As a reader of this series for many years I can certainly appreciate the breadth of information the Almanac provides for each and every state, Congressional district, Senator and Representative. To have all of this contained in one book is quite impressive.

Unfortunately I have grown tired of the author's personal opinions filtering into the text. Such bias has grown with each edition to the point that it is virtually impossible not to question the figures the books quotes out of concern that they are merely there to further the author's agenda and personal political viewpoints. This is a shame, as it has ruined a good series.

... and her politics than by reading this book. Barone and Ujifusa's Almanac serves not only as "the Bible of American politics," providing a wealth of information on our Senators and representatives, but paints memorable portraits of culture and society in all of America's states and in each of our country's 435 Congressional districts. If you have read Barone's classic, Our Country, you will remember his thesis that culture, ethnicity and geography (rather than economic status) are the driving forces behind Americans' political choices. Barone's detailed sketches of individual American communities illuminate these geographic and cultural rifts. Better than any other work I've seen, the Almanac explains WHY the politics of San Francisco is different than that of rural Kansas or Appalachian Kentucky.

This almanac is an incredible source of information on all 100 senators, 435 congressmen and women, and 50 governors. From detailing their biographies to their rise to power, this almanac is interesting, detailed, and very easy to absorb. If you are looking to learn about politics for the first time, or if you are a political junkie, this is definately for you.

To begin, John Clute and company's The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is an essential book for anyone who is serious about fantasy. Having said that, much of this review is going to focus on negatives rather than positives.

As can be expected with any book this size, mistakes have crept in. Within the first few days, I found several errors, mostly minor. A book attributed to Lynn Abbey which was written by Robert Asprin, a mistaken title for a book by Charles de Lint, that sort of thing. These mistakes, however are minor.

Perhaps a bigger problem with the Encyclopedia is the strange inclusion and omission of authors. Neither Sterling Lanier or Steven Frankos are included in the book, however Steve Szylagi, who has written a single fantasy novel has received an entry. According to Clute, the book does not claim to be as complete as its predecessor, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and the editors were forced to make some cuts. It would have been nice if he could have given some hint as to the selection criteria in the front matter. One friend suggested that if an author was included in the first book they would be left out of the second book, but too many authors appear in both books for this rule of thumb to be applied (Charles de Lint, Mervyn Peake, Larry Niven, etc.)

A larger percentage of The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is given over to thematic entries than The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Fantasy, however, has more common themes and prototypes than science fiction does, therefore making these types of entries a larger portion of any survey of the field. Still, the reader has to wonder about entries such as "Pornographic Fantasy Movies" which is so vague ("few researchers are willing to sit through the stuff...") as to be titillating rather than informative.

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy also repeats one of the faults of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. The author entries could contain more biographical data to supplement the bibliographical data already included. I'm not looking for gossip, merely some idea of what helped formulate the authors' writing.

Despite these flaws, The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a major and important reference work. Essential to any library. Clute is still in negotiations to issue the Encyclopedia on CD-Rom. He says that if a deal goes through, he'll be able to replace author entries which were cut from the print version. The electronic format would be a welcome addition to the printed book.

This is the most exhaustive Fantasy reference available.

All of the contributors are concise, probing and informative. Even if you don't know the author or work being cited, it is as revealing as its arguments are persuasive, which can lead you to the library to learn more.

For anyone who gets lost in the sea of jargon used throughout, the book is a glossary in itself, so don't fret! It includes the definitions of common Fantasy terms such as "Swords and Sorcery", "Fairy", and esoteric terms, like "thinning".

Basically, if it's not in here, it's not worth reading -- or at least according to the authors. They said that they've only discluded authors who they consider relatively unimportant.

A long entry indicates the importance of the author, so of course Tolkien's entry takes up a few pages. Get books by those authors if you want to read the groundbreaking genre-defining stuff.

John Grant's movies reviews are very inciteful and comprehensive. Without giving ratings, he often hints at what made one either good or bad, which can help you decide whether to see it or not.

If you want to get more interested in Fantasy, but can't pick the good books and movies from the bad, this should enlighten you. I find it a great means of escape.

Lawrence

This wonderful book will give great enjoyment to anyone who loves fantasy. It is amazingly comprehensive, well-written, carefully edited and proofread, and as fair and objective as it's possible for such a book to be. In addition to the extensive coverage of authors (including those not known primarily for fantasy), it also includes a great deal of information on movies and TV. As an opera lover, I was delighted to find 24 pages on that topic. A few of the most curiosity-piquing entries are Cauldron of Story, Timeslips, Thinning, Recursive Fantasy, Rationalized Fantasy, Crosshatching, Into the Woods, Instauration Fantasy, Godgame, and Taproot Texts. Read this book to find out about all these and much, much more.

I tried author on basis of great reviews from other customers. After wasting time reading the first 5-6 chapters I jumped to the last 2-3 chapters and was glad I hadn't wasted more time reading entire book. I never felt anything for any of the characters, especially the policeman boyfriend who was about as animated and interesting as a lump of dirt. The killer was easy to figure out (and I didn't even read the whole book) and the reasoning for the killing left me thinking, huh? I guess we all have our likes & dislikes and I seem to be in the minority of opinion about this author, but I found Cuttings to be boring, boring, boring.

I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer below. I found Cuttings to be Grant's best mystery to date, and I also thought number 2 was better than the first. This book in particular had added suspense that kept me awake until all hours. And here's another thing we disagree on - I think Sydney should have trusted Tom Thurgood less, not more. A great read IMO.

I read Cuttings by Anne Grant in one huge gulp. Sidney Teague is back! I started reading the series because Multiple Listings concerned Realtors. I thought she nailed us. :) My interest in her character has grown with each book. Cuttings concerns the floral industry (which I found to be surprisingly fascinating), and I was grabbed from the first page. The plot had a very unexpected turn, at least for me, and I loved it. It was one of those slap your forehead and say DUH times. The clues were there, but Grant had me so caught up in the story I missed them. It is a wonderful mystery that gives us a glimpse into the new urban south of Charlotte. I love Sydney and highly recommend this book and the first two Multiple Listing and Smoke Screen. You might as well buy them all while you are here, because you'll come back for them. Cuttings is a must read for mystery lovers.

With meticulous scholarship, Grant exposes the racist, elitist, unscientific and subversive policies of Planned Parenthood and the free ride they have received from the American government, media and academia. The details in any one chapter would be a devestating indictment, taken together they show a horrifying pattern of Orwellian activity. The chapter on abortion-related medical studies (and Planned Parenthood's suppression of them) alone has probably saved lives. This is required reading for every parent, person of color, school official and especially for anyone who works with Planned Parenthood or sees them as a benevolent or merely misguided organization. Keep in mind that this will not be light reading (a bazillion footnotes) and it will shock and anger you, but it will be an informative and eye-opening page-turner.

George Grant has blown the lid off of the myth of compassion known as Planned Parenthood. They dismember babies. I am not even going to try to be eloquent-Dr. Grant has handled that quite well, thank you!

If you thought that PP was an organization in the business of helping women, you should read this book. (The footnotes themselves are a book)

If you are pro-life and already are leery of PP, you should read this book-they are much worse than you ever dreamed.

No supporter of PP can read this book with an open mind and still claim that PP is what they portray themselves to be.

I read this book in three days, it was a page-turner, very informative, well researched and well written. Dr. Grant dedicated ONE chapter of the book to the founder of Planned Parenthood, but you can read more about her in: "Killer Angel: A Short Biography of Planned Parenthood's Founder, Margaret Sanger" by George Grant. Grand Illusions is factual, and I can't imagine how anyone can argue that point. All you have to do is look at the end notes. There are hundreds of them, including many of Planned Parenthood's own publications. Grand Illusions is written with a Christian worldview and understandably this will not go well with many. If you have your children in the public school system, then you need to read this book!

The Knightsend compliation marked the end of a two-year story arc in the Batman comics, which began in Knightfall when Bane broke the Batman's back. After numerous adventures, the new Batman, Jean Paul Valley (Azbats) went over the edge and started killing, forcing Bruce Wayne to return and reclaim the mantle of the Bat. Knightsend chronicles Bruce's training under a ninja master and his final confrontation with the new Batman.

While Knightsend is good reading, this one is really for devoted Batman fans only. Like all compilations, a lot of the history is lost in various back issues and collections, so first-time readers won't feel the epic effect that Knightsend and its fellow story arcs had on the Batman saga. Also, while the story is based around the redemption of Jean Paul Valley, don't expect any in-depth literary themes or character studies, as have been in such Bat-titles like "The Killing Joke". The story is action from start to finish, with very little else in between; in other words, it's a typical comic-book story, not the book you're going to use to convince your girlfriend why Batman comics are worth reading. Finally, and this is another fault of being a compilation, the story drags in places. Suspense is built when you read the story piece by piece, as they were originally published every two weeks or so, but when you read them in one go, you realize how some subplots were dragged out to fill up space in an issue.

Criticism aside though, Batman: Knightsend is still worth picking up, mainly because it does feature a pivotal point in the mythos. The art ranges from good to excellent; there is a minor continuity issue among the ninjas sent to attack Bruce, probably because some of the artists took creative license and altered their appearances, but this is a minor complaint. The individual dialogue boxes are excellently written, as is the norm for the folks who write the Batman comics.

If you're missing some parts to the story, or want to explore one of the most controversial story arcs in Bat-history, this is a must-have. Otherwise, I recommend picking up something more 'self-contained'.

The Batman had been broken by the nefarious Bane, and, while his physical healing process isn't covered in any detail during the events depicted in KNIGHTSEND, Bruce Wayne struggles with the psychological aftermath of returning to the task of serving as Gotham's savior in this incredibly-paced retaking of the Mantle of the Bat from the now rogue Jean Paul Valley.

In a story nearly too complex to summarize for an Amazon review, Bruce/Bats goes from being Batman to being disabled to being whole again ... but it isn't without consequence, namely having to face Jean Paul Valley, the man he passed the job of Batman to after being broken down by a series of catastrophic events all orchestrated to end his career. The road back to mental and physical prowess is long and not without ethical consequences as Bruce submits to training by Lady Shiva, a long-time mortal foe who believes that killing is the only true measure of physical fitness. However, the world's greatest detective finds a means to even outwit her in the process.

Building to a hair-raising climax worthy of being filmed for the big screen, Knightsend features not one daring showdown with the Batman/Azrael Jean Paul Valley but several bare-knuckle brawls involved a fully-healed Bruce Wayne as well as his long-time protege, Dick Grayson ... aka the original Robin and aka Nightwing, a vigilante hero in his own might who's now back in Gotham to help Bruce take by the night. Catwoman, always a favorite from the Rogues Gallery, is along for the wild ride, and she joins forces with the side of justice in order to see the rightful Batman restored to his throne.

This isn't to say that Knightsend isn't without a few missteps ... a perhaps overly-obsessive Jean Paul suffering visions from the System (a kind of brainwashing to give his mind and body the abilities to serve its own brand of justice) almost becomes comical at one point when the visions try to enter into their own subplot ... an all-to-convenient escape from the clutches of death for Bruce Wayne not drawn or plotted very well given the pace of the frenetic conclusion ... and a few other repeated scenes due to the fact that this tale was originally serialized over the course of many issues of comics within the Batman continuity. Still, they are small missteps, as the grand story is almost operatic at times.

The greatest strength of Knightsend is the fact that, at its core, it doesn't deal so much with Batman as it does with identity: in the final confrontation, Bruce Wayne thinks himself out of a corner with Jean Paul bent on fisticuffs-to-the-death, and the one true Batman realizes that brain -- regardless of whose body it resides in -- will always triumph over brawn.

Welcome back, Batman!

Remember in the Ninties when DC decided to go a bit mental and do what seemed to be a lot of damage to some of their characters?Will if not heres part of a great Batman story..This is technically part 3 of a 3 part story (If you collect the garaphic novel editions) and you really do need Batman :Knightfall books one and two to build you up to this book (Batman Prodigal also follows it nicely getting Dick grayson to play Batman for a while). In this book we get to see Bruce Wayne return to reclaim his mantle (see the Knightfall books to see what happened).those who are unfamiliar with Batman or the Knightfall books will find the whole story a little strange to say the least as they have no character history and the first question you ask yourself is who is Jean Paul Valley.I can only recomend this book as part of the set..If you dont own or intend to buy the first books forget it.Make them your priority..Then you'll find this a fantastic read

I am a dental student taking gross anatomy, and like some of the folks who posted reviews below, my anatomy professor listed Grant's as the text to be used for the course. Put simply, Netters is a vastly better atlas, particularly for someone who has never taken gross anatomy before.

My issues with Grant's are many, ranging from the drawings to the way the index is organized. From start to finish, the book has some serious shortcomings which create substantial inconveniences for a new anatomy student.

Many of the drawings in Grant's atlas are far more lifelike than they are explanatory. It is almost as if the illustrator's intent was to show what one would see when dissecting, rather than explain what is what and where it is. This is particularly evident when dealing with the head/neck region (which, unfortunately, is a complicated area we focus on heavily) and the routes of the cranial nerves. The small footnotes at the bottom of the pages are almost useless, as it is difficult to determine what specifically they are referring to. There are very few boldfaced references (such as those you'd see in a cell biology textbook) that allow you to quickly locate a description of the item you're trying to understand in the picture, hence, you find yourself having to read the entire thing. Netters has almost no text, yet the drawings are done in a way that clearly explain what's going on, thus no need for text.

Another serious issue with the Grant's is the index. The major entries are not in boldface text. This is such a small detail (it wouldn't have cost them a cent more to make) that makes locating things much quicker. For example, there are hundreds of items under the entry "Nerves", yet "Nerves" is not in bold-faced text. That is inexcusable, considering the fact that most of the structures we study are muscles, nerves, arteries, fascias, processes, fossas, i.e. things that must be found under major entries. Believe it or not, it makes finding a topic in the index a real hassle. There's nothing to distinguish major entries from the items found beneath them, except for the indentation.

Although some of the problems with Grant's are small, they cause problems when you have to repeatedly deal with them. Anatomy is tough enough as is without having inconveniences from your atlas. On occasion, you'll find a picture in Grant's that is more descriptive than Netter's, but rarely. In general, Grant's is a lowsy book, which should be used only as a supplement to Netters in cases where you want a more lifelike picture.

I used Grant's Atlas of Anatomy during my gross anatomy class in medical school because it was the one recommended by the staff. It was fairly good, but not great. The illustrative pages on the twelve cranial nerves are perhaps the best. A few years after finishing that class, I found that Frank Netter M.D. had finally come out with an atlas of human anatomy. If your budget is limited (and most medical students have limited finances), buy Frank Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy because it is hands down the best atlas available. I wish it would have been around when I was struggling through first year gross anatomy class. Grant's Atlas may supplement it to some degree if you are looking for a second presentation for variety, but Netter's is without question unequaled. Beyond this, if you ever decide to specialize in a medical field involving surgery - neurosurgery, gynecology, general surgery, orthopedics etc. - you will have opportunity to continue using Netter's A! tlas after medical school, whereas Grant's Atlas isn't very good in this regard. In short: buy Netter. If you want another text to go with the first, Grant's Atlas isn't bad.

I am a student of first year MBBS.At first I found Anatomy one of the most difficult subject,but after buying Grant's Atlas of Anatomy I found It quiet simple to understand.This is an outstanding and remarkable guide to the students.Some students prefer some other Atlases e.g.Netter's etc.But I will prefer The Grant's.Infact Grant's atlas is almost more than 50 years old name and the new editions are getting best day by day along with having the previous experience....

The authors (artists) give you interesting lesson plans for drawing Fantasy Art in diferent techniques. Unfortunately, a lot of their examples come from comic book art. While I feel that comic books are an art form (probably one of the most difficult ones to master) I wanted more traditional fare, like Frazetta, Boris, pen-and-ink pulp, and like that.
It's still fun to follow the lesson plan. Give it a try.

The great thing about this book is that it will appeal to both novice and professional alike. The book is extremly inspirational, i defy anyone to look through it and not be inspired to pick up a pencil and start drawing. I first saw the book in my local library and after renewing it 10 times i was told that perhaps i should buy my own copy ! Although the book does contain many instructional items it is the reproductions of other artists works that will really inspire you.

This is the book all aspiring fantasy artists should have on their shelves.

As well as having pictures of beautiful work, the book is full of useful and informative writing about techniques, materials, colours, and also has some good "brainstorming" projects. Incidentally, this is the book where I first heard of Mervyn Peake's "Gormenghast Trilogy". I did a painting of Gormenghast Castle, as it suggested in the book, and sold it for $100!

Sadly, work for fantasy artists is quite rare in Australia, especially in Brisbane. A lot of ordinary people won't take fantasy and science fiction seriously as an art form. I don't know if it's because of conservatism, or just plain lack of interest. Either way it's annoying. Many people associate it with "Star Trek" and brand it "kitsch" or "unoriginal".

Much of the fantasy art I do is of futuristic cities and post-apocalyptic scenes. Radioactive fallout gives me a good excuse for having bad figure work! The "Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Science Fiction Art Techniques" also dispels a lot of myths. For example: there's nothing wrong with using photographs! (As long as you own the copyright to it.) The book also proves that the computer is a valid art tool.

If you have a good imagination, this book is certainly worth having.

This is Tracy Grant's 1st hardcover novel - that's why they are calling it her "debut".. Even though it's not the first book of hers that I've read, it's certainly my last, that's for sure. In Daughter of the Game, Melanie and Charles are a young, handsome, exciting couple in love. Life is a dream until their 6 year old son is kidnapped. Then shattering lies surface and their relationship starts to unravel. This sounds great, doesn't it? Such potential! But Grant drags and drags and drags the story out until I had to skip from about pg 300 to the end (book is 483 pgs long!) I just couldn't stand it anymore. I felt like screaming - Move it ALONG!!! I wasn't crazy about either the hero or the heroine but I really loved Colin, the little boy. But most romance/adventure readers like myself cringe when children are hurt in stories and there was a very horrific part in here that turned my stomach. So, as you can tell - I was disappointed. I think I'll stick to "sweet" authors for awhile like Barbara Freethy and Pamela Morsi. I doubt I'll try another Tracy Grant.

The first sentence ("It was the sort of night that cloaks a multitude of sins.") may be infelicitous, in the "It was a dark and stormy night" tradition. But it WAS that sort of night, and we're transported into that world of sins and darkness. While this book seems to be lumped together with Romance Novels (yuck!), it's actually more a mystery-thriller in the Caleb Carr mode.

Charles and Melanie Fraser are fully-realized characters, subtle and complex. Their actions, revelations, and reactions are convincing and true-to-life within the framework of the plot. While some of the dramatic twists may be predictable, as mentioned in the Editorial Reviews, they are still attention-grabbing and necessary to propel the action. And the action never stops! We're treated to introspection AND adventure, precisely blended, in appetizing helpings. The pace is rapid. Grant has a good touch with flash-back and fast-forward, and with switching from one character to another without being jarring or tedious.

It's not Dickens or Thackeray, but it's not a read-by-number Romance, either. Think of it as a well-told tale that you don't have to write a Theme about!

In sum, I found this a thoroughly meaty Good Read; Melanie, Charles and their children and connections are depicted with such skill that the reader cares about them and what happens to them. I plan to get the second book very soon, and hope I will once more sink my teeth into a satisfyingly guiltless Guilty Pleasure.

The hardcover debut of Tracy Grant is all I expected.

Her previous books, including those written with her mother, prepared me for the skilled use of historical background material. Her last three paperbacks showed me how clever her plotting could be. This historical suspense is a masterwork

Previous Grant books have been romances with the requisite happily ever afters. While Charles and Melanie seem to have one, the initial actions in this book strip it away in such a manner that it doesn't seem it could be regained.

Over a period of three days, the couple search for a particular ring with which they can ransom their son. Grant knows her historical background and it shows. This isn't prettified London and regency England. Much of this story takes place in the layer underneath the pretty. Grant's characterization skills are also exemplary. Her characters aren't simple and the experiences that shaped them aren't easy ones. Her secondary characters are given life too and each of them had untold stories trailing behind them.

Because both Charles and Melanie played a part in the later Napoleonic Wars, flashbacks to their actions and experiences also show us the underside of war. The flashbacks are a necessary part of the story and aren't intrusive. At one point Grant's book invites comparison to Carla Kelly's stunning One Good Turn and she doesn't suffer in the comparison. Grant's characters aren't blindly patriotic. Those in the book who worked for the French cause are not portrayed as villains but as reasoning human beings.

This is a busy book.There's lots of action and movement. And in the small quiet spaces, Charles and Melanie are reacting to the death of their happily ever after and slowly working towards a new way of living with each other.

All the books Tracy Grant has written on her own and with her mother (as Anthea Malcolm and Anna Grant) are on my keeper shelves. This one will join them. At one point in this book, the family name Lescaut is used. This is a name that figures in Tracy's previous books and gives me hope that we may see more from her using this particular world.

The last review is title "the best book I've read" - could this possibly be the author himself or at least a relative? Evidence

1) From Nashville TN, which as another read points out is where the author is from.
2) "Best book I've read" is a little too strong even if you did like it. I mean its not exactly Catch 22 or Hamlet.
3) The author advises people to read "other books by Mansfield".
4) Knows a few too many facts about prizes "Amway book of the month" - wow what a recommendation. Amway, not exactly Nobel Prize in Literature (which actually Churchill won, so I think there are is a least one book on Churchill that is better written i.e. anything by the man himself).

Anyway, onto the review itself. I am an avid Churchill fan and have read almost everything on the man - I was therefore initially pleased to see an potentially interesting book on his leadership style. Unfortunately this is the first book in my entire life I have actually thrown in the garbage. It was that bad. Forget about the authors "intrusive voice" as one other reviewer puts it (quite rightly) - it is just poorly written and poorly researched. I urge you to read almost any other book on the great man apart from this.

This book can be divided into two main parts. The first half is comprised of short summaries of key events in Winston Churchill's life and political career. These include his adventures during the British/Boer war of South Africa to his more famous role as head of England during WWII.

The second half of the book is a group of short (most being 4 pages long) stories and descriptions of Churchill's perspectives on elements of human life and character. These chapters have titles such as: the Bible, family, loyalty, marriage, death, etc.

For an in-depth biography of this amazing leader, you will need to find another book. But for a short, interesting background on the mind and beliefs of Winston Churchill, this is the perfect buy.

This is a wonderful small book that describles how a man could overcome overwhelming difficulty and oppositions with a firm belief and an exemptional moral courage. In this book you will find Churchill was a fallible, ordinary man who mistakes, but yet achieved extraordinary things despite his limitations. The development of his life shows us how a weak, self-doubted, shy boy to become a strong, energetic, effective leader with nothing but a deep inside guidance to do good. Never give in is the main theme of this book and each chapter reinforces the theme. This is not a "self-help" book that usually tells you how to feel good about yourself. This is a book on character development that takes duty, pain, responsibilities, and more importantly, a deep inside moral guidance. These concepts are quite foreign nowsday and that's what it makes this small standing out.

I got this book to support West Point's bicentennial. Now that I have actually looked at it (and I put it that way because it is mostly pictures and not much text), I find it disappointing. The text, though properly written and edited, is quite boring. Many of the pictures are amateurishly blown up to the extent that they are washed out. The book, or glorified brochure, or whatever you want to call it, has the feel of being hastily put together to get out in time to make money for all concerned. To me, that takes from what should have been a noble purpose. I don't think it succeeded in achieving that noble purpose. In fact, now that the Party is over, I wouldn't recommend it.

I admit I didn't watch the PBS program to which this book is 'companion,' but I have no doubt that the pretty pictures on TV matched the pretty pictures in this book. In fact, that's probably the biggest impression I carry away from this book: it's very ... colorful. The text gives an adequate history of the US Military Academy, hitting on all the requisite high points: Thayer, Lee, Flipper, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Hollen, and so on. The images -- portraits, old maps, memorabilia from the USMA museum, etc -- decently illustrate the text (though the contemporary photos mixed in with the historic ones are sometimes rather *non sequitur* to what's being discussed). Among the great piles of books and videos that have been produced to observe West Point's bicentennial, I'm sure this picture book will be very popular. But I suspect it will mean more to people who didn't themselves actually attend the school. Those who did will find little that's new -- and despite the Academy's official cooperation with this production, may find the book too, well, glossy for their tastes.

Partly because I grew up as an Army brat, I've always been fascinated by the military and naval academies, as far back as the 1950s TV series "The Long Grey Line." This coffee table book is a companion to a special on PBS marking the 200th anniversary of President Jefferson's founding of a military educational institution at West Point, up the Hudson from New York. It's a gorgeous piece of work, with as much attention given to the text as to the pictures, tracing the Academy from its floundering first few years, to the sixteen-year reign of Superintendent Sylvanus Thayer (the true father of the school), through the classes that supplied most of the leaders on both sides of the Civil War (who all had served together in the War with Mexico), through the long years leading up to World War I. Fifty-nine of the cadets in the Class of 1915 ("the Class the Stars Fell On") became general officers, and one became president. During the later days of the Vietnam War, cadets seldom left the school, they were so badly treated by civilians their own age, and there were several major cheating scandals -- the author doesn?t whitewash any of that stuff -- but the Academy, having revised itself almost continuously for two centuries -- seems to be coming back. This is a beautiful book.