As a soon-to-be medical school graduate, I was guided to this book by one of my professors. And, when I started reading it, I just couldn't put the book down! What I loved about it was how straightforward, clear, and unpretentious William Nolen is about his experiences all throughout his training, which began as a medical student and ended as a surgeon. Moreover, the book is a time capsule of sorts. It contains a clear description of the tasks (e.g. suction pipetting by mouth) and diseases (e.g. tetanus) that residents performed and diagnosed in the 1950s, many of which are no longer commonly done or seen. Also, Nolen's classic description of New York City in the 1950s is genuine and rich in history (if you're willing to look up the history behind some of the places -- such as Luchow's Restaurant -- that he alludes to in his book). Overall, I think it is superbly written, and a must-read for anyone interested in surgery, great writing, or both.

I read this book many years ago and still recall many things from it today. The book is well written and documents first-hand experience beginning as an intern in Bellvue Hospital. One can picture oneself accompanying William Nolen on his rounds and facing many dilemas both medically, politically and physically. I understand that today we face a declining number of medical students who choose to go into surgery whether due to demographics, creature comforts or whatever. This book "tells it like it is" from the point of view of an individual thinker who doesn't mind "rocking the boat", a la the current book "Heart Frauds" by Dr. Charles McGee.

In summary, a very enjoyable read that brings us "behind the scenes".

I thought this was one of the best medical books I've read. The book was somewhat outdated though in its reference to surgical procedures and residency, but that also makes you appreciate the advancement of surgery over the last 30 years. I didn't really pay attention to how old the book was though, as the main point was Dr. Nolen's maturation from a clueless intern into a competent surgeon. He describes many different facets of surgical training from the first appendectomy to life outside of the hospital. I believe Dr. Nolen wrote an excellent book and meticulously gives a full perspective into the life a surgical resident. I enjoyed his writing style, which was very clear and straight forward. I think this book is a must read for anyone considering a surgical career.

Most children like to play with words or learn new words for common things they already know in English. My 7 year old has a whole slew of such words that she likes to use, everything from the French word for "ridiculous" ("ridicule") to the Yiddish word "feh!", meaning "yuck" (a very satisfying and fun word to use). She has been curious about German words, but until I stumbled across this Usborne book, there was very little I could find that would keep her interest.

This book is excellent on a number of different levels. In addition to having over 500 common words in German (mostly nouns), the illustrations are detailed and exemplary. The words are laid out around a large, central illustration that covers one theme, like "der garten" (the garden), "das wohnzimmer" (the living room) or "der bauernhof" (the farm). The words themselves are illustrated with small pictures of the named objects, like "die kuh" for a cow, "die uhr" for a clock or "das T-shirt" for a you-know-what! These objects are used again in the large illustration, so part of the book's appeal is it's seek-and-find quality. Looking at the picture of the garage, can you find a match? A moth? A pail? How about "der schraubenschlussel" (a wrench)? They're actually trickier to find than you might think, so the book will maintain a child's interest after they grow tired of reading the German words.

The illustrations themselves are incredibly detailed, appearing to be made out of clay and material. A kindly grandfather is complete with white hair, bushy moustache and green checked shirt. A boy's hair is composed of individual strips of clay and the dog is seen running off with an ice cream cone in his mouth (that is, der hund with die eis in der mund). The people and children are multicultural and gender balanced. Clearly, it took untold hours to illustrate this work.

Parents and teachers should note this book is more of a reference than anything else. Children are not likely to sit down and read it cover to cover, nor will it teach you how to speak German-- just common nouns and numbers are in the book. There is an extensive vocabulary key in the back pages consisting of three columns: the German word, it's phonetic spelling/pronunciation and it's English meaning. There is also a short note explaining that German nouns (like French and Spanish) are female, male or neutral, hence the use of the words "der", "das" and "die", which all mean "the" in English.

Readers should also note that the English word for the object is NOT printed on the page with the object's German word, which is a bit of an oversight in my opinion. Children just learning to read English will have nothing IN English to read on any of the pages, and it's unlikely a beginning reader will attempt to tackle the pronunciation guide at the back. Also, at the top of each page is an object with a note like "such sechs cassetten", which is not translated. Only after a long time of looking through the book (and discovering the vocabulary hidden at the very back of the book) did I realize that this was encouraging the reader to "search for six cassettes" on the page. While there is the possibility that children may easily become frustrated with the long, multi-consonant spellings of German words like "wachsmalstifte" (crayon), a number of English and German words are the same, like "T-shirt", "kiwi", "hammer", "jeans" and "button", and a lot of everyday words are very similar to English words like "hund" (dog or hound) and "katze" (cat). This adds it's own search-and-find element of fun for older children who are fluent with English words.

The book will probably be the most useful for young children who are in bilingual German/English families. It has a place in a home or school library as a reference book or search-and-find game book, and hence I recommend it.

I am having to buy a second copy of this book. My 2 bilingual toddlers adore the book and have worn it out. The clay figures capture the attention of my children. The book has actually helped my husband brush up on some of the French words he has forgotten over the years. This book is a must for French students of all ages. We love it!

Don't let the grade level of this book fool you. It is a very valuable source of everyday words in French. Many of these words can't be found in French textbooks. The format is refreshingly different. Litchfield has created thousands of brightly colored clay figures that are photographed and used in various settings from la rue to la salle de bains. A must have for any French student from 1st grade to Graduate School.

Hesiod's Works and Days is a creative piece of didactic poetry. It is a lyrical mixture of a barrage of insults directed towards his brother, Perses and a somewhat highly technicalized discussion on Greek farming and superstitions, that coming towards the later part of the poem. A famous poem, deep in influence on Western literary traditions, it is a one-sided conversation between Hesiod and his decadent and redolent brother.

The poem starts off with an encomium meant for Zeus, a God, central to the whole poem. It goes on by expressing the idea of strife-the negative and good types of strife. The poem continues with a mythical description of the Pandora's Box (in this poem, more of a storage jar) that is famous for unleashing miseries and sufferings into the world- an act done by Zeus in revenge for Iapetos's son stealing Zeus' fire.

Hesiod, taking himself to be a teacher needing to teach his corrupted brother, explains beautifully the 5 Ages- Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, Iron- with a generally downwards and pessimistic trend. This in part relates to his idea of negativity and evils of life and how he, through this poem, tries to advise his brother on how to avoid them.

From then on, the poem discusses at length, the details of farming, the main purpose being to teach his brother, Perses on how to be self-sufficient, if not completely wealthy. Summer is a time of preparation for the plowing period during Autumn. Winter is a time of suffering for the poor while the rewards in the form of rich harvests, during the season of Spring, the blessings of which come from Demeter and her father, Zeus.

The poem ends off with a local discussion on Greek superstitions relating to the Gods, dates and days.

The reader can get lost in the practicality of this poem from the great Greek bard. Simple aspects of Greek life from marriage (l 769 to l 780) to potluck dinner (l 800) to urinating (l 806 to l 811) are touched on, presumably to teach Perses. Nowhere does Hesiod's insulted brother, who has come to beg of some money but instead gets a lecture in the form of this poem, speak.

The magical hold of this poem lies in its rustic approach, intertwined with the theological stronghold of the Greek Gods and Goddesses on the poem itself. Many scholars have gone beyond the literal meanings of the poem by analyzing the extent to which the poem describes Hesiod as a real person in Greek history and more interestingly, how far an influence this poem had on the agrarian lifestyle of the contemporary Greeks. Both questions have but definitive answers.

Penguin translations often go too far in pursuit of a contemporary and popular sound, for instance in the infamous Rieu translations of Homer, with Athena "dancing attendance on Odysseus like a lover"; but this one is perfect, probably the best of the entire Penguin Classics collection. The jewel in this excellent book is the translation of Hesiod's WORKS AND DAYS; a translation of exceptional quality, worthy of being mentioned in one breath with Robert Fagles and C.Day Lewis.
Next to it are the wonderful, engaging introductory essays, in which Professor Wender shows the most enchanting insight into the mentality and attitude of her poets, making them live on the page for us. It is unmistakeably the work of a specialist, yet it is pitched - successfully - at the ordinary reader. A person who knows nothing about the Classics will leave them not only having a clear and precise idea of the characters of Hesiod and Theognis, but having learned a considerable amount about what makes good poetry. If the translation shows the poetic gifts of a Fagles or Lewis, the introduction shows the critical eye of a truly great critic - a C.S.Lewis, a Matthew Arnold. Do not be misled by the reviewer who says that she "carps" at the Theogony; he is only showing his shock at the notion that someone might have different views from his own. Professor Wender's criticisms are justified, especially in view of her very insightful comparison of the literary quality of the THEOGONY and that of the WORKS AND DAYS. This is the model of what a paperback translation of a classic work should be. As for the verse, I can do no better than to quote the terrible sequence, building up to a smashing final blow, which Professor Wender herself mentions as a fine instance of the poetic excellence of the author of the WORKS AND DAYS, but which might as well feature as the type of her own fluent and beautiful poetic ear; think, as you listen, of that last white flash of deathless beauty, vanishing away to the land of the Gods to leave men abandoned to their fate:
Zeus will destroy this race of mortal men
When babies shall be born with greying hair.
Father will have no common bond with son,
Neither will guest with host, nor friend with friend;
The brother-love of past days will be gone.
Men will dishonour parents who grow old
Too quickly, and will blame and criticize
With cruel words. Wretched and godless, they,
Refusing to repay their bringing up,
Will cheat their aged parents of their due.
Men will destroy the towns of other men.
The just, the good, the man who keeps his word
Will be despised, but men will praise the bad
And insolent. Might will be right, and shame
Will cease to be. Men will do injury
To better men by speaking crooked words
And adding lying oaths; and everywhere,
Harsh-voiced and sullen-faced and loving harm,
Envy will walk along with wretched men.
Last to Olympus from the broadpathed Earth,
Hiding their loveliness in robes of white
To join the gods, abandoning mankind
Will go the spirits Righteousness and Shame;
And only grievous troubles will be left
For men, and no defence against our wrongs.

Hesiod is thought to have lived about the same time as Homer. In his "Theogony" he offers perhaps the most detailed Grecian creation myth still in existence. It traces the emergence of Gaia, her marriage to Ouranos, the fatherly castrations (Kronos / Ouranos & Zeus / Kronos), the hegemony of Zeus as well as a good bit of neurotic misogyny mixed in for good measure. The geneologies serve as a wonderful preamble for those who wish to read Homer and Virgil later on.

Above all else, however, Hesiod pays homage to Zeus. In page after page, the adulation that the author holds for the thunder god is unmistakable. There is no doubting as to who the "hero" of the poem is.

"Works And Days" can best be described as one of the earliest farmers almanacs in the western world. It is written as an "instruction manual for life" for his indolent brother, Perses. Throughout the work, Hesiod admonishes Perses on the subjects of ethics, self-control and moderation. He also writes on how to run a farm and when the best times to sail are. Later authors of this genre, such as Xenophon & Virgil, doubtlessly were inspired by Hesiod.

Theognis came a few centuries later than Hesiod, somewhere around 550 BC. His "Elegies" give a fascinating look at the transformation of Greek life in the 6th century. Slowly but surely, the Aristoi (the Greek ruling party) saw the erosion of its status, power & wealth. No longer were armies made up of the elite class; more and more, armies were comprised of hoplites, made up of working-class peasants. Along with the wartime duties went the justification (Arete) of the Aristoi's claim to power.

In the "Elegies" we discover the frustrations of an upper-class Grecian gentleman who is forced to deal with the changing idealogies. He spurns the thought of poverty above all else, but comes to the realization that, for the 1st time, it is possible for a member of the Aristoi to be poor.

Like Hesiod, much of Theognis is told in an advisory manner. However, Theognis is far more inconsistent than H, especially when it comes to the concept of wealth.

Wender does an exceptional job at translating these early Greek texts. She also offers helpful introductions which set the tone for both authors' poems. Her commentary is especially insightful on why she believes there were "2" Hesiods (1 artist for each poem) rather than 1.

I will leave you with a sagacious passage from one of Theognis' elegies:

No one is always lucky in all things;

Good men endure bad luck without complaint,

The common man cannot control himself

In good times or in bad. All sorts of gifts

Come to us mortals from the gods; we must

Endure, whatever sorts of gifts they give.

441-446

My daughter just got this book for Christmas. Everyone, including the adults in the family, love it. It puts Spanish words in their context. There is even a glossary in the back that tells you how to pronounce the words. This is a fun way to learn a new language and be able to practice it on a daily basis. Living in L.A., we are always on the lookout for Spanish language books. This one stands out because it has great photos and is reader friendly.

This book is awesome! First of all, it is *beautiful*! The art work is amazing - all the illustrations are done in clay, but in a wonderful way I've never seen before. The illustrations are bright, eye catching, and very engaging.

Second, the way the book is done makes it extremely versatile. On your first look through, you can read the names of all the objects pictured. In your subsequent use, you can ask your child to find the objects pictured in the margins in the picture itself. ie: "Donde esta la mariposa?". We use this book not only for learning Spanish, but also for sharpening observation skills [like a "search" book or "I spy" book]. And my child has to know the meaning of the word I'm using [ie: Mariposa] to know what to find in the photo - it makes the whole process extremely interesting to her and she really, really enjoys our Spanish lessons!

I can't recommend this book highly enough!

My friend gave us this book and it's our favorite! My son has loved it since he was about 18 months old. The pictures are colorful and there are so many objects to name and count in Spanish. We can spend an hour browsing the pages. It's great for any parent who wants to teach some Spanish to his children. The labels are all in Spanish, just as they should be!

This is a book to help kids understand what a hearing aid is and why some children need one. The parents of Angie, the girl in this book, did not know she needed one until it became obvious that she was misunderstanding everything that was said to her. If a child who wears a hearing aid will be coming to your child's clasroom, this book gives a humorous introduction to what a hearing aid is and how it works.

This is a good way to teach toddlers and pre-schoolers the basic spanish words..

The book is not a masterpiece by any means, but was interesting for me since my husband Todd Burdell and I are the ones that found the victim, Lynn. Imagine our horror when, after fishing at the lake, we try to put out a "brush fire" to be good samaritans, and wind up finding in the fire was a woman with her head gone... The author definitely took liberties with dialogue, since he never even asked us what we saw when we found her, or asked about our reactions. But I do believe he states this in the book that he was going to take liberties with certain conversations. Still think the book would have been better if he had interviewed some people in Litchfield where it happened!