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Books to read if you're planning a vacation in "Franklin", sorted by average review score:

Ben Franklin's 12 Rules of Management
Published in Paperback by Entrepreneur Media Inc. (15 April, 2000)
Authors: Blaine McCormick and Neil Shigley
Average review score:

Synthesis of good management practices, not history
This book is an interesting read, as it uses Ben Franklin, one of the most celebrated characters in history, to give substance to certain abstract concepts relating to good managers and leaders.

In many ways, it is a very pragmatic book, even Machiavellian. For example, Franklin made sure people had an impression of his being a hard worker, by keeping his lights on till very late and by making sure people saw him leaving his work very late. Translated to today's world, such a rule could be translated into the realm of "face time". Like this one, the rules in the book are timeless.

My only concern about the book is the limited historical scope of it. It focuses on the period before Franklin got involved with politics and the revolution, so the more interesting parts of his life are not present. When I grabbed this book, I was expecting both a management lesson and a history one; forget the history one.

One should keep in mind the title of the book: 12 Rules of MANAGEMENT. That is very accurate, and it is clear that those rules are focused on management and NOT leadership. If you are looking for good manager advice, this is a very good book.

Understandable to a new business venturer
After reading McCormick's book, being a first year business student, I had no trouble at all understanding the points made in each chapter. I thought the overviews at the end of each chapter made the vital points clear and helped me follow along with what McCormick was trying to convey to his readers.

Not having too much business experience, I can say that after reading this book, business is definitely something I want to look further into.

One of the better "Manage by Hero" books
I have a weakness for reading every management book that tries to teach management concepts by relating the ideas to an historical hero. I've read management by Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Achilles, and even Star Trek characters. They all follow the same format and for the most part do does McCormick.

One significant difference, however, is that McCormick recognizes and cautions the reader from applying Franklin's rules willy-nilly. Yes, a lot of the moral training Franklin tried to push in the 1700's would equally apply today but the environments do differ.

I, too, read Franklin's autobiography many years ago. This book makes Franklin's ideas much more reachable by the masses but I liked the poetic syntax and cadence of the original Franklin. It's like hearing a story from your grandfather rather than hearing a second-hand version from your brother.

Nevertheless, I liked the book and will be thinking about and trying to exercise the points for many weeks to come.


Dr Franklin's Island
Published in Paperback by Orion Publishing Co (21 June, 2001)
Author: Ann Halam
Average review score:

One thumb up, one thumb down
This book started off GREAT. The main characters, Semi, Miranda, and Arnie were very realistic. The type of main characters you could reach out and touch. The main characters you want to root for. The author's style is very good also, in that she can draw you in and keep your attention. So much so, in fact, that I stayed up until 1am to finish reading this book. That's a RARE thing with books, and the only book that's ever done that to me before was Dark Moon by Meredith Ann Pierce. The book starts off very strong, and for the first half of the book it's a strong well-written survivor story of three kids marooned on a tropical island after a horrible tragedy at sea.

Then it suddenly turns into a bad Transformation fanfic. Half way through the novel changes course - it's like reading an entirely different book. Don't get me wrong - I'm a fan of transformation fiction - but this is just sad.

Next thing you know three kids are being experimented on by the stereotypical insane/evil genius/mad doctor type, and his drunkard assistant. It's like we're suddenly reading a different story. The writing style still holds my interest, but the bad guy reminded me of a cheesy James Bond or Austin Powers movie baddie, only this was perfectly serious.

The Science of it was okay, but I'm not sure the use of altered embrionic stem cells coupled with immunosuppressants can have that kind of effect, but I have to admit it was better than the altered retrovirus and T-cell idea which is a little overdone, but at least the retrovirus technique is established medicine.

The transformations themselves were poorly described. In a novel you have the ability to use vivid detail over the course of long period of time. Ann Halam started doing that, but quickly lost it. Miranda started changing, and then she was removed from the POV. Then Semi started changing, there's a chapter break, and next thing you know Semi's a fish and Miranda's a bird, and the sequence is over. There was a lot of talk about the animall insticts later on after the change was finished, but none during the initial stages. Very unfulfilling for a furry transformations fan. Even after the change, when the animal instincts were an issue, the lack of description of what that entailed was still weak and one-sided.

The escape was hokey and contrived, but vaguely plausible, but really didn't hold my interest. This was the point I started flipping pages anxious to see a resolution. Okay, they managed to let Semi out and have her change back.

I mean, I tried to stand up. Instinct had carried me when I first climbed on board. Now my legs buckled, as if I was a newborn foal. I staggered. In front of me, below the deck, the door to the cabin opened. Bright lights came on all around me.

"Excellent!" said Dr. Franklin. "Well done, Semi!"

Oh geeze, I saw that coming a mile away. The ending of the book failed to make me want to keep reading for any reason than to get this damn book over with. The baddy and his drunk assistant were cheesy and hokey. Up until the kids left, changed back, and next thing you know they are in civilization again meeting up with their parents again. Then we learn they can change back - out of the blue - and for no apparent medical reason - but don't want to. Then the novel was over - finally. Very convenient - gotta have that sequel possibility in there, don't we? It's like Ann Halam wanted the book finished and wasn't willing to put any effort into it. Sort of like the ending to "Atlantis" - we just ran out of money so better hurry up and contrive an ending so we can run this off Wendy Lamb Books. We never did learn anything about Dr. Stanley or why he bothered to help or why Dr. Franklin even bothered to keep Dr. Stanley around if Dr. Stanley was such a loose cannon. If Dr. Franklin could do all this, he must know better than to keep Dr. Stanley around. Very stereotypical mad scientiest. Dr. Franklin was not a very plausible or believable baddie at all.

Fun sci-fi novel
Dr. Franklin's Island was very much like a version of Dr. Moreau's Island for teens. I didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I did. From the very first chapter I found myself sucked in to the story and caught up in the action. I read in disbelief as Semi and Miranda learned of what was to happen to them. The book moves very quickly and, though the subject the book deals with is highly unbelievable, Ann Halam manages to write a very realistic - and horrifying - story of genetic engineering. I could seriously have nightmares after reading this book! The ending, I thought, was left a little bit open... so maybe we can look forward to sequels? Let's hope so!

This is a great book. Just read it.
Written By: Ann Halam
Cover Art By: Danilo Ducak
Published: 2002
Published By: Random House
Pages: 246
Extras: None

Summary:
The palm-fringed beaches on a tiny tropical island hide a terrible secret. Beyond the azure waters and white sand is Dr. Franklin's "hospital."
Miranda, Semi, and Arnie, survivors of a plane crash are about to become the doctor's next victims. He's been waiting for them. They're perfect subjects for his experiments in genetic engineering.

Cover Art Review:

It's pretty but boring. It does have something to do with the book, but you have to read the book.
Overall: 6 (1-10) Pretty, but boring.

Book Review:
If you're a girl, don't run from this book. Its not a guy's book. And guys, its not a girl's book. This a great book. I finished it in one day. Not because its short. Its just so good. It moved slowly. Your half-way into the book before the main plot starts. At the same time, it moved fast and slow. Slow doesn't mean boring though. Halam takes her time. She makes you like these chacters. In a way, it was like I was on the island with them. So when what happens, finally happens, you feel the same pain they feel. You know their joy, their fear, their pain. You're heart soars every time they break out, then breaks when they are recaptured. Everything they go through, you go through. Everything. Rarely, if ever, do I feel this feeling in a YA book. There is no happy ending, but there is an ending and one you'll be happy with. Really, it's the only way it could end/
Overall: 10 (1-10) This is a great book. Just read it.

Reviewer's Note: This book does have a plane exploding, and details about a few of the bodies that show up. There's nothing too graphic, just disturbing.


Frozen In Time: The Fate of The Franklin Expedition
Published in Paperback by Greystone Publishing (March, 2000)
Authors: Owen Beattie and John Geiger
Average review score:

Good book, not great
I would use this book to complete a collection on polar exploration and the search for the Northwest Passage; however, this wouldn't be my starter book. By itself, the book unravels a great historical mystery, of why the Franklin crew vanish so mysteriously. However, I rap the book for failing to fully exploit the potential tail before it. With the loss of 129 lives, abandoning the ship, and eventual cannibolism, there's a great story waiting to be told. Alas, this book does not do it. Instead, it concentrates on the archeological aspects of uncovering the mystery of why the Franklin expidition vanished, which is only semi-interesting.

Graphic and Chilling
While not perhaps a "must-have" for aficionados of the field of polar literature, this is nevertheless a very good book and is well suited as a sort of primer to those who have only a casual interest in the subject.

The book provides a brief outline of disappearance the Franklin Expedition on its quest for the Northwest Passage in the early 1800s and the aftermath of the search conducted by various international parties, government and otherwise. It then relates the events of three research expeditions undertaken by the author, a forensic anthropologist who was interested in finding and reviewing various skeletal remains originally discovered decades after the loss of the Franklin party.

Eventually, he concentrates his efforts on exhuming the frozen bodies of three crewmen who had died in the Franklin Expedition's first icebound season, before they had well and truly plunged irrevocably into tragedy. These men had been buried in well-prepared graves on a small island north of Canada's Hudson Bay. Even to this day, the bodies remain fantastically preserved, and the author was able to uncover intriguing evidence that suggests that the expedition did not succumb in a heroic struggle against the large and grand forces of nature, but rather fell to altogether more pedestrian and minute agents.

The exhumation and autopsy processes are well described, and the theory that later develops is explained simply enough for the layman to follow.

Perhaps the biggest strength of this book is the beautifully composed color photos that show the gravesites and the actual bodies. These pictures are truly stirring and invocative.

The maps are also nicely done. However, the book would have benefited from a timeline and from an additional map showing the location of various Franklin party remains and artifacts. It sometimes becomes difficult to recall who was found where and when, since as it turns out, the expedition members covered a lot of ground and some of them split up. With that exception, though, this is an interesting book and a quick but thought-provoking read.

Amazing and Factual Read!
I loved this book! Well written for even the historical novice. Fascinating tale of hardship and tragedy from both historical viewpoint and human frailty. The additional trips made by the author, Owen Beattie, and company showed a true respect for humankind. His written words regarding the excavation and autopsies of the lost men, was both rewarding in explanation and thrilling in discovery. This historical book drew me in and I couldn't put the book down. I've become so fascinated with the fate of the Franklin Expedition that I am reading other books relating to this and other failed Arctic expeditions. Who knew history could be so fascinating? Highly recommended!


The Long Hunt: Death of the Buffalo East of the Mississippi
Published in Hardcover by Stackpole Books (October, 1996)
Author: Ted Franklin Belue
Average review score:

Excellently written and researched; I recommend it
In his book, Belue has carefully researched and written an account of the death of the buffalo east of the Mississippi. In a greater sense, this work examines life on the frontier as well as the history of trade and colonization of the frontier. The author uses personal accounts, journals, and memoirs of the traders, long hunters and trappers who played a role in the settlement of the frontier as a basis for the work. I highly recommend as well as the author's other works on the life of Daniel Boone.

Full of useful information!
Chronicling the demise of buffalo that ranged between the Blue Ridge and the Mississippi, this book includes previously unpublished material on flora, fauna, and Woodland and Southeastern Indians. Living historians will find useful information on arms, accoutrements, attire, and frontier skills and lifestyles. --Living History, Spring 1997

"A welcome addition!"--Beth Rengstorf, Bison World
Buffalo history enthusiasts will find that Ted Belue's book is written just for them. While there are a number of effective historical, nonfiction books on the American buffalo available, this one has the advantage of focusing attention specifically on the death of the buffalo east of the Mississippi. This noteworthy recounting of buffalo and their gruesome end gives a realistic picture of what occurred. Belue provides readers with enough information to gain both insight and comprehension. By the 1820s, the eastern buffalo herds were gone. The author uses many quotes from early chronicles to illustrate a vivid account of the hardships hunters encountered as well as the plight of the buffalo east of the Mississippi. Belue's careful research is evident and reinforced by the excellent selection of black-and-white photographs and old maps. The glossary, index, and selected annotated bibliography are very helpful to the reader. This book is written on a slightly higher reading level and is very comprehensive. This title will fill a gap in most collections and will appeal particularly to readers of American buffalo history. This book would be a welcome addition to any "buffalo/bison" book shelf.


Shore Road Mystery
Published in Hardcover by Grosset & Dunlap (June, 1964)
Author: Franklin W. Dixon
Average review score:

Not As Good As The Original
The Shore Road Mystery re-write wasn't nearly as good as the original, wherein Frank and Joe bought a used fancy car, fixed it up, and hid in the trunk. Their Trojan Horse technique carried them right into the lair of the auto thieves; after numerous exciting brushes with danger, they were able to escape and bring back the police.

The re-write wasn't nearly as tense. It's possible that was purposeful. At the end of the original, Fenton Hardy muted his pride for his sons' accomplishment with the admonition that their tactic had simply been too dangerous, and they could have been seriously injured or worse.

But that's what made the book good. Kids enjoy stories of that nature because nothing like that ever happens to teens in real life. Really, how many teams of teen-brother detectives do you think are operating in the USA just now, solving crimes and mysteries every other week (while owning cars, motorcycles, ice boats, airplanes, you name it)? Zippo.

Good; Not As Good As The Original
This review concerns the revised 1964 edition. Jack Dodd, a schoolmate of the Hardy's, asks Frank and Joe to solve a family mystery involving a treasure hidden during Pilgrim times. However, after Jack and his father are accused of stealing cars along the Shore Road, they disappear. Did the Dodds go onto hiding so that they could search for the treasure? Did they run away because they are guilty? Or were they kidnapped to make it look as if they ran away? Frank, Joe and Chet work to find the answer and solve the mysteries. This book was quite good; it has a realistic plot, plenty of action and was generally enjoyable. Nonetheless, I prefer the original edition to the revised. The original edition was better written as to the flow of the book and the language used. The Pilgrim mystery, which was not a part of the original, felt tacked on and was not woven into the story very well in my opinion. Both editions are worth reading and since they are only similar in their basic plot and only slightly similar in their endings, I think that most fans could read one and then not feel bored reading the second one later. However, if you're only going to read one, I'd say to go with the original.

I love the Hardy Boys!
This book was Super! I liked pretending I was one of the Hardy Boys. I also tried working out the mysteries with the book. I liked it when they found the Hidden Hideout. I also liked when they spied. I like spying on people myself. I also liked their motorcycles. I loved it!


Euripides: Bacchae
Published in Paperback by Cambridge University Press (September, 2000)
Authors: Euripides and David Franklin
Average review score:

Interesting
A solid translation of the fascinating and passionate story of Dionysus in Thebes, although it lacks the lyricism of other translations. Woodruff's version is meant to be performed aloud, and so it has more of the feel of a play to it. Students of literature and classics might want a different version; students of drama and theatre would be interested in this translation.

The most verbally extravagant of all Greek dramas.
If, like me, you had Greek Tragedy down as an austere thing, full of parched plains, unswerving Fate and dour verse, then 'The Bacchae' might come as a pleasant surprise. It has these things of course, but the first quality that shocks is the vibrant, fervid excess of the language. The story concerns Dionysus, the God of wine, the Life Force, the Chaos of the Irrational etc., who inspires a possessed devotion in his acolytes, as they express themselves in high-flown, ecstatic rhapsodies. Not every one takes this proto-hippie's divinity seriously, in particular the family of his mortal mother, led by the impetuous teenage king Pentheus, who sees all this Bacchanalia in the woods and mountains in loose robes as so much lechery. Dionysus exacts such terrible revenge on these unbelievers that 'Bacchae' makes Shakespeare's 'Titus Andronicus' look like a Julie Andrews vehicle.
If Sophocles' 'Oedipus the King' is the first detective story, than 'Bacchae' might be the first police procedural - a central sequence sees Pentheus arrest Dionysus and interrogate him, a scene as tightly written and suspenseful as any thriller. But detection and policing, embodying the forces of reason and the Law, have no power against the Irrational or Unknowable, and Pentheus is soon made mad, his order and sense of self in tatters. The terrible grip of irony familiar from Greek Tragedy gives the play a violent momentum, but the most extraordinary scenes take place offstage, related in vivid and tumultuous monolgues by messengers - the whirlwind revenge of Dionysus' female followers on the forces of surveilling civilisation, and the cruel enactment of the God's revenge. This idea of hearing about improbable catastrophes but not being able to see them adds ot the supernatural terror that is the play's fevered life-blood.

One of the best translations out there
I am a classical history major with a focus on poetry and drama. I have actually read Bacchae in Attic Greek and I have to say that I find this translation to be one of the most fluid and natural of any that I have ever read. I would highky recommend this to anyone looking for a well-written, very gory introduction to Greek theatre. This edition is also great for using as a script, wheras many translations are good only for reading. I just put up a production using this translation and my actors were very comfortable with the wonderful language Woodruff uses.


From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans
Published in Hardcover by Knopf (March, 1994)
Authors: John Hope Franklin and Alfred A. Moss
Average review score:

Oh, Please
This book should have been in the Fantasy section. Franklin wrote this book without much research or he belongs to the revisionist history class. Take away his false statements and attempt at reaching "white guilt" and this book would have been about ten pages long.

Franklin, one of America's Greatest Historians
This book is the product of outstanding research produced by an internationally recognized historian, John Hope Franklin. Don't believe me and the other reviewers? Act like a historian and check out Duke University's website; read reviews of Franklin's work in the major journals of professional historians; and do this with an open mind, while trying to discover and weigh in against your own biases. The history of African Americans in the United States simply can't be told without discussing racism as a structure that many white people built through law, social segregation, economic practices, intimidation, and accepting the privileges of "the way things were done." _If_ you do _not_ want to learn about America in this light, if you want to close your mind to reality, do not read this book. But even if the idea of facing these ugly truths may tug at your soul a bit, there is so much more in this book. In a very readable, comprehensive, illustrated work, you can learn about men and women who worked, wrote, taught, served, healed, created, protested, died, dreamed, played, and were just human in every other imaginable way in America. If this is what you are looking for, read on.

Brilliant scholarly work
Dr. Franklin is one of the greatest historians this country has ever produced. He holds degrees from Fisk and Harvard (two post graduate degrees from Cambridge). He has more honorary degrees than Carter has little pills (or I guess now, peanuts). This work, now in its eighth printing, is perhaps the greatest single reference work exploring the African American experience and the contributions of this race to American history, and has been so since the first edition was printed in 1947.

He starts by revealing more knowledge that most people ever fathomed about the African experience in the pre-slavery centuries, with the greatness that was the African continent in Ghana, Songhay and the rest of Africa. The exploration of the "peculiar institution" of slavery, reconstruction and the post Civil War hope is complete and brilliantly done. The chapters on the Harlem Renaissance and the first half of the twentieth century alone is worth the price of the book.

Extraordinarily well researched. It is scholarly but never dry. It is objective, but never loses the passion for the subject. A must for any complete understanding of our history.


Mystery of Cabin Island
Published in Hardcover by Consortium Book Sales & Dist (15 May, 1999)
Authors: Franklin W. Dixon and Walter S. Rogers
Average review score:

One Of The Better Revisions
This review concerns the revised 1966 edition. Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff receive permission from Elroy Jefferson to spend their Christmas holiday at his cabin on Cabin Island. Mr. Jefferson also asks for the boys' help in finding his missing grandson. While staying at the cabin, the boys find clues which lead them to believe that a valuable medal collection, stolen from Mr. Jefferson two years ago, is located somewhere on the island. However, before they can find the medals, they must deal with an unscrupulous criminal intent on finding the collection himself and a strange ghost inhabiting the island. This is probably one of the better revisions (I'd give it 3 1/2 stars, if they gave half star ratings); the story closely follows that of the original volume and, while the excellent writing of the original is gone, the book still wasn't written badly. The mystery isn't bad; although, the whole ghost part wasn't very interesting and could have been easily left out. I would recommend reading the original, if possible, but the revision wasn't bad either.

Perhaps The Best Written Of The Books
This review concerns the original 1929 edition. While spending the Christmas holiday on Cabin Island with their chums, Chet and Biff, Frank and Joe Hardy stumble upon a mystery surrounding the disappearance of a valuable stamp collection. The mystery related in this book, though interesting, is average. It is the writing that makes this book a joy to read. The scenes are so well described that one could almost picture oneself there at that time and the language used hasn't been dumbed down like in many of the recent volumes. The action is well-paced and it didn't feel as though the mystery was solved too quickly. This was a great book, definately worth reading.

Mystery Of Cabin Island
This was my 3rd book and my best. I like the plot, and it's hard to tell the outcome of the ending, even though I found out. I got this book from Boise's library, and it was dirty, old, but terrific. No wonder so many people liked it if the book's the way it is now. The ghost part is the least exciting, I'd have to say. But there are so many good parts it's hard to choose which one is the best!!! So if you want a good mystery and action book, this beats all other mystery and action stuff, guaranteed!!!


I'Ve Seen the Elephant: An Autobiography
Published in Hardcover by Kent State Univ Pr (August, 2000)
Authors: William B. Saxbe and Peter D. Franklin
Average review score:

He may have seen the elephant- but he shares little about it
This book is about a man nutured and steeped in a by-gone rustic era, and ended up thrust into some of the most dramatic changes and events of the century. But it could have been, and perhaps should have been co-authored by someone else, and even better yet, written by another party as a biography, hopfully with access to Saxbe. There is little insight into the man William B. Saxbe or the events in his life.

The honesty of parts of the book is refreshing, Saxbe even alludes to marital infidelity of his father. Many might claim this goes too far, but I think it humanizes the work and the people it is about - except Saxbe seems to remain inwardly indifferent or distant from these matters, as he seems to do in any contraversy. Saxbe offers contradictions in character without notice, again distant and non-self critical - he left his church in Washington DC because the church accepted ' long haired radicals', as if Jesus Christ, the person he worshipped there ?, - was a short haired conservative and a member of the Roman Senate. As with many autobiographies, these contradictions breeze right through the subjects belief system filters - something the co-author SHOULD have noticed and pressed Saxbe on. I refuse to believe Saxbe is as shallow and unthinking as the book presents him.

Another contradiction somewhat glossed over in the book is presenting Saxbe as falling into opportunities by happenstance and coming from humble beginnings. On the pages of his own book he never seems to realize how relativly wealthly and connected his family was, especially during the Depression. The plumb jobs [ as any Depression era job might be ] and early political positions he received are presented as though it was some sort of luck of the draw happening - hardly believable. It is not evident whether this reality wasn't mentioned through ignorant bliss or was absent to maintain some sort of individualist boot strap persona of William B. Saxbe - but even his highest appointments latter in life have the same result - why me? The co-author should have went to third parties to better flesh these situations out. In any event you will gape at the opportunities miraculously afforded Saxbe during the Depression, and again few words of explanation how they actually came about. He went through more money in a spend thrift fashion during the Depression than many families would see in 5 years - you have to remember there were children starving to death and a 25% unenployment rate, yet he seems not to take notice or remember this. Again distant and no critcal self examination of the realities around him. He uses metaphor to explain why he is against the Vietnam War - it is " ... like trying to push a truck uphill with a towrope" and referring to the peace agreement "That pretty much wound up the war as far as I was concerned". The previous 2 thoughts are how the chapter about Vietnam begins and ends, in between are mentions of his Marine son's conflicts of conscience and Saxbe's drumming of non violent change - regarding Kent State, it was due to untrained Guardsmen with loaded weapons. But little introspective illumination of how Saxbe arrived at his thinking. Exacting "common sense" and metaphor are great around a cracker barrel, but tell the reader little about William B. Saxbe. Somewhere within Saxbe are well guarded thoughts and feelings which the co-auhtor was unwilling or unable to bring out.

All in all, the book is very readable, the opening scenes of Mechanicsburg refresh a by gone era, and although Saxbe may be a footnote in political history and offers few new insights, it is a worthwhile attempt - but because of this the co-author SHOULD have used a more critical red pen and pressed Saxbe for explanations or flesh the subject out himself through third parties. The book reads more like an old Bing Crosby/Bob Hope On The Road To .... movie than an autobiography that gets to the core of who this man was - which should not have happened with a credited co-author.

Unless you have a personal interest in the Columbus,Ohio area or Saxbe - you can skip this book on your reading list.

There Were Six Men From Hindustan....
Just as "the Six Men.." saw the many "sides" of the elephant, Bill Saxbe saw the many sides of the giant governmental process in the US. The essence of his broad experience in local, state and national politics and his unique insight into events which have shaped recent history of the nation have been captured in an interesting, often funny and well written presentation by Peter Franklin. Bill Saxbe is his own man and does not shy from controversy,dodge questions nor keep his opinion to himself. Franklin captured the real favor of Saxbe, his career and his private life in a way that acquaints the reader with the man and illuminates some historic events in a context not previously seen by the public. Saxbe's life has been unique and fast moving, Franklin's recounting of it maintains the same qualities.

Mechanicsburg's Favorite Son
I have to admit that in the early 90's I lived next door to Bill and Dolly Saxbe for a short time. During that period I got to know the Saxbes and enjoyed their company. Bill is exactly like the person whose life you read about in "I've Seen the Elephant". At a number of social events, I have heard Bill say to Dolly, "Come on Dolly, let's go to bed so these good folks can go home." Bill Saxbe is exactly the kind of person that you would want for a public servant with his common sense, his wit and charm and his love of family. His colorful career and his interesting life make good reading. Bill Saxbe is a man of influence who never forgot his roots and that is why even though he "Saw the Elephant" he is still Mechanicsburg's Favorite Son.


Molecular Biology
Published in Hardcover by McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math (01 August, 2001)
Author: Robert Franklin Weaver
Average review score:

Great for the GRE and introductory graduate courses
The approach of this book is based on experimental data rather than the deduced facts. I have tride many books to prepare me for the GRE subject text in Biochem/cell/Molecular biology. However, many of the books were concentrating on plain facts rather than on experimental data. Some of the GRE question especially the longer and difficult ones are not concerened with memorized facts. Rather, they present to you experimental data in the form of graphs and charts and ask you questions based on them. Of all the books that I sampled this is the only one that provided the necessary levels of understanding for me to tackle such questions. This is also true in a life of a beginning graduate student who is required to make sense out of graphs, numbers and charts in per reviewed journal articles. This book is most useful for such individuals. For lower level undergraduates this book is best when used with in conjunction with another introductory text book such as Molecular Cells biology by by lodish.

A must for experimental scientists in training
Most classes I have taken at the undergraduate level have only presented the facts and theories of molecular and cell biology. Dr. Weaver's text, and the two classes I have taken from him, have given me insight into how those facts were obtained. His text presents the questions of scientists, why they were asked, and how they were answered, including interpretation of the data. This is very important to someone training to be a research scientist.

Yes, it may be understandable only to upper level students, but that is for whom the book is meant. The first two or three years of college should give a student enough background. This book will help elaborate on that information, and more importantly, answer the why and how.

They USE this text
I am a faculty member at a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania and will be using this textbook for the third year in a row. While the style of the text IS difficult for students at the beginning, as they become comfortable with it, they use it more and more as a resource. Every year I have the students evaluate the textbook and this book has received high marks both years I have used it. An instructor using this textbook needs to spend more time discussing the details with the students in the beginning, which decrease the total amount of material you can cover during the semester. However, after using this textbook, students can pick up the primary literature and are quite conversant with it. My class consists of students ranging from second semester sophomores through second semester seniors. If you just want to lecture to students, this may not be the textbook for you to use, but if you want to engage your students in the ways that molecular biologists solve problems, this textbook is an excellent choice.


Related Vacation Book Subjects: Florida
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