I've enjoyed this book a great deal! Shaw offers highly informative yet very readable profiles of key individuals in the realm of international relations, such Senator Joseph Biden, Senator Richard Lugar, Henry Kissinger, Richard Holbrooke, and many others. Equally interesting are profiles of less well-known individuals, such as historian David Fromkin and human rights activist Diane Orentlicher. Since each profile is limited to about 5 pages, one is able to quickly gain insight into many of the individuals who are at the center of the key diplomatic decisions that are making headlines today. One begins to get a real sense of how the world of Washington diplomacy functions.

In addition, some of the issues raised in pre-9/11 interviews conducted by Shaw are truly fascinating in light of current events. One example of this is the insistence of former UNSCOM chairman Richard Butler, in a December 2000 profile, that the UN Security Council must address its lingering internal divisions and compel Iraq to comply with existing UN Resolutions on disarmament. Another example, on perhaps the other end of the ideological scale, is Shaw's February 2001 profile of peace activist Jonathan Schell, in which Schell argues that even in the post-Cold War environment, the mere existence of nuclear weapons poses a tremendous risk and these weapons should be eliminated.

This attractive booklet provides information about the people in Washington's ancestry (direct and collateral lines), and their estates.

I had not known that Washington had distinguished ancestors in England (and Scotland) for so many years back.

The booklet is crammed with pictures and information relevant to the Washington family and was enjoyable to read.

I found it very helpful in fund raising in Washington State. Easy to read and I can't wait until the next verson is released.

Well, I must first say, that I was quite amazed by the amount of information stacked into one vollume. Want to find out how to contact the National Science Foundation (NSF) or Alliance for Enviornmental Technology. Well, if one has an affinity to do this, then one should buy or use this source in question, i.e., Washington Information Directory 2000-2001 (Washington Information Directory, 2000-2001) by Congressional Quarterly (Editor). In here, one will find (amonst many things and items for that matter) the address for the Center of Concern and the web page address for center for Democracy. Highly Recommended.

[I recommend this anthology specifically for "Diedrich Knickerbocker's History of New York," which was not listed by amazon.com as a separate title.]

Irving is best-known for his short stories, which are excellent examples of folk literature (and not likely the sole product of Irving's imagination). "History of New York," however, is what established his reputation in his own lifetime. It was the first real American bestseller and the first American novel to garner critical respect overseas. Irving's ingenious marketing scheme for the novel (placing a series of letters in New York newspapers concerning the disappearance of the book's supposed author, Diedrich Knickerbocker) was the first instance of off-the-book page publicity in America and its success (it created a veritable frenzy upon the novel's publication) would not be duplicated for many, many years.

The novel itself is funny, acerbic, charming and illuminating. Working in the tradition of European satire, Knickerbocker's History is nonetheless distinctly American. Some knowledge of early American history will enhance your understanding of the novel (by helping you recognize which American public figures the Dutch governors are standing in for), but it is not necessary to an appreciation of the novel on its own terms. The book was published in several (revised) editions. I recommend seeking out the 1809 or 1812 edition, as Irving toned down his political arguments in later versions (though the comparison between early versions and the 1848 edition is also worth noting). This anthology contains the 1809 edition of the novel.

In the last two decades of his life, Washington Irving produced a number of biographies intended for "the family library." In many ways, these works resemble the brief biographies currently being produced by literary figures for the Penguin Biographical Series. With a strong emphasis on the narrative events, while recounting the general literary and cultural traditions that enliven his subjects, Irving produced highly readable and intelligent works, among then studies of Christopher Columbus and George Washington. Published in 1850 after Irving returned from his tour as Minister to Spain, "Life of Mahomet and His Successors " was initially a sketch for what Irving hoped would be a longer study of the Islamic invasion of Spain and its effects on Spanish culture. At the request of a friend, Irving lengthed his intial sketch of the Prophet, revising it years later, again at the request of a friend, and adding an appendex, "Of the Islam Faith" that examines Islamic articles of faith and the daily religious practices of Moslems. Although Irving is a product of an Enlightenment education, he is by no means dismissive of the aims or beliefs of Mohammed. For instance, in discussing the various miracles attributed to Mohammed, Irving notes that Mohammed himself said that the only miracle was the Koran. Irving also notes the reactions of Christians and Jews during the foundation of Islam--that many said he was anti-Christ, that many signs and portents in Constantinople excited the religious authorities throughout the Mediterranean world. Irving's harshest criticism is reserved for the transformation of Islam during the prophet's life into a political force, often of violence and intolerance, which in Irving's opinion, distorted the spiritual truth of Mohammed's earlier visions. Despite these criticisms, Irving ultimately offers the reader the argument that the truest measure of Islam and its founder can be located in the beauty of the Koran. Read with Karen Armstrong's study of Islam, as well as NJ Dawood's translation of the Koran, this forgotten biography will extend your historical understanding of this important man and the world religious movement he founded.

I have lived in the Washington area for many years and unfortunately lived through many job searches. This is more than a book -- it is a thorough compilation, up-to-date resource, and insightful guide to virtually everything about the Washington job market. In size as well as content, it is far beyond any of the other books on D.C. jobs out today. It helped me land my current job and I will most certainly turn to it when and if I ever need to look for another

The authors have provided a wealth of information to assist the reader in experiencing the wonders of this beautiful state. Along with recommended trips for each month of the year, there is a trip locator map, state and government resources, Internet resources, recommended reading, best bets, and a terrific index. Each adventure has a wealth of information including a detailed map, food and lodging recommendations, how to have fun in that locale, things to bring with you, time you need for the adventure, and more.

The Washington quarter coin folder volume 2 (1948-1964 inclusive) by Whitman, is a superb way to collect and showcase your coins. By using the lock-in feature, the coins are kept in place to prevent coin loss. Each coin slot is designated with the year, mint mark (D,P,or S)and the mintage. I particularly like the mintage, since it lets me know just how many quarters were made in one year in relation to another. It's also nice to have a brief history lesson about the Washington quarter in order to give us some appreciation of its heritage.

Madison Smart Bell has a way with violence--in his novels it always seems to happen to the people you care about. "The Washington Square Ensemble" is the perfect book for those who like their characters seedy (these are a group of Washington Square Park drug dealers), their perspective close (told from a multitude of first persons), and their prose poetic. Perhaps it helps that a pair of num chucks make an apearance before it's over--a sort of deus ex machina for fans of "Ninja Magazine". Who knows. The real pleasure is the insight into these drug denizens' lives. From an alterboy-turned Attica ex-con with a habbit to the NBA size Muzlim who used to eat and wear rats (?), Bell reveals his characters like a flashlight on your kitchen cockroaches--you see a hidden world, then it's gone in a flash. Read the first page in a bookstore or library. If you aren't compelled to take the book home with you, I suppose you just wouldn't get it.