history

This, the first volume of two pocket atlases on world history (prehistory-1792, 1792-present), is the perfect handy reference for rapid historical factfinding. The dozens of maps are gorgeous; the annotation is densely packed but well done; the graphs and charts that accompany the maps are very illustrative. (Example: on one page, a flow chart showing the structure of the government of the Late Roman Republic; shortly thereafter, a similar chart set in the Late Empire.)

For anyone who is interested in world history, both volumes are tremendous bargains. Well worth a search.

This book is indispensible for any historian or anyone intrested in understanding historical events. It is ambitious in scope and very successful. It is packed full of valuable political, economic, and religious maps revealing countries at key historical time periods. Diagrams of major political structures are included. The accompanying time table is intricate and detailed. It is unsurpassed going beyond the mere rise and fall of nations and rulers but of cultures, science, and trends. You have the important names, places, and dates at your fingertips. I can't understand why this valuable book is out of print. If you can find this book, keep it. Do not lose it. Pass it on. It's pocket size makes it easy to carry around anywhere. I still have my first copy I purchased in 1977 and brought it with me all around the world.

This excellent resource is no longer out of print. Penguin is publishing soon in Britain an updated two-volume, paperback version (see the Amazon.co.uk site). A one-volume, hardback French version is already available in Canada and France (cheaper in the Amazon.ca site). In both cases, search for the authors, Kinder & Hilgemann.

I've read a few books about the sufferings of Tibetans by now, but still, this book managed to affect me and make me stop and think. Again and again. First of all, how has nothing changed since this book confirmed that China is continuing to do all it can to wipe out the culture, religion and spirit of Tibet? I know I have responsibility to speak up about this (and I will) but I still can't believe that higher powers up there did not stop China by now.

Anyway, back to the book- Palden Gyatso is the image of courage, compassion and inner strength. I read passages of how he was tortured and bullied and then would flip to the inner photo of this tiny, frail man-astonishing! I see now that the determined and strong look on his face at the UK Independence rally co-exists with the gentle, loving portrait on the cover and it's a wonderful combination. This book reminded me that it takes deep courage to stand up for who you are and what you believe in but there is no greater purpose for each of us than to aim for that goal with all that we have.

Read this book to better understand why Tibet needs our support but also to re-instill your own will to be a decent,kind and courageous human being.

Having been blessed to have read this book and having met Palden-la, I can only say that he has something inside of him that is truly exceptional. He is one of the most compassionate, courageous, forgiving, strong, funny, and seriously dedicated human beings I have ever known. The book is amazing and I read it in one night. The first few chapters are written in a way that carries the reader into pre-invasion Tibet as well as Palden-la's family...it is breathtaking. As his story unfolds, it very clearly shows how ridiculous China's claims are, from their so-called "liberation" of Tibet, to their denials of torture practices, both physical and mental, to their claim that Tibet is part of China. Sadness, nausea, and shock swept through me as I read this book, coupled by a respect and awe for Palden-la's resilience and resistance.The re-education sessions and interrogations are enough to leave one speechless, such is the horror that goes on in Tibet's Chinese prisons--even today. One can see the serious string of grievous errors carried out by the communist regime over time in Tibet--errors which they are terrified of admitting to now and will not risk loss of face at any price. Palden-la's book is A MUST READ FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE. And, for anyone who is interested in Tibet's Independence Struggle and China's Communist regime, it is essential.

This is a great book. I am an activist for Tibetan independence and knew much about the atrocities taking place in Tibet since 1949, but this book put a face to the facts. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in Tibet, Buddhism, or in learning about a remarkable man who went through horrible oppression and has emerged gracefully.

The Big House on Cape Cod was built more than a century ago by the author's great-grandfather. It weathered 2 world wars, joy and tragedy, the changing seasons and fortunes of two families, and the transition from the simpler life-styles of past times to our own modern 'very fast is still too slow' culture. When the house becomes financially untenable for family members to maintain, Colt returns for one last visit before it goes on sale...and there the story, a touching and wistful memoir, begins. Don't miss this lovely book.

"The Big House" is a big piece of work by George Howe Colt.
For a century, "The Big House," an eleven bedroom architectural gem on Cape Cod, has been in the Atkinson/Colt family. At the start of the book, Colt describes taking his young family to the house for what may be the last summer. Alas, the extended family can no longer afford to keep the home and it must be sold.

The house has served as a center of gravity for this family, a place which pulls them back each summer to live out graceful and simple Boston Brahim traditions. The house also serves as a metaphor for the fading fortunes of this once wealthy, once socially prominent family whose entire caste-the Brahmins of Boston--has become irrelevant.

Through the prism of the house and its meaning to his family, Colt also delves into his family's history of mental illness, of marriages that become estranged, of boys that start out as golden children and end up tarnished old men.

He also recounts his own story. He began his adult life as a young Brahmin with disdain for his heritage. Now in mid-life and a New Yorker, he is deeply proud of the many traits (e.g., thrift, reverence for family) bred deep in his bones.

I would recommend this book to those who gravitate towards serious memoirs and thoughtful accounts of profound issues (e.g., meaning of family). It is a beautiful read.

Built by the author's great-grandfather 100 years ago on a peninsula stretching out into Buzzards Bay from Cape Cod, the big house is a landmark. The four-story, 19-room jumble of roof lines, gables, bays and dormers is the emotional home and the center of gravity for the Colt family through the 20th century.
The big house is a wonderful place. Anyone who ever understood the use of the word "summer" as a verb can feel the emotions, smell the smells, hear the creaks in the floors and appreciate the melancholy of the fading glory of this monument to family, local history and old New England aristocracy.
The big house silently presided over five weddings, four divorces and three deaths. There were countless anniversaries, reunions, birthdays, nervous breakdowns, conceptions and love affairs. Author George Colt blends humor and affection as he describes the rise and fall of the significance of his family's social class while saluting his ancestors' deliberate manner and their deep-seated pleasure found in this place at the shore.
For a century everyone returned and worshipped the familiar. It was an unchanging place in a changing world. It was sanctuary for 100 years. But even the best summers come to an end, and people must move on.
The context for this memoir is Colt's pilgrimage to the big house with his own wife and children as his extended family comes to grips with the impossible task of maintaining or renovating the old house in a time when "new money," sterile architecture and thoughtless development are the norm. The big house is being sold.
Colt's book is a gift to anyone with memories centering around a family place and the legends of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who went there before.
Reviewed by Carroll Colby and the North Star Monthly, Danville VT

Gordon Rhea's book on the vicious fighting collectively know as the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House will endure as the "prime" example for all future writers of battle histories. His narrative of the action is riveting, bringing vividly to life the violence of Civil War combat. Never have I read such descriptions of the physical exertions and emotional impact of men trying to kill each other. Rhea has subtly mixed in at just the right moments examples of humour and levity that balance the combat scenes. He also illustrates very well how the lack of communication between Grant and his minions created the proverbial "fog of war" that allowed the Army of Northern Virginia to stave of disaster and maybe ending the war right there. His research appears to have been exhausting and the effort shows. The book reads like a thriller and I could not put it down. I thought I knew the battle pretty well but picked-up new data on virtually every page. This book should garner numerous awards and be a part of every Civil War and military history buff's library.

Gordon C. Rhea has done it again. Mr. Rhea wrote a compelling battle narrative on the desperate fighting in the Wilderness that appeared on the book shelves in 1994. After I read that history, I wondered to myself, how in the heck would he follow up on his excellent treatment on the Battle of the Wilderness. With his latest volume on the Battle of Spotsylvania, he has certainly done that. Rhea, with this latest book has established himself as one of the finest historians writing about the war today. He has brought all of the elements together...Bravery, tragedy, incompetence, and yes, humor in a narrative that truly describes the horrors Americans went through during those awful days in early May, 1864. Mr. Rhea's description of the events on May 12, 1864 are harrowing, unbelievable, and heartbreaking. The struggle for the Bloody Angle becomes all too real for the reader. The unbelievable, heroic combat for those earthworks on the hallowed ground of the Spotsylvania Battlefield makes me proud of both sides as they fought during that rainy day. Each side gave their all....and they showed what Americans are all about. Special thanks for the maps of George Skoch. Mr. Skoch's work really helps the reader understand the campaign. A must for all students of the Civil War....Rhea has written a classic!

Gordon Rhea makes an important leap forwards in "grand scale" Civil War writing with his work on "The Battles for Spotsylvania Courthouse May 7-12,1864". Unlike his previous release covering the Battle for the Wilderness, Rhea has obviously incorporated all critiques and takes a bold step forward with this masterpiece of Civil War writing. The battle descriptions, everyday soldier stories and maneuver/tactic summaries along with the extensive array of maps (all in the correct context!) converge with this amazingly described battle story.

Rhea begins this book with the disengagement of the Federal forces following the tactical draw at the Wilderness. Detailed troop movements on both sides of the lines encompass most of the first quarter of the book and Rhea does an excellent job at describing who went where and explaining why it is important to understand that the movements of Confederate Richard Anderson towards Spotsylvania Courthouse (a small crossroads hamlet southwest of Chancellorsville) in a timely manner (his march from the Wilderness to Spotsylvania occurs hours ahead of schedule and barely beats the Federals to this important strategic holdpoint) made the difference in the ensuing battles.

The initial engagements at Laurel Hill/Spindle's Farm on May 8th set the stage for the Siege/trench warfare that follows and Rhea adroitly explains troop layouts and maneuvers in this important prelude to the subsequent major battles. As in the Wilderness struggle, this battle period also covers two main areas...the infantry confrontations at Spotsylvania and the cavalry maneuvers/battles between Phil Sheridan's complete corps of Union cavalry and Jeb Stuart's partial Confederate corps as they head to a climactic engagement at Yellow Tavern north of Richmond (culminating in the un-timely death of Stuart...a major blow to the Southern cause).

Rhea goes on to point out how vulnerable the Confederate "Muleshoe" entrenchments at Spotsylvania are and how Union Colonel Emory Upton is partially successful with his May 10th charge at the west side of the salient. U.S. Grant sees this and uses this same tactic to attack the northwest "angle" on May 12th. The resulting "Bloody Angle" encounter is the highlight of the book. Charge after senseless charge is depicted along with chilling descriptions of the resulting carnage...this clearly was the Civil War at it's most gruesome (apologies to those who say that Antietam, Fredericksburg or Chickamauga were the bloodiest). Rhea descibes..."In places, the combatants pressed so close that their flagstaffs crossed. 'The fighting was horrible,' a Mississippian recalled. 'The breastworks were slippery with blood and rain, dead bodies lying underneath half trampled out of sight.' The 16th Mississippi's flag stood at the salient's apex, like a challenge to the Federals. Wave after wave of Union assaults battered the point. Between charges, the Confederates cleared corpses from the trenches and loaded and stacked their rifles in preparation for the next onslaught. 'The powder smoke settled on us while the rain trickled down our faces from the rims of our caps like buttermilk on the inside of a tumbler,' penned a Mississippian who had stood not ten feet from the flagstaff. 'We could hardly tell one another apart. No Mardi Gras Carnival ever devised such a diabolical looking set of devils as we were. It was no imitation affair of red paint and burnt cork, but genuine human gore and gun powder smoke that came from guns belching death at close range' ".

Rhea then closes the book with an excellent Epilogue...expert analysis of both side's tactics and rationale are given and he absoluetly does not hesitate to indict both Leaders (Grant far more than Lee this time) for failures in thinking and command. In the final analysis, this is a watershed in Civil War battle history. Rhea now shows that he deserves mention with the best Civil War historians of the day (notwithstanding my critique of his first work) and I eagerly look forward to reading the rest of his Overland Campign histories. I highly recommend this book!

The Cold War was a war of nerves. Like all war, it was costly and wasteful. And like most war, determining the key event or strategy that led to its particular end point may be subject to endless debate. Peter Schweizer's point is that but for the strategy developed by the Reagan team and adopted by President Reagan in 1981 to 1983, the particular ending resulting in the collapse of the Soviet Union would not have occurred. The story he tells is compelling. History may well confirm his analysis.

This is not an academic work. It is more a multiple memoir. Most of Mr. Schweizer's citations are of interviews he conducted of major figures in the Reagan Administration. It also reads like a cookbook with one recipe. The ingredients-military buildup, economic embargos, support of regional conflicts in Communist lands, and most important, adoption of the strategic defense initiative-are set up in the first part of the book. These ingredients were more or less in place by the end of 1983. The book then becomes repetitious, sort of like telling the cook to stir the pot and then stir the pot some more. In the end, Gorbachev comes on the scene, recognizes that the pot has boiled over and takes it off the stove.

Other authors have been critical of the Reagan team's efforts. Schweizer points out that some of the criticisms were expressed by team members (especially Haig and Schultz) at the time the secret decisions were made. As time passes and peace allows for a more expansive view of the events in the 1980s, criticism will likely increase. A book such as this one will be all the more important then, as a reminder of what was done and how and why it was done.

At times, it is easy to question the wisdom of the American electorate. Yet at truly critical junctures, the voting public has shown an uncanny knack for electing leaders who were ideally suited for the challenges of the times. Certainly, that was the case in 1932, with the election of FDR, and again in 1980, with the rise to prominence of Ronald Reagan.

The origin of the demise of the Iron Curtain -- and ultimate break-up of the Soviet Union -- can be traced to Reagan's arrival on the world geopolitical stage in the early 1980s. Author Peter Schweizer provides copious evidence for how the Reagan Administration's policies contributed to the collapse of the USSR. Some of these policies included: covert support for Afghan rebels and the Polish underground; the unprecedented military build-up and technology commitment (including SDI); the efforts to stem technology transfers and subsidized financial credits to Eastern Bloc nations, and significantly, to hobble the development of the Siberian natural gas pipeline; the "special relationship" forged with the Saudis, which ultimately led to the precipitous decline in oil prices (costing the USSR billions in lost hard currency).

Reagan's policy of active confrontation with the Soviet Union was a stark departure from bi-partisan orthodoxy, which had attempted to "accommodate," or, at best, "contain" Soviet expansion.

Peter Schweizer's first contribution to the telling the untold stories of the efforts of the Reagan Administration is quite stunning - offering a uniques inside perspective to the operations and the planning of them that led to the memorable scenes of the Belrin Wall falling.

"Victory" is the story of what happened, and the planning that went on behind the scenes, orchestrated by then-DCI William Casey, who took lessons learned while fighting Adolf Hitler as part of the OSS in World War II, and applied them to fighting the Soviet Union.

Casey will probably go down in history as one of the America's great unsung heroes, joining men like Edwin T. Layton and Joe Rochefort. Schweizer's efforts have laid out this untold story, fought in the shadow world of espionage and covert operations in an engaging story.

The toughest things to change in any business are your people and their processes. Today's fast changing environment is sending us tremendous amounts of information to digest and respond to. These changes can prove overwhelming without an enlightened leader to mark the path for their business organization. Rolf Smith has examined the necessary steps to lead every member of your organization, regardless of style or personality, through the enormous, necessary changes required of all successful businesses. The expression, "Change, or Die" has never had more meaning than today. This book proved very useful to my organization's implementation of new software systems. We were able to develop several approaches to accommodate the different learning styles/types based on Mr. Smith's observations and recommendations. Excellent read, entertaining, well organized and especially appreciated the wide margins to allow us to use this book as a workbook as well! The margins are full and immensely valuable to our group. We've all added comments to a plan that was tested against the book...chapter by chapter. I highly recommend this book and look forward to any additional future books by this author. Mr. Smith, kudos and thanks for the margins...excellent, excellent change...it's graduated from our bookshelf to our desktop...we have plans to use it with our consulting clients to document and develop their own successful plans for change!

WOW! Rolf Smith illuminates, illustrates, insights and BHAMs! the reader through change. Some of the examples and success stories reverberate with such impact you can hear the shouts of "Summit!". This book, and what Smith offers as a workshop (which he calls a Thinking Expedition) has the potential to change your life, as well as the livelihood of your business. But don't take my word for it; read about these workshops as well as from successful clients (from Fortune 500 clients to government to universities), on Smith's website; www.thinking-expedition.com. This book is NOT about CHANGE; it is about RESULTS. It is about the fundamental building blocks that people and organizations should consider to make change happen. A mountain can climb no higher than the depth of its foundation. Likewise, individuals and organizations cannot achieve the different results they desire, without building and understanding the fundamentals of their own "thinking". Smith explains that it is the "thinking behind the thinking" that sets you on the successful trail which yields truely, unique & different results. If you are looking for the type of results that will have major impact on your (and your competitors') business, get this book. If you are seeking to remain inside the staus quo, the norm & the paradigm, don't bother.

The ideas are presented in a clear,easy to follow way. To help drive home what you have read, Rolf provides exercises througouht the book. If you are serious about understanding yourself, and making changes in your life to reach your goals, read the book and do the exercises, then adapt them into your life.

This book is good all around for people of every religious bent and of all levels of knowledge about this subject. All the information in this book can be found outside of the book, but its nice because it collects it all in one place. The book is very basic and not in depth, but its a good starting point for people to get familiar with the history of religious criticism.

The book however, falls short when it comes to fully explaining the role of religious criticism in western civilization. The book is good for highlighting many people who were not religious, or were critical of religion, but it certainly does not provide a full understanding of the social movements related to religious criticism and their importance in western civilization.

Most obviously the author only mentions two quotes from Karl Marx hidden among other random quotes from the 19th century. In fact Karl Marx is arguably the single most important religious critic of all time. Likewise the author mentions nothing of other Communist and Socialist atheists, nor of many of the atheistic German philosophers of the Enlightenment, such as Bruno Baur, etc. I'm sure that this is for obvious reasons of trying to distance religious criticism from Marxism, however this is really something impossible to do if you really want to understand history.

Its very obvious that the modern American attitude towards religious criticism and atheism is a product of the Cold War and of the association between Marxism and atheism. Not acknowledging this or understanding it leaves both atheists and religious minded people without the primary basis for understanding the history of modern society and the position of religious criticism in modern society. Why do you think that the "religious right" and the big corporations have joined forces the way they have? Marxism opposed both religion and capitalism, thus religious groups and big captial formed an alliance against the common threat. Prior to the rise of Marxism Christian groups were the biggest critics of modern capitalism and were on opposite sides of the politcal fence.

Those who'd like to challenge the founding fathers as to religion, - maintaining that they were Christians , would do well to read this book. America was NOT founded upon Christianity, but upon Deism- the idea that there might have BEEN an original God , but that he was only the watchmaker who created the earth , but left it to it's own devices once it was wound up; not giving humans dominance nor establishing faiths. Thus the idea of revealed religion was false and open to skepticism. The true focus of this book however , is to expose the reader to a VAST number of humanity's greatest thinkers they might have not known were skeptics and doubters of their times and ours. Full of quotes -from ancient through modern times- this is an extremely well researched compilation .Truly a gold-mine for those who'd like to know what Aristotle ,Shakespeare, Decartes, Franklin , Twain , Voltaire , Jefferson, Edison , Einstein , Freud , Asimov , Roddenberry actually said- to mention only a few of at least forty other great minds that have shaped us into the humans and societies we are today. 2000 Years of Disbelief is a MUST-READ for any student of philosophy or religion . Progress has never been measured by blind adherence , but careful study of minority thinking , as that is the only true road to growth ;both personal and societal , and this book realizes it's goal - to expose the myths and introduce us to the even GREATER original thinking of the minds we hold dearest in our historical psyches.DO READ!!

Christians are going to go through the roof when they read of people like Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Adams and other founding fathers (and mothers) that had no use for organized religion.

The chapter on James Madison is especially interesting in its depiction of Madison and Jefferson's battle to pass Jefferson's Religious Freedom Act. This action was necessary since a tax bill was on hand (1784) to give sums of American tax dollars to Christian churches, thus establishing a federally funded religion. Had this occurred, the religious freedom so many people had died for would have evaporated. Jews, atheists or otherwise would have been out of luck. Fortunately, that bill was defeated and the tenets of Jefferson's Religious Freedom Act were sewn into our Bill of Rights in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

I find it important to illustrate the fact that one does not have to be an atheist to find value in this book. For those of us that are interested in human history, this text lends great insight into the minds of many people that have impacted our world's past, present and future. Its claims are exhaustively researched and documented on the pages. If the inclination to dispute or research is felt, all one has to do is have a pen and paper handy.

"Animal" is probably THE book to have if you want to have a reference to animal life on earth. Awesomely designed, stunningly photographed, meticulously organized, this book is an absolute treasure house. Visually it's unbelievably gorgeous; the design and organization are inspired; the photographs are breathtaking; it's easy to read and fun to browse through. It's hefty (over 8 pounds)and packed with references to most of the known animal genera on this planet. As beautiful as it is, this is no "coffee table" tome designed for show; "Animal" is an extremely valuable reference that will be used and explored over and over again... And at Amazon.com's price (...) it's the book bargain of the decade. This is one book you'll want to share with your family for generations to come.

This book is unbelievable from cover to cover. It's both a spectacular learning tool and a book that you'll keep forever and always refer to. It's been extremely helpful to me already as I continue through school toward a job working with animals and docenting at the zoo, and it would be equally as helpful to anyone of any age who shares this interest. The pictures are real and breathtakingly beautiful, and the book's organization couldn't be any easier or more perfect. I highly recommend this book as a reference or simply as a good read, because it is just as interesting and helpful either way. Animal is now the most beautiful book I own, and packed with interesting and vital information.

This book is simpy outstanding. Few books can rival the wide scope offered by Animal on a vast range of organisms which include invertebrates, birds, reptiles, mammals, fish, and amphibians. The book is adorned with magnificent color photos of each organism and a compact description that provides adequate amounts of info on the organism. Although some common species are excluded, it more than makes up for this with the amount of species covered. For every common species excluded, I ran across three new species I had never heard of. This book is an extraordinary guide to the vast array of wildlife in the world. There are few books that I have found as informative and enjoyable to read as Animal. It truly is a definitive guide to the world's wildlife and I highly recommend it.

This review is on Torn Thread by Anne Isaacs. The story is during the Holocuast with a family tryng to survive. One day Eva, Rachel (her sister), and their dad are split up. Eva and Rachel are deported to a work camp in Parschnitz, Czechoslovakia. It's a test of survival for the girls as things happen to them.
This is a touching story that symbolizes how two sisters don't give up on each other. Anne Isaacs did a good job of keeping the book interesting and kept me turning the pages.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in historical fiction and in the Holocaust.

The novel Torn Thread is the riveting story young Jewish girl's life, sacrifices, and struggles through the time of the Holocaust. Written by Anne Isaacs, Torn Thread is the tale of twelve-year-old Eva, a young Jewish girl, whose family is forced to live in a small attic space in a Jewish ghetto in Bezdin, Poland during the time of the Nazi régime. As the Nazis raid the ghetto more and more frequently, it becomes a struggle in itself just to stay in the ghetto, and not be 'selected' to work or die in one of the Nazi work or death camps. During one of the raids, Eva's sister Rachel is captured and taken to a work in a labor camp in Parschnitz, Czechoslovakia. Fearing for his daughter's safety, Eva's father arranges for Eva to be sent to the same camp as her sister, so that the two sisters may be imprisoned together. As Eva leaves the Jewish ghetto, she begins her journey of triumph and survival, through endless webs of disease, famine, and mistreatment administered to her and other Jews, by the Nazis. As she struggles to keep both her and her sister alive, her once seemingly perfect life dwindles and disintegrates before her very eyes. Her life becomes a tangled mess of webs woven by Hitler's soldiers, tearing like those on the machine that she so tirelessly at, slaving away for those who only show torture and hatred in return.
The novel Torn Thread, was a thorough enjoyment to read. Anne Isaacs did a wonderful job of describing the setting, characters, and events taking place in the story, as well as portraying the lives and feelings of Jewish people during that time era. Not only were the scenes vividly described, but also her writing made me feel as though I was part of the novel myself. As the reader, I found Eva's tale to be a moving, inspirational story of admiration, courage, and bravery. In closing, I feel that this novel would appeal to both young readers and adults, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning of the events of the Holocaust.

This was a truly riveting novel. I have read many many Holocaust memoirs, and though this is not an actual memoir, the description and emotion are that of a true Holocaust survivor. After reading the back of the novel, you discover that indeed Eva and Rachal are true people, and this is their actual story. Tha uthor of the novel is Eva's daughter-in-law, and does a superb job of captivating the reader and keep them wanting more. The thourough descriptions of Nazi raids, suffocating ghettos and unimaginable disease are a disturbing pleasure to read. If you happen to be interested in the Holocaust, this is a great book to read!

Though dinosaurs died off more than 65 million years ago, our fascination with them--as anyone who's ever heard of Jurassic Park knows--is far from extinct. Now comes this astounding illustrated tour of their world, to coincide with the Discovery Channel's program of the same name that originally aired to tremendous acclaim on the BBC. Innovatively illustrated with images created by a combination of photography and state-of-the-art computer graphics and written by award-winning BBC series producer Haines, this magnificent natural history will help readers imagine that ancient and alien world more completely than ever before. When dinosaurs first roamed the planet, earth had high sea levels and no ice caps and was covered by one giant continent, Pangaea, which was slowly disintegrating. It wasn't until the end of the Mesozoic era that the land masses began to more closely resemble our current world. Among the inhabitants presented in the book are the carnivorous Coelophysis, one of the smallest and earliest dinosaurs of record; the gigantic and brutal Tyrannosaurus; the ambush predator of the sea Cryptoclidus; and the huge, vegetarian Diplodocus. Spanning the middle of the Triassic period more than 220 million years ago, when dinosaurs were making their first appearance, through the Late Cretaceous period 65 million years ago, as they were dying off, this marvelously illustrated volume renders a vivid portrait of the extraordinary beasts' violent existence amid an ever-changing terrain. BOMC and QPB alternate selections.

You've watched the shows,now it's time to read the book. " Walking With Dinosaurs: A Natural History" shows your how dinosaurs survived in the harsh, prehistoric worlds.

The book is divided into six chapters, each chapter based on the successful T.V series. Each chapter starts off describing the world at that period of time and it also starts off by introducing you to each prehistoric creature that will be featured in that particular chapter.

Unlike most dinosaur books, this book is more of a work of fiction. Each chapter is actually a short story of how the creatures survived and occasionally, there are small chunks of facts to read.

Overall this is more of a scientific storybook book rather than the usual " dinosaur-factbooks". The most stunning feature of this book is its pictures. While most dinosaur books features hand drawn pictures, this book instead, is armed with "photographs" of dinosaurs.

To fully immerse yourself in the prehistoric world of dinosaurs, I suggest you get this book now... before it becomes extinct !

This book is really great! Though I haven't seen the BBC series Walking With Dinosaurs yet (thanks to god damn region code for DVD players!), this book gives me the opportunity to travel to the past and witness the world of dinosaurs as I've never seen it before. The art work is amazing and the creatures seem so real that you might think they're still living, hunting, mating and so on. The text is very informative and easy to read as well. I also bought the Walking With Prehistoric Beasts book and it is as good as the first one. So, if I were you I wouldn't think twice: get both right now! And have a nice trip to the prehistoric world.