Of course this is a great book. But it's also very big...and very technical. I know more about insects than the normal person and I was lost after the first couple pages. If you want a neat ant book read Journey to the Ants. It's more down to earth and easier to read and written by the same people. I wouldn't try to tackle this until you got a few entomology courses under your belt....

by Mark Fitzsimmons

This is a fascinating, indispensible book for anyone interested in ants. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I have owned this book for three years and still haven't stopped reading it, probably never will. It is jam-packed with interesting and little known aspects of eusocialism in the ants, easily as diverse as its subject.

This is a semi-technical book, and entomological scientific jargon is used ubiquitously, so if you aren't interested in using the glossary frequently just to understand what you're reading, it may not be for you, but for the avid ant-watcher or scientist interested in social evolution, this is it. With the incredible drawings (including representative pictures from every known ant genera) and informative graphs and charts that shed light on even the most complex and difficult to understand socio-biological patterns, it is beautiful to behold and fun to browse and just pluck little tidbits at random. Even the expanded table of contents is thought-provoking and fun to read.

"The Ants" does more than simply summarize current knowledge about ants. It goes into details of the many different ways in which ants have evolved social structures and critically evaluates theories of ant colony dynamics and eusocial evolution.

I was given this in 1992 for my birthday and spent a week reading it from cover to cover...and have returned to for pleasure ever since. Admittedly I was already fascinated by ants, but this is quite simply the best book I have ever seen about any group of animals. The authors write authoritatively and very readably about every aspect of ant evolution and behaviour, with humour and a clear passion for their subject; the illustrations are lavish and beautiful. Probably most readers will skip some of the more technical aspects, as this is also a work of reference with (beautifully illustrated) keys to all the major ant genera; but there are entire chapters on life-history, evolution, symbiosis and behaviour which are simply unrivalled in modern literature. From the awesome to the utterly bizarre, the ants are one of the pinnacles of animal evolution. This book is a labour of love, which does justice to the fantastic diversity of these insects, by authors who are the masters of their subject. A pleasure in every respect.

I have five other books on Filemaker Pro, most are very good, but none comes close to the depth of explanation and immediate practical usefulness of this book & CD set. Even though it is priced above the other books, it is worth every penny. After working with Filemaker in its various incarnations since 1991, I still discovered tons of new techniques.

Author John Mark Osborne was the Technical Lead at Claris Corp (now Filemaker Inc.) before leaving and writing this book so you know you are getting first rate information. Matt Petrowsky has been publishing an electronic Filemaker newsletter since 1994 and really knows this stuff inside out.

When I first started doing database development back in 1995, I searched long and hard for a good book that'd teach me all about many of the "hard to get your head around" features of FileMaker Pro such as advanced scripting, understanding calculation formulas, dealing with related data and portals, and how to build killer user interfaces. At the time, there were no good books (to my knowledge). Later, after I'd finished my first subcontracting gig as a FileMaker developer and started my own company, I stumbled across Scriptology. I don't even remember where I found it (it was some unlikely place like a mall bookstore or something.)

I have to say that the book helped a great deal in my efforts to become a professional Filemaker developer, an advanced scripter, and a careful database planner/architect. I had already learned many of the techniques illuminated in the book by the by...from colleagues or by surfing the Web, but never before had all the greatest tips and techniques been collected in one place. Enter Scriptology.

One point, though. While I'm sure John and Matt are putting together a new edition as we speak, the book is dated in some respects (it doesn't cover FileMaker 5's new features). It also doesn't cover some very advanced FileMaker topics such as ODBC connectivity, Web development, or the use of plugins. For these reasons, the book seems pricy, but it'll still add a great deal to any developer's FileMaker database-building arsenal.

This book is still the #1 tool for serious Filemaker Pro Developers. If anything, it opens the reader up to endless possibilities. The next step after this book is learning to create plug-ins

Let me add my econium for this wonderful book, which received the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction, and is likely the best introduction into the emergent field of sociobiology (of which E. O. Wilson is progenitor).

The book is deftly, wittily, and elegantly written with great confidence and assuredness. The first half of the book introduces the reader to the promising field of evolutionary psychology, which, for the first time, promises to ground psychology on science rather than ideology. The book rings the death knell to Freud, Jung, pop-psychology, and other pie-in-the-sky notions that have mascaraded as a "human science."

The second half of the book addresses four of the most focal concerns of human nature: Aggression, sex, altruism, and religion, on the basis of sociobiology theory. The emergence of this endeavor begins with genes, evolution, and human enculturation, not with theories about infantilism, phallocentrism, and neuroticism. The topics are sufficiently covered in enough detail to keep the reader's interest and sustain the arguments, but with the intent of being introductory and accessible rather than sallying into the esoteric and academic.

The consequence is a wholly different orientation toward what is meant by "human nature." The concept is no longer the stuff of speculative metaphysics by armchair philosophers and psychologists, but a true science evolving out of the science of evolutionary theory and genetics. The implications are not quasi-scientific, but truly scientific. Humans do indeed have a "nature," and it is based on nature, not in the imaginations of wishful thinkers.

No one, not already exposed to sociobiology, will finish reading this book unaffected for the better. Wilson, the author of "Sociobiology," "Consilience," "The Future of Life," and other enjoyable works, will find a plethora of other authors and books flooding the market with scientific insights into man's true "human nature," including "The Adaptive Mind," "The Moral Animal," "Non-Zero," and "Unto Others."

I read this book a number of years ago and loved Wilson's overview of human nature through his observations of human behaviour across cultures. I am amazed at how the previous reviewer politicized Wilson when he is anything but political. Wilson does not exclude the influences of societal attitude and the changes in human behaviour from small to large groups. His review of treatment of women in different societies -- from equal partner in small groups to chattel as the struggles for power emerge in larger groups is an example of Wilson's wonderful eye for human behaviour. Although Wilson is the father of sociobiology, he does not exclude such patterns of human nature that can be attributable to societal interactions, not unlike Jane Goodal's observations of chimpanze behaviour as situational. While it is clearly obvious that our essential makeup is genetic, it is equally clear that as learning beings, our behaviour also has a nurture element, and Wilson is clear about this.

One must read Wilson with an open mind,not cluttered by political preconceptions as the previous reviewer. Wilson makes a point of not politicizing science, and to find a political context to "On Human Nature" one must create it as Wilson certainly does not.

This hard hitting, thought provoking book should be read by everyone.
The author sides with S.J. Gould that evolution has no goal (no anthropic cosmological principle). Species evolve by natural selection. The brain exists because it promotes survival and multiplication of the genes. He goes even further: the capacities to select particular esthetic judgments and religious beliefs must have arisen by natural selection. He argues that human beings are innately aggressive and fight wars to gain long-term reproductive success.
He hits hard at the interpretation of sexuality by Judaism and Christianity: the sex rules are biological and written by natural selection. In that way, he defends homosexuality.
Facing human nature as it is and evolves, how can we make life better: by the true Promethean spirit of science to liberate man by giving him knowledge and some measure of dominion over himself and his environment.
It will be difficult to refute the strong arguments of the author. He forces us to face the real realities of life and nature. The only solution is knowledge in order that mankind can take the necessary measures to save this planet.
By the way, he sneers at T. Roszak, who didn't find it necessary to replace God by reason; for him it is pure obscurantism.
A great read.

The magic treehouse takes them to an island and they get stuck on a sinking sub. Jack and Annie escape of course, so there can be more magic tree house books. If you like dolphins and underwater adventures,this will be your favorite too.

"Dolphins At Daybreak" is a good Magic Tree House book about Jack and Annie exploring the ocean and meeting some dolphins. This book had a few parts that were frightening, like the hammerhead shark, but really, they weren't that frightening. My favorite part was when they were rescued by the dolphins, and it was fun when they went underwater. Also, the action is written well, and the plot is written wonderfully as well. If you want my opinion, I really, really, really, enjoyed this book, and I highly reccomend it to anyone. Happy reading!!!

Doliphins at Daybreak is about to kids Jack and Annie. Jack is sometimes mean to Annie. Jack does not like to do eneything. Annie likes to do lots of stuff.They also have a dog teddy.Teddy always gets lost. Ilike their dog teddy.
On this inventer they go to the ocean. They see lots of different creatures. They see Doliphins,sharks,hammer heads,and octopus.
The sharks try to eat Jack and Annie!! Then the Doliphins come to the reasue and fight the sharks. At the end of the book they get to ride on the Doliphins.
Then they find the tree house.And they make their journey home.

this book will take you to the moon. It's an exiting adventure where Jack and Annie get wisked off in another adventure to the moon. they need to know how to live on the moon but thet find somthing that helps them.I wonder what it was? find out and read!

Three... two... one... BLAST OFF!! The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie off to the moon- and the feature. Their mission? To find the last "M" thing that will free Morgan from the spell. Can they do it before the air in their oxygen tanks run out? And why is Peanut the mouse acting so strange?

The only way to find out is to read Midnight On The Moon.

This is great book for you if you like adventure books. It is magic tree houes book it is called "Midnight on the Moon". The characters are Jack and Annie are sister and borther. The author is Mary Osborne. She is a good author. Jack and Annie learn about space like how hot it is in space. I like this book because I like adventure books. If you like astronauts read this book

Kudos to Ms. Osborne-McKnight on her first novel! In I AM OF IRELAUNDE,the author's love of Ireland and its history shines through her words, evoking a place and time as only a good storyteller could. Osian, son of Fionn Mac Cumhail, leaps from the pages, a Fenian warrior charged with a mission regarding Padraig. Wonderful, magical fantasy. However, as a reader, I had a problem with the character of Padraig/St. Patrick: I didn't like him, and felt that I should. In fact, I believe the novel would have been better served if it told Fionn Mac Cumhail and Osian's story, leaving out the more contemporary story of St. Patrick. Also, although the author thankfully included a glossary with Irish definitions and pronunciations, I still found my reading pace slowed whenever I had to consult the glossary yet again. The editing suffered a bit as well, though through none of the fault of the author. This reader hopes Ms. Osborne-McKnight will continue to spin tales of Tir Nan Og, the Sidhe, and all things Druid. Her gift of storytelling and love of Ireland bode well for Ms. Osborne-McKnight's future as an author. Bail O Dhia ar an obair.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should say that I am a friend of the author, Juilene Osborne-McKnight. As a writer myself, I'm also green with envy at her achievement. She has woven the very human story of a saint, Patrick, into the ancient myths of Ireland. And vice versa. Osian tells these magical legends to Patrick not just for their own sake: they serve a crucial function. Stories, in this book's world, have life-changing power. What I love about this book is the way it conveys a sense of a person's individual destiny, of the meaning behind even the most apparently incongruous events in Patrick's life. But this is all done with a light touch, through the power of story combined with a strong vein of humor: Patrick, a wonderful, irascible character, does not go willingly towards his life's purpose. In this he's thoroughly human and he tells his own story in a unique, even curmudgeonly voice. In this book Patrick and the ancient legends of Ireland are brought together--and brought to life. It's a wonderful read.

If you are at all interested the history of Ireland or the life of Saint Patrick, you will love this book! The author takes the few facts that are actually known about St. Patrick and the Irish legend Finn Mac Cool and from them weaves a lyrical, engaging story. The characters of Patrick and Osian are completely believable and the stories they tell are inspiring and meaningful. The book revisits all the old Irish mythology (like the story of Dhiarmaid & Grainne) and makes it very human and believable. It then adds the struggle of St. Patrick to understand the natives of Ireland and teach them about his God. The stories tie together perfectly, and the book resonates with meaning. I had tears in my eyes at the end of this novel. It's an incredible read.

This excellent book is about two kids named Jack and Annie. One day they were walking in Frog Creek Woods and they found a magic treehouse. Then they travelled back to Ancient Japan where two ninjas capture them. Read to find out what happens next.
This is an exelent book and one of my favorites! I would recommend this book to any one that likes adventure.

If you like ninjas then you'll want to read night of the ninjas.

If you are a fraidy cat you might like Jack and if you like to imagine,then you will like Annie. If you like mice, then you will like Peanut in the story.

The story keeps you guessing because the mouse acts like a human.

I liked Night of the Ninjas, because it's exciting and you will like it, too.

I'm a 10 year boy who loves the Magic Tree House series. I especially like when Jack and Annie went to England and met William Shakespeare. This is an easy chapter book to read. It keeps your interest.

Im a fifth grader.This was a very good book. The best thing about this book is when the monkey started throwing big fruits at Annie and Jack who were stranded in a canoe on the Amazon River. It was humorous to imagin this. One thing I did not like is how the author had keept describing how often they saw green when they first climed out of the tree house. I would recommend this book to is a first grader through fifth grade because its easy to read. Have a fast fun adventure.

I read this book for summer reading and it was one of my favorites. I love the Magic Tree House series, and I have read every one of them. In this book Morgan Le Fay was turned into a mouse by the wicked Merlin. Jack and Annie had to get four M words to rescue her. In the Amazon they got a mangoe.

The book was exciting and fun to read [I read it over lunch at Tatnuck Booksellers].
Jack and Annie travel to lots of cool places but this was the best because of all of the bugs. Jack and Annie are very lucky to have found the magic tree house.
This is the tenth Magic Tree House book I have read and I can hardly wait to read the next one.

This book sat on my dresser for a long time and it even traveled to Georgia with me without being read. I just couldn't get into it. Finally, when I had nothing else to read I pushed past the first 100 pages and boy am I glad I did. It turned into a really good read!

It does take a while to get into the characters and to get the actual plot moving -- 3 women discover they are married to the same man who has disappeared with their money and they decide to follow him to the Yukon where he is joining the gold rush. It did take me a while to identify with the women and I found them to be annoying at first. But I grew to admire their tenacity and perseverance. More importantly, they made me laugh. This book contains one (okay two) of the funniest love scenes I've read. And, I found it very, very interesting to read about the Yukon gold rush and what people had to go through to get there. As a matter of fact, I found a web site that has some good pics and maps to show where the characters in this book travel .

I would recommend this book and it is worth the read for the last third of the book.

So now the book is sitting on my sister's dresser...

Jean Jacques Villette travels the West Coast hitting small towns in California, Oregon, and Washington where he finds lonely wealthy spinsters to seduce, marry, rob, and desert. In California, he hit on Juliette March who for nine months believed in his love and that he would return until she followed his trail to Oregon, where she finds victim number two, Clara Klaus. Together they head to Washington where they are joined by dupe number three Zoe Wilder. He married all three of them.

The wives decide to confront and perhaps kill the scoundrel. His trail takes them to Alaska where Villette has a surprise in store for his three spouses. Meanwhile each woman meets a handsome man who falls in love with her. However, once burned, Juliette, Clara, and Zoe find it difficult to give away their respective hearts again.

Readers will enjoy Maggie Osborne's Americana romance that brings to life the last decade of the nineteenth century. The story line is entertaining due to the powerful depiction of the ensemble. The audience will understand why the women married Villette. The charming cad includes a compassionate side that makes him into a complete character and not just a totally evil villain. I DO3 is an intriguing historical romance that will provide enjoyment to fans of Americana.

Harriet Klausner

What a wonderful premise! Three very different women -- Juliette, Clara and Zoe -- discover by accident that they are all married to the same man and, once the shock has abated, set out to the Yukon to find him. This makes for a delightful, fast-paced "on-the-road" novel filled with love and adventure. Inevitably, each of the women grows and changes and finds her own true love. But the course of those relationships can't possibly run smoothly, especially when the intrepid ladies are married to someone else.

Ms. Osborne's characters are always well-drawn and a treat to read. Her plots are intriguingly different and set up complex problems for the characters to resolve. This is another fabulous book in her repetoire. I loved it.

Catharine Carey Logan, or better known a Catey, is a Quaker girl living in the Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania. Catey and her family are frightened by reports of Indian raids, but they believe that the Indians will leave them alone if they show trust and love to them.
That all changes when Catey and her brother Tomas are captured while on their way to school.
Catey is determined not to keep the Indian ways, but she finds herself liking it after a while. And she falls in love with an Indian brave named Snow Hunter who was actually a captive white like her. But when given the chance to go back to her village, will Catey follow the leading of her heart?

I absolutely love this book. Even though it's sad enough to make you want to cry, it possesses a sort of charm that keeps you reading till the end.
I felt so sorry for Catey. And you will too, once you read this book. I won't spill the beans regarding the ending, so you'll just have to read it your self. I promise you, you won't be sorry!

Standing in the Light was a wonderful Dear America book, and one I could read over and over.

It tells, in diary form, about 13 year old Caty Logan who is growing up in her Quaker village in the 1760's. She is perfectly happy, with boys, learning housewifery, and schoolwork to keep her busy - but that all changes one day when she and her younger brother are captured by Lenape Indians.

At first Caty is desperate: she hates living with the rough Indians, who watch her diary writing curiously and force her to follow their Indian ways. But later, she learns that they are good people, though different than the Quakers, and she begins to make friends - and loved ones.

This was a great book! You really care about what will happen, if Caty will stay with them or return to her village. It was sad, but I love it!

I'd recommend this for ages 10 - 14, and I'd recommend some other captive stories: Trouble's Daughter, I Am Regina, Indian Captive, and Calico Captive.

The book called Standing in the Light by Mary Pope Osborne is a very good book. It is written in diary form. The story takes place in Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania in 1763. The main characters are Catharine Logan and her little brother, Thomas Logan. In Standing in the Light, Catharine realizes that she likes a guy who she's known for a long time. Later she finds out that there are Indiansnear where she lives that have beencapturing and killing people. One day when she and her brother were walking to school they get captured by Indians. They separated Catharine from Thomas. In Catharine's camp she meetsan Indian boy named Wine-lo-wich, which means Snow Hunter,who was also captured by Indians when he was young. Catharine laterrealizes that she loves Snow Hunter. Soon after that Snow Hunter disappearsafter he goes on a hunting trip. If you want to find out what happened to Snow Hunter and if Catharine and Thomas ever get home, you'll have to read Standing in the Light by Mary Pope Osborne. I thought that it was a wonderful book.