This book provides an amazing amount of depth on the exciting topic of AGNs. Although a bit heavy on theory at times (which is to be expected from Krolik), the book covers every topic imaginable, from black hole physics to accretion disk structure. If you work in the field of AGNs, or you want to learn more about the subject, this book is a MUST READ. However, I would only recommend it for advanced undergrads or above.

Prof. Julian Krolik has done it again! His new book "Active Galactic Nuclei: From the Central Black Hole to the Glactic Environment" is a great reference source for astrophyisics, especially in Active Galactic Nuclei. While the reading can be a bit dense and convoluded, the topic is so involving that I couldn't put the book down. If you, like me, love Active Galactic Nuclei, then this is a MUST BUY book. Also, if you are taking one of Prof. Krolik's graduate classes at Hopkins, then I strongly suggest that you read up on his favorite topic. Anyone who buy's the book will NOT be dissapointed with it!!!

As webmaster for the USS Towers (DDG-9) website, it was a significant pleasure to find such a well-researched and extremely well-written text about the man for which our ship was named. I never realized that the Navy had pilots before they had planes, or that 'Anchor's Away' was written for the USNA graduation ball of 1906! There is a great deal of naval history in this wonderfully done book. I would highly recommend this item to anyone that desires to learn more about naval history, while at the same moment being entertained by a extremely talented author.

Reynolds provides a thorough and complete biography of a man who made major contributions to the Allied success in the Second World War. Towers, an early advocate of air power, struggled for recognition and promotion between the wars. His administrative ability during the war was largely responsible for the fact that the right aircraft were produced and delivered. This book is not about tactics. The market is flooded with books about the battles. This is a book which describes the nuts and bolts of putting airpower to work. Well researched, thoroughly documented, entirely typical of Dr. Reynolds.

You have to look hard to find references to May Pang in books about John Lennon. She's not mentioned in Anthony Fawcett's "John Lennon: One Day at a Time" or in the booklet that accompanied the recent "Lennon Anthology" boxed set. Even in the coffee table book "Imagine: John Lennon," May Pang is simply referred to as a "constant companion." It seems that Pang is gradually being erased from Lennon's personal history and the official story of Lennon's "Lost Weekend," is the one approved by his widow, Yoko Ono.

This is the story of Lennon's 18 month affair with Pang, a relationship she claims continued even after Lennon returned to his wife. On his "Lost Weekend," he traveled with her to L.A. to record music and party with other musicians like Harry Nilsson. It was a boozy, decadent period that saw Lennon ejected from a nightclub for interrupting a performance and generally hit the bottle in a manner in which he hadn't since he was a youth. Sadly it confirms something often glossed over in other Lennon biographies - That Lennon was a mean drunk. The man of peace could turn into a foul-mouthed, dangerous, nasty and violent drunk who needed to be tied up by his friends until he sobered up.

Pang writes of their relationship with affection and brutal honesty. Her pen chronicles, not only the facts but her emotions and reactions to the events as they unfolded. It's a lesser known fact that she was the Lennon's personal assistant in the early 1970s and she recounts stories about the making of the original "Imagine" film and Yoko's experimental films like "Fly." However, it's the Lost Weekend period that really makes this book a worthwhile purchase. Yoko can never write about this time because, for most part, she wasn't there. Pang was. She writes about: the "Rock and Roll" sessions with madcap record producer Phil Spector; Lennon's difficult relationship with first wife Cynthia and son Julian; the booze sessions with Harry Nilsson including the infamous incident at the Troubadour Club; the "Walls and Bridges" album and the comeback performance at Madison Square Garden with Elton John. While with Lennon, she also encountered other rock celebrities and tells of the times Lennon holidayed with Keith Moon and Ringo Starr, socialized with Mick and Bianca Jagger, played music again with Paul McCartney, got verbally berated by George Harrison, met David Bowie, recorded with Elton John, upset Paul Simon and annoyed the Smothers Brothers.
Pang also debunks some of the common stories we hear about John and Yoko and while she is forgiving of John, portrays Yoko as a manipulative, scheming dragon lady. An image, not unfamiliar to Beatle fans, and one which Ono has tried hard to erase.
For those fans seeking a personal view of Lennon, unauthorized by the Lennon estate, then this book is an excellent title that sits comfortably next to "A Twist of Lennon" by his first wife, Cynthia.

I must say that I am a die-hard devoted John Lennon fan. His music and persona has had a lasting effect on my life. I was truly eager to read this book, and did so in a two day period. It made for a very interesting read. I had heard the stories and read all the interviews dealing with the "lost weekend". I always wanted to hear the other side. Not one that Yoko had contrived, nor one that John had relayed (at Yoko's bidding). This book brings the reader extremely close to a John Lennon few were allowed to know. Some wouldn't have wanted that luxury. This book shows a woman who was fascinated by, in love with, and terrified by John Lennon. Accounts of his loving nature and his horrifying fits of violence are here for all to see. It also allows the reader to see that Yoko had almost complete control over John. She knew his insecurities, and played on them. The book also details a woman's hopes and dreams for someone she truly loves. Hopes that perhaps through her love, John would become fully independent and functional as an adult. The book also depicts an almost voyeurist view of John and May's love life. In this book, you can see that John was a loving, gentle, child-like, caring man, but on the flip-side, a violent, remorseful, and controlled man. Many times I asked why May would put up with John and Yoko's mechinations. But, it is abundantly clear that May truly loved him, and wanted what was truly best for John. And what was best for him, was not always best for her. Definitely a great love story. One stopped short by Yoko.

The chapters in this book mainly come from Huxley's much larger "Science and the Christian Tradition". If you can get a hold of this book I highly recommend reading it; it takes the reader much farther than "Agnosticism and Christianity". If you cannot find the larger, then read this book. Huxley very matter of factly lays out why the bible cannot be taken as an authoritative source on its own.

The topic of Agnosticism consumes a relatively minor part of this book. It is interesting to read Huxley's exposition on Darwin's theory of evolution and how he makes the case for why it is more plausible than any other theory. While some of what he says would require modification in light of modern evolutionary thought, most of his arguments (using data from anthropology, archaeology, biology, embryology, genetics, geology, etc.) are still valid. Other essays include discussions on epistemology especially with regard to supernaturalism and claims of miracles. Only in the last several pages does Huxley elaborate on the origin and meaning of Agnosticism. In fact, he seems almost reluctant to descend into the discussion. He indulges the reader nevertheless and does a stupendous job of stating the case. A pleasant read on a rainy day.

As the title suggests, this is a collection of works by Christians who lived in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The following works are included: "On Marriage," and "On Spiritual Perfection" by Clement of Alexandria (which are technically Stromata books III and VII, the former which is only in Latin in the Ante-Nicene Fathers set.), "On Prayer," "Exhortation to Martyrdom," and "Dialogue with Heraclides," by Origen (all three books are absent from the Ante-Nicene Fathers set). There are nice introductions to each book and each author. Chadwick gives very detalied notes and explanations of Origen's "On Prayer." This is an excellent book for 2 reasons. First it is a great sample of the skilled thinkers of Alexandria. Second, it acts as a good supplement to the Ante-Nicene Fathers set.

World is so chaotic on the sphere of ethic and thought. We need so usefull guidance for us. When I read this book, I find out fresh inspiration. Specially on the direction of thought it became so effective and I want to translate in our language

This book covers an amazing assortment of information, from how to install a lathe to how to turn rubber, do metal spinning, mill in the lathe, and lap cylinder bores. For a concise summary of all the assorted knowledge a home machinist is likely to need to know about, this book is hard to beat.

The frontispiece picture of the very English author in necktie and shop coat working at his lathe is alone worth the price of admission.

If you get seriously involved you'll want to know more about some of the topics, but this book will get you started.

If your are starting out as a model, steam engine,gasolineengine builder or maybe just want to learn how to use a metal lathe,this is THE book. Although focused on English equipment, it's all good stuff. Many ideas, lots of pictures and helpful tips.

I first purchased Mr. Bourie's annual book many years ago, andlook forward to each new and expanded edition of his work. He tellsyou practically everything you need to know about casino gaming, then describes the basic offerings of every casino in the country, and then provides coupons that will save you hundreds of dollars when you visit many of the casinos listed. What else could you ask for? Any casino player who doesn't purchase this book every year is missing the boat!

Like to gamble? Me too! This guide tells you where all the casinos are in the good old USA. There are maps, plus detailed city maps of Las Vegas, Tunica, Biloxi, and others. It has strategy tables for blackjack and coupons for various discounts and freebies. You'll find me at a video poker machine--see you there! Good Luck!

Well worth 34 bucks! For organ builders, organists, students, and those who are serious organ enthusiasts, this book is rich in "tech talk" between the correspondants, and the behind- the-scenes. It gets into the nitty-gritty of organ technology. There is an abundance of information about the Senator's beast at the Convention Hall. The letters allow one to get to know these builders, organists, etc. as well. I, personally, am more into the first four decades of the twentieth century as far as American organ building goes and I am pleased with my purchase of this fascinating book. I'm hoping a volume 2 is on the way!

This book was extremely interesting from an organ building standpoint! Through letters, Harrison, Skinner, Willis, Biggs, Richards, and more tell the story of AEolian-Skinner tonal design.

A well printed paperback facsimile of the original 1939 hardback edition of this famous book. The 112 photos, one to a page with a short headline and quote, capture the desperate times thousands of farmers and their families endured in the South and Midwest and their migration to an uncertain future in California. Nearly all of the photos were taken by Dorothea Lange and this includes forty-six that she took for the Farm Security Administration between 1935 and 1938.

In the back of the book there are two essays, one by Sam Stourdze, is an excellent explanation of how Lange and Taylor compiled the book. The sales fell well short of their expectations and Stourdze comments "the rigor of its approach, the verism of its oral testimony and the radicality of its photographs were hardly designed to have mass appeal" Quite right I think, having looked through the book many times I don't think the powerful photos are backed up by adequate captions. All the photos are anonymous, even the ones with people, and surely any reader would want to know who are these folk, what is their story? This information was available because Lange took detailed notes on all her photographic assignments. It's as if the author's thought the only way they could put their point across was in an abstract way and ignore the very human turmoil the photos clearly show. In 1937 photographer Margaret Bourke-White and writer Erskine Caldwell compiled a similar photo book about the living conditions of the desperately poor rural underclass, called 'You Have Seen Their Faces' (reissued as a paperback in 1995) but here the photos and captions blend together better.

'An American Exodus' is a book of remarkable photos and well worth having if you are interested in America during the Depression years. BTW, the book reproduces the back dust jacket of the original and the New York publisher, Reynal & Hitchcock, list other "Vital books of our Time" and for three bucks you could buy 'Mein Kampf' by Adolf Hitler, "The blueprint of the Nazi program by the man who is shaking the world. No American should miss it".

These heart-breaking black & whites were shot while Lange and her husband Paul Taylor were under contract with the Federal WPA and chronicle the exodus of dustbowl refugees of the Great Depression and the anguish of their daily struggles for survival in the 'promised land' of California. Some of these photographs are difficult to view, giving an infinite depth-of-field perspective of the arid, ruined farms and starving families of the midwest hitch-hiking or walking (sometimes barefoot) to find a better life. For it's superb detail, brutal realism, and captured raw emotion, this collection is regarded as one of the most important photographic documentaries published during the 20th century. It is criminal this masterful work has not been reissued in affordable hardback binding. Scholar, amateur photographer, and layman will surely peruse these monumental pages with pleasure for years to come.

American Ruins is far more than it appears. On the surface, it is a very well designed and exquisitely photographed essay on the vanishing farmsteads of the northern plains states in the USA. That's like saying the Mona Lisa is a woman.

On the next plane, the photographs-panoramics mainly, in black-and-white on infrared film-are beyond photography. They are a spiritual experience on paper that comes as close to the experience of truth as can be done without becoming it yourself. They are haunting, wistful, emotional evocations of the pain of time and loss, the invisible presence of people in what the picture does not, cannot, show, in the way that only black-and-white can push you out of "that" into "thisness." As the foreword puts it: "... as if the camera has recorded something going on inside your head and projected it onto a wall." Small wonder many feel black-and-white is the most difficult image recorder to work with, and also to many the most sublime when done well.

Sublime Mr. MacKenzie is. This is one of the most remarkably photographed books to come off the presses in a long time. Not just well done, but literally beyond compare; the sole occupant of its category. The photographs are closer to poetry without a pen than to the interaction between film and lens. Songs without words in an A-4 landscape book. The only thing to match them is the writing excerpts that "captions" them. (The captions in the conventional sense are Notes at the end of the book.) Mr. MacKenzie chose the excerpts himself, and he certainly did his homework well. Wallace Stegner is here, Robert Frost, Willa Cather, Henry Miller, Frank Lloyd right, and two writers who would probably be surprised to find their sentences thrust alongside the eloquence of this book. But here they are, and no the less eloquent:

"When family love is displaced onto land, every change that happens there has meaning: the calibre of the light and the texture of the clouds in a day, the big changes of the seasons, most of all the slow transformation of the infrastructure of the place itself as the decades pass. When the deflection of love is also a deflection of pain, the gradual decomposition of such a place can be excruciating, a kind of lifelong torture, and yet, at the same time, a hypnotic, unfolding story. As the place declines, layers of meaning are revealed."

=Suzannah Lessard, "The Architect of Desire: Beauty and Danger in the Stanford White Family"

To which Annette Atkins adds, in "Harvest of Grief: Grasshopper Plagues and Public Assistance* in Minnesota, 1872-78":

"Minnesota lost settlers during the dark days of the 1870s . . . but thousands remained. Some could afford to stay; some could not afford to leave. Debts held some. Others wanted to hold on to their investments of time and energy. Some held different attachments; as one man explained: 'I have lost my all here, & somehow I believe that if I find it again, it will be in the immediate neighborhood where I lost it . . . I have a child buried on my claim & my ties are stronger & more binding on that account.'"

In between is writing that calls our attention to what the unrushed eye can see: ". . . leaning barns and windowless houses, jutting up like wreckage in oceans of furrowed wheat and sorghum, architecture that looks more like a visible absence of something, like a missing tooth, than it looks like a presence of sun-curled clapboard and tatters of tar paper. It looks like ruins . . . of dreams that didn't work out."

Then he goes beyond all that, to the lives unseen in these pictures, flesh long gone but souls still there, a kind of spirit of determination to match this spirit of place: ". . . boredom, bad luck, debt, despair; about the blizzard that leaves you burning your inside walls to stay alive because if you go outside for firewood you'll vanish; about a summer erupting with wheat until the grasshoppers darken the sky and eat everything-wheat, vegetable garden, even the leaves on the trees; about a husband who tells his wife he'll be right back after he rides out to round up two cows-she watches him ride around the cows and keep going and he never comes back."

Beauty of a special kind, these-of death, decay, the falling to ruin-but life of a kind all the more: eonic, seasonless as a century, brutal cold and brutal heat, wind vying only with grass for endlessness, and to the human who endures these and thus surpasses the self, transfiguration. Into this, the Great Plains, families came, filled with grit and ambition and not a few starry-eyed dreams. They are still here, here in these pictures. Look around the corners and there they are, in the boards of the barn they nailed, among the leaves in the trees they planted. With all that's in this book, we can see what we never would have before, the eyes of dreams become the last remains of a rainbow.

That said, this is what books used to be in the highest sense of the craft. And still are, if only we seek out and buy the work of presses like the Afton Historical Society.

This is the book for people who didn't think that they liked landscape photography. MacKenzie takes you through a voyage to the abandoned worlds of farms, schools and other building in the middle of the nowhere lands of midwestern America. Here we find that ruined farmhouse, strangely sculpted by the winds and snow of many winters, but not depicted as some quaint, picturesque image, but as a stark vision in long Puritan panoramic views that work to make the landscapes appear as through they are suspended in time, a strange reminder of once active places, now abandoned and ruined, but notheless spectacular in their setting. This is the photographer that will make you throw away your Nan Goldins and your Cindy Shermans and discover what is it that makes photography the newest vibrant member of the visual fine arts.