Editorial Review

John Grisham tackles nonfiction for the first time with Read more

Reviews (26)

I must apologize
I wrote that the Broker was not the book I should strongly recommend. Well, I'm astonished now, because Mr Grisham knew about ties between Cia and Italian Telecom. How did he manage? Well, back to the Innocent man. I have read some of the recension before me. I think it could be hard to cope for a layman, but it's very interesting for a jurist, expecially for a no American one. The plot is intriguing, and the style is very dry. I read it in a day, and I learnt very much about American system. System is really good, sometimes men aren't, like everywhere. The clue is: American juries care more about what a convicted should do in the future, then about which crime one actually performed, if then. That's the reason why a dropout like Ronnie was a perfect candidate for lethal injection. He was crazy, noisy , arrogant, he slept most of the time and use to chase boozes and skirts. What's the use of let he in life? Grisham is great when at the end calculates to the penny what's the cost of such a court mistake for the american taxpayer. A cynical could rebuke: right, but only because it happened to be eventually corrected. The correction was the really burden, and not the mistake. I hope to read more nonfiction from Mr Grisham, that could even write a postfaction like Victor Hugo in the Miserables: Italy loves my books, but Italian judiciary ssystem isn't any better ( Hugo said Italy loved les Miserables, but Italy was really a worse country then France ).It's a book about justice, not simply a book about american judiciary system or small countries judicial oddities. I recommend it to all law students.

A Poignant and Compelling Story!
What would you do if you were suspected by the police of the rape and murder of a young woman? Whom would you turn to if you were convicted of a crime based on circumstantial evidence and shoddy legal tactics? Whoever believes we are all innocent until proven guilty hasn't truly been put to the test.
His best book yet
His first Nonfiction book was very well written.It was a major page turner and I finished it in 2 days.I liked it better than any of his other books and I"m a big Grisham fan.Please note, if you don't want to have anything given away I'd not read the captions under the photos because some of the story will be given away.It is a very one sided story and is easy to read his contempt for the the bad part of the criminal justice system, but it also made me think.Before I read this I was a strong supporter of capital punishment, and now I still believe in it, but I see why there are so many appeals etc. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Capital Punishment    2. Infamous Crimes And Criminals    3. Judicial error    4. Legal System    5. Murder - General    6. Oklahoma    7. Penology    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Trials (Murder)    11. True Crime / Espionage    12. Social Science / Penology   

Reviews (2)

criminology book
This book is alright but the reading is kinda boring.The subject is very interesting and I think that there could be a better book to go with it. The author uses words that a lot of people don't hear very often. He uses the word hence alot.

Criminology Today
This book is as good as it gets on Criminology.We are using it for Criminology in college.
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Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Social Science    3. Sociology    4. United States    5. Crime & criminology    6. Social Science / Criminology   

Editorial Review

"Until one morning in mid-November of 1959, few Americans--in fact, few Kansans--had ever heard of Holcomb. Like the waters of the river, like the motorists on the highway, and like the yellow trains streaking down the Santa Fe tracks, drama, in the shape of exceptional happenings, had never stopped there." If all Truman Capote did was invent a new genre--journalism written with the language and structure of literature--this "nonfiction novel" about the brutal slaying of the Clutter family by two would-be robbers would be remembered as a trail-blazing experiment that has influenced countless writers. But Capote achieved more than that. He wrote a true masterpiece of creative nonfiction. The images of this tale continue to resonate in our minds: 16-year-old Nancy Clutter teaching a friend how to bake a cherry pie, Dick Hickock's black '49 Chevrolet sedan, Perry Smith's Gibson guitar and his dreams of gold in a tropical paradise--the blood on the walls and the final "thud-snap" of the rope-broken necks. ... Read more

Reviews (371)

One of the best I've read.
I had no idea what this book was about when I bought it.It was years ago now, and I was given a list of "Good Books" to read as a present: A deck of cards, each card representing a great work in American Literature that everyone should read.This was one of the books.I liked it a lot. At the time, I had no idea who Capote was (I still don't) and it wasn't until recently when movie after movie keeps coming out about this "Capote" character that I realized he was the author of this book.It's a good book, and a well-told story, but I don't see why Capote has recently been thrown up on a pedestal and worshiped by Hollywood. Regardless, this book is worth your time.

amazing on all levels
Intrigued, I wondered how Capote could manage to write a book about a crime that, while gruesome, at first glance doesn't appear to be the sort to sustain a book. Upon starting it I was hooked, he not only found the story but manages to tell it from many different perspectives while keeping the raw emotion intact, putting you right there throughout. At the same time he comes across as unbiased in his telling. Not only does he create a genre with this book, he defines what it is at it's best. As an aside, to watch the movie Capote after reading this book makes clear the methods he used, unprecedented access to the criminals, etc. in order to create this masterpeice.

Beyond true crime
This is as near perfect as a book can get. Capote gets you inside each person he writes about like no one else. Remarkable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Criminology    3. Homicide    4. Kansas    5. Murder    6. Murder - General    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. True Crime / Espionage    10. Fiction / Literary   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (219)

Required reading for your blue belt
Everyone who wants to write OO code needs to read this book.No, let me re-phrase, *must master* this book.
An approach to this software classic
"Design Patterns" (GoF = Gang of Four) is a signicant and, in many ways, a difficult work for the modern reader (me) to digest.The material in this book is highly self-referential: to understand a particular design pattern, it is important to be familiar withmany similar, if not all, design patterns.
A classic for OOP - truly a Gem - not much else to say
Like many of the typical Computer Science classical texts, you've got to read it, if only to say you read it :-)
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Subjects:  1. Computer Books And Software    2. Computer software    3. Computers    4. Computers - Languages / Programming    5. Object-Oriented Programming    6. Object-oriented programming (C    7. Object-oriented programming (Computer science)    8. Programming - Object Oriented Programming    9. Reusability    10. Software patterns    11. Computers / Computer Vision    12. Object-oriented programming (OOP)    13. Software engineering   

Reviews (7)

Criminal Law
I thought this book was very useful in the study of Criminal Law at the undergraduate level. I enjoyed the author's selection of cases and thought that they were edited well so that they remained readable.

I never got that book,
very fast but i never got the book, and refund

Excellent Text
As one of Professor Samaha's students, I found that using this particular text in corrolation with his lectures was extremely benefical in learning the basics of criminal law.His personal insight on the case studies undoubtedly aided in understanding the material, but I suspect that the text would not have stuck me as such an outstanding book had Professor Samaha not been there to add additional information on each aspect of his work.However, even without the personal commentary, the text is still a very clear and concise resource that would be excellent for an introductory course on criminal law. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cases    2. Criminal Law    3. Criminal Law - General    4. Criminal Procedure    5. Criminology    6. Law    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Law / Criminal Procedure   

Reviews (18)

Supervision of Police Personnel
Same like the Criminal Investigation book. I needed it so that I can studyfor the Sergeant exam. And Amazon.com was the only place that I could've order the book from. Keep selling the special books.

Must have!Must buy!... but that doesn't make it good...
For promotion exams in my area, this is THE book that the examiners use for the supervision questions.
dry as dry could be
This book was very dry and difficult reading due to the fact the contents could not keep my attention. The 15 questions on the sergeants exam that pertained to this book were lengthy questions that were the demise of all test takers scores. Although everyone passed the exam all test takers complained about the 15 responsibility questions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Law    2. Criminal Law - General    3. Police    4. Police Administration    5. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Supervision of    10. United States    11. Police & security services    12. Political Science / Law Enforcement    13. Political structure & processes   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (120)

Too much dialogue for an enjoyable history
This book is the story of the escape and capture of John Wilkes Booth.But, at its heart it is really the story of John Wilkes Booth and the man who accompanied him on his escape, David Herold.I really wanted to like this history, and I understand they are going to make a movie based on the author's work.I found it a bit too chatty, so much so, that by the end of it I wanted hang John Wilkes Booth.And that is the problem with this book.While it does a good job of telling how the Federal bureaucracy and the military fumbled Booth's capture, it focuses too little on that aspect.We get a lot of dialogue between Booth and those who help him make his escape, but this reader would have liked to know more about those who help Booth.Things like how the relatives of Dr. Samuel Mudd, obviously a racist and Confederate, got his life historically rehabilitated in the 20th century.After a while it just drags on.This is my first reading of anything about John Wilkes Booth and I hope there are better works out there.

Good read and hard to put down

Great read
This book is really a great read. The action flows petty much nonstop, from page one. Swanson manages to put a lot of facts in front of you, yet never bores you. I learned a lot from this book- buy it, you won't be displeased! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assassination    2. Case studies    3. Criminal Investigation    4. Criminology    5. Fugitives from justice    6. History    7. History - General History    8. History - U.S.    9. History: American    10. Investigation    11. United States    12. United States - 19th Century    13. United States - Civil War    14. History / General   

Reviews (1)

Juvenile Delinquency Theory, Practice & Law
Very fascinating book, it's easy to read and very interesting. There are great pictures and interesting stories which made it difficult to put down! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Studies    2. Criminal Procedure    3. Criminology    4. Juvenile delinquency    5. Juvenile justice, Administration of    6. Law    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Juvenile offenders    11. Law / Criminal Procedure   

Reviews (10)

I give a 5 star everything
The condition of the book was excellent and the service more than excellent. Received the book; Criminalistics An Intorduction to Forensic Science in time for my son to use it the next week in class. Thank you for the speed of the delivery. I would buy a used book again and hopefully it would be with the bookdude. Sorry this review was late.

Excellent Service And Condition
The book was in Excellent condition (New) and the service was great. The book arrived right on time.

correct your listing please
You're listing as a paperback version of Saferstein's "Criminalistics: an intro to forensic science," the associated lab manual by Meloan, Saferstein and another.Sort of confusing until you figure it out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chemistry, Forensic    2. Criminal Investigation    3. Criminology    4. Forensic Medicine    5. Forensic Science    6. Forensic ballistics    7. Legal Reference / Law Profession    8. Medical jurisprudence    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Criminal investigation & detection    12. Social Science / Criminology   

Reviews (6)

Clearly, an outstanding piece of work!
While Dr. Butler's book on DNA typing is clearly based on experience and profound understanding of the subject, I was most impressed with the readability.I was thrilled to find principles illustrated by examples from current events!Students of science will find this book refreshing.Well written (and edited)!

The Breakthrough in Forensics This Year! - A Must Have Book!
Dr. Butler takes a very complex subject and makes it easy enough for the novice to understand, yet is comprehensive enough for the professional research analyst.It is full of excellent research and observations on one of the most exciting and innovative technologies in DNA research that has been discovered in recent years.This book, without a doubt, will stand the test of time as being the authoritative reference on DNA forensic research.This book is packed with research and information that will enlighten you to the technological breakthroughs that are being made in forensic science.I have heard Dr. Butler speak and read several of his papers.He is without question the expert in DNA analysis with STR markers and this book has the distinction of being the best book ever written on the subject.Get this book, study it and find out why STR markers are the groundbreaking method for DNA analysis.If you are in any way involved with DNA research, you will find this book a desktop reference you will turn to again and again.

Marvelous work!
This book has opened my eyes to the vast world of DNA analysis.It is an invaluable resource to those who want to understand how criminal justice will advance into the new millennium.Butler's text will be the keystone of DNA analysis in the future.I look forward to revised editions as new things arise. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Forensic Science    3. Life Sciences - Biology - General    4. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Science / Genetics   

Reviews (4)

Great corrections book
I've taught college-level corrections courses for quite a few years now and have kicked around a number of different corrections texts.This new edition is definitely an improvement over previous ones--it's much heavier on the recent empirical research, which helps me to keep my students "on track" with what the actual research indicates regarding a number of correctional topics.
Review of American Corrections, 7th Edition
Clear, Cole, & Reisig present a thorough overview of classic and historical correctional philosophy that is strongly tied to their discussion of more contemporary issues.Each revision includes the most up to date, critically acclaimed research from top criminology journals. Additionally, they regularly cite the best government sources (such as the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the Federal Bureau of Prisons) to support various claims. In sum, this is a fair and balanced approach to all of the important issues facing corrections. I have taught Corrections for many years, and would not consider using a book other than American Corrections.

Worst Criminal Justice Textbook I've ever read
The name of this book should be 'The Overly-Liberal, Bleeding-Heart View of Corrections'.This was by far the worst criminal justice textbook that I have ever read.I expect textbooks for classes to give the facts and be somewhat unbiased.This book gave a VERY one-sided view which portrayed anyone that is convicted of a crime to be the actual victim; all the way from investigation to parole.This view would have been fine if it had been countered with the other side as well.I was very disappointed.I read it from from front to cover, and it was brutal.This should be a book on opinion, instead of a textbook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Corrections    2. Criminal Procedure    3. Criminology    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. United States    7. Law / Criminal Procedure    8. Prisons   

Reviews (3)

Great working with you.
Your book was in great conditions, I'll do business with you again.

EXCELLENT INTRODUCTION
Relatively up to date (September 11 and law enforcement reactions, USA PATRIOT Act, etc.), and very informative, this textbook provides an excellent survey of the Criminal Justice System.The prose is streamlined, clear, and somewhat non-biased.Minor corrections may need to be made (e.g. the textbook states that the majority of female sexual assault victims do not know their attacker. . .), but these flaws are minor for a textbook of this scope.The book is extensively source documented, making it perfect for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the Criminal Justice System.The CD-ROM and online tools are comprehensive, and give the reader/student a more intimate view of the author's vision.

Criminal Justice.
This is the best book I have read on Criminal Justice. It is fun to read and easy to enjoy. I advise anybody that is interested on the field of criminal justice to begin with this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Law - General    2. Criminal justice, Administrati    3. Criminal justice, Administration of    4. Criminology    5. Law    6. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Crime & criminology    10. Political Science / Law Enforcement   

Reviews (1)

Criminal Procedure with CD-ROM
The cases were written in an understandable English language and the CD-ROM was helpful in simplifing the chapters but they were too bare.They helped point you in the right direction but needed to be filled in a little more from the chapters. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Procedure    2. Criminology    3. Law    4. Legal Reference / Law Profession    5. Reference    6. United States    7. Law / Criminal Procedure   

Reviews (6)

criminal investigation book
This subject is very interesting and the book go along with it well. The book is very interesting and is not boring to read. It has a lot of detailed pictures and information that goes along with it. Plus the reading is enertaining.This overall is a very good book!

Just the book I was looking for
I bought this book because I'm interested in series on discovery such as: Forensic Detectives, Medical Detectives and The Fbi Files. This book describes everything(see table of contents) in detail, from the history of crime investigation till gunshots etc. After almost every subject, the book givesreal life examples and pictures. The best in a long line of boring criminal justice books!!!
This book is by far one of the best of the criminal justice books that Ihave ever read.If it wasn't required reading for my CriminalInvestigations class, I just might have picked it up and read it on my own. This book is one of the most interesting and easy to read books that hasever been required reading. The photography in the text helps with thetopics in the reading much more than in any other books I've read.Thougha bit gruesome, the photos are of great quality and only help the book thatmuch more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Law    2. Criminal Law - General    3. Forensic Science    4. Law    5. Legal Reference / Law Profession    6. Law / Criminal Law   

Reviews (6)

Read the title: "STUDY GUIDE"
What a useless study guide.All this does is reprint the chapter summary and removes a few words and asks you to fill in the blanks. Do not, repeat, NOT, waste your money on this.
This is the book, your seller got you!
I bought this book, and it was the textbook, not a study guide, the last reviewer was fooled!

This is the STUDYGUIDE, not the text book!
This is the STUDY GUIDE, not the text book.I was really peeved when it came in the mail and I realized all I had was a paper thin study guide, which was supposed to help me take tests on the text book.Don't make the mistake I did, get the text book, not the STUDY GUIDE! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Criminal Procedure    2. Criminal investigation    3. Criminology    4. Forensic Science    5. Law    6. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    7. Sociology    8. Criminal investigation & detection    9. Law / Criminal Procedure   

Subjects:  1. Criminal Procedure    2. Criminology    3. Law    4. Reference    5. Sociology    6. United States    7. International Law    8. Law / Criminal Procedure   

Subjects:  1. Correctional personnel    2. Criminal Law - General    3. Criminology    4. Law    5. Penology    6. Personnel management    7. Prison administration    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Non-Classifiable    11. Social Sciences    12. Sociology, Social Studies   

Editorial Review

Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that Read more

Reviews (537)

Enthralling!
I never thought I'd consider a book primarily about architecture enthralling, but this book is amazingly so.
A fascinating story
I received this book as a birthday gift, and although I typically read works of fiction, I found The Devil in the White City to be fascinating.The central happenings of the story (the World's Fair and the serial killings) are presented in wonderfully researched detail.Other gems of information can be found scattered throughout the book, such as references to Walt Disney's father, a carpenter who worked construction at the fair.I found it difficult to put the book down at all, and now that I've finished it I find myself still thinking about the story, the characters, and the mind-set of America in the 1890's.To me, a great book is one that stays with you long after you've read it, and I know this one qualifies.I am looking forward to reading more of Erik Larson's work.

Well researched,well written
What strikes me most about this book is the detailed research that went into the parallel story about the Chicago World's Fair and how it's woven around the story of the murders. Larson's book is a pure enjoyment--a historical journey into the history of Chicago, warts and all. The reader not only learns about Daniel Burnham's amazing feat pulling together the Columbia Exposition of 1893 and the ways it changed the nation, but he contrasts this event with America's first serial killer, ironically steps away from the fair. The reader is tugged from good to evil, from risk to murder, from heaven to hell. Enjoy the ride and thanks Mr. Larson for allowing us to take that ride! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1861-1896    2. Architects    3. Biography    4. Case studies    5. Chicago    6. History - General History    7. History - U.S.    8. Illinois    9. Mudgett, Herman W.,    10. Murder - General    11. Murder - Serial Killers    12. Serial murderers    13. Serial murders    14. True Crime    15. United States - 19th Century    16. United States - 19th Century/Turn of the Century    17. United States - State & Local - General    18. United States - State & Local - Midwest    19. History / United States / 19th Century    20. Mudget, Herman, W    21. Mudgett, Herman W    22. World's Columbian Exposition    23. Murder    24. Reading Group Guide   

Subjects:  1. Courts - General    2. Criminal Procedure    3. Criminal courts    4. Criminal justice, Administrati    5. Criminal justice, Administration of    6. Criminology    7. Law    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Crime & criminology    11. Criminal law    12. Law / Criminal Procedure   

Reviews (60)

EXTENDER OF LONG TRADITION OF LOGIC FLAW DENOUNCERS
Jamie Whyte follows in a long tradition of writers that focus on flaws of logic that most people seem to fall into.His predecessors include Richard Dawkins (of a more scientific tone) and Gary Becker (of a more economics tone).Dr Whyte, by training a philosopher, focuses on pure reason and the ways people violate it.
Starts with a bang, ends with a yawn
This is a quick read.I read it on a flight to Cleveland.The book begins with wit, humor, and searing critiques of serial logical offenders.I particularly enjoyed how Mr. Whyte exposed the logical flaws in Pascal's wager, and people's right to their opinions.
Well written but a little too opinionated
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I delved into this book. I heard it was witty and sarcastic - it is. I heard Whyte was blunt and highly political - he is. Did I like it? From politics to religion, Whyte attacks the false logic he sees in every argument. He analyzes the lies of politicians and the existence of God. So sure, I liked parts of this book. It is well written and it makes you think, but it was a little too opinionated and blunt for my taste.
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Subjects:  1. Crime And Criminals    2. Criminology    3. Fallacies (Logic)    4. Logic    5. Philosophy    6. Philosophy / Logic