One might describe this history of racist/nationalist ideas from their inception to the twentieth century as an "encyclopedia" of sorts, but its discussions are more like those in a dictionary, in that the author reviews scores of writers, most of them now obscure, providing often little more than snippets about their beliefs. While the information is thorough, and the author's knowledge of the subject appears exhaustive, I found myself wishing for relief from the perpetual parade of names and for more of a "bird's eye" view of this convoluted corner of the history of ideas. I was at first turned off by Poliakov's professed sympathy for Freudian interpreations, but as it turns out, there is very little of it in the book, and when it does appear it's more comic relief than anything objectionable. Anyone interested in the history of racism should read this book. The summaries by country are especially useful, and a great lesson can be learned about the absurdity of racism by seeing how various "experts" spun out endless and mutually incompatible justifications for prejudice. Despite its rather pedantic tone, Poliakov has done a commendable job overall.

This book gives an excellent analysis of how ideas of racism and nationalism developed over centuries in Europe culminating in the two world wars. It is interesting to see how even the most revered pesonalities of their times, from Shakespeare to Voltaire, helped propagate and perpetuate the ideas of a superior race and how eurocentric intellectuals distorted and discarded more plausible explanation of facts for their own racist theories and misled the masses. The authors style of writing is commendable in the sense that he does not impose any particular views on the reader and presents facts as facts, leaving the reader to make his own judgements, unlike many other authors who have written on this subject. Its also a good reading on social psychology and interesting parallels can be drawn between the social psyche presented in this book and that in Goldings "Lord of the flies".

Whether you are a businessman or consumer, understanding consumer behavior is important. Why? The first part of the book "Consumer Behavior" will tell you.

The book is very clear. It is divided into two main parts. One is about the internal side of consumer behavior, the individual consumer processes and another part is about the external side of consumer behavior, the consumer environment. After reading these two parts, you will have a full picture of the consumer behavior.

This book is very rich in content. Examples and applications are widely used. There is a case given at the beginning of each chapter. Unlike most of the books that I have read, it does not just carry out the case. It also analyzes the case given at the beginning at the end of that chapter step by step. It first identifies the problem of the case and then analyzes it and finally provides us with the managerial implications and recommendations of that case. That's great! It can let us know the problem of the company and how can do it better, making us have a better understanding of the concept in that chapter.

Moreover, theories are illustrated by charts and diagrams. And tables are well used to summarize some important points in each chapter, making it easier for us to understand. I can tell you that I learn a lot from this book!

In first, I don't know exactly about consumer behavior. And now that I studied it for the spring term, I'm so interested in it.

Deadly Secrets is a unique twist on the King Arthur/Camelot mythology. This prequel tells of the early events in the life of Lancelot (known early on only as an orphan named Darian de Paimpont). As the story progresses we see the young Lancelot engage in several episodes that portray his heroic nature and reveal their tragic aftermaths. I believe the strength of the novel is its creation of a character who is capable of performing great deeds of heroic proportion, yet he lacks the maturity or strength of character to abide to a sense of heroic integrity and ethics. Through the course of the novel, the author reveals an early connection between Lancelot, King Arthur, and Merlin. This connection is unique in that it creates a sense of doom for Arthur's Camelot before it even begins. The author does a good job of showing a Lancelot who is deeply flawed, and ultimately incapable of being a true hero.

Very good book. I read it straight through to the end. I could't put the book down. Good book if you like dragons and old mythology. Promising author.

The fourth in a five book series (oh, that Donna Leon would keep writing these....), Death and Judgment brings us back to our dear detective, Guido Brunetti and his family, and his work in Venice. I will steal from a reviewer who suggested that Leon writes three novels in one: about murder, about Venice, and about relationships, because it is true and it is just this that brings us back again and again to see what Brunetti is up against this time. An important lawyer is found dead on the train from Padua to Venice (and of course, Brunetti's supervisor, Patti urges him to consider this a simple robbery "gone bad"). At about the same time a large truck slides off an ice-y mountain road in Northern Italy and the dead bodies of a number of young women are discovered in the back (crushed by the load of lumber in the truck). Then when the dead lawyer's accountant is also found murdered, Brunetti slowly begins to find the connections and uncovers a horrible web of international prostitution and a pornographic film industry built by some truly evil but highly influential and powerful Venetian citizens. As Leon always involves us with Guido's family, especially his dear wife (and local English professor) and children, this novel is no different and Guido's precocious daughter actually helps him solve this case, which has a typically complex yet logical conclusion.

Donna Leon is a quietly perceptive and at times a forgivingly cynical narrator of human foibles and relationships under the stress of daily life, politics, bureaucracy and crime.This novel once again brings Commissario Guido Brunetti's empathetic pragmatism and integrity into conflict with the entrenched egocentricity and greed of Venice's and Italy's ruling classes. This is a piece of literature, not just a wonderful novel of crime and detection. Leon manages to make us question our assumptions about everything from political apathy and corruption, to what is honour, and how we live out our values. What a gift this woman must be to her students. Highly recommended for a desert island collection, as well as being a great primer for visitors to Venice. Not to mention being a damn good read.

I have lost 3 now, my first at school in the 2nd week, my second was stolen from me and I got up today to find my newest one freshly ruined by a washing machine. If you lose things easily, as I do, don't get it. Other than that, it is a good dictionary.

This pocket sized dictionary has a protective cover, making it perfect for carrying on trips out of the country. The print is clear and is large enough to be easily read. This durable book is a must for anyone needing a handy book for translating English to Spanish or Spanish to English.

In his final book, David Chandler attempts the impressive feat of rewriting a small part of Revolutionary War history. His style is very popular, and frequently fleshes out details to make them more real for the reader. His thesis -- that Meriwether Lewis (of the Lewis & Clark expedition) was murdered in a conspircy that involved several great men, is necessarily stitched together with facts abetted by circumstantial evidence and conjecture.

It's hard not to like the spirit of the book. it's also hard to ignore that much of the author's case is undocumented and only partially substantiated by footnotes and specific historical detail. What he proposes may very well be correct. Certainly there's enough other interesting information here to make the read worthwhile. (His information on the details of period life is fascinating, like the informal early days of the White House.) One only wishes that the author would have had a chance to buttress is arguments.

One wonders why Meriweather Lewis is buried in a forlorn grave, out of public's sight, just off the Natchez Trace Parkway south of Nashville instead of Arlington Cemetary. Lewis was the John Glenn (the astronaut) of his day! Chandler, the author, broke historical ground in pulling together the intrigues of an intriguing era. The author persuasively shows the possible motives several powerful men may have had in quietly disposing of Lewis. It is significant that the only mention of Lewis being prone to melancholy (suicidal) was a statement by Jefferson. Great reading: International intrigue (Spain), a corrupt General of the Army (Wilkinson), frontier murder, and retired President concerned about his public legacy.

Now I know this is good clean French fun; I realize that the moral of this children's book is one of be yourself & love will follow. I get faintly queasy when I think of pigs & chickens falling in love. I wonder what we're teaching our children: that pigs can fly & chickens can oink? A funny story, nonetheless. END

This story examines important issues for all children. it is about appreciating those things which make us diffrent from each other and how our eyes should be open to all of the possibilities in our relationships in the world. The characters are sensitivly and beautifully drawn. This is a very colorful book which will be one children will remember all their lives.

Catchy cover and fun as a christmas gift for a texas family or friend. One that will get a chuckle.

In 1968 when my parents moved to Texas they received this book as a gift. Inside the cover their friends wrote, "A few things are different in this great state. We just wanted to keep you posted. Hope ya'll are working on your accents!" Almost 50 years after its first printing this book is still delightful! It captures the image of Texas that, although not always true, has made it a famous state. This book means a lot to me, and this year I am buying a bunch of copies to give to my 7 nephews and nieces. Thanks for keeping this classic in stock.

Nothing very special about this book. It was more of an encyclopedia rather than a history book. Leon F. Litwack failed to state his opinions which most history books contain. There isn't nothing else to write about since it was just like an encyclopedia but with more words. There is interesting facts here though. If readers are interested in the life of slavery before the civil war, this is the right book for you.

North of Slavery marked the first comprehensive scholarly effort to explore the meaning of race in the northern states before the Civil War. It many ways, it remains -- almost forty years after its publication -- the single best starting point for examining the lives of Northern free blacks. It focuses on a region traditionally neglected by other studies of race relations, a problem being rectified in the scholarship only now. Challenging the myth of the North as a bastion of racial liberalism, Litwack portrays a North beset by segregation, racial pogrom, legal stricture, and -- above all -- a system of informal proscription which rendered black people there anything but "free." Written during the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement, the book had a chilling and prophetic understanding of the struggles which would confront the CRM as it moved out of the South and into the nation. North of Slavery was, and still is, a stunning antidote to the attitudes of those who tell themselves "it doesn't happen here." As is his style, Litwack peppers his history liberally with compelling first-hand accounts; the writing is exceptional: clean, hard-hitting, dark, compelling, and courageous.

Don't get me wrong. It's great to have a text of Petronius for study, especially at a level where young, impressionable students may read it. But look out: all of the really juicy bits were excised under Uncle Gilbert's sharp eye. The raciest anything gets is some innuendo in the Matrona Ephesi. All the good parts are gone, but so are the boring bits of the Cena Trimalchionis and a lot of incidental linking material. You get a nice, tame, classroom-ready version of a trashy Roman novel. Gil Lawall's edition is as mistake-ridden as all of his best work (Ecce Romani, &c.), but the fun of Petronius shines through. Suitable at third-year level and above, with facing notes and generous but not comprehensive glossary.

For those students who are learning Latin, and want to begin working on real texts, this book is perfect. By using the simpler sections of Petronius, and incorporating grammatical help for each section, this book allows the Latin student to work through the text with only a moderate level of difficulty. Though this work should not be used to replace an instructional text on the Latin language for those who are in the first phases of instruction, this text is appropriate for any second year student.