Product Description
Kaplan ACT Math and Science Workbook provides students with review and practice of the math and science questions they're sure to see on the exam. The workbook's math section covers strategies for concepts such as intermediate algebra, plane geometry, trignometry, and more. Each section begins with review and is followed by a 17-question practice set with complete answers and explanations to help students improve their scores.

The science section is similar in scope and format. It focuses on the three main concepts of the ACT's science content, which are data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints passages. Graphs and tables mimic the style of questions as seen on the actual exam. Question sets help students determine in which content areas they need extra work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

don't waste your money
The amount of errors in this book is unacceptable.Having already purchased the Kaplan ACT premier 2010 book I was disappointed at how many times I found the exact same question in this book.Also I have found that about 10% of the questions have errors in them.Sometimes it is just the wrong letter being chosen as the correct answer sometimes it chooses a letter answer that doesn't exist like J when the choices are A-D.Have also seen a couple of times when the answer dropped a negative for no reason.Also the answer and explanations section doesn't explain a lot of the questions.It will just tell you how to eliminate some of the answers but never explain how to find the answer.If you are having problems with a particular type of problem but never are told how to do the actual problem then you will never learn how to do it.Regardless if you would do it that way on a test.

Don't Waste Your Time!
To study for my ACT, I decided to go with Kaplan, seeing that overall, they have a good reputation for producing quality study guides. On the contrary, I was greatly disappointed when throughout the book I found mistake, after mistake (missing questions, wrong letter choices for the right answer, etc). Like Ayaka O said earlier, it is a great blow to your self-esteem when you are shooting for such a high score, and your own study guide says you are getting only 80% to 90% of the answers right.

In addition, I found that it didn't go into very much depth, only giving a simple explanation here and there. Secondly, the majority of the material in this book, was copied and pasted from some of their other books (maybe it's just me, but I like to see a little variation in what I am reading).

Now, if you would like a better study guide, go for their "Premium Edition". I realize that it seems strange to buy something else from a company you weren't satisfied with, but the second book comes with a CD, and extra practice tests that have fewer errors.

Mistakes! AGHH
This is a good review book with lots of good example questions if you want to just practice a BUNCH of problems like me. THE ONLY/ BIGGEST problem is that there are several mistakes in it. I just started working in it and I was thinking, "Wow! This is great!" And then on p. 145 on Practice Questions Passage III on the Science part, I found two mistakes. They clearly made a typo but that is just cruel on your ego when you are aiming for a 36 but a typo in the book makes you think YOU made an error. That was on p. 148 on the Answers and Explanations. The answer is 1984-1988 which is J but the book says that it is H, and continues to explain why the answer is 1984-1988. That is just annoying and the editors should not have overlooked this mistake.
The other mistake is that there is no graph for the Melanin production in FIGURE 1 to look at so I could not answer question #4. How do you not put a graph in where there clearly should be a graph, Kaplan?
Well, that's just what I found so far after an hour of working on this book and I don't know if I'll find any more mistakes but I was quite disappointed in Kaplan. I don't want to be disappointed that I made two mistakes only to find out that it was KAPLAN that was making the typing error. I have not had this problem with Princeton Review books.

4 1/2 STARS for this Kaplan Math and Science Workbook
My child went from a score of a 25 to a 30 on her ACT and the only thing she did was 30 minutes of problems each day for 6 weeks FROM THIS WORKBOOK.The above review is correct in saying errors are in this book.However, the ease and content of this book makes up for the errors. We tore out just enough problems for 30 minutes of work each day and then checked the problems...the neat thing about this book is that it just doesn't give you the answers, IT SHOWS YOU IN DEPTH HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS AND DISCUSSES (IN SCIENCE) WHY CERTAIN ANSWERS ARE BEST AND WHY CERTAIN ANSWERS ARE NOT BEST SUITED- this is KEY !!! I even purchased a 2nd book, b/c we went through the first one and wanted more 30 minute sessions.OVERALL, A GREAT BUY AND DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!

Could be better
The book is helpful but contains many errors--graphs without labels, answer keys that are incorrect.If feels like the book was put together so quickly that there was no time for proofreading. ... Read more

Product Description
Some may know her as hot, gutsy, gun-totin' Foxy Brown, Friday Foster, Coffy, and Jackie Brown. Others may know her from her role as Kit Porter on The L Word. But that only defines one part of the legend that is Pam Grier.

Foxy is Pam's testimony of her life, past and present. In it, she reveals her relationships with Richard Pryor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Freddie Prinze Sr., among others. She unveils her experiences as a backup singer and a blaxploitation star. In particularly candid and shocking chapters, she shares-for the first time-her view of those films and the persecution that blacks, especially women, needed to endure to make a name for themselves . . . including how it felt to be labeled one of the most beautiful women alive, yet not be permitted to try on clothes in a department store because of the color of her skin. And in words sure to inspire many, she tells the story of her ongoing battle with cancer.

From her disappointments to her triumphs, nothing is held back. With FOXY, Pam wishes to impart life lessons to her readers-and hopes to touch their hearts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

She's a Bad Mama Jama!
I'm only 24 therefore, Ms. Pam Grier is before my time, nonetheless she is an iconic woman of color who transcends all generations and its because of this I became interested in wanting to know more about this woman who can be considered an icon of the "oh so bad sistas of the 70s".

In Foxy: My Life in Three Acts, Ms. Grier is very open in discussing sexual abuse, heartbreak, a serious health battle, and her rise to fame.

I deeply enjoyed her recollections of her past love affairs and how she gained and prepared for some of the greatest movie roles in her career.

Ms. Pam Grier's life story is very inspirational and often while reading I felt as though I was listening to an aunt recall stories of her younger days.

Ms. Pam Grier is truly an inspirational woman and exhibits a woman with both beauty and brains!

Pam, Can You Help Me Fill in the Blanks?
Love Pam Grier/Coffy/Foxy/Sheba... you name it, I'm there.

This book was released this year around the same time as the movie "Just Wright", where Pam played the mother of Queen Latifah's character, but she does offer many details of her upbringing in Denver, her famous (and infamous) roles, and her lovers. I won't get into any details here, but I've still got some lingering questions after reading the last page. If I could talk to Pam about her life and the situations she described, these are some of the things I'd ask her a few questions (posted on my blog) but I don't want to write anything here that would be considered a spoiler.

Pam named several people and situations that have taught her valuable lessons. I won't go into all the relationships, movies, and heartache with family and close friends who left this earth 'before their time,' but it's clear from her narrative that she touched and was touched by many lives. She's a survivor, a hard-worker, and way-paver for so many Black female entertainers in Hollywood today who hasn't become bitter with all that life has thrown at her.

Pam you are still foxy
In a few words .. All I can say is what a page turner.I finished reading this book in less than a week. This is record time for me,it takes me a long time to finishing reading a book. It is trully worth buying.Granted ! Pam has not had an easy life but, it sure is an interesting and full life. Her relationship with Freddie Prinze was I think true love .As for Kareem and Richard Pryor... sooo glad she had the strong will to get out of those relationships. Had a tear in my eye whe She talked about losing her friend Minnie Rippleton.All the best to you Pam .I admired you then and still do now. Your are still Foxy.

Finding out more about Ms Grier
Prior to reading this book I did not know alot about Pam Grier, all I knew is that she was a popular beautiful black actress that impacted 1970's cinema, but after reading this book I got to know her a little better. The book started off by discussing her childhood along with some traumas that haunt her till this day. The book also goes into a little details on her romantic life such as her relationships with Freddie Prinze( Freddie Prinze Jr. Father) and Richard Pryor. I didnt give the book 5 stars because I felt that she was leaving out alot of stuff that could have made the book more interestesting, but I also respect her for not putting to much out there. She has done alot over the years, work that many people have not been able to recoginze. I also want to commend her for her courage as a cancer survior, her memoir can be someone's motivation because it encourages you to be strong and self determined no matter what the circumanstances are.

Review:My Life in Three Acts
I was totally engrossed when I heard Pam speak about her new book.She was so engaging, I became excited about reading more details of her incredible life. I immediately purchased the book and was delighted when Pam signed and took a picture with me.She was gracious and looked absolutely amazing with very little makeup.The book, "My Life in Three Acts" did not disappoint.It confirmed what I always believed about this beautiful courageous woman and that was she is a survivor.As a black woman growing up in the 70's, I always look for successful black women in whom to emulate and she was always at the top of my very short list.Her book tells about her career, the men she loved, her strong friendships, her mentors, her highs and lows, and most of all it teaches us about hard work, remaining true to our values and forgiveness.Pam talks about letting go and moving on in this wonderful book.I couldn't put it down.I look so forward to your next visit to Dallas, Texas.Many blessings to you Pam and congratulations on this lovely book.

Sincerely,Cassandra.

... Read more

Product Description
Argues that the idea of the mind as an "information processor" has led psychology away from seeing the mind as a creator of meanings. Only by breaking out of the limitations of a computational model of mind can we grasp the interaction through which mind constitutes and is constituted by culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent book!!!
Excellent book!!! He is great in writing about developing more than one language... at a time. A great expert in the PYP system, given in some international schools, teacher recommend it to me, and he was correct!

Continuing relevance and importance
This is an outstanding and important work although some years have passed now since its publication and Bruner has written two other books further setting out his narrative understanding of identity and meaning - amazing, given his age.He was one of the originators of the "cognitive revolution" beginning in the late 1950s and this is a mature work of one of its most creative thinkers, brilliantly presented.His reflections on the early days of the so called cognitive revolution are most interesting although I think perhaps now seen with greater clarity than was then apparant, and the points at which he believes it has since lost some of its original purpose are important considerations for all in this field. My memory of him as a teacher in graduate work at Harvard has him although already well established in cognitive studies then more like a representative the Tolman tradition (vs. the Hullians, then represented in the same seminars by George Mandler who was in the process of moving over to the cognitive camp but not yet there).We have travelled a long way since then, and the position he took in this work in 1990 is more relevant than ever today.

Valid points in the form of concieted verbiage
Bruner raises some interesting points and rather validly questions some of the developments in psychology and the search for meaning.However, his points, which are delightfully simple, are somehow lost in a sea of convoluted sentences and meaningless words.His examples makes this book only accessable to the trained gurus.It could have been a great commentary, but I ended up so frustrated sometimes that I would lose track of what Bruner was arguing.

A well written and enjoyable book
The measure of this book is the fact that I underscored something on almost every page. Bruner shows with earnestness the strengths of cognitive psychology, while keeping a level and fair estimate of traditional positivist psychology. The fact of the matter is that a cognitive psychology (or pedagogy) is a dynamic, empirically sound theory. It could provide inspiration for anyone, regardless if he is working in a classroom or in any other workplace. The cognitive model and its ideas about understanding would, I believe, be especially useful in management.

Just What Are The Proper Causes Of Human Action?
The juggernaut of Cognitive Psychology has created enough havoc, decries Bruner, and it is now time to re-structure the revolution back to its original goals: "meaning-making."The computer model ofintelligence advocated by behavioralists has reduced human intelligence toa mere system of processing information, and rarely is there any allowancein this empiricismfor an individual's construction of meaning.

Further,Bruner stresses the influence of culture on the individual, stating,"human beings do not terminate at their own skins; they areexpressions of their culture."There is a constant dialogue betweenthe individual and culture, with the individual searching and constructingmeaning, and hence, building culture.

One way in which we find meaningis in the construction and interpretation of narratives.Brunerdemonstrates that narratives are a construct of meaning and should berespected.He writes, "culture and the quest for meaning withinculture are the proper causes of human meaning."

Yes, buy and readthis book, often; Bruner communicates stimulating ideas that have helped mein constructing my own meanings.I endorse it enthusiastically. ... Read more

Product Description
Former FBI agent Sam Delvecchio brings the keen skills of a profiler to his new position as a Mercy Street Foundation operative–and not a moment too soon. His first assignment, the cold-case murder of a local soup kitchen volunteer, has all the telltale signs of a serial killer’s work. That grim suspicion is confirmed when FBI agent Fiona Summers shares the details of two other killings with eerie similarities to Sam’s case: The bodies in all three cases have been carefully posed. And when a fourth victim is discovered, the two investigators realize they’re pursuing the same twisted quarry.

Local parish priest Kevin Burch, Mercy Street founder Robert Magellan’s cousin, recognizes the posings for what they are: The killer is staging the church’s seven Acts of Mercy (“Feed the hungry, clothe the naked . . .”) with the bodies of his victims. But as Sam and Fiona race to prevent the final three murders, taunting messages from their target lead to the most chilling realization of all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

wow!
i have been a fan of mariah stewart since i accidently stumbled upon her as an author of good mysteries about 3 years ago. however....i cannot remember when i have gotten so caught up in a book thatcould not put it down. "acts of mercy", like the other two in the mercy street series, is mesmerizing. can't wait for the next one to come out!

Mercifully interesting
The novel ACTS OF MERCY is intersting and holds enough suspense to make you want to ready it quickly. Stewart, as a writer, knows how to keep your interest and give a provacative and exciting story, complete with characters who are all that is human.

Acts of Mercy
This is a fine book and I have become a fan of the Mercy Street Novels.They are exciting, unusual and filled with characters you are invited to love.It all works well for a fun afternoon when it is too hot in Tucson to be outside.

Acts of Mercy
Book arrived quickly, a real steal for the money!Great reading!Thumbs up!

Mariah Stewart - Mercy Street trilogy
Great ending book to the first two. Make sure you read the first two Mercy books in the correct order. ... Read more

Product Description
These inspirational stories of generosity--from whimsical and funny to moving and thoughtful--are written by children of all ages and reveal their surprisingly insightful feelings about kindness and compassion. Original. 35,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great!
Great way to show kids that other kids just like them have done acts of kindness and they don't have to be huge to count.My kids loved hearing about what other kids did and found the stories inspirational.Even made some of them want to do their own acts of kindness!!!

Cute...
I like the book in general, though it wasn't exactly what I had expected it to be. Some of the stories in the book were really great and some of them were kind of flat, and I'm not exactly sure how they relate to the theme of the book "Random Acts of Kindness". All in all, it's a great read for positive and uplifting short reading. ... Read more

Product Description


Prepare for any test, all with one book: This book can be used to prepare for the math SAT®, math ACT®, one of the SAT© math subject tests, or any combination. It clearly identifies topics that are common to all of the tests, along with the topics that are needed for each particular test.

Contains proven strategies based on feedback from real students: The material in this book has been field tested over and over again. Each revision of the book reflects feedback from real students. It is the result of years of experience helping students raise their scores, regardless of ability and math background. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

17 year old high school student.
So I've been reading the 5 start reviews, and then the few that say the reviews were made up, or whatever. I decided, to test this out myself, and mind you, I am an independent consumer, as a teenager, and the SAT Subject Tests are this Saturday, 5/1/10, f.y.i.. This book was about.. ~15.00 including tax, so I was hoping for it to be more effective than the Math portion on the large 1000-page SAT books by Princeton, Gruber's, etc.. I'm about half way done reading/studying this book, which is ~157 pages. It has many sections, and has a 1 page introduction, 1 page 8-10 multiple choice question, and another with solutions to that, with some explanation. So, about 3 pages per topic. It's a very brief outline, and tells you which formulas, etc.. to use. It also includes a few operations you can do on your graphing calculator (I have a TI-84 SE, which matches). I have to say that this author tries to get to the main points of the section, and does a good job, to be honest. The practice problems, aren't very challenging. They touch upon that part of the subject, and that's about it. Maybe 3-4 are tricky. Overall, I'm a bit ... meh about this book. There needs to be a bit more than 10 practice problems per section, since I've proven to myself, that many difficult problems with concise and elaborate solutions tend to bolster one's knowledge by a long shot. I just don't believe that a book with one part of the SAT and ACT, should cost as much as any other SAT book on Amazon that cost just about the same price...

Final judgment: NOPE, a bit disappointed.. no 5-stars. I am pretty reasonable, but the price of this book isn't. ;|

You're going to have to know the material before you buy this book. This book doesn't necessarily teach, it skims. I don't believe it's worth the price-tag. I've learned/been helped more by going to my local library to borrow separate books on Geometry/Algebra/Trig/Pre-Calc. To be ready for such a test in a short time, they have smaller versions of their books(cram sessions), but if you really wanna do well on tests such as this, longer and more detailed books are going to help a bit more, since studying for more than just a week before the test isn't really smart at all.

Believe it or Not
"Believe it or Not," this book has only 157 pages, but I must agree with the two previous reviewers: it is excellent, and I will be recommending it to all my students. The book offers the math basics required for the tests in the best and most user-friendly form I have encountered in many years helping students with these exams.

The pages do not contain lots of dense text, and the illustrations and key facts are presented more clearly than any of the other books I have used. Each of the seven chapters contains several pages of explanation, a page or so of problems, and solutions to the problems immediately following the problems, so one does not have to jump back and forth from problems to answers and explanations.

The author wisely takes the reader / student back to middle school math for a quick review of basic concepts. He also offers very clear instructions on how to plug problems into the scientific calculator (it looks like the TI-83or 83+ to me).

Two final very positive features are the list of websites for more information and practice tests and the websites to report errors in the book and see the errata posted. This last feature is a wonderful advance from the early Kaplan 2400 (with many misprints) and The Official SAT of 2009 that included a printed insert of errata.

If one needs more practice, one can always buy a book of practice tests and preparation material, and lug around almost 1000 pages.

The BEST ACT/SAT Study Guide on the Market!
Before reading this book, I was lost on the ACT/SAT.The types of questions, especially on the math portion, always confused me.I bought book after book, but most them helped very little.I tried Kaplan's programs, however they often simply frustrated me more with little change in my scores.Finally, I found The Math Study Guide and it blew me away.The way things are explained in this book make the ACT/SAT much less scary.Each test (ACT, SAT, and SAT Subject Tests) has its own section with hints, tips and examples for which ever test you're studying for.These come in really handy when taking the test, and they definitely boosted my score.I believe that it is because of this book that I did so well on the ACT and am going to college.

In short, Mr. Corn did a fantastic job at making an ACT/SAT study book which is approachable, friendly and is packed full of information which will help anyone struggling with math on the ACT/SAT raise their score. I cannot recommend this product enough! A++

Excellent Resource
As an experienced test preparation coach, I know first-hand how hard it is to find accurate and thorough material for students to use. Richard Corn's book streamlines math preparation by putting all the information in a single book, rather than tackling each test (SAT, ACT, SAT Math Subject tests) separately. As an experienced tutor himself, Corn is meticulous about updating his book regularly to accurately reflect the content and difficulty of the math problems tested.Each subject is reviewed in roughly two pages, followed by practice problems and explanations. It is efficient and effective. Besides the 'real' test books (The Official SAT Study Guide and The Real ACT Test Prep Guide), this is the only book I recommend to students who need a solid math overview. ... Read more

Product Description
Is it possible for a company to grow its revenues and profits by 10percent or more for at least ten consecutive years, not counting acquisitions? That’s an incredibly high bar for growth and profitability, one that 99.99 percent of American companies can’t meet—including the famous ones that routinely land on magazine covers.

Management expert Jason Jennings screened 100,000 companies to identify nine little-known firms that have delivered stellar performance for a full decade or more, despite the ups and downs of the economy. And, as he reveals in his new book, these superstars have a lot in common despite their wide range of industries, which includes software, food services, medical supplies, and sporting goods.

It turns out that the best long-term performers all combine the strengths of a big organization with the hunger of a start-up. They build excellent relationships with their customers, suppliers, workers, and shareholders. They groom future leaders at all levels. They balance their short-term goals with their long-term visions. And they teach their managers to get their hands dirty.

Jennings did extensive interviews at his nine featured companies to find out exactly how they consistently increase revenue and profits without using manipulation or gimmickry. He reveals their unique approach to leadership and shows how any company, no matter what size or industry, can benefit from following their examples.

Think Big, Act Small may be the most powerful management book since Good to Great and Execution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

The answer to business success is in the title!
The answer to business success is in the title!


I have found that a great deal of research does not contribute to the improvement of process or people, but tends to be credited towards tenure or supporting a position already espoused by an organization.The information shared in this book offers a wonderful option to research, in that in provides real world solutions to real world problems.

The Jennings research analyzed more than 100,000 companies to find the characteristics of success that may elude many of us.The group discovered practical approaches to achieving consistency in performance, revenues, team work and results.There are specific action steps that can be evaluated and replicated, which is what I consider the purpose of research.

I had the opportunity to hear a portion of a Jennings keynote once - he is dynamic and interesting.

John Hogan
HoganHospitality com
HospitalityEducatorscom

Yes, You Can Grow Big and Still Act Fast and Lean
A simple premise: to find the best-performing companies in America, with consistent double-digit growth in both revenues and profits. There are only nine that meet both the revenue tests and an additional test around ethics, and they have several things in common that bear out my contention that ethical companies perform better.

Among these: they are highly ethical, extremely customer-focused, create and maintain loyal employees within a specific company culture (and enjoy extremely minimal turnover), and have CEOs who are accessible scorn the trappings of power, and list their home phone numbers in the local directory.

Shel Horowitz's award-winning sixth book, Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First, demonstrates how to build a business around ethics, environmental sustainability, and cooperative practices--and how to develop marketing that highlights those advantages.

Another book along the lines of Good to great
Have you read "Good to Great" by Jim Collins? If the answer is "Yes", you don't have to spend a lot of time in reading this book. At least, 50% of the book conveys what is already told in Good to Great. Of course, with different stories as example.

I liked two concepts from this book - "Have everyone think and act like an owner" & "Choose your competitors". It is hard to institutionalize the first concept, though.

Choosing your competition is something that many companies forget to do (or) they don't do it right. Many of them aim to reach the sky and at the end, do not even take off from the land.

If you are wondering how to keep the startup spirits alive in your giant corporation, this is a good book to read.

Great Book!
I loved this book.It's an easy, enjoyable read, and very rich in information on how companies we know and love have made it through difficult times and the habits and beliefs they live on a day-to-day basis.Very interesting and insightful.I plan to re-read it in case I missed anything the first go-round.

10 successful companies explain what makes them great.
The book covers the study of 10 companies that have had an increase in revenue and profit of 10%, or more, for 10 consecutive years.There are many similarities with "Good to Great", however, this book deals with smaller companies and the leader at the helm is written about in more detail than "Good to Great".Like any great book on leadership and business you will find that the key to greatness is, you guessed it, FUNDAMENTALS. I particularly enjoyed the study of Koch Industries.Mr. Charles Koch guiding principles are outlined well in this book and I believe they are worth studying and implementing.They certainly have produced incredible results for his business conglomerate. Overall this book was well written and I was able to get some great nuggets of practical information from all 10 of the companies studied. I really enjoyed it, and got enough out of it to give it the 5 stars. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition, this fourth volume in this series leads readers through a penetrating study of the Book of Acts, using the biblical text itself and the Church's own guidelines for understanding the Bible. Ample notes accompany each page, providing fresh insights by renowned Bible teachers Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch, as well as time-tested interpretations from the Fathers of the Church. These helpful study notes make explicit what Acts often assumes. They provide rich historical, cultural, or theological information pertinent to the Gospel.

The Ignatius Study Bible also includes Topical Essays, Word Studies and Charts. Each page also includes an easy-to-use Cross-Reference Section. Study Questions are provided for each chapter of the Gospel that can deepen your personal study of God's Holy Word. There is also an introductory essay covering questions of authorship, date, destination, structure and themes. An outline of The Book of Acts and several maps are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Acts of the Apostles Bible Study Book
This is the Book of Acts from the Ignatius Study Bible with lots of pertinent footnotes and questions for each chapter to help illuminate what one has learned. A group of 5 that I am in has just started a group study with this. One thing that would improve the study book is to have spaces to write answers to the study questions in the back.
I was part of another group at my church for the Gospel of John bible study by the same publisher last fall and it was also very good.

Acts
I am taking the Jeff Cavins Bible Study on Acts.This is the perfect version to study and answer questions.The footnotes are most helpful. It can be used by itself which I may follow up with it after I complete the other.

great resource!
This series of books is ideal for those wishing to study the bible on a book-by-book basis.The books themselves are reasonably priced and self-contained (meaning you get both the scripture and the commentary).The questions in the back are great for not only checking up on your grasp of the details of each chapter, but to apply the contents of the chapter to one's everyday life.It can also be used for individual bible study, small groups, or (as I've done it) a group of about 40 people.Also, there are great maps and word-studies of key concepts in the scripture.

Perhaps the best commentary on Acts available
Hahn & Mitch have done another fantastic job. They take the data of the biblical book, break down for the modern reader what's happening, how it relates to what's going on before and after, and gives us the theological significance besides.

I love all the Ignatius Bible Study commentaries. As a group there is no modern commentary series that is its equal. They have the depth necessary for scholars looking for an accessible resource and the straight forward approach that American readers long for.

They do an excellent job in particular demonstrating the parallels between the ministries of Peter and Paul while these two carry out the ministry of Jesus in word and deed.

Catholic Bible Study Tool for Individuals or Groups
The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is a great tool for small groups seeking to understand the Bible from a Catholic perspective.

This concise, 80-page paperback, is composed of five major sections:
- Introduction to the Ignatius Study Bible
- Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles
- Outline of the Acts of the Apostles
- Acts of the Apostles with Commentary by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch
- Study Questions by Dennis Walters

The commentary includes historical background, with maps, and categorized notes. The notes have symbols next to them indicating whether they are:
- content and unity
- living tradition
- analogy of faith

The study questions are grouped by chapter, and then broken down into two sections per chapter: "For understanding" and "For application." The understanding questions are textual analysis questions. " The application questions are pertinent for the spiritual lives of Catholics. However, space was not provided within the questions themselves for notes. There are no notes pages at the end of the book, and white space was not allotted within the questions themselves, so you may want to use a notebook in conjuction with this study guide.

Overall, the organization of this study guide makes it an effective tool for novices, and challenging for for more knowledgeable Catholics. ... Read more

Product Description
What would you do if you had only a few days to live? Or a few weeks or months? What if a loved one were in this situation -- how could you help that person decide how to spend the time that remained? Perhaps you lost a family member or dear friend to a terminal illness and were baffled by that person's choices. How do you make sense of his or her last acts?

Dr. David Casarett, a palliative care physician and researcher, specializes in the care of patients near the end of life. Drawing on his years of experience and the stories of patients he has treated, as well as his own research, he explores the wide variety of ways in which people spend their last days. Why do some people choose to be altruistic, while others are vengeful? Why do some leave a legacy, while others prefer to celebrate and enjoy their time with family and friends? Why do some fight and struggle to the last minute, while others accept their fate and use their limited time to reconnect or reconcile?

The tremendous diversity of these last acts makes clear that there is no formula for dying well or choices that are right for everyone. At the same time, these stories reveal that some choices may be harmful to the dying person or those closest to him. Last Acts helps dying patients and their families think about the possibilities that exist at the end of life, so they may choose to spend their time in ways that help bring them peace of mind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Title misrepresents itself.
What a missed opportunityof a subject that could have enlightened the reader as to the inner thoughts of the dying patient.Instead we get the inner thoughts of the author.I believe that the author over analyzed his own thoughts.The book was filled with the author's ramblings and was totally boring. Unless you are a doctor DON'T buy the book.

Thoughtful reading and analysis
As a Stage IV cancer patient, I am sometimes asking myself "What do I do with the time I have left?" This book does not answer that question for you. What it does is provide thoughtful consideration from one who has experience in palliative care and has witnessed many end of life decisions. I highly reccommend this book for caregivers, family and friends of someone with a serious illness. If you have a serious illness it may help to validate decisions you have already made or open up new possiblities if you have years, month, days or even hours left.

Engaging, inspiring, thought-proviking
With an artist's eye and a poet's heart, this delightful author applies his keen observation skills to what might otherwise be a rather heavy question: "What should I do with the limited time I have left?" As a palliative care physician, Dr. Casarett has been privy to many, many stories as people make choices about how to write the last chapter of their lives. And what a set of choices they exhibit! From forgiveness, to spontaneous abandon, to an ironic form of revenge, Dr. Casarett methodicially and respectfully explores the range of responses he has witnessed as people unequivocally come to terms with the fact that their time on earth is finite. I was impressed with the thoroughness and heart of this book, and the humility of the author to ask soul-searching questions (of himself and his patients). He sincerely listened to and reflected upon the depth of the answers, for there is no one "best" way to spend one's time. It is a profoundly individual choice. I found this book simultaneously engaging, inspiring and thought-provoking. Food for the heart and for the brain. Highly recommended, especially if you or a loved one is facing a serious illness. (Although we could all use to do a priority check now and then and not wait until we get a terminal diagnosis!) ... Read more

Product Description
Engaging, scholarly, andtheologically honest, this introductory textbook will be welcomed by students and professors alike.

What do we really know aboutJesus and how do weknow it? Jesus in the Gospels and Acts: Introducing the New Testament explores these questions from the perspective of the New Testament--specificallythe four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, as well asthe extracanonical gospels. Using language and conceptsconsiderate of a religiously diverse undergraduate audience,the author explores issues of authorship, historicity,culture, and theology.

Features include:

"Check Your Reading" questions check the students' basic comprehension. "Do You Have the Basics?" puzzles check for comprehension through crosswords, word finds, sequencing, and matching activities. "Questions for Reflection" challenge the students to think more deeply about the reading's meaning and the implications for us today.

"This book focuses on the central figure of the Christian Scriptures: Jesus. Arguably, no other figure in history has had more influence in shaping many of the religious and cultural norms in the world today. Whether you belong to a specific faith tradition or none at all, possessing a working knowledge of Jesus and the Gospels is important for religious, historical, and cultural literacy." --from the author's introduction ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book to accompany a study of the Bible
This book will help anyone understand the New Testament better.I feel that it is a great book to help a person while they are undertaking a study of the Bible.It will definitely help a person to gain a greater understanding of the New Testament.I highly recommend it for anyone that is wishing to take their understanding of the Bible to a higher level.

Great Book
This book breaks down the Gospels and Acts in a manner which was easy to understand.I actually enjoyed reading it.

Excellent teaching tool!
Not only is Dr. Scholz a great teacher in class--he writes as well as he teaches! A great read not only for students but for anyone interested in the 'life and times' of Jesus! ... Read more

Product Description
Created by the same company that prepares the actual ACT assessment, this revised and updated study guide is the only book with real, full-length ACT tests for practice-making it an indispensable resource for the half-million high school students who take the ACT every year.
Amazon.com Review
For the more than one million high school students who takethe ACT Assessment each year, any assistance helps; a few more pointscould influence the rest of their lives. So the ACT OfficialGuide is a wise investment. It's updated for the 1997-98 testingseason with real ACT tests and pragmatic strategies. Just the anxietyreduction alone effected by taking practice tests and knowing what toexpect helps avoid a test-day fiasco. Getting into the ACT iswritten by ACT, with illustrative samples for the English,Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning sections. The preliminarypractice allows students to bone up on trouble spots, learn what toexpect, gain confidence, and do their best on the big day. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Getting into the ACT:Official Guide to the ACT Assessment, Second Edition by ACT
Review material was what I had expected.The book was in excellent condition.

Newer edition available
Once deemed the "only" official ACT guide, Getting Into the ACT has been replaced with a newer, more up-to-date version titled, "The Real ACT Prep Guide".The new guide comes complete with 3 real ACT exams and information on the new optional writing section.

Getting Into the ACT
This book is great, since it has real tests and strategies, but I would suggest only checking this out from the library, and not buying one, because there are other ways to get real ACTs.There is a little booklet about the ACT, what to bring and that sort of stuff with a real ACT test, and a way to get two more tests wich all-together cost only about 15 dollars.I would suggest using the Getting Into the ACT for just practice, to see how you would do on the ACT and the other tests with a time limit.Also, don't use just this book, use ACT for Dummies, or some other book to help you out too.

Think of this as the ACT version of
I bought this book right after I took my first ACTs. I did not really prepare for my first ACTs; I only took a brief glance at an ACT-produced material. So, I decided to buy this book to get more used to the test.
If you really need to know the 'format' of the test, you don't have to buy this book. Buy Barron's or Kaplan, or Princeton Review. What this book is REALLY useful at is giving you an expectation of the level of questions the ACT is going to ask you.
For instance, Barron's ACT questions are much more challenging than the real ACT questions. However, the questions that appear here are of the SAME level of difficulty, partly because the questions are from 'retired' ACTs of 1996 (or some other year, I am not too sure)
If you already have "10 Real SATs", this is pretty much the same as that book, except it is produced by the ACT for the ACT.
The only difference would be that this book, unlike the "10 Real SATs", does not have 10 tests. It has only 2. However, this book has detailed explanations that will give you an edge if you would like to study more on the ACTs.
If you got the money, buy this, and go through the book 3-4 days before the real ACTs. You will see a definite increase in your scores. I certainly did; I got a 35 on my last ACT.

very helpful
I bought this book prior to my taking the ACT for the first time and I must say it was helpful. The great advantage is that this book is written by the test makers and you know that the sample tests are similar to the actual test. This way, you really get the best practice and you are "surprised" on the day of the test with questions you've never seen before. Another great advantage is the sample tests (something you can not get in any other ACT preparation book). Unfortunately, there are only 2 sample tests. The explanations (for the sample tests and also for the other sample questions) are thorough but you can't really get enough practice with this book.

Also, if you are looking for a book that will "teach" you the material, this isn't it. The book contains mainly strategies.

In conclusion, if you are looking for general information in regards to the ACT and some sample question, just to get familiar with the test - this is the book for you. If you are looking for more than that, you should buy this book and another one with the math/science material. ... Read more

Product Description
Writing in response to Steve Harvey's Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, author Maria Bustillos reveals the secrets of women in order that men, too, can get what they want from women--which is to get them into bed. An absurdist meditation on the battle of the sexes--and required reading for would-be Lotharios, as well as parents of teenage girls--from the author of Dorkismo: the Macho of the Dork. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

are you serious?
This book was funny, but not to be taken seriously.I think it was just a spin off of Steve Harvey's book, but none of the advice was dead on...but then again It's geared for men.

Not so much.....
I will give the author an E-for effort; otherwise, book did not hold my attention at all, and certainly no match as a rebuttal to Mr. Harvey's book.As a matter of fact, I left it on an airplane purposely hoping someone else would pick it up to read it....

DO NOT PURCHASE
This is the worst book I've ever tried to read!!!!Poorly written.Grammar terrible.I can't believe anyone would publish this book.No research or evidence to back up her theories.Really is a stupid book....

Fun read to be sure, but offers a truly sensitive and serious commentary
I had a blast reading this book, and in one short afternoon, too. What began as a light, often side-splittingly funny, response to the Harvey book, ended up having a lot to say, really, about dating and mating - specifically, what it is that makes a woman tick, and how men can get what they want whether they be sincere in it or no.

Quite disappointing
For me, this book was written very superficially. There is all this hype but no follow through. Was the author trying to suggest that men don't feel emotion but rather dating is just a game to pass the time? I would not recommend this book for anyone who is serious about romantic relationships. ... Read more

Product Description
Acts, which is part of the NIV Application Commentary Series, helps readers learn how the message of Acts can have the same powerful impact today that it did when Luke first wrote it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Really good for sermon study.
Very good study tool. But I took a star away for a few of doctrinal problems that I didnt agree with. Of course with all commentaries one must be careful in their study.

An Evangelist's Commentary on Acts
This commentary is a unique blend of interaction with scholarly argument and guidance for the contemporary church based on Acts.The Asian identity of Fernando highlights some aspects of the Christian life, seen in Acts, that are sometimes overlooked by Western commentators.For example, his comments on the Christian experience of suffering in his comments on the martyrdom of Stephen are challenging to the Western view.Rather than the Western approach to escape from suffering, Fernando advises embracing a Christian theology of suffering.

The number of commentaries that have academic credibility as well as a credible, powerful influence on ministry is very small.Fernando has done the church the gift of adding one more to this list.

Acts. Ajith Fernando
An excellent resource tool for students and preachers alike. It provides good textual analysis allied to insightful and clear contextual bridges to contemporary society.

Good Series
I am very pleased with this series of commentaries.They have done a great job of both exegesis and hermeneutics.This particular commentary in Acts meets the high standard of the series.

The family of faith
Fernando offers the 21st Century family of faith a very helpful bridge into the 1st Century family of faith in the Book of Acts.His commentary includes historical-cultural comments, "bridging the centuries" comments and contemporary application comments.Fernando writes from the refreshing perspective of life in ministry in Sri Lanka, offering a missiological perspective to his contemporary comments about the church, the great commission and practical implications for the Gospel of Jesus Christ as God people continue to "go into all the world and make disciples of all nations".I've drawn upon this resource through two separate preaching excursions through the Book of Acts and continue to discover riches both in the Book of Acts and in today's family of faith, the living Body of Christ.

For two other titles concerning the family of faith, look at "The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home" (Crossroad, 2000), and "The Family Toolbox: 52 Benedictine Activities for the Home" (Crossroad, September 2001), by written by David Robinson.God's best to you and your family of faith. ... Read more

Product Description
Since ancient times, the pundits have lamented young people's lack of historical knowledge and warned that ignorance of the past surely condemns humanity to repeating its mistakes. In the contemporary United States, this dire outlook drives a contentious debate about what key events, nations, and people are essential for history students. Sam Wineburg says that we are asking the wrong questions. This book demolishes the conventional notion that there is one true history and one best way to teach it.

Although most of us think of history—and learn it—as a conglomeration of facts, dates, and key figures, for professional historians it is a way of knowing, a method for developing an understanding about the relationships of peoples and events in the past. A cognitive psychologist, Wineburg has been engaged in studying what is intrinsic to historical thinking, how it might be taught, and why most students still adhere to the "one damned thing after another" concept of history.

Whether he is comparing how students and historians interpret documentary evidence or analyzing children's drawings, Wineburg's essays offer "rough maps of how ordinary people think about the past and use it to understand the present." Arguing that we all absorb lessons about history in many settings—in kitchen table conversations, at the movies, or on the world-wide web, for instance—these essays acknowledge the role of collective memory in filtering what we learn in school and shaping our historical thinking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

must read for any history teacher
This book is great for many reasons.First, the chapters are a sufficient length which leaves you with a lot to consider rather than feeling inundated with too much information.Second, the narrative is pretty good. I found it accessible and not suffering from being overly-academic and/or wordy.Most importantly, it stimulated me to think about what I want my students to get out of their history education.The book raises far more questions than provides answers but that is okay.You quickly find as you read that historical thinking is far understudied and is light years away from a consensus as to what constitutes a good history education. This book may not provide all the answers needed to facilitate historical thinking but certainly illuminates enough issues that will allow educators to move forward in the right direction. If you teach history you owe it to your students to read this.

Makes history relevant
Sam Wineburg's book hits history teachers between the eyes with ten solid selections from previous studies and articles relating to how teachers, parents, and students relate to and understand history.He offers solid evidence and interesting stories that I found very accurate to what I have experienced as a student and a teacher.With so much emphasis on math and science today it was refreshing to read a book specifically and passionately written that reflects the importance of history and how it is taught not only for students knowledge of the past but for a way of thinking differently about life and decisions they will make in the present and future.There are several good specific examples in the bookthat have great ideas on how to stimulate thinking in a historical contextual manner and "for teaching students to think and reason in sophisticated ways." (pg. 83).I will definitely use this book and reference it often while adjusting my teaching methods.

great read
Great analysis...provides a lot of good insight on teaching history and developing historical thinking within students.I would definitely recommend this for any educator.

Very Helpful
I'm doing a a double Masters in History and Education and to date (5 edu and 7 History classes) this is the best I have read from the educational stand point. It is a great historiography, which addresses real issues and concerns of educators. The organization is also better than many other historiographies I've read. I think it would be very helpful for all social studies educators.

Overrated
Often when a book is cited as fundamental to other writers' thinking, this is a convincing endorsement.

This book was overrated.I was quite disappointed.Too little substance for the number of paeons received.
A professor would be better off to have students read academic journal articles. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of Gone From My Sight, My Friend, I Care and A Time to Live, shares her insights and perceptions from years of working with people during the final act of living. Now her lectures and ideas have been put on paper.This book is written in a simple, direct yet gentle style as it explores the signs of approaching death from disease, the normal grieving process, living wills, Durable Power of Attorney and other end of life issues. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Authentic, Beautiful, Compassionate, Detailed...
What Marvin Gaye was to music, Barbara Karnes is to the writing of "The Final Act of Living."

This book is Authentic in that Barbara tells it like it is, and Beautiful in its literal presentations.It's contents are layered with Compassion, and Detailed in their delivery.It genuinely is the A to Z of "The Final Act of Living," or should I say A to D.

Page after page, I found Barbara's words describing exactly what I'd experienced when my own loved one recently died from cancer.It was as if she'd been there beside me.I, for one, commend her for taking the time to share her experiences, and prepare us for the wondrous journey of caring for another who's destination is near.

A must read for anyone who is believes we live, and live, and live some more until we can no longer.Thank you Barbara.

SHOLUD BE REQUIRED READING
This book should be so required reading everywhere.

My dad died OCT 09 and I wished I had known about this book before.

There were a lot of of unanswered question and "why's"after he died.

I was lucky to goBarbra's seminar she put on in Lansing Michigan Nov 09. I have to admit I had a mind set of being informed with just the basics of dying and most of the time being bored through most of it

Let me tell you that seminar was 4.5 hours and it held my attention the whole time not wanting it to end. When she asked anyone if anyone had questions after the seminaronly 2 people asked and the reason for that I think is thatshe answered every question anyone had and answered it them all by just the infoshe gave at the seminar

The information she gave, blew me away. I came out of that seminar with all my questions and "why's answered. I could leave that seminar with my mind in peace and tell my mother, brother and sister that no one should feel guilty and they did everythig right with the information they had at the time.We were all 2nd guessing about should we have done this or that. Barbras' seminar made my mindat peace.

I was taking notes and was worried I wouldnt get all the information she was presenting where I wouldnt be able tell my family the process of dying and to ease their minds.

She was selling her book and I ask was everything she talked about in the seminar in that book. They said "yes" and even more detail was in the book.

I looked through it and sure enugh everythig she talked about in her seminar was in the book plus more.

This book should be required reading for anyone entering the medical field or anyone living so they can help them understand the dying process and what you can do to help or not help in some cases.


When he died and going toBarbara's seminar and then reading her book. I saw every one of the signs of the dying process years before that are stated in the book.

In hindsight my dad gave me a gift when he wasdying.Now I am able to see the signs years before till minutes of death because of this book. Now I can help others who are dying or for the family that is going through a love one who is dying to help them understand it and ease their minds even in their own death one day

God Bless you Brarbra

A Gift of a Book
I come from a large family of 10 children who was blessed with an amazing father. He made us all feel special , he was an optimist and easy going. A happy, funny, compassionate man who was the heart of our family. We all felt like only children. Last summer he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Researching online about his illness was scary. What's going to happen..this is going to be bad. An office worker of my brother recommended this book to him. My mom read it and we either ordered our own copy or passed it along through out our family memebers. If people ever ask me what are the top books that affected your life this one will be on my list. It was extremely helpful during my father's dying experience on many levels. My Mom and siblings still occasionally bring up how lucky we were to have all read this book. What it does is for one thing explain the dying process physically. I knew steps ahead what would happen to my dad ahead of time. As in not eating or not taking fluids. It is reassuring in expaining why this is natural when before our knee jerk reaction would have been to be upset or to try to get him to intake more. It helped us all care for him and let go more graciously. I knew it was possible my dad would metantally brake down at times. (He never did) or to understand even if he was sleeping it's o.k he can often times still hear me. It wasn't about ME when the visits got shorter. He really wasn't capable at the time and how ultimately as long as my dad was comfortable the visits were really more for me at the end and to not be hurt by that. We were calmed by stories of people dying who had visions of loved ones waiting. On how to truly care for my father. It has a lot from the dying persons perspective. Ultimately what it did for my whole family was to inform us what to expect. We were able to see the progression and understand where my father was in his dying process and to accept it along the way. By doing this and explaining what my father needed we were all able to cultivate inner peace. Nothing was a surpirse we were prepared and in turn we were able to surround my father with an truly present,calm, loving and peaceful supportive family. I tell people all the time I love the way my father died. The 6 months of his process were some of my most intimate and sweet,calm and warm memories. It would have for me personally have not been the case if it wasn't for this book.

A Gem of a Guide to a Good Death
I LOVE this book! Barbara Karnes, RN, reminds us that death is not a medical event but a normal, natural social event. It doesn't have to be the ordeal most people dread. With accurate information and adequate support, dying can be a rich, rewarding family experience.

Karnes also wrote the invaluable pamphlet "Gone from My Sight," which some hospices give to families of dying patients. This more recent book includes moving stories from the author's own longtime hospice experience, descriptions of the deaths of her own parents, and much more.

This nurse provides detailed, deeply reassuring information about how we die. For example, she explains the 3 areas--food, sleep, and social interaction--that let one know whether a person has weeks, days, or hours to live. She cautions against the practice of hydrating a person near death, reminding us that dehydration is "nature's anesthetic." She also recommends against using a suction machine, since it usually irritates the throat and triggers the body to produce more secretions. There are better ways to keep a person comfortable.

Karnes sees dying as an opportunity to address any unfinished business, to live in the present, and to say goodbye. But she goes beyond the tools and attitudes that can help a patient and caregivers experience a gentle, peaceful, natural death. She also explains what to do afterwards. For example washing the body and allowing people to view the body can help the grieving process. Additionally, she discusses legal questions and stresses the importance of having an advanced health care directive.

I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have as a hospice nurse than the knowledgeable, no-nonsense, compassionate Barbara Karnes. This little book is a gem!

Nancy Manahan, Ph.D. author of Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully - A Journey with Cancer and Beyond

simple, easy to read and tremendously helpful
i found barbaras book to be tremendously informative and helpful. it gave me knowledge and insight into a subject that i find is sadly neglected in our education.the tools and insight gained from this book have helped me feel more at ease and prepared. i am very grateful and would highly recommend it to any body who finds themselves faced with the reality of death. ... Read more

Product Description

We want to give you the practice you need on the ACT

McGraw-Hill's 10 ACT Practice Tests helps you gauge what the test measures, how it's structured, and how to budget your time in each section. Written by the founder and faculty of Advantage Education, one of America's most respected providers of school-based test-prep classes, this book provides you with the intensive ACT practice that will help your scores improve from each test to the next. You'll be able to sharpen your skills, boost your confidence, reduce your stress-and to do your very best on test day.

• 10 complete sample ACT exams, with full explanations for every answer
• 10 sample writing prompts for the optional ACT essay portion
• Scoring Worksheets to help you calculate your total score for every test
• Expert guidance in prepping students for the ACT
• More practice and extra help online

ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc., which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Customer Reviews (10)

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
The main thing I was looking for when I went looking for ACT Prep Books were practice tests. They are no doubt the best way to improve your score on the ACT. I knew that The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Official Prep Guide From The Makers Of The ACT (which I also bought) was the only way that I was going to be able to get real ACT tests that had been used before. These are of course the best tests you can take, as other practice tests can sometimes be too easy or even too hard.

I went looking on Amazon for some more practice books and this one literally jumped out at me on the list. TEN ACT PRACTICE TESTS!?!?!? TEN?! TEN!?!?!?!. I knew I had to get this book if it was going to give me ten whole practice tests that I could work through during the the three to four times I was planning on taking the ACT. So, I bought it, and I would advise that you do the same.

The great thing about this book is that it has 10 whole practice tests. I would definitely say that they are a little on the easier side compared to the real thing, but if you want practice, then its worth it for the fact that it does simulate the Real ACT.

For an example of how it is easier than the Real ACT: I bought this book and got an ENGLISH: 33MATH: 29 READING: 31 SCIENCE: 31 COMPOSITE: 31. That made me pretty happy, as I was aiming for the 30s. However, when I took the actual test I got an ENGLISH: 33MATH: 29 READING: 26 SCIENCE: 27 COMPOSITE: 29. As you can see, my reading an science scores were significantly higher on these practice tests than on the Real ACT, and my composite went down by two points. So, in general, I would say that these two sections (reading & science) are easier on these than the real thing. I've even taken a practice reading out of this book and gotten a 35 (that gave me a real shock!) and then got a 25 on the actual test (that shocked me even more!). However, in general, your practice composites will be within 1-3 points of your actual.

Overall, whether you're shooting for the 'teens' the low, mid, or high 'twenties' or even the low 'thirties', this book is worth the 10 or so bucks. However, if you're looking to achieve anywhere from a 33-36, this book isn't going to do much for you, and instead I would recommend Barron's ACT 36: Aiming for the Perfect Score.

SO, if you're looking for some decent practice tests, and NOT a 'learn how to do well on the ACT' book, then this book will pretty much do it for you. It's got 10 full practice tests along with decent explanations of the answers.

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NOTE: If you are the kind of person that generally scores in the high twenties to low thirties, then DO NOT follow the scoring procedures in this book. Instead, count how many you got right and go to the scoring tables in The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Official Prep Guide From The Makers Of The ACT and find where your raw score matches on an average of the three sub scores it gives you there. This will be MUCH more accurate.
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Filled with innaccuracies
I am an ACT Tutor who used this book for students.This edition is chock full of discrepencies and is very poorly edited.The answers keys are often just wrong, or the explanation offered for the answer doesn't make sense.It's a shame, because this is the only book that offers 10 tests.

Waste of Money
I have done almost every test in the book and have found it to be extremely inaccurate. Some questions have multiple answers and some don't even make sense. I have scored 30+ in every other ACT book but only a 25 in this one. The English sections feature run-ons and incorrect usage of commas, while the math section is way too easy to be a real ACT test. The science is also too easy. Overall, the book is full of errors and cannot help anyone raise their score.Use THE REAL ACT PREP GUIDE, made by the official ACT makers.

SCORE!
In depth detailing to help you understand the how's, why's, yes' and no's. Perfect for the adult going back to school!!!

Helpful
My daughter used this book to help her prepare for the ACT test.She indicated that is was very helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
When Herculeah Jones’s best friend, Meat, decides to take acomedy class, he just expects to get a few laughs. But then hediscovers a dead body in the bathroom, and realizes that there’snothing funny about murder. Things can’t get any worse—untilthe body disappears! Meat needs Herculeah’s help to uncover theclues, but she’s busy investigating a case of her own . . . one thatmight just change Meat’s life forever! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book!
I loved this book it was one of my favorite books ever. When i saw this book at the library i thought that it wasgoing to be funny because it was about a comedy club. I had to do a book report about a mystery so thats how i got to read this cool book.

From J. Kaye's Book Blog
This mystery is about Herculeah Jones's best friend Meat who has signed up for comedy classes at a club called Funny Bonz. When he goes to the boy's bathroom, he finds a female dead body in one of the stalls. He runs back to his class to tell someone. When the manager of the club investigates, there is no body. He suggests to Meat that it could be a prank. Meat knows better. He and Herculeah are on the case.

The reason I couldn't give the book a five out of five was the ending. I don't want to say more and give the story away, but I just didn't like who the killer turned out to be.

The Best Herculeah Jones book yet!
This book will keep you turning the pages while you wonder, what job does Meats dad have? Who's blue wallet is it? And will Herculeah and Meat solve it all? You better find out in this heart pounding story of fate.

Disappearing Acts
I have read many of the Herculeah Jones Mysteries but this one is my favorint!It had a certain pull to the book some would say the same effect of HarryPotter.With this having two stories to it you had to keep on reading more if you wanted to know what was going to happen in the other story.An exilent book! Read it!

I Love It
I love the book Dissapering Acts. It is such a great book. Usually I am good at putting books down but this I could not put down ! It is so exciting and you never know what way they'll solve it . Every chapter in the book is so exciting!Now I am a big fan of Betsy Byars! ... Read more

Product Description

Twelve lessons explore how the same men who doubted in Galilee, argued in Capernaum, and ran for their lives in Gethsemane are transformed by the resurrected King in the book of Acts. With scripture reading, inspirational readings, questions to answer, space for journaling, and a prayer, it's like studying the Bible with Max Lucado.

Customer Reviews (3)

Life Lessons
I have a phone bible study and this book works very well for the audience that I have.I like the questions and the reflections.

Book of Acts
Bought this as a guide for a Womens Bible Study...after about two chapters, they decided that they did not like the format so we went directly to the word..the questions at the end of chapter were not a hit..

Wonderful and Truely Inspirational
Even though Max is always great in the way he rights about God and God'slove, I was amazed by this series.It really is helpful to new christiansand really deals with our day to day issues.He includes segments ofinspiration from his other books which pertain to the perticular lesson. Irecommend this book to everyone, even to you! ... Read more

Product Description
Updated to reflect the most recent ACT Assessment tests, this manual with enclosed software provides a combination of in-depth subject reviews and practice tests to prepare college-bound students for success on the ACT. Subject reviews cover English, Math, Reading, and Science, as well as an essay writing guide for students who take the optional, half-hour-long Writing Test. A diagnostic test and three full-length practice ACT exams are also included with all questions answered and explained, plus additional practice exercises in all test areas, study tips, and test-taking strategies. The enclosed CD-ROM presents computerized versions of two brand-new tests not found in the book. Each test section timed to simulate actual test-taking conditions. ... Read more

Product Description
Steinbeck's only work of fantasy literature-in an illustrated deluxe edition

John Steinbeck's retelling of Malory's beloved Arthurian stories will capture the attention and imagination of legions of Steinbeck fans, including those who love Arthurian romances, as well as countless readers of science fiction and fantasy literature. Featuring the icons of Arthurian legend-including King Arthur, Merlin, Morgan le Fay, the incomparable Queen Guinevere, and Arthur's purest knight, Sir Lancelot of the Lake-these enduring tales of loyalty and betrayal in the time of Camelot flicker with the wonder and magic of an era past but not forgotten. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

Incomplete but intriguing


This book actually contains two parts: an incomplete modernization of Thomas Malory's romance of the King Arthur legends and a series of letters John Steinbeck wrote to his agent and to a friend collaborating on the research for the project.

The stories start strangely, or rather badly. It's hard to avoid the question, "Why on earth would a writer of Steinbeck's caliber waste his time on such a project?" But then, slowly but surely, the stories improve and by the time they end -- well short of the Morte -- it's disappointing that the project sputtered out. (But someone reading this only to finish the compleat Steinbeck will still likely find this a baffling chore.)

What truly makes the book are the letters. While reading the stories, I started cataloging a significant list of their faults. In the letters, Steinbeck describes and analyzes these faults far better than I could. He talks about how Malory was learning how to write `on the job' (so the initial stories were bound to be weak), how Arthur isn't so much of a character as a symbol, how Malory goes into excess details on who defeated whom in the jousting lists (the medieval equivalent of reading the daily baseball scores, Steinbeck explains), etc. Steinbeck's letters describe in detail his struggles to take the edge of these problems and create a version of Malory's tales as if the man lived in the twentieth century and was trying to entertain an audience with a twentieth-century sensibility.

The only problem I found that Steinbeck doesn't discuss is how Malory seems to have discovered The Canterbury Tales midway through and to have felt liberated to expand what was included in the stories and that makes everything feel less coherent. So when Lancelot and his nephew want to sneak out of town to go on a quest and swear their squires to secrecy, "The squires imposed secrecy on their damsels, who in turn had the promise of their sisters, who told their lovers only after oaths had sealed their lips, until at last the king said, `I wish the they would be on their way, my dear. There are disturbing the whole city.'" This is pretty damn funny. Is it consistent with the tone of a romance? Well, probably not.

The letters themselves are wonderful. Not only do they have all kinds of gems of self- and literary analysis, they contain all manner of insights into Malory, the King Arthur legends -- even etymology of English place names and the motivations of Malory's publisher. So you get things like:

"In fact the only really unproductive times I can remember were those when there were no pressures. If my record has any meaning at all, it is that pressures are necessary to my creative survival -- an inelegant, even nauseating thought, but there it is. So maybe I had better pray not for surcease but for famine, plague, catastrophe, and bankruptcy. Then I would probably work like a son-of-a-bitch. I'm comparatively serious about this."

"Writers are a sorry lot. The best you can say of them is that they are better than actors and that's not much."

On Arthur becoming blander and more naive the more Jesus-like he becomes: "Think if you will of Jehovah in the Old Testament. There's a God who couldn't get the job as an apprentice in General Motors. He makes a mistake and then gets mad and breaks his toys. Think of Job. It almost seems that dopiness is required in literature."

But what really comes through in these letters is Steinbeck's unabashed enthusiasm for writing, life and Malory. Every page, except for a few dark letters that make me wonder whether he was bipolar, radiate this warmth. It was like he was humming `Ode to Joy' under his breath as he was sitting at his writing desk. He was bursting with ecstacy in a way that would make any writer feel envy.

And he was going completely berserk on research. Steinbeck's Arthurian legends probably hold some sort of record for being the most over-researched project in the annals of writing. He pursued all kinds of details that could hardly matter, doing much of the work in England, reading hundreds of books on the Middle Ages, relentlessly following up on details that couldn't possibly make their way into the final work (like having an Anglo-Saxon style axe made for himself so he could see the difference between them and modern axes). If someone had written an hundred-page treatise on how Malory tied his shoes, you could bet Steinbeck would have read it.

Very quickly into the letters, I was pretty pissed at the guy for dying before I was born -- I'll never be able to invite him over for dinner -- and by the end, once I could begin to grasp how enormous his vision was for this project, I felt sickened that he never finished what he started as it would have been a towering work. Who knows, maybe if he had finished it, he might have even won the Nobel Price for literature. [For the few humorless fussbudgets on Amazon, that was a joke.]

solid modernization of Arthur tales but not up to Malory
The Acts ofKing Arthur and his Noble Knights is Steinbecks last novel and was published after his death. It is more episodic more like a tale collection than a true novel but writing characterization and other storytelling aspects are of high quality. It falls short of top level Steinbeck and is not up toMalory as well. You can tell Steinbeck loved the original work it was the book which inspired him to be a writer of fiction but he clearly is being as much interpreter as creator here. Asolid book but not close to five stars closer to three but since there is no 3.5 rating available I give it 4

incompletely read ---- but --- egad! what a booke!
I lived briefly in the "Hamptons", not long before John Steinbeck passed away.I first encountered this book at The State University of New York at StonyBrook. Portions of this book exceed genius...the description of Merlin's entrapment by Nimue (Vivian, or Nyneve, depending on your preference)...the sight of King Arthur on the battlements, weeping over his known fate, as seen by a younger man, the training of a knight in the tiltyard of the Lady Lynne, and the ensorcelment and ensnarement of Lancelot by the three Witches---North Galys, Arthur's sister (Morgan Le Fay) and one other (to be emended later), the mistaking by a knight of another night asleep in his tent for his lady--and the ensuing brawl, and the besmirching by three young women of a knight's shield.The gamut of emotions, from sadness, amusement, nobility, abasement is played on the human soul with expert depiction by Mr. Steinbeck.He halted and experienced "writer's block" at the story of Arthur and Guinevere, the betrayal by Lancelot du Lac, presumably as he could not dis-entangle his own emotions and experiences from Arthur's.Someday, I will make and have the time to read this cover to cover, if I have not done so already, and have merely forgotten that I have so done.

King Arthur for Adults
As one of the other reviewer wrote, this is not the Arthur that some of us grew up on. This is a dark Arthur who Merlin declares is forsaken by God. Even though this is a darker book it is easier to relate to Arthur in this book. He is no knight in shining armor. He is a man like us all that has some very serious faults. He makes many mistakes but tries to press on forward. Steinbeck seems to focus a little more on the more sinister side of being a king and Arthur's fallen human nature.

I have to say, there are only two things that I didn't like about this version:

First, it ends too quickly. Sadly, Steinbeck died before he could finish this. That said, it is a treasure to behold and the open ending pushing your imagination to make your own conclusion. But I still wish there more.

Second, Sir Gawain, my favorite knight, is an arrogant, braggart in Steinbeck's Arthur. In all other Arthurian literature I love Gawain but in this I wanted someone to run him through. His cockiness oozes off the pages. But, maybe the reason I can't stand him in this version is because he reflects some of my less than favorable traits that I hate...

All in all this is a great and little known book. I would caution parents from getting it for their kids under 14 because of how dark it is and some of the adult situations. King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table (Puffin Classics) is a good choice for the younger ones.

This book can be summed up with this:

Rich Characters
Amazing Writing
Timeless Story

Age Of Chivalry, Rebooted
At one stray moment in "Acts Of King Arthur And His Noble Knights", a lazy knight named Sir Lyonel is pressured to join his uncle Lancelot on a quest. In casual conversation, he catches a glimpse of Lancelot's heroic nature, staring unblinking in the face of doom.

"...suddenly Sir Lyonel knew why Lancelot would gallop down the centuries, spear in rest, gathering men's hearts on his lance head like tilting rings."

In "Acts Of King Arthur", written in the 1950s but unpublished until 1976, John Steinbeck tries to do the same for us, explaining the world of Arthurian legend so as to make us understand its singular appeal in an age of TV cowboys and atomic bombs.

Steinbeck largely succeeds, though not without difficulty. His "Acts" is a scattershot collection of stories that gathers steam only after leaving behind Arthur himself and most of the best-known elements of his storyline to delve into the marrow of lesser tales. There, Steinbeck grasps the opportunity to marry his own modern sensibilities to the centuries-old legends he retells.

In the book's final and finest chapter, Lancelot is confronted by a jealous knight who catches him up in a tree without his sword. Building a fire, he tells Lancelot to come down and get what's coming to him. Lancelot asks how the knight can scruple to slay an unarmed foe.

"I will recover from my shame before you grow a new head, my friend," the caitiff knight replies.

Lancelot manages to get out of this hazard, only to discover another kind when old friend Sir Kay, managing Camelot's larder and tasked with feeding every passing knight, tells him how miserable the job has made him, worn down by "the nibbling of numbers."

It's a dynamic way to read of Camelot's glory, dealing with such out-of-time concerns in a recognizably Arthurian way, but it took time for Steinbeck to reach this level of fluency. As an appendix of Steinbeck's correspondence during this project reveals, he found it hard work recrafting the stories of his middle-English sources without losing the beauty of its poetry, which had attracted him as a young boy.

Only the chapter on Lancelot, and the one before it featuring three quests carried out by Sir Gawain, Sir Ewain, and Sir Marhalt, manage to pull this off completely. On their own the two chapters provide brilliant reading of pure fantasy and escape, not to mention more than half of the book's sizable page count.

Elsewhere, a seemingly more tentative Steinbeck plows through the story of the Sword and the Stone, rushes the wizard Merlin to his untimely doom, and barely pauses long enough to allow his title character to pick up his fabled sword Excalibur. It's decent storytelling, just not that enthralling. Arthur is seen as a bumbler and, in one instance, quite brutal, something Steinbeck had in his source texts and was determined to keep in. It's hard at times to think why Steinbeck would think such a character would carry our enthusiasm, a problem he deals with by shuffling Arthur to the sidelines for most of the book.

Yet as "Acts" moves along to its two closing chapters, it, like Sir Lyonel, finds that enthusiasm, prying out the child in many an older, cynical reader and transporting him or her to a place of wide-eyed wonder and enchantment. It's a shame Steinbeck never finished what he started, but what he creates here is no less special for its unpolished beauty. ... Read more