and Management, University of Maryland University College, Europe, I've used it in classes to illustrate the principles of product liability, to raise business ethics issues, and to examine the machinery of federal regulation. Resulting discussions have lasted for hours, and rank among the most interesting that I've facilitated. Kudos to the author!

An intelligent and thorough analysis of an industry that has much to answer for in terms of business ethics. I highly recommend this book for parents, grandparents, and educators on all levels, particularly those teaching the intricacies of products liablility law and consumer {misinformation}. Felcher is an excellent writer and builds both compelling and heartbreaking arguments for legislative change. Don't miss this one.

American families trust that the products our babies use, from strollers to cribs to swings, will keep them safe. Unfortunately, we found out the truth in the most terrible way. Our beloved son Danny was the fifth baby to die in the Playskool Travel-Lite Portable Crib. When we discovered that it had been recalled five years earlier, our friend Marla Felcher embarked on a groundbreaking investigation of the juvenile product industry that led to this book.

Read "It's No Accident" and ask yourself, why aren't American manufacturers required to safety test most baby products before marketing them? How can they be allowed to set their own voluntary safety standards? Why don't most parents hear about the tens of millions of unsafe children's products recalled every year? What is the CPSC and why can't it effectively protect our children from disabling injuries and death?

"It's No Accident", which Marla dedicated to Danny's memory, shows that his death was a symptom of a fundamentally-flawed system. Read this book and warn your friends. Nothing will bring Danny back to life, but "It's No Accident" will prevent other, needless tragedies. It is the cornerstone of the next big consumer movement.

Linda Ginzel and Boaz Keysar Chicago, IL

Grandparents buy a large percentage of infant products. This book clearly outlines the products that could prove dangerous. I recommend this book as a must for all prospective grandparents before they take that trip to buy what they believe to be safe for their granchildren.

Do you think the government is protecting your children from unsafe products? If you believe this is so, THEN THINK AGAIN. Felcher does an admirable job pointing out the numerous flaws in the juvenile products industry and showing how your own young children could be at serious risk. For example, did you know that those popular bath seat rings actually contribute to bathtub drownings and that many, many popular juvenile products are recalled because they are dangerous without your knowing? You will be outraged after reading this book once you discover how little is being done to protect young children from dangerous products at the expense of corporate profit. This book is a must read for all parents of young children and would make a terrific baby shower gift.

Kip Gayden has written a wonderful novel based on actual events that took place in Gallatin and Nashville Tennessee in the early 1900's. The reader is exposed to a different time in history that has been all but forgotten. The subject matter which is as much about womens suffrage as it is about murder; but it is also about passion and forbidden love.
Anna Dennis meets her future husband (Walter Dodson) in summer camp. Walter Dodson takes note of Anna the minute she arrives at camp with her father. Anna soon takes note of Walter and signs up in all of his camp counselor activities. When Summer ends and they depart, both Anna and Walter find themselves wondering if they would ever meet again.
Years later the two do meet again at a hospital where Anna takes a job and where Walter just happens to be a physician. Once they meet eye to eye again, there is no stopping this powerful romance; well almost. Anna's miscarriage of their second child and Walter's ambition and thoughtlessness, sets in motion a wanton, lustful, extramarital, love affair that had no chance of ending well. The actual newspaper articles are included in the novel which makes the novel a historical fiction.
It is an easy, wonderful, read and I recommend it highly. Miscarriage of Justice: A Novel

I LOVED this book! I'm not always content with historical fiction, sometimes there is too much history and not enough story. This book is a perfect mix of both. It centers around the Women's Suffrage movement, a 1913s love triangle, and the longing of a lonely woman. The author has done a great job blending together the facts and the fiction to create characters that come to life and characters that I was able to care about. Hope to see more good works from Mr. Gayden!

Could not put down. It combined facts with fiction to make a book you could not put down. I live in the area that the characters and setting were from which made it even more appealing but it was a wonderful book.

This IS the best novel I have read so far in 2008! I had to remind myself to eat while reading this. I could not put it down!
I found myself torn between the opinion that Anna got away with premeditated murder to that Charlie got what he deserved!

I finally came to the conclusion that YES, Anna got away with it. However, the WAY in which she got away with the crime left me astonished!!!

I highly recommend this book!

Miscarriage of Justice is based on the actual events surrounding a 1913's love triangle gone horribly and irrevocably wrong. Kip Gayden has delivered an impressive novel that is as exciting as the crime and verdict were shocking. Anna and Walter Dotson were prominent members of the small Tennessee community of Gallatin. Walter, in addition to being a very successful physician, was active in numerous community activities, Masonic Lodge, church bible study and city orchestra leader, and he also had political aspirations. While Walter was attending various groups and meetings, his wife, Anna, was home with her two children. There's a pointed change in the marriage after Anna miscarries their third child, all the romance and intimacy the couple had once shared was drained from the relationship. As time and time again Walter rejects his wife's attempts to rekindle the romantic fires, she is left feeling lonely and unfulfilled.

When Charlie Cobb and his family moved to town, he began working at the local barbershop and quickly became Walter Dotson's favorite barber. It isn't long before the flirtations between Charlie and Anna spiral into a full blown affair. They are both so consumed by the affair and finding ways to be together they fail to recognize the whispers, quiet nods and gossip, that eventually reach Walter. With her adulterous behavior exposed, Anna confessed her actions to her husband and then at his behest, to her brother. What follows is a crime that rocked the small Tennessee community to its core and a controversial verdict that would ultimately play a roll in the women's rights movement.

Masterfully weaving fact with fiction, Kip Gayden has crafted a wonderful novel that brings the characters to life and gives the reader a front row seat in the private lives of people that lived almost a hundred years ago. Gayden has the ability to take the reader back in time and present a believable story, that is informative and entertaining. Threading the women's suffrage movement into the story at the onset puts the reader into the mindset of the era...painting a detailed picture of Anna Dotson's daily life and the importance of women's rights.

A tragic, beautifully delivered historical novel that was a real pleasure to read. I look forward to reading Kip Gayden's next novel. Miscarriage of Justice: A Novel has a wonderful combination of everything, true crime, romance, deceit, adultery and historical fiction.

I had the pleasure of meeting this author/speaker, and joy sparkles from her eyes, though she's blind. This book is a treasure to anchor your heart to Christ. The book takes you on a life's journey filled with bumps in the road and roadblocks, but Jan Eckles overcomes each obstacle placed in her path by keeping her heart and faith anchored in Christ. Join Jan on her life's journey. Read about how she lost her sight at 30. Then, she lost something even more precious than her sight--her son. Her life has not been easy, but she has perserved and anchored her heart in Christ through all of her earthly trials and tribulations. She didn't work when she was sighted, but she's found her life's calling and is able to see more through insight than sighted people. Google Jan Eckles to enjoy her inspirational blog and newsletter.

Barbara J. Robinson
Author/Educator/Freelance Writer
http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com/

Even though the main motivator for most readers to buy this book is the fact that it is extremely inspirational, I also want to comment that Jan's writing style itself makes the book a pleasure to read. I love how she is able to convey ideas with richness and simplicity at the same time.

I also enjoyed how vividly she describes Bolivia, both through her own eyes, and through her mother's memories. When I read about her family's arrival to St. Louis, especially the culture shock and language barriers, it occurred to me that she described these things in such a way that *anyone* would be able to understand them. For example, I enjoyed the line about the new language sounding like indecipherable noises, especially as it is clear that this is a language the author now masters.

There were so many things I loved about this book, and so many lines that stood out to me... as I was reading, there were many times where I either laughed out loud, gasped in shock or welled up - I think any reader would do the same.

Hearing all of the things the author went through, especially in her experience of gradually losing her sight, it is hard for anyone to imagine, yet somehow she puts the reader in her shoes, and we can feel her emotions - shocked, horrified, fearful, angry, hopeful, determined, saddened, grateful, happy - all of these. What a brave woman she is, and an inspiration to everyone.

It is obvious that Jan is a natural communicator (no wonder she excels as an interpreter), someone who wants to reach out with her heart and share with others whatever she can to help so that they may draw on her experience. But part of her success in communicating is that she has something important to express. I thank her for being willing to share her story so candidly, and with such grace, for others to hear.

I look forward to reading more from this writer.

I found the book to be very positive and uplifting. The author really gave me a sense of being able to find the good in all things, even if we don't recognize it right away. God does have a plan for us after all!

I loved this book because Jan Eckles opens her heart to you as you're turning the pages. You will be encouraged as she shares her life, both thru her triumphs and tragedies. As I read, I felt the Lord Jesus speaking to me through Jan's words. I reread parts of the story that I felt gave me hope in my own life. I've already bought a copy for a friend, and I highly recommend this book to you.

What a joy it was to read how God worked in the life of Jan. It was refreshing to see her honesty as she revealed intimate details of her walk with the Lord. God has truly blessed her and she has chosen to look beyond physical difficulties and family loss.

This book will not only encourage those who face trials but offer hope in God's eternal love toward all of us. Jan is a true example of a child of God.

I really loved reading this book. It was exciting and there was a great interplay in two different times. I love that u can't guess the end until the very last page. I can really recommend it, it is the first book i have read of Barbara Vine but i think there will be many to come. I love her way of writing and the way things get confusing but sort themselves out in the end!

In 1905, a young Danish couple arrive in England with their two small sons. The husband, Rasmus, becomes a total Anglophile while his wife Asta, struggles with language problems,loneliness and depression as she is left alone with the children for long periods of time while Rasmus travels on business.To while away the hours, Asta starts a diary which she continues for the majority of her life. Years later, her descendants discover and publish the diaries which become an international success and which bring to life a number of unanswered questions about a sensational murder trial and the dubious birth of one of Asta's daughters. At first I struggled with the various characters, finding it difficult to place them in the right generations but all became clear eventually. The plot is involved, with red herrings strewn all over the place--an intriguing read and worth perservering with as all the solutions come right at the end of the book.

This is a beautifully written, well nuanced novel of mystery and suspense that seamlessly moves between the past and the present. The past is told through the diaries of a Danish immigrant named Asta, who went to live in Edwardian England with her husband, Rasmus, and two young sons at the turn of the century. Settling down in East London in 1905, her loveless marriage and loneliness drove Asta to keep a journal of her innermost thoughts and experiences.

Though married to a man who spent a great deal of time away from home on business and with whom she seemed to have little in common, Asta added two more children to her family, daughters, Swanny, her favorite, and Maria, the youngest. Asta's lyrically written journals would chronicle of her life, her struggles as an immigrant, her hopes and dreams, and her adoration of Swanny. They would also tantalizingly hint at a secret that would, ultimately, impact on her daughter, Swanny, later in life.

Over seventy years later, those diaries, all forty nine of them, would be discovered and become a publishing sensation and a bestseller. Within its many pages would lie the missing pieces to a turn of the century murder mystery and the leads to the whereabouts of a missing child, as well as tantalizing clues to the puzzling circumstances surrounding Swanny's birth. This information would lie dormant until nearly a century after Asta first put pen to paper, when Asta's granddaughter, Maria's daughter Ann, would review the diaries and discover not only the secret of Swanny's birth, but the identity of a missing child, as well as that of a killer, who nearly a century earlier had butchered two women.

This is a book well worth reading, and one that will command the readers attention until the very last page is turned.

Asta's Book was originally written as Anna's Book. It is a superb story, I think probably one of the best ever written by Ruth Rendell, writing as Barbara Vine. Going back and forth from the future to the past is usually difficult but the author does it so well. I really enjoy Ruth Rendell's mysteries, but when she is writing as Barbara Vine, she makes more of a story and psychological mystery than a whodunit, which I find more enjoyable. If you like Asta's Book, try The Crocodile Bird and her newer Barbara Vine, The Blood Doctor and The Chimney Sweeper's Boy. All are excellent!

One of her very best and that's saying a lot. Rendell is my favorite alltime author, and I'm a constant reader. The format of her mysteries changes constantly and this one has the peculiar focus of a niece editing the famous diaries of her deceased aunt. What she finds develops into a fascinating story with Rendell's usual diverting subplots and surprising finale.

I use this book often in my practice. It was recommended to me by a fellow colleague who heard the author speak at a conference. So far, with this book, I have settled with the USAtty office concerning an asset forfeiture for a client. I also used it to negotiate an offer in compromise that was accepted by the IRS Appeals in an employment case in a case that the agent could not be persuaded to settle.

I consistently consult this book in my practice and refer it to others in my firm. The author provides real-world, practical advice. It is a must for your law library.

This book is a great guide for analyzing and determining strategies to take against the government. It's great not to have to reinvent the wheel by using the checklists and deposition questions and form complaints etc that are provided in this book as a guide. It is a book I refer to regularly in my practice and I have given it to new associates in our trial training program.

I bought this book after hearing the author speak at a bar conference. I was impressed. She really knew what she was talking about and she provided actual substantive materials as handouts not just outlines that you normally get from presenters. If your specializing in tax defense, this is a must-purchase. Forms, phone numbers, law and practical advice for dealing with the government are included in this book for the bread& butter types cases most tax lawyers handle.

I bought this book when I was involved in a tax clinic & law school class two years ago and now that I'm out in my own practice I find that it is one of the few books I can actually use in my practice. It has forms, pleadings and advice concerning IRS and DOJ practice and procedures that have saved me from spinning my wheels. I recommend this for others who represent clients during audits, appeals with the IRS and handle refund suits involving the Justice Department.

Our Book Club choose this book for our December meeting, and we all enjoyed the book. It prompted many very thought provoking and interesting discussions. The book was not only an easy read, but an extremely interesting one.

We all agreed we will look forward to the next novel by Joe. The spiritual message said something to all of us, no matter what beliefs we held.

I read the other reviews and agree with all who placed this book in the "best read" column. However, my take on the book takes on a different perspective. Mr. Taraska takes us beyond ourselves. As one who cherishes stories of recovery, this book should be required reading for all those who struggle with addictions of any sort and those who continue to work toward their own recovery. Bravo! I look forward to Mr. Traska's next book.

WHAT A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR MY DAD.HE IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF OUR LORD CAME BACK TO US.
THIS BOOK TELLS US ABOUT A HOMELESS STRANGER SHOWING UP IN OUR TOWN, AND CLAIMING TO BE JESUS. FOR HIS GOOD DEEDS HE WAS PLACED IN A MENTAL WARD, AND WAS PLACED ON TRIAL.THE BOOK MAKES US WONDER HOW WOULD WE TREAT JESUS TODAY. WE ALL LOVE THE BABY JEUSE, BUT THE MAN JESUS WAS PUT TO DEATH.

What a great fast paced read! This is a great legal thriller that questions the message of God and Jesus. Benm who usually only defends rich clients, agrees to take a pro bono case for David who allegedly has the spirit of Jesus in him. A wonderful way to show God's message through legal terms. Highly recommend!

Jason Montgomery, a talented lawyer, is facing the gaps in his own existence while looking at life through the eyes of a pro-bono client, self-proclaimed God messenger.

David, his client, is temporarily committed to a mental ward awaiting the outcome of the pivotal case that Jason is representing him in. David's fate seems to rest in Jason's hands yet Jason's feels his own fate resting in the hands of his "messenger" client.

The spiritual, emotional, and professional struggles presented to the characters of Joseph Taraska's "Judgment of the Wolves" are compelling and insightful.

I have to admit, I was very intrigued by the amazing courtroom tactics presented, while constantly wondering what the next turn of events would be...

I am not a reader, and this book kept me glued. A great gift for a thinker, while the heartstrings get their play.

I couldn't put this book down, it hooked me from the Prologue, and engaged me to the end, luring me with the twists and surprises, and moving me wonderfully with the writing - sometimes causing me to pause and then turn back the pages to see how she had carried me, the reader, from there to here. Breath-taking in parts, like when riding in an airplane and the plane is losing altitude.

The Price of Silence has gotten very good reviews as a page-turning, intriguing, very creative psychological thriller. New reviews emerged with the publishing of the paper back in June 2008. At the same time the Italian translation, Il prezzo del silenzio, was released in Italy, to great acclaim. The author as you might guess from her name, Camilla Trinchieri, is Italian American. Her father was Italian. She spent years working in Italy, and is fluent in Italian. Covered by multiple radio interviews, newspapers and magazines stories, the launch of the Italian book has received a lot of attention. For more information about the author visit www.camillatrinchieri.com, and keep an eye out for her next book!

A mystery set in New York City, the main characters, a family of three, all present their own perception of events as the story unfolds. The novel jumps from the present to the past and from various locales with such fluidity of motion that you hardly notice. The main characters are all focused around the murder of a young Chinese girl, An-ling Huang. Things are not as they seem as the story begins in a New York court room, where the mother and wife of the story, Emma, is one trial for her murder. This is certainly not your traditional "mystery," as the victim is made known immediately at the start of the story. What is gripping about this novel is how the story retraces the actions of the main characters, who all too easily begin to realize the price of each of their silences.

The novel, written first in English (and also translated into Italian), is masterfully written -- the story compelling and identifiable. You will marvel at how adept Trinchieri is at shifting the points of view of the story between the characters (each chapter or even subsections of a chapter are told from the point of view of different characters) as well as the temporal setting and physical locations within the novel. What is unique about this work is how the story bucks the trend of the traditional linear "beginning to end" who-dunnit. Trinchieri is no slave to tradition and manipulates time and place to heighten the drama as events unfold, which, I might add, builds and then finally climaxes as all is revealed.

Another interesting aspect of this work is how the victim is introduced to the reader. She is not simply a corpse, but an active player in the story -- seen different by each of the major and minor characters. Not only does it add depth and intrigue to the work, it also forces the reader to decide for him/herself which persona of the victim is the most accurate. This only leaves the reader wanting more!

I highly recommend this edgy and creative work. You won't be disappointed!

In Manhattan Emma Perotti teaches English as a second language. Five years ago, Chinese immigrant An-ling Huang signed up to attend Emma's ESL class. Emma felt the frightened young girl's loneliness and overall defenselessness. Emma suffers from guilt from an incident involving the death of her other child as an infant. She has hidden her culpability from her husband Tom for years. she brings An-ling into her family.

Whereas An-ling thrives on her teacher's motherly attention; Tom is irate and resents the intruder; An-ling perceives his loathing Emma while Tom's teenage son Josh forges his own special relationship with her. However, when An-Ling is found suffocated to death, Emma is arrested. During her trial secrets the Perotti conceal from one another and that of the deceased Chinese woman surface.

This is an exciting family drama as guilty secrets lead to an implosion. The story line is fast paced from the moment Emma feels that helping the vulnerable An-ling will give her some solace from what she accidentally did years earlier to her little girl. Although the climax feels too easy, readers will appreciate this look at relationships when lies are key elements of the foundation.

Harriet Klausner

I am recommending this book to everyone. It is not only wonderfully conceived and written, it is so different from the ordinary mystery. Combining original characters, psychological insight, and a page-turning plot, it cannot be put down. What's coming up next?

A thoughtful beautifully told taut psychological novel with each of the characters drawing the reader into their innermost thoughts and secrets. All building up to a exciting ending. A must read - you'll definitely enjoy this book. Kathy F. New York City

This is a great summer-reading book, fast-paced and clever. Well worth the price. Hope there are more!

When I finished the book I didn't know what to do. I wanted to find out more about Clay Parker, the protagonist , as well as the bizarre characters that inhabit this small Texas town. Having moved to this small town from the big city after disappointment in his personal life, he discovers that he landed in a Fellini movie. Well, maybe "Jenks" (town) isn't quite the insane asyllum of Fellini world, but it is nuts!

I didn't want to put the book down until I had finished it. I laughed out loud a couple of time, which I don't usually do. Actually chuckled about the book even after I had finished it. Just a fun ride. I may be forced to read it again unless the author publishes another book soon.

I highly recommend the book to anyone wishing to escape the perfunctoriness of this world for a few hours. To Austin, please publish another book as soon as possible.

This debut crime novel just came out, and the title is from Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Lawyers spend a great deal of time shoveling smoke." The cover picture gives you a good idea of the kind of humor this book is full of. It's the story of a burnt-out Houston tax lawyer who heads to small town Jenks, Texas, to escape the rat race. Quirky Southern characters, bizarre plot twists and outrageously funny situations abound in Austin Davis' first novel.

"Shoveling Smoke" is Texan Austin Davis's first novel, and it is a doozy. As a Texan myself, I'm always leery of books (and films) set in Texas, because all too often they devolve into a rousing game of "laugh at the silly hicks." Fear not in this case, as Davis's novel, I'm thrilled to say, brings the laughs while refusing to reduce characters to caricatures.

The plot is deceptively simple: Big-city (Houston) tax attorney decides to move to a firm in the backwoods and escape the rat race; cue wacky rural hijinks. So how does Davis take this overdone stranger-in-a-strange-land storyline to another level? With good old-fashioned whip-smart writing, that's how. The dialogue crackles with cleverness, and it's an authentic clever, not some contrived ain't-they-a-hoot nonsense. Hilarious rural-speak flows from these characters so naturally you can hear the voices in your head, and Davis presents that speech almost reverently, as evidence of wit and command of language, never as ignorance. The pacing is spot on throughout. And as far as the plot goes, Davis doesn't simply walk the line between the hysterically unexpected and the ridiculously unbelievable, he redraws it. As wild as some of the circumstances get in this novel, I never felt the tightrope of verisimilitude wobble beneath me; I believed every word.

In addition, I was surprised, nasty old cynic that I am, to catch myself grinning on more than one occasion while reading this book. Sure, there were moments when I laughed out loud, but even a crappy book can get a zinger in here and there, so that's not necessarily a high compliment. But to discover yourself smiling with no knowledge of how long you've been doing it? That is something special. I am not just impressed by Davis but grateful to him, for I was having a bit of a downer week and reading his book was like having someone snatch a handful of sunshine and toss it to me.

Get this book and catch some of that sunshine for yourself.

Houston Lawyer Clay Parker moves to the East Texas town of Jenks to go to work for the Chandler and Stroud law firm. This is a firm infamous for representing horse thieves, shady businessmen and crooks of every stripe. Chandler is a gravitationally challenged (PC for fat) man who never met a good looking woman he didn't like and Stroud has a fondness for the drink. Clay, the new blood, winds up knee deep in questionable and barely legal tactics to get their clients off. Jenks maybe be a Texas backwater of a town, but there are plenty of big city laughs in this story.

If you didn't know there was going to be humor here when you saw the cover of this book, a horse's patooty with its tail stiff and flying in the breeze, then you got bricks between your ears. This book will make you laugh. There is quite a bit of suspense here too. Laughter and suspense, what a terrific combination.

Excellent book highlighting the need and importance of logical reasoning for a better understanding of everything one encounters

is in this book. Socrates was proclaimed (by the Oracle at Delphi, the voice of Apollo) to be the wisest man in Athens. After the Democracy had come back after the defeat in the Peloponnesian Wars, the mob needed someone to take the blame, and Socrates was the designated victim. He continues on his path happily, knowing that he has served Athens in the best way that he could. You can't beat the price for this copy of the four dialogues that make up his trial and death, and you can't ask for a better role model than Socrates!

Highest rating!

This translation by Benjamin Jowett, a great translator of Plato's works, is the one you want to get if you are mostly concerned with beauty and elegance in a translation. There are other translations that are more accurate, but none more elegant and beautiful than Jowett. This translation was finished in the 19th century; it is the most famous of all Plato translations, although there are numerous other translations available today. (You will be able to find critics that love and hate each translator, so it is up to you to get the one that you think is most true and, if you are like me, most beautiful.) Here is a translation comparison of the same lines of a few different translations so you can see the difference:

(From the "Apology")

Tredennick:

"Well, now it is time to be off, I to die and you to live; but which of us has the happier prospect is unknown to anyone but God."

Jowett:

"The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways--I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows."

Rouse:

"And now it is time to go, I to die, and you to live; but which of us goes to a better thing is unknown to all but God."

Just so you know, the Jowett translation is a public domain text (finished in the late 19th century) that you can find on the internet if you don't want to buy it; but it only costs pennies, so go ahead and buy the book so you can make your notes in the margins...and also so you don't have to stare at a computer screen for hours.

Some links to other versions that feature the Jowett translation:
Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo (Great Books in Philosophy)

Six Great Dialogues: Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Symposium, The Republic (Thrift Edition)

***It is generally agreed upon that the most accurate translation of Plato are the Grube translations. Here is a link: Plato Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo

The four dialogues collected in this volume tell the story of the trial and death of Socrates. The "Euthrypo" is a philosophical dialogue on the subject of piety and holiness, set against the background of Socrates' having been accused of impiety towards the gods. The 'Apology' contains Socrates largely monologic defense of his own actions. In this he defends his own devotion to truth, to seeking out the way of true Wisdom. His well- known claim is not that he is wise, but rather that whatever wisdom he has comes in knowing he and others are not wise. Socrates role as gadfly, as one who questions conventional truths is here highlighted. In the 'Crito' Socrates refuses the pleas of his friends, and shows himself to be a dutiful citizen of the state by refusing to illegally escape, run away from the death- sentence. In the 'Phaedo' Socrates nobly choses to accept the verdict of Death , and indicates that his concern is more with his own immortal soul than with the evanescent life in this world.
The Four Dialogues together are central to Plato's thought, and constitute one of the central stories of Western Philosophy.
'Philosophy' as Socrates practices it is an unending searching for the truth, an unending process of questioning and dialoguing , undermining one's own assumptions in the process. It is an exposing of the folly and error which is at the heart of most conventional opinion.
In these 'Dialogues' Plato creates the figure of Socrates as first great hero of Western Philosophy. And this though Plato's own thought will have a dimension of certainty and discovery of the Absolute Ideal which aims to be go beyond Socratic activity and dialogue.
These 'Dialogues' are not simply a central work of Western thought, but also a powerful work of Literature. They portray a remarkably , courageous figure, one who stands for the 'truth' and for his own moral integrity despite the entreaties and pressures of the mass of his countrymen. Socrates ia also the great martyr of truth, and as this sets the pattern for a whole series of 'heroes' of thought who defy Authority to present the Truth as they understand it.
With all this there are questions to be raised about Socrates value- system, wisdom and general morality. He has often been faulted for neglecting not only the shrewish wife Xantippe, but his three sons, for in short holding responsibility to family as secondary value. His 'questioning - of- everything' attitude is of course one which comes most naturally to adolescence and the young people he taught, but is problematic for those adult Athenians who truly had to be responsible for running Athenian democracy under difficult times.
This neat, small Dover Edition presents a classic piece of philosophical Literature in an attractive and inexpensive popular non- scholarly edition.

This edition of _The Trial and Death of Socrates_ contains Plato's four famous dialogues between Socrates and his friends and detractors before the noteworthy philosopher was condemned to death by the Athenian tribunal in ancient Greece. I find this topic of interest because of the close relationship between Platonic thought and early Christian philosophy during the period of roughly 250-750 A.D. when the fundamentals of Christian doctrine were formed. It is clear from a reading of this series of texts why Plato, although a pagan preceding Christ for several hundred years, was very popular among Christian prelates, monks, polemicists, theologians and philosophers. The texts make somewhat awkward reading because they are presented in the forms of dialogue between Socrates and his friends and detractors and thus Plato does not have to express unequivocally what his own opinions are regarding the debates. The first text discussed in this volume is entitled "Euthyphro" and discusses the nature of piety. Here Plato has Socrates question many of the concepts associated with the polytheistic worship and piety of ancient Athens. Socrates' famous "Apology" is a treatise against the accusations of the courts of Athens. Socrates argues for the fact that only God is ultimately the source of wisdom and in all his interactions with fellow poets, artists, philosophers, statesmen, etc., he has not found true wisdom, at least not any wisdom that he himself does not already possess. In "Crito" Socrates debates with those among his followers who entreat him to flee Athens and take up refuge in a safer city. "Phaedo" contains the account of Socrates' last dialogue and concludes with Socrates' death by consuming hemlock poison as ordered by the Athenian court. Socrates explains that he does not fear death because the physical things of this world are impermanent and only the soul is ultimately immortal. Death is in fact an improvement in man's condition and he advocates a type of otherworldly asceticism (disdaining external appearances, food, clothing and human love) as the true path for the philosopher who wants to understand and contemplate the nature of reality in a pure fashion. The body dies and the soul is immortal and therefore the most important thing is to attend to the metaphysical realities while in this life. Socrates argues, among other things, that the soul is pre-existent of the body, a concept which was taken up later by the Christian philosopher Origen and later condemned as heresy. He also believes in a concept of the afterlife where the soul is either punished for wrongdoing or rewarded for good. Some souls go through a process of purification before they can advance, similar to the Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory. _The Trial and Death of Socrates_ is an excellent read about an important figure in the history of religion and philosophy, especially as it shows the mindset of one who was willing to die for his beliefs (martyrdom). Not all of Plato and Socrates ideas were adopted by the Church but despite certain discrepancies they were nonetheless influential.