This is an excellent, highly readable book for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of British politics. Each constituency is profiled in-depth, and I reach for this book every time a by-election is caused. This new edition is highly welcome, as the old edition was made hopelessly out of date by the 1997 Labour landslide. Buy this book, and you'll know which seats Peter Snow means the next time he says "Now let's have a look at our Swingometer!"

Excellent resource for British Politics. Glad to see it has been updated to reflect the sweeping 1997 Labour Victory and Boundary Commission changes. A must for anyone interested in British Politics.

Excellent review of british politics. Gets even better with time. If you are interested in what is going on in a major player in europe this is the book to get. Provides excellent portraits of all the major players in this parliament and of Tony Blairs government.

James Bollman's collection of banjos and banjo memorabilia is stunning and this volume may be the only way in which I would ever be able to view it in my home a photograph at a time. The history is a resource for historians and reenactors alike. The vintage photos are mostly ones I've never seen before. This collection has the most vintage photos of lady banjo players I have ever seen. The 1860's photo of a young woman playing the banjo on page 93 has enough detail for a reenactor to duplicate her dress and accessories as well as her banjo. The same is true of an 1895 photograph of a woman playing a Fairbanks Electric. The turn of the century all woman banjo band on page 10 is inspiring. It's great to know that there have always been lady banjo players and these photos give the lady reenactor a place to start when planning a period costume to go with a period banjo. There is a section of breath taking color plates in this book that allow you not only to see detail on some rare banjos, but also depict antique banjo clocks and memorabilia. I never knew such pieces existed until this book. A great book and a must have for anyone interested in vintage instruments and pickers.

At last, another important book has emerged to stand with the few other necessary references on early American 5-string banjos.

Unlike the two fine Tsumura books which are primarily photographic essays of considerable magnitude, Gura and Bollman's treatise combines a highly readable and informed history with a remarkable collection of rare antique photographs and ephemera plus 4 lengthy sections of recent photographs of exquisite instruments and banjo related objects. Any one of these three aspects would be sufficient reason to own the book.

The frequently startling and personal photographs impart a very human feeling as we progress through the story of the evolution of the banjo in American culture. Amazingly, they represent just a minor fraction of Jim Bollman's immense collection.

Special praise is due Peter Szego for his magnificent photographs of the wonderful early banjos from his own collection.

I find it hard to remain objective as I turn the pages and imagine what it must have been like to pose for one of those Dageurreotypes, rudely dressed, banjo in hand, daring the photographer to capture my soul. And again, when I turn to that favorite Boucher or Fairbanks banjo and long to feel and play it.

Well done, gentlemen, and thank you!

As a banjo player of some twenty-five years experience, as well as a historic interpreter/performer of Early American music, all I can say is that this is the book that I've been waiting for! This well-researched, well-written, beautifully illustrated tome doesn't just give us an interesting history of the banjo; it offer us a fascinating view of the instrument's pivotal role in the birth of American "pop" music.

My favorite features of the book are the antique period photographs, as well as the many wonderful illustrations of authentic period instruments and ephemeria, primarily from the extensive personal collection of the book's authors and fellow collectors such as Peter Szego. The majority of the 19th century photos depicted belong to author Jim Bollman, whose home can best be described as a museum and shrine to the banjo. I'm also a collector of vintage photos of musicians and I can tell you there's no one more respected in the field than Jim. His name is constantly invoked with awe and reverence by both dealers and other collectors. I have to admit there were times at photo shows when I've had cause to harbor some unkindly thoughts towards Jim every time it had become that he had scored all the best photos. However, purchasing this book, which contains many of those incredible unattainable photos, more than makes up for that.

My only complaint about "America's Instrument..." is its failure to really explore the banjo's African roots other than to briefly quote Dena Epstein's pioneering work on the subject. Also, the authors are mistaken in their statements that the African ancestors of the banjo, such as the xalam, "lack the shortened string on the top of the fingerboard that is characteristic of later banjos." In fact, the xalam has three "chanterelles" (drone strings) of various lengths above the two long melody strings. A cursory look at the xalam illustrated in the book would reveal that.

Be that as it may, I highly recommend "America's Instrument...!"

This is a collection of articles from Foreign Affairs, which is the journal of the internationalist (and since WWII the dominant) wing of the American foreign policy Establishment. The selection choice of articles was pretty good and interesting, though I am disappointed that they did not publish any articles from the Dulles brothers. Members of Yale secret societies, however, are well represented.

Some of the more revealing articles are:
Elihu Root's lead article in the first issue, a sort of mission statement for the purpose of the journal.
Hamilton Fish's reflection on fifty years of interventionist foreign policy.
Walter Lippmann's smear job on Senator Borah (he later suggested waging political warfare on isolationist congressment to the head of BSC during WWII, and they were quite successful).
The articles of members affiliated with the Royal Institute of International Affairs before WWII.
George Kennan's 'X' article suggesting containment among others.

For anyone interested in American political history and foreign policy in particular, this is an excellent book to possess. The pictures of some of the writers were also very interesting, I particularly enjoyed the picture of Bill Buckley striking a Jesus Christ pose with American flags draped in the background. This picture was placed above a picture of a nude woman covering her behind with a copy of Foreign Affairs. A very interesting choice, indeed! For the prices listed for the used copies, it is a bargain. Get the book!

An amazing trip through the 20th century with the best minds of the age. Reading these classic essays you get new insights into the big trends, events, ideas that have brought us to where we are today. I was given this book as a gift and was genuinely surprised by how much I have enjoyed it. (The photographs are a nice bonus.) Anyone who likes history and politics will love this book.

This compilation of the "best of the best" articles from the journal Foreign Affairs is a real gem that is especially relevant today as America continues to neglect its international responsibilities and certain Senators and Congressman have the ignorant temerity to brag that they don't own nor need an American passport. The conclusion of the July 1932 article by Edwin F. Gay, "The Great Depression", is instructive: "The world war affirmed the international political responsibilities of the United States; the world depression demonstrates the economic interdependence of the United States with other states. It cannot be a hermit nation." With four seminal articles from each decade (1920's forward), including just about every great name in the international discussions of the century, this book is a fundamental reference point for those who would dare to craft a vibrant foreign policy for the United States in the 21st Century. The book ends with several thoughtful pieces including, most fittingly, an interview with Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore on culture as destiny, an article whose subtitle might have been "How extended families and the collective good still matter."

No finer cookbook exists. If I had my way this book would be in every American kitchen. I have given many copies as gifts. The recipes will make your family happy on any day or please your guests at a dinner party. Familiar ingredients taste entirely new and the recipes are easy to follow. The author becomes a friend as his notes reveal the historical and regional sources of the recipes and suggest why you will enjoy them. Unadulterated by the commercial foodie-industrial complex, this is real food that reveals the real genius of America's best cooks.

From a library of 200 cook books, this is the book I normally check first when I get an inkle. Ronald Johnson is a God Damned Joy.

Most historical or regional surveys of American cooking suffer from a rather academic approach. This book presents a personal selection of recipes which still manages to be representative and historical. Most recipes are both simple and excellent. The author writes clearly, personally, and beautifully. Publisher, please reprint.

This is truly 'the book' for the New Millenium. If you ever wondered what is the nature of God, what 'the soul' really is, if there will be a second coming of Jesus on earth,what were the actual events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus (the account of the events of Easter are like nothing I'd ever imagined) ,and more, much more...this 'is 'the book for you. I had been a biblical scholar for over thirty years when I was fortunate to stumble across this wonderfully powerful and most believable book. The contents, even if they are read as fiction, will astonish most readers. I feel I have been given a real account of the Gospels by those who were actually there. This book offers no shortage of attempts to correct the many errors and interpolations of the Gospels as well; something most open-minded biblical scholars will embrace. As an ordained Christian minister,I cannot give a higher recommendation...read this book!

I thank my lucky stars every day that this book (& volume II) came into my life. As a very dubious & cynical atheist, I approached these books with considerable skepticism... and to my utter amazement, found that they contain the Truth. My life is entirely transformed & I've seen others' lives transformed also, thanks to the Truths contained in "The Angelics".

Do yourself a favour, read this book... God's Divine Love is waiting for you & this book tells you how to receive it.

Quite simply, this is the single most important, life-altering book I've ever read or will read. The messages ring with truth, beauty and authority. For all those seeking the Truth, this book should be read, reread and treasured. In it can be found "the pearl of great price."

An annual compendium of architecture and design information, articles, and facts, James Cramer's Almanac Of Architecture & Design 2001 offers rankings of the top Architecture and Design colleges; state-by-state registration laws; ratings and rankings of the leading firms; the Pritzker Prize and other major award speeches; the latest state and city "Salary and Compensation" survey results for designers; a comprehensive design competition calendar; the latest records, rankings, and achievement sin design; "need to know" facts on architecture and historic preservation; exhibition schedules for top museums of design; a locator for architecture bookshops; comprehensive and updated award histories, deadlines, and winners; recent obituaries of design leaders; student leaders on education and the profession's future; and an exclusive ranking of the "most visited" historic house museums. Almanac Of Architecture & Design 2001 is a core reference title for personal, professional, and academic reference collections.

This book was recommended to me by an architecture student. While not an architect, I must say that this book is one of the most valuable architecture resources in my library. As someone who has always had an interest, this almanac has really allowed me to explore and enjoy my interest in architecture. This book has a lot of information that will be of interest to professional architects, but it goes well beyond that and has something for everyone. There is a lot here that you won't find anywhere else, and its as up-to-date as it gets. I will be adding a copy to my library every year. Highly recommended.

I bought this book and have not been able to put it down. It has more information packed into it than I had originally thought. The best sections I think are on liscensing laws in landscape architectue, architecture, and the 250 leading design firms in the U.S. I will make my own recommendations to the editors but this is one of the most informative sites that I have visited. The section on journals and magazines is especially helpful. I recommend regional magazines be included such as Architectue Minnesota and Texas Architect. Quality of the paper and print is outstanding. Thanks for this breakthrough book on architecture lists and rankings.

I picked it up just for the coverage/pictures of a particular favorite - the Northrop YF-23.

Absolutely the best of its kind! Provides up-to-date information on all of America's stealth fighters and bombers. Up to now I haven't even heard of the YF-23 stealth fighter prototype. The book had lots of information on it and lots of technical data. I'd recommend this book to anybody who needs informations on America's stealth arsenal, or if you just like the stunning photos.

I thought it had very very good pictures. It had good in-depth info about the airplanes and some missions it did. I enjoyed it alot, and recomend it for airplane lovers alike.

I thought that this was a good book. I read it for a history course on the Great Depression and it was definately worth reading. It can get a little bogged down in detail or a little dull ocassionally, but overall it is a good view of "okie culture". It really helped be to understand the diversity and impact of the migration. And it contains a few interesting personal stories as well!

Overall a good study of the last great westward folk migration in American history. I would add that many of their predecessors in the "classic" frontier period were just as broke and hungry as these migrants, but there was little mass media around to record them. An interesting, well-done slice of folk Americana.

James Gregory has put together a outstanding history of the migration and culture of the dust bowl migrants who settled in California. I have probably read Grapes of Wrath four or five times since first reading it in high school, but after reading Gregory's description of the way these poor south-westerners struggled with poverty and at the same time maintained family unity and cultural pride, Steinbeck's book takes on a whole new meaning. Gregory goes step by step to show what motivated many to move, and then what motivated them to stay even though they suffered great privations and predjudice. I especially enjoyed learning about the influences of country music not just upon the migrants, but on the entire nation. A must read to make Grapes more clear!

This book is strongly recommended in the education for medical students in the University of Lund. That's why I read it. It's perfect as a startup book for your pre-clin medical studies. It's not deep enough in the physiology part (although anatomy and especially histology is very good) but the integrated approach is really terrific and it makes you understand in a whole new way. If you want to become a good doctor, you should absolutely buy this book, or borrow it a least in your library. The first integrated anatomy & physiology book I've read that's deep enough for medical students. Good work Seeley.

I had the pleasure of not only getting to use this text in my A&P class but I was taught by Dr. Seeley at Idaho State University. Great text with great explinations. I am still using it as a resource in Physician Assistant training.

I am sure that people who have read this book will agree that this product is the means of excellent basic Anatomy and Physiology. I have found figures and data tables very clear and easily understandable. Excellent Summaries at the end of each chapter beautifies this product. Clinical facts given from time to time are as interesting and knowledgeable as "Develop Your Reasoning Skills" Problems. This book deserve a chance from every Anatomy student. I conratulate the authors and highly recommend this book.

Ever wonder where the stuff you think of as everything came from? James & Thorpe have used a good range of experts and a fair amount of book reading to help them create an entertaining look at where ideas, activities, and objects come from. In 12 categories ranging from medicine to sex to sports, they look at 102 subcategories. The general introduction to the book explains why they've tackled this topic and each chapter has its own introduction that explains the categories and the reasons for including each subcategory. I wouldn't go as far as to call it "academic" or "scholarly" but its nice to see someone popularizing the periods of human history I love in a way that I can support.

This was an entertaining volume on the history of some of the things we think of as "modern" inventions. Many of them were already known to me from other sources, where I came across them in preparing for my MA in history. Inventions like "Greek fire" the first flame thrower, the "Bagdad battery" a possible device for electroplating, and the early trepinning surgeries are some of those familiar to me. More surprising was the cataract surgery and plastic surgery to repair nose and ears practiced by the Romans and probably invented even earlier in India or Babylon. This is a great book for anyone who wonders "Who was the first to..."

This book is describes ancient inventions and construction projects predating 1492. It is well researched, documented, and illustrated.

There is an assumption with some that earlier humans were rustic simpletons. This book dispels that notion. It describes everything from the mundane (wine, cosmetics), to the grandiose (an early Suez Canal), to the dangerous (trepanning, i.e. drilling holes in one's head as an early form of surgery), to the practical (mills, weapons, paper). One of the strangest discoveries is of a cave that is made to resemble hell.

In addition to the expected inventions from Egypt, Greece, and Rome inventions from all over the world are represented including ones from South America, China, and ancient Scythia the area where modern Ukraine is found. Inventions from that area include the earliest form of shelter (mammoth bone huts), domestication of horses, the earliest melodic musical instruments (flutes), maps, trousers, jewelry, ovens, houses, soap, and saunas (in which hashish was thrown on hot stones).

This is a feel-good book. It documents the creativity and imagination of humans.