Product Description
This book was published on the occasion of a major twenty-five year retrospective exhibition at the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House. It brings together for the first time in one volume a broad and varied selection of Smith's prodigious work. The large number of reproductions trace the growth of his distinctive and life-affirming vision in photographs of the land, cities, and people. A foreword by Marianne Fulton, Senior Curator at the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House places Smith's work in an historical context, and an insightful essay by John Bratnober probes the connection between the photographs and the life of the artist. A complete chronology and bibliography are included. The high production standards combined with the beauty of the photographs insure that this high-quality publication will stand as one of the finest monographs ever produced. Every detail of production was supervised by the photographer. It includes 24 fold-outs for reproduction of the large-scale 8x20-inch contact prints. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Visual Journey review
I took the time to review this book because I feel strongly that it contains excellent photographs which deserve a wider audience.Michael Smith is one of the best living photographers and a national treasure of the US.He is known well in the photographic community but remains fairly obscure outside this group.I recommend this book to anyone interested in excellent photography.

A stunning collection of outstanding photographs
Michael A. Smith has traveled many miles photographing the land, the cities, and the people across America, and is possibly the greatestphotographer of our time. Not only is his subject matter interesting, every picture in this publication reveals his mastery of seeing,composition, and print quality. An excellent book. ... Read more

Product Description

Based on the premise that many, if not most, reactions in organic chemistry can be explained by variations of fundamental acid-base concepts, Organic Chemistry: An Acid–Base Approach provides a framework for understanding the subject that goes beyond mere memorization. The individual steps in many important mechanisms rely on acid–base reactions, and the ability to see these relationships makes understanding organic chemistry easier. Using several techniques to develop a relational understanding, this textbook helps students fully grasp the essential concepts at the root of organic chemistry.

Providing a practical learning experience with numerous opportunities for self-testing, the book contains:

• Checklists of what students need to know before they begin to study a topic
• Checklists of concepts to be fully understood before moving to the next subject area
• Homework problems directly tied to each concept at the end of each chapter
• Embedded problems with answers throughout the material
• Experimental details and mechanisms for key reactions

The reactions and mechanisms contained in the book describe the most fundamental concepts that are used in industry, biological chemistry and biochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacy. The concepts presented constitute the fundamental basis of life processes, making them critical to the study of medicine. Reflecting this emphasis, most chapters end with a brief section that describes biological applications for each concept. This text provides students with the skills to proceed to the next level of study, offering a fundamental understanding of acids and bases applied to organic transformations and organic molecules.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Biochemistry
This book is very good for explaining the complex biochemistry for aspiring health care professionals. The vignettes that are presented use names that are sometimes something you must overlook, but the content and context of the book was really useful and gives a solid foundation without being overly lengthy or complex.

essentials
If you are taking a med./pharm. class I would suggest using a different text if offered. The basics are there, but you have to wade through a lot of B.S. to get there.
If this text is required then make sure you take good notes in class.

AVOID This book.It is NOT What it Purports to Be.

Well, this book LOOKS useful, does it not?
It purports to be a book that "has been streamlined to focus on only the most essential biochemical concepts important to medical students, while maintaining the key pedagological features that have made the larger text (on which this book is supposed to be based) successful.

Well, that would be fine if it were true but what we have here is a failed biochemistry text that has been "dressed up" with these clever side dialogs of make believe people with names like Mr. "Di abetes".
Cute huh?BUT, what is not cute is that the textual explanations of those key biochemistry concepts that the book was supposed to be covering in a "streamlined" way, insteadbecome so wrapped up in the convoluted minutiae of the cellular and chemical processes involved that the key concepts, their hierarchical interrelationships, and their global biochemical,pharmacological and medical praxis become lost in a blaze of details and obscure diagrams. I have not seen the parent book on which this misbegotten offspring is based (nor do I want to) but what it looks like to me is that the publisher realized it had a losing text and then had little "patient stories" added to "dress up" the failed text book and this is the result.Usually there is one or two sentences in the lead paragraph explaining some concept and then they immediately launch into all sorts of details and minutiae which confuse and obscure the key concepts which will NOT be retained for future applicability, as they should have been.

If the student wanted the level of details that this book falls into, they might as well have bought the original book or a full fledged and better written and better illustrated textbook.If the student wanted a good overview which INTELLIGENTLY and carefully subsumes the details beneath well organized and thought out chapters then it is obvious that SOME OTHER book, not this one is needed.

... Read more

Product Description

Drawing from events in his own life, contemporary Christian music artist Michael W. Smith addresses issues essential to those desiring to change their world for God. It's Time to be Bold is a clarion call for all believers to boldly go forth, living their lives in Christ.

Customer Reviews (6)

It's Bold!
Michael W. Smiths is a man that has created some of the best worship songs ever. In his book Its Time to be Bold Michael shows where and when he got the inspiration for many of his songs. In his Bold book he shares many times he had struggles and how good things from his God came from these struggles; including a countless number of his worship songs. The first chapter starts off with a great depiction of Michael¡¦s hectic concerts and how God total showed up for him, blowing his expectations away. These first opening paragraphs grab the readers¡¦ attention drawing them in to this eventful book.
In this book I loved the way that Michael W. Smith takes the worst situation, like his daughter being lost, and turns it around into something to praise God about then relates it to a persons¡¦ walk with God.I also love the fact that from this book you get a look into a worship leader¡¦s life; questions like: ¡§how do worship leaders get the words to write and praise God?¡¨ always came to mind, this book give a huge glimpse of that. I totally think that this book was awesome and I do not have any dislikes about reading it! Good Book ƒº

It's Time to Be Bold
When I first picked up this book, I expected it to be a "sugar coated" writing by one more musical artist, trying to wax eloquant, when actually doing little more than delivering a half-hearted self-gloification piece.Not so with M.Smith's book. Granted, his true talent is better captured in both his songwriting and his vioce, the book never the less delivers a well thought out message. It is clear from the book, Michael dearly loves those he sings for.His inspiration comes from God, his reward is evidenced in his acknowledging the impact his songs have had on others. While M.Smith writes about the impact, he also reminds us how music can both bring us closer to God and to strengthen our relationship with Him.M.Smith takes us beyond the comfort of being a mere listener of music, he wants us to see music as a way of advancing the Gospel but also as a ministry unto itself.

Smith makes Biblical priciples relavent to today.
It's Time to Be Bold is an excellent read for anyone who wants to believe in and preach the Bible, but feels it is irrevelant to today.Through personal stories of his own and those of his fans, Michael W. Smith createsword pictures never thought of before.You will see church as the besthang-out on earth and the Bible as awesome as any romance or action novel. The bottom line:Smith is real.He realizes that young Christians need toevangelize more than ever in today's society and that with a few basicrules you can do it.This is a must read and, believe it or not, even moreinspiring than many of his songs!

A great book for reading to challenge you.
This book has many spritual messages for young and old alike. Based onsome of Michael's own life experiences, he gives incredible firstimpressions about his experiences and touches the heart of the reader. Youtoo will find it "It's Time To Be Bold" to stand up to face thechallenges that life seems to present.Some of his experiences are nearthe same things I went through and can relate to. He really spoke what wason his heart and touches the reader.

It was a very inspirational book!!
The book was about how to live your Christian life, and had many good pointers.It is good for Christians and non-Christians alike.I enjoyed this book because it helped me out in this difficult world we live in.Smith is an excellent Christian pop artist and the title is from one of his songs.He wants Christians to be bold in their life, and be able to stand up for what is right.It is important to hang out with Christian friends.I recommend this book for anybody who's remotely interested in strengthening their Christian values. ... Read more

Product Description
TV's Chef Michael Smith shows how cooking without recipes makes for stress-free kitchen adventures.

Chef at Home Chef Michael Smith welcomes readers into his home kitchen where he encourages home chefs to cook with -- and without -- a recipe. Packed with simple and delicious meals, this cookbook offers kitchen insight and a culinary adventure on every page.

Chef Michael Smith has cooked professionally for more than 20 years. In Chef at Home, the companion cookbook to his hit Food Network series, Smith emphasizes simple, stress-free cooking. In his house, every meal is an opportunity to have fun and experiment with flavors.

Aspiring home cooks will learn from Smith's professional cooking secrets. Experienced home cooks will appreciate his open, creative approach. Everyone will love the book's simple, healthy flavors and the tips on personalizing each dish. Recipes include:- Country Inn Pancakes- Maritime Clam Chowder- Rosemary Vanilla Chicken- Mac and Cheese with Lobster.

This book is meant to be ripped, oil-stained, accidentally burnt, and deliberately written on. It works best in the kitchen -- not on the coffee table. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Love the show, love the cookbook
While our part of the country doesn't have the easy access to some of the ingredients used in this cookbook, the recipes are still wonderful. Book is presented just like the show and has gorgeous color photos to show the completed dish. Great as a gift or as an addition to your personal library of cookbooks.

Easy to follow ...
This recipe book is so easy for anyone who is not a "cook."Love it!

Cheg at Home
Its a cookbook that is EZ to use with fun things to make that you can injoy.

Great everyday cookbook
Excellent cook book, very easy to follow and the meals are lovely.Very user friendly.

Scrummy
I originally saw Michael Smith on TV while on vacation in South Africa. I could not wait to get the book and I have not been disappointed. I love the way he helps you through recipes and encourages you to add your own touches to make the dish your own. ... Read more

Product Description

Award winning musician Michael W. Smith shares his message of encouragement with a series of never-before-told stories, reflections on Scripture, and insight from friends.

Customer Reviews (5)

The best book on God's Will
This is one of my favorite books and I also admire the artist for his music talent. There are many authors in the Christian market who are just in it for the money but its clear that MWS is in it to guide and encourage people. The book is well written and he drives the point home without being preachy while making it seem as if he's right there talking to you.

Its for anyone who wants guidance in their life and to know God's will. There are four parts. The first covers a place to grow, to belong to, to make a difference, its basically about find a place to "bloom." The second is Purpose and about finding purpose in your life, the third is passion in your life. What are you passionate about? Is it music or something else? The last part is about God's plan in your life. If your a Christian seeking God's will then I'd really reccomend this book, I'd definitely reccomend it to all regardless of your age.

Your Place In This World
I have now bought over a dozen copies of this book by Michael W. Smith.Every person without exception has said the same thing.They all felt it spoke to them.Michael "walks the walk" and it shows.I'm backto buy 3 more copies and Amazon.com, you'd better keep 'em in stock for me! :)

Great statement of personal faith
Though not as good as his work "Time to Be Bold" (sp.), Michael does a great job of letting you into his world and showing you what God has done in his life.Michael's books excel at making you feel like he is talking just to you.He makes you feel special.He has great sections onhow to deal with hard times and some very practical steps to help you growin the Lord.He has a great love and belief in the power of God's Word. This is perhaps the genius that undergirds this work and his other books aswell.

This is one book that I recommend to everyone!
When I started reading this book I couldn't put it down.it really helped me realize where I was with my relationship with GOD.It also helpedre-light my fire for the LORD!!!! I can not say enough about this book.

Powerful
A powerful book that gives information ,guidelines and information that relates to all who are looking for their place in this world. Also relates life stories that intertwine with his life and life in general. Highlyrecommend this book and have bought several as gifts. ... Read more

Product Description

For young Mark, the world has turned as bleak and gray as the Brighton winter. Separated from his real father and home in London, he's come to live with his mother and her new husband in an old house near the sea. He spends his days alone, trying to master the skateboard, while other boys his age are in school. He hates the unwanted stepfather who barged into Mark's life to rob him of joy. Worst of all, his once-vibrant mother has grown listless and weary, no longer interested in anything beyond her sitting room.

Customer Reviews (98)

only took 2 hours
this book was great! i am not a big reader at all, but I read this whole book in one night. I was just pulled into it, felt like the boy himself, just wanted, needed to know what was going on in that room.

The Servants
This book handles a common topic of the day in a most unusual way. Mark's parents have divorced and he is faced with a life with a new step-father. Not only this, but his mother has changed and no longer seems at all like herself.

Mark meets an old woman who lives in the basement of his step-father's house. She shows him a hidden part of the house that few have seen before and tells him about a part of history that few have known before. Mark also meets mysterious people who, in their own suffering, help him to reconcile the conflicts within his new life.

I am not certain if this story about eleven-year-old Mark is written for children or adults. I know that some of the symbolism within the story might be lost on a child of that age.However, the writing seems to be simplified as if for a preteen. Some of the language, although heard by young children, might not be acceptable to many parents.

Good book
An Englishman writing suspense, happening in the near-future US realm is definitely a good combination - I like MM Smith.

Good Story, But Not Great
A coming of age story of sorts, The Servants tells of a young boy named Mark. Mark's parents have split up and his mother is newly remarried.She is also dying, and Mark hates his stepfather. When he meets an elderly lady who has lived "forever" in the lower flat, she shows him the unused rear section of her living quarters, which once upon a time was used by the servants.

Mark is lonely and miserable. As he continues to come back again and again because there is more to be seen in the basement.I really can't give many more details to the plot, otherwise I will give something away.

Author Smith is a wonderful writer in that his descriptions are very lifelike. You can actually visualize the scenery. But too much of the surrealism, and the final conclusion of the book were vague. Too much was left haning in the air. For me, there wasn't really any closure because there wasn't really a decent resolutions. Maybe it's because this book is almost a novella. I have a lot of issues with short stories and their ability to flesh-out the characters. This time, I just had the feeling something was missing. Maybe it was just me.

More a short story than a full-length book
I've enjoyed many of Smith's works in the past, but this one was just terrible. None of the characters were interesting, and the protagonist came across as a self-absorbed brat. Throw in a boring storyline that moves at a snail's pace, and you have 200 pages of nothing.

I've read many of Smith's short fiction, and this felt like a 15-25 page short story that had been stretched into a 200-page large print novella. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough story or character development to justify the extra pages, and the book felt lazy, slow, and completely unsatisfying. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of The Jordan Rules chronicles the sequence of events that brought Michael Jordan back to the NBA and to his present position as the Bulls's most valuable and demanding player. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A very revealing book
I agree with back and forth. People who slam the book are biased. MJ has a good and bad side, and the people who whine are probably his fans or have shares in his company. The problem is players from different eras can't be compared. How do you compare Oscar Robertson to Earvin Johnson? You can't...but you can compare them relative to the players in their era, to players they played against, and compare their relative greatness to the relative greatness to the players from other eras. Compare Michael to others relative to his contribution of others...don't just compare scoring, or Dominique Wilkins would be surely better than Bill Russell...only a misinformed or ignorant NBA basketball fan would think something as preposterous as that. Kudos for Sam Smith and taking off the kid gloves. If the book is all trash journalism, why didn't Michael sue for slander or defamation of character? There must be some truth to it.

back and forth
I have mixed feelings about Michael Jordan.On the one hand, he is a great athlete.I respect his work ethic.He has turned in a number of great performances and is no doubt one of the greatest to have ever played the game of basketball.

There is a flipside.Michael Jordan got allkinds of special treatment while he was in the NBA.He was the firstplayer I noticed who was granted all kinds of trips to the charity stripebecause of unbelievably, ticky tack calls.He scored at least ten points agame at the free throw line from bogus calls.It was great when there wasa picture session for 'greats of the game' with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson,and Michael Jordan.Magic told Larry not to stand too close to Michael orthey might call a foul.In front of reporters and television viewers, thatwas a classic comment by Magic.I believe Mike got 99% of all calls in hisfavor because he was such a cash cow for the NBA.Dominique Wilkins wasrobbed of a slam dunk championship when Mike scored a perfect 50 doing thesame dunk Dr. J did years before.I doubt Dr. J ever received a perfect 50for it.Dominique's dunk was much more impressive, and he received a 49.5. Please.Mike got in a fight with Reggie Miller, and only Miller gotsuspended at first.Only after there was an outcry did Mike get suspended. How are Mike's punches different?Mike elbowed Kevin Johnson to theground for all to see, and Kevin was called for blocking!

I am not tooimpressed that the bulls beat the lakers in the NBA finals.Magic wasdouble teamed every game every minute he was in.On top of that, JamesWorthy and Byron Scott were injured.Magic and Larry never won threechampionships in a row because the competition, teams, and players in the80s were much better than the nineties.Luc Longley, Will Perdue, BillCartwright, or Bill Wennington stopping Kareem?Ha!

Sport Magazinerecently had a piece on the ten greatest moments and ten greatest playersever in the NBA.Mike was ranked number one all time player.Kudos toMike for mentioning in 'For the love of the game' that to pick a"greatest ever" is impossible because of all the different erasand evolutions of basketball.The nineties bulls were given three of theten greatest moments in NBA history.This is just more Mike bias.Give mea break.There are hundreds of classic and amazing moments in NBA history. One of the moments picked was Mike beating the Jazz in the final minutesof his last game.He put his hand on Bryon Russel's backside and shovedhim out of the way.Then Mike made the game winnig shot.All eyes were onMike, but the ref did not make the obvious call.

There is also Mike'sarrogance.According to him, Wilt Chamberlain was a fluke eventhough Wiltwas a great all around player.He made a comment about Magic and Larryreaching a 'certain level of greatness' and that the two were not good ondefense.What?Are we talking about the same Larry Bird?Shaquille Onealis also much better and much improved than Mike gives him credit for.Shaqhas turned into a solid defender, passer, and he works hard at both ends ofthe floor.

Mike's corporate poster boy behavior is laughable.He didads for AT&T and then MCI.The Wayans family is also split between thetwo companies.Mike talked about the enviroment in Rayovac ads and thenpitches hot dogs?Mike is not the only athlete who will pitch anything andeverything to make millions.I wonder if Mike has checked into Nike'slabor practices.

Players like Mike and Charles Barkley soured me ontheNBA.Charles played like a thug and got away with it because he was astar.Plus, Charles insisted on wearing number 34 at Philadelphiaeventhough it was retired for NBA great Billy Cunningham.The startreatment and inflated egos has grown old, and that has turned a lot ofpeople off to sports.I miss the Lakers and Celtics match ups of the1980s.

Michael Jordan book review
"Second Coming:The Strange Odyssey of Michael Jordan - from Courtside to Home Plate and Back Again," by Sam Smith, is a biogarphy about Michael Jordan.It starts out a little before he won his first NBAchampionship with the Chicago Bulls.It tells about the seasons leading upto his retirement in October of 1993.Through that time, the author talksabout the next two seasons.It talks about Jordans' personality at thetime, and some of the problems he was having to deal with.It profilesJordans' gambling troubles and the troubles he was having with the media. This book is similar to the book "Tiger Woods:The Makings of aChampion."These two books are very similar because of their genre. They are both biographies about famous sports stars.The only differencebetween the two is that the Tiger Woods book talks more about his childhoodthan the Michael Jordan book does.I thought that this book was very good. I liked it because I really liked the structure of it.I thought that itwas really easy to read because it goes in a logical order.I think thatsince it has good order, this serves as a good model for writing.Therereally is not much imagery in the book because it is a biography.Ithought that this book was very good because it tells a lot of good stuffabout Michael Jordan'sprofessional career.I think that one thing thatthis book lacked was information on his personal life.I think that Icould have realated better to the story had there been more personal infoon him.I think that anybody who likes to follow Michael Jordan wouldenjoy this book very much.Overall I liked this book a lot and I hope toread more books by this author.

Tabloid trash disguised as sports journalism

There is a type of sports fan endemic to Chicago: guys whose formative years spanned decades of losing seasons, guys who never learned the ups of fandom, just the downs, until the only joy they could take from professional sports was the cynic's pleasure of having their low expectations fulfilled.Guys, I admit it, like me.When a winner does finally appear in a city like Chicago, these fans react like albino fish brought up into the sun from the lightless depths, blinking uncomprehendingly: they know something is happening, but nothing in their experience tellsthem how to react.The good news is that most of us recover from the shock after a year or two, and that most of us don't become professional sportswriters.Then again, there's Sam Smith.

Smith's "Second Coming" purports to be a hard-nosed examination of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during Jordan's "retirement" from the NBA following the death of his father, Jordan's travails as a minor-league baseball player and subsequent return to basketball, with (at first) less-than spectacular results.A sequel to "The Jordan Rules", Smith's first uncensored-behind-the-scenes look at the Bulls during their early-'90's title runs, this book is both less shocking -- you only have to open any week's sports pages to realize that today's pro atheletes are not choirboys -- and more mean-spirited than its predecessor.

If Sam Smith were an NBA player, he'd be Bill Laimbeer:moderately talented, but cursed with a congenital inability to pass up a cheap shot (Smith takes gratuitous aim at everyone from the Bulls' TV announcers to Madonna) and the obnoxious habit of feigning bafflement that anyone would take offense (Smith is shocked, *shocked* that Jordan and others had less-than positive reactions to "The Jordan Rules").

There's no doubt that many aspects of professional sports are open to criticism, and Michael Jordan is no exception.But "Second Coming" provides little criticism and lots of tabloid-style dirt-dishing.Smith reports the facts of Jordan's gambling sprees (by far the most legitimate fan concern covered), but then sabotages his own credibility by mentioning every scurrilous rumor, most of them proven to be false, that followed those events and the shooting of James Jordan.I held on as Smith hammered away at his theme -- that Jordan was too old, too selfish, and too poor a leader for his comeback to be successful -- waiting for the "bonus chapter" (added to the paperback edition) on the Bulls' historic '95-'96 season.How would Smith explain his remarkable lack of predictive skills?He wouldn't, preferring instead to concentrate on the antics of Dennis Rodman.

If you want to know more about the dark side of professional sports, and maybe even do something about it, read Mike Lupica's scorching fan manifesto "Mad as Hell".If you want to read about Jordan and the Bulls, buy Bob Greene's sublime "Hang Time" and its sequel "Rebound".Lupica may be a bit overinflated and Greene a little too uncritical of his subject, but at least neither of them have forgotten the reasons why we started watching the game in the first place ... Read more

Product Description
In the spring of 2007, The Historic New Orleans Collection acquired the archive of photographer Michael P. Smith, ensuring both its long term preservation and ultimate public access. Through photographs, field recordings, journals, correspondence, printed ephemera, and other documents, Smith s professional and personal interests offer an extended gaze into the world of spiritual churches, Mardi Gras Indians, and traditional jazz funerals, as well as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which Smith photographed without interruption from 1970 2004.The trove of Michael P. Smith archival material now housed at The Historic New Orleans Collection provides the basis for two exhibitions under the single title: In the Spirit: The Photography of Michael P. Smith from The Historic New Orleans Collection. Beyond the Music at The Historic New Orleans Collection focuses on the breadth of Smith s nearly forty-year career. Twenty-Five Jazz Fests at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center spotlights Smith s photographs of performers at the world-renowned New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The exhibition catalog for In the Spirit: The Photography of Michael P. Smith from The Historic New Orleans Collection features essays by Jason Berry, Dan Cameron, and John Lawrence and Jude Solomon and includes a selection of nearly 100 Michael P. Smith photographs from both exhibition venues. ... Read more

Product Description
Our piano solo folio features all 12 tunes from the first instrumental CD by this multi-million-selling CCM artist. Recorded in Ireland and released in 2000, Freedom includes the songs: The Call * Carol Ann * Cry of the Heart * Free Man * Freedom * Freedom Battle * The Giving * Hibernia * Letter to Sarah * The Offering * Prayer for Taylor * Thy Word. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Beautiful, full sounding, not too difficult!
I love this album, it's one of my favorite instrumentals! I've been wanting to get the piano book for quite a while, because I knew that I'd be able to play them. They are full sounding, and not what I would consider too hard for the average Joe who has a good knowledge of piano.

INCREDIBLE...get the album and the songbook!
"Freedom" is one of the best instrumental albums I have ever heard, and the piano songbook is just as incredible. Very true the album arrangements. I play on an intermediate level, and find the songs challenging but not exceedingly difficult. However, I have listened to the CD quite a bit, which I recommend at least as highly as this book. That definately helps with learning the pieces.

Beautiful!
These songs are beautiful. They are rich with sound and are definitely unique compositions!
This book is worth getting and adding to your musical repertoire. The songs are intermediate/hard. So they will keep you from getting bored, but they are not so hard where it's frustrating.
I give this piano book two thumbs up!
... Read more

Product Description
This book is a vivid and comprehensive account of the Aztecs, the best-known people of pre-Columbian America. It examines their origins, civilization, and the distinctive realms of their religion, science and thought. It describes the conquest of their empire by the Spanish, and their present-day survival in Central Mexico. It makes use of the results of the latest excavations, of all available historical documentation, and of the author's first-hand knowledge of Aztec sites and artifacts.

Aztec civilization was forged by the blending of two different cultural traditions: the ancient agricultural civilizations of Central Mexico and the immigrant warrior tribes from the northern deserts. Michael Smith describes the Aztecs' rapid ascent to regional power. He shows how, in order to feed their several million people, they transformed the landscape - digging canals, draining swamps, and terracing hillsides. From the fruits of these labors sprang craft specialists whose technological and design skills supplied goods for the market-places of every city, town, and village.

The author uses new evidence to reconsider the luxurious lifestyles of the nobility and the role of their castles as seats of government for the empire's city-states. He reinterprets the role of religion in imperial rule and daily life and, in explaining the Aztecs' frequent rituals of human sacrifice, shows how central these were to the workings of their society.

The concluding chapters of the book describe the arrival of Cortés in 1519, his conquest of the empire, and the spread of European diseases which decimated the population and brought the Aztec civilization to an end. Yet the Aztec people and language survived, and form, as the author reveals, a vital part of contemporary Mexican culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

This book is keen!!!
I've read a few books on Aztecs and this one is somewhat unique in that in addition to using textual sources, it gives a good deal of focus to the archaeolgical record as well. This perspective gives a fuller view of Aztec society as a whole, and illuminates the lives of commoners as well as those of nobles. This perspective, along with Smith's expertly and well written explanation of the Archaeology behind this perspective is fascinating.That is why this book is so keen.Also the pics are pretty nifty as well.

Excellent Overview
This is an excellent summary book on Aztec civilization.Well organized and written clearly, this book is distinguished from prior overviews by its integration of archaelogical information that has permitted some understanding of the life of the majority of Aztec commoners.Smith covers Aztec history, the physical and ecological basis of their society, agriculture and economy, art and religion, and the organization of Aztec polities.The book is illustrated well.This is definitely the best single book I have read on this topic and has an excellent bibliography for those wishing to pursue the literature in depth.This book is part of the Peoples of America series published by Blackwell.I've read another book in this series, The Incas by D'Altroy, which is first rate.The publishers deserve a pat on the back for producing this highly informative series.

Informative
A most excellent book for the unlearned of this subject and the learned. In depth and precise. It is illustrated to inform. It is objective but it is biased towards the mainstream thinking of of what we are all taught in school of how civilisations 'must' have started. Albeit a thoroughly engrossing book.

A very readable introduction to the Aztecs
I'm an engineer, not a historian or archeologist, yet I very much enjoyed this book.It didn't get boring, and made learning about the life of the Aztecs interesting.It was scholarly yet accessible.

Excellent Well Organized Introduction
This Book is well organized, illustrated and written. The various aspects of Aztec Civilization and History are organized into seperate Chapters, making this Book both, a good Introduction and Reference Book. A look atthe Bibliography reaveals all the right sources. Scholarly, yet accessible. ... Read more

Product Description
The bible for hockey coaches at all levels of competition.

The Hockey Play Book is a practical handbook for coaches seeking better players and better team-play.

The book features systems for defensive, offensive and special-team situations, all accompanied by annotated, easy-to-understand diagrams. The systems range from conservative to aggressive -- some are intended for big, physical teams; others for fast-skating and highly skilled teams; and some work for both. Also included are teaching methods and drills for honing specific skills.

The first challenge for every coach is to determine the abilities of each skater. The approach in The Hockey Play Book is effective with players of all ages and levels of ability. Coaches can match systems with team strategy, bringing a special creative magic to one of the fastest team sports in the world.

The Hockey Play Book includes:- 500 step-by-step diagrams- Dozens of plays and skill-building drills- Conservative and aggressive systems- Teaching strategies for all levels of play ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not bad
After searching the web endlessly for any help with winger positioning, I went ahead and took the risk of buying this book.I was very suprised at how much I didn't know about the game I play.Even though this book is flooded with play after play, I gained a better understanding of all the drills I've had to run over a lifetime of practices.I recommend "reading" this book if you're someone who, like me, needs every line explained and detailed in order to understand why your coach keeps yelling at you when you thought you were executing the play correctly.

Incredible hockey book
This is the most important book in my coaching collection. It has everything a coach needs. Positioning, systems, drills, and it has alot of options for each. This may be the only book a coach needs.

Learning Hockey movements....organizing the Chaos
I remember learning basketball as a kid...watching it on TV was boring, one team scored, the other scored and not much looked different.

Then I learned about offense and defense and it all changed...became a lot more enjoyable and to this day I can watch a game and get involved.

Well, I'm learning Hockey now...as an adult.I don't have coaches around me to teach me...this book gives a good insight on what to look out for in a game...Offense and defense.

After one reading I went to a game....and it was a different experience.More enjoyable...a deeper connection with the game.

I didn't know exactly what was happeneing on the ice, but knew the basics and was able to more fully follow what the guys were trying to do.

I look forward to a few more readings through this book...and getting ready to watch the playoffs this year....with a more tuned in eye.

Very nice layout
The book is layed out well, and the drills are helpful.My only disappointment was that the book is taylored to older kids who can more readily grasp the basic concepts.Most of the book is too advanced for Mites and squirts.

A good resource for more advanced teams
A good resource for an inexperienced coach to find the info needed to introduce the X's and O's to a house Pee Wee team. Very helpfull ... Read more

Product Description

This best-selling book from Michael W. Smith has sold over 150,000 copies.As relevant today as when Michasel first wrote it, Old Enough to Know gives straight, Biblical answers to the struggles of growing up: sex, drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, parental conflict, friendship, goals, responsibilities and materialism.Calling it "a book for my friends,"the author assures teens that he knows they are old enough to know the difference between the phony and the genuine, and attempts to show how he - and other adults! - have genuinely "been there" and can help.

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book for teen-agers to read.
This book gives you excellent advice on teen problems in today's world welive in. He provides answers to the most common questions teens face today:peer pressure, faith, morality (he himself had these same questions).

Although this book is aimed at teen-agers, adults will like reading thisbook to help their teen-agers through some of tough times teens face. ... Read more

Product Description
The first ever collection of Michael Marshall Smith's award-winning short stories.The first piece of fiction Smith ever wrote -- a short story called The Man Who Drew Cats -- won the World Fantasy award. It's included here along with many others, some unpublished, which show the incredible versatility of one of the most exciting writers working in Britain today. The collection is stuffed with surreal, disturbing gems including:'When God Lived in Kentish Town' Someone comes up to you when you're quietly eating your stir-fried rice in a great Chinese take away, and tells you: 'I've found God'. You try to ignore them, right? But what if they have, and what if He works in a drab old electrical store on Kentish Town Road and he's not getting many customers?'Diet Hell' Some people will do anything to fit into their old jeans.'Save As!' What if you could back up your life? Save it up to a certain point and return to it when things went horribly wrong?'Everybody Goes' An idyllic childhood day from a long, hot summer. The kind you want to last for ever. All good things must come to an end, mustn't they? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

smiths what you make it
good book of short stories. i love micheal marshall smiths spares and one of us. so i have to read all i can find of his and was not disapointed in what you make it.

Full of Dark Philosophy and great ideas.
This book contains some amazingly simple and intresting ideas
and thoughts, a real page-turner.

Truth be told, most of the stories are unsettling, but also beautiful.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and I recommand it to anyone intrested in dark philosophy, beautiful stories and a way of keeping the mind occupied.

50% good, 30% great, 20% so-so, 100% weird
MMS got me hooked from his first outing, "Only Forward". "Spares" was excellent too, but he's never quite reached the same heights since. This anthology, though, shows why MMS is still an author not to be taken lightly. There's an edgy, uncomfortable feeling you get when reading some of these stories - the kind you get when you watch the news about how the guy next door to you just got nailed for murdering his neighbour on the other side.

Some of the ideas in the book are so damn simple, yet come across as fresh and new, and you hope that the next short story will leave you just as breathless. Alas, this isn't the case. Some stories lack that 'oomph', and are merely interesting rather than creepy, merely normal not abnormal.

If you like safe stories, you're better off not ready MMS anyway, but if you want something different, deep, yet wholely possible to imagine while you wend your way to work, this book can provide some nice recipies. Like the guy who recognises a co-worker from the images he downloads from a BDSM newsgroup, or the poor soul going mad trying to back up the data in his brain, or the unique ways to get even when you know you're going to hell in a handbasket.

To expect a read as good as his best, you'll be disappointed. But I guarantee that there'll be at least a couple of stories in here that you'll carry in your head for the rest of your life.

Spooky stuff for the unspookable. ... Read more

Product Description

Only a handful of authors write with such startling originality that the uniqueness of their vision has become synonymous with their name. In Spares and One of Us, Michael Marshall Smith has earned that distinction. In this unsettling, suspenseful, and wildly imaginative novel he's written a tale that from page one hurtles us....

Only Forward

Call him Stark.If you have to.If you're lucky, you won't call him at all. Because if you do, it means you've got trouble. Big trouble.And the problem is that before Stark is done fixing something, a whole lot of other things usually get broken.Like laws and lives--and anyone who gets in the way. It's that attitude that's earned him his latest assignment: finding a missing VIP named Fell Alkland.The authorities believe Alkland has been kidnapped.Stark doesn't. He hasn't stayed alive this long without learning the basics of survival in a world hurtling straight to hell: Things are always more complicated than they seem.And when a job seems too easy, that's when something really ugly is about to happen. For Fell Alkland is about to become Stark's worst nightmare, a nightmare where anything can happen at any time--where friends can become enemies in a heartbeat and your most secret fear a soul-screaming reality. And the worst of it is that for this nightmare you don't even have to be asleep.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Brilliant and Creative
Michael Marshall Smith (sometimes just Michael Marshall) is amazing.His inventiveness matches his writing and he never fails to please.His Neighborhoods are both creative and scary:isn't some of this happening today with gated neighborhoods?Much of LA is like this.

Give it a try and ignore the low ranking reviews, or take them for what they are worth:Not every book is meant for every reader.But if you ever enjoyed Harlan Ellison, or Philip K. Dick, you will love this book, and all his others.Wonderful, scary, thoughtful, with characters you not only care about, but would like to meet and know.

And if a headless person ever shows up at your door, please, offer some help.

Now where can I buy a Gravbenda® ?

At last!
OMG, i read this book about 10-15 years ago, and i can't believe i've finally found it again after purchasing my beloved kindle! Amazing book, everyone should read this!!!!

Fantastic - Funny and Deep
I stumbled upon this on accident and was hooked by the first 10 pages (thank you amazon reader!).The book begins very humorously, but there is a deep, twisted storyline that comes out.The cast of characters are memorable and well-constructed, and the voice of Stark is so refreshing you don't want to put it down.

Do whatever you can to pick this up!It's a quick read and one of the best sci-fi books I've read.

entertaining for the first half of the book
some hilarious ideas and writing with good fiction ideas in it for the first half, but things stalled dramatically halfway through.

Looking backward at Only Forward
Ok, its been 10 years or so since I read this first, and possibly only The Road by Cormac McCarthy had a more lasting effect on me after the first read, I knew I had just read something quite extraordinary. Then funnily enough, events in my life went on to mirror those in the book, which I didnt realise until I read it again and it just tore the guts right out of me. Yes, there is plenty wrong with this book, its a book of 2 halves etc etc. But they fit to make a whole greater than the sum of those 2 parts. Ok, no, I didnt go to Jeamland, or the future, but ultimately this is a book about love. he also loves his set pieces as well, you are reading a beautiful passage about the nature of love and loss (you know the one) and a little mental scroller is going though your mind like the one in Waynes World where it says "Oscar Scene" or something like that, but never the less, it is beautifuly realised and these passages articulate beautifully what sometimes you cant when your heart has been broken. Hmm. I lapped up MMS's other stuff, Spares, One of Us etc, and the like and good though they are, its just MMS re-writing Only Forward.That doesnt take away from the brilliance of this book though. I am wanting to read it again as I speak and I know its in a box in the shed, damn. ... Read more

Product Description
It's not what you've done that counts—it's what you remember....

If you could sell your conscience, could you get away with murder?

Hap Thompson works the gray area between truth and lies. He works for REMtemp, taking on other people's memories. It's illegal, but usually harmless. Maybe a petty criminal wants to pass a lie detector test. Or an unfaithful spouse wants to enjoy a guiltless affair. All Hap has to do is carry the memories for a couple of hours. It's easy money. Until a beautiful young woman who committed murder leaves her memory with Hap—and won't take it back.

Now Hap is on the run: from the LAPD, from six angels of death in gray suits and sunglasses, and from the best hit man in the business—his ex-wife. Even worse, people all around Hap are disappearing in a strange white light. His only hope is to negotiate with a guy who may be much more than he seems, so he can stay alive long enough to discover who is and who isn't...Amazon.com Review
If you like the brain-stretching work of William Gibson (author of Neuromancer) and Philip K.Dick (author of Do AndroidsDream of Electric Sleep?, which was the basis for Blade Runner), you'll feelright at home with this latest futuristic thriller from the author of thewell-received Spares(available in paperback). It's 2017, and the first time we meet HapThompson he's being hassled in a bar in Ensenada by his alarm clock, whichnot only talks but walks and has a bad attitude. Hap, a prodigious computerhacker with a pretty bad attitude himself, works for an outfit calledREMtemps, which offers a unique service--removing clients' bad dreams bysucking them into the heads of paid professionals. (Could Smith have beeninfluenced at all by the title of one of Dick's best stories, "I Can DreamIt for You Wholesale?") Unfortunately, one of the bad dreams Hap is calledon to swallow involves a real murder, and the search for the woman whodreamed it in the first place takes him--and us--on a literallymind-bending journey of scientific and philosophic discovery. But there'splenty of action, gadgetry, and snappy noir dialogue to make it all go down easily. --Dick Adler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

A weird mixture of genres and styles
The spine of this book labels it as "suspense," and it certainly does share some aspects of that genre. It is also, however, a science fiction, mystery, fantasy, speculative religious thriller. This is both the joy of the book, and its curse. The joy is simply reading it for the excitement of not knowing what Smith is going to throw at you next. The curse is wanting it to coalesce into something besides the ephemeral pleasure of a roller coaster ride, and being disappointed when the coaster car simply comes gliding back into the station.

Hap Thompson is a petty con man who has fallen into the less-than-savory business of being a dream-washer and memory-holder. This would have likely been fine, except for his character flaw of being able to turn down wads of cash hovered virtually in front of him. He agrees to do a side memory job for a client so as to see all of the cash rather than just the skimmed bit given to him by his employer, REMtemps, and instead finds himself holding onto the memory of the murder, and if he doesn't get rid of it soon, LAPD will be on him. It doesn't matter that he didn't commit the murder--just having the memory is enough to set him up for life.

Smith hovers between writing like Raymond Chandler and William Gibson, and the result isn't as unpleasant as that match might seem (in fact, I've long thought Gibson's style of cyberpunk fit the early noir of Chandler, and only needed the psychological edge of James M. Cain to really perfect it). The book breaks down towards the end, however, when Smith starts trying to channel either Benny Hinn or Joseph Campbell. This is similar to the macguffin in Neal Stephenson's work, where he actually tries to make sense of all the fun and all it sounds like is pseudo-scientific claptrap.

Smith's an interesting enough writer to watch, however, and there are a number of science fiction/mystery novels that don't even come close to being as engrossing as One of Us. You could do much worse for pleasure reading, and there's not much better being published today.

Good book, expected more
One of Us follows two amazing books, Only Forward and Spares.I liked it, but it doesn't compare well to the previous two.

Smith seems to be developing a pattern to the plot in his novels.Lots of mystery, interrupted by the occasional talking applicance, followed by some weird reality-bending concepts toward the end of the book.One of Us has a more intricate plot than the previous novels, and a more solid grounding in conventional reality, but I would have liked to see him break out of the mold entirely.

The characters seemed somehow less alive.The ruminations of the protagonist lacked a certain something.

The book is considerably less gory than his earlier works; whether that's an improvement is a matter of taste.

I've come to view this book as Smith "lite".It's an easier introduction to his writing than, say, Spares, but it just feels like there's something missing.

I should finish by pointing out that, although this review is generally negative, it's only so because I loved his earlier works so much more.

Compared to William Gibson and Philip K
But not like them AT ALL! For one thing, the writing is not on a par with that of the afore-mentioned writers. Also while the subject matter might well have been "borrowed" from some more famous and balanced works, it is not in any way new or inspiring.

I'm getting tired of over-hyped and patently misleading book blurbs. Save your money, there are far better Sci-Fi works out there. "One of Us" Is dull, derivative, and pretentious. I could forgive that if it was a fun read, but it's not.

A bit too imaginitive to believe
I must be getting more critical as I get older, but in "One Of Us" MMSmith has taken liberties that I can't comprehend or forgive.

I did thoroughly enjoy his main character, Hap (actually hapless in this tale) Thompson, his friends and associates, and I found the language and style most engaging.

I was put off by the walking talking alarm clock at the start of the book (not unlike Jimminy Cricket in another familiar fantasy), and found the concluding attack of the appliances to be much too great a stretch.I also felt Smith's exposition on the nature of God and the angels to be overdrawn and yet another grasp for a way out of an interesting but failed plot.

Mind you, I did like the writing enough to just order 2 more of Smith's earlier and highly praised works, but I'd recommend letting this sleeping dog lie.

Ensnared
I had this book pressed upon me. My friend gave it to me far to early one morning. Every time I met him he asked me if I was reading it yet. Eventually I started it. And was thoroughly confused. The opening is utterly preplexing, but intriguing. It draws you in. Then you get to the premise, and that's it. Forget about stopping, it's not really an option.

Sure, many of the ideas may not be original, but frankly, there's not much originality out there. The genius is in the mix, and Michael Marshall Smith get it just right. He does something that doesn't seem to be widely expected in the days of 5-second attention spans, he makes you think. And wait. The anticipation of an explanation for the various events that shaped Hap's life are what drives the book along. When I finally got to the bank, I was remarkably excited about it (actually, to such an extent that the more detached part of my mind was really worried about me), but it was quite an unusual experience.

Lastly, I have to comment on the humour in the book. I think that's why my friend was so insistent on my reading it. The humour of the book is brilliant. I haven't laughed reading a book so much in quite a while. Jingo, by Terry Pratchett, perhaps. That was 1997. Incedentally, if anybody has read both, and reflecting on the use of other material, did you notice the similarity between Hap's alarm clock and the Disorganiser Lady Sibyl got Vimes? ... Read more

Product Description
Michael Hornsby-Smith offers an overview of Catholic social thought particularly in recent decades. While drawing on official teaching such as papal encyclicals and the pastoral letters of bishops' conferences, he takes seriously the need for dialogue with secular thought. The book is organized in four stages. Part I outlines the variety of domestic and international injustices and seeks to offer a social analysis of the causes of these injustices. Part II offers a theological reflection on the characteristics of the kingdom of God which Christians are urged to seek. Part III reviews Catholic social thought in six main areas: human rights, the family and bioethical issues, economic life, social exclusion, authentic development, and war and peace. Part IV completes the cycle with a consideration of appropriate social action responses to the injustices which the author has identified and analysed. ... Read more

Product Description
Award-winning Open Kitchen is the story of one day in the life of an inn chef and of how easy it is to transform simple, fresh ingredients into exceptional cuisine. The book shares many secrets of Michael SmithÕs contemporary creative cuisine and shows how to embrace the art of cuisine at home. SmithÕs cooking is unpretentious: he uses simple, fresh ingredients, innovative taste combinations, and healthful vegetable-thickened sauces. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very readable and easy to use cook book.
This is a most useful book and it is easy for the average cook to use. The recipes are understandable and easy to use.A fasicinating read andmost interesting.

brilliant and a rewarding read
This was one of the finest cookbooks I have come across in years.Mr.Smiths mastery of maritime flavors quickly surfaces and he obviously has ahighly refined and developed taste. ... Read more

Product Description
Popular Feature Film director/writer Kevin Smith (Chasing Amy, Dogma) brings his world famous slacker creations Jay and Silent Bob as their `super-hero` personals : Bluntman and Chronic! Specifically timed to coincide with the release of Kevin's new film: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back! (August 2001) This story is culled directly from what will become one of the summer's biggest smash releases! A photo cover ensures instant sales from film and movie buffs.Place it in the film or pop culture sections and to attract a whole new audience into the growing graphic novel genre. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Only if you are a fan of the series...
While I know that saying "you have to have seen & liked the other Kevin Smith stuff" seems like a no brainer, there's very much the possibility that someone could pick up this comic & not have been aware of the universe this is a part of. So if you are new to the Kevin Smith world, you'll want to pass over this until you have at least seen Chasing Amy, Mallrats, & Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Those three movies (especially the last one) will give you a good background on the characters, the comic & the overall tone of Smith's work. If you didn't like those movies, well... you aren't going to like this book.

Bluntman & Chronic is the comic book that Holden McNeil & Banky Edwards were working on in Chasing Amy. Now Smith fans can read the comic book that the two were working on, the comic book that sets up the premise for Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.

Overall, I liked the comic well enough. It's got decent artwork that I've come to expect from the View Askew people & I feel that the playful feeling of the art really does help to establish the tongue in cheek ribbing that is aimed at the comic book world in general. The only problem is that this comic really doesn't do anything to make it stand on it's own & much of the humor in it is pretty repetitive. Luckily the comic is pretty short, so the repetitive jokes aren't really repeated for all that long. It's just that after having read some of the other comics put out by Kevin Smith, this really isn't one of the better ones.

Basically, this is something that collectors & die-hards might want to get, but everyone else might want to just borrow their friend's copy instead.

noog
just received it in the mail today, suprised that it came earlier than i had expected and i'm extremely pleased with the products quality and packaging, no damage was incured on its way to australia. thankyou amazon

Good book for the Jay and Silent Bob fans
If you are aJay and Silent Bob fanboy and were wondering about their "adventures in the comic books mentioned in "Chasing Amy", then grab this book.

Good book dam it!
The person going by A reader it wrong this book has rightfully earned the bluntman and chronic name, anyone who has read the entire book would know. This person going by a reader probly skiped every other line.

Gotta love those stoner (...)and fart jokes!!
Okay so it's no William Shakespeare or Alan Moore but it's not suppose to be. Its crude humor at it's best. You really have to be a Kevin Smith fan to enjoy it. The artwork is pretty cool but I would much rather have seen Mike Allred do the book since he did the art in the movie, Chasing Amy. But we are graced with his pop art at the end with the one-shot Smith and Allred did awhile back. The only down side I guess is that it really doesn't take anything serious at all. In Smith's movies we usually get (...)jokes but there is always a serious side to it. But I don't think Smith was trying to do anything other than make us laugh with this book. If you want a serious side of Kevin Smith in comics go read his DareDevil or Green Arrow runs, but if you're looking for some good old fashion stoner, (...)jokes then this is for you. A must own for any Kevin Smith fan. ... Read more

Product Description
For complete and up-to-date coverage in the area of synthesis and reaction, Organic Synthesis 2e provides readers with a clearly written presentation that guides them through the material, carefully and methodically. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Too many mistakes for such a high priced book....
I came accross this book back as an undergraduate taking graduate level synthesis classes and I don't even know why the professor would even put it as an additional reading material (I am very glad I did not buy this book but rather borrowed it from my research advisor back then for the duration of that course).A book in the science of chemistry, and specifically in organic synthesis NEEDS to go through a rigorous process of reviews not only by the author who is ultimately responsible but the publisher as well.As an undergrad I found countless mistakes in the book, which are detrimental to the student who is trying to learn organic methods (specially,,,, advanced ones).I decided to buy Carey-Sundberg's Advanced Organic Synthesis books in the end over this one, and of course Jerry March's because they present the material in a very understandable and coherent manner with little (very if any) mistakes along the way.
Now, with a PhD degree, I feel that I should write my perspective on this book, which unfortunately has not changed at all.This edition which supposedly takes care of many of the mistakes of the earlier edition, is STILL PLAGUED by mistakes some of them mistakes not taken care of from the earlier edition.If any organic synthesis student wants to learn about advanced synthetic methods/synthesis, I would STRONGLY suggest buy strong foundation books for synthesis like Carey-Sundberg and March's books, if you want to dwelve into organic synthesis based on total synthesis then move up to Nicolaou/Sorensen's classic's and finally if you're a graduate student or postdoc, your institution should have access to journals which to me are more helpful in teaching you the art of synthesis better than this book.

organic synthesis
I wish the edition was mentioned.
fast shipping and product arrived in good condition

style is boring, with too many mistakes
This book looks a good textbook for fresh organic graduates at first sight. But careful examination of the content will reveal many mistakes, and unfortunately, the writing style is much boring and less enlightening for a chemistry major. It is less useful than March's classic, or Carey's advanced organic chemistry. I would not recommend it.
By the way, the author SHALL NOT be here to praise his own work for obvious reasons.

this sucks
this book is riddled with mistakes (typos). avoid it for that reason alone. also the organization could be better. i felt like each chapter rambles. the beginning of a section will start off fine but the middle and ends are like "oh wait, one more thing" and "woops i forgot to mention this"

Great Text
I don't own this book, but the guy at the desk next to me does, and I plan to steal it when he's not looking.

What I've read so far has been wonderfully presented in a clear, concise manner. As others have pointed out, there are no bells and whistles about this book. The book is organized by reaction type, and where applicable, representative examples from the synthetic literature are given. Smith presents the syntheses, comments insightfully on them, and in the cases where multiple syntheses of the same target have been accomplished, he makes reasonable comparisons.

I don't know that this book will ultimately supplant the March text as a primary reference, but it certainly provides a valuable supplement. ... Read more