Lewis and Clark's descriptions of their epic overland journey is a deserved American classic. So many students must memorize the Gettysburg Address or the Preamble of the Constitution, but too few are ever introduced to this magnificent trilogy, told in Lewis and Clark's own words. They were the first white men to lay eyes on the interior sections of the Unites States, when the land was unspoiled, unpolluted and obviously quite spectacular. In great detail, they relate their indescribable amazement to see giant Sequoia trees, grizzly bears and endless miles of barren desert.

Lewis and Clark's experiences are the stuff of legend, but the question that begs to be answered is: could they write? The answer is a resounding yes! The narrative flows smoothly, the descriptions of the animals and landscape come alive with their vivid use of language and metaphor. Perhaps the most vivid sections of the book revolve around their numerous encounters with Native Americans. This book should be required reading for anyone with an history in the history and exploration of the United States.

Before breaking camp in Fort Clatsop, the expedition had hoped to encounter British traders who ply the coasts, in order to buy provisions and ammunition with "their ample letters of credit." These were drawn on the Executive office of the United States, in other words Jefferson, who after getting $2,500 from Congress to finance, he seemed prepared to bring them back to Washington at any costs, including circumnavigating taxi if need be (this is no joke).

However, the waiting for the traders delays them from their start, and their hopes of returning to St Louis during the season are as warm and finally decisive as their previous push to the West. They break camp, return up the Columbia River, and with Sacajawea's vital help, find their way over the mountains where the snows are so thick that trails are impossible to discover. Thankfully the expedition resumes the Missouri, and after averaging 20 miles a day on the ascent (using oar and sail), they frequently make 80 miles a day on the descent.

After such a long and harrowing journey, full of hardships and decorated with delights, the men are anxious to press for home, sometimes not landing for rest or game during their earnest advance.

This trio of books is among the best reads I've ever had of men journeying into the unknown, discovering the best in themselves, and holding to the notion that perseverance will ultimately endure.

I loved the book, a satisfying completion to a wonderful tale.

The narrative picks up in June 1805, after a night of rain "but it cleared off and became a fine day." By the end of that year when the expedition next wintered near modern day Astoria, OR, the expedition would face rains almost constantly, having a dozen or so dry days all winter, and of those only half provided sunshine.

This year is the most difficult of the expedition (or rather the period covered by this volume). The team meets its greatest hardships, not least of which is choosing the best overland route when the Missouri is no longer navigable. The correct choice (and the correct choice was made) is vital to preserving the goodwill of the men and the success of the expedition. Grizzly bears continue to harass the men (many hunters are treed), the mosquitoes become horribly bothersome, and when game becomes scarce, they trade for horses, sometimes killing the colts for food; elsewhere they trade to feed upon dogs, at first a meat loathsome to the men, but after adaptation and long usage, it becomes a favorite food, as the expedition trades for that article particularly. Many times plant roots and dried fish served as the only food for days on end, which made the men sick, who were so drenched with rain (they built their winter cabins in the rain), that many were too sick to participate in the necessary subsistence.

Here Sacajawea and her husband are saved from drowning by the vigilance of Captain Clark.

This volume provides many instances of bighorn and behavior, pronghorn antelope and behavior, and of course grizzly bears. This wonderful volume of harrowing escapes, exciting scenes of the endurance of man, and the wonderful rewards from severe hardships ends in March 1806, just before the expedition evacuates Fort Clatsop on the Pacific Coast.

A wonderful read for early American exploration, and an excellent resource for the American wilderness at the beginning of the 19th century.

I followed Gary's advice in the GET THE JOB YOU WANT IN THIRTY DAYS, and then bought this one! Within thirty days I was hired and promoted! You shouldn't buy one book without the other!

The most help I ever had!

Everyone I talk to that's finding a new job or interviewing for a career change, I give them this book. It is a great reference with practicle examples that help you through the steps of landing the job. Why re-invent the wheel?. Get this book and alot of your work is already done. Now taylor it to your style and you're off and running to get the job you want. Highly recommended for your personal library.

After reading this book I re-formated my resume. When your searching for a job and only have the newspaper as a resource, mose businesses receive hundreds of resumes. I received callbacks from 95% of employers I sent my resume to and during the interviews I was appraised on how my resume was one that stuck out in the crowd. I got the job I wanted because I made a great first impression with my RESUME

All Yankees should read this book so you know what we think of you. All Confederates should read this book for a good laugh at them Yankees :) Seriously, this book is excellent, and its got some stuff in it that you might not want your kids to read...these days maybe you don't care. They'll hear it anyway. But this book is so funny and you will love it. One of his best.

...but after some years spent living in Slidell, Louisiana, I'm thankful to see a commentator of intelligence and piercing insight blow through the baloney and tell it like it is. This is the closest we're likely to get to an autobiography of Grizzard's early years, and I'm glad to have it in my hands, because it allows us to see what kind of mind produced the stuff the late great man wrote.

Lewis had a way to make us all laugh,... and think. He was truly a son of the south. From his boyhood tails of exploits with Waymon C. Wannamaker and Kathy Sue Loudermilk to his stirring praise of Ronald Reagan's courage after being shot by Hinkley; Lewis relates feelings shared by all. I'm sure he is under a large Magnolia tree above, sittin' with his mom, dad, Daddy Bunn, Grandma Willie and good old Catfish, drinkin' iced tea, eatin' bar-b-que and laughing with us all

I was surprised at how relevant the stories were to the current times. Despite being written between 1915 and the early 1920's, workers ( and employers ) were faced with problems of sexual harrasment, boredom, stealing employees, and office politics.

Definately, you can detect parts of Babbit in many of the characters in the book.

All of the stories were worth reading. Some are amusing, some sad, and a few happy. All of them, however are thought provoking.

Overall, a great book to get a hold of, especially if you are a Sinclair Lewis fan.

"Honestly, if Possible" may quite possibly be the most wonderful short story I've ever read. Like other newer Sinclair readers, I'm amazed with the currency of all his work, and even more amazed that he isn't more widely known. I'm doing my best to get the story out-I've got a lot of PEP!

Lewis' early magazine pieces, printed here for the first time since their original publication in 1915-23, unmistakably contain the seeds of his later Pulitzer Prize-winning satirical novels and are irresistible in their own right.
The language is dated, and the modern reader may find some usage jarring (e.g., "love-making" for what we might call "flirting"), but it is remarkable in this postmodern age of Dilbert and e-mail that so little has changed in human nature, especially as expressed in office romances and politics. Look closely and you may see in some of Lewis' hucksters someone looking back at you; someone uncomfortably familiar.
(P) (The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

In his first book "Internal Quality System Audits" (no longer in print) Mr. Lewis identified the basic fundamental auditing skills and techniques needed to ensure effective and efficient development, implementation and maintenance of "value added" internal auditing capabilities. Our internal auditing operations have been in place for over four years now and I still find myself referring to this book for guidance on regular bases. It is the most dog-eared of all my books on quality and quality operating systems.

His second book "Internal Quality Systems Auditing" includes and builds on these proven methodologies and has now replaced its dog-eared predecessor as my desk reference. The updated sections on development of audit programs and checklists, documenting audit observations and findings, and audit reporting techniques provide the latest guidance for addressing evolving quality system requirements.

The latest edition makes a great reference and helps keep my audit reporting on track.

The "Internal Quality System Audits" book has proven to be a valuable tool for our internal audit team. The guidelines and the checklists have been used by our company from the beginning of our ISO program, and all seven of our internal auditors have accomplished top quality audits with skill and confidence.

"Internal Quality System Audits" is an excellent teaching tool for internal auditor training.

As a certified quality system auditor and contracted ISO 9000/QS 9000 quality systems consultant I use the auditing methodoligies, tools and techniques presented in this book when establishing internal auditing operations for my clients. I also use the book as a desk referencs when functioning as their lead internal auditor.

If your goal is to develop, implement and maintain an effective and efficient internal audit operation this book is a must have. Internal Quality Systems Auditing is truly a "how-to" presentation.

I love training this way. It is so efficient. I've lost more weight using the intervals than just doing one activity for 30 minutes without speeding up or slowing down. I especially love the XL (I usually run on Sunday nights and it clears my head for the week).

I would recommend this to anyone who wants to save time and become efficient at working out.

In my capacity as Medical Director of 2 Fortune-50 companies I have had the occasion to review numerous fitness and health promotion programs. Dr. Nitti's Interval Training offers a common sense approach to physical fitness which is applicable to the average person as well as to world-class athletes. It is refreshing to finally see a fitness program that is scientifically based and does not attempt to repeal the laws of thermodynamics or the principles of human physiology. I highly recommend this book to anyone serious about physical conditioning.

This book is like having my own personal trainer. As someone who exercises to stay in shape and manage my weight, my biggest problem has been a lack of an effective, step by step plan that I can use in the limited time I have to workout. The authors have distilled a very scientific, elite level exercise concept down to the point that a normal person like myself can use it easily and effectively in as little as 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. I have always had the motivation, but now I have the plan!

This book is short and easy to read but has a lot of great advice for those searching for "Mr. Right." It would make a wonderful gift.

"Is He A Man Or Just Another Guy?" should be part of every family's parenting "toolbox." Do you have a daughter(s)? This book will help to raise their level of expectations in a relationship. Do you have a son(s)? This book provides a map to move a boy from guyhood to manhood. I do not know of another book in the marketplace that so thoroughly and completely explores the subject of mate selection. Although my daughters are still quite young, they will have a copy of this book waiting for them when it's time to start looking for Mr. Right.

As a parent, this is a book I want my daughter to read before she begins the process of finding Mr. Right. While no man (or woman) is perfect, the guidelines given could save you from wasting your time on the wrong guy, or making a mistake that could affect the rest of your life. The test gives an opportunity to truly consider whether those "little things" add up to enough to kill a relationship, or can be overlooked in light of all his outstanding characteristics.

Initially, one would think that a truly talented author's quirky, unique style could not be very nearly duplicated. But Brad Strickland is doing a fine job with the characters that Bellairs created, and this is one of his best efforts.

Lewis Barnavelt and Rose Rita Pottinger have to participate in a talent show whether they like it or not. When they hit on the idea of doing a magic show (fake, not real), they end up consulting a friend at a museum who allows them to borrow some books on stage magic. But when Rose Rita picks up an old parchment scroll, she inadvertantly lets a drop of blood fall on some magic dust -- and the dust turns into a living spider. The two of them flee, but Rose Rita brings the scroll, with intent to return it.

Except she then starts acting oddly. When the talent show results in a dismal failure, Rose Rita is left with a burning hatred and a wish for revenge. Then she starts dreaming of becoming a giant spider, and hearing the voice of the scroll's previous owner -- Belle Frisson, a sorceress who now wants to use Rose Rita to rise again and live forever.

This is labelled as a "Lewis Barnavelt" book, but at least half of it focuses on Rose Rita. While fans of Bellairs will be well acquainted with Lewis's insecurities, Strickland takes the opportunity to delve into a few of Rose Rita's. He also manages to give us a message about revenge and hatred and grudges without beating the reader over the head with it. The Message is simply there.

How much of a "Bellairs" book is this? Very much so, and not just in terms of having creepy beasties and a megalomaniac villain. The pacing and tone are very correct, as is the usage of maybe-it's-real-maybe-not ancient magics. I could have used a little more bickering between Mrs. Zimmerman and Uncle Jonathan, but the comforting scene between Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmerman makes up for that.

Strickland does an excellent job with the evil sorceress Belle Frisson, and uses the ever-growing, evil-spirit spider very well also. The idea of a drop of blood turning powder into a malevolent spider is not just good spinechilling material, but it also is quite Bellairsesque.

This is an amazing spinechiller. I do warn you though: Arachnaphobics should definitely not read this book, or they'll never sleep again.

I think that Brad Strickland Did a good job with this title. The story has some depth, and the character development is good, as well. I think this is the best Bellairs' novel that Strickland Has written so far, and would give it a full five stars!

At first serving as a finisher for the late John Bellair's uncompleted DOOM OF THE HAUNTED OPERA, GHOST IN THE MIRROR, and VENGENCE OF THE WITCHFINDER, Strickland took those characters to new heights in the late 1990s by churning out books like THE HAND OF THE NECROMANCER, and THE BELL,THE BOOK,AND THE SPELLBINDER which mimicked Bellair's writing style down to the letter. In SPECTER, Strickland goes from mimicking the man to being the man. He captures the vocabulary and characterizations of Lewis Barnavelt and company flawlessly in a terrifying story darker than all of the other books combined. Please check out this book. I hope Strickland continues to write. He is hitting his stride now.

The book walked us through what we were praying for after we were married. CHILDREN. We have one son who we adopted from Romania almost 3 years ago and this book has made us review of how we can love and care for more children. Would love to email Tim or Christine and speak with them about adoption etc...

Thanks!

George and Darlene Watson

this book is an insight on a loving,christian couple who through all their personal triumphs and down falls, find the love in their hearts to share their lives with 4 needy children. god played a tremendous role in their decisions and continues to bless them for their faithfulness. i am proud of you tim!

Tim, an All Star Pitcher, retires early to dedicate his time to his wife Christine and his growing family of special needs adopted children. I was really moved by this back and forth conversation between Tim and Christine. You'll want to give this to anyone considering Christianity. The Burkes chronicle their spiritual journey with wonderful transparency until they trust Christ when their marriage was in trouble. Any couple would benefit from their hard learned lessons. I loved it!