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Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing by, that here obedient to their laws we lie.
Thus reads an ancient stone at Thermopylae in northern Greece, the site of one of the world's greatest battles for freedom. Here, in 480 B.C., on a narrow mountain pass above the crystalline Aegean, 300 Spartan knights and their allies faced the massive forces of Xerxes, King of Persia. From the start, there was no question but that the Spartans would perish. In Gates of Fire, however, Steven Pressfield makes their courageous defense--and eventual extinction--unbearably suspenseful.
In the tradition of Mary Renault, this historical novel unfolds in flashback. Xeo, the sole Spartan survivor of Thermopylae, has been captured by the Persians, and Xerxes himself presses his young captive to reveal how his tiny cohort kept more than 100,000 Persians at bay for a week. Xeo, however, begins at the beginning, when his childhood home in northern Greece was overrun and he escaped to Sparta. There he is drafted into the elite Spartan guard and rigorously schooled in the art of war--an education brutal enough to destroy half the students, but (oddly enough) not without humor: "The more miserable the conditions, the more convulsing the jokes became, or at least that's how it seems," Xeo recalls. His companions in arms are Alexandros, a gentle boy who turns out to be the most courageous of all, and Rooster, an angry, half-Messenian youth.
Pressfield's descriptions of war are breathtaking in their immediacy. They are also meticulously assembled out of physical detail and crisp, uncluttered metaphor:
The forerank of the enemy collapsed immediately as the first shock hit it; the body-length shields seemed to implode rearward, their anchoring spikes rooted slinging from the earth like tent pins in a gale. The forerank archers were literally bowled off their feet, their wall-like shields caving in upon them like fortress redoubts under the assault of the ram.... The valor of the individual Medes was beyond question, but their light hacking blades were harmless as toys; against the massed wall of Spartan armor, they might as well have been defending themselves with reeds or fennel stalks.
Alas, even this human barrier was bound to collapse, as we knew all along it would. "War is work, not mystery," Xeo laments. But Pressfield's epic seems to make the opposite argument: courage on this scale is not merely inspiring but ultimately mysterious. --Marianne Painter
Book Description
The national bestseller!
At Thermopylae, a rocky mountain pass in northern Greece, the feared and admired Spartan soldiers stood three hundred strong. Theirs was a suicide mission, to hold the pass against the invading millions of the mighty Persian army.
Day after bloody day they withstood the terrible onslaught, buying time for the Greeks to rally their forces. Born into a cult of spiritual courage, physical endurance, and unmatched battle skill, the Spartans would be remembered for the greatest military stand in history--one that would not end until the rocks were awash with blood, leaving only one gravely injured Spartan squire to tell the tale....
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Powerful.......2007-10-01
I don't read much fiction, but a friend of mine bought this book for me. I read it and was impressed by how well written this historical fiction is. Anyone interested in warfare, modern or ancient, should look into this book. Pressfield gives such an authentic account of how Spartans would have acted on a day-to-day basis.
One of the best books I've ever read.......2007-09-25
This book is absolutely amazing. One of the best reads ever. Not only does it describe the battle but it also details the life of a Spartan. I wish 300 was based on the story presented here
A different view........2007-09-21
The story of the 300 is generally limited in scope. "The Spartans had 300 guys who fought to the death to keep the Persians out."
Pressfield gives us the background. He tells us about the politics, the geopolitics, the war, the characters such as Leonidas and his wife. He has vignettes in the words of Spartan warriors.
With Pressfield, we can see the stand of the 300 in its place. I was reminded of something the aviator/writer Wolfgang Langweische said half a century ago. Boulder Dam, he said, is enormous. But when you fly over it, it's in its proper place, like a child jamming a pebble in the narrowest part of a trickle of water. Which, when you think about it, is what is supposed to happen.
Circumstances conspired to put 300 Spartans and several hundred of their tough allies in a tiny mountain pass. They were the pebble, but instead of blocking a trickle, they were trying to hold back a torrent.
Pressfield has Leonidas say that the performance of the Spartans in killing Persians should be such that, although victorious, the Persians will quail at seeing a battle line containing not 300 Spartan shields, but six thousand.
Pressfield gives us glimpses of training new soldiers and the field work of the experienced soldiers. His characters refer to the more or less normal fights between the city states, with enough detail and immediacy to put the reader into the fight.
We learn a lot about classical Greek combat.
It's a fabulous story. The stand of the 300 was very likely one of the few battles which could be said to have preserved the West, matched with Tours and Lepanto.
And yet. And yet. Pressfield has the Spartans nearly as philosopher kings. See, instead, Hanson's "Soul of Battle". The Spartan society was a vicious, fascist slave empire. It was as if a couple of Waffen SS divisions had found themselves a big, fertile valley in the Ukraine someplace and missed the end of WW II, being left untouched and unknown by the outside world.
The demands of war and the bonding of the combat units, in addition to the classical Greek view of man-love, required the distortion of the family and the degradation of women. The necessity of keeping the helots in thrall required routine terror and, indeed, the young Spartan was used to execute those serfs whose deaths might be a salutary lesson, just in case, as a way of blooding the youth for combat.
Vlad the Impaler fought the Turks in Southeast Europe and to him, unfortunately, we owe a bit of our existence. The same is true for the Spartans. It's too bad we couldn't get this lesson of courage and honor from, say, the democracy of Athens. It appears that some of the doomed allies of the Spartans who stood with them, and died alike, came from somewhat more acceptable polities. But they didn't get the ink.
Nevertheless, it's a fascinating book which actually is one of those examples of the cliche about not being able to put it down.
Spartan Ethos Alive Again.......2007-09-17
This is one of the best historical fictions I have ever encountered--certainly one of the best evocations of ancient warfare. Without the benefit of personal experience of either subject, ancient warfare or warfare of any kind, I would also guess that this novel is one of the most insightful anaylses of the psychology of combat. This book is an impressive achievement of the imagination. Steven Pressfield has re-discovered or re-created the Spartan ethos in terms of what it surely was in its time--a spiritual force. And he does it without disguising it origins in a slave revolt and a deliberate policy to crush the resistance of its Helot population. From those ugly and life-denying origins, a way of life--an ethic of sorts and a vision of essentials--emerged and took on a life of its own. Appropriately, this novel is about personal transformations under the aegis of that way of life.
300 Awesome.......2007-09-10
I saw the movie first. I didn't know what it was, but the movie rocked in a non plot having, CGI heavy metal, yelling and fighting sort of way. I longed for more and after searching Amazon and reading the reviews of the movie and the comic book it was based on I discovered the Gates of Fire. I could hardly put the book down. It is very detailed and it takes its sweet time setting the stage. The actual battle itself is probably by far the shortest portion of the entire book, but once you get to the battle you understand so much about the Spartan Culture, Warrior Ethos, History and more. I highly reccomend this book and after reading it almost wish it were made into a movie, but the movie would have to be about three hours long and I don't think the world needs anymore three hour long movies!
Book Description
Over the past century, America's Eagle Scouts have earned a reputation for service, virtue, and leadership that is recognized throughout the world. But few people realize the full extent to which Eagle Scouts have made a mark on American history. They have served as astronauts, soldiers, politicians, and businessmen, but they have also been the fathers, brothers, Scoutmasters, coaches, and other role models who have played an integral part in American life.
Alvin Townley set out across the country to hear the stories of these Eagle Scouts. He spoke with individuals from every region, of every age and every background, some of whom have risen to fame as public figures while others have left a lasting impact outside of the spotlight.
The Eagle Scouts who share their experiences include Bill Gates, Sr., Bill Bradley, J. W. Marriott, Jr., Ross Perot, Michael Bloomberg, Richard Lugar, Michael Dukakis, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, coach Chan Gailey, and Capt. Jim Lovell of Apollo 13. The book also explores the virtues of a Tuskegee Airman, a Vietnam War POW, a September 11 NYPD hero, a crew of Hurricane Katrina relief workers, and a host of others from every walk of life.
During his journey, Alvin discovered stories of character, courage, and inspiration that belong not only to Eagle Scouts but to all Americans. These stories form the heart of Legacy of Honor and offer us a chance to appreciate the profound impact that Eagle Scouts have had on American history and the lasting role they will play in our country's future.
Customer Reviews:
Scouting- This country's last, best hope.......2007-10-02
This book is more than a collection of stories told by old men about their youth. Rather, it is a cry for America to wake up and see that its young men are confused and lost today amongst political correctness and gender neutrality. Listen carefully to what the Eagle Scouts are trying to say. The values of scouting and the friendships made during a young man's formative years remain with him forever. Scouting is the only place in most boys' lives where exposure to these values can be obtained and put into action while working with others. Parents are often too busy trying to make ends meet to spend time with their boys and besides that, boys listen to other adults before their parents anyway in most instances. As a scoutmaster who regrets he never made Eagle, I thank God for Scouting and Scouters and I thank Alvin, for this book.
Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts.......2007-08-02
This book is filled with inspirational true stories. If you have a scout close to becoming Eagle, but has lost his desire to finish, reading this book could fill him with enough motivation to finish his Eagle work. I can tell you, anyone who had a chance to make the rank of Eagle and gave up -- regrets that decision for the rest of their lives. And for those few that do make it, they enjoy a special global recognition unique to the brotherhood the have joined, also for the rest of their lives.
An Inspirational read !!!!.......2007-07-12
I bought these books for my two grandsons , who just earned the rank of Eagle. I flew from the East Coast to Hawaii for the Honor Court and presented the books to them. I had read some of it first and was quite impressed by the stories of other Eagle Scouts. I highly recommend the book to all young men pursuing the rank of Eagle Scout. It is a wonderful book.
The Best Support of the Boy Scouts I EVER Read!!!.......2007-05-14
It is often that one wonders what makes true heroes. Are they made or born? Then you read a book like this. About Heroes and the common man, and how he started like the average boy in your neighborhood, and just 'went to Scouts every week', and 'had fun' But after six years of energy, leadership and being mentored, many become Eagle Scouts and then they pursue a measure of excellence that leads them to 'paths greater than any imagined' Astronauts, Political Leaders, Firemen, Rescuers, Saviors of Youth, and Military Escellence. 50 stories of folks just like us that become 'the top of the heap', and move others to join the heap, not to step on others less fortunate. Start anywhere, any part of this book, no plot, no difficult passages, just tear jerking reminders of men and boys who would strive to 'achieve' and did as youths and then as adults, with outstanding results. A must read for teachers, clergy, and psychologists who deal with youth who need role models.
:Must Reading".......2007-05-08
This book should be requied reading for all Boy Scout leaders and all Scouts with a goal of attaining the Eagle rank. Both will get a valuable insight into what defines an Eagle Scout. Adults will find themselves more knowledgeable and better able to explain the value of earning the Eagle. Youth will better understand just what attaining the Eagle means and the legacy they are expected to continue once they have earned it.
Book Description
Barbarians at the Gate has been called one of the most influential business books of all time -- the definitive account of the largest takeover in Wall Street history. Bryan Burrough and John Helyar's gripping account of the frenzy that overtook Wall Street in October and November of 1988 is the story of deal makers and publicity flaks, of strategy meetings and society dinners, of boardrooms and bedrooms -- giving us not only a detailed look at how financial operations at the highest levels are conducted but also a richly textured social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era.
Barbarians at the Gate -- a business narrative classic -- is must reading for everyone interested in the way today's world really works.
Download Description
With more than 500,000 copies sold, Barbarians at the Gate is the definitive account of the largest takeover in Wall Street history: the frenzy of strategy meetings and society dinners, of boardrooms and bedrooms -- giving us the view from the top of the financial ladder to the social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era.
Over six months on the New York Times bestseller list, Barbarians at the Gate is the definitive account of the largest takeover in Wall Street history. Bryan Burrough and John Helyar's gripping record of the frenzy that overtook Wall Street in October and November of 1988 is the story of deal makers and pulicity flaks, of strategy meetings and society dinners, of boardrooms and bedrooms, giving us not only an unprecedentedly detailed look at how financial operations at the highest levels are conducted but also a richly textured social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era. As compelling as a novel, Barbarians at the Gate is must reading for everyone interested in the way today's world really works.
Customer Reviews:
Stranger Than Fiction.......2007-09-22
A takeover story that reads like a Jeffrey Archer novel, Barbarians at the Gate is a meticulously detailed account of the takeover of RJR Nabisco by KKR in the late 80s. The authors were WSJ journalists who covered the story for the Journal and the book does a great job of communicating the tension and intrigue of those six weeks in 1988. The book does slack in pace at times but the story keeps you engaged. Recommended.
Barbarians at the Gate audio book.......2007-09-02
Great book. Great format. I listened to it on the plane. A must read business book - goes along with reading the art of war and the prince.
The business classic.......2007-08-20
Simply compulsive. If you have an interest in business and finance or people, greed and behaviour this is a must read. In many ways this story reflects a broadly held image of the 1980's and its culture of excess that was abound in our worlds financial capitals.
This is a gripping read; the story of the battle for RJR Nabisco and the characters involved contains many elements of the best fiction with the distinct difference of this story being true. Whilst the business finally conducted may not have been the finest work of the venerable KKR it was important mainly due to its Herculean scale which was at the time unprecedented.
This book is simply a must read on many levels. Since it was first published in 1990 it has gripped the imagination of many and has kindled an interest in business reaching far and wide.
The business book of business books.......2007-08-05
To say this book was expertly written, would be an understatement. The authors craft the perfect description of an LBO, with all the players, transactions, and affects on peples lives. How they were able to get inside as well as they did, is really beyond me. This is one for the ages and should be read in Business schools.
Inquisitive narrative on the epic LBO of RJR Nabisco.......2007-07-09
This book, written in 1990, tells the detailed story of one of the largest Wall Street deals of all time - the leveraged buyout of the RJR Nabisco Corporation. The authors, Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, are former Wall Street Journal reporters. They spent many hours interviewing the players involved, and, in so, have come up with a very thorough (and presumably accurate) description of the events that took place.
Ross Johnson, CEO of RJR Nabisco, decided to take the company private. Officially, his reason was to improve shareholder value, since the RJR Nabisco stock was undervalued (and Johnson's attempts to boost it have failed). His other reasons may have included money and the constant urge to change things up. He teamed up with Shearson Lehman Hutton to make a bid to the board. In their shortsightedness, this "management group" did not expect anyone else to compete - due to the sheer size of the deal. However, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. made a tender offer, which started off a bidding war between the two groups (and a few third party bidders). This book describes everything in detail - starting with how Johnson got to Nabisco - and finishing off with a gripping climax of Shearson and KKR's final bid war.
It is a long narrative, over 500 pages long. The authors take a lot of side tangents to describe many personal biographies. I found those of major players (like Ross Johnson and Henry Kravis) very interesting, and those of lesser-involved people somewhat excessive. Nevertheless, I was never tempted to skip over paragraphs or pages, as I sometimes am in lengthy books with lots of characters.
The authors clearly have done a lot of research. I liked that they included footnotes when stories from different people didn't match up. I also like the photographs included in the book - they put faces on the people described so thoroughly. The "Players" section in the beginning of the book is also very helpful - it lists the names of almost everyone involved in the deal.
The narrative is great. The story is gripping, with many twists and surprises. We learn about the multiple final bids submitted by KKR and the management group, the backstabbing plots, and the emotions and broken spirits behind the closed doors. It's as if we are there amidst the board meetings - kudos to the authors for their great writing. However, as some reviewers before me mentioned, it would have been nice to see more financial details - and more on what actually transpired after the takeover (the epilogue provides some details, but not nearly enough). Check out John Helyar's article in Fortune (October 13, 2003) - it describes what happened to RJR after the LBO. KKR took 60% of the company public in 1991 and then finally got rid of it in 1995. In the end, KKR had very disappointing returns on its LBO and drove RJR into the ground with poor leadership.
In conclusion, it's a great read for anyone interested in business or history. It works as both a fun thriller and a good historical account of the events that took place. However, I am a bit skeptical of why this book is a recommended read for many MBA curriculums. Other than describing the corporate culture and Wall Street in the late '80s, it doesn't really provide the financial details from which the readers could learn something practical.
Pros:
+ great narrative - gripping story with twists
+ many details on personal lives of the people involved
+ fantastic insight into the corporate world of the '80s
Cons:
- not enough financial details to learn from
- for some readers, can feel lengthy with lots of tangents
Book Description
Introduction to Computing Systems: From bits & gates to C & beyond, now in its second edition, is designed to give students a better understanding of computing early in their college careers in order to give them a stronger foundation for later courses. The book is in two parts: (a) the underlying structure of a computer, and (b) programming in a high level language and programming methodology.
To understand the computer, the authors introduce the LC-3 and provide the LC-3 Simulator to give students hands-on access for testing what they learn. To develop their understanding of programming and programming methodology, they use the C programming language. The book takes a "motivated" bottom-up approach, where the students first get exposed to the big picture and then start at the bottom and build their knowledge bottom-up. Within each smaller unit, the same motivated bottom-up approach is followed. Every step of the way, students learn new things, building on what they already know. The authors feel that this approach encourages deeper understanding and downplays the need for memorizing. Students develop a greater breadth of understanding, since they see how the various parts of the computer fit together.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book to Teach You the Basics of the Computer.......2007-05-06
This book is really good for learning the basics of how a computer functions. It takes you from the low-level Flip-Flops to explaining how a register and other small components of a computer work. Then the book shows you the basic components a computer, and then gives a full example in the LC-3. The LC-3 is complete with a architecture diagram and Assembly instructions. The book does a good job of of taking you through the LC-3 data path and showing how an instruction is implemented on the architecture. The book also does a good job of showing how the assembly code connects to higher level languages like C/++ or Java. It also gives a high-level explanation of exactly what a compiler does. Towards the end it gives some information on data structures and particularly as to how a stack would be implemented by the LC-3 in assembly. The book also explains how memory works and how input and output are handled in some computers.
Some problems with the book are in the C section. This book does not give a real C tutorial, there are much better guides to C programming.It doesn't really give you any instruction as to how to program in LC-3 Assembly; however, the instructions are simple enough that you should be able to figure it out. Another potential problem is the combinational logic section. This part of the book is not really comprehensive, but teaches what you need to know so that you understand how all the low-level components work; however, if you want to design your own combinational logic, then there are other books for that. Also this book does not really go into the theory of how and why they developed the LC-3 architecture as it is. It is just an intro to get you used how a computer architecture looks and how it works.
All in all a great read for a CS student or Electrical Engineer to get an idea of how a computer runs the programs written on it.
Note: I am a student at University of Illinois (Patel works here) and took a class created around this book. ECE 190 is still my favorite class I've taken to date.
Needs improvement.......2007-02-05
I was lucky enough to be taught by the professor himself--Dr. Patt. The book needs definite improvement in clarity. Too many of the concepts are abstract and ambiguous. The exercises at the end of each section are pathetic, they should be presented more in a Mathematical or Physics style and they do not flex your knowledge about what you have learned in that section. I had to rely on my TAs to explain certain concepts to me since the book did such a poor job.
However, once you master everything that this book has to offer (I strongly recommend you read the appendixes at the end of the book as collateral reading) you will truly understand how computers work at the most fundamental level.
Great book........2007-01-03
This is one of the best books I have used for a computer science course. This book is really detailed. Would really recommend getting this book and keeping it for reference.
Better Than The Teacher.......2005-12-15
I had a pretty ambiguous and boring teacher for the course that required this book so I didn't listen to her much at all in class. Instead, I just substituted the book for her lectures, and I aced the course with ease learning much about how a computer works along the way. It makes me feel a lot more competent about programming to know this stuff, and the book provides it in a pretty good way through the LC-3 architecture and sprinkles the book with examples.
I didn't read any of the "C and beyond" stuff, but everything else was spot-on. I found that most of the teacher's slides (up until a couple of last topics the book didn't cover like linking and loading) were almost identical to the book's presentation of the material. It's a pricey book, but take heart in knowing that it's not a waste of your money for what you get from it.
Intro to CS the way it should be done.......2005-05-17
This book is the implementation of what I have been trying to impart to my beginning students for years. It contains explanations of all of the ideas that make up the foundation of computer science. The first sections deal with the fundamentals of binary data, how numbers are represented, how arithmetic is performed, how the bitwise operations are executed, followed by the basics of digital logic. These ideas are then expanded into a simple assembly code with many control instructions. Staying at the assembly level, I/O operations, subroutines and stacks are demonstrated.
In chapter 11, the transition is made to higher-level languages by the introduction of C. It is then used to illustrate variables, operators, control structures, functions, pointers and arrays; recursion, I/O in C and simple data structures. The explanations are all very well done and the topics are what should be the first set encountered by a computer science major. While the level of abstraction that most programmers work at has dramatically increased over the years, there is still no substitute for being well schooled in the fundamentals. Not only does this make it easier to move up the abstraction ladder, it also makes it possible for a programmer to function at the lower level, should the need arise.
I strongly recommend this book for adoption as a text for a first course in computer science. While it is not designed to fit into the traditional mold of a first semester programming class, it will provide a much stronger foundation for the student taking their first course in CS.
Book Description
McDaniel and Gates stand out from the crowd!
When it comes to putting you on the frontlines of the marketing research industry, McDaniel and Gates stand out from the crowd. These authors deliver the hottest trends, insights, and advances in the field, with a focus on how marketing research is practiced today.
Based on their successful Marketing Research, 6th Edition, this paperback text offers the same user-oriented, real-world focus, and cutting-edge content in a more streamlined format.
* Authors wired to the marketing research industry: Unlike many other marketing research texts, Marketing Research Essentials provides a real-world view of the field from authors who are industry insiders. Together, they bring more than 40 years of marketing research experience to this edition.
* A strong focus on how to use research: McDaniel and Gates focus on using and analyzing market research results, rather than actually doing the market research.
* Real-world perspective: Throughout the text, the authors inject a healthy dose of reality into the discussion, including intriguing examples of how real companies use marketing research and war stories from the frontlines of the field.
* New learning tools put you in the know: New chapter-opening Visual Checklists and chapter-ending Visual Summaries help reinforce your understanding of the material.
* Includes the student version of SPSS 13: In addition, new SPSS exercises at the end of the quantitative chapters give you hands-on experience. Data sets for the software are available on the companion website at www.wiley.com/college/mcdaniel.
Customer Reviews:
Could be better..........2007-03-20
My high expectations for this pricey book were not met. They cover basic statistics, a watered down version. Other than a couple of concepts I could have gotten the rest of the book from an elementary statistics book. Even though the title says its for market research, it does not cover any of the important concepts of market research- market segmentation, cluster analysis, factor analysis, etc.
Book Description
Every spring thousands of middle-class and lower-income high-school seniors learn that they have been rejected by America’s most exclusive colleges. What they may never learn is how many candidates like themselves have been passed over in favor of wealthy white students with lesser credentials—children of alumni, big donors, or celebrities.
In this explosive book, the Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter Daniel Golden argues that America, the so-called land of opportunity, is rapidly becoming an aristocracy in which America’s richest families receive special access to elite higher education—enabling them to give their children even more of a head start. Based on two years of investigative reporting and hundreds of interviews with students, parents, school administrators, and admissions personnel—some of whom risked their jobs to speak to the author—The Price of Admission exposes the corrupt admissions practices that favor the wealthy, the powerful, and the famous.
In The Price of Admission, Golden names names, along with grades and test scores. He reveals how the sons of former vice president Al Gore, one-time Hollywood power broker Michael Ovitz, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist leapt ahead of more deserving applicants at Harvard, Brown, and Princeton. He explores favoritism at the Ivy Leagues, Duke, the University of Virginia, and Notre Dame, among other institutions. He reveals that colleges hold Asian American students to a higher standard than whites; comply with Title IX by giving scholarships to rich women in “patrician sports” like horseback riding, squash, and crew; and repay congressmen for favors by admitting their children. He also reveals that Harvard maintains a “Z-list” for well-connected but underqualified students, who are quietly admitted on the condition that they wait a year to enroll.
The Price of Admission explodes the myth of an American meritocracy—the belief that no matter what your background, if you are smart and diligent enough, you will have access to the nation’s most elite universities. It is must reading not only for parents and students with a personal stake in college admissions, but also for those disturbed by the growing divide between ordinary and privileged Americans.
Customer Reviews:
A bit repetitive... was probably better as a newspaper article.......2007-07-27
In a series of articles for the Wall Street Journal, Golden brought attention to controversial aspects of college admissions that act to hinder economic diversity at elite campuses. The most striking allegation is that many universities mantain active communication between the admissions and development offices. For example, the development office at Duke applied pressure to accept applicants from wealthy families even if there had been no sign of interest in donations. Golden illustrates the unsavory nature of this connection through a series of comparisons between the wealthy (undeserving) applicant who was granted admission and a poor (deserving) applicant who was denied admissions. This style of writing is a nice appeal to emotion, but it works much better in the comparatively short format of a newspaper. After reading a dozen such comparisons between various students I would have preferred some real analysis. One piece of analysis that I have recently come across is a study by the New America Foundation which found that among the 140 most selective colleges, only 3% of students come from the bottom quartile.
The Price of Admission.......2007-03-10
This is one of the most revealing books ever written on the topic of unequal rights and entitlement. Its chilling detail about the disproportionate number of applicants who gain admission into the hallowed halls of America's elite institutions on the backs of their parents financial contributions is riveting stuff. It is very apparent that our legal system would have us believe that colorblind policies and not affirmative action should be the major criterion in considerations of admission in order to level the playing field. But race-based discussions in this context are spurious and misleading. This book reveals plainly why how in the midst of our most diverse society ever, American elite college admissions stands by the motto "I pledge allegiance to my university's endowment and to the hypocrisy for which it stands; one nation, divisble, with Liberty and justice for all who can afford it." Legal challenges would be next to impossible since the cloaked wonders on our Supreme Court come from these same hallowed halls. And we have the nerve to think God Blesses America!
entralling, but biased........2007-02-11
Higher education is regarded as the most effective means to elevate ones socioeconomic position. The author discusses how the admissions system of elite universities continually favors the wealthy, while neglecting disadvantaged students. For this book, he primarily utilizes his past columns on admissions, admissions data from the U.S. News & World Report, and personal correspondence and interviews.
Golden's main theme is the "gross inequity" of elite college admissions obtained through an "informal quota system" aimed at maintaining the homogeneous wealthy class (p. 11). From the introduction, the author details the various means by which elite institutions enact double standards in admissions between "hooked" and "unhooked" applicants via the personal tales of applicants who were rejected by their top choice universities. These sometimes heart wrenching stories are complimented by accounts of admission of various under-qualified applicants assisted by a variety of connections, such as the admission of President Bush's niece to Princeton past the official deadline. While somewhat repetitive by the end of the book, these narratives are effective at illustrating the author's theme of the favoritism towards the wealthy.
Overall, The Price of Admission is as a interesting, though scalding, review of admissions at elite institutions. Daniel Golden's stories of corruption and heartbreak certainly captivate the reader, and the need for admissions reform is clearly communicated. Some of the author's points, such as abolishing athletic preference, especially for athletes in sports only available to the wealthy, can and should be put into place. However, Golden's recommendations are too idealistic as a whole to be easily enacted under realistic circumstances. While forces other than merit should not influence admissions, much cultural and organizational change would be needed to truly change the current system. Universities rely on alumni monies, as they do funds associated with development cases, and until more equitable fundraising procedures such as those at Cooper Union can be successfully enacted, legacy and development preferences cannot be abolished. Also, American universities need to continue to use their limited financial aid funds for our students, rather than offer needs-blind admission to international applicants. Golden states "a fair, accessible college admissions system based on individual merit...would inspire students of all races...." (p. 297). While this is likely true, one must remember that the changes the author recommends would primarily benefit the fairly privileged middle class, who can afford good secondary education and test preparation to meet merit requirements. To truly open elite higher education to the masses, the reform must begin with primary and secondary education.
who's doing the not so right thing ar schools.......2007-02-07
This is a tattletale book of who is working the system to get their kids into privledged schools, often bypassing any main criteria that the institution has for any other students. The ending is a good one because the author offers solutions to this epidemic. he also cites some schools, one bing, Cooper Union in NYC that does not bow to any pressures to let kids into their school.
Good Book...Disturbing Truth.......2007-01-03
After reading this book I was embarrassed by my naivety. I had always thought that our country's "premier" colleges were special places where the best and brightest gathered. Obviously that is not the case. The admissions practices outlined in the text appeared to me to be little more than discrimination by wealth.
I must confess I am very grateful to Mr. Golden for writing this book. As disturbing as it was to read, I could not put it in down. It has changed the way I look at higher education, the business world, and politics.
In the future when I see the resume of a CEO or political leader I will be looking for a state university as a mark of merit and real world experience.
Customer Reviews:
Relief for a Broken Heart.......2007-09-16
This book really helped me to find some peace after the loss of my 11 year old yellow lab that I have had since 7th grade. I feel totally at peace that he is in heaven and I will see him again one day. "Cold Noses" had a lot of scripture and heart warming stories that really made me feel better.
An excellent source of comfort........2007-09-09
Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates was a great help to my wife and I when dealing with the loss of our little dog Lucy. It's comforting to know that we won't be separated forever.
Great Premise, Poorly Written.......2007-08-03
Having suffered the sudden and devastating loss of a treasured furbaby, along with being currently the guardian of 3 more seniors, I agree with and think the main premise of this book is great. The actual book itself, however, is very poorly written. Instead of just getting to the topic at hand, the author goes on and on ad nauseum about his beliefs, views, stories and thought trains that have no connection to the book's purpose and then spends what seems like forever apologizing for what he has written. There were SO many apologies, in fact, that it made me feel like the author himself was uncomfortable with his work. He went off on tangents all over the place, offered only the smallest handful of scripture references to support his theories and just seemed like he was all over the place. There seemed to be very little actual material addressed to the topic at hand.
The author seems to be a very kind individual with the genuine desire to do for others, so I hate to be negative, but throughout the entire book I kept thinking "Where's the REAL subject matter? The reason I'm sitting here reading this?" The books is a very easy read, I read the whole thing in one evening, but I'm glad I got it from the library and didn't pay for it.
Every Pet Owner Should Read this Book.......2007-07-11
This is a beautifully written book from a Christian perspective about our beloved pets and that they do indeed go to heaven. Even I was somewhat skeptical about our pets going to heaven. The author really did his homework researching the information about pets going to heaven. This book is a definite must read for anyone who loves animals and has ever grieved over the loss of their pet. This book will change your outlook on life. The author explains how the sin of mankind not only affected mankind but the animals as well. You simply have to read this book!!
A Reader.......2007-04-10
Cold Noses was a Godsend! Anyone suffering from the loss of a pet will benefit greatly from this book. After the death of our 15 year old "best friend" my husband and I were suffering so much...looking for some kind of comfort and reassurance that we would once again be reunited with our Odie. The only way I can describe my feelings is that through this wonderful book we felt such peace! Our spirits were lifted and the pain was lessened! We now truly believe, as in the author's kinds words "Odie is still alive and well. He hasn't passed away, he has passed on". Gary Kurtz is one of the best!
This spiritual and caring man has dedicated his life to helping others, not only by his extensive research, but by personally reaching out and touching your heart! In addition to the books there are wonderful articles on the website. "Making the Big Decision" was also so helpful! Through Cold Noses I, Cold Noses II, personal emails, and coldnosesbook.com I am now positive that Odie is pain free, happy, and patiently waiting for us in Heaven. Thank you Gary Kurtz for your wonderful books and articles...and for helping to ease our heartache! God Bless You!
Average customer rating:
- Great Concept, Slow Development
- Lordy, this is awful!
- Ok as long as there's more coming.
- Clash of two very different human cultures
- A Promising Start
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Hell's Gate (Multiverse, Book 1)
David Weber , and
Linda Evans
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Evans, Linda
| ( E )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Weber, David
| ( W )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
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ASIN: 1416509399 |
Book Description
The Union of Arcana has expanded through the portals linking parallel universes for over a century and a half. In that time, its soldiers and sorcerers have laid claim to one uninhabited planet after another¿all of them Earth, and in the process, the Union has become the most powerful, most wealthy civilization in all of human history. But all of that is about to come to a screeching halt, for the Union¿s scouts have just discovered a new portal, and on its far side lies a shattering revelation. Arcana is not alone, after all. There is another human society, Sharona, which has also been exploring the Multiverse, and the first contact between them did not go well. Arcana is horrified by the alien weapons of its sudden opponents, weapons its sorcerers cannot explain or duplicate. Weapons based upon something called . . . science. But Sharona is equally horrified by Arcana¿s ¿magical¿ weapons. Neither side expected the confrontation. Both sides think the other fired first, and no one on either side understands the ¿technology¿ of the other. But as the initial disastrous contact snowballs into all-out warfare, both sides can agree on one thing. The portal which brought them together is Hell¿s Gate itself!
Customer Reviews:
Great Concept, Slow Development.......2007-10-02
While I have only read a handful of the works by David Weber I was in an airport bookstore and saw this and thought to myself, why not? Unfortunately at times I found myself wondering, why did I?
As many people have already commented the book is a bit how do you say...slow on the get go. Honestly it was really really boring and there was so much character development and back story that you sometimes forgot what happened at "Fallen Timbers" or to Sir Olderhan and his Shardoni throughout the book.
While admittidly it was slow in the beginning, after having now read the second book in the series I understand why things were done they way they were in this first book. The character development is some of the deepest I have ever come across in a book and you really begin to feel some pretty deep connections with the main characters by the end of this story.
However while following main characters is one thing, they have gone and personified the civilizations of Andara and Sharona in of themselves. It's difficult to pick which side you really want to win because of all the similarities to human history and fantasy.
Ironically though some of the deepest aspects of this novel have everything to do with the development of the readers link with each civilization and the political, and human response to such a meeting. In the end I would have to say that this really was a great read!
Lordy, this is awful!.......2007-10-02
I like David Weber. A lot. But this, this is just terrible. Page after page of people peering into one another's eyes. All of the female characters bursting into tears at the drop of a hat....again and again, and again. Heroic male characters who the average trooper wouldn't follow to the local waste water treatment plant, let alone into battle. Spend your hard earned money elsewhere.
Ok as long as there's more coming........2007-08-08
Now despite being billed as "A War between Science and Magic," it would behoove the reader to know that the last battle between these two cultures occurs on page 350 thereabouts. The problem is, its an 800 page book, and the only thing that happens for the rest of the 450 pages is a severe amount of preparation in character backstory and motivation for the rest of the series. Knowing Weber, this is to be expected for him to plant seeds here that wont pay off for several books down the line, as he does that unceasingly annoyingly in his Honor Harrington novels, making the reader wait YEARS to see where things are heading (while pumping out about 5 OTHER books between each Harrington novel). For this book, as a reader, I was constantly thinking, "Thats Ok and all that, but where's the war?" Then we get to the horrible disappointment of the ending, to find out that there ISNT one, and we have to wait for Book 2 to see anything interesting.
GOOD NEWS IS, that Book 2 will hit you like a thunderclap, with the big showdown between the dragons and the howitzers that we were promised in Book 1 finally arriving in a huge flying monster vs industrial war machine free-for-all. This should have been the ending to Book 1, and judging by the size of Book 2, only HALF the size of this one, it very well likely may have been, becoming a 2nd book in the editing process.
Just keep 'em coming at a quick clip. I can handle these waits as long as we get a steady stream of sequels. Book 2 had better have been short for a darned good reason, such as Book 3 being 800 pages or more... Dont keep us hanging for hangings sake.
Clash of two very different human cultures.......2007-05-28
Start with the very standard idea that a multiverse exists in which the universe has repeatedly separated into different alternates in which the same event has different outcomes. Now add a much rarer twist - contact is possible between universes with common history tens of thousands or more years in the past, but not with more recent ones. Gone are the "Nazis won WW II" or "Roman Empire still lives" contacts. Instead, humanity finds a chain of Earths in which there are no humans, but which are in an "Age of Mammals" which is pretty much as on our Earth.
Such a scenario allows for contact between (and clashes between) two human cultures which have developed in vastly differing manners - one discoverted technology and the other magic. Each approach blinded its adherents to even the possibility of the other way of life.
Further, to make things more even, the technology people have not yet achieved flight or radio communication, but do have railroads, steamships and late 19th century artillery and machine guns. Further, they have some psi "Talents", which may eventually balance the "Gifts" of the magical adepts.
Both civilizations have been actively spreading through the chain of alternate Earths, without meeting other humans, until they meet in a world newly discovered by both and far from the home world of either. A clash ensues, started by accident, but fed by paranoia, incompetence and egotism.
A interesting twist is the existence in the technology world of a pseudo-British Empire (headquartered in Ireland, so not quite British) whose past resembles Rome and its Byzantine avatar (including a clone of Constantinople as its past capital) - they even have "joint" sovereignty over pseudo-Gibraltar - and a psuedo-Ottoman Empire ("Othmaliz") whose Constantinople-clone capital is the site of the world conference called to address the crisis resulting from the clash of cultures. Why create a history very different from ours and then copy details of our history into the new history? Since that is what happens, I suggest the reader label a blank world map with the local names from the story to keep track of what's happening on "technology Earth" ("Sharona" - incidentally, Weber's wife's name is "Sharon").
The early section of the book, is, as other reviewers have mentioned, disjointed and hard to read. I almost gave up. After the first 50 or so pages, the story becomes much more interesting and is hard to put down.
The scenario has potential for a long series of high quality stories.
A Promising Start .......2007-05-23
To those who are griping about the amount of exposition, don't you think the introduction of not one but TWO entirely new universes might require a little bit of explaining? Actually there are more since it's a multiverse, but the protagonists are from the two main ones. See? It is such a broad new storytelling concept that even in a letter about it some explanation is required. I suspect the same folks would be complaining that there wasn't ENOUGH background if Weber had left it out and simply dropped dragons and spells on a reader who had just gotten used to a bunch of characters (in the OTHER universe) who were telepathic steam engine users. Yes, there are a lot of characters, but again, remember, two universes. Rest assured, these people are being introduced for a reason. Seemingly minor characters now will have vital roles to play later. Trust the author. He knows what he is doing. Has Weber ever disappointed you before?
I found this novel, well, novel. It is a promising and entertaining beginning to a whole new series and I look forward to a long and enjoyable string of books set in this `multiverse' that promise to stand up in quality and pure reading fun to the Honor Harringtons already on my shelves. I read through this book in just a couple of days and immediately ordered the next one. Let me assure you now; It gets even better in "Hell Hath No Fury". I am eagerly awaiting announcement of the third book in this thoroughly enjoyable new series and will buy it without hesitation
Book Description
Real Data, Real People, Real Research
Experience what it's like to work at the frontlines of the marketing research industry! In Marketing Research, 7th Edition, Carl McDaniel, founder of the University of Texas at Arlington's MS In Marketing Research program, and Roger Gates, a full-time marketing researcher, offer you an engaging, highly entertaining, and thoroughly real look at the field today.
Drawing from their own real-life experiences, the authors provide insights into the latest trends, what works and what doesn't, and what separates the good research from the bad.
You'll discover how to effectively use marketing research to make critical decisions, learn how to manage people, know what to look for in a marketing research report, and much more.
Highlights of the Seventh Edition
* Three new data cases are based on real data gathered from a nationwide sample of 2,000 college-aged students from the Survey Sampling International database. Cases include and online dating service, an online student travel service, and a new chain of combination fast food/convenience stores.
* A new video on Focus Groups shows college students discussing online dating.
* From the Front Line boxes present real-life insights from practicing professionals at Roger Gates's research firm, DSS Research.
* A Student Version of SPSS 14.0 is packaged with this text.
* SPSS exercises follow each quantitative chapter. Data sets and Excel-based versions of the SPSS exercises are available on the Companion Web Site.
* New web quizzes enable students to test their understanding of the material.
* Includes many new chapter-opening vignettes, global vignettes, and real-life research cases, based on real companies such as Proctor & Gamble, Starbucks, Swiffer dust mops, Gap, and Coach Handbags.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent textbook for Marketing Research.......2007-03-24
From "problem definition" to "survey design" and "data analysis," Marketing Research takes you through every step of the process with a good mix of theory and examples. This was a required textbook for my MBA marketing research class. The concepts are clear and material is presented interestingly. You can learn a lot just by reading the book, but it will be even more valuable as a reference to a class. Many of the concepts are best learned by conducting your own research studies. McDaniel designed the book with coursework in mind and offers plenty of real-world applications.
Amazon.com
As the death toll mounts in the Iraq War, Americans are agonizing over how the mess started and what to do now. George Packer, a staff writer at The New Yorker, joins the debate with his thoughtful book The Assassins' Gate. Packer describes himself as an ambivalent pro-war liberal "who supported a war [in Iraq] by about the same margin that the voting public had supported Al Gore." He never believed the argument that Iraq should be invaded because of weapons of mass destruction. Instead, he saw the war as a way to get rid of Saddam Hussein and build democracy in Iraq, in the vein of the U.S. interventions in Haiti and Bosnia.
How did such lofty aims get so derailed? How did the U.S. get stuck in a quagmire in the Middle East? Packer traces the roots of the war back to a historic shift in U.S. policy that President Bush made immediately after 9/11. No longer would the U.S. be hamstrung by multilateralism or working through the UN. It would act unilaterally around the world--forging temporary coalitions with other nations where suitable--and defend its status as the sole superpower. But when it came to Iraq, even Bush administration officials were deeply divided. Packer takes readers inside the vicious bureaucratic warfare between the Pentagon and State Department that turned U.S. policy on Iraq into an incoherent mess. We see the consequences in the second half of The Assassins' Gate, which takes the reader to Iraq after the bombs have stopped dropping. Packer writes vividly about how the country deteriorated into chaos, with U.S. authorities in Iraq operating in crisis mode. The book fails to capture much of the debate about the war among Iraqis themselves--instead relying mostly on the views of one prominent Iraqi exile--but it is an insightful contribution to the debate about the decisions--and blunders--behind the war. --Alex Roslin
Book Description
Named one of the Best Books of 2005 by The New York Times, The Washington Post Book World, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle Book Review, The Los Angeles Times Book Review, The New York Times Book Review, USA Today, Time, and New York magazine.
The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq recounts how the United States set about changing the history of the Middle East and became ensnared in a guerrilla war in Iraq. It brings to life the people and ideas that created the Bush administration’s war policy and led America to the Assassins’ Gate—the main point of entry into the American zone in Baghdad.
The Assassins’ Gate also describes the place of the war in American life: the ideological battles in Washington that led to chaos in Iraq, the ordeal of a fallen soldier ’s family, and the political culture of a country too bitterly polarized to realize such a vast and morally complex undertaking. George Packer’s best-selling first-person narrative combines the scope of an epic history with the depth and intimacy of a novel, creating a masterful account of America’s most controversial foreign venture since Vietnam.
Customer Reviews:
Bit of a plod .......2007-09-27
I am not sure but this was probably, the first book which outlined the growth of the insurgency in Iraq and the break down into choas which followed the American invasion. The weakness of the book is that it is a personal journey. Rather than talk about what happened in general or abstract terms the author does it by talking about the experiance of large number of Iraquis he meets in his trips to the county. He also talks about his initial luke warm support for the war to a realisation that all was not well.
There are now quite a number of books about what are till now the failed attempts of America to build a democracy in Iraq. Both Fiasco and Inside the Emerald City are easier to read as they just concentrate on a factual anylsis rather than the approach of this book which is more journalistic. That is not to say that this book is bad. It explains the various mistakes the Americans made. The disbanding of the security forces the ideological nature of the initial occupation authority.
The problem is that the others do so free of the personal agonizing which occurs in this book. Inside the Emerald City also has more jokes.
Great book!.......2007-06-26
The best book on Iraq by far. Read this book if you want to know the facts behind this policy fiasco.
Good Perspective of the Iraq War.......2007-05-25
The Assasins Gate
America in Iraq, By George Packer
George Packer provides a first-person account of the political debates which preceded the war in Iraq, an analysis of its intellectual roots specifically those that came into play with regards to the occupation of Iraq, and finally, some of the consequences of the Iraq invasion. Packer does an excellent job of communicating the reality of the war from the vantage points of a wide variety of ordinary stakeholders. Specifically he tells the story of Iraqi exiles, their hopes and dreams for Iraq, the idealistic members of the new founded CPA, the competing demands of the Kurds, Sunnis and Shia upon the overly stretched soldiers and civilian staffers tasked with rebuilding a nation and the daily frustrations and minor accomplishments of the CPA. Packer repeatedly points out the tragic disconnect between the CPA headquarters and the everyday realities in Iraq.
Packer weaves an intricate story detailing both the frustrations of the Iraqi people and the Americans there to assist them. Packer's natural instincts towards the desires and wants of the Iraqi people and what they had endured and what they are enduring today leads to his own belief that it was necessary to depose of Saddam. Packer astutely points out the ravages of Saddam on Iraqi society and how his dictatorship and government crushed the very fabric of Iraqi will and self determination. Packer also points out repeatedly the unrealistic assumption of America assuming, with no evidence other than empty assertions and wishful thinking that the simple removal of Saddam would create a vibrant healthy country that would allow our troops to return in six weeks.
Packer uses the first few chapters to provide the reader with interesting biographical sketches on such people as Paul Wolfowitz, Robert Kagan, and Kanan Makiya. Packer illustrates how these peoples thinking influenced the white house and led to many of the decisions about Iraq.
One of the most interesting sections of the book dealt with the Kurds, and specifically with those in Kirkuk. Packer does a good job of explaining the recent history of the Kurds, their treatment by Saddam, and the forced displacement of the Kurds from their ancestral homes. Packer touches upon the ongoing struggle between the Arabs and the Kurds in the region and does not give much hope for a peaceful outcome within this region.
Ultimately Packer summarizes his position as: "I came to believe that those in position of highest responsibility for Iraq showed carelessness about human life that amounted to criminal negligence. Swaddled in abstract ideas, convinced of their own righteousness, incapable of self-criticism, indifferent to accountability, they turned a difficult undertaking into a needlessly deadly one. When things went wrong, they found someone else to blame." (page 448)
Proponents of the war will argue that Packer is telling a biased story based on his own beliefs. Yet Packer makes it clear that he still believes Iraq is salvageable. Packer clearly lays out the complexity of the situation in Iraq and provides some valuable advice on how the U.S. may still be able to bring stability to Iraq. The ultimate question that Packer raises is the role of the U.S in pursuing ideas or ideals within the world.
The Assassin's Gate is a good look at the Iraq war's history and aftermath, with a number of valuable lessons for policy makers. I highly recommend this insightful book which powerfully contributes to the debate about the decisions, history and aftermath of the invasion of Iraq.
The Definitive Book on Iraq.......2007-02-22
George Packer has written a masterpiece that speaks volumes! The book details the events that contributed to America's entering the War in Iraq and portrays the keyplayers involved. I even got a chance to hear him speak recently and he is extraordinarily down to earth. Enjoy!!
The Assassins' Gate: America in Iraq.......2007-02-21
required reading as background history of Iraq, Oil, Middle East to understand the future we need to understand the past to the best of our abilities
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- How to Draw and Paint Fairies: From Finding Inspiration to Capturing Diaphanous Detail, a Step-by-Step Guide to Fairy Art
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