Reviews (2)

My favorite dictionary
The first edition of this dictionary was given to me by my grandmother.I find it the most readable and comprehensive, for its size, of any dictionary I have used.I have bought the subsequent editions including the fourth both for my children and myself, though the first is still my bedside reference.

Excellent for a new immigrant ora young child
5 Stars for new immigrants and young children, one star for the rest of us.It should be defined as a two or more word phrase dictionary.Examples: correspondence course, dog in the manger, dog and pony show, French telephone, grow light, information science.Great illustrations and pictures, a lot of fluff, of course the foul mouthed person will be able to find the definitions to their slang words in accurate detail.However Yiddish slang and those of other cultures were left out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. Dictionaries - General    3. English Language Dictionaries    4. English language    5. Reference    6. Reference / Dictionaries   

Editorial Review

Edith Hamilton loved the ancient Western myths with a passion--and this classic compendium is her tribute. "The tales of Greek mythology do not throw any clear light upon what early mankind was like," Hamilton explains in her introduction. "They do throw an abundance of light upon what early Greeks were like--a matter, it would seem, of more importance to us, who are their descendents intellectually, artistically, and politically. Nothing we learn about them is alien to ourselves." Fans of Greek mythology will find all the great stories and characters here--Perseus, Hercules, and Odysseus--each discussed in generous detail by the voice of an impressively knowledgeable and engaging (with occasional lapses) narrator. This is also an excellent primer for middle- and high-school students who are studying ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature. Read more

Reviews (72)

one of the better written retellings of the Greek Myths
Edith Hamilton (now passed) has a living work of art in her stead by the name of Mythology.This congolmerate work of the world's oldest known tales is likely the most concise and accredited version worthy of the haughtiest bookshelf.
Mythology
This book, mythology by Edith Hamilton is a pretty good book for pleasure and it has pretty good information too. The only downside of this book is that it doesnt keep your intrest that well. After the introduction, most parts are exciting, but there are still a few dull parts.
As Clear as Mud
I've studied Norse Mythology for years.So, this being my first introduction to Greek or Roman mythology, I began interested, thinking I would enjoy learning the tales of the ancient Greek and Roman gods.As this was for a class, I was also hoping to be able to utilise the book in my studies towards the goal of understanding the material enough to write papers on the subject.
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Subjects:  1. Classical mythology    2. Folklore & Mythology    3. Folklore & Mythology - Mythology    4. General    5. History: World    6. Mythology    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    10. Myths & mythology    11. Reference works    12. Social Science / Folklore & Mythology   

Reviews (22)

Handy little guide
Pretty niftyactually if a bit pricey for the size. Spiral bound, nicely presented, small enough to fit in a computer bag or purse. It has a section on clarity (tightening sentences, etc.), grammar, punctuation, and mechanics (capitalizing, abbreviating, etc.). There is also a big section on research paper styles, including MLA, APA, and Chicago. Nice layout, clear type, color coded page edges so you can find your section easier. (I've added some sample pictures I scanned of the pages.)
A Quick, Reliable resource!Two Thumbs Up!
This is a wonderful little resource book that is a must-have addition to any student's backpack.As a graduate student who, in my undergrad days, studied journalism and mass communication as a minor, I have been exposed to a good number of writing styles and their respect style books.What is nice about this volume is the concise nature.
A great book to have
My first college class required this and it is the only book that I have kept. I use it in every class that I have to write a paper in. My wife also uses it for her classes. I recommend this for any student. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English language    2. Grammar    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    6. Reference    7. Rhetoric    8. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Reviews (52)

Amer Accent Training
As a teacher I believe this is a great value for the money.

I LIKE THE BOOK AND THE METHOD!
I am still reading it. I am in lesson 2 now. I like the method, I do not get bored and this is very important to me!.I feel like reading and practicing most of the time. I think it is improving my pronuntiation. There is also cultural information related to the american accent that is pretty interesting (i did not know it) and helps you to understand many things. The teacher pronunces excellet and lets you time enough to repeat. You have to read the books while you listen to the CD, at least the first time. The first CD it not great to listen into the car. There are many writtenexercises and others to repeat aloud. The exercises are easy and fun.I definitely think it was a good investment buying this course. If you really want to improve just keep practicing, the course its good enough to learn by yourself. This is a good book for persons who already speak/read advanced english.

The best you can get!
Definitely worth the money! Of course it'll take a lot of time and effort to pick up a new accent. With this book and the audio CD's it will be a piece of cake to make you sound a lot better in less than no time! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English as a Second Language    2. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Phonetics & Phonics    6. Speech    7. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language   

Reviews (6)

The One Stop Shop Book
I loved the Instyle Weddings Edition.It was very thorough and nice hard cover quality.I would definately recommend this to all bride and grooms to be!

Wow! What a book!
I saw this book in Amazon together with Martha Stewart's Wedding Book and since I admire Style's Wedding magazine, I decided to purchase this book. What a great find! It has ideas on every aspect of the wedding. Lots of very cool ideas. I particularly like the ideas for photos and beauty. Definitely worth it.

Beautiful Book for Budding Bridezillas
If you are planning a monster wedding (you know who you are, Bridezilla) this is the manual of choice. "In Style: Weddings" uses their format of large, beautiful photographs and snappy sections on everything from what the best man does in the wedding to how to do your makeup for the big day.
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Subjects:  1. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    2. General    3. Planning    4. Reference    5. Reference And Information Services    6. Wedding etiquette    7. Weddings    8. Family & Relationships / General   

Reviews (23)

I love "Side by Side"
I was from China and started my life in the USA as a graduate student in Engineering.Although I took the TOEFL before I came to USA, my English is not good enough to express myself clearly and accurately. I decided to improve my English about 4 months ago and started to borrow some ESL books from local libraries.
SIde By Side Book 3
My wife and I have been using Side By Side since living in Japan as ESL teachers 1987-89.We used the first edition way back then.My wife still is active tutoring English to Japanese in our area of the USA and this is an excellent series for English learners.We would recommend it to anyone from any culture.

A conversational supplement
This is an amazing series of books for any age beginners of Oral English as a Second Language (American English). I taught this series in China for 3 years, and am currently an M.Ed student. This series not only allows an inexperienced teacher to be able to jump into any class and feel confident teaching, but offers a strong order to the subject matter that is taught. The vocabulary and grammatical forms that are introduced are very useful in daily life.
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Subjects:  1. Conversation and phrase books    2. English as a Second Language    3. English language    4. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    5. Language    6. Secondary    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    8. Textbooks for foreign speakers    9. American English    10. ELT: Learning Material & Coursework    11. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language   

Reviews (1)

"Happy Customer"
The item I purchased was on time.I was able to use the textbook in time for college. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. English language    4. Essay    5. Grammar    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Language    8. Language Arts & Disciplines    9. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    10. Report writing    11. Rhetoric    12. Creative writing guides    13. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing    14. Literary studies: general    15. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (81)

Reading & Research: A Life-Long Love
Upon looking at the title, "How to Read a Book", the educated reader might think this book is not for them. They would be dead wrong.
How I read a book . . .
Here's some FREE advice, so you won't have to blow any money on Adler's condescension.For example, when it comes to a textbook, I read all of the introductory material unless it's polluted with cross-promotion of supplemental materials.I do a brisk overview of each chapter (read intro, chapter headings, summary) before studying the bulk of the text.Fiction is subject to taste--I invest more energy in reputed classics, read mysteries or horror for sheer pleasure, but then ignore vast quantities of everything else (unless it's foreign), because the fiction market in the U.S. is hopelessly self-indulgent and meaningless, and life is too short.But quality fiction and nonfiction I generally treat with respect.I tend to read the blurbs and survey the contents, but skip any introductory material (unless there's an author's preface) until I've read the entire text.I keep a journal for what I consider to be significant points, to note misunderstood passages, or to write out paraphrased definitions of any words I don't understand or otherwise wonder at the contextual use of.I always keep a Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary at my side.After I've finished the core text, I might go to my Columbia Encyclopedia and read some related articles on the author or subject matter.Finally I read the introductory material, usually a critical survey by another author.If it's published by Penguin or the like, it's high quality analysis.I consider that depth of treatment as much as I ever need to know about a stranger who wrote a book.When you consider how unstable people are in general, it seems foolish to become too fiercely attached to or analytical of an author's great ideas.Spend a week in their home with their bad habits and questionable cooking and/or housekeeping and I guarantee you would probably quit caring about most any point of view they held dear.The world of ideas is unstable as well.Don't get too bogged down in the past--those that remember it are condemned to remember it.Read widely and often and you will be just fine.Hey now, that didn't even cost you a penny.

Some People are being Too Hard on This Book- It's a Very Useful Book
I read this book in HS, many years ago, having discovered it on my own. It was very helpful. It made me realize that it was OK to re-read texts,and that I wasn't mentally slow, if I didn't get all the meaning on my first reading. It gave me an overview of reading, and was much superior to what I was getting in HS English classes, which focused only on grammar.
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Subjects:  1. Best books    2. Books & Reading    3. Books and reading    4. General    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism    6. Reading    7. Reference    8. Philosophy / General   

Editorial Review

At the beginning of Read more

Reviews (75)

terrific book
This is a terrific book - I read the original memo years ago thatVogler then went on to base the book on. I require my beginning writing students to read it!
Fantastic summary
I loved this book!
Telling a story
I learn over and over that writing fiction is mostly about telling a story. Fortunately for us, some really smart people have put a lot of thought into what makes a story "good." I highly recommend this book. It's worth the time and money you will put into it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. Composition & Creative Writing - Play/Scriptwriting    3. Creative writing    4. Film & Video - Screenwriting    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Motion picture authorship    8. Myth in literature    9. Mythology in literature    10. Narration (Rhetoric)    11. Reference    12. Writing Skills    13. Approved List/Classroom Adoption    14. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing    15. Performing Arts/Film & Video - Screenwriting    16. Reference / Writing Skills    17. Reference/Writing Skills    18. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (6)

Classical rhetoric was spoken, never written
I came to this book through my Classical Rhetoric class as an undergrad.As someone with a pre-existing background in formal logic and rhetorical reasoning, there was little that was new, but most of it was recast from the mathematical model to the oratorical model.This si the penultimate text on classical rhetoric, and the inclusion of the progymnasmata exercises is an interesting option for structuring class assignments.Sometimes the text is a little dense, but it is also authoritative and generally a good resource for an introduction to argumentative logic and classical rhetoric.

Rhetoric is Required
This book should be required reading for all college graduates.

Principles of Powerful Persuasion
Rhetoric has come to be seen as a discipline for frauds and charlatans.It has the connotation of artful trickery and deception.No matter what you may think of rhetoric, you engage in it each and every time you try to prevail upon someone to see things your way.Rhetoric is the art of persuasion.Any artform practiced by mortals can be (and is) misused by unscrupulous villains.Those who decry rhetoric for its susceptibility to misuse overlook this point:Rhetoric, properly understood and applied, is the best defense against misused rhetoric.Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. English language    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    6. Rhetoric    7. Rhetoric (General)    8. Rhetoric, Ancient    9. Study & Teaching    10. Language Arts & Disciplines / Rhetoric    11. Literature/English | Writing | Composition   

Reviews (2)

Little Book of Etiquette
When I first saw the book I started laughing.I didn't realize the book was going to be so small.When it says a "little book" it means a little book.Once I started reading the book I was amazed.All the little no-no's, I was doing.I even did a class presentation based on dining etiquette, and I used pointers from the book for a hands-on demostration.Our grouped received an A+ on our presentation.Many of my class mates have also ordered this book as well.I really wanted to know more about dining etiquette and this book did the trick.

A little book offers much!
This book is very handy in assisting our more modern society with the fine details of everyday dining.There are eight chapters dealing withsubjects such as dos and don'ts, table talk, the business meal, eatingvarious foods, a step-by-step explanation of meal courses, forms ofservice, and more.I love pages 26-27 -- they are probably the higlight ofthe book: a graphic display of a formal place setting.It is amazing thatso much information is presented in such a small book, yet it is notdifficult to read. Questions, both large and small, are answered in thefirst chapter, and the rest of the book gives wonderful detailedinformation, descriptions and examples.Read more

Subjects:  1. Etiquette    2. Reference    3. Etiquette & entertaining   

Subjects:  1. Badges    2. Girl Scouts of the United Stat    3. Girl Scouts of the United States of America    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Junior Girl Scouts    6. Reference    7. United States   

Reviews (26)

The Key To Happiness!
Although this little book is titled "The Way To Love," it could also have been called "The Key To Happiness," because the real key to happiness is contained here.And what is that key?To let go of the idea that anything outside of yourself can make you happy. This book contains many inspiring messages. But above all, it focuses on the idea that happiness is your innate state, and you can choose to return to that state at any time. This little book inspires deep contemplation, and I recommend that you read it repeatedly.
Feel Troubled By The 'Real' World? Take Heart...
If you feel troubled by the "real" world - take comfort.In his final meditations, Anthony De Mello reminds us that it is all an illusion.Whenever I feel like it's all too much for me I open up The Way To Love. In this beautiful, tiny volume you will find larger than life inspiration.This book can and will change your life.
When the student is ready, the teacher appears
I have been searching for God for many years, and have had many "peaks and valley" experiences. I truly believe Jesus is the Messiah, but I need a teacher for my particular level. Anthony De Mello has really given me peace with this small but amazing book.
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Subjects:  1. Devotional    2. Inspirational - General    3. Meditations    4. Reference    5. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality    6. Christian spirituality    7. Modern fiction    8. Religion / Inspirational   

Reviews (67)

dangerous
the author insists, so far as I can tell, that the only way to write a decent novel is based on some Aristotelean idea of the 'premise' which cannot be violated.'Love leads to death' is an example for a character who dies as a result of being in love.This is nothing but an obscene simplification of the plot.It's absurdly reductionist.
One side of the story
Let's be clear what we're buying here: an authoritative text on how to deploy character, crescendo, climax and theme in the idiom of the dramatic novel. Frey is covering the big picture, how skilled writers nurture the evolution of tensions through the work as a whole. His references to the classic canon of American fiction reinforce the message that these techniques are the essence of drama, and not just the stock in trade of pulp fiction.
A How-to-Write Classic
How to Write a Damn Good Novel is billed as "a step-by-step no nonsense guide to dramatic storytelling." I don't know about the step-by-step part, but Frey's advice is definately no-nonsense and will help you create dynamic stories.
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Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Fiction    2. Fiction    3. General    4. Reference    5. Technique    6. Language Arts & Disciplines / Authorship   

Reviews (3)

Disappointing.
I deplore shoddy workmanship on some of the maps. One good example is page 25: I can't readily see the difference among the same color family. Considering I'm a color expert, this is a big drawback. Soft yet vivid water-color technique may help improve the quality. Well, the problem may be with the printer rather than with the author.
Masterpiece
This atlas pays accute attention to detail and history. It is THE BEST Bibllical Atlas I have ever used. Carl Rasmussen has definitely set the standard.

Amazing Man, Amazing Book
I am a student at the college where Dr. Rasmussen teaches; I can professwith great confidence that he has extensive first hand knowledge of theBible and the Holy Land.This knowledge shines through gloriously in thisbook; the information is presented thoroughly and networked within thepages of the only NIV Atlas of the Bible you will ever need! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - Reference - General    3. Bible Study Guide    4. Christianity - Education - General    5. Geography    6. History of Biblical events    7. History of contemporary events    8. Reference    9. Religion    10. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    11. BIBLICAL STUDIES REFERENCE BIBLE ATLASES    12. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    13. Christian religious instruction    14. Christianity    15. Reference works    16. Religion / Bible / Reference   

Subjects:  1. Book Industry And Trade    2. Directories    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Publishing    6. Publishing Industry And Trade    7. Reference   

Reviews (1)

Now who the heck said that?
Amazon has it a bit wrong here, as Joseph Epstein wrote the foreword and not the book. The book is by Fred R. Shapiro, associate librarian and lecturer in legal research at the Yale Law School library.
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Subjects:  1. Quotations    2. Dictionaries of quotations    3. Reference / General    4. Quotations, English    5. Reference   

Reviews (14)

I beleive half of what she said.
Interesting tale, but like another reviewer said, save your money and borrow it from someone else.It was interesting that the author claimed to always be the innocent one in all the drama and scandal.I found that hard to believe.Regarding other things she said seemed to make sense and definitely revealed life at the Playboy Mansion as less glamorous than you'd think.It really annoyed me when she complained about Hef not paying her student loans.Had she finished taking the bar exam and pursued a career in law she would've been able to pay them herself.She lost most of her credibility when she said that and it was right in the beginning of the book.

Amusing, if you can borrow it, but save your money
I love to read autobiographies and the like, and Bunny Tales was my most recent read.The grammatical errors were numerous, but I was able to work past them and focus on content.The stories of the parties and sexual escapades I have read before - no surprise there.As for Hefner, he can live anyway he chooses; don't knock it if you are going to live it. He doesn't owe these girls anything, yet St. James comes across as selfish and superficial and most of all, ungrateful.
Interesting Read
Although I agree that this book was filled with too many contradictory statements and spelling/gramatical errors to count, it was nonetheless a very interesting read. I was intrigued to find out what actually happens behind the closed doors of the Playboy mansion, and I'm left wondering if what is shown on "The Girls Next Door" isn't all for show? I'm guessing it is, however what reality TV show isn't?
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Models (Persons)    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Playboy Enterprises    9. Rich & Famous    10. St. James, Izabella    11. United States    12. Women   

Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. Reference    3. Yearbooks & Annuals    4. Business competition    5. International business    6. International trade    7. Reference / Yearbooks & Annuals   

Reviews (1)

HAVE KIDS?
Then you must own this dictionary.It helped my 12 year old son immensely.With the help of this dictionary, he actually understood the vocabulary words he was assigned, could use them correctly in sentences as well as in converstation.Sorry Websters, this is a friendly, usable dictionary for students of all ages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English as a Second Language    2. Foreign Language Study    3. Language    4. Polyglot Dictionaries    5. ELT dictionaries & reference    6. English