This is a very handy, useful, and well-chosen representative selection of original sources on the Hellenistic World translated into English. The sources effectively illustrate various aspects of political history, the nature and range of institutions, characteristics of society, and facets of the economy in the period from Alexander the Great to the accession of Rome as a Mediterranean power (end of the second century BC.). The book's scope is widespread not only in the subjects chosen and the lengthy era covered, but also in the very inclusive representation of locations: Sources from Greece, the Aegean, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and even Bactria are included in this volume. The extensive array of sources includes literary evidence, inscriptions, and papyri. The book includes well-written and cogent commentaries and bibliography for each source, a general bibliography, maps, tables of rulers, chronological tables, an index to sources, and a general index. There is cross-referencing to specific literature relating both to the texts, and the subjects. The general introduction is helpful and enlightening. I liked this book because it is valuable source both for instructors and students providing comprehensive access to material not readily available to the non-specialist reader.

This book was so good!! Mostly because it keeps the reader pinned to the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens. I have read it at least four times and it never dulls me! A defenite page turner!

Gail Donovan has brought new wit and verve to the Rainbow Fish
series with this delightful book! My young son and I both
enjoyed the humor and drama of this undersea glimpse into a
'school' of fish and other sea creatures who reveal their
personalities-- familiar to anyone who's ever been to any
sort of school!-- through a wittily rendered session of
Show and Tell. Donovan's gentle humor and perfect ear for
both 'teacher-speak' and genuine kid voices make this book
one that can truly be enjoyed by both young readers and their
parents. I hope Donovan will continue to make Rainbow Fish
shine!

Alfredo López Austin is one of the best historians of the ancient prehispanic Mexico. Human Body and Ideology represents the highest level of the understanding of the cosmogonic concepts of the mexicas. The method used by López Austin is extremely complex and well developed, it goes between history, anthropology, sociology and philosopy.

I wasn't looking to buy the book when I went to the bookstore, but was struck by its nifty teal-colored cover that included a raised print of little tennis rackets. Cool! I have played a little tennis and seen and heard Tracy Austin on tennis telecasts, so I went ahead and bought the book. The nice thing about it is that it's not bogged down in a lot of technical jargon about how to hit shots. Instead it covers basics like terminology, the rules, etiquette, what clothes to wear, how to pick out a racquet, where to find the best instruction, and so forth. Also, it's not dry. All the book's info comes out in a fictional story that drives the book, telling of a tennis novice (Stacy, who's not to be confused with Tracy, I assume) who has moved to a new town and decides to take up tennis to make new friends. To get prepared, she goes to a tennis club and gets shuffled from expert to expert, each telling her the ins and outs of a particular aspect of tennis. Stacy's is a cute story and a neat way of getting all this stuff across. I don't know how much of the writing is Austin's and how much is Eubanks's, but it's pretty funny at times and certainly informative. It is also accompanied by notepad doodles and drawings, sort of reminiscent of the O.J. Simpson Legal Pad book that came out two years ago. Some of the drawings are a bit lame, but the book is definitely useful. A glossary in back is especially helpful as a reference tool. This book probably won't teach you how to play tennis like Tracy Austin, but it sure will allow you to understand and enjoy it more.

Being new to the life and times of Mary Austin, I found this book captivating. Credit goes to Augusta Fink for one of the finest biographies I have ever read.

Allen Hatley has done all Texas Ranger researchers a favor by helping explain the origin of this organization. Like most Ranger researchers, I have considered 1823 as the date for the formation of the forerunners of this organization. Unlike most researchers, I have put faith in this date because I am a Tumlinson descendant and have wanted to claim them as the first Texas Rangers. Hatley gives good evidence that this is not true. While that is disappointing, personally, the truth is better than a tale.

The book contains other important information on Austin's Colony which is enlightening. The book is concise, readable, and factual.

Excellent work from this emerging author/historian.

Roy B. Young President Western Outlaw-Lawman History Association

What can a jack-knife, only a jack-knife, accomplish as a kitchen utensil? This book might have helped Robinson Crusoe some had he not been blessed with a ship-load of tools of all sorts, pots and pans, spade and pick-axe to work with. What if he had just squeaked ashore with only that one valuable implement...a jack-knife? Would he have gone hungry? Not for long, I hope, for he seems to have been quite a "handy man" and would have made his jack-knife do what most American boys, cast away on an island far, far from home, would try to do as well - with only a sharp and stout knife.

This is an old book (copyright 1929), which appears to have been written with the newly created Boy Scouts in mind. (He mentions the organization as being 12 years old.) And what is a jack-knife? Fortunately, he has a life sized drawing (the book is "profusely illustrates with Line Drawings by the Author), and my little 4 blade Swiss Army Knife is about a quarter inch longer. Later in the book, after you've had some practice at preparing hearty, wholesome meals using only your jack-knife, he "allows" us other utensils, such as the Boy Scout Cook Kit, although he "allows" we can develop pretty good technique with just a tomato can! And why? In the words of the author "..we can practice the art and science of jack-knifery against the day when we are really 'cast away' a thousand miles from anywhere. Mostly, however, this shipwreck cooking, with camping thrown in to increase the fun, is just for fun. And that's why boys want to learn it, to be helpful in an emergency."

A brilliant and informative book written by my great-great grandfather and great-grandmother - buy it!

Greg Austin and Stuart Harris's _Japan and Greater China: Political Economy and Military Power in the Asian Century_ serves a useful purpose in reminding the book reading public that there are many other threats and problems in international affairs outside of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Austin and Harris have a wealth of experience in international affairs as both scholars and practitioners. Austin was an analyst with the Australian Defence Intelligence Organisation, defense and foreign affairs correspondent for _The Sydney Morning Herald_ and Secretary of the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Committee of the Australian Senate. Harris was Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Trade and then Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (subsequently Foreign Affairs and Trade)--a position roughly equal to being the chief of staff to the Foreign Minister. Austin and Harris currently hold positions at The Australian National University in Canberra. Both have written previous books on China and world affairs.

The authors contend that China and Japan are status quo powers unwilling and/or unable to provide much regional leadership in Asia and the Pacific. "Overall, what has been important is that despite ...substantial differences, both governments have sustained a business-like approach to the other. It is likely that this will become more difficult, given the greater concern of public opinion in both countries about the relationship, but both governments will not abandon this approach except under extreme duress. We have noted that whatever the public feelings towards each other, there is no domestic constituency in either country for a belligerent military posture" (p. 336).

As the title of this study indicates, the two authors focus on areas of traditional interest to people interested in international affairs, but there is a bit more to this study. Austin and Harris examine social and economic factors and this is a strength of the book and it is well made. Military actions, after all, are the efforts of a society to project and protect its political values, and it is worthwhile to get an idea of the forces at work in these two societies.

In their first two chapters, the authors examine some unconventional topics for their field. The two explore the place of cultural diplomacy and exchanges in the bilateral relationship of these Asian powers. An important component in perceptions of the other are the historiographical disputes about World War II. An issue that continues to roil the waters between the two nations is the issue of Japan issuing an apology for starting the conflict. That Japan should express its regrets in some way for initiating this war might seem obvious to most citizens of its former foes. It is a testimony to their fairness as scholars that Austin and Harris provide a good and reasonable explanation of why Japanese officials have been less than eager to express regret to the Chinese. While many Japanese nationalists continue to deny that events like the "Rape of Nanking" ever took place, influential officials and bureaucrats believe that Japan has already expressed its remorse officially. Others worry that the type of statement China desires would open up Japan to financial liability. Some see the issue as part of the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to use history as domestic propaganda and are reluctant to give this authoritarian institution tools to maintain its hold on power.

The next two chapters then move into more conventional territory with looks at security and territorial issues. The leadership in both capitals sees the other nation as a security threat, but, according to Austin and Harris, the major characteristic defining this element of their relationship is non-aggression. Each nation is confident that there is no interest in the other of using military force to resolve their differences. Trust, however, is largely absent from their relationship. The foreign policy objective of China over the past half-century has been the unification of the nation. Japan understands this objective, and has been quite consistent in maintaining a one-China policy.

The book then moves into the economic aspects of the Japanese-Chinese relationship with an examination of foreign aid and direct investment. In both cases, the capital travels west across the Sea of Japan. Aid has had little political or economic impact on China, but many Chinese see it as their due or as reparations. Japanese investment in China, on the other hand, has had more influence, at least in certain sectors and regions. Foreign investment from Japan has contributed to the growth of Chinese exports and most Japanese capital has found its way into the Dalian region in the northeast corner of the country. Japanese investment in China is a sign of a healthy relationship.

The transfer of technology and bilateral trade is the subject of the next chapter. The leadership in Beijing sees Japan as both a role model and as a ready source of advanced technology. The authors point out that in many cases China with few trained managers, technicians, and repair facilities has a limited ability to absorb the most modern technologies. When it comes to exports and imports, Austin and Harris argue that the amount of trade is large enough that both nations have elements in their society with an interest in keeping political relations between their governments from deteriorating.

As with most books, there are some blemishes. Like many works in international relations and political science, the text is littered with acronyms. While the authors are quite good about putting the abbreviations in parentheses immediately after the first use of the term it represents, a glossary would have proven quite useful for someone not wanting to hunt through two chapters of text to try and figure out what ODA, FIE, or SEZ represent.

In balance, the strengths of this study vastly outweigh its shortcomings. Austin and Harris have produced a useful, innovative study that many, including policymakers can profit from reading if they wish to understand the recent past in East Asia.