Simply Brilliant. The two detail-oriented authors paint an accurate picture of middle America in the 1980's. They describe the lengths Battle Creek goes to, to bring a large employer into the city. A great study that should be read by all business majors.

This book chronicles how a progressive, forward thinking community (Battle Creek, Michigan) went about attracting one of Japan's largest automotive suppliers, Nippondenso. It outlines the community's economic and political history and all the forces that went into landing this economic entitiy.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was used for a sociology class taken at BYU. Going into the course I thought it was going to be extremely boring but I found myself reading it as if it were a novel! This book is very thought provoking and knee jerking, forcing you to take a look at your views and perceptions and how they got to be that way. I would recommend this book to all because it can only help you to be a better person. I wish this were a requirement for high school students, it would definately help them to understand our world and how they fit into it!!!

James Henslin's Social Problems is an excellent textbook for students who want to learn more about social problems in the U.S. Henslin divided his book into three parts. First, an overview of the problem. Henslin used the three major sociological theories: symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and conflict theory to interpret the significance of the problem. He used all of the theories without any biases favoring one theory over another. Second,he summarized what social researchers have found about the problem. Finally, he outline possible social policy for it, including making his own recommendation about how to solve it. Those who are tired of reading other social problems book who found that the book' content are depressing and the authors are pessimistic about the problem he/she cover should read Henslin's book. His coverage of the problems, from crime to America's health crisis, from racism to income inequality, from population explotion to war, are excellent and his recommendations on how to solve this problems makes sense and largely optimistic. My professor used Henslin's text for his social problems class and I think his choice is an excelent choice. I highly recommend this book for students and professors who want to learn and explore the social problems in our society

Stan Mack has created an intelligent, funny book about Early American History. My students loved it, saying it motivated them more than any other material I had provided for them. They made constant references to funny asides from the comic strips, and they wanted to know if we would be using any more of it for the rest of the year. Alas, I can find no other volumes on American History by Stan Mack. Our loss! Tom, US History teacher

Praise for THE STORY OF THE JEWS by Stan Mack

"Funny and original, and it won't take 4,000 years to read."
-Matt Groening, creator of the Simpsons

"Veteran cartoonist Stan Mack brings his hip, contemporary sensibility to bear upon the sacred precincts of Jewish history and the result is, unexpectedly, a joy to behold. The artful and varied drawings breathe an air of enchantment that will both beguile and instruct children while the often mischievous asides and commentary should bring a knowing smile to the lips of the most sophisticated adults. By sweeping away the cobwebs from Jewish history, Stan Mack has taken something familiar and made it fresh, piquant, and appealing to people of all ages."

- Ron Chernow, author of The Warburgs

"The work is wonderful! What a refreshing view of the story. I didn't want it to end."
- Leonard Nimoy

"No mordant minimalism, The Story of the Jews; Stan Mack puts it all out there, in a wonderfully funny and enlightening way."

- Ann Beattie, author of Another You

"Profound congratulations to Stan Mack on authoring this singular and most-needed history of the Jewish people. To say that it is highly-readable and extremely enjoyable is understating the obvious. The work presents concepts and ideas that, for other authors, might take pages or chapters to explain. But Stan Mack, through his imaginative drawings, delivers the concepts and convictions of the Jewish people in a charming and engrossing style. Mazel Tov: we really needed this opus to supplement all the other long and stogy Jewish history books."

- Rabbi Lawrence Goldmark, President, The Board of Rabbis of Southern California

This is an absolutely wonderful children's book -- and I don't even have children! I bought one for myself, and another for my brother (who has no children, either).

The illustrations are so charming and funny, and the text is laugh-out-old funny at points.

Kids -- and grownups -- will love this book!

Stanleys party is a wonderfully written and illustrated book. It is suppose to be for kids, but many an adult will break out in smiles and giggles over it.
Stanley the dog, starts by breaking one little rule in life - don't get on the couch - and graduates to shattering all the house rules. In the process he discovers the joys of new experiences, and new skills like dancing, dining, and entertaining new friends - all without the knowlege of his people. Until the day when things get out of hand.....
The book is hysterically funny and guaranteed to bring a smile to almost everyones face - dog owner or not.

After reading the previous review I felt that prospective readers should know more of what this book contains. It is a volume that presents the actual majority and minority opinions of those Supreme Court decisions most significant in the field of constitutional law. Other books might, for instance, give you an analysis of the Dredd Scott decision, but this book presents the actual wording of Chief Justice Taney's opinion. About 100 cases are included, with the opinions edited to make them more manageable. It's an invaluable reference for those interested in some of the country's most important legal decisions. Its only deficiency is that it doesn't cover any cases after 1984.

If this book interests you, then you might also consider "The Constitution and Religion", edited by Robert S. Alley. It also consists of the actual opinions in cases involving the first amendment and religion. For analysis of cases and biographies of Supreme Court justices consider buying "The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court."

I had to read excerpts from this book for a CTY course I took this summer. At the beginning it was really hard to read and I was getting fustrated with it, but after a little bit I got the hanf of it and I really enjoyed it. By the end of the course my whole class was having "Fun with Kutler"

Parnell Hall's 13th comic novel about Stanley Hastings proves lucky for the author but unlucky for the accident investigator with a family to support.

Hired by the wife of best-selling suspense novelist Kenneth P. Winnington to discover the identify of a crank caller, Hastings moves among the habitues of the publishing world, interviewing Winnington's agent, publicist, and two editors, one of whom rewrote his first book into a best-seller before being fired. But two interviews lead directly to two murders, and before long, Hastings manages to attract the attention of someone who wants him dead as well.

Like all of the other books, this is a fast-paced tale that gives Hall plenty of room to indulge in comic dialog that can at times sounds like he's channeling Abbott and Costello. But along the way, "Suspense" also picks up an entertaining subtext that takes Winnington's flat declaration that no author can write a suspense novel told from the hero's perspective. Hall takes up the challenge, and whips up a virtuoso performance. Hastings may object to his author's interference, especially when it leaves him in a situation in which there was no way out. Parnell Hall brings off this effect with panach; it's lucky that Hastings has Hall on his side.

Manhattan Private Investigator Stanley Hastings has just been hired by Maxine Winnington, wife of a best selling author, to investigate who has been making threatening calls to her. Since his client's number is unlisted, brand new, and given to few people, Stanley has a narrow list of suspects to investigate. For the half grand a day fee, Stanley will work the entire list.

However, Stanley's case takes a bizarre twist when a murder occurs and he is one of the chief suspects as much of the evidence points towards him. Though the famous writer has made numerous enemies who might want to destroy him, Stanley cannot fathom the link to him since he is a non. Still, Stanley now has a personal reason to solve this case, especially when the real culprit tries to silent the private investigator permanently.

Stanley Hastings is the Rodney Dangerfield of the PI world with no one, including his wife or his clients giving him any respect. In his thirteenth novel, Stanley still is extremely spry and one of the most humorist sleuths on the market today. With all that jocular satire, spoofing the genre, Parnell Hall places his hero (anti-hero?) in an interesting, very suspense laden who-done-it.

Harriet Klausner

This is a terrific book! It covers the complete spectrum of Tiffany silver flatware from 1845 to 1905. It's lavishly illustrated with photographs, diagrams, and original pattern drawings. It covers the full-line patterns, the not-full-line patterns, and the custom patterns made for the likes of the Vanderbilts and the Hearsts.

The book breaks the patterns down by designer: early pieces by retailers Polhamus, Hebbard, Gorham, Moore and others; the major designers Edward Moore, Charles Grosjean, and Paulding Parnham. It shows the various place pieces in standard patterns, as well as covering the extensive amount of fabulous and rare serving and other odd pieces (how many of you own a scallop serving fork?) There are also several useful appendices, including: Flatware Terminology; Glossary of Technical Terms; Tiffany Flatware Markings; and a Tiffany Chronology. As well, a thorough index makes it easy to find patterns or pieces you are looking for.

All in all this is the perfect book for the collector of this wonderful silver. It does not contain pricing information, which is a good thing in this day and age of online auctions, as such pricing info is often outdated by the time the book reaches the press. The only problem I had after reading it was that I wanted to own everything in the book! Don't hesitate, buy it!

This book is a superb work. The authors have filled a major void in the literature concerning the history of American decorative arts. The quality of the research and textual insights make this book essential reading for anyone interested in Tiffany silverware or the latter 19th century of American craftsmanship. The photography is so magnificent that I repeatedly find myself leafing through this book to admire the beauty of this flatware of a bygone era. A great read...a beautiful coffee table book...a classic in every respect.

This book is fantastic to meditate on. I enjoyed reading this book through the first, second, and third time! There are so many lessons to be learned in life and this book gives you ways to interpret happenings in life. It is certainly a tool to gain christian maturity and spiritual growth. I keep it as a reference and enjoy sharing it with my friends as they experience difficulties in their lives.

Charles Stanley's book is a good basic introduction to the practical everyday wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Stanley's meditations highlight 31 themes to help you live life more skillfully. For a more in-depth look at King Solomon's wisdom read THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE BOOK OF PROVERBS by Cody Jones. It features 6 translations of Proverbs in parallel and a very interesting and readable commentary with historical photos that give you a sense of the culture of the time. It also examines and answers many of the riddles and mysteries in Proverbs.

We all know about Shakespeare, so a review of his writing is not required. However, I would like to say that the Everyman's Library series are worth getting. Unlike omnibus editions (such as the Riverside Shakespeare), these are actually portable so you don't need a table to hold them up while you are reading. The Everyman's Library series have good hardbindings, are conveniently sized to carry around, and have illuminating and extensive introductions. The typeface used is old, but the letters are large and easily readable (something that is a concern with some other editions).

Tragedies, Volume 2 contains: Titus Andronicus; Troilus and Cressida; Julius Ceaser; Anthony and Cleopatra; Timon of Athens; Coriolanus

We all know about Shakespeare, so a review of his writing is not required. However, I would like to say that the Everyman's Library series are worth getting. Unlike omnibus editions (such as the Riverside Shakespeare), these are actually portable so you don't need a table to hold them up while you are reading. The Everyman's Library series have good hardbindings, are conveniently sized to carry around, and have illuminating and extensive introductions. The typeface used is old, but the letters are large and easily readable (something that is a concern with some other editions).

Tragedies, Volume 1 contains: Hamlet; Othello; King Lear; Machbeth

This is one of the few books that I have returned to time and again for guidance on developing rituals for individual and group use.

This book has it all written down step by step for a coven or group on what to do for the sabbats and the moons. I thought it was great.