Chester G. Starr's comprehensive volume of ancient history from the early achievements of man to the decline of the Roman Empire, is remarkable in scope, charming in its clarity, and as a whole, impressive; but it is not to be compared with the work of Will Durant. Like Durant, Starr focuses on the revolutions of history--which is the evolution of civilization--and completes his treatment of it in one 700-pg. volume. If we are to compare the span of time handled in Starr's work with that of Durant's renowned "Story of Civilization," then it may rightly be said that Durant took three-and-a-half volumes to cover the same period that Starr completed in one. This makes Starr's work more accessible to students looking for summaries, while Durant's is more appealing to accomplished readers, seeking more in-depth research upon their desired subject. Durant's always has a deeper feel for his subject and comments upon it with engaging philosophical insights, while Starr's narrative remains sketchy, and for the most part, humdrum. However, this does not take away from the fact that Starr's "A History of the Ancient World" is one of the most noble of its kind, for its consolidation of such a broad period has been seldom matched. The comparison with Will Durant is not to down play the worth of Starr's work; rather, it is to prove his worth, for every American historian looks to Durant as a source for inspiration, and as a model to attempt to emulate. It is an honor to be placed in the company with someone of the likes of Will Durant, much in the same way that every English historian is indebted to Edward Gibbon and Winston Churchill. His work is well worth its weight and renders itself as a carry-it-anywhere reference source for ancient history. The contents cover the Paleolithic and Neolithic times, to the early civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and the Indus Valley, Minoan, Assyrian, and Hebrew, into the classical times of the Greco-Roman world, all the way until the fall of Rome and the dawn of the Middle Ages. The work also holds an abundance of maps, charts, and pictures, which make reading it all the more entertaining and fulfilling. The sources are analyzed at the end of each chapter, along with detailed bibliographies entailed by suggested further reading. This book is recommended.

This book offers an oversight to the basic developments in history: from the first appearances of human life, then culture, and then cities and societies. It gives an occasional glance to the east, but it's emphasis is tracing the development of Greek and Roman civilization. It is useful in its broadness, but potentially misleading by the same token. For the general reader, I would say Starr offers a decent rough comparison between different societies and epochs; thus enabling some concept of what made the Romans, the Greeks, etc different from the rest of the world.

Having been a graduate student in history, I must say that this book is a major relief. In Chester Starr, one will not find a paranoid historian, obsessed with political correctness and bent on thrashing Western history. He gives the Greeks and the Romans fair praise and criticism while not neglecting that these societies did not represent all people's of the earth. (Although, he suggests that the Greeks were devoid of superstition and the belief in magic, which I find hard to believe.) Global history is such a politically heated argument these days, that I would recomend Starr as the most qualified and balanced scholar for the average reader. Today, Starr is branded as Whigish and probably Eurocentrist, which is a shame for our intellectual conditions.

For the casual history fan, like myself, this was the perfect one-volume history of the ancient world. It is a comprehensive look at the various civilizations that rose and fell from the Sumerians to the Romans. Starr gives you the big picture and puts the contributions of the ancient world in perspective.

It is written in a clear and concise prose style. There is just the right amount of attention to detail, but not so much as to make it tedious. It was enjoyable to read and I am happy to have this book in my library to keep for future reference for my children and myself.

An interesting and well written biography of a key and often overlooked Civil War participant.

The role of the Federal and Confederate Navies in the War Between the States has been neglected by almost all historians. Why? Most of the more colorful, decisive actions, the events that sell books, were fought on land.

This is a different type of story from a refreshingly different point of view. It is exciting and enlightening. The Federals could not have won without their excellent Navy, whose role was every bit as crucial as their Army's. This is as good an account of the U.S. Navy's role in the Union's Civil War victory as there is. Viewed through the life of David Dixon Porter, it is a fine testament to the Navy and the man

I was fastenated by the story of one of America's fightingAdmrials. Porter's success on the Mississpi river prevented the southfrom using it to transport goods and men anywhere. He effectively cutthe West out of the war by maintianing control of this river.

The book reads as well as any by Bruce Catton. If you think that the Civil war was fought only on the ground, this book is for you.

Chester G. Hearn has proven once again that he's among the top rank of Civil War naval historians writing today. His bio of one of the war's most colorful naval officers is thorough and very readable, and provides great insight into the motivations of a most difficult and controversial officer.

I bought this book because I thought that this book would surprize me with pictures that facinate me and filled with eye candy and interesting ideas or people. What I found was something less "fantastic" but more personal. The book is written from an aspect from a personal perspective of the authors travels. Written from the authors first person impressions and interviews. When I first got the book I flipped through it and didn't find it exciting, I might have forgotten about the book because of the less then fancy impression but I started reading a few chapters here and there and the Author writes about each picture... what was happening when she took the picture, and what it means to the person who created the place of worship. The book turns out to be very well written, amazing "feel good" impression of looking into a personal view of peoples spirituality.

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY says that Holy Personal "is a fascinating, in-depth study of how spirituality can express itself in that most intimate of worlds, the home." John Manikowski for the Berkshire Eagle writes:"beautifully written, lavishly illustrated." In describing Little Rose Chapel he goes on to say-- "Every detail has been carefully planned, created and designed from within a deeply spirited heart, through immense love and with a devotional direction that almost seems fantasy like, but it is real." BOOKLIST says, "Holy Personal honors the presence of the Divine in the midst of life." And Clarissa Pinkola Estes for THE BLOOMSBURY REVIEW writes: "In Holy Personal, two dozen devout souls speak about their handmade sanctuaries, many of which shelter images of Mary and various santos. It is clear water from the artesian well. These site builders symbolize in real time the holiness they feel in their hearts. From a Moonlodge in New Mexico to stupas, from a Sandstone Cathedral to a Garage Chapel, we follow the artistic devotions of those not bound by the doctrinaire, but are instead freshly cut by the thorns of the Mystical Rose, those who can live in the atomic moment of merger with the Divine, who are overflowing with gratitude--this last being one of the holy proofs that Spirit has in fact visited the longing soul. The photographs by Donna DeMari, are worthy of long meditations."

This is a carefully researched and beautifully written book with excellent photography. I recommend it for anyone who has an interest in religion and/or spirituality. Is is truly inspiring.

Looking for an excellent resource for train-the-trainer? For me, the first edition of this book was is it, and now the new edition is even better:well organized into six parts, each with a prologue and a chapter-ending summary, followed by a set of key related questions. From udnerstanding needs analysis to writing a proposal, or doing an instructional design, and knowing trends, a trainer will find it here. The book gives case-specific guidance that goes beyond theory, and it's also loaded with graphs and charts and resources. It's user friendly for the novice as well as for the seasoned trainers who will find this book of value, especially as training is moving rapidly into mediated practices.

This "train the trainer" new edition provides important information for the fledging trainer to the veteran. The Training Cycle (assessment, design, implementation, and evaluation) and ensuing chapters cover the principles of good training program design along with various roles trainers perform in their workplace. My favorite chapter is Chapter 5, especially the section on Adult Learning. Since most trainees are adult learners, it's important to understand that facilitating the trainee through a learning process is different than teaching a child -- something that trainers/instructors in this country don't seem to know much about. The authors have added some nice resources such as PowerPoint presentations for each chapter along with end-of-chapter web addresses providing links to additional material and/or organizations. And the interviews with six practicing experts bring the "real world" into the classroom. Bravo to the authors -- this new edition is a Must Have!

How to get the "right training to the right people at the right time" is a complex question answered succinctly by the three authors of Training for Organizations. An excellent resource for students and HR staff, TfO does not, for instance, merely tell you how important it is to prepare return-on-investment oriented training proposals for organizations - (where ROI remains king), they give examples, as well as useful examples of charts, graphs, lists, catalogs that will inform your planning, proposing, administering and implementing of training initiatives. You want a thorough guide and rationale for your training proposal, and this book will give you the competitive edge tht makes sure YOUR proposal not only gets accepted but also succeeds. As an added bonus, several highly relevant, easy to read discussions with top training practitioners give you their most recent thinking on how to use technology most effectively in your training mission. A most useful blending of theory and practice.

This book has some stories about bomber crews but not as many as I would like.

Excellent book on all the big bombers,it's all here,excellent photos. Very nice.

This book is full of excellent photos of three of the main bombers in World War II. It is set up so that each plane has its own section with a seperate author. The text is good as an introduction but what really makes this a good book are the photos. It's hard to find such a nice book at such a reasonable price and I recommend it.

Chester Himes's first novel is a vivid portrait of black rage in Los Angeles during World War II, when blacks were able to get shipyard jobs, but had to work with (or for) southern whites who expected deference from those they considered their inferiors (indeed, regarded as subhuman). Himes crammed a lot into 203 pages. I find Bob Jones's dreams and his dialogue with Alice not just didactic, but forced, and the sexual politics is at some points difficult to believe. In contrast, the fury and terror of indignities at work, with the LAPD, with duplicitous white coworkers, union and company officials burn true. In the four days after snapping back at a Texan woman who spits out the n-word, Bob loses his position (and therefore his draft deferment), his middle-class girlfriend, his car, the money in his wallet, his shoes, and his freedom.

The rage is justified and the story needed to be told. Like a volcano, Himes had to let it out or go nuts. He was as good as Hemingway (or any of those white cats at the time) and simply was not given the respect because of his skin color.
It's a damn shame. And I'm saying this as a white guy who happens to be color-blind, as they say. Himes did end up moving to Europe where he was better treated.
Lastly, all I can say is once I started reading If He Hollers...
I could not put it down and finished it in two days--my eyes aching and all. If you're looking for the real thing, this is it.
Tough writing is not easy to find these days, writing that's from the gut and is about something... This book has it. Long live Chester Himes.

This book, along with others that for some reason fall into obscurity after a dazzling popularity, really should not be allowed to be forgotten. Himes writing is crisp, clean. His characters are interesting and compelling. We want to see what happens, even when we don't like it. When people ask me what books they ought to read to become well-read, this one is on the list, both for it's literary merit and for the good story it tells.

People familiar only with Himes' cynical, hard-edged crime novels will be surprised by this witty, sexy farce. It's kind of tedious in parts but overall is a lot of fun. Himes must have had a ball writing it.

This was the most entertaining and shockingly funny books I have every read. It is so outlandish that it is hard to believe, yet it kept me in stitches laughing out loud. I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It really made me think. It was also so darned sexy. It mostly dealt with race and sex...Primarily of the interracial variety.

I will never forget Mamie Mason the Hostesss With The Mostest and her Harlem Parties geared towards ending the "Negro Problem" of the Sixties. She felt she could end the "Negro Problem" simply by throwing parties and inviting White folks up to Harlem. Even though the book was written long ago the issues that surfaced in the book are sill very much with us today.

One day I would like to option this book for a movie....

This is a novel that will jar the reader from spiritual complacency, no matter what he decides about his "church home" or "home church." Christ-followers who participate in true community will find this story inspiring.

Chet Weigle has written an important book, one directly informed by his own thirty-year engagement in various church-related ministries. Weigle takes his reader from the rice paddies of Vietnam to the campfires of the midwest, to the unexpected narrative climax in Canada--all while keeping the needs of today's Church communities front and center. Weigle's didactic novel will speak directly to readers who have wasted precious time, energy and resources engaged in what he terms "Churchianity," a late 20th century infatuation with buildings rather than people. And it is with people that Weigle is most concerned.

This book not only deals with Church conflict but also a great number of feelings true believers have who are involved in the Churches of today. It really makes you look at your own Church family and see where alot of us are missing the mark in our walk with Christ through our Church. It takes humor and facts and draws a very real picture of what many of us face in our own lives with our structured church life. It will make you take a look at your own situation and decide if you may have "War in the Pews"!

You know, I really wanted to like this book.... but, and perhaps this is beyond the pale given the novel's publishing history, it seemed to need an editor more than anything else, not for any of its themes, or subject matter, but for the prose itself: it's true that the language is often very evocative (and those moments are very good indeed--for example, when he describes the loneliness inherent in prison life), but more often it is clunky... not at all bad, but somewhat disappointing given the relative hype....

A book that goes beyond the usual cliches. It is not about racism, not about homosexuality, not about violence and only incidently about prison life. It is about what makes us human even in the most dehumanizing environment; it is about human relationships in a huis clos; it is about yearning for love, for a better life, for being a better person, but somehow always falling short. (don't we all?). And it is of course about self discovery and the ever eluding meaning of manhood. It is hard to believe thjat such a powerful book could be ignored for so long. However, this book continues to fly in the face of today's and yesterday's conventions: A black person writing about a white person; could this possibly mean that our humanity is not only defined by the color of our skin?

Far more than a prison story, Yesterday Will Make You Cry is a story of self awakening, discovery of manhood and what it takes to keep it and solidify it. Simply remarkable.