Griswold has succeeded in writing a perfectly unreadable book. Let
us begin with the title, which is meaningless. The book is neither
about virtue nor the Enlightenment, except in the trivial sense
that Smith was an Enlightenment writer. Anyone picking up this book
to learn about the Enlightenment as a movement will be disappointed.
So Griswold appends a useless chapter on the Enlightenment to the
beginning of the book that promises a wide-ranging treatment of
the Enlightenment that rest of the book cannot deliver. (Perhaps
his editor, fearing that a book on Adam Smith's moral theory would
not reach a large audience, encouraged Griswold to broaden the appeal.
Too bad it didn't work). Griswold's book is, more accurately, a
treatment of Smith's neglected treatise A Theory of Moral Sentiments.
As such it is not a careful commentary on the content and structure
of the book, but instead a meandering tourist guide to the major
landmarks accompanied by a dull paraphrase of Smith's argument. Too make things worse, Griswold updates Smith's arguments
in the language of contemporary philosophy so that he can seem relevant
and prescient. This is strange coming from a quasi-Straussian, but
there you go. If that weren't bad enough, Griswold has a fussy,
collegial, and unhurried style, like a voluble visitor standing
in the doorway. As for the thrust or drift of Griswold's argument,
unfortunately I couldn't detect it. There are chapters on Smith
on love, skepticism, stoicism, religion, justice, passiona, etc.,
but the accumulation of detail doesn't add up to anything. The book
is also advertised as the first full-length treatment of Smith's
political and moral thought. That is wrong, but Griswold seems to
mistake that for an invitation to touch on every facet of Smith's
thought without regard for relevance. Griswold would have been better
served if he had been guided by the structure of Smith's own book
than by his own wandering attention. For Griswold, the 400-so
me pages of his book are one long opportunity to clear his throat. Get to the point!

Put on your scuba gear - we're diving down deep. Even though Charles L. Griswold, Jr. writes in a dense, academic style, it is worth swimming through his prose to learn about the remarkable work of 18th-century Enlightenment philosopher Adam Smith. Regarded as one of the fathers of modern economic thought, Smith has been misunderstood for the last century because his ethical philosophy has been overlooked. Instead, economists have drawn attention only to his thumbs-up for free enterprise and free trade. Smith believed neither was worthwhile without ethics, a point some modern economists might profitably revisit. We [...] highly recommend this richly detailed, insightful book to anyone interested in economic, political, or social philosophy.

Griswold's book is pitched squarely between the academic of, and the interested newcomer to, the Enlightenment. It gives a refreshingly new outlook over enlightenment ideas as a whole, to illustrate the back drop to Adam Smith's moral notions. In examining the key themes in 'The Theory Of Moral Sentiments' with reference to Smith's whole body of work, Griswold is rare in attributing, to the work, the importance and weight it deserves. Books that focus on Adam Smith's moral philosphy are rare and this book is by no means a weak example of them. If you are at all interested in Adam Smith, and particularly those interested in 'The Wealth of Nations' you need to look at his moral roots, and Griswold's book is an excellent secondary text to look at.

It would be lovely to play this audiocassette and achieve weight loss "automatically". But as most of us know it doesnt work like that in the real world. The cassette is ok to listen to, but has a few problems. Its designed to be used in the car and the authors state this. However, their voices are so relaxing I found myself having trouble staying awake when I used the cassette. Secondly, its obvious they are very happy with each other and they indicate this with comments to one another that really detract from the point of the cassette. The premise of the cassette is that feeling good about yourself will help you lose weight and once you feel good about yourself the weight will come off "automatically" but then they go on to recommend a 40/30/30 diet! Thus the message of the cassette isnt quite what its supposed to be.

I feel the other reviewer on this book/tape seemed to be confused about the word Auto-matically, which is printed on the cover.

I just begun to listen to this tape mid December and I do like it. You can listen to this tape while driving (the main reason I purchase it). I believe it's a play on words. Auto-matically does not mean that weight will come off automatically. I've read the back cover on another similar self-help tapes and they stress "DO NOT use their tapes while driving it can cause drousiness etc. This tape YOU CAN DRIVE and listen. Read the back cover and decide for yourself.

You must be open mined about how this tape works and they do stress that. They use affirmations (positive assertions) mostly throughout the tape. You may feel corny at first, (I do) repeating these affirmations to yourself, but maybe this IS what I/we need to "win the mental game of weight control. I know I can't achieve a better me soly by listening to this tape alone. In the short time of listening to this tape I can already see that mentally I'm more positive about wanting to improve myself. I've begun to re-read my ol' shelved fitness books and look for an exercise routine and ways to cook healthier meals. See it has helped me already.

This book is not recommended for those interested in accurate information on the subject. Whereas I counted countless errors, I think the most telling is that the authors did not know that Cesar Chavez was the eldest son in the Chavez family. At least three times they mention his brother Richard as being older. If biographers can not get this important fact correct, you can imagine how accurate the rest of the book is. I would say reading it is a waste of time.

Cesar was the second born in the chavez family that had 6 kids. After reading this incredible book (TWICE) I have found no errors. This book is true to the core. GOOD BOOK! The other reviewer was obviously a drunk monkey!

The worst audio book ever. They repeat the 10 mins or so of affirmations 2-3 times on each side of the casette wasting any time they might have had to teach you something and the affirmations are not even that good.

For anyone that understands how the subconscious mind works they will understand that the "dopey" music is a method to bypass the critical factor, also call the analytical conscious mind.

If you purchase and listen to this tape alot as back ground music, your conscous mind will learn to ignore the suggestions that most unimportant, while keying in on the pertinent suggestions. You will get benefit - besides it's guaranteed!

Have you ever re-introduced yourself to a person, and asked for their name again like: "Hi, i'm sorry i forgot your name". This tape shows you, and makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, that it is not your memory that is the problem. It is the lack of focus, and attention. The "affirmations", although admittedly quirky, are necesary in remembering the fact that you did not forget that persons name. You just weren't paying enough attention.

The audio tape is started with an introduction as to the purpose of the tape: To get you started in basic memorization, and attention focusing techniques. The "silly" background music during the affirmations is designed to trigger the right side of your brain, (as well as subconsciously help you to focus) so you can learn with your whole brain.

The tape will take you over the basics of the PEG memorization technique. (very effective in remembering lists) This tape will help you focus more clearly next time you talk to someone, or the next time you read a book you will be able to retain more information. It will help you remember names and long lists of things. IF you participate.

The memory is a "muscle" that needs excersize just like the rest of your body. I gave this 5 stars as it is the best introduction to basic list/name memorization techniques i have ever seen. The audio format provides a learning experience that no book can match.

I was sorry that I ordered this book. Information is not organized well and incomplete. Prices do not compare accurately to internet auction prices.

This book it great for learning how to recognize great finds and how to ascertain the values in collectors' circle. You may have to thumb through the pages to find the items; but, that in itself is a learning experience. The history of the industry is as valuable as the prices of the pieces. And you won't find this much experience in cast iron between any other cast iron books (if you can find any other cast iron books).

I've seen beter, and I've seen worse. This book, though it has some good factual info, tends to whine and drag on into infinity. It lacks solid reasoning on it's assertions, and generally, excluding the factual info it contains, should not have gone to press. But, hey, with a topic like a The Los Angeles Barrio, how could it not. If you fell off a cliff, are stuck in traction and want to get some early California history to fall asleep to, this is the book to get.

I agree with the previous review. The claim of a newly "expanded" edition is far from truth. There is little new material and most prices have not been updated. I find it hard to believe that the authors have not taken into account internet auctions when the developed their values. Stick with the first edition if you have it! And for the publishers and authors, next time just print an updated price list that refers to items in the old edition, unless you do MAJOR revision and add MUCH new material!

I was greatly disappointed with the "Revised & Expanded" claim of the second edition. I checked page for page with the first edition and found a total of three additional pictures, two of which were different views of items already listed. There are a few different sizes listed and some price updates, but hardly enough to warrent calling it "Revised and Expanded". If you want to find an item in the second edition, just look in the table of contents in the first edition. The two are the same and the books have exactly the same number of pages. Had I previewed it earlier, I would have spent my money on a different reference book.

I gave this book 1 star not for content but for misleading me. I purchased this book published by MBI publishing thinking I was getting a new title in reality all it was, was a repackaging of 3 older titles (U.S. Army Special Forces, DELTA: Americas Elite Counter terrorist Force and U.S. Elite Counter terrorist Forces. All part of the "Power Series") under one cover and title, now called U.S. Counter terrorist Forces. It would have been nice to have known this prior to my purchase, but the company failed to give an accurate description of the content or in particular that the content is a reissue of prior titles. This is the second time (U.S. Special Forces, this title had three older tiltes also; Airborne Rangers, U.S. Navy SEALs, and again DELTA, which now I have this title three times.) I fell for this ploy by MBI. It does not say much for me to have been taken twice, but it will not happen a third time! Ever!