Rigal's book is a radically fresh reading of American federalism as a broad cultural phenomenon. It's far out, but far out in the very best sense--a creative and powerful revision.

This book is the only one that can really convince you that Brownson ranks just below Tocqueville as a commentator on America. Lawler's introduction--A GREAT BOOK ON AMERICA IN ITSELF--is what will convince you.

Compiled and edited by Bruce Frohnen (Assistant Professor of Law, Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, Michigan), The American Republic: Primary Sources is an immense 724-page compendium of archival writings directly pertaining to the history of America, stretching from over a century before the Revolutionary War to shortly before the Civil War. A straightforward presentation of texts ranging from governmental charters to veto messages and the fifth Lincoln-Douglas debate, The American Republic is unvarnished with commentaries or interpretations; it is exclusively a collection of the primary sources themselves, leaving the reader to draw conclusions as he or she sees fit. The American Republic is an excellent and very welcome addition to American History reference shelves.

That's a book that try to explain the biogenesis of essential oils in plants. The 2nd. chapter gives a brief introduction to biochemical reactions and precursors of essential oils. Moreoever, the book has an introductory chapter with techniques of Essential Oils Analysis.

Anna Kerttula was the first American anthropologist to conduct long-term fieldwork in Chukotka, which is located in eastern Russia just across the Bering Strait from Alaska. She comes from a background that gives her a unique and very valuable perspective on Chukotka: she was raised in a rural Alaskan family, and visited many Alaskan Inuit and Yup'ik villages as a child. All that time, she was acutely aware of the presence of Chukotka and its Native villages just out of reach beyond what was dubbed the "ice curtain" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. She dreamed of going there, and was finally able to do so as a graduate student in anthropology. In the Soviet period, because Chukotka was so close to the United States, it was a carefully-guarded closed region -- even Russians had to have special permission to travel there. Kerttula began her fieldwork in the village of Sireniki on Chukotka's coast in 1989, two years before the collapse of the Soviet Union, so she had the rare opportunity to experience life there before the drastic changes that came in the 1990s. She describes for us many different aspects of the lives of the Yup'iks, Chukchis, and Russian "Newcomers" who live in this village -- their occupations of reindeer herding and sea mammal hunting for the Soviet collective farm in the village; their ideas about social relationships, marriage and family, etc.; the symbolic importance of the tundra and the sea. It is a fascinating glimpse of daily life on the eve of the Soviet Union's demise. This is an excellent introduction for anyone interested in the Russian Arctic (a.k.a. Siberia)-- it is well-written, accessible, and full of fascintating profiles of the inhabitants of this small village. Lots of good black and white photos, too.

Paul Polansky has done a first-rate job. "Antonin Dvorak, My Father" gives insights into Dvorak's life that can only come from somebody who was so close to the man himself. Polansky is a seasoned researcher, and the quality of his scholarship shines through the whole book.

Sarah describes the birth story of coffee chain "Coffee Republic" (see above). Her trip to NY, the cravings for skinny lattes and foamy cappuccinos, the idea, the awful coffee in the UK or rather the lack of it, the business plan and finally the first shop in South Molton street! Read this book and you will discover that passion, enthusiasm, gut feeling, good timing, support and hard work will eventually pay off! Sahar and her brother Bobby are both millionaires, only eight years after the first Coffee Republic bar appeared in the market.

By Thei Zervaki
author of Globalize, Localize, Translate

"Armed With Patience" is the best treatment out there of what's happened to life in Russia since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Winchell tells us about the Russia few Western journalists and tourists ever see, from shopping and health to children and spirituality -- and much more. Her observations are based on two nine-month stays in the 1990s, and are enriched by her language fluency and solid grounding in Russian history and culture. Winchell is a keen observer and gifted writer. Details, anecdotes, and proverbs take us from the general to the memorable. "Armed With Patience" is a little jewel.

The only reason that this five volume work is rated with five stars is that is the highest I could go on this forum. It rates a 'ten' easily.

This monumnetal, authoritative, exhaustively researched work is also a great read. Ramsay Phipps delved into the lives and accomplishments of some of the greatest soldiers in history and came up with the definitive work on the period. Generally, we are given information and books from 1800-1815 on these same individuals, at least those that survived the French Revolutionary Wars. Here we see them at their beginnings, from peasant, private soldier, apprentice dyer, poor, but proud minor noblemen (of which Napoleon himself was one), smuggler, and are dragged or thrown onto the stage of one of the greatest events in the history of man, the French Revolution which launched Europe into almost 23 years of constant, bloody warfare that brought down kings, lay countries prostrate, and changed Europe, and the world forever.

High deeds and bloody battles flow through this work to tell of the high-hearted Marceau, the brilliant, dedicated Desaix, the monumental Kleber, who was described by Napoleon as looking like the god of war, Mars, as he led his troops into the fire. The multi-talented Berthier, who would become Napoleon's indispensable chief of staff, iron-hand Soult, incorruptible Davout, taciturn, deadly Reynier, they all pepper these volumes to weave a tale of valor, sacrifice, and victory for la patrie.

This work must be put back into print, and it is worth the price asked. It is an indispensable work, accurate, reliable, and fascinating to read. If you don't own it or haven't read it, you are missing out on one of the highlights of Napoleonic period literature.