J.E.White does an incredible job of weaving stories and Truth together to crank out a work that is both readable and enlightening...

A great book in a few cases...

1) If you are a Christ-follower and have a friend who has questions... and you're not sure where to go for answers... they are very accesible in this book.

2) If you have a friend who would read it... who is searching Truth themselves... Buy them the book (and you read it, too, so that you can discuss the concepts).

3) If you are seeking Truth... Definitely a good one to read. I know, there's a lot of stuff out there that's out of balance, or hard to wade through... not so here.

I stumbled across this book a year ago at a thrift store. I had been out of the faith for 18 years, and this helped me immensely get past many of the misconceptions I had from my youth. It was as though this was written exclusively for my life and thoughts.

I now give away this book to seekers or potential seekers. Its size isn't daunting, but gives an excellent overview of many of the most stifling objections to Christianity. It starts out, appropriately, setting the mindset for the reader to read and explore the contents with an open mind. Many stories and biblical references, as well as references to other resources.
With this, I was able to look at my spiritual journey anew, was open enough to find a church that satisfied my adult need for spiritual growth (even though completely different than the denomination of my youth) and now even my wife had accepted Jesus as her Lord.

This answers many of those nagging questions that we use for excuses for not really examining our faith.

What about evolution? Is the Bible really credible? Why is there so much suffering? Aren't all religions essentially the same? Why do Christians commit sin? Why do Christians seem so strange?

These are the sorts of questions that get answered. I wish I had read this as a teenager.

I would recommend giving this book to anyone who needs help getting over these common hurdles that keep us from the Christian faith.

One of the more controversial events of the 1930's took place near Paint Rock, Alabama when nine Negro youths were arrested for the rape of two white women on a freight train. The nine were quickly tried and found guilty. Before the death penalty could be administered, appeals were filed with the aid of the US Communist Party. Thence ensued a lengthy series of trials and appeals that lasted from 1931 until well into the forties. It was a legal battle between White and Black as well as North and South with the battlefield always under the control of the White Southerners. Today it is an incident lergely forgotten by succeeding generations. Yet it is an excellent example of the the state of race relations in the South (not that there are too many surprises there), the role of moderate judges in reconciling racial injustice, the influence of the Communist/Socialist Parties in the 1930's as well as a number of other splinter stories. Therein lies the excellence of this book.

The author attempts to relate the story of the "Scottsboro Boys" through various perspectives without really indicating a particular bias. As the story goes on these perspectives seem to roll into one but even that one perspective takes a middle road approach to the story. For example, we are told of all the difficulties that the main characters suffer while imprisoned. Simultaneously we are made to understand that these same characters have serious flaws of their own.

The book follows the story of all the principals from their entry into the story until their death. There were few successes to come out of this event and the author lets us see the failures of the "Scottsboro Boys" as they each eventually realized their freedom.

This is an extremely readable work of non-fiction. It may seem occasionally that the story is stuck at one particular point but it generally moves along, giving the reader a rare insight into a very American event in history.

I started reading this book with very little knowledge about the Scottsboro incident. This book does an amazing job of portraying the different sides to this tragic story. The chapters are short enough for those of us with short attention spans. However, each chapter grips you with why those particular people feel and think the way they do.
A must read if you want to know what really happened, and more importantly why it happened.

I had to read this for a school assignment and wasn't particularly looking forward to it, but I am so glad I did. This book is amazing. It chronicles the famous Scottsboro trial, from the initial incident all the way through to many years after the trial. The book is written very convincingly in that it tries to present the different perspectives of relevant parties/persons. This made me feel like Goodman wasn't trying to push his own agenda but was instead simply presenting as best he could an accurate historical account of the facts surrounding Scottsboro. The book itself is written like a story, but you can tell from its presentation that the "story" was very historically driven and all facts mentioned were well-documented. A fascinating account of Scottsboro. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about it. I'm not sure a better resource exists on this topic.

I ordered this quite a long time, and don't understand what took me so long in reviewing it.

As others have said, this book is amazing. The photographs are simply timeless and beautiful. I can't quite describe the vibe that it captures or conveys, but I found myself somewhat saddened by the book. The pictures kind of struck a whole "Dead Poet's Socitey," "Carpe Diem" mood with me. At the same time, they conveyed the beauty of a time in California (or for that matter, the U.S.) that is forever lost and will never be recaptured. A time of innocence and naivete, before everything became so tainted, jaded, and overcrowded.

I don't know, maybe that's just a crock. At any rate, as a surfer of 20 years, this book really touched me. I think it will touch any fellow surfer, or for that matter, ocean lover.

Definitely pick this one up before it goes out of print (as these things so swiftly seem to do).

The faces and images have me so stoked! I have new found repect for the pre-war surfers, they paved the way, building on Duke's foundation.It also gives such a good historical perspective on the pre-war So. Cal. surf scene. It's bittersweet to see that so many of these lives and times were to be selflessly lost in the impending war. It also shows what a utopic place it must have been before the yuppies & developers destroyed so many fabulous spots. Something that magic can never last, it seems.A must for any surfer or red blooded Californian. A delight!

I've had this book for a while, and I'm ordering more for Christmas gifts.

I recently got the wonderful "Riding the Rails," about teens during the depression who hopped freights to go Huck Finning. My father did this and wound up hanging out at "The Big Rock," which wasn't in San Onofre, but in Malibu. But conditions were similar: then, you really could camp out on the beach.

Like an idiot, I let my Dad pass on before asking him the details of those years. Now, the best I can do are secondary sources. But these help me reconstruct a picture of that world of his that ended with World War II.

Around the world, there is a stereotype of Southern California, which is immediately dashed upon visiting Hollywood Boulevard. However, the stereotype isn't so much lie as anachronism.

There really was a world that matched the current anachronism that is still the image of Southern California. Get this book, and you'll understand what I mean.

I like Mostin Flashmeister and Simon Garofalo (but not a batty), was a pupil at the school during the time the moooose aka Susan Bennett accused Michael James of the heinous crime. I was also a character witness on behalf of Michael James in court and I believe that some of my personality and attributes such as my trademark slick as brylcreem hair was added to the character of Justin Hilton. The book is excellently written and for anyone who wishes to purchase it the main characters in the book are very realistic, and the teachers who turned their back on him were cants in real life. I would like to wish Michael James all the best in the future, he certainly deserves it, and it would be classic if this story became a film.

I was also a pupil at this school during the time the book is set and Mike James was a good and honourable teacher and one of about two or three members of the staff who didn't live with thier heads up their ..., he was a decent guy and did not deserve to be put through this ordeal. ... the school for their judgement and ... the beady eyes of the Deputy Head, for he was a fool. I would also like to wish the author the best of luck in the future. And to Simon Garofalo who wrote the review below - YEEEEE. JDG

This book really hit home for me, it was powerful and personal. A story of a man who came out on top, when many would have sank.

This book is absolutely fantastic. After reading numerous other training books and still having difficulty with my young dog I stumbled onto this book by accident. Spencer covers every aspect of training the puppy right through to advanced blinds and marks. His style of writing is very clear and his use of anecdotes helps to illustrate the real life ramifications of various techniques. Until I read this book I had great difficulty training consistent blind retrieves. Spencer's explanation of the correct use of conditioning flags has made it so much easier. I have read this book at least ten times and learn something new every time. I can't recommend it enough.

James B. Spencer's Training Retrievers For Marshes And Meadows will hold a specific appeal for hunters who use retriever dogs in their work. Beginners are taught how to gain rapport and train dogs, from basic obedience to training for the hunt - and receive instructions particular not only to retrieving in general, but to the breed.

Before, during and continuing with the training of my current yellow Lab, I have read quite a few books on the subject. I wish I would have had this one sooner! Easy to read and great instruction all in one book.

The early dispatches are correct - but they tell only half the story. Yes, writer-illustrator Jamie Warhola (nephew of Andy) has brought both his talents to bear on a children's storybook that will please and surprise Warhol's adult fans. Yes, it is any child's ideal introduction to the world of art-making: the messy stuff of art - drips, stretched canvasses, the junk of life that can inspire. Unlike other Warhol books, there is little about opening-night hype, superstars, or the impenetrable sophistries of critics and historians. And yet: this, in its own way, adds to art history. For example: Was there another significant artist in the family? Did Paul Warhola, Andy's brother, have some weird intuition about the importance of the commonplace years, even decades, before Andy's infamous soupcans at the Ferus Gallery? So it would seem (see opening pages); and so we are apprised of new alleyways, new influences on Warhol barely mentioned by Bokris, Bourdon, Guiles and other standard biographies. Jamie Warhola's style of illustration is detailed, colourful, incident-filled and affectionate. It is as much memorial vanitas as record or memoire - a superb, child's eye portrait of someone who, like a child, brought a fresh eye. James ("Jamie") Warhola has brought just that to this portrait of his famous uncle. A classic.

DONNA BERRY HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO.
We all remember or have a favorite Uncle...but to have Andy Warhol as one is a special treat. Andy's 7 energetic nieces and nephews lived for the days when their dad would announce that they were to quickly pack up their clothes so they could go visit Uncle Andy in New York City. The children knew that Andy would be going out to party with his movie star friends in the evenings, and this would give them ample time to play with his twenty-five cats and search through all the treasures and "stuff" he kept around the house for inspirational painting. This is a must read book for both children and adults. It will stir up pleasant memories from your own childhood and give your children plenty to laugh about.

Uncle Andy's is a wondrously presented picture book story for young readers about what it was like to have the famous artist Andy Warhol for an uncle. Written and illustrated in full-color by James Warhola (Andy Warhol's nephew), this thoroughly delightful, unique, and recommended storybook recounts from memory the whimsy and eye-opening insights of seeing works of art in progress, -- often crafted from the most ordinary of humble objects.

This is the best-selling solution to Rubik's cube, and rightly so--the procedure is easy to understand, easy to execute, and easy to remember. It is what I used to learn to solve the cube in 1981 (I was 7 at the time), and I still know the solution now, even after many years without touching the cube. However, the focus of this book is so much on everything being easy that it is rather inefficient--it requires about 110 moves on average to solve the cube using this method. If you are looking for a faster or more efficient solution, look for Minh Thai's book "The Winning Solution" (1982), which solves the cube in about 70 moves, or you can look on the internet for solutions by Lars Petrus (60 moves), Philip Marshall ("The Ultimate Solution", 65 moves), or Dan Knights ("The Advanced Solution", 60 moves). If you are looking for the ultimate in speed-solving the cube, look at Jiri Fridrich's solution, which requires 55 moves and can be performed in under 18 seconds. Be warned that Jiri's solution requires a great deal of memorizing. Philip Marshall's solution requires the least amount of memorizing (only a handful of small processes), but it requires a significant amount of planning and maneuvering which is sure to put your spatial skills to the test. But it is certainly a simple and elegant solution. The choice is yours!

Sometime I guess in 1981 or 1982 I purchased this book at the Woolworth's in Janesville, Wisconsin having bought a Rubik's cube and having been completely engrossed in it. I was 12 or 13 at the time. The book was (at is) a straightforward explanation of how to take a mangled cube and get it back in shape. My personal record is one minute and nineteen seconds. I've managed to hold onto that cube and this book over the years. It has a very high geek nostalgia factor.

yu see at first i bout mastering the rubicks cube but it was hard to under stand at first then i bought simple solution to rubicks cube my james g norrs then the idea slotuion to rubicks cube so i let my smart gym teacher Mr lOWARY at SEC and clark SCHOOL :) I LET HIM BORROW ALL THOSE BOOKS AND he showed me how to use the planson simple soplution then once i got the nack of it i wasso exvted! isaid thanks you JESUS! FOR finding somone to help me out :) and with JESUS HELP i was able to use the simplution as a key to combine all the other methodes as 1 unit t solve thecube faster! and on top of that i was able with jesus help found my own idea to get the middles done with out missing up the top all the time my best time was a minute and seounds! but if erNO rubkcs cube is mixed real good my est time is 3 minutes or less ps. at fiorst i just thought i just want to beable to solve it i do not need to go fast on timing ps. well that was then cause latr on i wanted to see how fast i could solve it! and when i when to a christian camp they had rubicks cubes iended up teaching campcounselrs there how to solve the rubicks cube plus one of the camp counselrs is a magician also we shared illusion secrets with each other plus he saw all the atentio i was kidding with th rubicks cube he wawanted to learn it also so i showed him how to solve the rubicks cube even my camp counsler whos the 1 that wanted to learn it first i took the time to help him every day :) they told me after i leave camp they will probley have a teacing camp to teach other people and children how tosolve the rubicks cube:) i said hey thats cool :)

There is not much I can add to the other reviews. I couldn't put it down either and spent the whole day reading until my eyes gave out. Bernard F. Connors can really write. Major Call, the poetry loving desperado was an almost likable fellow, but as usual, "there was something about him." And God help the person who got in his way. A dedicated military and family man, he couldn't control his rages or his weakness for dangerous situations, fast cars, and stealing. He may very well have been the mysterious bushy haired stranger seen in the Bay Village neighborhood where Marilyn Sheppard was murdered in the 50's. Did he kill her? Read the book and decide for yourself. I went back and re-read parts of the story and studied the haunting photos. There are also documents and additonal photos in the back of the book. This is one you will want to own.

Don't miss this book! You can't go wrong--whether you like a great read or are fascinated by true crime. I'm not a crime buff by any means, but once I started Tailspin I could not put it down. Major Call is one of the most amazing characters that I have ever encountered. The author weaves meticulous research with a narrative that keeps the book moving at breakneck speed. He also cracks the 50-year-old case that inspired "The Fugitive." Spectacular!

I read this book in two sittings.The transformation of Major Call from a distinguished Air Force officer to a criminal is very hard to understand but well told.The story is compelling and grips your attention immediately.He was a very skilled criminal not to mention ruthless.His possible role in the murder of Dr.Sheppard's wife is fairly well established in this book.It would certainly leave you with a reasonable doubt if you were sitting on a jury.His penchant for living on the edge and taking risks makes Bond's 007 pale by comparison.

This book is an excellent tribute to tiki history and lore--written by an man who is obviously passionate about his subject--all the while being amusing and charming. You may not be able to visit the bars, but his vivid and detailed descriptions make it almost as good.

My only real gripe is the small, black and white photos inside--no colour used to depict the vibrant and lush world that is tiki--faux or otherwise. also, I hoped that I would be able to use this book as a guide for some inspired tropical travels--but, alas! there aren't very many good bars in the heartlands.

one amusing plus--
James Teitelbaum leaves few stones unturned.
in a bleak winter, while driving through Iowa, I observed a fabulous sign for the "Tiki-Truck Stop". we were too tired to be tempted to stop, but my heart is now at peace knowing there is a full report in this book.

if you're already into tiki-lore, this book's glossaries and recipes will probably not be anything new. I advise looking at a copy first and seeing if there are any tiki locals near your area before making a purchase. unless you are happy to know there are fabulous tiki bars in california and scant ones in michigan.

If you love tiki's and what to know where they are in your area, or are traveling, get this book. We visited the Kon-Tiki bar in Tuscon for lunch while on vacation after reading about it here - the tiki atmosphere was awesome. Our waitress Cathy showed us a good time and let us take pictures of the fabulous Tiki's. The author said their waitress did not know much about the history of the bar, but Cathy did, and we chatted for several hours. Get this book....and go enjoy tiki hunting.

I got a chance to meet the author, and he is awesome. The book is fantastic, and details every, good and bad, tiki location around the country. You gotta get this book.