As I read through "Are You Anybody?", I never went more than three pages without laughing out loud at something. Dillman's book is highly enjoyable because it doesn't hold back on anything that's funny, even on issues of personal embarrassment. Just as he once invited a transvestite fan club into his home, Dillman and Parker invite you into intimate and hilarious episodes in their personal and professional lives. One incident after another shows the absurdity of life behind the camera, and how you can't help but laugh at all the things that go on.

I was a little disoriented by the fact that the book did not progress through the events of his life in chronological order, and leap-frogged back and forth through different times of his life. While Dillman is not a "professional" writer, his style makes for a good read and I believe that he does an excellent job with this book. Don't let this one sit on your shelf and gather dust. It's worth the trip!

When I discovered that Bradford Dillman had written a biography, and that its title was "Are You Somebody?" I ordered it immediately. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, Dillman was always a favorite of mine and it was such a pleasure to read his self-deprecating, funny and very wise observations and bits of gossip about making movies and TV series. He has great memories to share about the likes of Fredric March, Orson Welles and William Shatner, and so many others. I only wish the book had included some photos of his wonderful career. I recommend this book highly. It'll make you laugh and it'll warm your heart.

Did you ever stop to think about what gave screen legends their unique qualities? ... fine supporting actors like Bradford Dillman. His book is an easy and entertaining read, and humorously encapsulates his Hollywood life as a man who saw success, but never managed to get both feet under the spotlight. Having won the love of the beautiful model/actress Suzy Parker, Bradford is also a man of distinctive taste, because I've been smitten with his wife ever since I saw her performance in 1958's "Ten North Frederick" over 25 years ago. This is a couple I would really like to sit and chat with, and Dillman's book is as close as a die-hard fan like me is likely to get in this lifetime.

This book is very interesting with nice pictures but should not be used as a primary source in the field. In my opinion, it gives a false sense of security by failing to mention poisonous plants that appear similar to those highlighted. Also, it does not pay particular attention to precise plant identification and therefore should not be used for this purpose. Overall, I have enjoyed this book immensely, but would recommend it with caution.

I find this one useful. Drawings are not "natural" but compensate by revealing all major parts clearly: root, leaf, flower, stems. Anyway, I find one needs at least two books for reliable identity and often for any ID at all. Variations among species make identity of individual plants a lot harder than it might seem, excepting for a few easy plants like cat tails, purslane, etc. I agree with a prior reviewer that absence of poisonous plants is unfortunate. Also, absence of scientific names is not good, since common names aren't reliable.

When I was stranded with my dog in the Alaska Wilderness for a week and a half, this book saved my life. Without it, how could I have eaten well until the aircraft came - yes, you heard - eaten well! I thank Bradford Angier greatly for this wonderful text!

Harriet Tubman was born to a free man and a slave woman. Her life was hard and she abhorred slavery for her people. She sustained a head injury while helping an escaping slave. Her free Black husband was not supportive of her activities. Learning she was to be sold, Harriet planned an escape, however her brothers made her return. She finally did escape, using the underground railroad. Harriet was a family woman, and could not rest until she helped her sister and brother escape. The Blacks truly considered her their female version of the Biblical Moses.

I thought that this book was great. I enjoyed that it was written by someone in Harriet's time, except that some of the terminolgy is confusing. If you read this book, you will learn a lot about Harriet, and her adventures, but remember the dictionary!

A very informative book. Prior to reading this book, I had assumed Mrs. Tubman took her people to the North, the land of "Freedom". I was wrong, Mrs. Tubman had to take her people all the way to Canada, to be free. In the North, with the passage of the fugitive slave act, Harriett Tubman knew her people would/and could be 'captured' by Northern slave catches, ( who frequently captured free African-Americans as well) and sold them back into slavery) Traveling at night, hiding in the swamps, carring laudnum to keep the crying babies from crying and giving them away, and a pistol for safety, and risking her very life should she be captured.

I regret there was never more recorded history on Harriett Tubman. Her bravery, and heroism are awe inspiring. She risked her life 19 times, to save her people, and bring them to Canada, for Canada was the end of the Undergound Railroad.

Mrs. Tubman serves as a true American Hero, that went far beyond and above, what the vast majority of us would do.

I take my hat off to you, Mrs Tubman. God Bless you.

This book is especially suitable for junior grads and senior undergrads who want to know the diagramatic techniques of Green's function method.

Very consistent and easy to learn book. I like this book much more than famous one by Abrikosov,Gorkov, Dzyaloshinskii.

Do you want to learn basics in many-body physics? This book will provide your needs!

I was suprised at how gossipy William Bradford was. He told tales about his neighbors and friends and described how the pilgrims constantly bickered with traders and their benefactors over money. My whole fantasy about what I thought the Pilgrims were like has completely changed. Now I consider them petty, self-righteous gossip mongers. The book was good for general information about preparation for their trip and what they actually did when they got here, but as far as historical fact goes, I was unimpressed. Bradford discusses people who stray from the flock, "outsiders" who get girls pregnant, drunkards, and preachers who were not to his liking. It was more like a "dish" session n the Jenny Jones show than something I would be proud to uphold as historical fact to the rest of the nation.

Excellent book! I read this in combination with the Governer William Bradford's Letter Book and Mourts Relations and Good Newes from New England by Edward Winslow. I am really glad that I have done it this way, because there is further information in the Good Newes from New England that fills in the gaps of certain events.
This is William Bradford's point of view, and the information in it is amazing. If you are into history, then it doesn't get any better than this. Its not very often that you have the opportunity to see events through someone elses eyes, and this does it.

I came across this book quite by accident and didn't think it would be much of a read. Generally speaking I don't read histories and one from the early 1600's was a pretty daunting task - or so I thought. In fact, it was a great tale of adventure and faith and an extremely insightful and thought provoking book about how this country was started and what it must have looked like to those who arrived here some 350 years ago.I really did love this book.

Bradford is an engaging writer whose prose isn't hard to understand. In places his understatement about the death and hardship faced almost constantly is even amusing. Nothing of the kind of challenges that the Leyden pilgrims faced in Massachusetts will seem familiar to a modern reader. Just the same, the fact that it all happened is fascinating. One can almost imagine being there, looking over the decks of the Mayflower and facing all that December gray and wilderness and wondering what you were doing coming here. Told in first person it reads like an adventure as much as a history.

The pilgrims here are also quite human and not at all the diorama characters of a first graders Thanksgiving craft project. They face social challenges and the horrors of death and disease. Attacks by natives actually occured on occasion. The dream of a sort of providence is one that proves difficult in the real world. Bradford mourns the loss of these ideals and the people who imported them. There's something a little sad in his later passages, whether it be age or a truly lost paradise one never really knows. But what Bradford imagined as a sort of religious nirvana clearly doesn't pan out in the end. Nevertheless it is well worth the journey. I highly recommend a read of this American classic.

This biography made me wish to meet the famous Hannibal. The research is well done and now I have a good understanding of the role Hannibal played in this period of history. The only reason I gave this book a 4 is because it was a little on the dry side. That may be due to the reader's voice as I listened to the cassette, or because there just wasn't enough "heart and soul" in the telling of the history. That is, I learned tons about Hannibal's military movements, strategies, battles, etc., but a very minute amount about his character and feelings. This is probably not the author's fault, however, because he refers to the ancient sources as not passing down much about Hannibal's character for us to draw from.

It wasn't until the last chapter or two that I felt I was starting to get to know Hannibal as a man, with references about his wit, humor, and his sly ability to sneak away unnoticed as he was hounded by the Romans. At the end, we are treated to a few of his quotes which give us a little glimpse into his personality. At that point I began wishing I knew more about him, felt a certain empathy with him, and wondered if by the end of his life, he felt he had thrown it away in a useless cause. The author reflects on this a bit, and concludes that even if Hannibal and Carthage had won this war against the Romans, it really wouldn't have changed history that much, rather it would only have slowed the Romans down for a little while. I agreed with that conclusion, and not only felt sorry for Hannibal, but sorry for the human mind that causes us to slaughter one another for .... what?

In spite of the occasional dryness of the telling, I was fascinated by the information presented about Hannibal's career and the political and military setting of the nations involved. I appreciate having this knowledge.

Hannibal by Ernle Bradford is a fine and enjoyable read about the history of the Second Punic War, with a principal focus on Hannibal's invasion of Italy and the subsequent 17 year occupation. It is obvious that the author is an admirer of Hannibal, and a grudging admirer of Rome. In some ways Hannibal is treated as a almost mythic character who not only was a military genius but attempted to fight a noble war. The Romans, on the other hand, are portrayed as devious, untrustworthy with their only saving graces being their perseverance and ability to eventually adapt to the superior abilities of Hannibal.

The book greatest failures lie in the descriptions of the major battles, especially Cannae. One of the greatest military feats of history is dealt with in a few pages. While Bradford does describe the basics of the battle, he does so in a very perfunctory manner. The same is true for the other major engagements. Further, the almost total lack of maps makes the battles and the troop movements difficult to follow.

The strength of the book is in the description of how the Romans eventually prevailed and Hannibal's miscalculations of the Roman persistence. After the destruction of up to 70,000 troops at Cannae, and numerous legions prior to the battle, most empires would have crumbled. Rome did not. The reasons for Rome's survival is the best reason to read this book.

Nice book. Well written, based on good sources, and about one of the most exciting historical figures of all times. Even long after his death, one cannot underestimate Hannibal. Hannibal should have been one of the characters in the 1988 film "Bill and Teds Excellent Adventures."

Set in a richly described but unnamed Western town, the lead character, Grant, comes home to visit his aunt and uncle who live there. He is in his early thirties, divorcing his wife, and looking for a place he can call home. His aunt and uncle have been receiving mysterious night visits by someone setting out to intimidate them, and the book's intention is to unravel this mystery.

The title, Giovanni's Gift, refers to a cigar box full of mementos that Giovanni, a friend of the uncle, leaves behind when he dies. The reader immediately suspects there was a murder.

The box is an allegory to Pandora's box and as Grant discovers the meaning of each item in the box, the story becomes more complex, especially since Grant falls in love with Giovanni's daughter.

The preservation of the land is another subplot and the author constantly veers off the story with poetic metaphorical language to make this point over and over again. I do have to applaud the author though for his skill with words and for having whatever it took to be recognized in the publishing world. I think he says a few important things about the environment. But I just couldn't stay awake.

One might wonder how it is that so elegantly contrived a novel might yield management secrets of the highest grade. And yet like an oilfield with its dark and bubbly secret lurking just beneath the earth's loamy crust this book fairly percolates with what most readers--myself included!!--tend to seek even in the most literary of beach reads: MANAGEMENT SECRETS. Now, I'm a girl who can't get enough of the info that helps make our world-beating corporations tick. And in this book Brent Morrow really goes all out. I know, I know: the guy has a highly literary reputation, he edits Conjunctivitis, pals around with Roger Daltrey, once wore his glasses on his forehead in New York magazine. And yet he is deeply, intimately in touch with the Manager Within. His characters act out a Platonic drama of sorts in which each character embodies a trait that managers find either infuriating or enchanting. As everyone knows, it's human nature that drives business, and these traits can mean the critical difference between success and failure. Morrow, too, is well aware of these pertinent facts and when he puts them into play with the willful mastery of the finest caliber prose stylist that he is, you know that the flakes are going to fly with all the whiz-bang excitement of a top-notch Hollywood thriller! I highly recommend Giovanni's Box!!

I loved Mr. Morrow's writing style and prose. Some people say it was boring, but I thought it was just enough to pull you into the book. I found it very suspenseful towards the end, and was somewhat surprised by the ending. I enjoyed the book immensely.

In his review below, A reader suggests we overlook the "small errors" in this book "in the interest of the greater whole."

First, if an error of 50 MILLION percent is small, I'm curious to know what he would consider a significant error.

Second, I challenge his notion that it is in the interest of the greater good to ignore these errors. It is my understanding that the primary purpose of science is to dismantle misconceptions, not to dispense them... too better our understanding of the world not to worsen it. If we value science, we must value the social necessity of challenging what is presented as scientific fact. We must shine a light on these errors as errors, not turn a blind eye to them. (By the way, no one has challenged the accuracy of my initial review below.)

Personnally, I feel the value of this book can only be enhanced by correcting these errors and eagerly await the next edition.

The long and thoughtful comment below may, in fact, be accurate. Mistakes do creep into the publishing process, unfortunately. But as someone who has been involved in the professional science community for many years, I feel these small errors should be overlooked in the interest of the greater whole. This is a major, highly readable work by one of the most important scientists and journalists of our time. Beautifully illustrated, each of the chapters is compelling in its own right and can be read by anyone with a keen sense of curiosity about the scientific discovery process. To see it as anything less is quibbling indeed. Fans of "Uncle Tungsten" by my neighbor Dr Oliver Sacks and the current popular hit "Tuxedo Park" will love this beautifully packaged book and find it every bit as accessible and riveting.

We have taken notice of the points scored by George Nagashima in his reader-review of The Age of Science by Gerard Piel, a Cornelia and Michael Bessie Book, published by Basic Books. Mr. Nagashima's helpul perceptions will be reflected in the next printing of the book.
Thus, his finding of a "mistake...of 50 MILLION percent" may and will be set aright by restatement of a metaphorical explanation of the familiar equation E=mc^2; thus: "...one may attempt to picture 9x10^8 tons accelerated..." instead of "one may attempt to picture the acceleration of 9x10^8 tons."
To the general reader, The Age of Science has had recommenation by every scientist who has had the pleasure of reading it. Philip Morrison, the MIT astrophysicist, has this to say: "Gerard Piel describes science and scientists as he - no scientist but a clear and happy writer and attentive expositor - judges the work. Chapter by chapter, he summarizes...space and time in four dimensions, particles, quantum theory, the living cell, geology and the rise and evolution of our own sapient species. This work is both personal enough to engage anyone and precise enough to carry the work of science at a worthy level."
In the international weekly Nature, the sociologist Zaheer Baber of the University of Saskatchewan, writes: "The fact that Piel consistently connects the growth of scientific knowledge to the social and political milieu of its genesis, while simultaneously alluding to the changes in the social context induced by these discoveries makes The Age of Science...the most intelligent, lucid and sociologically sensitive discussion of the broad trajectory of scientific knowledge yet available."
As the publisher who urged the author to undertake this book, I am gratified and proud of its reception by the scientific community and thus able to commend it to the wide audience to which it is addressed.

G.B Caird has worked hard to put together this work.
But the whole is spoilt with poor editing this is the 2nd work I have read and edited by L.D. Hurst.He strives on with a false monotone that gives the reader a lecture rather than bring the work to a deserved understanding.

I would not recomend any book written by or edited by L D. Hurst. His capacity is posibley that of a tenured lecturer doing his minimum to stay at whatever univesity he is at.

Sadly this is a far to common incidence with this type of work.

Here is another NT theology book written from a moderate evangelical perspective. Caird follows in the tradition of Brevard Childs, James D. G. Dunn, and N. T. Wright. Though the author does try to draw out NT theological themes by going straight to the Bible, many strict conservative evangelicals will find many of Caird's arguments problematic. Caird develops his book by using a "conference method" where all the NT writers are at a table putting forth their respective views. This has the advantage of allowing the NT writers to speak with their own voices without modern dogmatic presuppositions. Caird also draws out the theology of the NT by using the theme of salvation as the "door hinge" to discuss other NT theological themes, dealing with the need of salvation, the experience of salvation, and the consummation of final salvation. Many will find this approach helpful, even though it may be limiting. Caird's discussion of the theology of Jesus (chapter 9) is very insightful. He discusses what he believes Jesus taught about the Kingdom, the Law, Israel and the nations, and himself. The only problem with this book is that Caird has fallen into the trap of allowing a socio-religious outlook to guide his exegesis (like Childs, Dunn, and Wright). This has the negative effect of blunting the evangelical message that Jesus Christ came down through a virgin birth, lived a perfect life, and died to remove the sins of the elect. Caird's approach is typical of those who try to "socialize" the Gospel (thus, many conservatives will not like some of Caird's conclusions). Overall though, it is a good book that contains lots of information on what the NT writers taught and preached.

I am currently a student at Fuller Theological Seminary, where Lincoln Hurst is my NT professor. This book was written at the request of Dr. Cairds wife, shortly after his death. Dr. Hurst was a friend and student of G.B. Caird and has painstakenly edited this wonderful work in a digestable and wonderful way. Easily understood and intelligently written, this book is an asset to anyone serious about New Testament understanding and study. Dr. Caird was a wonderful theologian and scholar and Dr. Hurst has added his personal flavor and insight to bring this work to the five stars it deserves. Enjoy. For further reading, I would suggest F.F. Bruce or N.T. Wright's "New Testament and the people of God"