error Books

Here are some professional reviews sent to my publisher:

"Campbell's book is magic. It sings. It dances. The law ought to be about people-- people in trouble, people with claims for justice who need to be heard. Art Campbell knows this. He also knows how to bring you into the lives of the people he has-- with wit, grit and dedication-- represented over the years. This is a great book. " -- Mike Tigar, internationally renowned trial attorney.

"Professor Campbell's Trial & Error reads like a fast paced work of fiction with fascinating real life experiences, laced with poetry. I am grateful that he had the insight to record and preserve these images from his life so that the public and a generation of lawyers will have the unique opportunity to peek into his past and share these vivid courtroom scenes, his keen wit and his growth as a burgeoning attorney. Campbell's journey, while sometimes painful, is remarkable for the intensity of his feelings and his single minded desire to always improve. And improve his does as we watch the birth of an outstanding lawyer. Sit back, read this book and be prepared an exciting tour through the eyes of a truly talented person." -- Mario Conte, former Executive Director of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc.

"Art Campbell provides us with brilliant flashes of insight into the mysterious workings of the legal system. His prose poems are heart-wrenching, powerful, compelling. As an insider, Campbell is in an unique position to provide vivid glimpses at the colorful characters on both sides of the law. His prose poems are full of compassion and a generosity of spirit. In sharing with us his 'tales from the trenches,' he reveals the heart and soul of a young trial lawyer." -- Nancy Kim, lawyer and author of critically acclaimed novel CHIMHOMINEY's SECRET.

"For anyone who is now, or ever has been, or ever wants to be, a criminal defense lawyer, Art Campbell's book of prose poetry is a must read. Art, who has been there and done that, is a compelling storyteller of the life of one representing criminal defendants- good, the bad and the ugly; not even the judges are spared his acerbic pen." -- Rt. Hon. James Stiven, Judge, San Diego Superior Court, Retired.

"Lawyers, the best and the worst of them, are storytellers. When the stories cluster around an ever elusive justice, as they do in Campbell's Trial and Error, law amounts to little more than tragedy. And yes, there are a few hard fought victories for clients along the way. The law, as we see in Campbell's stories, is a life of the bitter and the sweet; it makes for lawyers, a topsy-turvy life." -- Jim Elkins, Law Professor and Editor of The Legal Studies Forum.

In musical prose and poignant self-analysis, Art Campell's tales of his early years as a defense attorney in Washington, DC, are ripe with clear-eyed portraits of the down-and-out, the untrustworthy, and the over-confident, namely, Campbell himself in the guise of the young self-proclaimed "freedom lawyer." Whether his clients are innocent or guilty matters not to this author---it's his defendants' humanity that propels him. With each drug dealer or burglar, he tries to find a way for the law to bring stability to their wayward lives. That rarely happens. I loved reading the deftly told "The Thanksgiving Addict" about a man Campbell thought he had saved but couldn't or "The Weird Case" in which the trial becomes a showdown over due process for the client and not the client's guilt. The judge's verdict is often a surprise but the truth of what the law, the prosecution, and the accused teach Campbell about life is not.

From the first to the last page, Art takes me to legal hearings, describing strategy, tactics, sharing his victories and defeats. Each poem is a mini-lesson for anyone interested in Law, and in Defending, in particular. A quick, fun book, not easy to put down.

Art uses interesting and colorful language; afterall it's prose poems -"...how easily a defense can crash when splayed on spindly legs." (p49); "...drawn a warp and woof of words..." (p54).

I enjoyed the many adages and quotes sprinkled throughout the poems, like "...When facts stand against you, pound the law. When law stands against you, pound the facts. When both stand against you, pound the podium." (p94) and the Contemporary Zen adage: "A closed mouth gathers no foot." (113).

I plan to order Art's next book - Trial & Error Volume II: For the Prosecution.

What a surprise to find a book written by an attorney about being an attorney that is rich in insight and yet doesn't take itself too seriously. In language that ranges from profoundly true to wryly ridiculous, this collection of story poems follows a student lawyer from his idealistic beginnings through the end of his first year by which time he has become the first student lawyer to argue before his state's Supreme Court. Along the way he wins some and loses some and learns that to some clients saving face is more important than the verdict. This is not a glamorous view of the law but it's clear as you read that Campbell loves the law and respects even the lowliest of his clients. He calls himself a freedom lawyer because he knows that all of us -- the scarred exheroin addict, the man denied a jury of his peers, the boy in the wrong place at the wrong time -- depend on the the fair administration of justice for our freedom. This was lots of fun to read.

This book is a must-read for any trial lawyer, and especially for criminal defense lawyers. It is a very inspiring book. John Tucker is my hero!

John Tucker offers a wealth of tactical insights gleaned from an impressive career as a litigator, mixing the pathos of legal practice for good causes with the legal theories deployed on behalf of a wide array of clients.

By striving for objectivity, Tucker avoids the self-aggrandizing tone of some other such memoirs and instead focuses on the meaty tactics, the rush to file, the strategies behind certain suits, and a bit of background to explain why things mattered to him. The diverse cases he litigated at every level, from initial motions to the Supreme Court, are presented fairly. Many are not the blockbuster cases one might have heard of - esp. Clark v. Universal Builders - the case Tucker fought for harder than any other, and though he ended up losing in court, some sort of justice prevailed. Tucker's may be the only enduring account, and as such, he offers a gift to litigators and civil rights activists alike.

Two flaws: first, the promotional packaging focuses on the Chicago Eight case, in which Tucker played a small part, as if it were the focus of the book. It's not. In some 20 pages of 360, Tucker explores it and moves on. Lazy publisher might not have read further...More relevant, Tucker evades criticizing his partners and associates (his piercing critique of Judge Hoffman drips with justified acidity), dropping only a subtle hint about other frictions. But that's a forgivable indulgence: who could fault him for refraining from offering anything but praise for mentors and colleagues?

Tucker's career is a model for litigators worthy of emulating. While much has changed since he started practicing, the ongoing struggle for justice (and clients able to pay for it) goes on.

A must read for future litigators, if only for the tactical insights.

For any who lack faith in the America's legal system or think all lawyers are worthy subjects of jokes, Tucker's book is the proverbial lightbulb in the cave. Tucker recounts his journey through a lengthy career as a trial lawyer and along the way demonstrates that our judicial system, while short of perfect, is still the best in the world. Tucker helped the poor, the wealthy, the politically powerful and powerless and the reviled through the judicial system. Some cases he won; some he lost.
Win or lose, however, Tucker fought the good fight for his clients, often pro bono.
His story is complete. He reveals the importance of trial preparation -- an element that truly separates competent lawyers from their clumsy brethern (the latter of which I always seem to retain; while the former retain me as an expert witness). Tucker tells some wonderful stories about judges, good and bad. Like Tucker, I am from the Chicago area and am very familiar with bad judges. Tucker discloses that there have been many good judges in the area as well and provides useful insight into their judicial reasoning.
All in all, a wonderful book that will redeem lost faith in our judicial system. "Trial and Error" is not a courtroom thriller: it is far better than one -- it's real life and I for one am glad that Tucker decided to take the time to write his memoir. It is well worth reading.

Jerry

Twenty-one different courtroom cases are covered in this book by a most successful attorney who has his head on straight; by that I mean he mixes the intricacies of the law with living a "normal" life. He certainly puts in long hours in preparation, but that goes along with his job. The author states, "In the American Legal System, a lawyer's job is not to seek justice, but to win the case for his client." He relates many interesting cases, but two exceptional ones are defending a rapist who is truly mentally defective and one about defending the "Chicago Eight" in 1968. A lot of detailed information about that political incident is fascinating. Mr. Tucker does a lot of pro bono work and one of this type was defending the Contract Buyers League in Chicago...a race conflict of great proportions. Fine writing delineates complex legal cases that are most understandable.

Due to the nature of the diseases, FSH, Cogenial, Limb-Girdle, and Mysenthia Gravis, all of the Muscular Dystrophy family, the medical profession failed to recognize the symptons of these debilitating diseases and diagnosed this condition as depression which resulted in being in several state mental hospitals for years and given powerful anti-psychotic drugs causing hallucinations which reflected to a beautiful childhood. However, with the quick response of a didicated team of drs. from California the correct diagnosis of MD was discovered and treatment was given and the book tells of a beautiful love story as its ending. Not always the easiest read because of such a trauma but it shows the reader the awful consequences resulting from a physical illness such as muscular dystrophy mistaken by outstanding doctors for a mental illness.

I have just finished reading this book and am anxious to see it go to the top of every reading list and a movie, too. It is such a captivating read and also such a revealing study of personal experience in a mysterious world of the mind out of control because of mind altering drugs even if they are being prescribed by doctors. It was so very incouraging to see there is hope and life afterward. Frank Wray, I applaud you!

I found this book to not only be uplifting but also very rewarding. For those who face obstacles in their life, this book will surely be uplifting and rewarding!

It is one thing to have the courage this author has to have survived such a truama and, another to have written this true story and, yet another and most importantly to have the courage and stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. This inspirational book is one that will touch many lives and will live forever in ones heart. It is also a most beautiful love story that will make grown women and men cry.

This book is EXCELLENT! It is written by a medical doctor who has done a great deal of research in the area he is writing about. And HE CARES! I am an RN with a Bachelor's degree in science. Everything in this book makes sense to me. It is not the usual questionable information I often have found in books about CFS, FMS. This is a book you can hand to your doctor and say I want these tests.....It is very easy to read for the regular person and it is written with compassion. This is a doctor who actually believes he needs to LISTEN to his patients. The blood work, X-rays, etc. are all important, but if they say there is nothing wrong-it doesn't mean that your symptoms aren't real. What a wonderful concept. I think this book should be required for every medical student, resident out there. Who knows, doctors might start listening again to their patients!

Dr. Natelson has written a much needed book on unexplained illnesses. The book empowers both the patient and the doctor. He helps the patient to determine if their current doctor is the right match for them, and he explains the qualities a patient should look for in a doctor. He explains his step-by-step diagnosis procedure and enumerates medications that might help symptoms, all supported by research. He discusses complimentary medicine that might help, and the pitfalls that vulnerable patients might fall into with ads of "miracle cures". He even helps the patient to be pro-active by improving their symptoms through diet and through a very graduated exercise program. At the end, he discusses latest research findings.

Even though Dr. Natelson's book is helpful for doctors, it is written in a way that is also very easy for patients to understand. If he needs to bring up something in one part of his book, such as problems with sleep, in reference to the current topic, but the detailed discussion of that topic comes later in the book, he tells the reader that he will go into it in detail in a specific subsequent chapter. At the end of each chapter, he includes a very helpful summary, and tells the reader what he will discuss next. These writing techniques make the book easy to understand (especially for those of us with CFS "brain fog"), and also provides a reference book of information at our fingertips.

I found this book to be a welcome new addition to the many that I have read in the past decade covering neuro/immune/ muscular type illnesses. It addresses issues that relate to those initially dealing with symptoms,to those diagnosed who struggle to cope with adapting to the many changes that occur and the management of ongoing symptoms. Being diagnosed over ten years ago after a long frustrating path of disabling illness, I wish that I had this book when few if any were available on M.E.,CFIDS/FM,etc..
Dr. Natelson imparts a hopeful and optimistic attitude to the patient who is weary of dealing with a skeptical medical field. Particuarly, the chapters which outline options for those wanting to exercise to maintain their independence and abilities; he is measured and practical keeping in mind the fear of flares or relapse potential if pushed beyond one's limitations. This book is filled with a blend of past and present treatments and research information. It is a rational, measured approach by one who has listened. observed and studied this area for many years. It is definitely well worth one's time and energy. Sue
( New Jersey)

Dr. Natelson has done a real service for all those with "invisible illnesses" like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and IBS, as well as those with undiagnosed symptoms. In the book, he explains why a disconnect exists between patients with these disorders and their doctors and how to overcome it. Then he provides a practical approach to dealing with symptoms, including specific treatments that are backed up by research and experiential data. Complementary treatments are included as well, with practical, real-life strategies that will help you feel better and improve functioning. There may be no cure for many of the illnesses he addresses, but if you are looking for a concise, sensible handbook to help in dealing with the various symptoms, this is it. I've had CFS and Fibromyalgia for 14 years, and oh, how I wish I had had this book years ago to help manage my illness.

"Boy, Were We Wrong About the Dinosaurs!" is a wonderful picture book that teaches us about past perceptions about dinosaurs, and where the research is headed today. In this book, you'll that there have been a lot of thoughts about dinosaurs in the past that may not actually be true -- such as that dinosaurs were purely cold-blooded, or that dinosaurs were all really scaly. The book has wonderful illustrations to reinforce its points, and covers the basics with just enough detail to keep all audiences captivated.

Perhaps you remember that dinosaur report you had to give him when you were a student back in school. You told your classmates all those facts you read about the dinosaurs, only now to discover that many of them have turned out not to be true. Boy were your teachers wrong about the dinosaurs!

But what this book is telling us, and it's a great lesson to take away, is that we all do the best with what we can. Just keep an open mind, remember that science is ongoing proces, and don't be too certain of anything. Perhaps, if we keep these things in mind, we'll someday find out the real truth about the dinosaurs, or something very close to it.

A wonderful, thoughtful, and informative book. It's inpsired me to look into reading some of the author's other relases, such as "Boy, Were We Wrong About the Human Body!"

We just got this book from the library today and I came online to buy it because I just love it. It gives a little information about a lot of topics, without pushing anything too hard. Most importantly to my taste, it describes the constant progression of scientific understanding. But the book also touches gently on various cultural interpretations of fossils, the archaeology involved in finding the fossils, the continued development of technological tools for studying the same physical evidence, the hope of the next generation of minds, and the certainty that change will come. Very succint too. My dino-loving-three-year-old and my very-precocious-six-year-old both absolutely loved it.

A student of mine picked this up at a dinosaur museum and I have since bought it for several children as a gift. It is so informative and the illustrations are great! I also bought one for infant my son for when he's older!

This book has to be the single best investment I have made when in comes to helping with the identification of error coins. In detail you can learn how to identify what is an error and what looks like one but is not. Another great thing about this book is the amount of enlarged pictures that show exactly what to look for on all the different years and mints.
I would recommend this book to both professional coin collectors and people new to the hobby

This is a great book if you are interested in collecting die varieties. The section that describes the difference between doubled dies and machine strike doubled dies is incredible with lots of great pictures. It will definitely help you in determining between the two. Highly recommended! And I suggest getting the other Cherrypickers' guide (nickels, etc) too.
Wes in NC

For die variety coin collectors, you must have this by your side!!! Deb in South Dakota

I found "Don't..." to be a wonderful text for just about everyone. Although it is somewhat condescending, it is thought-provoking, and reminds everyone that there are some things that just should not be done. "Don't..." is delightfully humorous, and a short, quick reference for those who have little time. The book's conciseness does not take away from it's wit and honest commentary on life and the proper way to handle many situations.

This little book is a historical treasure in social etiquette for all ages. It could also be an effective text book in public schools today. While some of the advice is dated (I doubt men will ever tip their hats to women again), the lesson of men showing respect to women as a habit is still a virtue to be cultivated. Written by a man, the book ends with a special chapter on things women, in particular, should not do. All is written in a clever, and often humorous tone.

Someone should compose a national exam based on the book for all high-schoolers to pass. Example question: Where in public is it permissable to smoke? A) Anywhere outdoors. B) Only in designated smoking sections in restaurants, malls, etc. C) No place where it is likely to be offensive to others.

Correct answer is C (p. 52).

If nothing else, this pocket-sized charmer makes a superb gift for anyone.

I take "Don't" with me everywhere I go. It is both insightful and humorous. Everyone can benefit from a few more manners.

What can I say about this book? It's the best material about Error Control, that you can find nowhere......... Try it, and I hope that this book will help you

What can I say about this book? It's the best material about Error Control, that you can find nowhere......... Try it, and I hope that this book will help you

Dr. Wicker has a rare gift: a genius who can write!

Well packed and arrived in a timely fashion. A pleasure to do business with.

If you've read (and enjoyed!) Anguished English or More Anguished English, this book is the natural sequel and should bring many a belly laugh or tear of joy (depending on your predilections). It gave me both.

This book is so hysterically and funny in parts, it hurts. You will just recover your breath when you start laughing again. And, it's not the latest stand-up collection from a comic. It's the latest collection of flubs and foibles of one of the world's most complicated and misunderstood languages: English. Richard Lederer, the unofficial king of language, has produced another gem. This should be right alongside Anguished English and The Bride of Anguished English on your bookshelf.

Brad Efron wrote this monograph shortly after the publication of his groundbreaking early papers on bootstrapping. It was the first and for many years the only major reference on bootstrapping. It is written in an intuitive style and provides the connection between the bootstrap and many of the other earlier resampling methods, especially the jackknife. Geometric arguments are often used to explain concepts. Today it is still a useful reference but is very much outdated as there have been many advances. There are now also several excellent reference books and texts on the bootstrap including the introductory text by Efron and Tibshirani published in 1993 and the text by Davison and Hinkley published in 1997. My book published by Wiley in 1999 is intended for practitioners and has over 1600 references.

Brad Efron wrote this monograph shortly after the publication of his groundbreaking early papers on bootstrapping. It was the first and for many years the only major reference on bootstrapping. It is written in an intuitive style and provides the connection between the bootstrap and many of the other earlier resampling methods, especially the jackknife. Geometric arguments are often used to explain concepts. Today it is still a useful reference but is very much outdated as there have been many advances. There are now also several excellent reference books and texts on the bootstrap including the introductory text by Efron and Tibshirani published in 1993 and the text by Davison and Hinkley published in 1997. My book published by Wiley in 1999 is intended for practitioners and has over 1600 references.

When I was first looking into the method I read many unsatisfying discussions of the bootstrap method before I came across Efron's concise text. It is as mathematically advanced as it needs to be, and no more. There is no introductory material, he gets right to the point and sticks with it. Very satisfying.