My son (age 4) has this book on his frequent reading request list! I like it too, but not as well as he does. He gets very confused by the parts of the book that are set above the ground, and I find them sort of needless---especially since on some pages there is no picture at all of the train underground. My son asks every time we are on those pages---"where's the train?". But that small flaw in our eyes is not enough to make him not like this book very much! His favorite part is the descriptive writing of how the train sounds! If you have a young train or subway lover, I would get this one!

My daughter, Isabel, and I live in DC at the metro stop that Quattlebaum describes in "Underground Train," and we love this book. The language is poetic, the story easy to identify with, and the illustrations nicely fit the action. I heartily recommend "Underground Train" to families with train-riding kids everywhere.

At first this book bothered me with it's lack of references. Bowman would make an assertion (or state a fact, depending on your views) but not provide a reference for fact checking. Some of the government reports he quotes do not even appear in the bibliography. One example of this is when he refers to "a 1979 government report." Looking in the bibliography, there are no references at all from 1979. My question: "Which report?"

In spite of this recurring problem throughout the book, there are some very important points which he makes. Our country is completely reliant on energy distribution systems that are vulnerable to disruption.

When I finished the book, I felt like he started out with his conclusion (the last 3 or 4 chapters) and then wrote the rest of the book to support it. This didn't work very well, but... the conclusions are important enough that I have a hard time dismissing the book as I was initially ready to do.

This book tells us the public secrets none of us realized until the World Trade Center bombing. Without telling terrorist how to destroy us, the author helps us all to realize that international terrorism is not just an easily ignored horror overseas, but is imminent to us. Our lives, our dreams; the very survival our country may depend on how our leaders deal with the issues in this book. Our country's web of utilities and other services have bound us together, and supported us through decades of hard times. They may now be our downfall

This is an excellent book about a family who with many trials and tribulations stick together and remain faithful to each other. It captures your attention immediately. You stay with it because you want to find out what exactly happens to each of them. In fact they begin to seem like your own family.
I reccommend it as a book for all ages.

Tears filled my eyes as I read this wonderful book. The colorful prose warmed my heart. The visual imagary was pricless. I felt as if I were there!!! The wonderful setting of beautiful North Carolina is well drawn. The characters are complex but believable. Alice Bowman is an unknown of fantastic skill. She should be on the NY Times best seller list. I am so looking forward to further books from this great talent.

This is an excellent textbook that has aged well and belongs close to the desk of anyone who is involved in managing forests and their contents. Hunter does an excellent job of pulling together ideas of landscape ecology, traditional wildlife management, and forestry techniques with a strong emphasis on the practical. The book is well written & I often find myself "coming to" seven or eight pages later after having pulled it off the shelf to look up one thing & then being drawn in to read more and more. My only complaint is that it IS a textbook, which affects the structure somewhat & more importantly affects the price. It is a lot to ask some of Hunter's audience to pay, but another way of looking at this is that it is cheaper in money, time and shelf space to get one good book than several bad ones, and this is certainly that one good book.

Malcolm Hunter's "Wildlife, Forests, and Forestry" is a gem of a book and an absolute must for every forest manager. This was the first synthesis of landscape ecology, wildlife biology, and forest management that I encountered, and I still refer to it today. Unlike many scholarly works, Hunter's treatment easily lends itself to operational, on the ground applications. Likewise, the prose is straightforward and suitable for those new to the field. I also strongly recommend his subsequent synthesis, "Maintaining Biodiversity in Forest Ecosystems," which is even better.

I am currently teaching a series on "Lesser-Known Women of the Bible." I find Professor Thurston's book to be based on sound research and thoughtful reflection. Of particular help was the section on the cultural and religious background, which focusses on the place of women in N.T. culture. I would suggest this book for study for both women and men who wish to explore what the Bible REALLY says about women.

This book is an excellent, thoroughly-researched, very interesting commentary on women in the New Testament. It provides both context and balance in discussing passages, analyzing the societies (Jewish, Roman, Early Christian and Hellenic) when the various epistles and Gospels were authored. Ms. Thurston discusses what is both said and unsaid, and provides more accurate translations of some of the more controversial or unclear language (i.e. diakonos). Of particular interest for those seeking further study is the bibliography included at the end of every chapter. An important and inspiring book.

A summary of the First World War and America's participation in the war. I have read a number of summaries of World War I, but Bosco managed to make this interesting by making it concise and with some little known facts. The reader can easily understand the history behind the war with an investment of two hours reading this book. Although written for high school students, this book can be read by an adult wanting to know something about this event. America's participation is highlighted, due to the educational nature of this book.
A good quick read about World War I.

This is an excellent history of World War I by a very skilled story-teller. It's a perfect book for young readers and a fascinating read for anyone interested in a concise overview of the war. Bosco also makes the human and personal side of the war experience come alive with a compassionate perspective through details often overlooked by others. I recommend it highly.

The atlas is U. S. centric even though the title is 'world atlas'. The map of the U. S. takes up about 25 pages, while the map of Italy, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslovia (formerly) take up 2 pages. And the spelling is unbelievable. Many of the place names are rendered in the native language instead of English, at least I assume so. North and South Korea, about the size of Kansas is shown at about 1/2 the size of Kansas. One normally buys a world atlas to learn about the world, not the U. S. A disappointment.

The twentieth edition of Goode's atlas of the world continues to be a standard for U.S.-educational purposes. The reference maps themselves are not too accurate and detailed, but they provide a reasonably well-balanced coverage of the world, with handy larger-scale inset maps for the more populous regions of each continent. There is an elaborate thematic section on a variety of topics about the world, the continents, and the United States in particular. This is supplemented by a very good statistical section, and the 30,000 entry index gazetteer contains a pronunciation guide for each entry, which is unique for a world atlas. Non-US buyers probably have better alternatives, but for school purposes for North America, this is a very good choice. The publication of this twentieth (!) edition illustrates the endurability of this work since 1922.

When I took my first college-level geography class, my professor told the class that Goode's World Atlas is the best atlas on the market. Fifteen years and a couple of editions later, it's still the best atlas I've ever seen. The atlas includes a commendable section on map projections, many excellent thematic maps, easy-to-read regional (general) maps, tables of country and landform sizes, and a wonderful index. If you're looking for a road map, this atlas probably won't help. If you want to learn about the world, or teach school-aged children about the world they live in, then this is one of the top resources out there.

A very sexy novel with twists and turns that really kept my interest from cover to cover...It is a strong story of two by-racial sisters from Detroit who had a black mother and a white father. Sharlene passes as white and leaves her family, thinking that her mother does not love her. She changed her name to Camille, reinvented herself, and married into a very rich prominent Virginia family...As the story unfolds we learn that this "very dangerous" aristocratic family has many dark secrets that they keep well hidden from the world......Sharlene's(Camille) sister, Karen who has dark skin searches for her "white" sister, believing that only she can save the life of their dying mother....This story of passion, ambition and betrayal is a page turner and is worth reading.

The book is one of intrigue and subtle romance. Atkins Bowman is a gifted storyteller. This book is a page turner providing many twist and turns throughout. Just when you thought you had someone figured out another family member pops up with their own hidden secret. Camille, aka Sharlene thought she had it all figured out and thought the world was a better place on the other side, NOT!

Atkins Bowman provided many thought provoking scenes and scenes that made the reader gasp. Near the conclusion you understood Sharlene's mother's treatment of her even if you didn't agree with her actions. Everyone and I mean everyone had a secret. The Stone family was as dysfuntional as they come. Great story!

I found this book to be very good. Of course it is an old story revisited. It reminded me of the old movie "Imitation of Life" with a deadly twist. The story moved quickly and kept my attention. The story had a little bit of everything including romance and intrigue. Some of the happenings within the family were a little hard to take, but it goes to show that we never know what goes on behind closed doors. It takes an open mind to read and enjoy a story like Dark Secret. Take it from this black woman who loves to read this book will be well worth the time spent reading it. If you enjoy it then you have to read "White Chocolate" also by Elizabeth Atkins Bowman.I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

David Bowman's "Let the Dog Drive," while frequently funny, seems to suffer from a case of wackiness for wackiness' sake, a sort of look-how-crazy-I-am voice that leads us through various scenes of senseless violence and college bull session-like ruminations on such highbrow fare as Emily Dickinson. Which is a shame, since there's a lot of good material here, hiding just behind the screen of self-conscious hilarity. The scene that lends the book its title hints at potential the rest of the story never quite lives up to, leaving us to grow tired of the orange motif, the limp terrorism subplot, and various instances where characters are shot or beat up without managing to elicit any sympathy from the reader. When a suposedly focal character dies and you find yourself not particularly caring and in fact being *annoyed* that the other characters are obsessed with her, you know this story is in trouble.

This book was one of my first adolescent literary loves. It was among the first that began my lensding library of contemporary fiction. As such, I have purchased it about five times. Each time that it comes back, I read it again. It is fresh and touching each time as it was the first. In Sylvia, I found a literary woman who was worth idolizing. She is by no means perfect, but it is by that token that one cannot help but love her. Not love her a little; rather, she challenges you to not fall madly and passionately in love with her. When you do, she won't give you another thought. She was a woman both self-absorbed and extroverted. Needless to say that I fell in love with her. She is a woman ruled by the men in her life, but fixed by a female literary force, both powerful and meek. In contrast, Orange Boy is ruled by women, powerful ones who are destructive when brought together. The conflicts of male and female energy, of intellectual and sexual concerns and of family versus personal responsibilities are presented in "Drive" like nowhere else that I have yet to find. This book is as brilliant as it was the first time that I read it. Thank you to Bowman for his intimacy with beauty.

I am not sure what this book is about. It's terribly arresting and I couldn't put it down, but if you enjoy clear-cut plot lines, and sensible characters, you'll quickly dismiss it. Mr. Bowman's writing in "Dog" occasionally veers into unexpected flights of fancy, but for a simple story of a hitchiking boy, it's immediately satisfying. I typically judge a book by its lasting impact upon me, and though it's been four years since first reading "Dog", I must recommend this title sheerly based on its staying power in my memory. Mr. Bowman competently wrote extrememly visual passages for this, his debut novel, and having devoured hundreds of fiction titles since, I think Mr. Bowman must have done something right if his images of Sylvia Cushman's fruit-chunking charm is still dancing in my mind's eye. If you choose to read a book titled "Let the Dog Drive", you should accept that it may not be smooth sailing all the way, but what a ride it is.

This book is a good refutation of the Watchtower booklet "Should you believe in the Trinty." I like how Mr. Bowman proved, on page 49, that the JW's are truly polytheist even though they claim to be monotheist. If Jesus is "a god" then you are making another God plain and simple. This book also exposes there belief that there are two kinds of creatures they claim are honored as gods is scripture- angels and men. This book is not an exhaustive study of the doctrine of the Trinity but rather a simple written explanation of the Trinity! This book will strenghten your faith in the Trinity and expose the error of the watchtower's "should you believe in the Trinity" booklet! Worship God as he revealed Himself.

Robert Bowman has presented us with a book that deals with the main issue that separates the WT from fundamental Christianity--the Trinity. No time was wasted in offering this rebuttal to the WT booklet, "Should You Believe in the Trinity?", since it was also published in 1989.

The book has 10 chapters:

1). Understanding the Trinity
2). The Bible and the Trinity
3). The Church and the Trinty
4). Will the Real Polytheists Please Stand Up?
5). Is Jesus a Creature?
6). Does the Bible Deny That Jesus Is God?
7). Jesus Christ Is God
8). Is the Holy Spirit a Force?
9). Trinitarianism in the New Testament
10). Worship God as He has Revealed Himself

Bowman demonstrates how the WT has dishonestly handled scholarly sources and misrepresented the early church fathers and their view of Christ. He also addresses the Watchtower's misunderstanding of this doctrine, which results in their typical "straw man" argumentation.

The book is not a difficult read, and it deals with many of the objections JWs have and offers answers for them.

There is a scripture index for easy reference and a recommended reading section for those interested in doing more research on the Trinity.

Unfortunately, most JWs will not take the time to do their own research in an attempt to understand all this doctrine really entails. They remain content to accept the "straw man" version set up by their organization.

Consider the following quotes from Bowman' book:

"As we shall see, nearly all of the arguments brought against the Trinity by JWs depend to some extent on misunderstanding the Trinity."(p.15)

"To say that the Trinity cannot be understood likewise is imprecise, or at least open to misinterpretation. Trinitarian theologians do not mean to imply that the Trinity is unintelligible nonsense. Rather, the point they are making is that the Trinity cannot be fully fathomed, or comprehended, by the finite mind of man. There is a difference between gaining a basically correct understanding of something and having a complete, comprehensive, all-embracing, perfect understanding of it. The way many other theologians would express this difference is to say that the Trinity can be understood, or 'apprehended,' but not 'comprehended.'

Some of the scholarly sources quoted in the JW booklet makes this very point. For example, the Encyclopedia Americana, which the booklet quotes as saying that the Trinity is 'beyond the grasp of human reason,' does make that statement, but in this context:

It is held[by trinitarians] that although the doctrine is beyond the grasp of human reason, it is, like many of the formulations of physical science, not contrary to reason, and may be apprehended(though it may not be comprehended) by the human mind." (pp.16,17)

Robert Bowman has done a great service to those who seek to know more about the Trinity to refute the deceptive teachings of the "Jehovah's Witness" cult. The book is intended for those who may be faced with tough questions at the door or at work or who may have a friend or a family member exposed to their propaganda. This book makes a point by point refutation of the JW position in their widely distributed pamphlet, as well as defending the apostolic doctrine of the Trinity. It then examines the historical record, which proves that the Trinity is not some pagan influence on the church centuries later, but the articulation of the central belief of the earliest Chrsitians. More significantly, Bowman uncovers examples in the JW pamphlet which can at the very least be called serious misrepresentations, if not outright deceit. As an example:

"Matthew 28:19 reads: "Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Do those verses say that God, Christ, and the holy spirit constitute a Trinitarian Godhead, that the three are equal in substance, power, and eternity? No, they do not, no more than listing three people, such as Tom, Dick, and Harry, means that they are three in one. This type of reference, admits McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, "PROVES ONLY THAT THERE ARE THREE SUBJECTS NAMED, . . . BUT IT DOES NOT PROVE, BY ITSELF, THAT ALL THREE BELONG NECESSARILY TO THE DIVINE NATURE, AND POSSESS EQUAL DIVINE HONOR." Although a supporter of the Trinity, that source says of 2 Corinthians 13:13 (14): "WE COULD NOT JUSTLY INFER THAT THEY POSSESSED EQUAL AUTHORITY, OR THE SAME NATURE." And of Matthew 28:18-20 it says: "THIS TEXT HOWEVER, TAKEN BY ITSELF, WOULD NOT PROVE DECISIVELY EITHER THE PERSONALITY OF THE THREE SUBJECTS MENTIONED OR THEIR EQUALITY OR DIVINITY."" (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, p. 552, as quoted in, Should you believe the Trinity?, Watchtower publication)

WHAT THE QUOTE REALLY SAYS:

The texts relating to the doctrine of the Trinity may be divided into two classes - those in which the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are mentioned in connection, and those in which these three subjects am mentioned separately, and in which their nature and mutual relation are more particularly described. 1. The first class of texts, taken by itself, PROVES ONLY THAT THERE ARE THREE SUBJECTS NAMED, and that there is a difference between them; that the Father in certain respects differs from the Son, etc.; BUT IT DOES NOT PROVE, BY ITSELF, THAT ALL THREE BELONG NECESSARILY TO THE DIVINE NATURE, AND POSSESS EQUAL DIVINE HONOR. In proof of this, the second class of texts must be adduced. The following texts are placed in this [first] class: Mt 28:18-20. THIS TEXT HOWEVER, TAKEN BY ITSELF, WOULD NOT PROVE DECISIVELY EITHER THE PERSONALITY OF THE THREE SUBJECTS MENTIONED, OR THEIR EQUALITY OR DIVINITY. ... 2 Cor. 13:14, " The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and beloved of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Here we might infer, from the parallelism of the third member of the passage with the two former, the personality of the Holy Spirit; but WE COULD NOT JUSTLY INFER THAT THEY POSSESSED EQUAL AUTHORITY, OR THE SAME NATURE. John 14:26 offers three different personal subjects ... Mt 3:16-17, has been considered a very strong proof text for the whole doctrine of the Trinity. But though three personal subjects are mentioned ... 2. We now turn to the second class of texts, viz. those in which the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are separately mentioned and in which their nature and essential relation are taught. These texts prove (a) that the Son and Holy Spirit, according to the doctrine of the New Testament, are divine, or belong to the one divine nature; and (b) that the three subjects are personal and equal ... The Deity of Christ: To prove the deity of Christ we present three classes of texts (McClintock and Strong: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol x, Trinity, p 552).

Given the difficulty of claiming to uphold Scripture and yet deny the Trinity, it is no surprise that JWs will resort to lying by selective quotation to argue their point. As a biblical doctrine, the Trinity relies not on a handful of "proof texts" as used by JWs, but on the entire corpus of the Bible, Old and New Testaments. One does not see the word "Trinity" in the Bible, nor is the immanent Trinity defined, but one can fully apprehend the economic Trinity in Sripture: the Father redeems mankind through His Mediator, Jesus Christ, in the communion with the Holy Spirit. Arians can do no more than grasp at straws. Glory to God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages.