This is the first and only text containing a complete and understandable body of knowledge on the disorder known as hemochromatosis. Thanks to this book our entire family has been able to efficiently and correctly diagnose this metabolic disorder. We were amazed to discover that the general population of physicians responded with skepticism and used outdated information. Some were reluctant to order the basic blood tests necessary to detect iron buildups. Not only does the book provide an excellent guide to detection and treatment, but more importantly it ameliorates the mental and emotional stress that comes from lack of knowledge and concern for your loved ones. It should be required continuing education reading for all medical practitioners.

The Iron Disorders Institute "Guide to Hemochromatosis" is a cogent book. The cover gets ones attention immediately, as it lists the symptoms on the cover. When my daddy died on July 4, 2000, I had never heard of Hemochromatosis, I am 57. He was diagnosed, too late, on July 1, 2000. After a zillion hours of searching the Internet about Hemochromatosis, I came away very angry about this "most common genetic disorder, because it is basically unknown by the layman and underdiagnosed by the medical profession, 1/250 have it and don't know it, and 1/10 carry the gene," per the CDC. (Many professionals still call it a "rare old man's disease.") Excuse me, but women have Hemochromatosis also. All that was needed was for my daddy to have had an early diagnosis, and give blood to reduce his iron level. This book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date information that the layman can read about Hemochromatosis. And the layman had better read it, because their doctors don't know about its prevelence, and many don't know to test for it. Instead the doctors continue to "well-meaningly" treat the patient's symptoms. Simple blood tests that are described in the book, can diagnose Hemochromatosis. The individual must arm themselves with this book's information and help educate their doctor. In fact, I have bought "Guide to Hemochromatosis" for a few doctors.

I am absolutely delighted with the Iron Disorders Institute
"Guide to Hemochromatosis"!

It has been three years since our family first heard the word
"hemochromatosis", and in that time I have searched public
and hospital libraries as well as the Internet in an attempt to
find factual, non-partisan, current information; comprehendible
by a layperson. I have sifted through clinical information beyond my level of understanding, as well as reams of half-truths, non-truths and sheer conjecture.

What an education, at such an affordable price! I sincerely
appreciate the fact that the Iron DisorderS Institute has offered
the knowledge that there are MANY disorders of iron metabolism,
not ONLY the one that genetically affects our family. They
have offered education in the form of charts, diet and nutritional information; COMPLETE understandable clinical information.

The CDC tells us "Approximately one of every 200 to 400 people
is affected, while one in 10 is a carrier making this one of the most common of the known genetic disorders in the United States". Sadly, it is one of the most MISSED diagnoses. With educational materials like this book offered by experts in the field, I feel hope and confidence that my husband will successfully deal with his diagnosis; our daughters will never experience what their dad has because of their KNOWLEDGE; and for our grandchildren, iron overload will be something they deal with through lifestyle choices and yearly monitoring - it will never hurt them. Perhaps most important, what a gift to an unsuspecting public, so many of whom carry this genetic mutation, and have yet to find that illusive, lifesaving diagnosis!

My most sincere thanks!
Cheryl Mellan,

Nolan's "biography" of the battle-torn Iron Brigade contains the most stirring description of the 1st day of battle at Gettysburg that I have ever read. His account of the bravery and heroism of these men is exceptional. At times I got a bit confused trying to keep track with whom was in charge of which regiment/brigade/division, etc., but this information is vital to the history of the brigade. This book also made me aware of the under-appreciated accomplishments of Lt. Col. Rufus Dawes who should be accorded the same recognition as other noble Union leaders during this battle, such as Chamberlain, Hancock and Warren.

This is the definitive history of what I consider the best brigade-sized unit in either army during the Civil War. Alan Nolan is THE authority on this famous, hard-hitting outfit and this book is a classic. Interesting, vivid, full of valor, heartbreaking losses, and gallant deeds, it chronicles the Army of the Potomac's sole western unit from its meager beginnings, its first engagement at Brawner's Farm the day before Second Bull Run, where it met and defeated the vaunted Stonewall Brigade in a vicious stand-up fight though outnumbered and still an untried unit of well-trained rookies. through the tough tutelage of veteran artilleryman John Gibbon, its first commander of note, to its moment of truth at Gettysburg, where, suffering almost 70% casualties, it goes into the fire unperturbed and outnumbered, both ruining and capturing opposing Confederate units, coming onto the field behind its tattered regimental flags like a wave of blue doom. I first became interested in the Iron Brigade while reading Bruce Catton's excellent trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. Not until this superb volume, however, did the whole story come out in gripping detail and hard-to-put-down narrative. The author paints a vivid picture of the realities of war, what losses can do to even a veteran, well-trained unit, and the value of personal valor and leadership. This book is highly recommended and should be on the book shelf of every Civil War reenactor, historian, and enthusiast.

This is the best brigade history I have ever read. It sets the standard for other brigade histories.

This is probably the best historical novel (or series, as there are seven of them) ever written. Entrancing, vicious, beuatiful, innocent, short-sighted people get caught in this story of fate and destruction. Great, thumbs up!

This is the first (and probably, the best) in Druon's excellent series, Les Rois Maudits (The Accursed Kings), dealing with the demise of the Kapetian dynasty and the beginning of the 100-year War. The legend has it that after King Philippe the Fair (Philippe Le Beau) disbanded (and destroyed) the Order of the Templars, their Master, Jacques Molais, cursed Philippe and his seed as he was burned at the stake. At the time of the curse, Philippe was in great health and had three grown sons. Less than a quarter of a century later, the Kapetians ceded the throne to their cousins Valois--for the lack of male issue to take up the throne and the inability of female issue to do so (prior to Philippe's death, a woman could techincally rule France). What happened? That is precisely the subject of Les Rois Maudits--and the first book deals with the family from the last months of Philippe's reign and until the ascention of his oldest son, Louis X.

I read this book in one day. I was awed by the characters, particularly Philippe and his gorgeous daughter Isabelle, Queen of England (remember Braveheart--the pretty French princess?), and of course, Robert D'Artois and his evil cousin Magot. The only problem with it is that it definitely leaves you hanging in the end, simply making you go and read the second book--the Prisoner of Chateau Gayard.

I would highly recommend it--it is gripping, well-written, historically accurate.

esta colección (son un total de 7 novelas) tiene la magia de transportarte al siglo XIV, y hacer del lector un miembro con oído y mirada aguda dentro de la corte francesa.

Si te gusta la literatura o la historia no dudes en hacerte de la colección. Admirablemente documentada.

Desafortunada e incomprensiblemente fuera de imprenta en español, francés e inglés.

La última edición en español, la realizó Vergara Editores, en edición de bolsillo (paperback),

Los títulos de la colección de Los Reyes Malditos en español son los siguientes:
El rey de hierro
La reina estrangulada
Los venenos de la corona
La ley los varones
La loba de Francia
La liz y el león
De como un rey perdió Francia

NO dejes de leerla

Even if you know the historical facts behind the story, you may be on the edge of your seat. With great detail to the action, Prata brings the Knights of Malta to life once again.
It is perhaps ironic that it does give some insight into the mind of Islam, given current world events. If you, like me, find tales of heroism in the face of unimaginable odds to be irresistable, this book fits the bill.
One thing I would have liked to have seen was more background on the knights and their motivations. (Read it and you will see what I mean!) Very good historical fiction, nonetheless.

This is a fantastic read! I loved every minute of it. I am astonished it's not a movie yet.

This book has a ton of great information and is an awesome adventure! Read it, you won't be sorry!

Herbert Werner's book has been printed many times, a testament to its writing and story. Werner joined the German Navy at the outset of World War II, and was able to rise through the ranks fo this extremely dangerous calling to command his own U-Boats by the end of the war. Werner writes his account from a chronological perpsective, from the early, easy successes to the end of the war and the bleak outlook Germany had ahead of them. Key events like the "Happy Time," the sinking of the Bismarck, the Battle of Britain and operation Sea Lion figure in, as do the attacks on Pearl Harbor, D-Day, and the waning days of the war.
Iron Coffins also exudes humanity, finding fault with the Nazi high command and the naval leadership that caused too many losses, weakened morale, and doomed Germany's effort. The title itself refers to Werner's view of the U-boats as floating deathtraps for most of their crews (perentage-wise, German U-boat crews had one of the top positions in any list of potential losses).

Werner was lucky to survive, given his job, and we are luckier still to have his account of U-boat work in World War II.

Reading World War II epics is a hobby of mine, and I can easily say that Iron Coffins is my all-time favorite book. I first read it in 1984 and couldn't put it down. I have read it about 15 times, and each time, it never ceases to captivate me at how Werner survived time and time again while the majority of his comrades met their fate at the bottom of the Atlantic. It is as if it was his destiny to preserve in writing this critical campaign of World War II. It tells you in vivid detail, the other side of the story-all Nazis were Germans, but not all Germans were Nazis. They had men, just like us, who would rather be somewhere else than in the heat of combat, wondering when they were going to get theirs. The vivid descriptions, going from Years of Glory to Disaster and Defeat made me feel like I was right there next to Werner, riding out the brutal storms in the North Atlantic, the ceaseless depth chargings, gasping for air, limping back into port, mauled and beaten, yet still alive. They went to war for their country. Nearly all of them perished. Now, read this tragic true story of one of the few U-boat commanders who lived to tell the tale. The Iron Coffin would not claim Herbert Werner's life. His book preserves the saga of Germany's undersea struggle. A masterpiece!

This is my all time favorite military history book I have read in my life!! Herbert Werner's life story is gripping and compelling with incredible real life accounts of daily life and death struggles as a U-boat commander. Great details of battle actions. This guy truely had "9 lives". How he ever survived was a miracle.

Bradamant is a rarity. A female knight in service to the Emperor Charlemagne. A respected and feared warrior knight, she is also a young woman coming of age and struggling with her beliefs. She is a lover torn between the enemy knight she loves and her devotion to her king. Fearless and ruthless on the battlefield, Bradamant is vulnerable and confused in love. With Bradamant: The Iron Tempest, Ron Miller has crafted a very highly recommended, classic medieval adventure tale of chivalry, humor, magic, treachery, and romance -- all from the perspective of a woman warrior holding her own in a male-dominated age of violence, intrigue, and treachery.

Ron Miller has given us a real treat! From white knuckle action and magical adventure to the highest ideals of chivalry and downright lust, BRADAMANT has it all. And it's presented in a richly literate prose reminiscent of Sir Walter Scott but doused with a wicked sense of humor. Don't miss out on this modern classic!!

A brilliant book destined to become a classic. Undoubtedly the best new fantasy novel of the past decade. I have read the book twice and plan to order the audio edition as soon as possible. I recommend this book without reservation--it's a must-read.

this book is what you need if you want to develop super strength without money.you will learn to train with barrel or shovel,to build your own primitive power rack and a lot of other things,but mainly you'll work very,very hard.if you haven't this book buy it immediately!!!you'll develop not only pure strength but also speed strength,resistance,endurance.......it's your final step in the quest of strength.become a dinosaurus,buy this book.

This is a unique book. It is not for bodybuilders but rather for those interested in building tremendous strength. What makes it unique is the honesty and freshness of the author. The book is truly written from the heart and has much unique information in it. There are many unusual lifts and training methods in it since the author shares his personal experiences (and experiments). One cannot help but learn from the book. Even those with no interest in building great strength will enjoy the book.

Who says you need a barbell? You can gain super strength by just using a Shovel and a Barrel.

This book is way better than 99.9% of the others out there. If you were to get four books I would get this, Olympic Weightlifting Encyclopedia, Russian Kettlebell Challenge and Mastery of Hand Strength. That is all you need. Ever.

The book contains edited and slightly commented oral arguments for a number of cases brought before the Supreme Court of the United States since Earl Warren ordered that oral arguments be recorded. Few know that it is possible to attend oral arguments at the court (highly recommended if you ever visit Washington D.C.), and even fewer know the recordings exist. This is a set of six tapes with edited and commented (by Peter Irons) cases, together with a book which transcribes the tapes and includes highlights of the opinions in the case. There is also a brief introduction to the Court in the first tape.

The cases touch on a number of issues, ranging from the highly controversial (Roe v. Wade and abortion rights, Edwards v. Aguillard and teaching of creationism in school, Johnson v. Texas and flag burning) to issues which perhaps aren't so controversial anymore (such as the 'one person, one vote' rule). They are, nonetheless, very interesting to listen to.

I have very few regrets about the book, but they should perhaps be mentioned. First, there is no doubt that there is a somewhat liberal slant to the presentation and comments by Peter Irons in the tapes; I don't find it too problematical since they tend to agree with my own feelings on the subject, but others may find it annoying. Second, I cannot but be somewhat disappointed that these are ->edited<- and not the full arguments. I realize one hour or more per case may be prohibitive and it is perhaps better to have more cases and edited highlights of the arguments, but I would have loved to have access to the full argument nonetheless. At least in some cases, the impression given is certainly not that of the whole argument (in Edwards v. Aguillard, one gets the feeling that the attorney for Aguillard did pretty well, but one need only read Stephen J. Gould's account of the arguments to know that Justice Scalia trounced him and it was only through the intervention of the amicus curiae brief by the Nobel Laureates that the eventual decision was reached). And thirdly, it is very disappointing that the companion book has only highlights of the opinions in the case. The full opinion (together with full dissents and concurrences) would have been a very welcome addition to the set.

Despite these problems (which are the reason I give it a 4 star rating rather than a 5; I wish we had a 4.5 rating), this is a highly recommended set. This is a great and facinating look at the Court and at oral arguments therein, and it is highly recommended. Even if you are only interested in three or four of the cases or issues, you will find it a very worthwhile investment.

I truly admire Peter Irons, the primary editor of this work. Anybody who brazenly stands up against a government agency in order to publish material in the public record (these Supreme Court recordings and transcripts were not supposed to be reproduced) is OK by me.

And what a collection this is! Even people without any interest or education in law or politics will recognize some of these -- and those who are law junkies will love them all. I do not necessarily agree with others that Irons chose cases based on his "liberal" leanings; the cases we see and hear are among the very most important in the ongoing struggle to define "what the law means" (the phrase Chief Justice John Marshall used in Marbury v Madison). Even if one disagrees with the outcome of particular cases, it's important and educational to *hear* just how the argumetns for both sides were presented. This eliminates much of the mystery behind how the court operates, and that is certainly a good thing.

I just love the book and recordings, and have read & listened to them over and over. I give my highest recommendation for this work, and even moreso for students and families interested in our system of criminal and civil justice.

I am not a U.S. Supreme Court enthusiast, but in light of the Courts activity in the 2000 presidential election case (George W. Bush vs. Al Gore), I searched out books on the U.S. Supreme Court and found "May It Please the Court" to be a fascinating read. It sheds light on the ebb and flow of the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings and reasonings over the past 30 years.

Recently millions of Americans were privileged to hear live the two presidential election cases that the U.S. Supreme Court took and vicariously we all had a "fascinating you-are-there experience." In "May It Please the Court" editors Peter Irons and Stephanie Guitton spent scores of hours at the National Archives in Washington retrieving and editing twenty-three cases and once again give average Americans the opportunity to experience, in proxy, each court case.

In 1955 the U.S. Supreme Court began tape recording all cases from which twenty-three ground-breaking cases were selected by Peter Irons and Stephanie Guitton. These are segmented into five sections: "Secure the Blessings of Liberty," "Congress Shall Make No Law," "In All Criminal Prosecutions," The Equal Protection of the Law" and "A Right of Personal Privacy." Each section has an informative foreword by the Editors.

Skilled advocates on both sides, as in the two presidential election cases, argue each landmark case forcefully, and most often, as in the recent presidential election cases, the Court's opinions have sparked controversy. Our Constitution invested great powers in government officials and these powers are only kept in check by the Bill of Rights. And these Rights only have meaning if government officials can be forced to obey them. Only the courts have the ultimate power of enforcement and thus the Supreme Court of the United States of America has the ultimate power. This excellent book helps all Americans to understand how this Court balances the legitimate powers of government officials and the rights of the people. Highly Recommended.

Hoping for Tony Kornheiser's Pumping Irony? How about Dave Barry or Carl Haaisen? Fahgetaboutit... This book is sick, sick, sick. I can't wait for his second effort. Telling it like is, Iron Mike style.

Iron Mike's scathing commentaries on the state of the nation and the world are dead on and absolutely hilarious. This book will make you think about how ridiculous our society can be, without being preachy. We are let in on the private life of Iron Mike; he introduces us to a regular cast of supporting characters who accompany him on his adventures. My personal favorite is his accountant (you'll see what I mean). There are plenty of celebrity cameos, as well. Most importantly, this book will make you laugh out loud again and again.

Much like his e-column, Iron Mike gives a big heap of non-stop profanities and more information about his personal habits than you'd ever want to know. If you think this is a bad thing - you're wrong! Anybody who gets offended easily probably wouldn't want to read it though.

A metaphor can be a very dangerous tool to wield; quite often while you are trying to reference one particular aspect of a thing, myriad other associations and relations spring to peoples' minds and they may well be quite different from those correspondences you intended to summon. Such is definitely the case with The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes--once England's poet laureate, now best remembered, albeit unfairly, by angry feminists as the husband who drove Sylvia Plath to her grave. Hughes tells the amiable story of a huge metal robot who crashes to Earth and after putting himself back together begins to sate his enormous appetite for metal by devouring cars and tractors and the like. Infuriated local farmers trap him, despite the efforts of one friendly boy named Hogarth. But the Iron Giant turns out to be quite useful when an enormous space-bat-angel-dragon attacks Earth and demands a tribute of animate matter to consume. The Iron Giant agrees to battle the monster, vanquishes him and determines that the creature is actually peaceful but was attracted to Earth by man's violence. The space-bat-angel-dragon agrees to return to space, where his "music of the spheres" has such a calming effect that Earth becomes a peaceful place.

Now the intent of Hughes's original story, as well as that of the very good recent movie which is loosely based on it, is to show the futility of war, violence, etc. Hughes book was written at the height of the Cold War and the space-bat-angel-dragon can be understood to be the Left's idealized version of the Soviet Union--a threat only because of our own attitudes and actions. The Soviet Union having been disposed of in subsequent years, the movie makes a more generalized anti-gun, anti-military, pro-nonconformity statement. But the truly delicious irony in both cases is that the most obvious subtext of the story is at war with the intended central message. Because, at the end of the day, the Iron Giant is nothing less than Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative come to life and saving the world. The author's pacifist message and the filmmaker's antiestablishment message are overwhelmed by the powerful metaphorical symbol of a gigantic defensive weapon being the only thing standing between mankind and certain destruction. How delightful the irony that book and movie basically end up being pleas for the biggest boondoggle in the history of the military-industrial complex.

I liked both book and movie very much. The film in particular may be the best non-Disney animated feature film ever made. Obviously the symbolism of the Iron Giant has escaped the control of the storytellers; but the metaphorical ironies merely add an additional layer of enjoyment.

GRADE:

Book: B+

Film: A-

This is such a delightful book filled with imagination and peaceful resolution to differences. Children are captured by the amazing character "Iron Giant" and us adults enjoy the simple way that life winds around in this story of two very alien creatures.

Neither children nor adults need know the intricacies of Ted Hughes' life to appreciate this book. In fact, they might be better off not knowing. England's poet laureate drove two wives to suicide--Sylvia Plath and, six years later, Assia Welville, who also murdered her child.

Readers need know nothing about the Cold War, either, though Hughes clearly created this story as an allegory about the evil of war. He gave the characters very little development. Hogarth, the boy who centers the movie based very loosely on this book, functions as a sort of trigger. But there's not much explanation about why he acts, or why anyone acts, for that matter.

Nevertheless, the plot will draw even the most tortured second-grade reader into its tangle of fantasy, words and poetry. And once there, he will find it impossible to escape until the book is done. (My favorite part is the music of the spheres--the music that space made, a strange soft music, deep and weird, like millions of voices singing together.)

The Iron Giant came to the top of a cliff one night, no one knows how or from where he had come. The wind sang through his iron fingers, and his great iron head, shaped like a dustbin but big as a bedroom, slowly turned right, then slowly turned left. Down the cliff he fell, his iron legs, arms and ears breaking loose and falling off as he went. The pieces scattered, crashed, bumped, clanged down onto the rocky beach far below, where the sound of the sea chewed away at it, and the pieces of the Iron Giant lay scattered far and wide, silent and unmoving.

See what I mean? When the Giant was discovered after biting a tractor in two, the farmers whose equipment he had ruined dug a deep enormous hole, a stupendous hole on the side of which they put a rusty old truck to attract him. Hogarth lured the Giant there, and when he finally came to the trap, the farmers filled it in on top of him and let out a great cheer. Of course, the Giant escaped, and Hogarth (who felt guilty) found a home for him in the local scrap yard, where he could eat tractors to his heart's content.

Then arrived from Space a terribly black, terribly scaly, terribly knobbly, terribly horned, terribly hairy, terribly clawed, terribly fanged creature with vast indescribably terrible eyes, each one as big as Switzerland. It landed in Australia, where it covered the whole continent, and all the armies of the world decided to fight this space-bat-angle-dragon, who demanded live creatures as food. They declared war and lost. It was Hogarth's idea to call upon the Iron Giant for help.

I won't tell you how the story ended. But the important point, for grown-ups at least, is that in creating his 1968 Cold War space-bat-angle-dragon, the erstwhile pacifist poet Hughes also created a vision of evil incarnate--the kind of evil that wishes to engulf the entire world, that cannot be reasoned with, cannot be pacified and must be fought. Ironic, isn't it? Alyssa A. Lappen