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   

Reviews (11)

Fun Read
Really satisfying-- it's got a great history about the U.S. food revolution along with some juicy gossip about the big players of the movement.You feel like an insider hearing all the stories about these people.David Kamp tells stories beautifully, and the footnotes are sometimes the most hilarious parts on the page.This is a must read for anyone who considers themself a foodie, and well, for anyone who just enjoys eating...and a good story!

Revelatory
Nietzsche writes, "What good is a book that doesn't take you beyond all books?"David Kamp illuminates a rare but relevant subject and, wittingly or not, goes far beyond it to animate the culture of 20th century America, from which its subject springs.His book renders each of the last several decades vividly and down to astonishing detail.The buoyancy and wit of his storytelling, and the accompanying sense that you're in the good hands of a rational historian, make this book an immense pleasure to read.

my two favorite things: Eating and Reading!!
Loved this book! Toast is a big accomplishment for me, yet I thoroughly enjoyed Kamp's story. Had to eat while I was reading it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Cookery, American    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Cultural And Social Anthropology    6. Essays    7. Gastronomy    8. History    9. Cooking / Essays   

Reviews (60)

The Official SAT study Guide
Any student preparing to take the SAT should not go with out this book. The Book provides accurate practice test created by the Test makers (ETS). But don't count on this book to give you excellent review. Review for the SAT is very brief. also this book is no good without the solutions manual which you could buy on amazon. so without the soulutions manual you won't be doing anything but just taking the practice test and not knowing where you went wrong. anyways good luck!

A must-have for your SAT prep; but no accurate diagnostic tools
Official materials are always the most important for the SAT, and this is currently the only source available for authentic SAT questions. The questions and essay topics contained in this book give a nice overview of what an SAT-taker will see on test day, so it would be wise to complete and review as many questions as you can in this book.
WOW
The practice tests featured in this book
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Subjects:  1. Education    2. SAT & PSAT    3. Scholastic Assessment Test    4. Study Aids    5. Study Guides    6. Test Prep    7. Study Aids / SAT & PSAT (Scholastic Assessment Test & Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test)   

Reviews (156)

Fun to read, not too indepth, but Stossell entertains for sure!
John Stossel's Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity is a great book in which the 20/20 anchor tackles myths that prevail in society and are often taken as fact and refutes all of them with facts of his own.The chapters are broken down into myths about health, medicine, government, relationships, business, etc.These myths aren't just those such as you shouldn't swim after you eat (although that is in there.)Stossel tackles myths that cost money and lives and have been around so long they have been accepted as truth.For example, malaria, a desease that takes thousans of lives in Africa, could be easily combated with the Pesticide DDT.DDT was banned many years ago because fraudulent data reported it as cancerous.Food could be much healthier if it was treated with radiation, but radiation sounds bad so minority special interest groups have fought to have it banned.
Forget much of what you think is true!
John Stossel's first book, GIVE ME A BREAK,got me thinking about
Clear, excellent example of bias
I love this book.I teach a class that includes a component on critical thinking, and I've had trouble finding clear examples of authors who are able to all of the following in one argument: (a) use bias in choosing the facts they present, (b) mischaracterize the meanings of these facts, (c) mischaracterize counter arguments, AND (d) reason incorrectly about what their already selective premises.But now I've found plenty of examples here.
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Subjects:  1. Common fallacies    2. Government - State & Provincial    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Political Process - General    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology (General)    9. Sociology - General    10. Political Science / General   

Reviews (6)

A 'must have' for all leaders.
If you take your job as a business leader seriously, this book is a 'must have'. As a business coach I use it in my practice with great success. For leaders (and managers who think they are leaders) and their teams it's an eye-opener. It gives insight in what it takes to turn a good team into a great team, and what great leadership is all about. If you want to be more effective as a leader and take your team to the highest level of readiness, read this book. It will change your life....and of those you lead.

Management of Organizational Behavior
Not too bad as these books go but a tremendous amount of verbiage explaining the obvious. Excellent example of turning simple concepts in complex charts and definitions. I would imagine that people in the field love this hyperbole but it's BS to me and pretty much a waste of time to drudge though all of it.

Goes where few texts dare to go: the real-world
I recommend this to managers as much as students.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Entrepreneurship    5. General    6. Human Relations In Business    7. Human Resources & Personnel Management    8. Leadership    9. Management    10. Organizational Behavior    11. Business & Economics / Leadership    12. Organizational theory & behaviour    13. Personnel & human resources management   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economics - General    5. Finance    6. Economics   

Editorial Review

You'll find everything you forgot from school--as well asplenty you never even learned--in this all-purpose reference book, aninstant classic when it first appeared in 1987. The updated versiontakes a whirlwind tour through 12 different disciplines, from Americanstudies to philosophy to world history. Along the way, Judy Jones andWilliam Wilson provide a plethora of useful information, from the plotof Read more

Reviews (59)

More Here Than You Can Ever Know
No, you probably didn't learn all of these 3,684 tidbits. If you had you would have been an excellent player of 'Trivial Persuit' but your brain would probably have been fried.
Study this curricum and have fun doing so!
I just finished the taped version of AN INCOMPLETE EDUATION
A Great Book
This book can be viewed as either a repository of interesting knowledge or as a way to one up people in conversation at cocktail parties.There are chapters to correspond with the major departments in a liberal arts college (art, literature, economics, etc.)This is a guide to everything that you learned in college and forgot (or everything you should have learned but skipped out on).If you are still in high school, read this book--you will be able to easily impress your teachers with college-level knowledge.I cannot wait for the new edition to be released! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Encyclopedias    3. Encyclopedias (Multi-Subject)    4. Handbooks, vade-mecums, etc    5. Reference    6. Research    7. Trivia    8. Reference / Encyclopedias   

Reviews (6)

Improved My Score by 130 Points in 2 Weeks
I only had 2 weeks to study for the GMAT.I bought three books to help me, all of which were highly rated on Amazon.They were:
The Inside Scoop
No short (even at 560 large pages plus a CD) book is going to replace what you should have learned over many years of classwork. You should know the basic rules in English, mathematics and the rest. Instead, this book concentrates on the testing aspects: what areas does the test cover, how is it administered, what is the format of the test, things like that.
It's OKbut it's not enough
Although I liked the way the authors went through and reviewed the topics I needed for the exam, I did not execute most of their strategies during the actual exam.
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Subjects:  1. Business Education    2. Educational Tests And Measurements (Higher Education)    3. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)    4. Graduate Management Admission Test    5. Study Aids    6. Study Guides    7. Test Prep    8. Study Aids / GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)   

Subjects:  1. Administration - General    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. School management and organiza    5. School management and organization    6. United States    7. Education / Administration   

Reviews (11)

Excellent book on all aspects of Freshman Physics
This series of textbooks on college freshman physics is simply the best I have found in print, even if it is not the most widely used. It has clear explanations of all concepts, plenty of instructive diagrams, and most of all many interesting solved problems and examples. I am by no means saying that this is an easy book, you will need to read it carefully and work through the examples. However, unlike with other physics textbooks, all of the information is there if you are willing to put forth the required time and effort. Make sure you've had the first two semesters of calculus first though, or there are parts of this book that will not make sense to you. If you are interested in having a good textbook and reference for both college physics and modern physics, it is the best choice you could make. If you are only interested in the classical physics part, I suggest you buy the 10th edition and save yourself a lot of money. The 10th edition has just a very abbreviated section on modern physics. This book is of great use for engineers, because not only will it get you through your freshman physics sequence smoothly, it is a great reference with lots of examples that you will need when you take statics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and your sophomore level courses on electric circuits and EM. I notice that Amazon does not show the table of contents, so I do that here:
One of the best
This book is one of the best general physics texts there is. Period. The author(s) took the time to clearly explain topics and answer all those little "Wait, why did you do this?" questions that other texts leave to you to figure out. I still go back to this book instead of Hibbeler's engineering series as the concepts are explained much more clearly and the excersizes are tough to make sure you really learn the concepts. Another great feature of this book is it's easy to understand writting style. Reading the book is just like having a professer explain something to you in person, not a mathenatician reading a theorem out loud, unlike say, Hibbeler. Very good choice overall.

Superb book for the beginning Physics student
This book is the best book out there that I have seen for the beginning Physics student.It is a bit wordy as some of the reviews have said, but I think the authors have done their best to bend over backwards to explain each Physics topic in a simple, clear, and unassuming way for the neophyte.Even as reference, this textbook is invaluable, because it explains concepts down to the nitty gritty detail; unlike a book like Physics by Halliday, Resnick, and Krane which just drops you onto your head expecting you to have some understanding of the subject already.This book is unpresumptious, unpretentious, and yes for some; unsophisticated, but when you're just starting out in Physics, no one expects you to be an Einstein or Feynman right from the start. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Physics    2. Physics (General)    3. Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Science / Physics    6. Teaching of a specific subject   

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   

Editorial Review

Esteemed historian David McCullough covers the military side of the momentous year of 1776 with characteristic insight and a gripping narrative, adding new scholarship and a fresh perspective to the beginning of the American Revolution. It was a turbulent and confusing time. As British and American politicians struggled to reach a compromise, events on the ground escalated until war was inevitable. McCullough writes vividly about the dismal conditions that troops on both sides had to endure, including an unusually harsh winter, and the role that luck and the whims of the weather played in helping the colonial forces hold off the world's greatest army. He also effectively explores the importance of motivation and troop morale--a tie was as good as a win to the Americans, while anything short of overwhelming victory was disheartening to the British, who expected a swift end to the war. The redcoat retreat from Boston, for example, was particularly humiliating for the British, while the minor American victory at Trenton was magnified despite its limited strategic importance. Read more

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (493)

Great Book!!
This book is great! He does a wonderful job of explaining what the early days of the war was like and the state of the colonial army was like. I never really understood how huge the odds against us where until now. The book does a great job at introducing you to Washington, his struggles and the struggles of the nation during this year.

The greastest country ever, how it became.
David McCullough's book, though not thorough in introducing the reader to all the twists and turns of our nation's early history, does an excellent job in introducing George Washington, King George of England and the daunting task that Washington had in trying to hold a truly "rag tag" army together while the British tried to vanquish the Revolutionaries in the Colonies.
I Wonder How It Ends?
Books on history can often be a hard sell to both publishers and readers. The rehashing of old material gets, well, old. You either have to come up with an obscure piece of history that few know about but is engaging, or you have to recreate a larger section that is known by many and give some new tidbits.
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Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Audiobooks    3. History    4. History: American    5. Revolution, 1775-1783    6. U.S. History - Revolution And Confederation (1775-1789)    7. Unabridged Audio - History    8. United States    9. United States - Revolutionary War    10. History / United States / Revolutionary Period (1775-1800)   

Reviews (10)

Great
This is a really great book. So many details and so many examples and references. Covers every single century from the Caves paintings to the Modern Picasso. I really loved it.

Gardner's Art Through the Ages (with ArtStudy Student CD-ROM and InfoTrac) (Gardner's Art Through the Ages)
This is an excellent text for studying art history or just learning about how art has evolved through the ages.

Excellent art history intro text
I'm not an art major but I thought it'd be cool to take an art history course for a humanities requirement in college and I'm very happy I decided to take it.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. General    4. History    5. History - General    6. Art / General    7. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles   

Reviews (1)

GREAT EXPERIENCE....BROUGHT BACK THE FAITH IN GOOD
THIS BOOK WAS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION.EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTH, THE ORDER, THE DELIVERY AND THE BOOK.THANK YOU. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Communication    2. Interpersonal Relations    3. Interpersonal communication    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Telecommunications    8. Communication Studies    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication    10. Language teaching & learning material & coursework   

Reviews (6)

At last!
I got this book the instant it came out.This is the topic I have been looking for from Deepak. I've always felt that his background in medicine, spiritual experience and wisdom traditions puts him in an almost unique position to really dig into the subject of the afterlife. He really delivers. This is a facinating read for the intellectually and spiritually curious.
Pseudo Science
Chopra attempts to use the language of science to disguise absolute rubbish and convoluted thinking. Don't waste your time with this pseudo science dribble.

Spirituality Examined
Once again Chopra has explored the edges or our spirituality, of our minds. Many of us who like to consider ourselves spiritual but thinking human beings have grappled with the concept of eternal life and studied the various religions to find an answer.Most are far too rigid.Chopra wants us to explore for ourselves.BRAVO to a courageous man! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Theology - General    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. Eschatology    4. Future life    5. General    6. God (Theology)    7. Metaphysics    8. Psychology    9. Religion    10. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (3)

Quality
This book was received quickly and was in perfect shape.I appreciate the promptness.

Excellent introductory text!
Parrillo's text is a helpful overview of the sociology of race and ethnicity in the United States taken from a group-to-groupapproach.Major sociological contributions on these matters are covered through the lens of particular groups that are most affected (e.g. LA riots are covered under black Americans but not under Korean Americans).The most recent edition is especially helpful as comments are made in conjunction with post-September 11th consequences on race and ethnic issues.The role of religion in racial dynamics and the continuing changes in immigration is a helpful addition as well as it is a rising area of study with race and ethnicity. From the Foreword author:
Strangers to These Shores is a comprehensive examination of the sharpest edges and more nuanced qualities of American pluralism.In its 14 chapters, Professor Parrillo provides students/readers--and those for whomit is not assigned--with a well conceived, carefully constructed, andhighly readable introduction to a very complex subject. --Peter I. Rose, Smith College ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Discrimination & Racism    3. Ethnic relations    4. Race And Ethnic Relations    5. Race relations    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology - General    9. United States    10. Ethnic studies    11. Social Science / Sociology / General    12. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (4)

Showed me how to teach writing
I have taught 2nd grade for 5 years.The first three years my district did not have a "set" writing curriculum.We used 6-traits, but the structured limits of that way of thinking did not help make me a good writing teacher.Those three years I tried my best to teach writing with the limited experience of writing myself.Two years ago we addapted the Lucy Calkins series.These books have changed the way I see writing and how I teach it.
Lucy Calkins
These books are excellent guides for both old and new teachers.They guide you through each genre of writing.They include lessons in their entirety and scripts, as well.

Units of Study for Primary Writing : A Yearlong Curriculum
This will be incredibly helpful for my 1st graders in CO!I recommend this highly.The layout is user-friendly and the commentary helps you feel like you have mentor teacher in the room with you while you plan lessons!
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Subjects:  1. Curricula    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Elementary    5. Professional Development    6. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts   

Reviews (2)

A history of the IB, its increasing introduction in American school systems, and how it makes a difference
Jay Mathews & Ian Hill's Supertest: How The International Baccalaureate Can Strengthen Our Schools deftly assesses the statistics about the Baccalaureate, including its impact on student chances for success in college and life. Chapters provide a history of the IB, its increasing introduction in American school systems, and how it makes a difference in the transition to college. Sounds like dry reading: but the concurrent story of one American high school that adopted the IB adds a personal flavor and human interest touch to the statistics and discussions.

Your kids deserve IB - learn what it is and why from Jay
"Washington Post" reporter Jay Mathews extends his appreciation of challenge in our high schools by identifying the grandest and most challenging of them all:the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.Jay created "Newsweek" magazine's Challenge Index, and his writing is always approachable and easy to follow.This book maintains that special style.He writes here very specifically about a local DC-area high school and its experiences with beginning and maintaining the rigorous IB curriculum.You come to really care about the students and teachers he profiles, and to share their trials and successes and occasional failures with them.The book features an extremely effective method of integrating chapters about the creation and operation of the IB program as a whole - written by a co-author from the IB Organization - with chapters about Fairfax County, VA's Mount Vernon High School and the people involved with getting IB up and running there.And of the battles in Fairfax County and elsewhere about IB and its rival, the Advanced Placement (AP) program.In my mind there is no contest - IB is far and away the better program, especially for exposing kids to what college will be like.And there is no better predictor of success in college (i.e., graduating) than having taken at least one rigorous course in high school, especially one from IB which teaches how to think and plan and lean.But read Jay's book and decide for yourself.He does an excellent job of iterating the AP proponents concerns about IB, some legitimate - most not, and of exposing as fools or frauds a few of the opponents and their methods for keeping this excellent program out of their schools.They won, but did their kids a real disservice with their victory.
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Subjects:  1. Aptitude Testing    2. Curricula    3. Education    4. Education / Teaching    5. History - General History    6. Secondary    7. Testing & Measurement    8. World - General    9. Examinations & assessment    10. History / World   

Editorial Review

The life and times of Abraham Lincoln have been analyzed and dissected in countless books. Do we need another Lincoln biography? In