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Widely considered to be one of Canada's most important authors, David Adams Richards has been honoured with a Giller Prize and two Governor General's Literary Awards. Despite this, there has been a dearth of critical appraisal of his life and works. In David Adams Richards of the Miramichi, Tony Tremblay sheds light not only on Richards' art and achievements, but also on Canadian literary criticism in general.

Tremblay maps out the early influences on Richards' thinking and writing by drawing on interviews, archival records, and cultural studies of New Brunswick. He argues that the author is a more sophisticated craftsman than his critical reception has assumed and makes the case for a more nuanced analysis of his works. Equal parts literary biography, literary criticism, and cultural study of New Brunswick, David Adams Richards of the Miramichi provides a rare glimpse into the struggles and triumphs of a New Brunswick artist in a national and provincial milieu.

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Americans did not at first cherish the idea of political severance from their mother country. In just a few years, however, they came to desire independence above all else. What brought about this change of feeling and how did it affect the lives of their citizens? To answer these questions, Edmund S. Morgan looks at three men who may fairly be called the "architects of independence," the first presidents of the United States. Anecdotes from their letters and diaries recapture the sense of close identity many early Americans felt with their country's political struggles. Through this perspective, Morgan examines the growth of independence from its initial declaration and discovers something of its meaning, for three men who responded to its challenge and for the nation that they helped create.

The Meaning of Independence, first published in 1976, has become one of the standard short works on the first three presidents of the United States--George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. When the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and the Organization of American Historians asked 1,500 historians to name the ten best books about George Washington, this book was one of those selected. In this updated edition, the author provides a new preface to address a few remaining concerns he has pondered in the quarter century since first publication. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

short AND interesting
Easily read in an hour or two, this concise book is a nice little study of independence; what it meant to John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson; and, through them, what it means to us.These three essays are not strictly biographical; Morgan does not sketch out the nitty-gritty of these Founders' lives.Rather, he takes a thematic, character-based approach to the individuals, using events to exemplify their traits, and uses them to flesh out the different takes on independence.

Of the three, Morgan views Adams most negatively, sometimes portraying him as a man of mediocre talents.Readers of McCullough's biography might disagree, but Morgan does acknowledge that Adams was a "great American" (in that he placed his country above all other considerations), who bucked party and popular opinion and refused to go to war with France.For the aloof Washington, independence was shaped by honor and interest (usually the economic variety); he aimed to give the young country self-sufficience and status on the world stage.Both Adams and Washington, Morgan credibly suggests, might have lived obscure lives had crisis not forced them to rise above the mundane.Not so with Jefferson, clearly Morgan's favorite.Here, Morgan focuses on Jefferson's idea of a continuing revolution:that is, each generation most free itself from its predecessors.Jefferson's independence meant freedom from the past.

The book is an interesting, sometimes insightful look at independence and these three men.It's not groundbreaking work, but it's good work--and surely worth a couple of hours.

A marvelous little collection of lectures
Edmund Morgan is perhaps the most readable American colonial historian. Best known for his books on the Puritans and colonial slavery, Morgan herepresents three lectures on what three founding fathers thought aboutindependence.George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson arethree very complicated individuals, and no short lecture is going tocompletely explicate their ideas.But Morgan brings his typical verve andclarity to the subject, and speaking as a AP history teacher, I found themto be well worth my time.

Wonderful
This is a truly fascinating and engaging work.The meaning of indepence from Great Britain is much more profound that one would think on first thought.With this idea in mind, Morgan penetrates to the fundamentalideas and characters of each three men.For both Washington and Adams, Imust say that he is right on target.His account of Jefferson is alsogood, although I cannot help but wonder why Morgan spends some much timeand space castigating the man for what he views to be his short-comings. Regardless of the actual merit of his criticisms, he clearly strays ratherfar from the subject of the work.Nevertheless, the piece as a whole isgem.

Fascinating for both serious and casual readers
I first encountered Morgan's wonderful book in a college history class (thanks, Dr. Bourdon!), but this is no dry academic tome (personally, I think that there is no reason an academic book has to be dry, anyway).Thebook's three essays--one each on the named presidents and their points ofview on the struggle that produced this nation--are both insightful andpleasurable reading.For the casual reader, there is Morgan's gift foranecdote. His description of the personality conflict between Adams andBenjamin Franklin is hilarious, as is Adams' timeless description of thetedium of legislatures (some things really do never change!).That said,there is also serious analysis of these three men, and what eachcontributed, thought, and said, written with a critcal but respectful tone. It's hard to say which essay is the best, but those who despise ThomasJefferson for hypocrisy should certainly read his section, and learn abouthis genuine, if tempered, idealism--a trait we could use more of in the1990's. This is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to broaden anddeepen his or her knowledge of the origins of this country. ... Read more

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Gives instructions for and explains the principles behind a variety of simple physics experiments. ... Read more

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In IS GOD A VEGETARIAN?, a linguist and New Testament scholarattempts to answer the question being asked with greater and greaterfrequency: "Are Christians morally obligated to be vegetarians?"

Richard Alan Young examines key biblical texts pertaining to dietarycustoms, vegetarianism, and animal rights, placing the passages in socialcontext. He then provides readers with an in-depth exploration of theethical dilemmas that Christians face when deciding whether they should bevegetarians. Young also addresses animal testing and experimentation, thefur industry, animal factories, and the effects of meat-eating on humanhealth. Two vegetarian recipes are included at the end of each chapter andan epilogue comprises guidelines for becoming a vegetarian and arecommended reading list. Insightful and challenging, IS GOD A VEGETARIAN?poses provocative questions for vegetarians, Christians, and anyonereflecting upon his personal choices and ethical role in our world today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Clear, thoughtful and well-balanced
Clear, thoughtful and well-balanced animal theology by a professor of New Testament studies. "The choice," the author writes, "is between a meat-eating diet that celebrates a fallen world or a vegetarian diet that celebrates new life through the risen Christ." The foreword is written by Carol J. Adams, a proponent of the feminist ethics of care.

Could have been great, but author's thesis is misfocused.
I agree with the author's overarching view of biblical hermeneutics -- searching for "directional markers" that build an internally consistent perspective, rather than (non-contextual) "proof texting," a generally paroxysmal and frivolous approach to scriptural study and application. But it seems unfortunate that, given this broadly impacting issue of meat production and consumption, Young has 'hung his hat' so specifically on the concept of 'cruelty' against animals, and of their 'rights', as these issues are, at best, an aside to the far larger moral/ethical, logical, economic, ecological, health related, theological, and human stewardship considerations attached to flesh-foundering. The real ethical questions cannot be reduced sloppily to 'was Jesus a vegetarian?' or 'did Noah eat meat?' (Young sees this much). The deeper ethical issues of today relate to the 21st century world we live in, and should not be reduced to 'muskrat love', they are larger than that, and ask to be considered with 'the wisdom of serpents' (Matt 10:16).

Many in wealthy western culture, uneducated in the science and ethics of meat, think most easily of vegetarians as being equally soft hearted and soft headed; that vegetarians are teary-eyed cow huggers. But the 'animal rights' approach to the meat market culture is the least relevant and persuasive tack toward dealing with the truer, larger picture. In terms of Christian ethics urging the world toward a proactive "peaceable kingdom" (I have no argument against this), the 'animal rights' focus is rather like 'the tail wagging the dog.' More significant moral/ethical issues, relative to vegetarianism, are:

1.) Environmental degradation concomitant to the modern animal-based diet may be the most significant (and popularly overlooked) global assault on nature; an assault featuring deforestation for the production of commercial livestock, loss of biodiversity (plant and animal, terrestrial and aquatic), unnecessary burning of fossil fuels, air and water pollution, loss of topsoil and arable land, desertification, the list goes on. A single east coast factory hog farm constantly produces more raw sewage than the city of Los Angeles, sewage containing harmful bacteria and disease that is simply introduced to ground water (the related ecological and public health problems were briefly presented on the television news magazine 60 Minutes). Neither laws demanding nicer treatment of little piggies nor regulations on the treatment of pig pee are going to alleviate the problem. The only solution is for Americans to rethink their diet of bacon double cheeseburgers and pork sausage. The ecological issues of modern meat are far too large to discuss adequately here, they stretch from the factory farm to the open ocean to the upper atmosphere.

2.) The moral/ethical problems of meat eating are not only environmental, they are economic. Pandering to the palette of the wealthy beefeater demands [anti-human] misdirection of economic assets. Generally speaking, it takes 16 pounds of vegetable protein to produce 1 pound of animal protein. With that comes much more than 16 times the water and fuel! At the height of the 1984-85 Ethiopian famine, while more than a million people were dying of hunger, European meat producers were buying feed grains from -- Ethiopia! Will humanity's natural, agricultural, and economic assets serve humanity, or will they serve the gluttony of the wealthy? Along these same lines, the respected Christian author Richard J Foster touched very briefly on important aspects of the meat focused diet in his book Freedom of Simplicity (1981): "A million hogs in Indiana have superior housing to a billion humans on this planet." And those "million hogs" are degrading ground water, proliferating disease and ultimately creating cancers and premature human deaths (see below). Lest you think there'd be a net deficit of jobs if we eliminated meat packers and cowboys' livelihoods in favor of a plant based diet, assuredly that is not the case. No industry provides fewer jobs per unit of land used than does cattle ranching; a nation with a vegetable based diet would have the potential to create more net jobs while actually reducing costs for the consumer. That may sound contradictory, but federal meat industry subsidies prop up this meat-mad system. Here's one maddening example of these subsidies: If I go for a hike in nearby Cleveland National Forest, I won't see any of the once native pronghorn antelope, instead I'll probably see cows, ranching long ago extirpated the antelope. And guess who pays for these cattle grazing on public lands. As an American taxpayer, I do! The US government builds access roads, digs wells, pipes water, and provides other products and services for the cattle industry that uses public lands. Ranchers theoretically "lease" these land accesses, but the "leases" are laughable, do not cover the public expenditure that underwrites them, and amount to government giveaways. I may not eat beef, but as a US taxpayer, I pay for wealthy beefeaters to eat beef!

3.) The animal based diet is finally a disease and death centered diet. Billions of Chinese have a long tradition of a vegetable based diet, and they have virtually no incidence of obesity, heart disease, GI tract cancers, osteoporosis, or scores of other meat-related maladies -- UNLESS they move to the west and take up the animal based diet. Several excellent medical studies make the point clearly, meat kills (not just cute little lambs, meat kills people!). The health-related issues of the animal based diet are obviously bound to the economic issues as well (for example, health care asset allocation). Will we feed starving people or spend our economic assets first supplementing, and then trying to wrestle with, the self-inflicted meat-based sicknesses of the blissfully foolish? The human health issue looms as large as the ecological and economic issues, and is too great to be treated adequately here. These are all highly moral and ethical Christian stewardship questions. How can Christians turn a blind eye?

There are still other ethical issues tied to the animal based diet, and "animal rights" MAY be one of them. But this is not so clear. Is it rational or meaningful to suggest that because animals sense pain that they have any sense of "cruelty"? That they have any sense of their "rights" being violated or of some "injustice" being imposed on them? These are surly sentient concepts well beyond the ken of the animal mind, whatever it may be. The "animal rights" approach to the question of meat appeals to 'warm fuzzy' ideas but what is needed is a serious, hardheaded treatment (by the way, if we begin to do the right things, for the right reasons, the "animal rights" question will begin to go away!). Most Christians--there are and have been exceptions--have been sadly silent on the matter of meat-mongering (some have even embarrassed themselves with goofy "proof texting" attempts to define vegetarianism as a biblical heresy!).

Young's thesis aspires to a robust view of biblical hermeneutics, which is a good thing. It aspires to treat an important topic. But the "animal rights" focus is misplaced. An outstanding book on the moral/ethical and health issues surrounding the animal based diet is Howard F. Lyman's 'Mad Cowboy'. Christians should have been publishing books like Lyman's decades ago; being shining beacons of conscience in the material darkness, not hiding in that darkness in blissful ignorance and self-indulgence. It's not too late to start doing the right thing.

Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat

Clear, Concise, and Compelling
Young's purpose in "Is God a Vegetarian?" is simple: to explore the biblical foundations for Christian vegetarianism.Young chooses to listen to "the entire story" of Scripture to make a case for Christian vegetarianism rather than relying on certain "proof-texts".

The core of Young's argument is that the story of Scripture reveals that God is moving humans and animals towards a "peaceable kingdom" where they live together in harmony.Considering this, Christians should structure their lives and daily practices (including their diet) in such a way that it reflects this ultimate destiny.

As a Christian who is exploring the theological and ethical issues of vegetarianism, I found this book to be extremely helpful and informative.Young manages to be balanced, and not biased; simple, and yet not simplistic.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for more information on the biblical basis for Christian vegetarianism.

Excellent Treatise on the Basis for Christian Vegetarianism
I must say that I was initially put off by the title of this book. I assumed from the title that this must be another one of "those" Christian arguments for vegetarianism--you know, the ones that use out of context prooftexts to argue that Jesus really was a vegetarian.However, one of my colleagues did his Ph.D. work with Richard Alan Young, and he told me that Young was not only an excellent scholar, but a person who lived his convictions.So I decided to give the book a try, in spite of the title.

I am so glad I did.Young deals with the major issues and texts which arise when the question of vegetarianism is posed.Each chapter heading is a question which leads the author into a discussion of the relevant texts and historical background.He addresses questions like "Was Jesus a Vegetarian?" "Didn't God Permit Us to Eat Meat?" and "Didn't Paul Condemn Vegetarianism as Heresy?" with honesty and theological integrity.He does not try to force intepretations out of the texts, but lets them speak for themselves, offering a balanced and evenhanded treatment.

Most importantly, Young offers one of the best arguments for Christian vegetarianism I've read to date.He does not resort to prooftexting or spurious arguments based on scant biblical evidence.Instead he builds the case for vegetarianism upon a much broader biblical perspective--the peaceable kingdom.In sum, Genesis 1 and 2 offer the ideal view of human existence: humans and animals are vegetarians, humans are the caregivers of God's creation, the world and all creation are at peace. Unfortunately, all that is shattered in Genesis 3.However, the biblical material looks forward to a reinstatement of that original harmony.Examining the prophets vision of the peaceable kingdom, Young concludes that the role of Christians is to do God's will on earth as it is in heaven.In other words, Jesus' vision of the kingdom of heaven is a here and now concept, not a concept that will occur only in heaven."The peaceable kingdom encompasses the full range of human moral aspirations, depicts peaceful coexistence between humans and nonhumans, and represents the goal toward which God is guiding history" (150).

Our job as Christians is to envision the peaceable kingdom and work to bring it about.Christ's act on the cross was an act of restoration, not just between humans and God, but between humans and other humans, and humans and all creation.Thus, Christians are to be actively involved in that restorative vision.If the peaceable kingdom is to be established, one fundamental step toward that outcome is refraining from eating meat. There can be no peace between animals and humans if we continue consuming animals.

Additional touches set this book apart as well: each chapter concludes with a wholesome vegetarian recipe; the last chapter offers a basic discussion of how to "go vegetarian;" and Young provides a bibliography for further reading.

Don't be put off by the title of the book--I found out that the publisher insisted upon it to make the book more "provocative."This book is a must read for any Christian who desires to investigate Christianity's relationship to animal rights and vegetarianism. It is well written, thoroughly researched, and easily accessible to anyone interested in the subject.

Excellent book, not what I expected
The title of this book scared me.I thought it would be one of those fanatic books about how Jesus could possibly be a vegetarian, etc.However once I started reading this book I found myself laughing at the chapter titles: "Was God the First Tanner", "will there be slaughterhouses in heaven."

Young thoroughly answers questions that vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike grapple with in using the Bible as guide for life.While at times I felt he took passages out of context, the overall meaning behind his words seemed to speak the biblical truth.Young concludes that vegetarianism cannot be a universal moral truth, yet it is closer to God's vision.I highly reccomend this book for those questioning how Christians are to respond to todays treatment of animals. ... Read more

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Written by a former UN Chief Prosecutor and a leading international law expert, this is a much needed, short and accessible introduction to the current debates in international humanitarian law. Analyzing the legal and political underpinnings of international judicial institutions, it provides the reader with an understanding of both the historical development of institutions directed towards international justice, as well as an overview of the differences and similarities between such organizations.

By providing a side-by-side discussion of various institutions and methods, the reader will come to see the ways in which institutions have responded both to prior incarnations as well as the contemporary political environments within which they have operated.

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Human Development and Criminal Behavior proposes an extensive agenda for crime research. The book is part of a pioneering effort to understand the causes of crime, particularly its developmental course. It defines and sets the conditions necessary to conduct an accelerated longitudinal study of individuals at risk to become engaged in criminal careers. This work offers a blueprint for research to elucidate and possibly prevent crime in our society. ... Read more

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The Adams Cover Letter Almanac, Second Edition is the most comprehensive guide available for creating an attention-getting cover letter. This easy-to-use volume is packed with sample cover letters that can be easily customized to match the needs of any job seeker, whether you're new to the job market, an experienced professional, changing careers, or re-entering the workforce.
A good cover letter can be even more important than a resume. If a prospective employer isn't impressed by your cover letter, you won't get that interview no matter how polished your resume is. Yet, many job seekers put little time or thought into their cover letters, often sending the same tired form letter to hundreds of companies. The Adams Cover Letter Almanac, Second Edition will give you an edge on the competition by helping you create powerful, compelling letters that get you noticed.

Based on professionally written cover letters that have landed real jobs, sample letters are included for every occasion:

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William Ferguson’s classic photographic portrayal of the major pre-Columbian ruins of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras is now available from UNM Press in a completely revised edition. Magnificent aerial and ground photographs give both armchair and actual visitors unparalleled views of fifty-one ancient cities. The restored areas of each site and their interesting and exotic features are shown within each group of ruins. The authors have thoroughly revised the text for this new edition, and they have added over 30 new photographs and illustrations as well as a completely new chapter by Richard E. W. Adams on regional states and empires in ancient Mesoamerica.

Over a span of three thousand years between 1500 B.C. and A.D. 1500 great civilizations, including the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Toltec, Zapotec, and Aztec, flourished, waned, and died in Mesoamerica. These indigenous cultures of Mexico and Central America are brought to life in Mesoamerica’s Ancient Cities through stunning color photographs. The authors include the most recent research and most widely accepted theoretical perspectives on Mesoamerican civilizations. Ideal for the general reader as well as scholars of Mesoamerica, this volume makes a significant contribution to our knowledge of the Americas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities
The information in this book should give cause to rethink America's ancient past. This book has many fine pictures.Great for anybody interested in Ancient Cities of the New World.

OK, but not terrific
Good points:
- Lot's of color photographs showing not just architecture, but art as well.
- Many different sites presented.
- Enough text (about 10-15%), but not too much.

Disappointments:
- Thoroughness is sacrificed in favor of including more sites - I would prefer more pictures of each site.
- Pictures quality is only fair to good.I was very disappointed that colors are washed out (low color saturation) even though the book is printed on heavy matte stock.
- A majority of the pictures are not aerial, though that doesn't detract much for me.
- Only recent photos - would have liked to have seen early photos of sites prior to excavation.
- Some pictures are mislabeled.

Overall, worth checking out of the library or buying used, but probably not worth purchasing new. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

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Describes the animals, birds, trees, and flowers that the amateur naturalist is likely to encounter in each season. ... Read more

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Nearly 150 million people visited New Zealand in 1995-96, a 7.7% increase over the previous year (with a 10% increase in the number of U.S. visitors alone).And as anyone can tell you, the airfares not cheap.Frommers not only helps you find the best deal, but helps you maximize your dollars once youve arrived.Loaded with detailed reviews of the countrys best bed-and-breakfasts and suggestions for affordable adventures, this easy-to-use guide is indispensable for planning a comfortable, fun, but ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good for planning pre-trip, but not as helpful during
When we were considering what to do during our month in New Zealand, travel agents were pleading with us to have everything lined up before"the Y2k rush."So, being the literal engineering types, webought a couple of books -- the Lonely Planet NZ and the Frommers for Under$50/day -- and started poring through them.

Our initial impression of theLonely Planet book was too dense to be useful to us.The Frommer's guide,however, had suggested itineraries based on the time one could spend in NewZealand.Even better, the author, Elizabeth Hansen, was available to"consult" on the trip on an hourly basis.Because we'd be totingour 18-month old, we used her services and pre-booked the entiretrip.

Once there, we found the Lonely Planet book much more useful. TheLonely Planet guide excels at providing abundant information about towns,including attractions, restaurants and maps giving a rough layout.

Forexample, one of the folks at a Visitor center clued us into Farewell Spit,an area we were going to forego because it was well off our chosen route. As it turned out, Tahuna Park, our campground in Nelson was pretty bad(right under an airport takeoff path; lots of people permanently livingthere; undermaintained kitchens), and we didn't relish the idea of spendingthree days there as originally planned.

The side trip to Farewell Spitwas long and we'd have to find some place relatively nearby to the Spit tomake it a reasonable trip. Unfortunately, this is where the Frommer's guidewas very weak. It caters more to the B&B crowd, and there isn't thatmuch north (or west) of Nelson.The Lonely Planet book, however, paid foritself by suggestinga lot of options, providing maps of the little towns,and listing restaurants where we might stop at for "snacktime."

In summary: The Frommer's book is helpful for initiallyplanning your trip.

The Frommer's book has more of a focus onhigher-end accomodations, e.g., motels or beds and breakfasts, and covers asmaller area.This is not such a big deal unless you want to venture toofar off the beaten path.

We felt the author's services wereworthwhile.

Don't underestimate the value of the Visitor Centersscattered throughout New Zealand.They were generally very good atproviding local information.Most will also book special activities foryou.

Only guide book I took with me.
I recently spent two weeks in New Zealand.This was the only book I took with me and it was the best choice.I had looked through others but, I would recommend this book to anyone who is planning a holiday there.Thepricing was a bit outdated due to the exchange rate, but all the otherinformation was dead on!I did the things recommended in Rotorua, Taupoand Napier and I was well prepared! The for free or nearly free things todo and see were the best.I cant wait to go back! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

had to buy a second one
we have read this book into oblivion and now i have to buy another what more can i say?

Oh No! Not Ghosts!!
This is a fantastic book for entering the scary monster world.We especially love it because dads always try to take naps, unsuccessfully.:)

Your kids will love it!
My kids ask me to read this book over and over again. A boy is supposed to keep his little sister quiet so his dad can sleep but he scares her with stories of ghosts, witches, werewolfs, demons, and skeletons. The rythmic text and spooky illustrations are sure to be one of your children's favorite Halloween books.

AMUSING AND SPOOKY!
"Oh No, Not Ghosts!" finds a brother and younger sister still up at night while dad is sleeping as they try and remain quiet and not wake dad.But the brother soon gets the sister's active imagination up and running with his descriptions of ghosts, werewolves, witches, and skeletons. The story is told in a spirited rhyme as each monster described by the brother gets more and more terrifying and the sister gets more and more scared.

The brother parades about, pretending to be each of the frights as his sister stares wide-eyed and clings to her dolly.It's quite a humorous little tale and certainly most girls who had older brothers will be able to relate to being teased by their older sibling.It's a bit scary, but not too scary.Younger readers might need to hide a bit when the skeleton makes his appearance from the closet but it's all in good fun.My four and a half year-old enjoyed it quite a bit!

The story is written by Richard Michelson and it's a snappy tale with a quick cadence. Helping great are the illustrations by Adam McCauley.The illustration are bold and colorful and the brother, while telling his sister that there are no such things as ghosts and witches, still has a mischievous glint in his eye. He's clearly enjoying himself!A great book to read at Halloween but good enough to be enjoyed year round!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Vicarious Vexing: Oh No, Not Ghosts!
Whatever evolutionary requirement is served by the fiendish delight we derive from teasing -- or terrifying -- our siblings is served, without the damage, by this fabulous book. Its spooky, stylized illustrations and rhyming text are a great substitute for the terrorizing we don't let our girls do. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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This Book Is In German. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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This major revision of Richard E. W. Adams's classic text on the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica adds new information available from archaeological fieldwork in the region from the 1990s through 2004 and also evaluates recent theories regarding the remarkable prehistoric cultures of a region that today encompasses Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador.

This up-to-date overview provides an introduction to Mesoamerican studies, a brief geographic sketch of the region, and a summary of the major features of its civilizations. Adams follows with a detailed examination of each period of Mesoamerican cultural history, from early prehistoric times through the rise and fall of various city-states to the ascendancy and ultimate fall of the Aztec Empire.Amazon.com Review
When the Spanish first arrived on the shores of Mexico, theywere astonished to find a monumental record of civilizations therethat stretched back for hundreds, even thousands of years. RichardAdams provides a lively archaeological catalog and history of thosecivilizations--Olmec, Mayan, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Mixtec, Tarascan,and Aztec--in this well-illustrated reference. New discoveries areconstantly forcing revisions in the archaeological record, especiallyin the chronology, but Adams's book is more up to date than manysimilar surveys. Travel in his pages through the Merchants barrio,Monte Alban, Palenque, and the great pyramid complexes, and you'll bewell prepared for an on-the-ground tour of ancient Mexico. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The publishers need to try harder
Poorly edited (multiple mistakes regarding very specific names and places), bad use of poorly focused black and white snapshots, not written well. Simply a bad summary of better books. I wish I would have read the books the author of this text summarized. And then wrote this book, b/c I couldn't have done any worse!

Outdated overview
Although it is argued (and mentioned on the cover) that this overview is revised, it seems to me a lot of 'ancient data' has escaped the attention of the compiler. Several regional and/or chronological sections contain information based on research now considered outdated. In fact, not just 'now' but even back in the early nineties when this revised edition was published. It is a pity that because of that many regional developments remain untouched: Where is central Mexico in this book? How about the Valley of Oaxaca (is 15 pages for Classic Oaxaca sufficient on any standard)? Etc etc. Only to those those who still consider Mesoamerica to be 'Maya and their neighbors' this overview will prove satisfactory. All others interested in an introduction to Mesoamerica should instead consider Smith and Masson's edited volume or Susan Toby Evans' recent compilation.

All you want, and need, to know on Mesoamerica
This revised edition is indeed a great book.Well written.Loaded with facts and interpretations but not overloaded.It reads really nicely, and furthermore, it can be read by sections if one wishes so, though it would be a pity.Some minor editing problems (e.g. some numbers seem unbelievable and are likely typos).Enough illustrations to rest the eyes of the reader, and adequate maps.But for this reviewer the best feature of this book is that the author tries to integrate the history of successive cultures of Mesoamerica.For example, if you want to know what happened to the post classic Mayas you will need to go to another chapter than the main one on Mayas.This way the mutual influences of cultures can be better understood, at least when those influences did take place.Very likely the best all around book on Mesoamerica that one could have on the bookshelves.My only grip is the title, slightly misleading since it suggests prehistory.If history is defined as from the time when a cultures can write its history, then what about the Mayas who had a complete writing system?Not very "politically correct" if you ask this reviewer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Heartbreaking poverty
This is really quite an incredible read.I was captivated by this story, and by the three generations of complicated Henderson men who just couldn't catch a break.The characters were very intriguing, and a lot of what happened was largely unexpected.The writing is exceptional, and it captures the loneliness of the place (rural New Brunswick) and the desperation of the people who live there very well.These people will stay with you for a long time afterward.Highly recommended.

Fine Dialogue, but the idiot plot triumphs.
Richards has an engaging writing style. It's simple and direct. The plot however concerns a family victimised by townsfolk you'd see in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The villains are written as completely one note. There is no depth to them and the Richardson clan is so meek and idiotic (confessing to crimes for no reason) that you feel nothing for them. Save your money and read the co-winner for the Giller Prize.

Fine Writer, but depressing, ridiculous story
Richards has a way with dialogue and the book is readable, but the story is so gloomy and the characters do not ring true. Everyone is either too noble or too villainous. The plot requires characters to behave like idiots. If they didn't, the novel would much, much shorter. Because the characters are one dimensional, it's impossible to feel anything for them.

I gave up.
Fine writing, beyond a doubt.I read widely and skip the fluff, but this was just sooooooooo unmitigatedly depressing, page after page of utter misery, that I could not go on.If you are really STRONG, get it, read it.Otherwise, you may never reach the mercy.I didn't.

Fiction on a Monumental and Profound Scale
Don't miss this one!

I have just completed this amazing novel, after devouring it in three days.David Adams Richards is a novelist of such staggering power that it is not at all a stretch to compare him with Hardy, Melville, and Tolstoy.His story of Morality, Poverty, Family, Violence, and the inevitable hand of Fate is a controlled steamroller of mounting tragedies, set in motion by a collection of common saints, fools, and monsters, characters in a town bound together by generations of interlocking lives.

Author Richards's unflinching portrait of a family destitute and battered by the condemnation of their community reminded me of the great novel "The Dollmaker" by Harriet Arnow, while the awesomely constructed plot that unfolds with such terrifying inevitability reminded me of that greatest of thrillers, "A Simple Plan" by Scott Smith.

That a book can be such a profound comment on our Humanity, and still be such a monster of a gripping story that you'll be unable to stop reading, is a gift to the lover of great novels.

And it is as affecting to the reader as Greek drama -- it will take me days to come down from the experience of reading it, and perhaps years to find a novel as perfectly formed as Mercy Among The Children.



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