This book is perfect for anyone who knows nothing about Japanese history (as I did). It is short and easily readable (less than 250 pages for Japanese history to WWII). As an introduction to Japanese history it does just what it should.....inspire you to learn more....

Morton has made an effort to impart understanding of Japanese heritage and culture. For the most part, he succeeds; the historical survey has about the right amount of depth for this type of book, and cultural issues are discussed.

What would have made it better would have been a section on specifically Japanese concepts that are hard for non-Japanese to grasp accurately. Many are touched on throughout the book, but words such as 'wa' and 'giri' really deserve a page or two each to go into full descriptiveness, and that doesn't happen. It is clear that Morton has the understanding of them to share; I wish he'd done so.

I understand other works on Von Dutch/Kenneth Howard are on the horizon, but you have to give credit to St John Morton who has put together a photo essay of the "legendary" craftsman, machinist, artist, and renown pin striper (as of this writing) for doing it now!

This is the first book devoted exclusively to hot rod artist Von Dutch (although there is currently another one in the works by (I believe) Last Gasp in connection with a retrospective of his work currently showing in California). This book is a private publication (i.e. self-publication) put out with obvious care by St. John Morton. Apparently, it's available in 3 forms (the least expensive being the hard cover edition, another edition with a leather spine and slip cover and the third, most expensive edition which has a full leather cover). I bought the leather spined, slip covered edition which is hand signed and numbered by the author.

The downside to this book is that most of the photos of Von Dutch's pinstriping, paintings and custom car work have already appeared in the Last Gasp publication "Kustom Kulture." There are, however, a few new pieces in this book. The other downside is that some of the images look like very high quality photocopies of images published elsewhere. As long as you understand that this is a private pressing book, I think you'll be very happy with it. Again, it's obvious that the author devoted loving attention to the creation of this book. And, to date, it's the most comprehensive review of Von Dutch's work available.

Definitely worth owning.

This book, at only 350 pages, attempts to cover 4 centuries of Canadian military history; thus, detail is heavily sacrificed. This is not necessarily a problem, if you're looking for an overview or introduction to the highlights of the topic. This book is very good at supplying this overview.

Having said that, the average armchair historian may find the lack of detail frustrating, especially in areas where lots has already been written, e.g., the War of 1812 and both World Wars. This is balanced by an overarching view of the whole of Canadian history, linking themes and observing the evolution over the course of several hundred years. For me, the interwar years were the most interesting because I've normally focussed on detailed histories of certain events in my past readings. The post-WWII chapters are especially interesting and informative, and contain the most insightful analyses in the book.

There are several pages of good pictures. It's always nice to put a face to the people involved. However, the maps are generally not detailed enough to be useful, mostly overviews of the general lines of advance of the army, for instance.

So why only three stars? The title of the book may be misleading - perhaps it should be "A History of the Military of Canada" instead. Much more coverage is given to military organisation, conscription debates, etc. than are given to actual operations. I feel there should have been a better balance between these two broad areas. Even as an overview book, it could have stood to be 50-100 pages longer to flesh out the operational side. This aspect dropped my ranking for the book.

In summary, this is a very good book if you are looking for an overview of the subject. It lacks detail, as expected for its length, but this is compensated for by drawing together themes from widely separated events. The major drawback is its emphasis on the organisational side to the expense of the operational.

A Military History Of Canada: From Champlain To Kosovo clearly debunks the myth that Canada is the peaceable kingdom of an unmilitary peoples. In fact, Canada and Canadians have been "shaped, divided, and transformed" by war, that war has been one of the great and primal influences in Canadian history from its native peoples before the coming of the Europeans down to the present day. Desmond Morton has a knack for writing solid history with the flair of a dramatist as he surveys the role of the military in native society, how the French and English colonies were focused on war and revolved around military societies, how the young nation faced its most decisive moments of growth when it had to quell internal rebellion, and when it sent soldiers off to fight overseas in two World Wars and a host of United Nations "police actions" and "peacekeeper" missions. A Military History Of Canada is comprehensive, informative, and an essential addition to any military studies or Canadian history collection.

John Blum's short, but informative book on the Progressive Presidents presents a fairly balanced picture of the presidency after the ascendency of progressivism. The author admits he is a "conventional liberal" who "grew up" with the FDR administration while he "admired" FDR. However, he raises many important questions about the "Imperial Presidency" that this men invented. He admits that in the wake of welfare-statism after LBJ has "provoked reconsideration." This reconsideration owes itself to the progressive presidents continiously testing, exceeding, breaching and redefining constitutional and customary limits to power. For an avowed liberal to even concede that the Presidency at the behest of progressive liberalism has perhaps gone awry is a watershed event.

The Progressive Presidents is a wonderful text, perfect for any American History buff.

Excellent book, not completely for American child abuse related problems.
An extreme case of "well intentioned" child abuse. Gives an insight to many questio about European child rearing. The methods described here are of limited aplicability towards understanding child abuse because it describes gadgets not used in this country where parents are more likely to be blamed for over indulgence and children are more often neglected than disciplined.
This is a book about abuse through over-discipline, which is still prevalent in some circles in northen Europe, mainly Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, Flemish Belgium, and German Switzerland.
However, it gives a clear idea of what happens when a child is deprived of his/her own personality and not allowed to express him/herself, whatever the method used to get complete control over his spirit. It is a case of extreme autoritarian parenting. Discipline taken to the extreme

Briefly, this book is amazing. It is inexplicable (or, perhaps, telling) that it is out of print. The concept of images and transforms is penetrating and valuable, and the book is a fascinating read for both specialists and interested laypeople. Until this book returns to print, students of trauma should either obtain the book used or take a copy out of the library (and photocopy it!). It is essential reading on trauma.

"Experience has shown us that anything can be fearlessly said. Only those who should understand will understand; the others will accuse our work of being obscure and incomprehensible." Such does Papus describe his literary style... and it IS virtually incomprehensible! But for those who understand the work, by stopping to think about what is being said, and by contemplating the Qaballistic correspondences with IEVE which the author proposes, one can glean from this book several truths. However I don't recommend it to beginners. Moreover, whoever reads it should bear in mind that 1) they have to make a choice between the "Martinist" or French Qaballistic correspondences Papus gives, and the Golden Dawn correspondences. 2) they have to keep in mind that Papus is now outdated in such areas as philology (when he mentions the Hebrew alphabet)... thus I suggest this book only to the well-read on the topic... as it may be confusing. However, I repeat that this book has given me much to think about ... so many questions have arisen since I read the book, about IEVE in nature etc. etc. If you feel up to it... read it!

Papus, for those that do not know, was a french occultist and student of Eliphas Levi (who I highly recommend to the serious student). Aside from his other works, this text is the height of occult understanding. Before all others, I would tell anyone novice or "expert" to read and follow the teachings contained therein.

I have both a J.D. and a Ph.D. in American history, and this book is tough sledding for me. In short, the subject matter -- the way judges adapted American law to accommodate economic change in the first half of the nineteenth century -- is interesting, but the reader is dragged through lots of legal arcana _en route_. I don't recommend this title for the faint of heart.

it should say how valuable the knowledge is. The lawyer who said the book is tough-going should be ignored as he addressed no content in the book. He only manipulated several people into not reading the book. What a way to manipulate people into remaining ignorant! Get it from ANY library, read one chapter, and pursue YOUR interest in our wretched government's tyranical tendency! If the 1st chapter hits, buy the book anywhere you want and study it! Be free!

If you are serious about a college savings plan, this is a good book to buy. It explains all the aspects to you in a simple straight forward way. Would definately recommend.

I think that this journal will be a great way for me to continue to grow in my spiritual walk by keeping myself accountable. By writing in this journal I will be able to see the amount of time I have acctually spent in my studies of God's word and how it is affecting my life.

I was recommended this book at the store where I bought my bass guitar. The book's main purpose is to teach the reader how to read music--all of it--regardless of wether you play an instrument or not. From the first lesson--which talks about nothing more than spaces, lines, and pitch--the book does just that. The book goes on to teach you whole, half, quarter and eighth notes and their corresponding rests. While the excercises can seem redundant after a while, the book does a very great job. There are two more books and companion games for the set, as well as CDs for the ear training lessons. My only gripe about this book was that it was not sold with the CD. You have to buy that separately, with the other two CD's.