This is the best book in its category, both as a tool for preparation for exams and as a textbook by itself. This should definitely be the first book you read when studying for an exam.

This book is an excellent source of information both as a revision material and as a text book I do recommend all surgeons to read it

This book will be extremely valuable to any general surgery resident--it addresses a wide range of general surgery and surgical subspecialty topics, contains hundreds of multiple choice questions, and provides need-to-know information with clear explanations. I recommend it as the primary source for in-training review and board exam review.

St. Thomas More writes a series of meditations on the passion of Christ in this short volume, beginning with the betrayal of the Iscariot and ends with the actual capture and trial of Jesus. More wrote this volume while contemplating his upcoming martyrdom; while seeing his friends from the London Carthusian Charterhouse being martyred; while receiving messages of encouragement from Bishop John Fisher, who resided in worse conditions in the cell below him in the infamous Tower of London.

This volume is a wonderful volume for meditation, but needs to be taken slowly. More was not one for long, flowery sentences, and thus wrote very simply. The initial urge is to read quickly. It is best to take in each word with this volume and picture Christ's suffering in one's mind while reading. A good book.

St. Martha Parish in Okemos, Michigan Bulletin Book Club March 2002 Selection Fr. Jonathan Wehrle, Pastor
As Roman Catholics we accept that we will die to this earth and be born into another. Our religion is rich in historic saints whose sufferings and trials mirror our contemporary human reaction to impending death. St. Thomas More is an example. He refused, even when faced with execution and death in Renaissance England, to deny his Christian life. Rather, he focused "sharply on Christ's human reaction to His approaching death." [p. v]
St. Thomas More wrote his last book with the purpose of contrasting "Christ's way of acting with our own." [p. vi] More, a lawyer and judge, served King Henry VIII as Chancellor of the Roman Catholic Church of England until he resigned in protest at the actions the king was taking to destroy the Catholic Church in England. While King Henry VIII did sunder the Church of England from Rome and further abused human and religious rights, it was not without the ultimate protest from More. Reflecting upon Christ's steadfastness provided solace for More in the Tower of London awaiting trial and his last confession and execution.
This final work of St. Thomas More's shares his reflections on the Passion and Death of Christ. Christ as fully God begged as man his Father to remove the passion to come, but humbly submitted when the choice was presented. More concludes from this that while Christ made distinctions, we also "sometimes apply to our whole selves things which actually are true only of the soul [made in the image and likeness of God], and on the other hand we sometimes speak of our selves when strict accuracy would require us to speak of our bodies alone." [p. 30]
More, seeming quite contemporary, includes a Collection of Scriptural Quotes and Reflections and presents the case for such as right reason as a key to the next world, but also for making ourselves every day "living members, sweet Savior Christ, of Your holy mystical body, Your Catholic Church." [p. 154] While More did not wish to die to this world, he reflects that "Whoever saves his life in such a way that he displeases God shall soon afterwards, with no little grief, find his life thoroughly displeasing." [p. 144]
More's work in this text unmistakeably imprints the imagery in todays Catholic Church as one body of people called Church with Christ as its Head.

I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is one great meditation on Our Lord's passion. St. Thomas More is clear and succint. He takes ideas to their logical conclusion, and definitely has a gift in this regard- the gifts that made him a great lawyer and statesman, as well as a glorious martyr are quite prominent in his meditations. He'll remind you to pray like you're speaking to God and love like God Himself suffered & died for you. I really liked the book and I have no doubt that it helped me grow in my knowledge of God's love, myself, and my response to God's love.

After taking the SAP class Workload Analysis on performance tuning and being thoroughly baffled and confused, I bought a copy of this book. Much clearer and comprehensive than SAP's technical training I like the sections on memory and sql tuning for R/3. If you're a serious Basis admin or consultant you absolutely must get a copy of this book and learn it!

As a product manager that writes product specifications for SAP performance monitoring utilities I have found this book to be invaluable. As you may suspect I have a veritible library of SAP performance, capacity and administration books but I refer to this one 95% of the time. Undoubtedly the best guide ever written on SAP Performance.

I have said before that performance tuning SAP is more art than science... an arguable point. Thomas Schneider's depth of knowledge and experience regarding this tricky task comes clear in this book. Although lacking in specificity when it comes to database or operating systems, there is a world of usefull information about SAP buffers, processes, traces, and SQL tuning for the BC Admin tasked with improving performance without simply buying more hardware. This book is every bit as good as SAP's monitoring class. I would suggest a solid understanding of performance measurement and tuning for your RDBMS and OS as a pre-requisite to this volume.

First hand accounts of nearly anything except war, violent crime and weather, are scarce as hen's teeth for much of our history -- except of course for the lives of the endlessly quoted rich and famous. What Margaret Buchholz has done here is to collect an extraordinary range of first hand accounts from two centuries of observers concerning their visits to, occupations at, and thoughts about the New Jersey seashore. It may be easy to discount as mere anecdote, but historians and ethnographers turn again and again to the unimpeachable witness of those who actually lived in(as opposed to wrote opinions about) real places and real times. Hurrah for Buchholtz for finding, preserving and sharing such precious documents! The fact that this is a delightfully easy book to read only adds to the pleasure.

Visitors have been coming to the New Jersey shore for relaxation and recreation for 200 years. Some things have changed during that time. Not only did people at one time wear woolen "bathing costumes" in the ocean, they could rent them if they didn't have their own. (Yuck!) Before the Garden State Parkway was built, people experienced inconvenience and downright hardship to get to the shore. And yet, I also realized, reading this book, how little people at the seashore have really changed: Over the course of 200 years, people "bathed" or swam in the ocean or bay, held parties, ate their fill of seafood, walked the beaches or boardwalks in sunlight or by moonlight, went fishing and crabbing and hunting, flirted and otherwise had a good time--just as they do now. What I most like about the book is not just that it gives the reader a glimpse of the seashore over the past two centuries but also insight into the people who came to the shore, in their own words: What they thought about, what they hoped for, what they valued, how they lived, and how they played.

Through the words of those who have lived the history of the Jersey Shore, the authors have captured the essential spirit of this unique part of America. The people and their stories are fascinating. It was a real pleasure to read this book. Highly recommended!

I read this book with my 3 year old. The questions were over his head, but he still loved it. By simply discussing the pictures he learned about seasons, weather, the life cycle of a tree, and how painting techniques contribute to the mood of a piece of art.

I absolutely love Thomas Locker's art and share his love of trees. Each page of this book presents the same tree in a different light or season. Candance Christiansen's scientific and teaching background add good information to Locker's books. However, for me, it's still Locker's beautiful oil paintings that are the primary draw.
His painting of the tree with a night sky transports me to Georgia O'Keeffe's tree at night or Van Gogh's Starry Night. I'd have been just as thrilled with it at 3 as I am at 53.

This is one of the most awesome books I have discovered for children in a long time. The pictures are wonderful, the questions asked about the pictures are pertinent and thought provoking, and the notes in the back of the book are great!
I found this book in our school library, brought it home to share with my granddaughter, and she was fascinated! I am purchasing this book for my family library! Kudos to the author and illustrator!

Book one of the "Beta 3" series, Soldier Of The Legion by Marshall S. Thomas is an epic science fiction novel. Set in the far-flung future, Soldier Of The Legion chronicles the struggles of a brave squad of Legionnaires who must fight to survive horrific battles against a corrupt, slave-raiding empire -- and a far worse force of inhumans. A perilous, exciting space saga, Soldier Of The Legion is enthusiastically recommended reading for fans of the science fiction action/adventure genre.

Beta 3, called "Thinker," because others see his capacity to reason even though he has been trained to react instantly as a part of a military team, is sent with his detachment to Andrion 2 to secure the planet. He is part of "The Legion," an army sworn to protect to the death. And death is the price a soldier of the Legion must be willing to pay to defend the Confederation of Free Worlds against the "System." Although an uneasy truce exists between "ConFree" and the System, unusual activity on Andrion 2 leads the Legion to speculate about possible illegal actions from the "Systies." Thinker is part of a unit. Each soldier has a unique personality. Some, Thinker is convinced, are insane. But in the Legion, they are brothers. One mind - one heart - and one life.

The planet is inhabited by a people the soldiers refer to rather derisively as "Scalers." These people, actually called the "Taka," attack the Legion. But, when they are saved by the soldiers from the disgusting exosegs, horrible, deadly creatures that aren't supposed to be on Andrion 2, the Taka declare their loyalty to the Legion.

What is happening on the planet? Are the Systies there? How did the exosegs get to Andrion 2? Nothing makes sense. Thinker's sense of alarm is muted by his desire for another soldier, Priestess - and the conflict he feels when a past love from his training days on Planet Hell shows up and declares that she and Thinker are tied together for eternity. Where is his heart? Does it belong to Priestess or Valkyrie? Is this emotional battle compromising his ability to sense danger? Thinker needs all of his wits and training - because there is a surprise on Andrion 2. One more diabolic and dangerous than any of the soldiers have prepared themselves for.

SOLIDER OF THE LEGION is a deep, rich story that captures the heart of Sci-fi while bringing the elements of suspense, mystery, horror, and romance together and blending them into a perfect story that everyone will enjoy. Thomas's talent as a writer shines through the action, making the dialogue captivating, and in many passages, moving. His protagonist, Thinker, may be involved in a life that few of us have experienced, but Thomas keeps Thinker so human that we are able to experience the joy, the pain, and the fear that a soldier of the Legion endures while putting his or her life on the line without question.

I highly recommend SOLDIER OF THE LEGION, one the best books I've read this year! Watch for the next books in this exciting series!

Book one of the "Beta 3" series, Soldier Of The Legion by Marshall S. Thomas is an epic science fiction novel. Set in the far-flung future, Soldier Of The Legion chronicles the struggles of a brave squad of Legionnaires who must fight to survive horrific battles against a corrupt, slave-raiding empire -- and a far worse force of inhumans. A perilous, exciting space saga, Soldier Of The Legion is enthusiastically recommended reading for fans of the science fiction action/adventure genre.

A clever title and a very clever book. Wide ranging in scope, with many unusual insights. At the present bargain price it is a must have. Makes you think, and not in the usual way you think.

Oceanomare of all feeling & thoughts connected with the pool, T.A.P. van Leeuwen, a teacher of mine, has written a book about all the different aspects of the swimming pool. TAP van Leeuwen manages to evoke new kinds of interesting emotions concerning water- and he manages to fill the pool with these emotions. After all, the pool, as he himself describes it, has no very interesting shape: it's just a floating boarding or a concrete hole-in-the-ground.

TAP van Leeuwen has made an excellent choice to show as much as possible in different media, all shattered around on the spread: notes next to the text next to pics. The very thorough and beautiful design of the book itself makes this possible- and points back to its archetype, the "Bauen in Frankreich"-book by Sigfried Giedion (a lifelong teacher for van Leeuwen). I liked very much the part about all the fifties-Hollywood-stars, sitting besides or floating atop of the water, in their expensive tweed costumes, afraid of the water and proud of their success (of owning a pool?). Let's all take a dive into the richness of this book, a book definitely not about architecture, only, architecture is the only housing into which these stories have a room.

This is the second in an anticipated series of four unorthodox books by a Dutch historian on architecture in relation to the classical elements: sky, water, fire and earth. The first volume, about the metaphysics of the American skyscraper, was published in 1988; while the third, which will focus on buildings destroyed by fire, is in preparation. This second volume, which is illustrated by more than 200 drawings, plans and vintage photographs, is a wonderful visual and verbal review of the origin and evolution of the domestic swimming pool, which is, as the author describes it, "the architectural outcome of man's desire to become one with the element of water, privately and free of danger." To swim in a hole in the backyard, he continues, "is a complex and curious activity, one that oscillates between joy and fear, between domination and submission, for the swimmer delivers himself with controlled abandonment to the forces of gravity, resulting in sensations of weight- and timelessness." This is a history of architecture, as exemplified by a single building type; while, at the same time, it is a rich, multi-faceted social history in which the behavior of humans toward water is shown in relation to religion, sex, art, psychology, engineering and architecture. (Copyright by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol. 15, No. 1, Autumn 1999.)

The fascinating and true case of Judith Coplon, who was arrested and charged with spying for the Russians against the US right after World War II, is a story which continued to unfold over a long period of time. For 18 years, the case was on hold, then dropped by Ramsey Clark, but interesting revelations have come forth quite recently. The Mitchells have done a masterful job of detailing this saga of love and betrayal, of guilt and innocence--some of the facts of this case still have powerful implications for today. This dramatic tale would make a wonderful film.

Great story! Even more surprising that it is all true. A surprise ending for those of us who didn't live through the era. A good read for anyone who finds interest in U.S. history, good and bad actions by the government, or just good story-telling.

This is an amazing story, well told. The fact that Judith Coplon managed to maintain her innocence through two trials (which were as much theater of the absurd as anything), remained out on bail for 17 years after the verdicts in both cases were thrown out, and then through the ensuing 33 years is simply amazing, when in truth, she WAS a spy for the Soviet Union. Perhaps not one of their big ones, and perhaps a spy who never passed along much information or even particularly secret or damaging information, but a spy nonetheless. Despite despicable behavior on the part of the U.S. gov't (arrest without a warrant, illegal wiretapping, practically double-indemnity, and a vicious prosecutor who displayed Judith's sex-life in public, etc.), they were right, but they couldn't prove it without revealing the most damning secret of all--that the U.S. had cracked the Soviet code. Not until the secret files of the Venona Project were opened up in the last couple of years could the truth be known, long after most participants in the case were dead. But Judith Coplon is still alive, and her husband, who all along believed in her innocence (and was the attorney who launched her successful appeals) was shocked upon hearing the information. It IS like a Hitchcock thriller. Highly recommended for anyone interested in spies, the Cold War, or the FBI. And strangely relevant to readers today, as well.

SEEKING SPIRITUAL DIRECTION is a thorough-goingly Roman Catholic book that may be surprisingly accessible to non-Catholic Evangelicals (like myself).

Dubay fervently believes that contemplation (not voluntary "meditation" but divinely infused "contemplation") is the proper goal of every Christian, not just of an elite corps of mystics, but he is quite clear that the road to holiness is just as narrow as Jesus said it would be, and that few find it. He offers nothing like Spiritual Victory in 3 Easy Steps, but he does set out a notion of the spiritual life that is surprisingly orderly. From the Catholic tradition, he discerns that the Holy Spirit works in definite ways, and that spiritual direction involves helping the directee to remove impediments to the Spirit's work. I get the impression that Dubay is a humble person but knows his craft well and is entitled to confident judgments about these things. Reading his books gives me the strong feeling that there's more real "science" to this field than I would have supposed.

Dubay believes that having a spiritual director is critical for growth in Christ, but he acknowledges that finding a spiritual director (especially one competent by Dubay's rigorous standards) can be very difficult. He offers suggestions on how to find one (but the non-Catholic will probably find his suggestions unhelpful). Chapter 7 of the book is "Can I Direct Myself?", but Dubay forbids you to read this chapter out of order.

Dubay is a thoroughly orthodox Roman Catholic, and this fact shows in his emphasis of such points as: that spiritual direction is ecclesial, and must take place within the ministry of the Church; that sacramental confession is a necessary prerequisite to spiritual direction; and that spiritual growth requires obedience to the Church and docility to its Magisterium. Non-Catholic readers will have to consider whether it's really honest to make a non-Catholic use of his insights, given that the non-Catholic will resist some of what Dubay considers essential and non-negotiable. On the other hand, Dubay's writing is exceptionally accessible to Evangelicals, because his use and citation of the Bible is so frequent and overt. (Parenthetical Scripture references are sprinkled across every page.) His references to our Lord's mother are unmistakably Catholic but extremely modest (see pp. 58, 126, 183, 202-03, 254, 262, 264). (Mary is almost absent from FIRE WITHIN.) Dubay is critical of sensationalism, such as that associated with Marian apparitions. He doesn't mention Medjugorge, but one senses that's what's in mind when he bemoans "sincere people more interested in crossing an ocean to visit the place of an alleged apparition than in visiting the Blessed Sacrament in their parish church" (p. 156).

I have two criticisms of the book: First, that Dubay's editor failed him, and left in some apparently unintentional repetition; and second, that some chapters employ a question-and-answer format that I found off-putting. (Is the questioner fictitious (i.e., Dubay himself)? If so, the naivete of the questioner and his effective compliments to Dubay are odd.) However, these faults don't by any means overwhelm the book's prodigious good qualities.

I find SEEKING SPIRITUAL DIRECTION to be a very helpful and encouraging mix of the theoretical and the practical. As an example of the "practical" end of things, he has a chapter entitled "How can I continue to grow?" that lists and discusses 44 "conditions for genuine progress". Some of them are common-sensical and predictable ("Determination", "Single-mindedness"), while others would not have occurred to me ("Particular examen", "Renouncing trivialities"). As another example, the chapter "Discernment: Assessing my progress" lists and discusses 19 "signs of progress"; and again, some of the signs are familiar, but others are less so ("Pilgrim frugality", "Rejection by the world", "Absence of egocentrism").

I found especially thought-provoking Dubay's distinguishing between sinning, on the one hand, and, on the other, being tempted to sin. It's a distinction that I feel I have always known theoretically, but Dubay's specific comments on it were very illuminating. Maybe the Accuser has duped us into false guilt for non-sins, both to distract us from our real sins and to discourage us from striving for spiritual excellence.

I recommend this book to those interested in spiritual direction or, more generally, in spiritual growth.

Spiritual direction is complex and sensitive. This author provides much clarity about the nature of spiritual direction, differentiating it from psychotherapy quite clearly. More than this, the book provides guidance in the need for direction and how to find someone who can meet the individual's needs. After reading this book, I wrote the author a note because I was so grateful for his wisdom.

Father Dubay's presentation, refreshing in its "gospel truth" rather than trendy psychology or New Age pablum, is a brilliant exposition of ascetic theology, flavoured with deep insight and a "working knowledge" of true Christian charity.

Father Dubay works from extensive experience, but his book is always solidly grounded on the Scriptures and the writings of the classic spiritual guides. He does not omit the "unpopular" notions (obedience, informed conscience, etc.) , and, relating them to the visions of Vatican II, makes it clear that the Church has never denied their vitality.

Those who are not Roman Catholic, or whose primary emphasis is not on fidelity to the magisterium, should not find Father Dubay's stress on such fidelity to be off-putting. Obedience, in some sense, is always integral to spiritual direction, and there are other aspects of his thought that are valuable to all which "hide" behind these passages. For example, in one illustration, Father Dubay speaks of how a director must be honest in pointing out that contraception or failure for religious to wear distinctive garb contradicts Vatican teachings. These examples may be troublesome to non-Catholics, yet the underlying point is universal: how spiritual directors must keep those in their care from self-deception or rationalising.

This is the "genuine article" - true ascetic theology. It is not a handbook for a weekend read that sets one to believing s/he has reached the heights of sanctity in a few days. My only regret is that it was not available twenty years earlier.

Peter Kreeft of Boston College has performed a work of mercy for those of us who were cheated in college by being kept in blithe ignorance of the greatest Christian philosopher. Ironically, I was cheated at a Catholic university of exposure to Aquinas! But Peter Kreeft has provided selections of Aquinas with generous footnotes explaining and enlightening various passages and even including diagrams for those of us trying to catch up. I can comfort myself with the thought that a well annotated book by Kreeft, who is also a skilled Catholic apologist, is assuredly better than what I probably would have received anyway as an undergraduate in a decidedly confused Catholic university.

One need not be a Christian, nor even a Roman Catholic, to know of the centrality of Saint Thomas Aquinas to medeival philosophy. In his monumental work, the "Summa Theologia" (and, to a lesser extent, the supplementary tract "Summa Contra Gentiles"), Aquinas kept Aristotelian 'pagan' philosophy alive by applying its principles to the Church. Unfortunately, readers today (save for the most devout, I suppose) hardly have the time to read the whole thing. This is where Boston College's Peter Kreeft helps out. Further concentrating his previous Aquinian abridgment, the "Summa of the Summa," Professor Kreeft gives us the most accessible reduction of Aquinas's philosophy with "A Shorter Summa." Well-edited, well-translated, and well-organized, this small book is a fantastic summary of the monumental philosophy written centuries ago by the official Doctor of the Church.

I had the pleasure of taking a class in Medieval Philosophy with Peter Kreeft. We used this text in our survey of St. Thomas Aquinas alongside G.K. Chesterton's "Dumb Ox"--which I also recommend as a secondary source. This is a wonderful introduction into the thought of one of the most brilliant minds in the history of the world. Aquinas's "Summa Theologica" is an overview of Christian philosophy and theology, according to Aquinas. It is, however, over 5,000 pages long--a bit much for the common reader. In "A Shorter Summa" Kreeft has selected and annotated the most vital sections of the Summa, making Thomas's philosophy both accurate and accessible. If you are looking for a little more to chew on, I'd advise Kreeft's other abridgment entitled "Summa of the Summa"--hence, my title. "A Shorter Summa" is a gem, packed with more knowledge than most books five times its size. I not only recommend it; I plead that you give it a whirl.