I had no idea that I could make it through my nighmare. The author knows exactly what we go through when we are dumped- and being dumped is certainly different from when couples mutually call it quits. Mine hurt and stung and I didn't know how I could live anymore. This book gives us support and hope and courage (the three things we need most!). If you've been left by the man you loved, READ THIS! My only regret is that I waited 2 months to get it. God Bless...

This book is a great read, and can play an important role as a catalyst in helping "dumped" women to heal. Having practiced family law for twenty years, I often find that it is not just the financial wounds but also the emotional wounds that leave women dependent upon the men who left them. The timing will always be right to read this book: read it just after you've been dumped, years after, or - God forbid, before! - and you will look into the lives of the brave "dumpees" who shared their stories, and find lots that you can identify with. Sometimes humourous, sometimes sad, yet always helpful, this book will help women to help themselves.

Only thing wrong with DUMPED by Sally Warren -- it hadn't yet been written when I was dumped years ago. From the desperation and emotional devastation stage to the realization that getting dumped was a blessing in disguise, this book would have been an invaluable resource. The insight and wisdom contained in DUMPED provide a lifeline for those experiencing the pain and trauma of separation and divorce. This excellent book is a must read not only for "dumpees," but also for all of their support system friends and family.

Three years ago, I took a trip to my local book store in search of books about preemies. The selection I found was limited at best. I spent hours searching for a book with real stories about babies born prematurely-I found not one. I found some good informative books, which were also important, but none that gave me the kind of hope and inspiration I so desperately needed those weeks and months after my daughter was born at 25 weeks gestation. When I heard about this book, Living Miracles, Stories of Hope from Parents of Premature Babies, edited by Kimberly A. Powell & Kim Wilson, I thought to myself, "Well, it's about time there came about a book like this!" I was very excited about the book as I sat down to read it, but nothing could have prepared me for how wonderful the book turned out to be!

The book is laid out by gestation from 23 weeks to 36 weeks, with 22 stories in all. They have various outcomes, just as in real life. Each story is written from the parent's point of view, which makes it that much more gripping. There are stories where the children come out virtually unscathed from their experience with prematurity, and also stories where children have severe complications due to their prematurity. There are also stories about children who have problems completely unrelated to their prematurity. However the stories end up, they are all very touching and inspiring.

This is a book not only for parents of premature babies, but for everyone. You can't help but feel inspired after reading the stories of these heroic children born with the deck stacked against them. It is good for new parents of premature babies to give them hope for the future and make them realize they are not alone in what they are feeling the hours, weeks and months after their babies are born; For families of people with babies born premature to help them understand some of what the new parents are going through and feeling; For the average person who doesn't even know that there are over 400,000 babies born prematurely every year. It is important for people to be more aware of the many babies who are born early, and also that there are a number of reasons babies are born premature. Hopefully this book will find it's way to those people who don't have a clue that the preemie world even exists-just as I didn't just a short 3 years and some change ago! But most importantly, it is a great book for new parents of preemie babies because there is so much uncertainty after their birth.

This is a much needed book for parents just entering the world of prematurity. The families in this book do a wonderful job of allowing the reader to relate. Although there are many books on prematurity, none approach the subject quite in this light. Reading the stories in the parents own words is refreshing and eye opening. The pictures at birth and later provide a lot of hope for those still tiny infants. I highly recommend this book to all parents of premature babies, and their families. This book would be particularly helpful to family members that do not understand the world of prematurity.

This book brought tears of joy with every story. It's hard to believe what some of these couples and babies have survived -- they really are living miracles. The honest, detailed descriptions of the often difficult pregnancies, the deliveries, the time spent in the NICU and finally the trip home provide a clear, realistic picture into the roller coaster ride of having a preemie. This book would certainly provide encouragement to families in this situation, and for those who've never been through it, you'll be better able to understand some of the feelings the parents experience as well as some of the medical terminology common to preemies. God bless the parents who were willing to share their stories, their pain, their joy. God bless these miracle children!

I read this book back in the 80s when i was in junior high and I loved it. I lost my copy of it, and was dismayed to discover that it was out of print. I'm so happy it's been rereleased and I can finally read it again. I loved the story, the characters and the dialogue. I also highly recommend "A Question of Survival," although I think it is now out of print. Too bad, in addition to being great fun, it totally captures what it was like to grow up in the Cold War-Reagan years. Hard to believe that only 15 years ago people were still taking the nuclear threat that seriously.

I read this book when I was 13, and I still remember it all in detail. I was extremely impressed with Julian F. Thompson's unique writing style in this book and (as I later discovered) in all his books. He treats his teenage characters as the adults that they are, not as the stereotype demands them to be. A very strong novel that I have recommended to all my friends.

I read it years and years ago and lost the paperback version I had. Suddenly one day I just needed to re-read it, and was delighted to find that it had been re-released in hardback. :) The story line is what makes this book special--I've never read a book with a similar concept. Also, you can relate to the characters, there's a little bit of them in all of us; each character has a distinct personality, slightly reminscient of the characters from "The Breakfast Club." I highly recommend it to anyone, teen or not.

Like others in the hard-headed but helpful "Dummies" series, Bill Thompson's solid, funny and unerringly instructive birding primer is something you can't imagine being without, once you've had it in your hands. For a true novice, the book offers down-to-earth solid information, tips, and the fine example of an expert with humor and humility. For the experienced birding enthusiast, Thompson opens avenues to better optics, resources and tips for refining skills, and the gentle encouragement to take more patience, more study, and more pure joy in bird-watching. And for every birder, hours of pleasure, very solid information and great fun. Every time I pick up this book I like it more!

When I accompany Rodger Titman, my ornithological sidekick, on leading a field trip of bird-watchers of all ages and experience, we usually find it prudent to split the group between us. After all, how many self-respecting birds are going to hang about with the harangue and hubbub of a humongous herd of humans?! Not just because Rodger is a much more experienced birder than me, I generally volunteer to lead the group of total neophytes. While we might not spot those rare, exciting species, I simply find it satisfying to turn people onto birding and to teach them the basic ingredients of such a pleasurable hobby. No question asked of me is ever judged in my mind to be "dumb"! Moreover, I have never referred to anyone in any of my groups as a "dummy". So don't be insulted if I insist that you rush out to your favourite nature or better book store and buy a brand-new book called Bird Watching for Dummies. Written by Bill Thompson III, editor of a classy popular magazine called Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD), Bird Watching for Dummies is probably the best book you're ever gonna read on this subject! Gosh, I wish I'd written it! Part of the award-winning ...For Dummies(R) series (remember Computers for Dummies?) published by IDG Books World-wide, Inc., this so-easy-to-read-that-it's-funny volume contains information on just about every aspect of bird-watching you can think of. Want some examples? How to design and maintain a bird-friendly yard with feeders, baths, gardens and houses. Where to obtain all your birding needs. How to identify both eastern and western birds from hummers to herons and even recognize birds by their songs. How to go beyond just bird-watching locally by participating in bird counts, tours and festivals. There's much more. What's really neat about Bird Watching for Dummies is that the text is broken up into nicely digestible, humorous tidbits so that you don't have to read it all. It's so understandable that you'd have to be a dummy not to learn something from it! If you're going to buy one bird-watching book in your lifetime, besides your favourite field guide, of course, this is the one to get. It's a bargain at $26.99 (ISBN 0-7645-5040-3). Trust me on this!

Not only is Bird Watching for Dummies well-written in an easy-to-read conversational style, but it's jam-packed with tips, ideas, and information for all levels of bird watchers. Bill Thompson covers every topic imaginable about birding--from how to get started identifying birds; how to attract birds with feeders, nest boxes, and landscaping; how to select binocluars, scopes, and field guides; as well as helpful info about birding tours, festivals, research, and birding on-line. If you have questions about birds and birding, this book has the answers! I plan to give copies to my birding friends and family members for Christmas and birthdays this year!

It's easy to like a book when virtually all the characters are friends and professional colleagues. And it's equally easy to enjoy a story that recaps significant parts of your own satisfying career. So, as a (recently retired)32-year career volcanologist with the U.S. Geological Survey ... who spent three years on the staff of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and who was later involved to varying degrees with the eruptions of Mount St. Helens in 1980, El Chichon in 1982 and Mount Pinatubo in 1991 ... I enjoyed reading Dick Thompson's "Volcano Cowboys."

My degree of enjoyment was muted, though, by Thompson's over emphasis on discord and disagreement within the cadre of USGS volcanologists. In my experience, cooperation and agreement dominated. I think I made this feeling clear when Thompson interviewed me. However, I remember his questions tending to be phrased in such a way that almost any answer would bolster the notion of internal USGS discord, between his "Musketeers and Stratigraphers" and between his "Coneheads and Meatheads". My impression was then, and is now, having read the book, that Thompson's mind was made up before he talked with me. Of course, if there aren't SOME disagreements during a group scientific endeavor, the scientists aren't doing their jobs. Whether such wrangling is the rule, rather than the exception, is a call difficult to make by an outside party.

It's often said that sex and violence are what sell books. Perhaps the pursuit of this notion helped shape this book's story emphasis? Incidentally, speaking of sex, the book almost completely ignores female scientists who have made significant contributions to USGS volcano studies. Terry Keith, Maggie Mangan and Tina Neal come quickly to mind.

Here's another reason for my muted enjoyment. Thompson repeatedly marginalizes and denigrates the value of studying Hawaiian volcanoes as training for understanding the more-violent types, such as Mount St. Helens and Pinatubo. In fact, near the end of the book, he pooh poohs the idea that such training is valuable. No one would disagree that composite volcanoes and Hawaiian shield volcanoes differ in many ways. It may be equally important to remember, though, that every volcano is unique in ways that make broad generalizations virtually useless, even perhaps dangerous. Training at a Mount St. Helens, rather than at HVO, is not necessarily a better way to prepare for understanding the behavior of a Pinatubo, and vice versa.

An important consideration in trying to learn about volcano behavior, one not pointed out in the book, is the frequency with which the different types of volcanoes erupt. Composite volcanoes, like Mount St. Helens and Pinatubo, tend to erupt with repeat times of hundreds of years. Most of the dormant interval is quiet time, with little if any volcano unrest. When they do come back to life, composite volcanoes seem to give volcanologists a few weeks or months of lead time to gather information that can help with forecasting eruption. In stark contrast, a Hawaiian type of volcano tends to erupt with repeat times of only a few years, and provides lots of scientific information about its behavior in the interim. Imagine the folly and futility of establishing a volcano observatory at a composite volcano and then having to wait through multiple human generations before having even one eruption to study! A volcano SWAT team is great for helping to address short-fused needs. But only long-term systematic studies at one volcano (or more, if necessary resources are available) hold much promise of making breakthroughs in a more generic understanding of these powerful outlets for Earth's internal energy.

The book's shortcomings notwithstanding, I recommend it to anyone interested in volcanoes and their eruptions. It has much to offer, in understandable and engaging language, about the complex workings of volcanoes and of human societies that complicate the mission of those "volcano cowboys", who are just trying to round up enough information to make life a bit safer for us all.

This is a fascinating book about the evolution of volcano science written in language easy enough for the layperson to understand. The author discusses how the eruptions of Mt. St. Helen's, plus several other volcanoes around the world helped develop methods for making more accurate predictions and alert systems. This book is also about the sometimes explosive relationship between volcano scientists, journalists, politicians, and people living near volcanoes. There are so many interesting facts about volcanoes in this book, including the many, many ways in which volcanoes can be an extremely dangerous and deadly force of nature. A must read for anyone living near a volcano.

This book is a fascinating look into the world of the USGS volcanologists and the progress made in the science of volcanology through the eruptions of Mt. St. Helens, Nevado Del Ruiz, and Pinotubo. The most interesting part of this book however, was not just the science, but the inside workings of the USGS and how politics, power, and money have influenced research on active volcanoes.

Dick Thompson did a great job of bringing the reader inside the heads of the various scientists as they struggled with interpreting the data they were receiving on each volcano. Through the fiasco of the non-eruption at Mono Lakes, the failure to save lives at Nevado Del Ruiz and their ultimate success in accurately predicting the eruption at Mt. Pinotubo in the Philippines, the volcanologists of the USGS learned to respond to volcano crises around the world. One chapter, which Thompson has entitled "They'll Think You're A Hero," sums up the pressures these volcanologists were under to accurately predict what Pinatubo would do next. If the volcano erupts as predicted they all become heroes, but if not, they lose their credibility and thousands of lives are needlessly disrupted.

I have read many books on volcanoes and their eruptions but this book clarified aspects of eruptions and the difficulties in interpreting data being collected from an active volcano. It also clarified the difficulties in bringing various methods of observation together to form one cohesive picture of a pending eruption. Dick Thompson also captured the humor of these volcanologists in stressful situations which brought the book to life.

Overall, this was an entertaining, insightful look at the science of volcanology. I couldn't put it down.

. . . to really achieve its full potential, this play needs to be acted out on stage. Still, highly excellent, involving twins, cross-dressing, love tangles, sword-fighting, secret marriages, music, disguises, mistaken identities, high speech, and lowbrow humour.

The entire play takes place in Illyria. In the main plot, Orsino is in love with Olivia, who unfortunately does not return his feelings. Viola is shipwrecked on the Illyrian coast, and dressed as a boy, comes to serve in Orsino's court, where she of course falls in love with Orsino. Meanwhile, in Olivia's court, some of her courtiers plan a cruel--but funny--practical joke against her pompous steward Malvolio. There is also a third plot later on involving Viola's twin brother Sebastian, who has been shipwrecked likewise. Naturally things get quite confusing, but, true to Shakespeare's comedic style, everything gets worked out in the end.

This is an enjoyable book to read, and the notes are very helpful. However, it is still better as a performance.

"Twelfth Night" is one of the famous romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare. Many critics said, "Twelfth Night" is the masterpiece among his comedy because his fully developed style and insight are in the "Twelfth Night", so it has special value and attractiveness.
There are four main characters in "Twelfth Night" ; Duke Orsino, Olivia, Viola, and
Sebastian. Duke Orsino who lives in Illyria loves Olivia, so every day he send one of
his servant to Olivia's house for proposal of marriage. However, every time Olivia
refuses his proposal for the reason that she lost her brother before long, so she is now
in big sorrow and can not love anyone. One day, Viola comes into Illyria. She and her
twin brother Sebastian are separated in a shipwreck and they are rescued by two
different people in two different place, so they think the other one is dead each other.
Viola disguise as a man and become a servant of Duke Orsino, and then she fall in
love with Duke Orsino. But, Duke Orsino loves Olivia and he send Viola whose new
name as a man is "Cesario" to Olivia for proposal. Unexpectedly, Olivia fall in love with
Cesario!! Therefore, love triangle is formed. In the latter scene, Sebastian also come into
Illyria, so the confusion getting worse. However, in the end, all misunderstandings are
solved and Cesario become Viola, so the four main characters find their love.
There are also four supporting characters in "Twelfth Night" ; Clown, Sir Toby Belch,
Malvolio, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. They make the readers laugh through their funny
behaviors and comments in subplot.
"Twelfth Night" is very funny story and enjoyable book, so I recommend you.

I didn't read this particular version of Twelfth Night, so I'm rating the plot, not the editing. This book was the first play by Shakespeare that I read, and I loved it! It starts when Viola and her brother, Sebastian, are seperated in a shipwreck. Viola decides to disguise herself as a boy and work for Orsino, the duke. Orsino sends Viola to tell Olivia that he loves her. Viola does what he says, but she wishes she didn't have to, because she has fallen in love with Orsino! Then Olivia falls in love with Viola, thinking that she is a boy. While all this is going on, Andrew Aguecheek is wooing Olivia, who scorns him. Also, Maria, the maid, Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, and another servant write a letter and put it where Malvolio, a servant, will see it. The letter says that Olivia is in love with Malvolio. Malvolio immediately starts trying to woo Olivia. Maria and Sir Toby pretend to think that he's mad, and lock him up. Meanwhile, Sebastian comes to town with Antonio, the man who saved him from the shipwreck. Antonio gives him his purse and says that he must stay away from the city because he fought against the duke in a war. A few minutes later, Antonio realizes that he needs money for lodgings and goes to find Sebastian. In the city, Viola is being forced to fight Andrew Aguecheek for the right to marry Olivia. Antonio sees the fight and hurries to intervene. Orsino recognizes him and has him arrested. Antonio asks Viola for his purse so that he can pay bail, thinking that she is Sebastian. Viola denies having had a purse. Then Sebastian comes up. Olivia had found him and married him on the spot, and he, deliriously happy, had gone away to give Antonio his purse. On the way, he met Sir Toby and Andrew Aguecheek. When they try to force him to fight, he punches them and goes on. They come up too, bitterly accusing Viola. (No one has seen Sebastian yet.) Then Olivia comes up and speaks to Viola, who denies being her wife. Orsino becomes angry with her, thinking that she has married Olivia, and accuses her of treachery. Just as things are looking bad for Viola, Sebastian reveals himself. Then everyone is happy (since Orsino falls in love with Viola on the spot) except Andrew Aguecheek and Malvolio, who is later set free. The plot of this book is a little hard to understand, but it is halariously funny and makes for happy reading.

I read this book about a year ago, it still haunts me. I just found Prescription Murder in the used book store and though its another perspective of what happened, nothing can compare with Thomas Thompsons skill and in depth version of the events. It's trully sad to have lost such a great true crime writer.

Sad, but true this wonderful writer Thomas Thompson is gone, he died of (I believe) liver cancer, but this book is the best written book of a story so eerie and scarie, how this doctor could do the evil things he did. I have this copy and I have never loan it to anyone, (but once) to a very good friend, who doesn't even like murder mysteries, but I knew she would love this one! It even more bizarre because its true.l Try to find a copy - you will be hooked and want to read more by this author.

"Blood and Money" first published in 1976 is a true page turner and a major piece of non-fiction journalism. Set thiry years ago in the moneyed mansions of Houstons River Oaks it is a spellbinding tale of an oil millionares(Ash Robinson) obsessive love for his daughter(Joan Robinson) and her ill fated third marraige to a rising star plastic surgeon(John Hill). Events take tragic and unexpected turns carrying along the readers emotions. Then the author brings us through a series of court trials deepeening the characters and shading their motives. Abruptly the story leaves behind the privileged rich lives and burrows into the sleazy underbelly of Texan prostitution and petty crime culminating in a final pursuit and spectacular murder trial. No fiction is a match for the awful truth here and the writer Thomas Thompson meticulously unravels this bizarre saga of greed, power, lust, love and murder. All the characters are deeply shaded and by force of sheer detail their lives are brought into vivid focus. It is a sprawling narrative similar to Norman Mailers "The Executioners Song" although largely confined to the somewhat strange state of Texas. Thompson must have utilized every possible material(court transcrits, autopsy reports, police files, photographs) and person avialable to him. Conversations are carefully reconstructed, events are colorfully described and the author seamlessly insinuates himself into the mind of each of the characters. Readers enjoy a fly- on-the-wall perspective of the characters doings and actions. Ultimately "Blood and Money" can fairly take its place alongside other New Journalism classics like "In Cold Blood". It would have been nice however if the author had included a preface, (some notes about his research techniques) photographs and character epilogues. The hard cover Doubleday publication does not contain any supplementry information perhaps other versions do. This calibre of jornalism is damned impressive and it's a pity we don't have its originator Thomas Thompson with us any longer.

I had the original "Eloise at Christmastime" and there are a few subtle changes in this printing. First of all there are 4 wonderful new pictures by Mr. Knight but they took out one of my favorites, Eloise on the couch with Nanny in front of the fire. Some of the pictures have been reduced to put another picture on the page. Lastly the floor plan of the Plaza folded out in the original printing. Those are the differences that collectors will be happy about.

I am so happy that my nieces and nephew will be able to finally have a copy of "Eloise at Christmastime" of their very own and they will be able to pass it on to their children. Hang two-legged Christmas stockings and read this book almost every night before Christmas.

This book is the oddball of the Eloise sequels, being the only one that also is also focused at the Plaza (like the original) and uses a rhyming scheme. Everyone who has loved Eloise must have wondered about how she fares without her mother living with her Nanny, pug (Weenie), and turtle (Skipperdee) in the Plaza on Christmas. The young woman who was born to shop (and order room service) adds a whole new meaning to Christmas for the guests at the Plaza and those who work there. If you require high quality rhymes, you may not like this book. If you can lightheartedly enjoy fractured verse, hotel high jinks, and great Hilary Knight drawings, you'll love it!

The story starts on Christmas Eve, as a blizzard blankets the Plaza, and the temperature drops to four below zero outside. But inside it's warm and cozy, and there's a blazing Yule log in Eloise's fireplace.

The story recounts Eloise's tree trimming, gift-giving to everyone she knows, getting ready for exchanging gifts on Christmas under her Christmas tree, and prowling around the Plaza on Christmas Eve in typical Eloise fashion. She hits all the parties and helps the people celebrate from room to room as well. You can imagine the mayhem that creates!

One of the most beautiful segments is Eloise dreaming about Santa Claus coming. This section will touch your heart, if you are like me.

A high point for Eloise is opening her present from Nanny. You'll love reading about it.

After you finish enjoying this warm Christmas story, I suggest that you take a few minutes to think (as Eloise does) about all of the people (and animals) you can show your appreciation for during the holidays. I'll bet Eloise inspires you to take a broader view of thankfulness. What better gift could you receive at Christmas?

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo! I absolutely love Eloise

I am..... years old and I still like Eloise book. She's my favorite 6 year old! it has nice pictures on each page and of couse one pull out page like the original Eloise book. there are some lyrics on some of the pages of the book to Eloise's favorite christmas song, "Trinkles and Drinkles." When she(Kay Thompson) tells about Eloise Christmas dream it is all in rhyme. I hoghly reccomend it to kids of all ages.

There's a dark vein of paranoia in every reader of suspense novels. Deep inside, many of us see ourselves as potential prey, the hapless mouse toyed with by some malignant power, merciless and faceless.

We can run, but we can't hide-- and therein lies the delicious tingle we feel with every turn of the page. And with LIVING PROOF, the debut novel by Peter J. Thompson, you'll be turning pages long into the night.

At its core, LIVING PROOF is a classic man-on-the-run tale. It is replete with danger at every turn, relentless pursuit by remorseless forces, betrayal and narrow escapes.

But "classic" here means anything but dated. The themes woven throughout LIVING PROOF are so timely you could set a chronometer by them: wrongful conviction by a flawed judicial system; the morality of the death penalty; dark manipulations by a government obsessed with its own secrets; even the question of illegal biological weapons development. Thompson clearly has his finger on the pulse of today's headlines, and his writing skills ensure that his readers will feel their own hearts racing as a result. The author shows a fine talent for crafting action scenes that pack a furious, visceral punch.

LIVING PROOF is a strong first novel from a promising new voice. Without doubt, Thompson kicks butt and takes names; I'm eager to see more from him in the future.

There's a dark vein of paranoia in every reader of suspense novels. Deep inside, many of us see ourselves as potential prey, the hapless mouse toyed with by some malignant power, merciless and faceless.

We can run, but we can't hide-- and therein lies the delicious tingle we feel with every turn of the page. And with LIVING PROOF, the debut novel by Peter J. Thompson, you'll be turning pages long into the night.

At its core, LIVING PROOF is a classic man-on-the-run tale. It is replete with danger at every turn, relentless pursuit by remorseless forces, betrayal and narrow escapes.

But "classic" here means anything but dated. The themes woven throughout LIVING PROOF are so timely you could set a chronometer by them: wrongful conviction by a flawed judicial system; the morality of the death penalty; dark manipulations by a government obsessed with its own secrets; even the question of illegal biological weapons development. Thompson clearly has his finger on the pulse of today's headlines, and his writing skills ensure that his readers will feel their own hearts racing as a result. The author shows a fine talent for crafting action scenes that pack a furious, visceral punch.

In summary, LIVING PROOF is a strong first novel from a promising new voice. ... I'm eager to see more from him in the future.

This was a book I couldn't put down. I tried to--started reading Living Proof last night, then woke up at 4:30 a.m. thinking about it--and couldn't do another thing until I finished it today. The story unfolds at breakneck pace. Each scene seems so real, believable, and exciting. Peter Thompson really knows how to write--plot, character development, he has it all down pat. I can't wait for his second book to come out. In the meantime, I hope Living Proof will be made into a movie! I'm going to go out now and buy six more copies to give to my friends. This new author is really something!

I used this book for a class in International Relations last semester, and I must admit that I was quite impressed. Morgenthau provides us with a sound and instructive discussion of the way international politics is functioning from a realist ponit of view; he also supports his argument with nice and useful examples. I do think, however, that he occasionally goes into extremes and uses terminology that does not entirely apply to the present day international situation, which might render his work somewhat incomplete. I believe the problem lies in the relevance of these issues to the modern political world: now that the Cold War is at least officially over, a new approach to politics is needed to fill in the gaps that Morgenthau fails to address. One might also encounter problem with the readability of some of the chapters, especially if not a native English speaker like me, but, all in all, it is well written and structured. I would recommend this book as an absolutely necessary reading for everybody pursuing interests in international politics.

Hans Morgenthau is, together with E.H.Carr, among the key 20th century thinkers who studied international relations and developed what is today called classical realism (as opposed to structural- or neo-realism - see Kenneth Waltz). Classical realism claims an ancient ancestry beginning with the History of the Peloponesian War by Thucydides, and including thinkers like Maciaveli and Clausewitz, as well as Ralf Niebur. Briefly, the proponents of this line of thinking claim that 1) states are the only actors of significance in international relations; 2) that because there is no single world government, international relations are characterized by self-help- if states wish to survive they should ever be ready for war; 3) 'power' in this sense becomes both a means (to survival) and an end in itself -- states struggle to aggrandize their power; 4) because of all this, international relations are primarily a realm of conflict, not cooperation; 5) this sorry state of affairs stems from the evil nature of man which is essentially unchangeable (see St. Augustine, City of God, for a forceful argument in this vein). Given all this, Morgenthau claims that any politician who does not take the above points seriously is acting under dangerous delusions. Because most statesmen do act in this way, he, says, reading his book will allow the reader to be able 'to look over the shoulder' of any leader and understand their decisions. Whether one agrees or not with these views, the book is indispensible for any serious student of international politics. For further interest one may wish to read both scholars who have advanced the realist tradition in international relations in new directions (see esp. Kenneth Waltz, Theory of International Politics; Robert Jervis, Perception and Misperception..., and System Effects; Jack Snyder, Myths of Empire; and Michael Doyle, Ways of War and Peace) and critics of this tradition (esp. Robert Keohane, Neorealism and Its Critics, After Hegemony, and (with J.Nye) Power and Interdependence, as well as David Baldwin, ed., Neorealism and Neoliberalism). I admit that the book is densely written, but with the right roadmap, it is an enjoyable read. In fact, if you wish to find it even more useful, you may begin with E.H.Carr, The Twenty Years' Crisis, which is elegantly written, a real pleasure to read, and which is a very clear statement of the main arguments of realism.

If you've ever studied foreign policy or international affairs, you're familiar with the ideas and theories of Hans Morganthau, even if you don't realize it. He defined power for this field (no, really-- his definition of power is the accepted standard in the field), and much of modern international affairs theory is based on his ideas. This book is written as a textbook, but a rather readable one. For serious students of international affairs, much of the contents of the book may seem like a review, but I still found several ideas that were new to me. For beginners or those who simply wish to increase their knowledge of world politics, this book may seem like a somewhat dense read, but it will teach you 90% of modern international affairs theory. Well worth the money and the effort.