I read this book while a student in Miller's semi-infamous class "Blood Feuds" at the University of Michigan Law School. I went into the class thinking that it would be interesting and fun, but that I wouldn't learn much from it, since I already had such an extensive familiarity with the Icelandic sagas: as an undergraduate I had translated some of them from Old Norse to English, and I had read most of the rest of them several times over in English translation.

Yes, it was interesting and yes, it was fun, but man! were my eyes opened as to how much I had to learn about the sagas and about the culture within which they were written.

There are two main reasons to read this book. First, to learn history. The history of ninth to fourteenth century Iceland is incredible, and the culture fascinating. Theirs was a culture that knew no central or even local government, no law enforcement infrastructure, and no arms control. And yet the Icelanders developed a complex system of law, essentially codifying the blood feud (which tradition still governs dispute resolution in places like Afghanistan and rural Macedonia), according to which civil injustice could be roughly corrected. Their example has much to teach us about human nature unadulterated by the State.

Second, Bloodtaking is an unparalleled gateway into the sagas as literature. Despite my intimate familiarity with every line of, for example, Hrafnkel's saga, until I read Miller's book I had only the most inadequate appreciation for how tightly it is constructed, how elegantly and efficiently it was drafted. The sagas are only vaguely comparable to the very best English-language short stories; the skill that went into them is comparable to that of a Dante or a Shakespeare.

A modern reader is not culturally prepared to receive the sagas as they would have been by a medieval Icelander. Miller's book provides the small set of cultural factoids that create relevance where otherwise detail might seem pointless or obscure, and reveals the saga-writers' penchant for humorous understatement and emphasis by ellipse. Armed with a relatively small set of cultural facts and with an eye for a small set of saga tropes, the reader has access to a whole new literary world.

Whatever your bent, Bloodtaking makes for fascinating reading.

I used this book in a summer literacy program for kids transitioning to sixth grade. They enjoyed the information presented and the detailed color pictures. I valued the section on folklore and the consideration of differing perspectives on whaling and whale-watching. A very informative book that worked well with sturggling readers.

I bought "Blue's Memory Scrapbook" for my 2-year-old on a whim. The reusable stickers are adorable (and plentiful). I have packed this book in the diaper bag and let my daughter play with it when we eat out at a restaurant or when we're on a plane--any time I need her to keep quiet. She'll spend 45 minutes or so just sticking and re-sticking the stickers on each page and explaining what each sticker is. It really holds her attention. It was truly a terrific purchase!

I am a College student who has in the past taken Calc. I did not and still do not like math. I do poorly and that is what I thought would be the extent of my experience. This book is well written. It is friendly and informative. It enabled me to move from a failing grade to one point from an "A" over one semster. If I had his book for pre-calc I may have done better and fully intend to buy his Calc II helper. I wonder if he has written a text book. If so I would like to se it. Thanks Mr. Miller for all of your hard work

Body Blows: Six Performances by seasoned performer Tim Miller is an impressive selection of dynamic, vivid, performance plays drawing heavily upon the author's life as a homosexual man in a society that at best distrusts, at worst condemns gay and lesbian relationships. The personal, solo performances contain explicit and engaging language about human sexuality, ethics, and the specter of death in this vividly compelling series of singularly powerful monologues. Body Blows is a welcome and highly recommended addition to professional and academic theatrical reference collections.

YOU JUST CAN'T IMPROVE ON WHAT IS ALREADY PERFECT. HERE IS AN EASY, CONCISE EXERCISE BOOK WITH SIMPLE PICTURES TO FOLLOW AND CHEAP INEXPENSIVE EQUIPTMENT AVAILABLE FOR EXERCISING PRIVATLEY IN YOUR OWN HOME. IN THIS BOOK JAKE SHOWS YOU EASY EXERCISES PROVIDING QUICK RESULTS WITH AN EASY TO FOLLOW PROGRAM. DESTINED TO BECOME YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE EXERCISE BOOK. BODY BY JAKE IS A PROVEN WINNER.

My purpose in writing with teenagers as main characters is to portray teenagers in a positive light, courageous, persistent, and decisive. While Casey Miller and Lexie Wentworth are not perfect, the perplexing situations they find themselves in provide the means for them to solidify their relationship, to use their heads to pursue clues that ordinary people might pass up, and to find a way to resolve personal problems. In this book, Casey and Lexie unravel a large corporation involved in stolen art. Again, as they did in Mystery at Salt Marsh Bridge, they find themselves in the middle of life-threatening situations, and sadly experience the loss of a good friend in a fiery boat crash for reasons they regret.

I have used this book many time for references, as I am an Aviation Artist, and Modeler. In the section concerning the ACH-47 "Guns-a-Go-Go" unit, the book states that "Birth Control" #64-13154 was the sole surviving ACH-47A, after "Easy Money" was destroyed outside the Citadel in Hue. That fact is, "Easy Money" #64-13149 was the sole survivor, after rescuing the crew of "Birth Control". But as far as the graphics go, there are none to compare it to!

http://www.atomic.net/~whitef/

A perfect treat for your littlest one, filled with costume adorned baby faces.

Boss Cox's Cincinnati: Urban Politics In The Progressive Era is a scholarly and meticulously researched examination of late nineteenth century big city politics as exemplified by the political structures of Cincinnati, Ohio under George B. Cox's political machine. Zane Miller (Charles Phelps Taft Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Cincinnati) carefully explores both the nature and the significance of "bossism" and how it and municipal reform were both essential components of the political system in a the time of labor and ethnic unrest, election violence, rising crime rates, political innovation, and civic achievement. Boss Cox's Cincinnati is a highly recommended addition to political science reference collections and reading lists.