Max Lucato's and other wise christian devotionals and insights make the word of God come alive for you today. Full of compassion, grace, prayers, and truth. Very readable. For every level of intellect and knowledge of the bible or God. It feeds my soul.

This is an excellent book to read and study from to understand the world's creator and mans redeemer. It states that He is coming again and we can chose to live with Him forever.

This is the first Bible that I have been able to read and understand. The summaries and stories at the edge of the pages really help to clarify what is being said and apply it to real life. As an 18 year old student, this Bible has helped me to understand, apply, and live the Word of God. Thanks Max!

I really love my Max Lucado Inspirational NKJV Study Bible. It's a wonderful study bible with many sidebars of life lessons of Lucado's teaching guides. This the only one I use because it helps me to have a better understanding of the Scriptures. Each Book of the Old and New Testaments are laid out in an instruction manual style. All chapters are boldly titled to explain the situation for each one. The Life Lessons examines more closely the situation, makes observations, gives inspiration, makes application and gives further explorations of other scriptures throughout the Bible. It's chalkful of footnotes of many reliable references. Throughout this study gem are more inspirational ancedotes from Grace, Forgiveness, Suffering and Victory to God's Love, Hope, Prayer and Faith. And many more worthwhile inspirations that will bless your life. Even more, it has one hundred greatest thoughts, an index to selected readings, a dictionary with topical concordance, acknowledgments from many great references from the most notable names in Christianity. There's even a place in the back to add your own notes. I'm sure this is the only study bible you'll ever use. I find it to be the most comprehensive, enriching masterpiece of the Holy Bible yet. I would definitely give this as a nice gift.

I found this to be an excellent study tool. Max Lucado does not give a commentary on the verses. Instead he gives a life application lesson with the scriptures and a devotional thought. XCELLENT!!!!!

I love the Inspirational Study Bible, mine is NKJV. It has truly opened the word up to me as never before. I love reading and studying from it. It helps me understand a lot more of what was going on at the times the books were written. Mostly it helps me apply the Word to my own life. It has spoiled me, I have hunted several times for it in leather bound, I sure wish they would make it. I would get 1 for every member of my family.
Mary A.

I've got to meet this author! He's got a wonderful sense of humor and is able to capture the "just gross enough" aspect of human nature. If you have a child who loves to pretend he's eating real worms in front of his little sister just to gross her out, you NEED this book. I love it, cover to cover.

Anyone for some soup made with birds' nests?? How about "1,000 year old eggs" aged in mud?? Live maggots?? I've got it, seaweed!! What?! You want to eat HAMBURGER?!? HOW REVOLTING!! :)

Food cuisine from around the world and the strange things people have found to be delicacies is the topic of this fun book. While most American children wouldn't eat cooked spiders for a million dollars, they may be interested to find that spiders, grubs and other insects are considered not only cruncy delights in other countries, but pound-per-pound they have more nutritional value than most snack foods we eat in the states!

"It's Disgusting" is a well researched, well illustrated book that I would file in the 'expand your horizions' section. We easily forget that not everyone is like us or likes the same things we do. Hindis would be revolted, shocked and offended if we ate hamburger in front of them. Asian cultures find soup made from birds' nests a delicy (the nest itself is largely made of the birds spit) as well as sun dried jellyfish. Closer to home, at one point in history in the US turkey was once considered a food that would make you stupid and tomatoes were once considered poisionous. The passenger pigeons of yesteryear who used to blacken the sky by the millions were made extinct in part because of people's desire to eat them.

Meanwhile, today many food thickeners are made from seaweed or the hooves of animals (carageenan and gelatin, respectively), and some colorings are made from the carapaces (exoskeletons) of insects. However, no one seems to be worrying about horse hooves and bug juice in their yoghurt these days...

The book is written well so that even intermediate readers will be able to make their way through and become enligtened about the foods other cultures fancy. The authors strive to keep any bias out of their writing and simply state the facts: while WE may find this food gross, other people find it a delicacy and vice-versa--there's stuff WE regularly eat that other cultures would quickly push aside. Peppered with fun poems and bright illustrations (including some fun bar charts of the nutritional value of various foods, like bugs), this book may get a chorus of "ewwww!!"'s, but it will also expand the horizons of it's readers!

Now, pass the chocolate covered ants...

My daughter absolutely loves this book. She checked it out from the school library and cried everytime it came due, checking it out over and over till we finally bought one. This book looks at things that kids love - gross and disgusting things from everyday life. I only wish Mr. Solheim would write a sequel.

McClain has fashioned a highly detailed, sophisticated, and complex history of Japan from 1603 to the present. The historiography is superb (he obviously is totally bilingual and is fluent in Japanese sources). The history is both descriptive (chronological, social, political, economic, family/personal) as well as analytic (how social structure affected the rise of industrial society, for example). The overall effect is to make Japanese history clear and comprehensible. The people of Japan stand out in distinct relief.

I was puzzled that the Boston Globe reviewer was much cooler toward this book than I think most readers are or will be. McClain's history will stand the test of time.

I am not writing a review in fact. But I can't find anywhere else here to ask my question: What is the difference between the college edition and hardcover ed.? There is no info on this.

If you are looking for an excellent resource on the history of Japan in the past 4 centuries, I recommend this book highly. It does an excellent job in tracing the tortuous path that wove from Japan's feudal fiefdom society to the current modern parliamentary democracy. In addition to the governmental and military matters that are generally covered, there is notable space dedicated to the arts and the contributions of women, peasants and others not normally found in history books. The maps and illustrations are adequate, and do help to support the text. Highly Recommended.

This book is important for adoptees, adoptive parents and grandparents, as well as others who are loving and parenting across racial lines. While this is not a "how to" book, it is clear from the adoptees' stories what they believe their adoptive parents did well and what they wish their adoptive parents had done differently. It stresses the difficult issues but also reflects that transracial adoption can and does work. It helps parents to understand the importance of nurturing a relationship between the adoptive family and the adoptees' ethnic communities.

I really enjoyed this book and it let me see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Becaue I am adopted in a white home and Birracial the times have been hard however, with this book I feel like I am not the only one in that kind of situation. This book has helped me discover the true me, and also helped me to realize that if I am not true to myself I am only hurting myself. I wish there were more books like this on the market, and I would recommend it to anyone who is adopted or raising a minority child in a white home.

This book is a must for any white couple looking to adopt african american or mixed raced children. It is a wonderful complilation of interviews of adult adoptees who were raised in white parent homes. Since every family make up, values, and religious beliefs are different you get a good range of opinions and experiences through the words of the adoptees themselves. Find out what strenthened these individuals and what didn't, maybe through they're experiences you can change the future of your own child.

This book does a tremendous job of organizing websites for virtually any category you can think of regarding comic books and superheroes. If you're not looking for anything specific, it will still supply you with untold hours of webtime just surfing around. All this plus my Marvel Superheroes Classic RPG website is listed in it.

Unless you have read and remembered every issue of every comic book character that interests you, this book will greatly add to the pleasure and profit you enjoy from comic books.

As comic book publishers have gotten better at pushing for profits in recent years, story lines have become more complex and appear in more titles. As a result, it is easy to lose the chronology. What an incredibly nice surprise it was to find 207 fine-print pages of chronologies in this book! All of the most best known D.C. and Marvel characters are covered, as are some of the independents. For example, Batman/Bruce Wayne in the Golden Age covers three large pages of fine print type.

These chronologies have two uses. One is to follow the story line as a fan. The other is to help anticipate which comics will next rise rapidly in price. When the prices for the parts of the story before and after a comic are doing well, you can generally assume that this comic will as well. People who don't know the chronologies are at a disadvantage to collectors who do when the missing piece falls into a different title.

Another strength of the guide is that it integrates material in the form of information about the characters themselves with original art, comic books, figures, games, merchandise, cartoons, television, and films. Some of this material will tell you about upcoming plans for new products.

You can also access art that you can download to use as screensavers and icons, making your own computer much more fun to use.

If you are attracted to the writers and illustrators, they are presented, as well.

If you would like to chat on these subjects, you can locate fellow fans on-line.

The book also points you to search engines that have been optimized for comic book and super hero character searches.

A major benefit of this guide is that it takes you straight to the screen that has the material you are looking for. As a result, your time on-line will be shorter and more productive.

If you are not a comic book or super hero fan, you should consider giving this book as a gift to someone who is. It will be much appreciated. One of the best gifts any one ever gave me was a limited edition hardcover version of my favorite Uncle Scrooge comics that a read as a boy. I still treasure and enjoy it. Here is your chance to be very thoughtful, at a much lower cost.

After you have finished using the guide to increase your fun and profits, I suggest you consider where else a good understanding of chronology could make a difference to your enjoyment and profit. Perhaps you should consider the order of the development of characters in novels you enjoy reading. Or, in addition, what is the best order to read Shakespeare's plays in?

Get the order right, and your progress will be irresistible!

In The Incredible Internet Guide To Comic Books And Superheroes, Jim Flowers takes the reader directly to websites featuring superhero and comic book characters, titles, artists, writers, films, images, audio, videos, software and more. This detailed and comprehensive guide features more than 1,300 character appearance chronologies, over 1,900 websites indexed by subject and category, a section on the X-Men feature film; as well as information on future Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman films. The Incredible Internet Guide To Comic Books And Superheroes is also a significant and highly recommended time saver for dedicated fans, allowing them to even bypass the main page of websites to go directly to the specific information they are looking for.

A very personal portrayal of a predominately Irish brigade from New Orleans fighting for the south. The enigma is that this regiment had the highest percentage of Irish in any brigade plus they were linked with the famed Wheat's Tigers plus they fought in Virginia during the entire Civil War. This is particularly impressive since New Orleans was captured so early in the war and the 6th Louisiana virtually became orphans in regards to State support. Much like the famed Kentucky Brigade. Gannon is a excellent writer that through intensive research provides flowing first hand accounts particularly from the brigade priest and Captain Ring. The high point of the book is the close up look at where the brigade participated in major campaigns and battles. They were a key part of the Valley Campaign, particularly Port Republic, the Seven days, Cedar Mountain, both Bull runs, Gettysburg, Early's Valley campaign including the threat to Washington and the disasters at Cedar Creek and Fort Steadman. The best gem in the book is the section on the capture of Rappahannock Station, which was an isolated bridgehead for Lee's army located on the north side of the river. This fascinating break down in strategy and command is very well focused and told in detail because the luckless 6th is one of the 3,000 troops that virtually get overwhelmed and captured in a sudden attack by large numbers. This little told event precedes Grant's arrival but seems to reveal problems in southern command caused by the lost of key officers and the strain of a long war on the Confederate supplies. The sadness of the brigade is captured as it is progressively whittled to only 50 odd survivors at Appomattox.

This book is a fascinating and intriguing account of the 6th Louisiana. While Gannon named his book Irish Rebels and covered the majority Irish members, he does give due to the Louisianians and other immigrants who made up the regiment. I was grateful to see this as my ggggrandfather was one of those members in a company from outside of New Orleans, Company C, the St. Landry (Parish) Light Guards and to see the action his unit took part in on paper was a great experience. It gave a story to my grandfather's participation in the War I never knew!

I stumbled onto this book while researching my family history, and was absolutely taken with the story of these men. Gannon is a gifted writer with a reverence for his subject, respect for the facts and sources, and a warm narrative style. This book is a treat to read, and in doing so you will not only develop a personal interest in the lives of these brave Irish men, but you will understand how their lives impacted the nation we have become. Irish Rebels is a marvelous story, told by a master!

One of the best bio's I have read! Took only 3-4 days to read since it moved at a very fast pace with so many things happening in James Browns life. His upbringing, music, family, record companies, IRS, managers, riots, struggles are all here. Before reading this I was a big fan even though I was not sure of the place this man occupied in music, as an innovater and business person, now I do. The first man to popularize the "live" album, strict band leader, tireless composer/arranger, producer, drummer, singer, dancer and many more things that one person had in him (as well as surrounded himself with exceptional musicians and some exceptional business partners). Also learned of his ethnic background which is Asian/Black/Indian. Many roadblocks on the way and a glimpse of what the business end of the entertainment world is like round out an exceptional and candid look into the life of Soul brother number 1!

I'm usually not so crazy about Star Biographies... for a variety of reasons, they're usually attention getting "feel bad for me" vs. "worship me" ploys taken from the pages of magazines atleast I wouldn't be caught dead reading outside of a doctor's office, however - - THIS BOOK IS DIFFERENT (!) It is enormously well written - - Though its pretty clear Bruce Tucker wrote most of it, he managed to dig down into JBs soul and convey his RAGS TO RICHES story quite convincingly, capturing his voice while telling about his rise and fall (<-- the IRS and disco got him) and his come back at the time This book is so well written that I've actually reread it SEVERAL times since it initially came out in the mid '80s. - - Though it is a bit ironical that JBs life would get a bit more "complicated" after it was written (the drugs, run-ins with the law, death of his wife etc.) it is clear that Brown & Tucker have presented to the world a book that's engrossing and definitely a keeper... It will bring a whole new meaning to the music !

very powerful&uplifting.it touches on many different subjects.racisim,poverty etc..who hasn't this man not influenced? to see a human being overcome so many hardships&provide a innovative sound&style is incredible.but Mr.brown is a man with few peers on his level.this book explores the legend&genius of james brown.

Joe Hyams did a wonderful job writing this book. Although he was close to James Dean, he tried to tell the WHOLE story; bad and good. He tells of Jimmy growing up, struggling to make it in Hollywood, his obsession with fast cars, his love affairs (including Jimmy's true love, Pier Angeli), the real truth about his bisexuality, his mixed feelings about death, his dreams, his aspirations...anything you can think of. Many people were interviewed for this book ~ and what makes it different is he shares rare stories of his times w/ Jimmy also. A wonderful book, for the ultimate James Dean fan...or just someone who is curious about him. The author shares w/ you some of Jimmy's things that were found in his appartment after his tragic death, including poems and personal letters, also things found in his personal scrapbooks... You might even shed a tear toward the end of the book as his last hours, as well as the details of the horrific traffic accident which took his life, are told...I almost cried as I finished the book - not because James Dean died so young, but because a influential talent and icon was taken from the world. A beautiful book recommended to all. A+

This is one of the best books that I have read about James Dean. The author did a wonderful job exploring all aspects of Jimmy's life. He showed the good and bad about Jimmy and talked about him on such a personal level and about his own experiences with Jimmy. I could barely put it down. He covered almost everything there is to know about Jimmy from his childhood to his well-known movies and personal relationships. He also interviewed many people who knew Jimmy closely. It's truly an excellent book!

What a fantastic book. I just can't say it any better. I had to order this through an out-of-print book seller('The Book Nook', a wonderful company!), and that just added to the fun of reading it. This book has no bad points, whatsoever! I wish it was longer. Joe Hyams writing style is eloquent yet simple enough to bring out Jimmy's true nature. This is the most recent, in a string of 8 Dean biographies I've read, and it's such a necessity to any collection. To slightly contradict myself-my problem was only that it wasn't longer. Not a short read at all, the book was just so easy that it left you wanting to hear more about Jimmy from Mr. Hyams' perspective. It's the most objective standpoint anyone's taken on Jimmy, while still having a theme(angle)to write from. It's hard for me to find a bad Dean bio, simply because of my adoration of the young prodigy, but I can easily spot the great ones! Pick this book up. My used copy was in better shape than many new books I find at large bookstores. Again I must express my thanks to The Book Nook for making it possible for me to own this book, which I will utterly treasure. They work with amazon, so check them out.

The Introduction is masterful. Of books on "Ulysses"--and there are many, let's face it--this one stays close to my heart. A great one to begin your trek through the Dublin of 16 June 1904.

I suppose it is pretty hard to add anything to this monstrous string of reviews. But I will comment because (obviously like so many others) I found this book to be very important. The fact that so many reviews exist shows that this book has effected a lot of people (enough to expend their precious energies writing about it). As you can see, not many really ride the middle ground about it. People seem to love it passionately or they hate it passionately. This should be enough to recommend it to anyone. We all should be after books that are going to change us, challenge us, effect our lives and loves. This is a book that has done that for a great many people. If you have not read it, take the time. I do not think that you'll sit in your easy chair and say 'well, it was okay,' and flip on the television.
Personally, I found the book to be lively and entertaining. It was also challenging and arduous. Sometimes I couldn't put it down and sometimes I couldn't pick it up. Sometimes I thought it was a stupid book and sometimes I thought it was the best work of fiction that I had read. Ulysses is overall 'real.' It discusses truth, it changes a lot, like life. All the characters can be seen as stable in their lives, yet metaphysically sort of lost and wandering. That is like Ulysses. It is also a lot like you and I. There are jarring events, changes of style, unexpected devices and layers and layers of erudition. There are also normal everyday joes going about life as usual, to which we can all relate. It was not easy, and that is like life, also. Like life, it has a lot to teach you. And you can come back to this book many times and still find it fresh. It probably will seem an entirely new beast when you return.
Unlike some of the reviewers, I wouldn't recommend annotations. Trust yourself and trust Joyce in undertaking the work. Perhaps you'll miss things here or there. That is okay. You'll still 'get it,' in the end, if you make it. Part of it is seeing if you can make it, so you sort of fail in your test of yourself if you immediately resort to consulting some sort of 'dictionary of Joyce.' For anyone that sees this book as too daunting, let me just say that I'm not an English major or in a literature related field. I'm a music student, just a plain old undergraduate joe that read this book. I read the book without annotations except for one period where I was stuck and thought I didn't understand. I checked the annotations out from the library and I found that I did understand (at least as well as the annotator) and that I just needed to keep going to figure it out, just like in finding out how a Dickens plot is going to unfold. I would recommend against taking that step. Leave the annotations on the shelf. I'd recommend that you, another plain old non - literature joe or jane, try it. Trust yourself and try it.

Gilbert has written a classic analysis of Ulysses . This book provides both the initiate and the fanatic with a broad basis for comprehension of Joyce. It include historical documentation of the settlement of Ireland, connections of Troy and Ireland, an interesting view of Viking/ Greek parallels, aspects of occult knowledge. Failure to read this and you will not get 1/3 of the intricacy of Joyces works.