In a word, disappointing. Overall, A Trial by Jury was a trial to read. It was slow moving and over written. The author spent too much time patting himself on the back. If he spent more time getting to know his fellow jurors instead of judging them, the book would have had some added dimension. This reader walked away thinking that Mr. Burnett thinks quite a bit about him and not much about those he feels are beneath him. Not worth the read.

Kudos to this insightful portrait of the trial by jury. Very few books have revealed the inner workings of a jury's deliberations with such clarity and detail. The author sat as the foreman of the jury in the criminal trial of the People vs. Monte Milcray for murder in the second degree held in New York City. In just 183 pages, the author takes the reader through the jurors and their backgrounds, the trial and the evidence and then reveals how all of this plays together for four days during the jury's deliberations and sequestration. You cannot come away from this text and not better appreciate the power of a jury and the valuable service it performs in our system of "justice." For this alone, you will be glad you read this book.

This book, however, is not without its flaws. Early on in the text, the author refers to Ockham's metaphorical razor as the philosopher's tool used to excise all but the most essential to arrive at the truth. This book's editor obviously misunderstood this concept, and allowed what is a good book to be lessened with the author's ruminations that do nothing to illuminate what this book is about except to reveal the author's intellectual prowess and his penchant for affected behaviors. Maybe that's the way the Princeton University history department likes its assistant professors (the book's jacket identifies the author as one) to appear in print, but since other reviewers on this site have also complained about how the author's smugness gets in the way, I cannot help but think that this book could have been so much better if a stronger editor had been assigned.

If you live in Manhattan or work in its court system, you will particularly appreciate this book. If you're a lawyer, you'd better listen to what the jury actually thinks is important. And if you're a casual reader who appreciates a book about trials and the legal process, I predict you'll like this book, but you probably won't invite its author to your next party.

While reporting jury selection, D. Graham Burnett writes: "For a while there is, among us, a woman reading a book of Camus short stories. Then she stops showing up," (p.33). _A Trial by Jury_ invokes the absurd, but it does not embrace the absurd. It would be absurd to read this text with a closed mind.

D. Graham Burnett, a historian of science, delivers a text that I view as an existential autobiography. We explore Burnett's thought processes: "What I am writing is my own story of the deliberations," (p. 14), and he acknowledges that his interpretation of the trial and deliberations differs from interpretations by other jurors. Burnett guides us through the trial and deliberations concerning the killing of a transvestite. While exploring the trial and deliberations, we encounter, process, and (sometimes) abandon many judgments (only a few deal with the defendant). Burnett states about the jury: "We ran the gamut of group dynamics: a clutch of strangers yelled, cursed, rolled on the floor, vomited, whispered, embraced, sobbed, and invoked both God and necromancy," (p. 12). The reader becomes familiar with the jury dynamics and one is led to shudder at the raw power granted to 12 citizens and (an obstinate) judge. The author, at times, is obstinate, but he also appears trustworthy (tremendous memory) and dedicated. I found myself fascinated by this academically well-rounded, successful, youthful Ph.D who obsesses over food (he packed a single shirt and a bag full of food for the sequestered deliberations) and who briefly utilizes Wallace Stevens (the poet; pgs. 148 - 151) to interpret the deliberations. This text kept my mind engaged and it will become an addition to a future syllabus for a course I'll teach.

Along with this book, I recommend Kafka's _The Trial_, Albert Camus' _The Stranger_, and any text by Wallace Stevens.

Yes, it comes with three distributions of Linux: SlackWare, RedHat, and Caldera Lite. I started with the RedHat edition and gave up after three attmpts. It simply would not install on my system. The SlackWare version went on very smoothly. However, once getting it installed, the book does not help very much when configuring XFree86. It scares the user instead of assisting the user with multiple typical examples. Similarly on configuring PPP and using auto-dialing. It covers a few files and points the reader to How-To files on the Internet. This book is not for intemediate Windows users trying to figure out Linux. It lacks a cohesive roadmap, a description of sequence and processes for configuring systems to accomplish real world tasks. It's a little like reading a dictionary when you were looking for a "how to" manual. Overall, this appears to be a rehash of material available on the Internet with the author providing one sample thread through the process.

I am new to Linux but have worked on Windows 95/NT for many years. After reading "Using Caldera OpenLinux 2.2," I was able to do just about everything in OpenLinux 2.2 that I currently do in Windows NT 4.0 Workstation. I was able to connect to the internet, create a WordPerfect document, customize the GUI, and install new applications. One downfall to the book is that it often used "print screens" from OpenLinux 1.3 (the previous version of OpenLinux). For my soundcard, the book recommended that I buy a commercial driver from 4Front technologies; I wish the book would have given me instructions on installing the free OSS sound driver.

The CD included with the book is superb. It includes Caldera OpenLinux 2.2 with WordPerfect 8.0 and hundreds of open source applications. KDE, the graphical user interface to OpenLinux 2.2, is better than the Microsoft Windows GUI. "Que Using Caldera OpenLinux 2.2" and the OpenLinux 2.2 distribution of Linux is a must for anyone new to the Linux community.

When I first installed Caldera OpenLinux on my PC, I was a newcomer to Linux and didn't really know my way around. Caldera does provide decent documentation for its product, but the installation and user's guide is a bit spare fora newbie to make much use of. This book is the one that took me from being a wet-eared newbie to a competent OpenLinux user. The book assumes that you know very little about Linux and gives you an introduction to the history of Linux, the open source philosophy, the distributions of Linux and a host of other pertinent information before taking through Star Office, the K Desktop Environment (using and manipualting), the command line, package management with RPM, the file system, configuring the X Server, configuring sound, the file system, networking (including using Samba and NetWare), connecting to the Internet, reading the XF86Config file, tweaking, programming languages, compiling source code, shell scripting, runlevels, troubleshooting, and a range of almost every possible problem that a home user or small office user will run into. This book can get quite in depth, and is suitable for those who want to get into Linux quite deeply, or for simple casual use as a reference guide. This is the one book that should ship with every version of Caldera. With this book, you'll find that Linux really can be quite fun to learn and quite easy as well.

I am a senior engineer for network security operations. I read "Maximum Windows 2000 Security" (MW2S) to learn more about Windows 2000 vulnerabilities. While the philosophy espoused in MW2S is appropriate, the book fails to deliver any original content. If you've read "Windows 2000 Security Handbook" by Cox/Sheldon, and "Hacking Exposed: Windows 2000" by Scambray/McClure, you don't need to read MW2S.

I do not feel my time reading this book was well-spent, as I'd encountered almost every topic elsewhere. The advice on how to exploit Windows 2000 web servers (ch. 13) was weaker than I'd expected. The suggested tools list in ch. 3 was incredibly sparse. I am more involved with defending Windows systems than attacking them, but I was still able to easily collect a more comprehensive Windows attack tool kit than that listed in ch. 3.

MW2S is frequently internally redundant, with multiple chapters rehashing the same advice, most of which is already published. The book also mentions a nonexistent CD-ROM and suggests readers to refer to the publisher's web site for certain links. I couldn't find anything beyond the normal book catalog entry for MW2S on that web site. I believe the book may have been rushed to publication, with loose ends left hanging.

The original "Maximum Security" was interesting because it concentrated on exploiting vulnerabilities. Five years later, its descendants are more likely to be generic security books than ground-breaking texts. I'm hoping "Maximum Network Security" (due this month) breaks this trend.

(Disclaimer: I received a free review copy from the publisher.)

First, the book is not 900 pages, it is 624.
Second, there is NO CD.
Information provided is consistant in quality of the other Maximum Security series (later editions).

evangelical protestants like rios montt and his american supporters have been responsible for "public violence" and the destruction of traditional community ties rather than any sort of positive force in the country. It's introduction was mainly a ploy to curb the "dangerous" popularity of Liberation theology and part of a two-pronged attempt to return the population to an acceptable level of passive subjugation. When this failed, massacres occured. It's absurd to claim that the influx of protestant missionaries and money into the camps of the despicable Guatemalan right have had any sort of positive effect whatsoever, and to ignore the cost in lives of the policies excersised by those who spread such values at gunpoint.

The central thesis of this book is that the enormous conversion to protestanism among Guatemalans during the past 40 years can be traced to the destruction of traditional communities as a result of war, violence, and migration. The adoption of a new religion provides converts a sense of order and identity. This book, carefully researched and beautifully written, provides a compelling argument in support of the thesis. I would highly recommend this book to all readers who are interested in Guatemalan history and social studies.

The area reviewed is one of the most beautiful in Wisconsin. However the book had no pictures. Maps would help orient one to where they actually are in the area. Descriptions of places ommitted important information. An example was the description of Hotel Chequamagon - the book ommitted the fact that this hotel is located right on the shores of Lake Superior. Price ranges for all lodging, eateries, etc. would be a help. There were no website addresses. With some updating this would be a much better reference for this lovely place.

El jardín secreto trata de una niña de la India que sus padres le brindaban poca atención. Mientras sus papás estaban en una fiesta hubo un terremoto, que hizo que hubiera un incendio, La niña quedó huerfana y la llevaron donde su tío político. Este tenía un hijo al que ocultaba ni tampoco veía, por que su esposa murió cuando nació, el niño era impedido. La tía de la niña tenía un jardín, el cual su esposo mandó a cerrar cuandó murió. Ella encontró la llave y en este jardín su primo aprendió a caminar y de nuevo hubo unión familiar.

This is a very well illustrated, matter-of-fact volume which presents a picture that we now know never existed of the Royal couple. It is a good reference to know the way a Royal Household is run; the tours, the public events, the planning and the organization of it all. Other than that, the book mostly focuses on the opinions and ideas of Prince Charles at the time, making very brief references to Diana, most of them untrue. One cannot help becoming nostalgic at the sight of so many idyllic pictures of a family life that never was, and it makes one wonder: what would it have been like if Charles and Diana had remained married AND in love? Most likely, the Princess would be alive today, probably with a couple more children and, like a banner in the crowd read on their wedding day - "Charles and Diana will rule U.K.". It is a shame that the Establishment authorizes books like this, so untrue.

"Making advertisements involves perspiration as well as inspiration.The creative leap may never be explained, but we can prepare and capitalise on it".

Edited by Simon Broadbent, the Vice Chairman of Leo Burnett, London, the book talks about writing the ads, as well as going back to the basics in strategy and onto production, media and evaluation skills, which helps see how advertisements can be managed and improved.

Leo Burnett Ltd, established in Chicago in 1935, was the third most award-winning agency network worldwide in '97-98.The book begins on an ode to Leo Burnett, the Chieftain and driving force behind the agency. A man who laid much emphasis on non-verbal ideas, "the sheer fun of admaking", that took the form of statements with visual qualities, and whose true meaning lies too deep for words: whether the strong Marlboro man on horseback, or the benevolent Jolly Green giant selling corn, or the playful Kelloggs Frosties tiger.

the book is essentially divided into two sections- 'Techniques' and 'Case Histories', the former aiming to help one work for an agency.A much helpful read for a beginner, it touches upon effective advertising techniques like media objectives, media strategies, data presentations, campaign effectiveness, timing, quality, production methods etc. 'Advertising that sells' focuses on product dramatisation, whether through the product as a hero, or celebrity presenters or enacted slice-of-life stories or modern parables.

'Case Histories' takes on the Leo Burnett-handled campaigns. It is both a market analysis, as well as the agency evaluation of its effective utilization of the talked about techniques.

The result: Long running campaigns like Cadbury's Flakes, Perrier mineral water,Austin Metro, Sunday Express (with its famous 'where's Giles'?)etc.

Inspite of this, the book has not been very popular.Someone once said that books that noone wants to read deserve to become extinct, and that probably has happened to the Leo Burnett Book.

On the whole, I'll say, an interesting and very readable book.

This is really a fun read, covering British drinking habits, alchoholic and otherwise. It purports to cover several centuries but is really mostly about the late 18th century to the early 20th. My only major gripe is that it is based entirely on secondary sources -other people's work. So as a survey it is very useful, but really doesn't contribute anything new to the scholarship. It is also clearly written by a social scientist -lots of tables and figures, and even the text decribes trends quantitatively. For the qualitative-minded, we are rarely given more than anecdotes about why culturally shifts in national preferences occured. These tend to be obscured by heaps of evidence drawn from new laws, import duties, and marketing schemes. All in all, pleasant reading, but patience with numbers is required.

I read this book because I was curious to see what Burnett's first novel was like. I would never have guessed that it was written by the author of "The Secret Garden." "That Lass O'Lowrie's" is about Joan Lowrie, a spirited young woman working in the "pit" (coal mines) of the village of Riggan. Joan is the daughter of a cruel man who occasionally hits her; she makes the best of her life and reaches out to help others in need, including another young woman who gotten "in trouble" and has a small baby. Joan attracts the attention of Fergus Derrick, the smart young engineer who runs the mines; Fergus also becomes friendly with the vicar's daughter, whom the local curate loves, leading into a fairly predictable love triangle....

While this book is interesting, two factors weigh it down somewhat: the heavy, heavy emphasis on religion and the long paragraphs of dialogue written in the Yorkshire dialect. Although such passages were charming in "The Secret Garden," here they are so long that they become very cumbersome to the reader. They do lend authenticity, of course, but it may be too much for some readers. I was also disappointed by some of the characters' silly self-sacrificing acts, which seem to be the trademark of many romances.