The Programmer's Reference is a useful reference guide for the user that wants to quickly look up how a function can be used. Dubbed 'man pages on steroids', it is true to the claim, providing the full set of man pages together in alphabetical order, enhanced for better effect. Enhancements include helpful examples and tips for the programmer, as well as caveats to watch out for.

All in all, I would recommend this as a good second book. It is easier to refer to when you know more precisely what you want, but is not intended to be a book that you read from cover to cover (although if you did, you'd know all the commands there are in Tcl/Tk). It is written for Tcl/Tk 8.2.

Minor nits (that last star) are that I'd like to see even more real world examples, as well as better indication for each command/variable header on whether it is for Tcl or Tk (an icon is used, but it could be improved), whether it is Mac/Win/Unix specific, as well as if it is a command or variable. Having everything in alphabetical order is handy, but these header boxes could be a little more helpful.

This book provides a dictionary-like listing of Tcl commands and Tk widgets. The explanations of options and commands for each item is excellent and cross-references to other Tcl command are very useful. This book should be used as a reference, if you are new to Tcl programming you should look into other books that offer more step-by-step instuction.

If you have programmed in other languages (especially Perl) and you want to learn Tcl, then this book is for you.

I tried to use a couple of other Tcl books but they were too basic. I couldn't find good examples that showed the syntax in those books.

This book is mainly a command reference book. So, if you know Perl you can just look up the corresponding Tcl commands which are mostly named the same, and get the Tcl syntax.

Matthew Henry's Commentary is sound in teachings, solid in doctrines, and rich in wisdom. As for the faithfulness to the Word of God, we can rely on this commentary because it has stood the test of time. I came across this commentary about 20 years ago when I was almost at a loss in finding good commentaries. In those days I was reading "Lectures to My Students" written by C.H. Spurgeon, and there he mentioned this commentary. Spurgeon says, "If a man can purchase but very few books, my first advice to him would be, let him purchase the very best..... Matthew Henry's Commentary having been mentioned, I venture to say that no better investment can be made,..... Get it, if you sell your coat to buy it." Recently they have published it in a new format without making major changes as far as the 6-volume boxed set publishied by Hendrickson Publishers is concerned. This new modern edition is readable especially for the younger generation. For our practical use, Matthew Henry"s Commentary is the best commentary on the Whole Bible.

Matthew Henry's commentary covers every verse in the Bible. If you have a question on a particular verse, you can always turn to Matthew Henry and he'll give you some insight on the meaning as well as link it to other verses that talks about that concept. This edition has extremely small font size and is very hard on the eyes to read. In one sitting it is probably wise to only study about 5 verses in depth, as it is definitely full of meaning and not for skimming.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible represents a monumental labor of love that took over 20 years to write. Composed between 1700 and 1722, Matthew Henry's writing is as eloquent and meaningful today as it was when he put pen to paper. Matthew Henry was the consummate biblical scholar and pastor, fired with a love for the Lord that drove him and inspired him in his explanation of the bible. The only shortfall of this version is it's small type, which is necessary to get the entire work into one volume. A truly outstanding work

The Reformation Study Bible, under the general editorship of well respected theologian and popular author R.C. Sproul, presents the reader with extensive study notes and commentary from leading North American Reformed theologians**. Originally, it was published as the "New Geneva Study Bible," in reference and deference to the Geneva Bible, the 1600s translation favored by the English Puritans.

The majority of study Bibles in print today advocate dispensational theology, so those of the Calvinistic bent, both Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists, will find the Reformation Study Bible to be a welcome and much needed relief.

It is interesting to note that editor R.C.Sproul, in his excellent 1977 book "Knowing Scripture" makes the following comment as part of a well reasoned critique of the Scofield Reference Bible: "Some editions of the Bible contain not only brief marginal notes such as mentioned above, but provide a running commentary. The most famous example of this type of Bible is the Scofield Reference Bible and the New Scofield Reference Bible. I am personally opposed to such editions. My opposition is rooted not so much in the theological posture of the commentary but in the principle of running commentary itself." The learned Dr. Sproul evidently modified his original position over the years, as we find him the editing the study notes of the New Geneva Study Bible in 1995. Those study notes are excellent; well written, well researched, and well reasoned. However, the large amount of study notes and commentary do point up to the one glaring deficiency of this otherwise excellent study Bible: the print of the text of Scripture is far too small! The font size of the text of Scripture is the same small size as that of the study notes, making it very difficult to preach or teach from the Reformation Study Bible.

**Ok, OK........I know that J.I Packer is British, and Roger Nicole is French, but they DO live in North America!

Through God's grace and continued study of the Scriptures, I become acquainted with the truth of the sound Reformed doctrine not so long ago. I set out to find a study Bible to replace my various other study Bibles of the dispensationalist Scofield-Arminius theological persuassion. I had originally intended to get a facsimile of an old Geneva Bible for the Reformed notes and commentary of John Calvin. Though, the cost was prohibitive and its archaic English prove impractical for regular consultation and study. I eventually got Calvin Commentaries on CD-ROM- while incredibly valuable- it still left me longing for a practical study Bible. Fortunately, I found out about the Reformation Study Bible. In the tradition of Reformers like Calvin, Luther, Owen and Spurgeon it combines the lucid and clear translation of the New King James version with reference notes and a concordance affirming the tenets of the Reformed Christian faith. I first heard of this study Bible after becoming acquainted with R.C. Sproul's ministry on the Internet. This study Bible has been a godsend for me. It elaborates on the doctrines of grace and possesses an incredibly useful concordance and is complimented by an appendix of articles explaining the five points of the Reformed faith. It makes frequent reference to the Westminister Confession of Faith, which is a nice touch. Perhaps my one qualm I have about this book is that the pages are too thin. It took me some time to find a highlighter/marker that wouldn't bleed through the pages.

The Geneva bible made an incredible impact in the lives of those who valued its clarity and ability to honor God. Today's new version is a breath of fresh air in a world of specialized bibles. This version is not just for women, or men or teenagers. This bible is for all who hunger for a good understanding of the Word. All Christians would be blessed in using this study bible to dig deeper into understanding the holiness of God and their own place in His creation.

Footnotes, references, outlines, historical data, theological information . . . I find it more helpful than my Thompson Reference Bible and far better than my Ryrie. An excellent addition to your library for reference, but you'll find that this is the one that you'll end up reading every day.

Omar Bradley's book wins my approval for its behind-the-scenes narrative and honest retelling of the men involved in marshalling and directing the war. It is not so much a soldier's story as a commander's story. It is not merely a biography, but it also describes the strategies of the various campaigns in the European Theater. It is powerful because it is objective, not bothering to propagandize or immortalize men such as Patton or Montgomery; enough books have already done that. Bradley gives a look at the men behind the legends and their failures and shortcomings as well as the victories and attributes that turned them into historical figures of perhaps inhuman stature.

"A Soldier's Story" is the perfect title for General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley's account of WW2. In this book he talks of his career just previous to the outbreak of the war, of his experience as Eisenhower's "eyes and ears" in North Africa, of his command of the II Corps in Tunisia and Sicily, of his role as being either commander of the First Army and 1st (later 12th) Army Group for a time, of his impressions on Russian officers, and so.

What set this book aside from other personal accounts on WW2 is not only its wealth of facts and details, but on how it is told: as personal and passionate as a general can be. General Bradley does not only tell how things happened, but also how he felt about them. There we find his impressions on those great figures of Eisenhower, Patton, and (specially) Montgomery are remarkable, but also his appreciation for the common soldier, more specifically when disagreeing with Patton's opinion of battle fatigue being a lame excuse for cowardice. Bradley admitted that the living of a frontline soldier is harsh, where death can be found in the next step, and that the role of a commander is to balance casualties in order to keep them low in the long run, even at a cost of a higher rate from an immediate action. Interesting is how he reproduces the infantryman custom of mentioning where in the US a fellow soldier came from, like when he told about the "hedgerow cutter device" and telling that its inventor, Sgt. Curtis Cullin, came from New York. No surprise that he earned the nickname of "G.I. General".

With this respect, of telling things lively, he is unsurpassed by any American soldier or general: Eisenhower's "Crusade in Europe" seems a "bureaucratic" account when comparised with "A Soldier's Story" (sorry Ike fans). It measures up with the massive Winston Churchill's "The Second World War", which for its turn is written under a political perspective.

Anyway, I really liked a lot this book and strongly recommend it for anyone interested on WW2.

A Soldier's Story is easily the best of the memoirs of the major Allied leaders of WWII. From D-Day to the German surrender, Bradley was in the middle of the European action and "tells it like it was", far more so than Eisenhower did in "Crusade in Europe". While Ike glosses over controversial situations and personality clashes, Bradley honestly discusses the failure to close the Falais Gap, the failure of "Market- Garden" in Holland,and the failure to detect the Ardennes offensive. In addition, Bradley graphically describes his antagonistic relationship with Montgomery and his, at times, difficulty in dealing with his subordinate, George Patton. Bradley's writing is not that of a man whose real purpose is to make friends and run for office; he writes like a man who wants to tell people his version of the momentous events of 1944-5. His story flows seamlessly and never seems self-serving, a fault of nearly every military memoir I've ever read. If you could only read 2 books on WWII, I'd recommend Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" and this book, "A Soldier's Story".

Lehninger is one name that most undergraduates who take biochemistry courses know too well. This simplified, well-structured version remains an asset to a great number of students. But, no matter from which source you are ordering it, be sure to specify the actual edition you want as precise as possible. There are several variants of this book in the market (including Amazon.com...)! Do not forget to enter the complete details (including the ISBN number) of this textbook while placing an order for it; or else, you may end-up with the kind of "Lehninger" you didn't ask for.

I'm a medical student, and this book, was recomemded for biochemistry, but I couldn't find it here in Peru, (because the 3rd edition hasn't been translated yet to spanish). I bought it here, and it arrived 9 days before estimated!!.
The 3D models of proteins ara amazing and the included cd helps a lot before examinations, (the interactive simulations of molecules is incredible!!), it really helps you understand all the biochemical processes. The depth of the book is perfect, no too simple, but not too complex either. PERFECT for med school

This text in Biochemistry is a great introduction. I was quite familiar with Lubert Stryer's masterpiece but I must confess this textbook goes one step further. The slant is towards the med student and the notes on medical aspects are just plain fantastic. It took me almost a year to finish the book but the effort was well worth it. Besides I have been out of touch with Biochem since my college days. Aspects of RNA metabolism are plain fantastic!! What is more the layout and sequence of topics is just right. I found that using this text in conjunction with "Basic Medical Biochemistry" by Marks, Marks, and Smith will give you the best mix. Don't pass on this gem. It truly is worth your time and perusal. The cost is steep but textbooks usually are. Grab it!!

One of the things I liked best about this book is that it included samples of all of the paperwork we needed to collect or submit during the adoption process and gave detailed instructions for finding the necessary forms and documents.

I also liked the step-by-step approach. In addition to making the whole thing easier and less overwhelming, breaking the process down like this, really helped us understand how international adoption works and what government agencies oversaw each part of the process. We could also really track our progress.

The book was also very helpful to us in researching and choosing the right agency and the right country.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone even considering the possibility of international adoption.

While I agree with the reviewer who said that it's impossible to publish a book that can keep up with every change in international adoption, that's certainly not a reason to give up attempting to bring people a reasonably up-to-date resource. I applaud the Erichsens for commiting to a new edition every other year. It was definitely the most up-to-date resource I could find.

As a recent adoptive parent, I found the book to be by far the most useful resource in terms of understanding the process of international adoption, helping with the forms and documents I had to collect, understanding how to estimate expenses (and helping me to compare the confusing pricing terms of various adoption agencies), selecting a reputable agency, understanding how the immigration process worked, and choosing a country that was the best fit for me.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone considering adopting internationally.

Frankly, I didn't know where to start when I decided to try to adopt from Armenia, a country that (at the time) didn't allow agency-directed adoptions. I read this book cover-to-cover, and realized that I would need a LOT of help in order to avoid the pitfalls inherent in independent adoptions. I found a great facilitator to handle the ideosyncratic Armenian requirements, but she didn't know the ins-and-outs of the U.S. side of the equation. This book is exactly as it claims to be: a Guide to International Adoption. It breaks the process down into sequenced steps that make sense of the bureaucratic nightmare inherent in the adoption process.

If every agency was open, honest, and competent, and every country was consistent in its requirements, then books like this one wouldn't be needed. However, I feel that EVERYONE considering international adoption should be armed with the information contained in this book even if it's only used to evaluate agencies before you make your final decision. Furthermore, those choosing to adopt independantly need a guide to sort through the tons of misinformation they will encounter throughout the process.

Keep in mind that ANY info contained in this guide or any other is only the latest info available at the time of printing. Every step along the way, I checked for variations and/or changes with some recent adoptive families from my network of Armenian friends. I also relied on Internet government sites for updates on paperwork requirements.

This is the every day, common story of the 'fall from grace' of those touched by the gambling bug. Once you've read a few books about gamblers and gambling addiction, you'll realize that this story is the network TV version of what it's really like (if you want the cable version, check out "Stung: the incredible obsession of Brian Molony"). The author's intent is good I suppose, but characters' dialog is absurd, contrived and filled with unrealistic bravado. Clearly, the author is no gambling addict -- not a bad thing! Though the addictive symtoms and behavior illustrated throughout the novel are conceptually accurate, they're depicted with a simplicity that renders their phenominal effect almost trivial. I struggled and shook my head through the entire book. For the casual enthusiast, could be a good airport terminal read. Otherwise, you're better off playing cell phone solitaire.

If you are a gambler this book should be required reading. Nelson's writing style is engaging and accurate - he captures the feelings of gambling right down to the excitement that just walking into a new casino can generate. He accurately portrays all the little things that go along with gambling - the new "friends", the new social events to attend, the new feeling of acceptance with fellow gamblers, the comraderie around a table. Just like smokers also enjoy unwrapping their cigarettes, and tapping them, and holding them, gamblers enjoy a lot of little side things that make the whole package hard to give up.

A lot of what the main character goes through is very typical to all gamblers - unfortunately his compulsive personality takes over and gambling turns into an addiction for him. We see his slow decent as a gradual process - the final destination is something he would have run away from back when he was starting but by the end it all seems normal to him. You may scare yourself by recognizing the parallels to your own life. How far along are you in his progression? How many of his rationalizations have you already used?

My view of casinos has changed after reading this book. I was focused too much on my own story - an occasional casino day tripper taking advantage of cheap food and drink - and didn't consider all the compulsive personalities out there that casinos help ruin. If you want to put down your last thousand dollars on a bad bet the casinos will gladly call you "sir" and give you a free drink! Just imagine if a similar thing existed for drug addicts - imagine seeing someone in a tuxedo giving someone lying in the gutter a new syringe of heroin for three thousand dollars and calling him "sir" and making him feel important. It would be outlawed instantly and the tuxedo guy exposed as the fraud that he is! But as it is, it is "OK" and legal.

So, as you go out there and buy lots of gambling books explaining how to play and what the odds are, etc., I recommend that you also get this book and see if you see a side of yourself that you might not want to. But so much better to find out in a book!

It is all here....from the initial small bets, "just for fun", to the rush of winning, (the worst thing that can happen to anyone with an addictive personality), to the larger and larger wagers, to the eventual crushing losses. I would be very surprised to learn that the author was not in fact a compuslive gambler. He hints at that in his foreword.

The subtle, insidious slide of the compulsive gambler is portrayed very well in the book. The truth is in the details...the rationalizations, the hiding of money, the lying and self-deceit that takes place as the disease takes over more and more of his life.

See if you recognize anything of yourself in the pages. It will certainly make you think twice about gambling.

This is my first review at Amazon, mostly because I feel I don't have anything all that important to say about a book, but based on the fact that it had a perfect rating (The main reason why I even bought this book) here goes:

I am a fairly conservative Roman Catholic who does not shy away from teachings on sin and hell and feel very strongly that they should be the subjects of more homilies. That said, I feel this book is a bad representation of Catholic doctrine on Hell and how to get saved. I was also expecting some genuine experiences of the saints and their visions of hell (there are some truly terrifying ones out there) but mostly what I got were some anecdotes about people who did not confess a mortal sin before they died and came back to warn the living by telling them they were in hell. I also got some telling of true life disasters involving fire and people being burned alive and then the author basically saying "It's gonna be a trillion times worse than that in HELL!"

The book also comes across as legalistic in the addition "How to Avoid Hell" While Catholics do believe that Salvation is faith working through love, you would not really come away from this book with that knowledge, you would probably be more inclined to join the ranks with our fundamentalist friends who say that Catholicism is works salvation. This book did not have any real errors per se, it just did not tell the whole story and was very one sided.

I give it two stars because it did have some genuinely good advice for starting the Christian life and staying away from sin. Which God knows we need in the Church these days.

God Bless everyone

My friend also in Denver and my friend in Seattle just finished this book this week. We all feel the same way, it's an excellent book. The author is a Catholic priest who refutes the arguments of atheists and other non believers. I am not a Catholic, however, this book centers not on persuading others to become Catholics, but on the problem of injustice. With all the injustice in the world it is pretty easy to see why there has to be a Hell.

I read this book several years ago. It is without question the scariest book I have ever read. It makes the exorcist movie and book look like a joke. The author is a catholic priest who shows the logic of hell, the catholic position on hell, visions of various saints and individuals who have seen hell. He also refutes the arguments of atheists and other non believers. I am not a catholic, since I believe an individual should follow what he believes to be true. However, this book centers not on persuading others to become catholics, but on the problem of injustice. The author makes a strong case for a strict order of justice in the universe. He shows how even the ancient pagans had ideas of hell. He shows that true justice is rare on earth and hence argues for the existance of a place for true justice ie,hell. It is difficult to refute his arguments for hell, which shows in all probability, there is such a place. When we see so much injustice in this world that rarely goes unpunished and the enormous amounts of evil in it,it is not too difficult to imagine that hell exists. This is a very powerful book. Be warned.

Some people are completely enamored with the New Living Translation, and if you are, then that's great, but I found the translation to be too simplistic. It doesn't have the sophistication of, say, the NIV, and at times it almost seems like a children's Bible. It would be good for people who don't really like to read because the words flow so easily and it isn't difficult to understand at all.

As for the translation itself, it may or may not be the most accurate translation out there; I don't know. To explain: you must keep in that accuracy and precision are not quite the same thing. (I can give you a precise number of people in Washington D.C. right now--let's say 583,216--but I can't guarantee how accurate that number will be.) Precise translations are word-for-word. They don't take into account the linguistic and cultural differences involved. They tell you exactly what the authors wrote but not necessarily what they were trying to say. (Idioms, for example, are translated literally and often sound strange to our culture.) More accurate translations strive to give a literal translation when possible but make sure the idea is never lost, even if that means changing the translation to fit a more modern context.

Precise translations are best for in-depth Bible study because they have less bias to them, but they should only be used if you are very familiar with the culture that produced the original manuscripts. Accurate translations are better for general study because the theology is more obvious, but there is much more opportunity for the translation to reflect the bias of its translator(s). Still, a good accurate translation should reflect the intent of the original authors, and that makes it an invaluable companion to a more precise translation.

I'm not so sure the New Living Translation holds true to the intent of all its authors--especially in the more theological passages. Apparently what the translators did (I may be wrong) was to take the original Living Bible, modernize it, and compare that to the actual manuscripts to make sure it was a legitimate (if not the best) translation of the text. That's not a bad thing if you're looking for a Bible that is easy both to read and to understand. However, it IS a bad thing if you want to dig deeper into the Scriptures.

So for me, the gift/award edition of this Bible is perfect. Considering this version will spend more time on the shelf than others, it's nice not to spend too much money on it. Others less interested in detailed study might be glad to make it their preferred translation. To each his own.

Dollar for Dollar, the New Living Translation (NLT) is probably the best and most intriguing type of Bible I've ever bought. I don't pretend it's my favorite Bible of all--because it isn't really a Bible, it's a paraphrase of the Bible as opposed to a true translation. But I really like it.

Of course, any translation of the Bible is going to be some sort of paraphrase, because different languages use different idioms that have to be rendered into English using different words. There are "strictly literal" bibles like the NASB that go for a word-for-word approach; most bibles are "literal" bibles like the New Revised Standard and New International, the latter in particular taking the "freedom to be idiomatic." ...

The physical presentation of this modestly-priced version is worth remarking on. For fake leather, it looks reasonably genuine, and there are other colors available besides the best-selling black. The type is quite small, but uses a blocky sort of Roman setting that makes reading as easy as possible, even the red letters. The pages are ordinary paper, not "onion-skin." About my only gripe is that the text is too close to the inner margin, but this tome (made in Mainland China) is well-stitched, not the sort of bindery to fall apart quickly upon heavy use.

For very little money I advise the avid Bible reader--or the Bible reader who finds passages in his/her favorite Bible a little hard to fathom (and who among us has not?)--or the just-plain curious to invest in this handsome, intelligent little paraphrase. If your experience is like mine, you'll be surprised at how likeable it is.

I originally bought this to help witness to a friend who doesn't happen to own a bible, then after flipping through it for a few minutes, I decided I just had to have one for myself.

The NLT has been one of my favorite translations for a while, just behind the NASB (out of the 8 I physically own, and the dozens I have on CD's). And remember, it's a translation, not simply a paraphrase. It is a reliable translation that is easy to read. I find it interesting that some words it decides to give a more literal translation as well. Such as the word we often see translated as "gospel" is more often than not translated as "Good News."

To be fare though, I think there are times where it doesn't translate some verses, especially in prophets, deep enough. Simply because an analogy a prophet used is really difficult to understand unless one really chews on it for a while. But this is a rare exception, not the rule.

This particular print of this transtion is very useful. It has a very nice concordinance and dictionary in the back, as well as some key passages and verses that are highlighted throughout. The map in the back while decent, could probably be a little better.

A solid tale of the sea awash with heroics, sinking frigates, splintered mizzenmasts and spars and shredded mainsails. The second book is better than the first. He captures the feel of the locations and the dire straits the colonies were in against the British. The sea battles are first rate, the characters seem a bit flat, but none the less, a good, brisk adventure tale with plenty of gunfire, dangerous intrigue, romance and humor. A great support character, Major Fitzgerald is a bonus as he stalks a dangerous traitor in the American government. I look forward to the third novel, "The Continental Risque". I would like to see Mr. Nelson tackle the War of 1812 with Biddlecomb at the helm of a regular naval vessel. If we're lucky, maybe Biddlecomb will sail against the pirates of Tripoli.

A slow start, with Isaac beating himself up mentally after the horrendous pounding and loss of life on the 'Icarus' in 'By Force of Arms'; his agonising about his responsibility to the crew seems to take up the first quarter of the book, with consequent lack of action.

However, once convinced that he was powerless to prevent or avoid the carnage, he takes on a new lease of life and embarks on 'the Maddest Idea' - to lay the foundations of a Colonial Navy and rid the American People of the taxes and oppression of King George's dominion, in the shape of HMRN.

Factual and believably written, this grips you as soon as Isaac shakes off his depression and throws himself and his tactical ingenuity into harrying the enemy and assisting the nascent war on land - I read this in one sitting.

Again, maps and a postscript by the author outline the historical facts behind his fiction, and his first-hand knowledge of square-rig sailing makes this all the more enjoyable. ****

Nelson has brought nautical fiction to the other side of the Atlantic in his second book set in the American revolution. His stories are well written around strong characters and unique facets of the time. Virtually all American commerce was borne by water, including the materials of war. Those of us who enjoy this genre all know that water was a medium the British were particularly well represented in (as they are in nautical fiction). Nelson writings have a pace that reflect the desperate situation of American revolutionaries. The reader is constantly wondering how Captain Biddlecomb will survive the actions of an overpowering enemy and the environmental challenges faced by those who go to sea. It is a rare writer who can create an exciting story line around history and adventure. Enjoy Nelson, because he is definitely one of them.