What a wonderful book! Leon Combs is a great storyteller. Living in the Ozarks and near the Bradleyville area most all of my life I could really visualize the story. The characters and situations were like telling a part of my own family and hometown history. The play by play of the basketball games was like being there in that place and time. I would love to see it on the big screen! I'm ready for the next book Mr. Combs.

This author not only reveals the spirit of the sport, his colorful, descriptive narrative takes you into the very hearts of the players. Nostalgic, well-written story about a winning team, interwoven with games and statistics, makes this book a winner. Can't wait for the movie. It will happen.

I just read this wonderful book last weekend. My parents, Harlan and Betty House, were two of Bradleyville basketball's most enthusiastic followers. Both are mentioned in the book for a small portion of their contributions to the Bradleyville basketball program. The Bradleyville teams, those that were champions and those that were not, were made up of very special people--people who were willing to use all their god-given talents as best they could. With hard work they overcame their limited personal, family, and school resources. Bradleyville coaches were the best at enhancing the skills of their players and making a team out of very different individuals. The whole community was energized by the hard work and success of those winning teams. They were proud of the victories and the way their teams achieved those victories--by being great sportsmen. This book captures the spirit of the people, the players, the coaches, the community and the era. This story of our own Missouri "Hoosiers" will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys an uplifting story about those who can prevail over long odds by hard work and fair play.

This is one of a 14-volume series of writings by Leon Trotsky, who along with V.I. Lenin was a central leader of the 1917 Russian Revolution. These volumes cover the years 1929-1940, when Trotsky led the political fight world-wide to maintain the continuity of Bolshevik's revolutionary perspective and leadership against the reactionary policies imposed by the Stalinist regime in the Soviet Union. Reading Trotsky carefully, one can learn a lot about history and about today's world, as well as how to apply Marxist methods to orient oneself for working-class political action.

This volume includes more than 100 articles and letters. They cover topics ranging from the economic depression and the rising inter-imperialist tensions leading to World War II, to the Stalinist frame-up trials in the Soviet Union, the Spanish Civil War, and detailed leadership questions posed in workers movements in different countries at the time. These volumes are lively, pointed and have extensive notes and chronologies to aid the reader today.

I'd also recommend some other titles written by Trotsky at this time, including The History of the Russian Revolution, The Fight Against Fascism in Germany, Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decay, and The Transitional Program for Socialist Revolution, all available from the same publisher, Pathfinder Press.

This volume contains lessons crucial for those committed to the goal of emancipating working people and oppressed nations.

The workers movement of that time was misled by parties - social democratic and fake communist -- which preferred imperialist "democracy" over workers revolution. This allowed fascism to triumph and, together with "democratic" imperialism, brought us the second world war which slaughtered tens of millions and included the U.S. - supposedly the most "democratic" imperialists - initiating the threat of human extinction with the nuclear bombing of Japan.

Trotsky explains how Lenin's program could have resulted in workers victories over capitalism all over Europe, as well as the overthrow of the murderous Stalin regime and the regeneration of the Soviet Union on a course of world revolution and workers democracy.

Studying Trotsky's writings today is timely as imperialism is again on the march toward fascism and war.

You can see why Trotsky was reknown as a fiery public speaker -- he writes with passion, intelligence and friendly, human humour. These pieces written while living in Mexico, staying with Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Correspondence with and about them included here, too. Articles on the eve of World War II, with fascism triumphant in Germany and Italy especially thought-provoking in light of recent developments in France with LePen's electoral showing. He scathingly makes the point in polemic with "our Palestinian friends" (gives you a feel for the international scope of the debate that was raging) that it is meaningless to talk about the fascist danger without addressing the danger of ordinary democratic imperialism. How else, he points out, to join the Indian masses in their quest for independence from the Mother of parliamentary democracy? Unexpectedly fun to browse through and think about.

Review of book: The Village Poet is a philosopher who is highly favored among the chief villager and villagers. His speech
challenges people to overcome their evil contention with good intentions. First, he mentions fear as example for putting a halt on their spirtual growth. Fear takes place when you're running from failure, rejection, and humilation. Therefore, change must emerge from " I can't" to "I can" in our hearts. His next step of becoming a true soldier is realizing the love for oneself and others. Love doesn't downplay or dictate a person's self-worth for living. You know that God made everything beautiful, so accept who you are and others too. Also, he tells them about helping others and having a forgiving heart towards mankind. Lastly, he gives God's instructions, "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all else is yours." If you believe that,then your struggles are just temporary. Either,you're going to do to things, follow the works of evil doers or follow God. Following the instruction of God may seem long, but the journey will always be rewarding.

Overall Opinion: The "Village Poet" is a great story of encouragement for all people. It can serve as a guide for our daily struggle. The story makes you think about the consequences of right and wrong. Although the sources remain unknown, God is truly represented throughout the whole story.

Review of book: The Village Poet is a philosopher who is highly favored among the chief villager and villagers. His speech challenges people to overcome their evil contention with good intentions. First, he mentions fear as example for putting a halt on their spirtual growth. Fear takes place when you're running from failure, rejection, and humilation. Therefore, change must emerge from "I can" to " I can't" in our hearts. His next step of becoming a true soldiers is realizing the love for oneself and others. Love doesn't downplay or dictate a person's self-worth for living. You know that God made everything beautiful, so accept who you are and others too. Also, he tells them to about helping others and having a forgiving heart towards mankind. Lastly, he gives God's instructions, "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all else is yours." If you believe that, then all your struggles are just temporary. Either, you're going to do two things, follow the works of evil doers or follow God. Following the instruction of God may seem long, but the journey will always be rewarding.

Overall Opinion: The "Village Poet" is a great story of encouragement for all people. It can serve as a guide for our daily struggle. The story makes you think about the consequences of right and wrong. Although the sources remain unknown, God is truly represented throughout the whole story.

The Village poet is a philosopher who is highly favored among the chief villager and villagers. His speech challenges people to overcome their evil contentions with good intentions. First, he mentions fear as example for putting a halt on their spirtual growth. Fear takes place when you're running from failure, rejection, and humiliation. Therefore, change must emerge from "I can't" to "I can" in our hearts. His next step of becoming a true soldier is realizing the love for oneself and others too. Also, he tells them about helping others and having a forgiving heart towards mankind. Lastly, he gives God's instructions, "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all else is yours." If you believe that, then your struggles are just temporary. Either, you're going to do two things, follow the works of evil doers or follow God. Following the instructions of God may seem long, but the journey will always be rewarding.

The Village poet is a great story of encouragement for all people. It can serve as a guide for our daily struggle. The story makes you think about the consequences of right and wrong. Although the sources remain unknown, God is truly represented throughout the whole story.

This is a terrific overview of what it takes to make japanese swords. The book followes the production of the sword from the begining to the final product, starting with the type of steel all the way to the special fittings. Althoug not into the depth some are looking for, it does explain the general steps for making the entire sword through the dialoge of experts working in Japan

I know a little about Japanese swords but not all the details of how they were made. This book is a great beginning for those who want to understand the manufacturing processes of a Japanese sword. I have only one complaint, that the pictures are not in color; B&W prints are good but sometimes color can show more details. It's a good buy.

This book goes into the details of the making of a Japanese sword.

I own Sato's "The Japanese Sword : A Comprehensive Guide" as well as Yumoto's "Samurai Sword a Handbook", and they are clearly not as complete as that one (esp. Sato's.)

"The Craft of the Japanese Sword" is amazing in that it has a large number of extremely clear B&W pictures. Those are clear enough to show examples of the steel's grain, of what an utsuri looks like, of what makes nie different from nioi, of the appearance of the hamon at each stage of the polishing, etc. The clarity & quantity of the pictures is the main asset of this book to the katana enthusiast, be they interested in modern or antique swords, made in Japan or not.

The book is also great because of the info it provides on all the stages before the blade is forged (i.e., how to obtain the necessary steel ingot, or tamahagane) and after it is forged (polishing, of course, but also the craft of the scabbard, of the fittings, etc...)

This is a super dense book, packed with info, where not a single line is wasted. I cannot recommend it enough to anyone interested in the Japanese swords, be they swordsmiths, martial artists, or collectors. The book is geared toward the swordsmiths but provide so much info that a martial artist or collector planning to invest into a fine blade should absolutely read that book. This will prevent many a disappointment...

No one should buy a car without first reading this book. It's complete and well-organized. It includes formulas, resource lists, samples, scenarios, advice, and every aspect of car buying that you could imagine. And it's an easy read. Read it, study it, write notes on your sleeve, then go to the dealer and buy your car at your price.

Burke's book helped me knock 15-20% off the price when I bought my car thanks to his tips on how to find out what the dealers really pay for it. Also his checklists tell you everything you need to remember through the whole process of buying a car. He also gave some great psychological tools to use when dealing with salesmen, haggling skills that you can use in many other aspects of life. If you're going to buy one book about buying a car, this is the one!

Burke Leon is to car buyers, what Click and Clack are to do-it-yourself amateur auto mechanics, and then some. His lively fact-filled book will help any befuddled car buyer learn to skillfully maneuver through whatever obstacles appear on the road to getting the best price possible for a new or used car.

Thanks to his book, when meeting with car dealers I saw some of the hard core sales techniques they use to intimidate buyers come flying at me with bright neon colors. and I was able to not fall for them. For instance, one of the salespeople said he would have "to eat the cost of new brakes " if he gave me the price I wanted. This kind of statement is vividly described in Leon's book stood out immediately as the manipulation techniques it was.

There is much about this book to recommend. Leon lists most useful auto-related internet sites as well as his own (www.usedcarphd.com) and his email address to get in touch with him personally. For your own sake, make car buying fun and get a copy of this book before you begin the journey of car shopping. The buying tips shared by Leon will prevent you from losing hard-earned cash and the knowledge you will gain will help you develop the confidence and composure required to successfully engage with the most seasoned auto salespeople. Go to it and have some fun while you are at it!

Elena from Massachusetts

I read this book by chance, yesterday, Memorial Day 2003.
Been crying.
It's like Schindler's List or Sophie's choice.
How could they do it?
How can we let them continue doing it?
The animals still are around us, although using another names, another symbols, another motivations.
I kept reading, hoping to find some of the people to be safe at the end, but almost everybody was killed.
Binim, Rozak, Mayer, Bronka, so many of you.
I miss you, my friends.

After reading this book, I feel this should be in every house in every country. You hear so much about the people and the numbers killed that sometimes it doesn't seem real but this book makes it very real. The pictures are so powerful and at the same time so ordinary - they could be pictures of anyone's parents or grandparents. The most haunting pictures are those of the children - you have to wonder how many survived. The stories of the survivors bring it all home - "There's the aunt of the little girl I used to babysit", etc. I found it amazing that these pictures did survive 40, 50 years before being discovered again. Anyone who denies the Holocaust happened should read this book and then try to still say it never happened. Thank you Ann Weiss for bringing these pictures and the stores behind them out of the darkness.

"The last Album" by Ann Weiss is well organized and well written. It contains 400 remarkable
photographs that were brought to Auschwitz-Birkenau by victims in 1943. These photographs were taken
prior to the Holocaust and depict people bursting with life. This is an extremely unique book, and contains material that was lovingly researched for a period of 15 years. The beauty of this book is that the
photographs and the research accomplished brings to life people that were lost during the dreadful time of
the Holocaust. The book like the author is soft, sweet, articulate and brilliant

Most of us from eastern religion wanting to convert to the western religion. I have spent a great deal of time researching western religion and learning how it all began. The catholic church has its beginings in Christ Jesus during the Roman empire. The Catholic Church has had its ups and downs as the history will have it. However, it still remains the beginning of all churches. This book will teach those wanting to chose religion why they should consider the catholic church and the practicing catholics why they should remain faithful

I come from a Catholic home. I knew my faith well, but I did not know how to defend my believes when I got to college. I left the church and later became protestant for many years. If I had read this book in my early twenties, I would have stayed with the Catholic Faith all along. This book is a great tool for Catholics who want to know how to defend their faith when they feel attacked by protestant brothers and sisters in the faith.

The Scriptures; the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; the real presence in the Eucharist; Mary; Purgatory; justification; the nature of baptism; priests. These are all subjects of many a civilized discussion (or heated dispute!) with our protestant brothers and sisters.

The assembled essays in this book explain these and other issues in very clear and readable language. They serve well in explaining the Biblical and historical basis behind these issues.

For the Catholic who wants to understand the faith better, whether it be for personal growth or to help defend the teachings against those who would criticize them, this book is for you.

For the protestant who is willing to let the Catholic Church explain the Catholic Church, this book is for you too.

A pretty easy read. Well worth your time!

I've been reading this book over and over during the last few months, and there's more information than one can expect about automobile driving. Authors James and Nahl clearly permeate their psychological knowledge throughout the pages, which unfortunately, is a mild setback in the audience they would hope to reach. Clearly, however, they have identified nearly every aggressive thought that some drivers are exhibiting as daily behaviors. There are charts and worksheets galore, way more than I believe the average driver is willing to commit time to study and fill in. That's the problem.

After driving, whether or stressful or not, few of us want to be reminded of it, simply because the mind rejects negative events. We say, "I really don't want to talk about it right now" (about a drive to or from work, for example). What we're not saying is parenthetical ("...because talking about it makes me angry, and I don't want to be angry, both of which serve no useful purpose.) In other words, the authors have crammed so much psychological information into "Road Rage" I feel it would now push them away, meaning that the only drivers left who would be attracted to it are those, now or formerly, are actually addicted to an aggressive driving style (yes, I was). Believe it or not, this is precisely what aggressive drivers and road ragers need. What would have really reinforced the authors' ideas is a section on the implication and interaction of physiological factors, such as too much caffeine too quickly, low blood sugar, insufficient dietary protein (all of which affect neurotransmitter production and neurological receptor sites) that are directly responsible for the aggressive thoughts and behaviors they write about.

I would still recommend this book, however, as a "prescription" or as required remedial reading if I were a police officer or a judge who just imposed a fine on a ticketed driver. Denial is thick. It will take some time for the ideas to sink in, but they will sink in. I am impressed at the detail given to self-evaluation of driver behaviors. So you really don't need to be a member of a QDC (Quality Driving Circle) to implement the suggestions in this book. To sit and talk with others in a group setting about driving is strangely reminiscent of an AA meeting, thereby implying that one does not want to be labeled an aggressive driving addict. But being obsessed with driving, whether we like it or not, is the only way to prevent needless accidents, injuries and property damage. "Road rage" is highly recommended for drivers of all ages (might be difficult for readers under 18: reading level). So far, this is one of the best books available on the psychological aspects of automobile driving.

What are the symptoms of road rage and how can aggressive driving patterns and encounters be halted? In Road Rage and Aggressive Driving, the authors trace these problems to childhood roots and attitudes toward the law: they argue that road rage is experienced by most drivers, and tell how to use self-tests to estimate personal road rage tendencies. A three-step program to transform drivers from aggressive to supportive drivers is included.

Road Rage is a winner! It will resonate with readers who have been threatened on the road, trapped in a car with an irrational driver, or who want to shake off learned habits of driver aggression. It gives us a peek at the distorted reasoning behind driver aggression, as well as larger implications for our auto-centered culture. It is a fascinating, accessible, and well-documented look at the rapid and sometimes bizarre evolution of our experience on the road.

Reading this book is like roaming through 2000 years of the Roman empire and all the transplanted Romans who grace the US. I loved it and I'm not Italian. And, sorry, Leon, but I don't even want to be Italian. I've got a better idea. Why don't you do one on Jewish or Irish people? They're pretty entertaining. The book probably deserves five stars, but I'd like to see some graphics in it, so I just gave it four.

Being of Italian decent on my mother's side, I was overwhelmed by this fantastic collection of Italian accomplishments. This book gives detailed information about contributions made by Italians and Italian-Americans. Finally, a "User friendly" book which is quite addictive and difficult to put down. This reminds me of those famous stories my mother use to tell me as a boy. I only wish she had the opportunity to experience this pleasant and enjoyable reading material. I highly suggest giving this book to any young person who is trying to discovering his/her great rich Italian background. It is all here!

When the family gets together either at home or for an outdoor picnic, we whip out our copy of "Heritage Italian-American Style!" We have a blast with this jam-packed collection of both recognized and some not-so-well-known contributions that Italians have made to better the world. Invariable, the teens and young adults chime in to test their own knowledge of their culture and are often surprised to discover in the process of "playing" a game...just how much fun learning can be! Especially, when you're learning about why we should be proud to be Italian!! The old timers are equally entertained while being secretly educated at the same time!!

As editor of AMICI Magazine, the largest Italian-American Magazine west of Ohio, I am inundated with requests to review Italian books. Leon's book is one of the few I couldn't put down. It made me think. It made me laugh. It made me proud...or prouDER, should say!!

I can tell you one the cultural tragedies of our time is that we're literally forgetting to keep our kids Italian. As silly as that sounds, the truth is many families today understandably marry outside of the culture or simply live life in fast lane and overlook the importance of story telling, carrying on Italian traditions and keeping ourselves informed about our culture. Books like Heritage Italian-American Style truly keep our heritage alive!

Once you get your own copy, you'll see why you feel inclined to buy several for your family and friends!

A knighted doctor, Adam Kelno. A Pulitzer Prize winning author, Benjamin Cady. Kelno, after leaving the infamous Jadwiga concentration camp where he was imprisoned for years, has spent the last 20 years working with natives in Borneo, for which he received knighthood, and practicing medicine among the poor in London. Cady has written a prize-winning novel, "The Holocaust" concerning the plight of the Jews in German concentation camps during World War II. He lists Dr. Kelno as one of the prisoner doctors that committed horrible medical experiments on Jewish prisoners. Kelno is suing for defamation. Cady is determined to fight.

Gripping, horrifying and terribly sad, this novel of a legal battle in England brings back in force the horrors of Nazi Germany's "Final Solution" while questioning everyone's humanity in the face of true evil.

Read this book. I recommend it highly.

Dr. Kelno, A Polish WWII hero, saved hundreds of poles in the Jadwiga Concentration camp. A conspiracy brought against him by the communist party unsuccessfully charge him as a nazi war criminal. Twenty year later, in "The Holocaust", Kelno is again accused for these crimes and sues the wirter for libel in front of a british court.

In front of the Queen's Bench, a lot of memories, pains and acts of heroism will be brought back to life...Is the good doctor a victim, a murderer or maybe a little bit of both...

This is a well constructed book. Until far into the book you wonder who is right and who is wrong. Faithfull to his great talent for making his characters seem real, Uris brings us the exemplary life of Kelno and the tormented life of the Author, Abraham Cady.

Never has the horror of concentration camp been displayed with such passion, not, like in a lot of books, as statistics but as human beings suffering way past the gate of the camps.

The paramount comes from the fact they are in a British courtroom where displays of love anger or pity are prohibited. Some of the rhetoric and diplomatic mambo-jumbo displayed by the lawyers and the judge to hide the horror described in the courtroom are just crowning this jewel of a book.

Mr. Uris, may you live for a thousand years and write a book every month for I was seaten in this courtroom, following the barristers strategy, sobbing for the victims...praying for a fair verdict.

Case Close.

Very few times we read a book that makes you wonder what would we have done if we were involved in a similar situation the book relates. I wonder if I would have sympathized with the Nazi, or would just ignore Hitler and his madness?Would I have felt the hatred of a nation or live in unspeakable terror? Would I have believed the horrors of Treblinka and Auschwitz or would I have dismissed them as blatant lies? Would I have believed a former Nazi doctor who performed dangerous medicine in a Nazi concentration camp or would I have believed the numerous victims who were brought to trial to witness against Dr Kelno? Did he expiate his actions by saving lifes in Borneo and improving living conditions for the Ibans? You really have to read the book to reach your ouw conclusions. I have never thought that I would have asked these questions myself. We tend to jump to conclusions sometimes too quickly. Well, Leon Uris doesn't. You have to read this book and feel it yourself. You have to let Uris to take you from Nazi Germany to that court room in UK and witness the trial that I am sure will keep you thinking throughout its entire duration.