error Books

So, apparently Amazon imported into their warehouse some sort of giant ISBN database that includes titles like "Use of electronics in railway signalling: Results of the measurement and analysis of transmission error structures for various transmission media and interference sources". Amazon will never stock or sell this book, paper, etc. But that doesn't stop a certain "Thomas Bartlett", a fool with his own blog called "Minor Tweaks", from wasting his and everyone elses time by writing facetious reviews for this and other items of database detritus, under some form of misguided conception that it is "funny". Mr. Bartlett is also known for interviewing a dog and posting his inane letters to the makers of consumer products on his blog. He also sometimes criticizes our President.

We are not amused with Mr. Bartlett's tomfoolery. Amazon is not your "playtoy", nor is your attempt at humor "funny".

In conclusion, I believe that Mr. Bartlett's internet IP should be revoked, and the proper authorities should commit him to ensure that he receives the proper medication or mental health treatment necessary to correct his disorder.

I'm not surprised that this text has "limited availability" and no, I would not like to sell mine here. It's my analysis of transmission error structures, and I'm keeping it, thank you very much. But if you ever are fortunate enough to come across this compendium of railway signalling wisdom, jump on it like a hand grenade, because it will blow your mind apart.

If I had to make one cavil about it, though, it would be the lack of theory to provide a framework for the data so diligently compiled. That and the photographs that accompany the "Signalling mishaps and disasters" chapter -- those seem in questionable taste.

Unfortunately, while perusing Amazon.com's extensive library of literature bound in the unknown, hoping to upgrade my current collection, I came across G. List's Use of Electronics in Railway Signalling: Results of the Measurement and Analysis of Transmission Error Structures for Various Transmission Media and Interference Sources, and wish I never had wasted the time. You see, as those of us in-the-know know, there are no electronics used in railway signalling.

Mr. List, with the help of the International Union of Railways is trying to pull one over on the unsuspecting American public (and other English speaking people). As I am sure that most of you are aware the IUR is the front organization for the Luxembourg Steamship Union, and it's more militant, radical wing, the Estonian Brotherhood of Canal Operators. They control all traffic signalling throughout the world, and quite frankly refuse to allow the electronics industry access to railway (and other) signalling devices.

Hence, we have now become reliant on these organizations and their diabolical system of squirrels and pulleys and cogs and such to control (especially railroad) signals.

So quite frankly, no matter how elegantly Mr. "G List" (an obvious pseudonym) makes his case - and I must say, some of it almost brought me to tears with its elegance - it is just so much tomfoolery.

Please, I beg of you, do not fall prey to Mr. List's arguments, especially those beautiful passages concerning transmission error structures.

I must admit that it's something of a goal of mine to eventually acquire an encyclopedic knowledge of all manner of signalling electronics.

This goal manifested itself one autumn in my university years. Myself and some chums quaffed back about a keg of beer and, upon returning to our dorm, found ourselves in the surprising posession of a traffic light.

That traffic light might have lain forgotton by the mists of time had we not made a decision a few weeks later to host a party. While searching for some sort of unique lighting, I was hit by the idea to connect the traffic light to our stereo system and have it flash in beat to the music. I channeled all of my McGyver-mojo and managed to create a device that not only enabled us to host an unforgettable party, but also resulted in over $1000 of local ordinance fines when my device was later reported to the authorities.

In the intervening years, I have consumed all manner of signalling literature, from "European Railway Signalling (Miscellaneous) -- by Colin Bailey" to "Telecommunications Signalling (IEE Telecommunications Series) by Richard Manterfield" to "Microbial Signalling and Communication by Reg England".

So it was that I decided to leaf through the dog-eared pages of this book. Just getting it open was a chore. I'll be damned if I couldn't quite figure out what kind of binding it was in. Nonetheless, I continued with my signalling quest.

Little did I know the surprises that were in store!

I had held the previous belief that the top-end platform for electronic signalling was to be found in those very traffic signals that had so pleased me in university. I was wrong! Railway signalling is where it's at!

I don't know where to begin in my review. From the comprehensive analysis of the measurments, to the detailed descriptions of the transmission sources, this book has it all!

A minor quibble: There was virtually no mention of the effects on electronic signalling by cosmic rays or extraterrestrial radiation. I find this omission quite galling, since everybody in the signalling world knows that the major causes of signalling errors near railways is almost always E.T.-related. Especially in Nebraska.

Still I am willing to forgive this omission, since this book was writting in 1987, a time when any open and honest dialog about the effects of extraterrestrial radiation upon electrionic railway signalling was being stymied by the Reagan administration. Perhaps the International Union of Railways publisihed this book as a way to pave the road for future discussions about the E.T. problem. Perhaps not.

Either way, forget all other books about railway signalling electronics, because this book is all that you need. Unless you want to know more about extraterestrial radiations effects on RSEs, but this book has just about everything else.

Five Stars!

Nearly 20 years have come and gone since G List published "Use of Electronics in Railway Signalling." A lot has changed in those two decades. The Berlin Wall was torn down, for example. That monument to governmental control was destroyed not by sledgehammers, but by the power of the human heart (sledgehammers helped). Speaking of hammers, the 1990s saw the rise of MC Hammer, a big-panted performer who warned us repeatedly that we couldn't touch this. But what, exactly, couldn't we touch? Everyone has a theory. I think it was his pants: He hated it when you touched them.

Nothing of interest has happened so far in the 2000s.

History lessons aside, "Use of Electronics in Railway Signalling" remains what it always was, i.e., a book about the use of electronics in railway signalling that contains the results of the measurement and analysis of transmission error structures for a variety of transmission media and interference sources. In that sense, it is timeless. I am just as interested in it today as I was the day it was published. Five stars!

O'Reilly had a brilliant idea when they started their Pocket Reference series. These are small (about 5 x 7 inches) manuals that provide a terse explanation of all or nearly all commands available in whatever subject is being covered, Windows XP in this case.

They are not for beginners: they are for experts, people who know the system, but need a handy prompt when they can't quite remember a command. This book serves as a memory jogger and provides the proper syntax but little, if any, explanation.

A great tool to keep handy.

Jerry

This book is okay, but it has no index.
This is a cardinal sin, especially for a reference book.
The publisher should be ashamed. They know better.
They're just trying to save a few bucks.

Also, in the Command Prompt Commands section, instead of providing the commands which have been added with XP, over the ones available in Windows 2000, it gives the commonly-used commands which are already provided in their Windows 2000 Commands Pocket Reference book.

I must admit, when I first saw the size of this book I thought that it was just going to be another half-hearted attempt at a reference manual for the basics of Windows XP. In fact, so sure I was of this, I let it sit on my shelf for over a month before I bothered to read through it. Was I ever wrong...

This book covers a wide range of tasks under Windows XP. Everything from how to schedule tasks, to how to setup user accounts, even an entire section devoted to Windows XP security! The book does a good job of grouping each tip by category, and then going straight into detail with the tips: How do I do it; What are the benefits of doing it; What are the options for doing it?

The only thing this book is missing would be a handy "tabbing" along the right side of the book to make it quick to finger over to a particular section. However, the content of this book more than make up for this minor omission.

This book is good for the moderate to advanced user of Windows XP. It covers many of the advanced tasks and not-so-subtle features that you will find in the OS, including such details as giving a handy class-id listing for common objects under XP. A good "pocket book" for anyone who uses Windows XP on a daily basis.

I must admit, when I first saw the size of this book I thought that it was just going to be another half-hearted attempt at a reference manual for the basics of Windows XP. In fact, so sure I was of this, I let it sit on my shelf for over a month before I bothered to read through it. Was I ever wrong...

This book covers a wide range of tasks under Windows XP. Everything from how to schedule tasks, to how to setup user accounts, even an entire section devoted to Windows XP security! The book does a good job of grouping each tip by category, and then going straight into detail with the tips: How do I do it; What are the benefits of doing it; What are the options for doing it?

Advanced topics in this book get into how to use the recovery console (a godsend when needed!), how to boost performance through registry settings, even how to get down to the "brass tacks" of your system through some little-known command-line utility (such as diskpart, a disk partitioner -- something even I had no idea existed until I read about it).

The only thing this book is missing would be a handy "tabbing" along the right side of the book to make it quick to finger over to a particular section. However, the content of this book more than make up for this minor flaw.

This book is good for the moderate to advanced user of Windows XP. It covers many of the advanced tasks and not-so-subtle features that you will find in the OS, including such details as giving a handy class-id listing for common objects under XP. A good "pocket book" for anyone who uses Windows XP on a daily basis.

I was surprised and pleased to discover the amount of thought that has gone into this little book. In addition to a rapid 'getting started' section, there's a lot of attention to the types of things I frequently need to look up, such as where a setting is found or what the syntax of an command is. But I was most interested in the last chapter, a "security checklist," which helps close all the "back doors" (as the author puts it) in my system. A bargain and a great find!

Pedantic, unsupportive, casual about a serious and inflamed issue.
What about recourse?

Adverse Events, Stress & Litigation, A Physician's Guide, is the latest contribution by a pair of professionals who have spent the last three decades shedding light on a previously unmentioned subject. Sara Charles, MD and Paul Frisch, JD partnered to provide the most comprehensive and thoughtful review of this complex topic. This book explores adverse events and provides practical tips on how to disclose unexpected occurrences to the patient and/or family. The authors skillfully corroborated to provide the reader with a clear understanding of the litigation process. Numerous caveats are included that will assist defendants as they deal with the demands of litigation. To further add to this well-written text, numerous poignant case vignettes are provided.
This book provides the reader with advise, guidance and insights not found in any other resource and should not only be a part of every health-care practitioner's library, but at the fingertips of every physician dealing with the litigation process. Thanks to Sara Charles and Paul Frisch for this timely, well-written and thoughtful contribution.

As a pre-med student I found this book incredibly informative. It provides a balanced and unique perspective on a very important issue. The use of real life situations makes the book both poignant and approachable to the lay person or professional. Every pre-medical, medical student and resident should read this book in preparation for their career. It adds depth and scope to ones understanding of the importance of patient safety, quality of care, and risk management. This book not only can help one avoid liability but can also provide a guide through the difficult and often foreign legal system surrounding medical malpractice.

Adverse Events, Stress and Litigation: A Physician's Guide was recommended to me by my daughter in pre-med. As an emergency physician with 30 years of experience in healthcare, I found this book a welcome addition to my continuing medical education. The authors provide an in depth synopsis of a topic which is fraught with anxiety for all physicians, medical malpractice. The book's unique strength lies in both content and format, setting it apart from other literature on the same topic. What it is NOT, is a sterile, didactic review on medical litigation. Rather, it walks the reader through the mine field of a claim or suit. It shines a light through the fog that is the legal process (and the associated attorney jargon) inherent in this stressful situation. Further, it provides the reader with tools to successfully navigate the system. Real life examples are integrated throughout, adding interest and even comfort. Every physician and physician-to-be should include this in their mandatory reading. I was surprised to find hope and solace in a book that is thoroughly informative and relevant. I highly recommend it.

Still, this book is a marvellously funny romp through a collection of snippets of tortured English. Delightful for those capable of seeing the humor in a sign that reads:

No
DOGS
EATING
BICYCLES

My only objection to this book was that I've seen too many of these entries before; between those that are in the chapter-ending "hall of fame" sections, that have appeared in previous books by this author, and those that I have seen in other similar books (Jay Leno's "Headlines" books, for instance) there were just too many that were too familiar to be entirely bizarre. Still, there was plenty of new material, and it was ALL funny, even the recycled parts.

As a devoted reader of Richard Lederer's previous "Anguished English" books, I was anxious to see if this book measured up to the previous titles. I was thrilled to find that it did that and more! There is no doubt that "The Bride of Anguished English" is a fantastic book that will keep me laughing for hours on end. Most all of the material is new, but it pays homage to classic English errors in a small "Hall of Fame" section at the end of each chapter. If you enjoy studying and/or laughing at the misuse of English, this is a book for you.

Is this the best of the Anguished volumes? The author Richard Lederer says that he believes "that my Bride is the best written of my four Anguished English books." I totally agree. "Bride" is a fantastic faux-pastiche of verbal blunders, a written equivalent to a whole season of TV's Best Bloopers plus America's Dumbest Home Videos.

Aside from its amusement value, "Bride" is also handy for English teachers and anyone wishing to improve their writing skills. Selected gems from the book can illustrate WHY you need to be careful about dangling participles, careless spelling and mixed metaphors. It's one thing to hold forth on the value of good English grammar, it's another to gaze with horrified astonishment at actual printed headlines such as:

"WOMAN BORN FEBRUARY 29 HAS BABY SAME DAY"
and
"AIRLINE EXPECTS TO BE BACK ON TRACK BY WEEKEND"

These illustrations are far more impressive than memorizing lists of rules or reading "Elements of Style." If you want to brush up your writing skills, it couldn't hurt to have a laugh and also pick up some examples of really bad mistakes you are sure to remember.

There is plenty more good stuff here--including the chapter on stupid headlines, a chapter of the particularly dumb stuff doctors and lawyers write (always rewarding if you like to needle professionals at parties, lots and lots of lawyer jokes here) and the divine comedy from church and Sunday School that informs you that "Amen" really means..."Tha-tha-tha-that's all, folks!"

I sure hope that's not all...we could all use some more Anguish like this. If you liked Richard's previous Anguished volumes, this one will not disappoint you.

This book is a collection of blunders, bloopers and other mistaken uses of the English language. While it should be required reading for every American, I doubt that many people will read it, which is a shame.

The book is funny and will cause a chuckle, or out right laugh, only if you understand what the mistakes are. I found it a little disturbing that I missed some of the mistakes, because they are so common place that my eye just read what was supposed to be there...not what was actually written.

My only complaint is that the book does start to get redundant after a while, making it more suitable for short stretches of reading. Trying to read this book in a "straight through" manner gets tiring.

This book is easy to read, makes a great "bathroom" book, and could be used to teach about common mistakes in our language. Buy it and let your kids read it. Maybe they will figure out that they can write more clearly

I am running a construction company and my basic mindset is functional business development. I recently purchased this Construction Operations Manual and I am extremely satisfied. The book almost perfectly addresses a wide array of issues, actually, it's phenomenal! It simply is a 'construction operations manual.' I have not read anything that would come close to this book in terms of running a practical construction company.

Furthermore, this is basic business development. In my opinion it is a balanced and structured way of creating and operating any business in general. Whether it be a construction, technology or scuba diving companies, these basic functional principles of running a business will not change. It is a fabulous book.

There is some room for improvement. The cd-rom with forms templates is fairly large and it forms facilitates many issues, however I personally have put together a compilation of templates 4x as large. Therefore, there is a way to create a better manual by adding more forms to the cd-rom.

Overall, i give the Construction Operations Manual two thumbs up, five stars and lots of support.

Most spend thousands in buying a franchise. This book has what you need to build a successful system yourself at much less cost.

THe attached diskette did not contain all the forms and letters as so indicated by the author. THe author should verify the diskette before shipping. Other than that I thought the manual prove to be worth the purchase.

Author has huge experience in construction industry, but I expected something like a guideline - simple in structure, focused on essence. Topics are covered with plenty of words, could be simpler. However generally it is worth having this book.

There's nothing illegal about defacing a US coin. The idea of evolution was not first proposed by Darwin. Cinderella's slipper is glass only due to an error in translation. Black-eyed peas are actually beans. SOS doesn't stand for anything; it's just distinctive in Morse code.

Pages upon pages of this kind of thing... It's a must for the bookshelf of all Cliff Clavin wannabes. For the rest of us, it can be fun to flip through, though it will be apparent to many that a revised edition could be cobbled together quite easily to incorporate the vast amounts of misinformation in society today. This book was originally published in 1975 and even this more recent 1986 edition shows its age. The Web has brought more misinformation to the masses than can possibly have been imagined in 1975. Someone's gotta make a website version of this to keep up!

This is the best single book that has ever been printed. By opening up the book for about thirty seconds each night I have been able to "Astonish my friends and annoy my enemies," exactly as it is stated on the cover of this book. This book it priceless, I of course only paid 9 cents for my copy, but after reading it I found that I had just made the best buy of my 14 year life!!!

Pick this book up at a library if you can find it. Well written and informative -- however, the book is showing its age. It would be nice to see an update of all the current misinformation out there.

I enjoy thumbing through this book or actually trying to find a "common knowledge fact" and the true story behind it. Some of the entries are quotes that have been misquoted for decades, while others are simply interesting facts (the black-eyed pea is not a pea, but a bean). The book is about 30 years old now, so some of the topics may be categorized with the more modern term, "urban legend". A very interesting book if you can find it.

One gets the impression that Strauch sees people involved in accidents as 'patients' who symptoms must be probed or worse that his approach is more like a pathologist, seeking the cause of the error. Hence heavey emphasis on substance abuse testing for example. Much better is Dekker's book The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error. The latter is better preparation.

This book is required for my Masters class ... it arrived as described and in a very timely manner.

Just as our transportation system, like most complex systems, has grown ever more sophisticated, so have the means of investigating when those systems suffer failures. For years, a pronouncement of "human error" signaled the end of an accident investigation; now it often marks the beginning. It is no longer sufficient to conclude that an error occurred; investigators must now determine why it occurred and what can be done to prevent a recurrence. Yet surprisingly, there has been little in the training canon to prepare the accident investigator for this central function. That is, until now, because Dr. Barry Strauch has masterfully filled that gap. "Investigating Human Error: Incidents, Accidents, and Complex Systems" is that rarity in the literature of any discipline: a text that is thorough, well-organized and also a pleasure to read. Strauch is clearly at home in both the academic world and the gritty, high-stress environment that surrounds the investigator in the field. Each page of his book is informed by his years of experience as an investigator, an educator and a human factors psychologist. With the systematic, insightful approach presented by Strauch, complex systems are no longer impenetrable to the investigator; human error ceases to be a conundrum. Furthermore, Strauch's audience extends well beyond the ranks of investigators alone. His book will be profoundly appreciated by the people who work in airlines and other complex systems, by those who manage them and by those who analyze and regulate them. In fact, Strauch's work will be a compelling read for anyone who is fascinated and perplexed by humans failing to perform as they should in critical missions.

Dr. Barry Strauch's book is a superbly written and researched account by an investigating expert. He weaves an informative tale that maintains an anecdotal and entertaining tone throughout. Dr. Strauch is, quite simply, a literary wizard. His book is truly a gift to the aviation world. His first-hand account of many infamous accidents combined with his expertise and step by step techniques make this an educational yet interesting read. This reader highly recommends this book to anyone in the field of aviation or any person with an interest in the field. This book is a classic in the vein of "Normal Accidents," Charles Perrow's masterpiece. Five stars.

This Bible is the inspired and preserved Word of God. The text is excellent, and not as hard to understand as most people think. The King James English is poetic and has a melodic quality to it.

Modern translations claim to be more accurate, but solely because they are translated from older manuscripts which are called the Eclectic Text because they were put together from various sources. Older is not necessarily better. The KJV is translated from the Textus Receptus, which is supported by many Byzantine manuscripts that agree. These manuscripts were carefully copied by monks who counted the letters in a verse and in a page when done. If there was the slightest discrepency, they destroyed it. In this way, God's Word was preserved.

We do not have such assurances about the Eclectic Text.

One benefit of the KJV is that when everyone memorizes the same version, it is easier to share scripture. In the past, men who were prisoners of war were able to construct whole books of the Bible by putting together the verses each man had memorized.

The reason I give this only 4 stars is that while advertised as leather bound, it is actually bonded leather --chopped up leather bonded to cardboard. It is a decent cover for the price -- but not actually a genuine leather cover. Also, one of the volumes I bought had a page stuck with glue that ripped when we opened the book.

An excellent bible for the person who needs a larger print bible. I am totally impressed.

I ordered this bible thinking if was bound in leather. This was misleading as on the rear cover is printed "leather like" meaning vynll. The sellers done nothing to correct this when I emailed them. Otherwise this bible is aesy to read and it is very reasonably priced.

I am amazed that the most sought after, fought after book in history has not been reviewed. Well it is an honor to be a trail blazer in writing the first amazon review on the Bible. First off I prefer the New King James Version of the bible because it preserves the old english language but makes it more understandable in todays vernacular. It is unfortunate that many have used Christianity for ill and have never even referred to the basic teachings of the Bible. The Bible speaks in figurative and literal language and for first time readers I would definitley recommend a Bible with commentary to explain the many issues the Bible addresses.

To see the bible as one book is the wrong approach. It is sold and marketed as one book but for literary and historical purposes it must be seen as a collection of books that tells a story, inspires, teaches and expounds on theological principles. Some books are very historical in the way they are written such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Others are very poetic like Psalms, and Song of Solomon others are prophetic like Isaiah, Psalms, Daniel, and Jeremmiah. It is inspirational throughout and theological in many books particularly the new testament books of Ephesians and Galatians.

Another way to look at the bible for those who see it as complicated, is seeing it as a play with 66 scenes, each scene representing a book. It also has two acts-the old testament (Genesis-Malachi) and the new testament (Matthew-Revelations) The gospels or the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John speak on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and were each independently written but coincide in its message but not necessarily on its exact content and writing style. They do complement each other in an amazing way.

One reason that I refer to the bible as inspirational throughout is because the teachings relate to our lives in a direct way. With most books, after reading once or at most twice, you never want to read it again. But unlike most books, the Bible has a way of giving new revelation even when reading the same chapters or books many times over. Of course some disagree with me on this, but from whatever perspective you read the Bible, you cannot objectively refer to it as irrelevant and lacking in depth.

It is definitely worth the read and has been the catalyst to hundreds of thousands of books that expound on its teachings.

The book of 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 says " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

To read it is to love. Whether you are a college student in a literature class, a person hungry for knowledge about God, or a person seeking a message for today's world, the Bible is definitely your book.

This memoir (loosely-termed as such) is an account of an adventure in 2000 when these two young actors left Manhattan in a rented car to travel across the United States on a quest. They drove from Chicago to Florida and stopped at places in between, from Oregon to L. A. to interview some of those exonerated of murder charges.

Jessica had been in a movie for Court TV called 'The Exonerated' about prisoners falsely accused and who spent time on death row in prisons. It is the result of her friend, Erik Jensen from Minnessota,who agreed to make the trip and they nose dived into the darker side of our justice (or injustice) system and were told stories of gross conditions which were repulsive and overwhelming to the victims, before they could win their freedom after such a long interval between being accussed and released.

"The desire for revenge is powerful" on all levels. I've been against the death penalty for many years now because of the innocent "criminals" who are due to die for some crime someone else perpetrated. They discovered that 74% of Americans support capital punishment. If it doesn't happen here in East Tennessee, some decide to take matters in their own hands.

This book entails the creation of the play they wrote using actual cases they uncovered. It is 'a fascinating chronicle of political consciousness.' Instead of dwelling on statistics and legalese, they put a human face on stage so every person in the audience could can and understand what was at stake. This is the story of real people who had lost so much; they used the interviews they did with those abused by the inequities of the system to make a social comment in the form of a play. It took them three years to work through and it changed them forever. They called it a "crazy journey" but in the end discovered a common bonding. Involved in off-Broadway theater, they were drawn together by a chance meeting in a bar.

It is foolish to think that the system (any government service) functions in reality the way it does on paper. It is the propoganda and self praise on forms which win the awards, not what happens in real life. They discovered what I've known now for a long time (from personal experience) that mayors, lawyers, judges and the police are all human and make mistakes, act carelessly, and think of 'self' first and foremost.

It's not enough to pray that the leaders will do what's right and fair to all; we have to take action and speak up, ask questions and seek the truth. Relationships now prove to be more trouble than usual, but don't let this prevent you from staying emotionally present. Even if you are somewhat uncomfortable with holding your ground today, remember that this is truly one of your strengths. The source of your uneasiness may be guilt that is stirred up, whether or not it applies to the current situation. Speak the truth gently and be open to the possibility of positive transformation.

Mainly the leaders in whatever capacity should act ethically. Freedom isn't something which occurs simply because our leaders promise it; they will promise the sky if you foolishly believe them. Politicians never keep promises, but some younger ones will listen. Reach out to them.

A fierce, brilliant account of a political, artistic and personal quest: two young people in search of truth and justice end up finding love and adventure and the harsh realities of America's dark side. Blank's searing intelligence and total conviction for her cause make this book incredibly hard to put down, even as the truths it reveals are often hard to take. If you have seen "The Exonerated," you will love reading the stories behind the stories on stage or film. But even if you haven't seen it, there is much to glean here about the kind of guts required to make a difference as an artist or an activist in the world today.

Jessica Blank's and Erik Jensen's joint memoir, "Living Justice," tells their story of how a desire to create awareness over an important--yet overlooked--issue in the American justice system blossomed from "Eureka!"-style concept into a beautifully realized theater piece called "The Exonerated," which has been performed all over the country and recently adapted for television, educated tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of people, and cited by legislators as an important force in death penalty ethics reform. Their story takes them on a roadtrip across the USA, interviewing people who were convicted of heinous crimes they did not commit, sentenced to death, but ultimately freed and exonerated over overwhelming post-trial evidence of their innocence. The passages dealing with these cases are the most effective parts of the book: informative with the power to disturb and inspire, much in the same way as the authors's play. But there is more to the book than information on the death penalty. Beautifully captured in "Living Justice" is the story of two actors and activists who find love and home within their collaboration, who discover what it feels like to make a change in the world and be reminded of that change in moving and affirming ways. The book is a must-read for fans of the play and students of the theater. The downtown NYC performance scene comes alive in the chapter about the play's opening night and subsequent celebrity-filled run at the Culture Project theater space. Also amazingly portrayed are the days just after 9/11 in which the nature of activism, patriotism, and the definition of justice was questioned by the world over. Amazingly, Ms. Blank and Mr. Jensen found--through their experience of the play--that the USA is still interested in looking in on itself to consider its flaws and how to improve upon them. In that this definition of "American justice" has shifted in the past three years from a national to global issue, it's important to consider what methods all people (as non-politicians) have to instigate the kinds of cultural change needed to make this country and the world in which it exists a place we are proud to call ours...

This is a great story. It's about two young people falling in love while testing their own and each others' limits, researching and writing "The Exonerated," an excellent (and very influential) play about the fascinating, tragic, and ordinary people exonerated and released from death row. Erik and Jessica don't stumble down the rabbit-hole of the American criminal justice system. They climb down it step by step, confessing their fear and confusion, and insecurity that they have no idea what they're doing, and probably have no business doing it anyway. The book takes the reader along for the cross-country trip visiting with and interviewing the people whose stories became The Exonerated. There's lots of captivating background on the subjects of the play, and the authors write passionatley, but also honestly and insightfully, about the politics of the death penalty in America.

I hated this book. I started reading it a while ago, and could not stop reading it. I hate when a book makes this type of demand on me. Other books are different. I have many that are on my nightstand with several bookmarks in them. They will be read, but the mood has to be there. Kukla's book is much different.

Having finished the book, I hated it some more by packing it along this Chrismas vacation. Loaded down with many of the mental traps illustrated in this book, I finally made time this Christmas holiday to re-read the work, but this time with my pen and paper nearby. Sure, Kukla has a light hearted approach to his writing, and it is easy to read, but his meaning is idea-dense and exceptionally easy - both at the same time.

But, taking the time to write down a few things, the meaning was there, and then my "formulation" of what was meant, was sadly gone. This is a seductively easy read, there is more than a hint of meaning, followed by considerable time making sense of the work. I have found the appendix to be exceptionally useful, but do not jump to it first. The reading prioir is essential. There are no short cuts to this.

I hate this book so much, I am going to re-read it again before school starts. There is considerable information in the first two-thirds that I will employ in my classroom. The mental traps should be made aware to anyone with an academic leaning. But this is simply the immense utility of the work. The message is only clear at the end.

In passing, I must also relate that I have a much better understanding of the Martial Arts dictum, "no mind". There is much mystery in the Martial Arts, and at this moment in time, I am rather convinced that this book is an excellent flashlight, and will help in my search there too. And continuing with the metaphor, Kukla may use a black light to help me show the way. I might make this book "mandatory" reading for my Martial Arts instruction as well.

This book is certainly one that belongs on your top shelf of works. There will be very few of these books in yardsales, or used book shops.

This little book will knock you on the head to wake you up from ignorance. Ignorance of your own thoughts, which makes you less productive and redundant.
Just to give you a taste of whats in store, one of the many useful mental traps enlisted in the book is "Amplification". The metaphor is "Killing a fly with a Sledge hammer". Which is putting in extra effort than what is required to get a job done.
Towards the last chapters you are being introduced to "Thought watching", which enable you to identify and dodge the pitfalls of your own consciousness. Overall this is a good read with outspoken examples which makes it both educational and entertaining.

This book has been really one the best books I have read recently. Mr. Kukla has enlisted the mental traps and explains how to recognize them and how to deal with them. Readers can apply the precedures in day to day life. And that's the beauty of it. And above all, unlike other psychological books, this one is been put together in a very simple language. I beleive simplicity has more reality than complexity.

Prof. Kukla has written one of the kind of "self-help" books that were common-place a hundred years ago, but have largely passed out of existence more recently. This book is, believe you me, of more value than most of the psycho-babble seen on "Self-Help" book shelves. The thesis Prof Kukla offers is simple yet very persuasive: Most of us are prone to compulsive thinking patterns, which pre-occupy our minds, drain our energies, and waste our time, and all to no point.

A couple of examples:

* Persistence - we get locked-in to tasks that, quite obviously, are "going nowhere" and yet we over-commit, won't see or admit the futility of more effort, and so persist with no reasonable chance of completion or enjoyment.
* Amplification - we expand the activity to fill the available time, or to avoid taking the next step in a process - more research is done, more information gathered, more assurance is sought, but to not avail except stalling.

The book is plainly written, a pleasant read, and very topical for most of us. With each chapter it is likely the reader will wince in recognition and vow to do better - fortunately André gives good advice on exactly how to avoid or overcome these mental traps. The bottom line is that most of us are prone to foolishness or stupidity in our thought processes, but if the thinking that goes on when we're trapped remains below the level of consciousness, we can't even begin to change it. This book is a guide to a more productive form of self-analysis than most psycho-therapy is ever likely to provide.