The Reader's Companion to the American Presidency serves as a nice overview of the Presidents without being a mere laundry list of facts and "did you know?" trivia. The essay contributions of dozens of well-respected historians give a concise, but remarkably comprehensive overview of each President's administration and background. A timeline at the bottom of the page and sidebars about U.S. population, immigration, commerce statistics, and information about the first family nicely complement each section. While the essays offer insights about the accomplishments and failures of each man, the book avoids being overly "heavy-handed" or judgmental.

A great feature is the "For Further Reading & Research" section which recommends biographies and reveals where one can find the President's papers for more in-depth reading of the President and his times. The book is not photo-heavy, but many of the black-and-white photos offered are refreshingly different from the ones we might be used to seeing (e.g. Gilbert Stuart's rendition of Washington is absent). This professional and well-organized hardcover would make a great gift and first-stop resource for anyone's library.

Washington was a great President, right? Lincoln's presidency was without blemish, correct? Bill Clinton was the only President to have an affair or two? Well what if these things happened before? How does each President stack up against the other? This book might just have the answers you're looking for.

Historians like Eric Foner, Joyce Appleby, Alan Taylor, Jean Baker, Karen Orren and others put together 41 essays on the man who has held the highest political office in the land and they give the insight into the up and downs of the administration.

You'll read about the triumphs, the failures, the wins, the losses and the scandals, all put into the proper perspective of the time in which they took place. Excellent companion to any history book, with information that you may not find anywhere else.

If you are looking to increase your knowledge of the President and are looking for a straight forward, unbiased reading than this book should be on your list. The authors and editors have give you a first rate book and at a price that is sure to make everyone happy.

Secret Yankees: The Union Circle In Confederate America by Thomas G. Dyer (Professor of Higher Education and History, University of Georgia) is a superbly presented historical study of pro-Union sympathizers in Atlanta, Georgia. These are Civil War participants who have been largely overlooked and ignored in both traditional civil war studies texts and popular culture movies such as "Gone With the Wind." Dramatic and personal, with special emphasis on the life and struggles of Vermont native and Unionist Cyrena Stone, Secret Yankees is an incredible insight into a little-known aspect of America's deadliest war. Secret Yankees is a seminal and significant contribution to the growing library of Civil War literature and highly recommended for Civil War Studies supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections.

Professor Thomas G. Dyer's book is a highly important and enjoyable work. All readers can benefit from this excellent work; however, for those with an interest in literary mysteries, Dyer's work offers a special treat. Who was "Miss Abby," the author of a "diary" dated at Atlanta, Georgia, 1 January through 22 July 1864? No one knew. In 1976, the University of Georgia library purchased the manuscript "diary" from a book/manuscript peddler without demanding its provenance, a decision soon to be regretted. The question of authorship was daunting indeed. Faced with a fictitious name and the swollen population of Atlanta toward the end of the Civil War, most writers would have surrendered--not so, this 20th century Sherlock. One would have thought that any stray Yankees in Atlanta would have fled like scalded rats with the first booming from Sumter, or that those remaining were securely confined in the local asylum. Not so, Dyer informs us. Yankees...in Atlanta! Aunt Pittypat would be appalled. In the early stages of his work, Professor Dyer was rightly concerned that the manuscript "diary" could be part of a published work. At an early stage he was also aware that, at best, the "diary" in the collection of the University of Georgia library was perhaps only a transcription of an unknown original document, which he yet thinks was a diary written by Cyrena Bailey Stone. After a careful search of all standard reference, and even rare sources, he found no evidence whatever that the "diary" had been published. However, as is often the case when doing original literary work, Professor Dyer's neck was stretched nicely across scholarship's bloody block. The ax fell. Well into the project, the manuscript "diary" in the University of Georgia library proved to be part of a 1903 novel, "Goldie's Inheritance/A Story of the Siege of Atlanta," by Louisa M. Whitney. To add insult to injury, there were three copies of the novel in the Georgia Room, University of Georgia (where Dyer is Professor of Higher Education and History), as is the manuscript "diary." In the words of a Confederate song writer to President Lincoln, it was "Root Hog, or Die!" Die, Dyer did not. As with Lincoln, he goes on to prove his worth by providing his readers with a new thought provoking view of Atlanta, the home of "Gone With The Wind," during the Civil War. Concerning this work, the following facts are most regrettable. Professor Dyer was not able to locate the supposed original diary of Cyrena Bailey Stone, nor was he able to locate a single example of her handwriting; hence, the manuscript "diary" in the University of Georgia library must remain in doubt, its provenance unknown. The fact that the heroine of this story, Cyrena Bailey Stone, the supposed author of the "diary," was a loyal Atlanta Yankee slave owner, and that other loyal Atlanta Yankees in her nest were also slave owners, would seem sufficient to undermine the basic premise of Professor Dyer's work. This may be so, at least in part. However, Professor Dyer's important contribution does not rest on the faults of the characters which infest his work, nor does it rely on the authenticity of the manuscript "diary" in the University of Georgia library. The thoughtful reader of Professor Dyer's superb work will soon learn why this is so. Working under the burdens I have outlined, Professor Dyer has produced an important seminal work. This work is a must for all readers of southern history.

This is a great book for flicking through now and again for some enlightening tips on life. It has helped me considerably over the last few years. As with all of Wayne Dyer's writing, the style is easy to read, empowering, gentle and occasionally very funny. Many of the quotes and aphorisms are worth burning into your subconscious, ready for recall at times when one feels "less than empowered", or as extra positive inspiration for when things are already going well!....

"When you argue for your limitations, all you get are your limitations" "Did you ever notice how difficult it is to argue with someone who is not obsessed with being right?" "The more you let go of people and things, the fewer obstacles you will have on your life's journey" "Being self-actualized means being able to welcome the unknown"

And there's plenty more where they came from! The challenge, as always of course, is to try and consistently live these ideas. Wayne Dyer is an excellent starting point.

When I can just barely drag myself into my car on Mondays, this tape is what keeps me going. It's a loosely strung-together array of Dr. Dyer's life-altering concepts, ideas that can wake you up and inspire you to take charge of your life even during the toughest of times. His advice got me through an agonizing career dilemma and back on the path to where I should have been headed all along. If you've got a nagging suspicion that you're life has already been decided for you, or if you're just not sure where you're headed, "Staying on the Path" ccould help you, too.

Another great Chalet School book. This book has all the usual features of a book for girls of all ages, "a bit of fun".

A must for Chalet School fans - introduces one of the most favourite characters, Mary-Lou. This book shouldn't be missed. A great read!

Hunnicutt is the premier expert on American Armor since WWII. He has continued his excellent series on American Main Battle Tanks in this study that covers the history and development of the M-1 as well as its predecessor, the MBT-70. Excellent photographs, line drawings and text detail the world's best tank. I only wish that it had information on the M1-A2 and subsequent varients which have been developed since the publication of this edition.

As a tanker, I spent many hours inside of this vehicle and enjoyed the book enormously. You cannot go wrong purchasing a book by Hunnicutt. Pricey? Yup. You get what you pay for.

As an individual with quadriplegia I was given this book as an inspirational gift. Having more abilities than Ron in this book, it still hits right at home for myself as it depicts allot of the exact trials an individual with quadriplegia goes through and how frustrating times can be living with paralysis. As a Christian myself I not only highly recommend this book to individuals with similar physical disabilities, but anyone male or female who has battled tough life trials, as Ron will definitely through his testimony in this book inspire you and give you more hope you ever though possible. If you're one who doesn't enjoy reading, this book comes on tape also. I'm now looking at referring this book to many of my friends in wheelchairs and / or possibly buying it as gifts for them, as it was done for me, if my budget will allow room for this. Five star book, try 10 stars.

This book was written by folks who are primarily interested in recording the history of small boats. My personal small boat reference library has 180 books in it and I have read all with careful attention to detail. More than half of them would be better reference books if the author had enjoyed the opportunity to study this book on documenting small boats. The scope of this book is such that there is truly something for all, no matter how specific your interest in small boats. I am a scale model builder. I enjoy getting each piece to look & work like the real thing. That means I need to be able to measure the real thing, draw it to scale and then reproduce it. This book defines the basic structure of a boat, gives you a working vocabulary and understanding of each part. I'm referring to parts that are there in plain view that are typically overlooked, but essential. Once you read this book (or the parts that interest you) and see the parts, you'll realize it was more difficult to write about measuring and drafting than it is to actually do it. The graphics in this book are excellent. If you own a boat, for which there are no plans and plan to build a model of it, this book is a "must-have" for the project. If you are a serious student of archaeology, you need this book. The book's index converts a book of great scope into a quick easy to use reference book. Finally, the bibliography alone is worth the price of the book. If I could only keep 5 of my books, this would definitely be on my keep list.

This is a very enjoyable storybook. The most interesting thing I discovered about it, is the traditional stories that I grew up with, being told in a Vietnamese setting. Very enjoyable, and I look forward to reading to my young girls these stories they know so well in another format!

A major contribution to regional ornithology is now available.

"Bull's Birds of New York State," edited by Emanuel Levine of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and with a Foreword by Governor George Pataki, has just been published. A copy belongs in the library of every bird watcher in this state, from the beginning feeder-observer to the academic ornithologist. (Wives, husbands and friends of birders take note.)

This is our fifth state bird book. The first, by J. E. DeKay, "Zoology of New York: Part 2, Birds" was published in 1844. Next came E. H. Eaton's two volume, "Birds of New York State" in 1910 and 1914. John Bull wrote "Birds of New York State" in 1974. The final predecessor is the more specialized "Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State," edited by Robert Andrle and J. R. Carroll and published in 1988.

Unlike all but the "Atlas," the new book was written by a formidable team of 77 authors. Seven of them prepared introductory essays about this state's environmental and ornithological history and about the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs under whose aegis the book was developed. These are followed by one to two-page accounts detailing range, status, breeding and nonbreeding information and remarks (but not identification characteristics) about the 451 bird species recorded through early 1997 in this state.

What I find remarkable is the uniformly high quality of each of these brief accounts. They constitute not only a compendium of information but also a collection of interesting insights.

How was this possible with so many writers spread across the state? Obviously through the discipline that was provided by Levine and his associates, Berna and Stanley Lincoln, both Lincolns past Federation presidents.

An underlying theme that arises from many of these accounts is the change in bird populations due to clearing of the countryside for farmland during the 18th and 19th centuries followed in this century by the return of much of that land to forest. The recent good news for woodland birds like pileated woodpecker is equally bad news for grassland birds like vesper and Henslow's sparrows.

It is difficult to choose from among these fine essays but my favorites are Don Windsor's pieces about those lowly urban birds: rock dove, starling and house (a.k.a. English) sparrow. My vote for best remark is Steve Eaton's about how our premier game bird got its name. "The Spanish first introduced the turkey from America into Europe in the early 1500s. From Spain it spread rapidly as a domestic fowl throughout Europe, but knowledge of its place of origin did not. In the Middle Ages nearly everything exotic was obtained in or through Turkish, or Arabian, territories. Even our corn is still known in the Near East as Turkey wheat. There is little doubt that our bird derived its name from the country Turkey."

The number of species recorded in New York has increased over the years but new birds continue to appear. Number 452 - the lovely lazuli bunting that was seen by many local birders at the farm of Don and Virginia Tiede south of Batavia last winter - is the first of those that must wait to appear in the next volume of the series.

If you just want a copy of _The Call of the Wild_, to give to a friend, say, this is the one to get.

The elegant Library of America edition of "London: Novels and Stories" has three complete novels _The Call of the Wild_, _White Fang_, _The Sea-Wolf_, and a very well chosen selection of stories. It's great. Viking's _The Portable Jack London_, is cheap and excellent; it's edited by Earle Labor, has _The Call of the Wild_, and an excellent selection of short stories, nonfiction, and letters. If you want copies of _The Call of the Wild_ to give to LOTS of friends, the Dover Thrift Edition is just a buck.

But if you want _just_ The Call of the Wild, this edition is nice enough to give as a gift, is clear and legible, and has just the right amount of pictures and annotations. Not a scholarly work, but every time you get to one of those places where you have a question--where was Dyea? What was the "Chinese lottery?" Could a dog really pull a thousand pound sled? there's Dyer with the answer.

If you're interested in Jack London, take a look at the alt.books.jack-london Internet discussion group--see "about me" for details.