I first checked this book out of the library last spring and now every time we go there my daughter wants to get it out. We've borrowed it five times! My daughter is fascinated with the pictures and the accomplishments of the children on the pages, especially now that she's doing some of the same things. The pictures are perfect and the book has a timeless quality about it.

This book is astonishingly appealing to toddlers. I bought it for my daughter when she was beginning nursery and it immediately became the favourite book for her and her little brother, who is two. They both insisted on having it read every day and would sit and leaf through the pictures by themselves. I think there is something easy to identify with about the photographs. I can't recommend this book too highly - I am having to buy a new copy as the first has been read to pieces!

At a time when the efficacy, utility, and survivability of the big-deck aircraft carrier and its multimission air wing are being challenged anew by armchair strategists and "inside-the-Beltway" analysts, retired Vice Adm. Gerald E. "Jerry" Miller has contributed an important perspective on how the Navy's post-World War II push to develop an aircraft and aircraft carrier capable of delivering a nuclear bomb paved the way for the design of the most effective and versatile platform for seaborne aviation in the world today--the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Miller documents each step along the way in an informative, narrative style for what might otherwise be an arcane and overly technical treatise on engineering-and-aeronautical design. He turns back the pages of history more than 50 years to the day that then-Cdr. Frederick Lincoln "..." Ashworth reported to Los Alamos, New Mexico, in 1944 to serve on the Manhattan Project then developing the first nuclear bomb. The need to document the story of the Navy's struggle to develop its post-war nuclear mission began with Miller's dialogue with Ashworth-himself a veteran combat aviator in the Pacific War.

The personalities, aircraft, ships, tactics, and targeting policies associated with the Navy's Cold War mission are all well-represented, including the famous "Revolt of the Admirals" that saw respected naval leaders like Adm. Arthur W. Radford, then-Capt. Arleigh A. Burke, and others risk their careers to argue for a new role for the Navy in transporting, targeting, and delivering nuclear weapons.

Miller writes with a familiarity and authority forged by many years of command at sea during a distinguished 38-year career that included surface combat in a cruiser during World War II, command of a fighter squadron during the Korean War, and command of a carrier division during the Vietnam War. His experiences as the commander of both the U.S. Second and Sixth Fleets during the 1970s and, later, as the deputy director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff provide the reader with fresh insights into the traditionally highly classified story of how U.S. nuclear weapons were targeted during the height of the Cold War. In 1991, President George Bush announced that all nuclear weapons would be removed from Navy ships and submarines. Naval aviation's more than four-decade association with nuclear weapons came to an end. But, as Miller writes, "The prenuclear carriers had a questionable future. The postnuclear carriers appear to have no limit."

As an aviator who had the privilege to serve as the officer in charge of Miller's helicopter detachment during his tour as commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, I found it exhilarating to relive some vintage examples of Jerry Miller's dynamic leadership, energy, and vision on the pages of his first book on naval aviation. A second is said to be in the works. The legions of Jerry Miller fans around the world can only hope that more will follow.

Gordon I. Peterson Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.) Senior Editor, Sea Power Magazine Navy League of the United States

This well-researched account of the sobering impact of nuclear weapons development and procurement on the evolution of the U.S. military establishment is a must read for historians, defense contractors, aviators, officer candidates, weapons developers, lobbyists, and appropriations policymakers alike. The author provides a balanced view of the men, issues, and machines involved in building the most sophisticated hardware, training, and operations systems ever conceived for delivery of the world's most powerful weapons. The depiction of inter-service and intra-service rivalries during this period (1945-present) is skillfully presented with the very words of the participants. Not simply an historical account, the experienced insider's view of the author (VAdm. Gerald E. Miller) provides a no-nonsense perspective on how decisions were made in the past with implications for the future. Reading this book is like reading Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine and wondering if our potential adversaries are learning more from it than we are ourselves. This book is a credit to the Smithsonian Institute Press - I hope to see more books of its caliber in the future.

This 83-page book handles an all-too-tacit subject that affects all of us, with refreshing realism, projected recovery duration, and an optimistic outlook for the future.

Part of the helpful realism candidly shown throughout this thought-provoking book is an ongoing assessment of the medical profession's pros and cons which is well worth many times the book's price. Through the author's experiences we can armor ourselves against the shock of unrealistic expectations and misplaced guilt regarding the medical profession and all other aspects of this phase of life which none of us can escape.

An optimistic sense of recovery is expressed in Chapters 12 and 13 that provides hope and guidance for the wife/now widow. Chapter 15 ends with a message that is universally good and correct: celebrate being alive. CELEBRATE BEING ALIVE! CELEBRATE LIFE.

This story is told in a chronology of fifteen chapters followed by "A Short Course on Goals" and a bibliography in a highly useful book completion.

- W. Wise, President/CEO

This afternoon I planned to skim the manuscript "#1 Mensch: How I Survived the Death of My Husband," by April Miller. I have a very busy life, but must tell you I couldn't put this book down. This book spoke to me (and I am 46 years old, married with two teen-agers), in a very special way.

I had expected a sentimental, blubbering story of a grieving victim, "how unfair the world is to widows" type personal account-but this is not at all what the book is about. True, it is one woman's personal experience with the various stages of grief, recovery and enlightenment, but it is also about appreciating life's gifts and tackling head-on what life hands out. We see through this manuscript a spunky but quite ordinary person taking on the medical establishment, looking into choices and alternatives, becoming the strong one in the relationship and eventually growing from dependant to independent and an achieving survivor.

What did I learn (after all, I have a living, healthy husband) was the stuff you don't learn in school, the things that people don't talk about: how to cope with adversity, resources to tap into, and what one might expect when caring for a loved one who, unlike a child who does more each day, can do less each day due to a terrible disease.

"#1 Mensch" is most readable, real yet full of hope. I would recommend this book to those coping with loss of a loved one, whether a spouse, parent, sibling, child or friend, and to those who some time in their future will need to face these difficulties -- for no one gets out of this world alive.

In spite of another good review..., I cannot help myself from bragging on this great "Unfolding of an on-going conversation with this Jewish Book." Due to Prof Bruegge's repeated words that it's an amazingly complex Book...because the Jewish people are amazingly enigmatic, complicated people of history!

From Chap 4: Bodied Faith and Body Politic: "In older, seemingly better days the Bible spoke with a single voice concerning faith and morals... For over a century the dominance of historical-critical work has relativized the absolute voice of the Bible. His footnote, also uttered in Class: "The critique of historical-critism by religious conservatives, in my judgment is correct." Next is a surprise: "Historical criticism was not especially interested in theological interpretation!" (This is news to me.)

Before getting to Chap 4, I was struck by Bruegge's emphasis on, "The issue that Israel and Israel's God (and those who continue this line of reflection) must always face concerns pain..." He pursues this theme in the next two essays: The Embrace of Pain; The Rhetoric of Hurt & Hope: "What is it about the Old Testament that is so odd and disruptive and restless that refuses to behave itself...?" Soon after those utterances he explains this question, "that rhetorical world is odd and crucial because it mediates ethical reflection through 'disclosures of hurt and articulations of hope.' "

My favorite essays, also longest are 7, Old Testament Theology as a Particular Conversation; No 8, The Crisis and Promise of Presence in Israel. A favorite picture of his growing theology is an "on-going conversation" with the OT or other scholars... Eichrodt and von Rad. Plus, "the aniconic character of Israel's God implies more than an absence of images." He refers to the value of metaphors from such scholars as Sallie McFague. His favorite nouns besides conversation are speech, utterance, words of rhetorical questions. His opening prayers for each Class are filled with verbs like brood, command, confess, plead, praise, thank, yearn...also, often coupled in faith, generosity, love, pleasure, purity, silence, trust...evidence of his grouping in fives and sevens.

Since most of these essays have come from his years at Columbia, those who have studied there have watched his authentic, steady, consistent growth and mellowing into an ever-ready approachable Gentle-man! I would not have gotten so much out of this year's Old Testament Theology without his incredible, clearly-stated, expositions in related, on-going conversations... favoring an older student!
Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

Until Brueggeman's Old Testament Theology was published in 1997, this was the largest dose one could find in one place. The articles in this collection were all previously published in journals and other collections, but tracking them all down would be a difficult task. Therefore, the volume is very worthwhile. Even in the light of his most recent publications it is still a useful collection for a couple of other reasons. First, these articles were produced over a period of a couple of decades, so the attentive reader can observe Brueggeman's biblical theology as it developed over his career. Second, many of the articles are sustained treatments of individual texts, the likes of which do not appear in his recent Old Testament Theology. Most importantly, these essays reveal the increasing impact of contemporary literary studies on Old Testament Theology. For all of these reasons this collection is a treasure and may be considered a prerequisite for reading Brueggeman's "Old Testament Theology: Testimony, Advocacy, and Dispute."

Miller is an exceptionally blunt, honest, straight-forward writer. I like that in a writer from whom I am seeking business advice. Fanciful stuff is great in science fiction, but this is the real world, the harsh, unforgiving world of business today. I need to be able to trust the writer to relate facts, not fiction, and to do so in a way I can easily understand and quickly apply to my own business plans. I highly recommend this book, and this writer. You can rely on the information to help you move your business forward.

Any fan of Slashdot knows that the site has never embraced the kind of silliness that led some people to fool investors into believing that the road to riches was in selling cheese graters on-line at cheese-graters.com. Part of this reason is Robin Miller, one of the steadiest hands on the tiller. This guy used to drive a limo and that taught him how to manage a real business. Now, he's written down all of the secrets that has kept Slashdot from following cheese-grater.com into Chapter 11.

This is really a practical book that contains none of the new economy mumbo jumbo. Keep your costs low, says Miller, and he suggests a number of ways to use free or very low cost software to accomplish that. If you want to dream of infinite growth, endless revolutions, or shattering paradigms, look somewhere else. It's all about balancing the books and keeping costs in line with revenue.

Miller knows his subjects (the people) and his subject (their desperation) with a clarity and fearlessness that most people would prefer to avoid. Viewing his photographs are no easier a task than living wholly and honestly. Skinheads, speedfreaks, Tenderloin whores, friends and neighbors. Lucid, terrifying, and ultimately beautiful photographs from a man of the same qualities.

The black and white photographs in this volume are strikingly beautiful, achingly poignant, and gritty at the same time. Unflinching, honest portraits of the darker side...

As a native New Yorker, I heard of many islands that occupied the waters that surrounded the five boroughs of the city. As I flew back into LaGuardia and JFK airports I even began to notice them from above. Obtaining information about these islands was very difficult, even from local libraries, and therefore when I found this book at a local bookstore, I was delighted that someone came up with the idea of publishing such a book.

From Roosevelt Island to Cuban Ledge, the authors give a very thorough and well researched book on the many islands inhabiting the New York archipelago. Many islands which were once islands, but have long since been connected to the boroughs by artificial landfills are also covered here (e.g. Coney Island-Brooklyn, Hunter Island-Bronx, Battery Park area-Manhattan, etc..) are also covered here.

If you live in the city or plan on visiting, please make sure to pick up a copy of this guide, and make sure to visit the many hidden treasures found in this city.It makes an excellent companion book while aboard a plane or even in the subway.

New York City is an archipelago of islands - this is a reality that has been paved under by centuries of development in this great city, but has been brought to light in this fun, excellent little book.

Besides Manhattan Island, Roosevelt Island, Staten Island, etc., there are a host of tiny lesser-known islands all around the waterways of the city, and this book describes them all. Each and every one of them has a unique history - most were settled at one time or another, most are abandoned now - as well as a unique ecosystem. The book does a great job exploring all these aspects, in prose that has just the right level of detail to inform and excite. The histories it relates are miniature, fractured reflections, serving to both highlight and contrast with the mainstream narrative of NYC history.

Here are a few islands you may never have heard of before - North Brother Island, Swinburne Island, Shooters' Island, and - my personal favorite - U Thant Island, named for a late U.N. diplomat. Yes, there really is a place within New York City limits called "U Thant Island!" Reading this stuff makes you want to go to these places. Most of them are illegal to visit, and unfortunately the authors are responsible, law-abiding individuals who won't tell you how to get to them. Too bad :)

For urban historians, this book is like a collection of lost pottery shards of NYC life. For ecologists, it is a testament to the resilience of wildlife in some of the busiest waterways in the world. And for aspiring urban explorers, it is a temptation to buy a raft, flashlight, and wire cutters....

This resource contains annotated bibliographies for books of fiction, oral tradition and poetry for these major groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native-Americans.

As stated in the preface, the resources are limited to those published 1985 through 1993 for individuals of preschool age through high school. Resources focus on the American experience, and do not include content or stories that occur in other locations. A total of 570 resources are listed in this title.

Resources were reviewed by an Advisory Board for suitability. Advisors are clearly identified and include librarians, professors and a teacher of various ethnic backgrounds. Resource annotations are listed by type (fiction, oral tradition, poetry) and ethnic group. Also, resources are indexed by title, writer, illustrator, grade level and subject.

Annotated citations are substantial and provide appropriate detail on the resource's content, quality, format, illustrations, interpretation of subject and suitability for intended audience. Through a quick reading of the citation, a teacher, librarian, parent or other user can easily determine whether the book might interest the reader, be topical for a lesson or plan, and serve well for individual reading, storytelling or other uses.

At first glance, I would include this item in my collection of multi-ethnic resources as it provides a relatively recent, comprehensive list of print materials with quality, objective and complete annotated citations. This book is limited only by its scope of ethnic groups. For example, I could not answer patron questions or provide resources about their European ethnic background.

Before making a final decision to buy this book, I would select and read a representative sampling of several listed resources. I could then compare and contrast the accuracy, completeness and objectivity of the resource's citation with my own independent read.

This resource includes annotated citations for a wide variety of resources focused on international ethnic and national groups. These ethnic groups in the United States are covered: African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans. Also includes other areas and nations of the world, such as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

Approximately 1038 resources are listed. Resources are grouped first by ethnic group, then by grades: preschool through grade 3, grades 4-6, grades 7-9 and grades 10-12. Full citation information is included.

Annotated citations are detailed and provide substantial information about the resource. Content scope, organization and format are described. When the resource is fiction, the story and characters are summarized, yet provide enough detail so I could glean an understanding of the style and relevance of the resource.

This work also contains background and explanatory material that is useful for understanding the use and evaluation of multi-ethnic resources. For example, the Introduction section describes criteria for evaluation and the major concerns of evaluation (specifically, general accuracy, stereotypes, language, author's perspective, currency of facts and interpretation, audience, integration of cultural information, balance and multidimensionality, and illustrations). This material serves as a solid introduction to the need for and issues related to multi-ethnic bibliography.

Additional context and background is provided for the ethnic or national group covered in this work. For example, the opening piece to the chapter on United States Native Americans describes the history, type and availability of resources for children and teenagers.

I would include this resource in my collection. Its scope allows flexible use to answer questions about both ethnic groups located in the United States and other countries. The list of contributors indicates a solid diversity of individuals and professional backgrounds. However, I cannot directly ascertain the ethnicity or ethnic experiences of the contributors.

The overall quality, completeness, breadth and depth of the citations is impressive. Given that Bowker is the publisher, I view the contents with hopes of more accuracy and correctness than resources from other publishers. However, I would still care to "spot check" several citations by a careful read of the original works.

Neil Miller's done a great job of pulling together aspects of (western) gay history. I've read some of the sources for his lesbian chapters and he uses them intelligently to summarise main points. I assume he's does the same with the male stuff and material from other countries which was previously unfamiliar to me. His style is readable, succinct and balanced about how we look at the past from our current viewpoints.

One feature of the book which is particularly pleasing is his use of extracts from writings he's referred to in his central text. This adds a good variety to the voice of the work AND the extracts are long enough (two or more pages in length) to inspire further study.

I also like A) the pictures of famous historical figures, there's something particularly moving about them, (I never knew Willa Cather was so gorgeous!)

and B) the balance of genders and countries covered is better than average.

My advice - read it!

If you are interested in history, I highly suggest this book. Marginalized for eons, gay people are now an integral part of history. Relegated to the backburner, or whispered about in history sources, gay people have come forward with a great history. Within this collection, there are heartaches and triumphs, but always searching for the ideal of equality one day. Another good thing about this book is that it includes non-Western gay and lesbian history as well, yet another subject ignored by the "mainstream" history. An incredibly transfixing and fascinating book, I couldn't put it down, and read into the late hours of the evening.

This guy is the real thing , I personally know Duane and he is everything that has been said about him. this book (and Duane, of course) is a gift from God to all of us to help us to strengthen our faith. A tape is included with the book that has the actual recording of the miracle in progress, I still cry everytime I hear it, for I truly beleive that I'm listening to God work. If you are looking for somthing to bolster your faith this is it. I pray that this recording and book will have the same effect on other readers, that it has on me.

This book was a great blessing to my soul, God works in such get awesomeness. The story of Duane's life blessed me and warmed my heart. God is still in the miracle business, if we are open to hear and see the miracles he performs. Thanks Duane for allowing God to work in your life.