I recently purchased the Covey Style Guide with CD Rom. The CD rom, after installation, wouldn't come up. I phoned Covey's 800 number and got bounced around to several people who said I had to go online for help, or else give my credit card up front for a minimum of $20 service charge. Their online system supposedly has a technician online, but I kept getting the message "Sorry, sometimes the system cuts of the reply. Please resend."

This is was too weird for me. This is not my idea of customer service!

Stephen Johnson
editor@healingpath.com

This book tells you how to do everything! It can be used by both students and professionals. This book has everything from how to properly use a comma to writing bibliographies; from how to use photographs in presentations and documents to writing resumes. This guide gives you hints on how to manage meetings effectively. I use this book at both work and home. People come to me to borrow this fantasic book constantly. I have the CD installed on my computer and love using the program - it is very user-friendly. I don't think any student or office should be without this wonderful tool.

This book was great for improving my technical writing skills. I used this book as a required textbook for a masters degree program and felt it was great for my first class.

An interesting fact of American politics - that many of our Presidents came from the "upper class" of American society - is the central premise of "The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders Who Transformed America." In this book, co-authors James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn examine the role played in American history by arguably the most influential "patrician" family of the twentieth century - the Roosevelts of New York.

"The Three Roosevelts" is essentially a book containing short political biographies of Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt (TR) became one of our greatest Presidents. Early in life, his sense of "noblesse oblige" caused him to choose a career in politics rather than a life as a member of the wealthy elite. He was elected, in turn, state representative; then governor of New York, as a Republican. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the McKinley Administration. Three years later, he was elected Vice President of the United States, and succeeded to the Presidency when President William McKinley was assassinated on September 14, 1901. His seven years as Chief Executive were some of the most successful of any Chief Executive up to then.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was a young man who appeared to have little of his cousin Theodore's intellectual acumen, driving ambition, or ideological bent. Franklin followed his famous cousin into politics, but unlike his cousin, Franklin became a Democrat. Like Theodore, Franklin's political career advanced steadily. In rapid succession, he was elected State Assemblyman, then State Senator. By age 31, he had been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson.

In 1921, FDR was stricken with polio, which paralyzed him from the waist down. In 1928, after a seven-year hiatus from politics, FDR was elected Governor of New York. His two two-year terms were highly successful, but by then FDR already had his eyes on the biggest prize of them all: the Presidency.

From 1929 to 1932, during the early years of the Great Depression, FDR proved himself a capable governor of New York. By 1932, after three years mired in the Depression, Americans were ready for a change. They elected FDR - the man promising Americans a "New Deal" - as President of the United States.

The vast majority of "The Three Roosevelts" is taken up with an account of FDR's "transformation of America" during the Great Depression. Here, Burns and Dunn portray Roosevelt as a man employing a pragmatic approach to governance... try whatever works! Congress passed a body of legislation that was tremendous in scope. For the first time, the Federal government actively intervened in American life in an effort to make life better for all. The modern welfare state was born.

The third of the "three Roosevelts" - Eleanor (ER) - was an integral part of her husband's political success. After her marriage to FDR, Eleanor remained indifferent toward politics, although she steadfastly supported her husband's political ambitions. As FDR's political career progressed, so did Eleanor's interest in politics. In fact, she was much more of an ideologue than Franklin. Burns and Dunn imply that Eleanor grew to have a tremendous influence on Franklin, possibly pulling him more and more to the left of center during his Presidency.

On April 12, 1945, after thirteen years as President, years which saw the United States struggle out of Depression and stumble into a world war, Franklin D. Roosevelt died. He had helped build the modern welfare state, and had guided the United States to a position of victory in the Second World War.

In the years following FDR's death, Eleanor Roosevelt continued to be a major influence on American politics. Through her nationally syndicated newspaper column "My Day," ER continually interjected her ideas and opinions into the national debate. She was appointed as an American delegate to the first organizational meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Later she would serve on a UN commission that authored the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. She championed the cause of equal rights for all Americans, and was vocal in her support of the new nation of Israel.

When "The Three Roosevelts" appeared in bookstores in the spring of 2001, I eagerly bought a copy. This was the first book I'd seen in over twenty years that was written by James MacGregor Burns, the historian best known for his two volume biography of the 32nd President - "Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox" and "Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom."

My hope was that Burns and co-author Susan Dunn would provide a penetrating examination of what caused this trio of extraordinary individuals to leave behind the values and traditions of their 19th century "patrician" class, in favor of a progressive and at times socialistic political agenda. It is a question left largely unanswered. "The Three Roosevelts" remains a book very long on biographical information and very short on historical analysis.

The authors show an almost complete lack of objectivity toward their subjects. Burns is well known as a liberal "New Deal" Democrat, and his political bias shows on practically every page. He is ably abetted by Dunn. The result: "The Three Roosevelts" is practically a paean of praise to TR, ER, and especially FDR. Criticisms of the "three Roosevelts" are few, and even those are largely muted. Burns and Dunn's unabashed, gushing admiration of the "three Roosevelts" is annoying, and limits the usefulness of the book as an objective study of these fascinating characters in American history.

James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn, Democrats by conviction, give an unequal account of the life of three Roosevelts by dedicating most of their biography to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. MacGregor Burns and Dunn show their audience how these three patricians left behind a relatively easy life to descend into the arena of politics. Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had to overcome their prejudices about other classes, religions, ethnicities and races to get an understanding of the issues at hand and, at times make, painful compromises to get things done. MacGregor Burns and Dunn explain to their readers that the three Roosevelts have ultimately left an indelible imprint on the psyche of the nation by each setting an example of transformational leadership. On the domestic front, the country has been working on the best possible reconciliation of the respective interests of business, labor and consumers as well as the rights and duties of its respective races and ethnicities. Abroad, the country has weighed the pros and cons of an interventionist policy on a case-by-case basis to safeguard its vital interests, and to advance the cause of a world that espouses the values of responsible democracy and capitalism.

This novel was immensely informative and entertaining. I am an English teacher who reads a lot, and I could not put it down. I loved the descriptions of leaders such as Huey Long and Gerald Smith and the isolationist movement. It was also impressive that it was so well-balanced and avoided sensationalism and cheap shots. The authors did not take sides or make quick judgments. You must read this book. My two favorite sections were the descriptions of the New Deal and the class struggle in New York during TR's time.

The Hardy's journey to the American rockies to break up a phony credit card scam. Poor cover art - but the book was action packed with a lot of interaction with the criminals. Among the higher volumes this has always been one of my prefered books. The majority of the book is spent near Vampire Trail camped at the foot of an apparent mountain or large hill. As boys enjoy camping in the great outdoors - it makes for an appealing read. RATED B-

Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff go on a camping trip to the Rockies when Mr. Hardy asks them to track down a gang of credit card counterfeiters. Along the way they come across an Austrian mountain climber, a crazy man who believes he is related to King Arthur and a number of gangs that try to scare them off of the case. Most of this book is quite good; the story was fairly well written and it was fairly action-packed. I liked that there were three gangs after the Hardys and their friends. I found that it made it interesting trying to figure out who belonged to which gang and how they were all connected. The title is somewhat misleading, though, because the book has nothing to do with vampires and vampire bats play only a small role in the story. While most of the book deserves a four star rating, I gave the book three stars because the last chapter was really bad. It lacked excitement, was more silly than anything and was a big letdown to an otherwise good book.

One of the first I ever read. It still rocks. Biff! Chet! And the cover art is the same as when it first came out.

Published in 1959, this volume was a swift paced adventure set in Alaska. The best part of the book was the middle whereby they walked along a trail through the wilderness for several chapters. I found that entertaining. The end was horrible and thoughtless and really the book at times did not hold my interest. Throw in the good with the bad - I rank this an average book. RATED C

This book was the fifth book I've read in The Hardy Boys. This is probably my second favorite book in this series because I love mysteries. This book has alot of mysteries in it. My favorite part in this book is when the the group meets Tony. My second favorite part in this book is the ending. My third favorite part in this book is the beginning. My Favorite book in this series is The Disappearing Floor. You should read this book. This is a really good book.

This book was the fifth book I've read in The Hardy Boys. This is probably my second favorite book in this series because I love mysteries. This book has alot of mysteries in it. My favorite part in this book is when the the group meets Tony. My second favorite part in this book is the ending. My third favorite part in this book is the beginning. My Favorite book in this series is The Disappearing Floor. You should read this book. This is a really good book.

Certainly not the most balanced look at the popular founder, but a great read, nonetheless. Srodes is definitely a fan of Franklin and is most hesitant to cast Franklin in any bad light. You'll find no references to Franklin's dark side. Srodes attributes strategery and document creation as Franklin's finest attributes.


I believe the author overlooked the obvious on this point. For it was Franklin's ability to adapt to his environment that made his successes so broad based. (That's not a pun, by the way).
The author is able to accurately dispel many of the myths written about Franklin over the years, and does so quite admirably. Srodes takes you on the journey of Franklin from his youth as a struggling printer's apprentice to his success as a diplomat.

Over the years, there have been enormous masses of material written about Franklin. The author here does a fine job of compacting that material and makes this a fine resource addition on Franklin. Terrific compilations of factual writings, mixed with the literary prose of one of today's finest writers make this a welcome addition to any library.

An enjoyable, informative book that doesn't spend time trying to find a cause to disagree with. Srodes is a masterful story teller who reports information without judgement, a refreshing concept these days.
Very pleasant book to re-read. Makes one wonder if this quality of leader will ever emerge again.

This is an excellently researched and written book. Recently discovered documents, unseen for centuries, allow the author to more fully describe Franklin's critical role as a diplomat. This is a thorough biography that shows us the many sides of Franklin: as politician, as Scientist, as inventor, and as a most important figure in the creation of our nation.
Franklin was an early proponent of unifying the colonies, even advocating such before others considered uniting for purposes of independence from England. Franklin advocated creating a Governor General for all British colonies who could lead a unified colonial defense and attack against the French colonial army. Yet, the idea was rejected.
The book explores the many aspects of Franklin's life: such as his notable experiments with electricity that won him much respect and gratitude for publishing only facts he had proven and for describing how his results could be duplicated. We see Franklin as one who purposely did not care if high society saw him with his illegitimate son as a fellow diplomat. We further see his private torment as his son is imprisoned as a British loyalist, yet Franklin chose not to intercede on his son's behalf.
Ben Franklin is one of the great Americans of all time. This is a great biography of a great man. It is highly recommended.

After reading the Making of the Atomic Bomb, I thought I would get a view point from on of the actual participants. General Groves had an eclectic story keeping all his crazy scientists in line to meet an objective. Then handing the construction of the facilities and checking on the progress of the Germans.

It was interesting to see how he handeled the new recruites as well as the intelectuals. I enjoyed learning about how Handford was set up to be all automated, most books you only hear about Oak Ridge. I thought their willingness to try every avenue to get to the enrichment process seemed desprate. They were afraid that Germany was so far ahead. They took what they knew and were constantly trying to improve on it.

I like learning about the spys that he had under his command to see where Germany was and not to give up and complete his task when he found out there was not any progress in Germany.

He was an interesting character who got the job done.

Gen. Groves deputy on the Manhatten Project, Gen. Keith Nichols, was once asked what he thought of he thought of Groves. He began by saying "Leslie Groves is the biggest son-of-a $%&%* I ever met in my life" and ended by saying that of all the people he'd met in his life, he didn't think any of them could have done as well as Groves in running the Manhatten Project. I think that if he'd been put in charge in Jan. of '43, instead of Sept., the war probably would have ended earlier, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. This book shows him at his egotistical best and worst, and is essential for understanding how and why the U.S. got the bomb before Japan was invaded. Just don't expect any modesty at all.

I read this book in the early 1960's when it was first published. I was in engineering school then, in India, and my interest in reading the book was to learn the story of the greatest scientific achievement of the 20th century. The book is so fascinating and so readable that I read it in four hours without interruption and then went back to the first page and read it again in the next four hours. I wanted to memorize every event in the book, word for word. What fascinated me about the book was not only the scientific aspects of atomic energy and the development of the atom bomb, which are described in layman's terms, but the extraordinary skills and drive of General Leslie Groves in taking the project from concept to fruition, notwithstanding the sinister goal of the project. It is one of the best project management books I have ever read. It built in me a tremendous respect for the ability of Americans to carry out such a complex project in a time critical situation. Oppenheimer got all the glory of being the father of the atom bomb, but it was General Leslie Groves who was the driving force behind it. Without him the project would not have succeeded in such difficult times. I think the book should be a required reading in all business management schools.

For some reason the interior artwork was inferior to The clue of The Hissing Serpent - this volumes' successor. Shattered Helmut I found a fairly decent read. A lot of interaction with the criminals. I particulary liked the character Kitten Cole who was regretably caught early on page 136. The brothers travel to Greece (Don't care for that part). I compare all volumes with one another and like 90% of the higher volumes they are drastically inferior to the lower volumes. Call a spade a spade and do not give every book a 5 star rating. This book was ok - but worthy of nothing higher than a 2. RATED C

Frank and Joe help their pen pal Evan Pandropolos located an ancient helmet lost by Evan's uncle on a trip to the U.S. many years ago. Personally, I didn't care much for this book. It certainly isn't one of the worst of the series, but it could have been much better. I didn't find that the book was written particularly well and it could have used more action. I found the book disappointing for a number of reasons. For one, the most important clue to locating the helmet was given to the Hardys; instead of being something that they figure out for themselves. As well, while Frank, Joe and Evan are harassed by a couple of the crooks throughout much of the book, they hardly ever actually come into contact with them until the end of the book. The only one of the Hardy's friend to appear in the book is Chet and he is only in the beginning and the end. I can't say that I hated this book, but it did little to really keep me interested.

This book has lots of action, too much to say. But what I can say is that the plot is superb, especially the Hollywood movies in the book. I like those kind of movies. For example, the best Hollywood cartoon is probably the Flinstones. But enough about the movie stuff. My other favorite parts are about the Motorcycle Monsters, the floods, and the Corfu Cave battle. This was the ninth book I read. I really enjoyed it, and I'd think everyone should.

This review concerns the original 1935 edition.
The Hardy Boys and their pal Chet head to the deep South and become involved in an old fued between the Rand and Blackstone families.
Modern readers are likely to have their sensibilities offended by the racial sterotypes in this book which cast African-Americans and Southerners in a particularly negative light.
Stereotypes aside, this isn't a bad adventure although it certainly doesn't rank among the best in the series.

This review concerns the revised 1961 edition. The owner of a newspaper based in a southern town asks Frank and Joe to prove his innocence in a libel case brought against him after his paper accused the ancestors of one of the towns leading families of having made their money through piracy. This isn't a bad book; there certainly are many different mysteries for Frank and Joe to solve: the libel case, a long-lost treasure and a strange "monster" which inhabits a pond not far from where the Hardys and Chet camp out. Mostly, the book was pretty good; although, the ending was a little disappointing as the criminals were caught without much trouble, but I think that most fans would enjoy "The Hidden Harbor Mystery".

This is a book filled with adventure. I don't like Joe because he's very impolsive. And Frank he thinks about things before he does things and I like that and plus I'm dark-haired too like him. Anyway this book was completely thrilling. How would you like to walk in a hurricane? Well here's your answer in a realistic way. Be part of the fun and treasure this book forever.

Published in 1956 - I must admit I was a little disapointed with this book based on its title. However overall this was a pretty good volume. Set in Bayport the brothers are hired to find an ancient canon buried on Pirates Hill by Bowden who winds up being foe - not friend. Keeping the reader guessing throughout the book as to Bowden's innocence or guilt this volume drags you from chapter to chapter. Great exterior artwork on both the original & revision. RATED B-

It all starts when Frank and Joe are skin diving just for the fun and thrills. Suddenly, in deep waters that flow near the foot of a place called Pirate's Hill, dander is always on their trail. A stranger in the waters with Frank & Joe threw a spear into Frank's air hose. This is putting the very lifes of the boys at stake. Read this story, vacuum - packed with thrill & suspence hanging with you at the of each chapter, and I promise this will be the book of your lifetime!!!

The secret of pirates hill was a good book.It is very excit- ing and thrilling.All the Hardy Boys books are great litera- ture.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK
GO TO THE LIBRARY AND BORROW IT FOR FREE
IT IS NOT WORTH IT

It is a sad thing when an author starts a series with a great idea, like rewriting history with a different set of scientific laws, but then doesn't know how to finish the story. I originally bought the first two books in the series by accident but was happily surprised when I finally sat down and read them. Then when the third came out I was excited to continue the journey, but upon finishing I was somewhat let down. But now, even though I still have 50 pages left, I have been sorely let down.

Keyes seems to have lost track of his characters, giving them outlandish abilities which work in no logical sense. The great powers of the Earth find themselves prostrate over their own minor problems which they never got around to dealing with earlier on in the series. And further, this is the point which angers me the most, the French witch Adrienne becomes a sad copy of Franks Herbert's, Lady Jessica of the Dune series.

She is supposed to be a being not born on chance, but of a breading program monitored over centuries to produce a superbeing. HELLO? This a complete copy off of his plot thread, used to fill in a story loop hole so large a small moon could easily fall into it.

The philosophies brought about have become more mundane with each page. The ideas never coming to any sort of fruition understandable by any sensible reader. The lead characters have lost the readers attention, and have become less important than the much more interesting less brooding supporting cast.

How sad it is when an want to be writter has a good idea but no story arch.

Better than the last book. Things come to a conclusion, which is good because its the last book. Things are also more fully explained for example the nature of the Malakim and the sun boy king. The very end is a bit disappointing in the way he decides to bring about a "happy ending" and bring everything to a resolution. Though to be fair I couldn't see that there was much he could of done different other than destoying the world, which doesn't happen. I give it a B-.

Nothing makes a series [better then] a reader like extended delays between volumes. Unfortunately for me, not only was J. Gregory Keyes a long time in issuing this last volume in the 'Age of Unreason Series,' marketing for it was so poor that it was a year before I actually found it, and even longer until I finally started to read it. Given the scope of the series, this nearly caused me do decide not to read it.

The key of the problem is that the cast of characters is immense, and seems to include everyone of note in Europe and North America from Isaac Newton and Ben Franklin to Tsar Peter the Great. At the beginning of 'The Shadows of God' Keyes spends about 40 pages re-introducing his characters. Before I gave up counting he had mentioned thirty major characters and a host of lesser. Moreover, while diligent in the matter of name-dropping, Keyes makes no effort to provide continuity between this volume and its predecessor.

As such, it was a while before I remembered that Keyes had Newton discover the existence of the Malakim, angels who intersected with the human world and whose powers could be harnessed. As he and his student Ben Franklin move across Europe, great powers are set in motion, eventually leading to London's utter destruction by an aimed meteor, and a Russian attempt to conquer the world. With Europe in tatters, the action shifts to the new world, where men battle men and Malakim, and everyone who can tries to destroy their enemies and take the earth for their own.

In North America, invading armies of the Malakim inspired Sun Boy and James Stuart, pretender to the English Throne prepare to overwhelm the indigenous races and colonists from New England to New France. Ben Franklin is the ringleader in for those who oppose the Malakim as he tries to deal with overpowering magic, traitors on every side, and the rulers of New France, Sweden and Russia. With his family life in a shambles, and his imagination stretched to its limits Franklin must prepare to fight a battle that truly is the apocalypse.

This is primarily alternate history, based on the thesis that Newton's discoveries were of the laws of magic rather than those of science. Misled into thinking that the Malakim were harmless, Newton did not realize that these were the fallen angels, stranded on earth by God, and that many of them fiercely desire the end of man. The fascination of a new scientific system, and Keyes' great writing are what keep the series moving, and this volume is no exception, despite the slow start.

The book probes the possibility of a universe based on and entirely different meta-narrative and the effects of that world on those that people it. It also questions the significance of good and evil and God's place in the entirety of corruption. Keyes created a high action plot while taking the time to investigate philosophical and emotional considerations. In the end, I found the story very satisfying, but be warned that 'The Shadows of God' would be nearly unreadable for someone who has not read the first three volumes. It is unfortunate that Keyes will probably never get the recognition he deserves for this work of science fantasy. If you have the opportunity and the time, you will find the series well worth reading.