Nownes' book on organized interests in american politics is quite simply the best in the field. He covers the standard subjects (the influence of groups in Congress, the bureaucracy, origins and maintenance of groups, etc.). In addition, however, he discusses the impact of organized interests in state and local government. Surely this is an important area of american politics that is too often ignored by scholars of interest groups. His focus on organized interests instead of interest groups is also worth considering.

His writing is always clear and often witty. He has made a number of difficult subjects easy. His discussion of the "seamjob" on page 115 is a great example. Until reading this book, I thought a "seamjob" was the same as "demosclorosis." Now I know differently.

If you're looking for a clear, informative and often entertaining book about organized interests in american politics, this is it.

from the back "the first title in the New Diretions in Political Behavior series, provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of interest group politics in the United States. The book examines how organized interests are born, how they survive, how they operate, and how they influence public policy."

As former student of the author, I can say that Dr. Nownes knows his stuff. His classes were always fun, but I left knowing a lot more than I went in with. His book, "Pressure and Power" is an excellent source for info on organized interests. Nownes has written extensive amounts on this subject in the past, and continues to be an expert in the field.

"A simple system to program your subconscious to produce the results you want in any area of your Life and work. True words of wisdom, written in plain & easy to recognize language. Understated, timeless wisdom on the creative process distilled into simple, easily understood steps.

"Primary Domino Thinking provides a clear and concise process that is guaranteed to work because it is based on the most profound and powerful principles of mental and physical transformation." --Jack Canfield, author, CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL "Primary Domino Thinking offers empowerment and hope to any individual seeking to thake charge of his or her life!" --Barry Neil Kaufman, author, HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE "A fantastic guide to problem-solving - so effective that your problems stay solved!" --Victor Boc, author, HOW TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MONEY PROBLEMS FOREVER

I have read many of the books written by survivors of the Armenian genocide carried out by Turkey, and this is by far the best of them all. Aurora Mardigian (her name was subsequently changed by "Hollywood") was 14 when her story began, and what makes this book the best is also what makes it the worst: she gives many specific examples of how Turks murdered and tortured Armenians, told quite dispassionately but in no less horrifying terms.
I've already bought copies to give to my brother and sister, even at its high price, because it's worth every cent, and so that all will KNOW what the Armenian people went through at the hands of the still-denying Turks.
Those who don't know what Armenia and her people are about will also learn the true nature and identity of our wonderful culture, and all that it emcompassed both in early times as well as currently.

This book is truly interesting. It explains how an Armenian Genocide survivor's memoir was turned into a motion picture in 1919, a year or two after her arrival to the United States. The beginning of the book explains the whole movie production process, and even lists reviews given at the time of its showing. The movie apparently was very popular in 1919, however all copies of it seem to have been lost. However, the book has about 6 still photos from the movie. The bulk of the book is simply a reprint of Aurora Mardiganian's account of living through the Armenian Genocide. It is amazing, sad, sickening. This is an extremely excellent book for anyone knowing little about the Armenian Genocide, and an original and interesting one for those more familiar with the subject.

Anthony Gittins draws from a wealth of cultural experiences, not all his own, to produce a refreshing, challenging view of human community. We in the Western world need to grasp the values Gittins expresses, to engage in humble, personal ways the many-splendored cultural expressions of dignity, value, growth, and community manifested in the peoples of the world around us. Many have called mankind through the ages to forego petty differences of style and expression, and focus on the common life values; Gittins casts this call in relevant issues of our day. In doing so, he points the way to what appears to be new territory, yet which evokes the memory of Home.

This is a book of far-reaching horizons, both in terms of spirituality and geography. From West Africa to the Pacific Islands, the author draws on the lush imagery of people and places to illustrate challenges that can be applied to anyone, at home or abroad. A refreshing and contemporary look at mission and ministry today. But beware! This book could be risky and unsettling. Once you crack the cover there will be no turning back. It will require you to remember the values, hopes and promises of a younger, perhaps truer, self.[From the back cover]

I'm biased in favor of Grif Stockley, I admit. I practice law in the same town, and I have had a case or two against him. I like him. That aside, I'm an avid reader of this genre and even if I didn't know and like Grif, I'd really love his books.

What I respect and admire about his writing is that he brings reality to his characters. The reality he is able to convey is not some stark picture of poverty or prejudice or some equally profound aspect of society, but the frustration a lawyer feels with uncooperative clients, the unfathomability of attitudes and opinions alien to us, and the natural tensions of relationships.

I think we can all agree that Significant Others aren't always soul-mates who complement what is lacking in ourselves. Certainly our children say and do things that are totally incomprehensible to us. Gideon Page, the lawyer protagonist in Grif Stockley's novels, suffers a double slap in the face when his daughter and his girlfriend join a charismatic fundamentalist congregation, exercising religion in a way Gideon seems to feel is the antithesis of free conscious reason and thought. Then, to make matters worse, he is confronted by that same church when the preacher's daughter becomes his client.

Assertive, charismatic, Christian fundamentalism can be bewildering and even offensive to those who view themselves as more "mainstream" or perhaps don't actively practice much religion at all. Confronted with this church and its charismatic preacher, Gideon is repulsed. He is thrust into close contact with not only the preacher and his client, but with the preacher's family and the spooky wife and child of his co-counsel, Chet Bracken.

Despite what some non-lawyers may believe, many, many clients are uncooperative, secretive, and completely untruthful with their attorneys. Lots of times clients have something to hide, or want to accomplish something they know their lawyer wouldn't condone. How many times has every trial lawyer in America said to an uncooperative client, "You MUST tell me everything because unless I know absolutely everything I can't protect you from anything"? Gideon Page has not only an uncooperative client, but an uncooperative co-counsel on this case, though. Not only is the client avoiding him, but Chet Bracken, the lawyer who asked Gideon to help with the case, won't come clean about it. And now Chet is dying and Gideon is going to have to handle the case without knowing anything about it. Frantically investigating every miniscule lead, Gideon's worst fear comes to be that his client might actually be innocent.

When it becomes obvious that Chet Bracken isn't preparing for trial, Gideon attempts to do his best in a virtual vaccuum. Nobody will tell him the truth. Bit by agonizing bit he learns disparate facts that still don't make sense. The investigative trail seems to lead suspiciously to the preacher himself -- is the daughter going to take a fall for Daddy so Daddy won't lose his flock? But wait -- is Daddy going to take a fall for darling daughter? Who really committed the crime? Daughter isn't talking, Daddy talks too much, and co-counsel is cryptic at best.

As trial looms closer Gideon becomes frantic that the legal team has no defense for the accused, and still the accused adamantly refuses even to talk to him! The eleventh hour comes and goes and Gideon finally learns two stupefying facts that change not only his opinion about Chet Bracken, but about Chet's family, the accused, and ... well, I'm not going to give it all away. Read the book! It's worth it!

This was certainly not your run of the mill legal thriller. From Stockley we are already used to have sharp and witty observations, but in this third book in the Gideon Page series he outperforms himself.

In fact, it is not a legal thriller at all. The protagonists enter the courtroom only towards the end of the book and then only for a brief period.

It is much more a story about the relationship between father and daughter. Gideon and Sarah go through a very difficult time together when Gideon has to defend a girl who is suspected of killing her husband. Gideon wants to attack in his case the girl's father, a highly respected preacher to whose church Sarah is drawn.

The doubts of Gideon as a father and the complete lack of doubt and the righteousness of Sarah are beautifully drawn. A very satisfactory read.

Padovano remarks early in this book that "biography is spirituality," and uses Merton's life to guide us back to what is sacred in our own normal lives. Indeed, for Padovano and Merton, the search for spirituality is nothing less than the pursuit of being perfectly normal--or as Padovano might say, being normal, perfectly.

This small book has much to offer. Padovano's insight into Merton's "Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander" is especially compelling, as it should be, coming from a writer who has himself chosen not to be a bystander but instead to aspire to being perfectly normal, or rather--as Padovano might say--being normal, perfectly.

Also, Padovano's writing, here and elsewhere, offers a much needed antidote to all the goofiness that parades itself as "spiritual" or "metaphysical" in contemp culture. As Padovano says of Merton's own writing, "spirituality is biography."

Jeff Font returns to Earth to seek vengence against the planetary mogul who had framed and destroyed Jeff's family. But Jeff's plans backfired; he was captured, drugged, rammed through the computerized court system, convicted and ringed.

The "Ring" is a surgically implanted electronic monitor that automatically caused unendurable agony when a convict strayed. A ringer can do no evil, think no evil, see or hear evil without ratting to the robocops, nor can he defend himself or others from insult or injury.

In a corrupt world of licensed sin and satanic parties ringers are the ultimate victims. But the ring's data banks hadn't factored in Jeff's strength, courage, and his will to fight society, the world and the agony of the ring to unravel the plot that entrapped him and to see justice done.

Hard to put down. A Sci-Fi must read! Highly recommended.

In my opinion, This is the best work Piers Anthony ever did. He has a unique idea for keeping a handle on crime. The Ring does not allow its wearer do anything the wearer knows is wrong. It delivers an electrical shock which intensity is dependent on the severity of the crime. He delves into the way that people who are ringed are treated as well as their reactions. It is a great read.

Roslindale is Boston's best kept secret and for those "in the know", this is an indespensible book. Great pbotos, and an interesting history to go with it. Someday the rest of Boston will realize the 'jewel' it has in Roslindale - this may do the trick!

Well researched and documented with incredible photographs going back to the turn of the century. I saw the town where I grew up "way back when".

I've always been fascinated by history and wished I could travel back in time and see familiar places as they once looked - this book provided the "magic carpet" to do just that.

I received this book as a Christmas gift and spent hours poring over it. It has become a treasured possession and will be passed down to my children.

The only drawback to this delightful pop-up party in a book is that some of the tabs are difficult for young fingers to pull.

For the parents who loved "The Wheels on The Bus.." pop up book, this is a must. Get two, before they run out. My 14 month old won't go to sleep without at least three encores.

This book was published in 1989, so some of its facts are outdated, but this book is an excellent resource on how our human activity is directly impacting the environment and birds, and what we can do to save them. It is a great resource for nature enthusiasts and conservationists, and is filled with beautiful paintings and photography. I know this book is hard to find, but if you can find a used copy, definitly buy it!

This book was published in 1989, so some of its facts are outdated, but this book is an excellent resource on how our human activity is directly impacting the environment and birds, and what we can do to save them. It is a great resource for nature enthusiasts and conservationists, and is filled with beautiful paintings and photography. I know this book is hard to find, but if you can find a used copy, definitly buy it!