Nonfiction Books

We used this textbook with the accompanying teacher's guide and student activity book for a home school high school American Government class this past school year. This text was easy to understand, dealt with the most essential information, was very interesting and held the interest of the students. None of them ever complained the text was boring or unpleasant. The activities book provided good ideas for additional expanded projects and research. I think all the kid's had great fun and I sure learned an incredible amount teaching this class and using this resource.

As a student, I really enjoyed how this book is very detailed, yet to the point, and also the lightness and small size of it. I learned a lot from it, and didn't have a boring time at it either.

If there are any teachers out there that are going to be teaching American Goverment - Get this book!! Your students will love you for it!

American Government: A Complete Coursebook is a great resource book. I know, as a student, that you can find a lot of topics in this book that aren't even touched upon in any ordinary textbook. This is a wonderful resource, especially for Economic, Legal, and Political Systems (ELPS) students, and U.S. History students. From the definition of "bill", to 105+ Supreme Court cases, this book has found almost all of the information I have needed. Maybe, it will work for you or your student too.

First of all, no 136 page book is worth 22 dollars and change. I also have a problem with a book that teaches someone how to use another book, whereas the original book costs less than the explanation book. Why risk the explanation book getting it wrong (as it does; I second the appellate lawyer's view) when you can sit down with the orginal book?

I know law students are always looking for the one book that will have all the knowledge they need, the magic spellbook of law, but really, you don't need more than the Bluebook, Gardner's Redbook, and your casebook (maybe the Examples and Explanations series) for law school. Forget getting Black's Law Dictionary; it's a piece of garbage now, been dumbed down to the point of useless.

The Blue Book is not complicated, and if you think it is, trying to understand it will improve your mind. If you don't want to do that, maybe you shouldn't be a law student and save the legal profession from a mediocre mind.

Understanding and Mastering The Bluebook: A Guide for Students and Practitioners

I bought this book to help me teach bluebooking to our firm's paralegals, and it will be a good resource. But it contains too many mistakes to be useful as a text. Here are some examples:
1. On page 13, the author states that a case cite in mid-sentence is not followed by a comma unless it is part of an independent clause that would ordinarily require a comma. This is contrary to Rule B5.3 of the Bluebook. The elements of the citation other than the case name must always be "set off" by commas (i.e., before and after) if they are mid-sentence.
2. The definition of "E.g." on page 90 is incorrect, and the "example" makes no sense. "E.g." means "for example," so you would never use it in the middle of a string cite.
3. On p. 93, the author says to combine "See + e.g.," as "See e.g.,". While it is true that the signal "see" does not require a comma, "e.g." must be set off by commas ("See, e.g.,"). See Rule R1.2(a) of the Bluebook for examples.
4. The comma after "accord" in the example on page 90 appears to be a typo - the author clearly knows better.
It's a great start, so I hope there's a second edition in the works.

Many of my students told me this is the most helpful book they bought all year. It really makes the Bluebook manageable. I highly recommend it for Legal Writing professors, as well as practitioners.

This is the best book ever for learning Bluebook citation. I like its format, illustrating how each rule works. Although a previous reviewer found a couple of mistakes in the book, they are really minor (a couple of misplaced commas), and the book is so helpful this shouldn't stop you from buying it. It's a must have book for anyone trying to learn citation and for practitioners who want a quick reference guide.

This is the most user friendly bluebook guide ever.. it is 100X better than Interactive Citation Workbook for The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 2007 Edition If you're a 1L looking for a great introduction to the bluebook this is it.

My husband started my son with Summer Bridge in kindergarten. He is now going into 7th grade. He's always done very well in school (straight A's) and I think SB keeps his mind fresh. We started our daughter on SB last year. There are activities for all subjects and some use of the internet is needed for research for the older kids. SB also suggests age appropriate books for your child to read. The answers are posted in the back of the book to check your child's work...let's face it, we've been out of school for a while!

We've had these books for various ages and they are terrific. Your child does not have to feel like they are having school all summer, but they are doing enough to stay sharp and on top of their skills and knowledge. Well-organized book to use in summer and throughout the year, to review or work on specific areas.

This book is easy to use but full of need-to-know items. My son has really enjoyed it. The character lessons are also a great way to talk to my son at a level he understands.

Thank you!

Our local PTA got Summer Bridge books for all the students when my oldest child was in the First Grade. I have purchased them for my children every year since then. This year they actually reminded me to get them!
I have them do three pages, every three days. It usually is done within 40 minutes, some days a little more - some a little less. This book, paired with 30 minutes of daily reading, really keeps all that they have learned fresh in their mind. It also gives them an opportunity to learn some new things, if something in the book was not covered in their class. We take advantage of the occasional "I never learned this in my school", to discover the answers to those questions. This particular edition is strong on math, social studies and science. It even has experiments to do with common household items. My child was at first overwhelmed by the prospect of doing a science experiment, but quickly overjoyed when the creation fizzed all over the kitchen counter! Everyone in the family had to do the experiment then. It was so much fun. Luckily, all the ingredients (water, vinegar, and baking soda) are natural cleaning materials. The kitchen counters sparkled after wiping everything dry! I highly recommend this book, and the series for any grade. It gives children confidence for the coming school year, and they still have plenty of time for summer fun. They won't feel that panic and anxiety of "I forgot everything over the summer" when school starts.

I first purchased the Summer Bridge series for 5th to 6th grade because my son was switching school districts and I was afraid he was going to be a little behind because the curriculum in the new district was more stringent. We used this book throughout the summer to keep his skills as well as to teach skills he hadn't learned yet. My son ended up with a 4.0 and was recommended for Advanced Placement Math in 7th grade. We used it again for 6th to 7th, and again another 4.0. But I knew it was a success when my son brought home a Language Arts paper at the end of 7th grade. At the beginning of the school year, his teacher had the class write down what they did over the summer. The teacher decided to keep the papers until the end of the year. My son wrote that he enjoyed doing the workbooks because he got rewards and he "didn't forget what he learned the year before" and "stayed ahead of his class" and "got on the honor roll". Imagine my surprise!! What a great book!!

I really enjoyed this one! I read it right after taking a course on Jane Austen's novels, and still learned even more. This book really helped to point out the parts of Jane's life that made it into her books. It is a great read for a Jane Austen fan.

I bought this book because I'm preparing to teach a Jane Austen class. Spence makes some interesting points and does a good job of backing them up. I don't think we can take everything as fact, but he does support his arguments very well. Unfortunately, there is so much left up to guesswork when it comes to Austen. When it comes to Austen biographies, this book is very easy and enjoyable to read. It reads more like a novel than a biography. The movie that is based on this book takes a few more liberties than the books does. Considering all of the books that I have used in preparing my class, this is one of my favorites.

A well-written, well-researched biography of our beloved, complex spinster. While the book doesn't annoyingly dwell on its far-fetched claim to be the "true love story that inspired the classic novels", it does often try to make some leaps of faith (most notably the weight it places on the character names of novels as evidence). Some of the interpretations of her novels are equally improbable. But this is an engaging, interesting biography woven with Jane's letters and her novels. It is the story not only of her life and her times, but also of the people who surrounded and influenced her. It is a story of how she saw the world, of her complex character, and how the woman in love with marriage chose her novels to be her children. Well worth the read. Grade: B+

I was skeptical about this book when I got it. But I ended up loving it. The information is presented in a way that makes it very interesting. You get to know more than just Jane, you get to know her family and friends too. I would recommend it to any Jane fan.

If you are looking for every detail of Jane Austen's life and works, this is the book for you. For me, there was so much detail that it made for slow reading, but if I was an Austen fanatic (instead of an enthusiast), this would be the book for me.

How do you get started on the subject of the birds and bees? It seems all you need is for someone to shove you through the door (with your fingernails leaving ruts in the door way!). The book opens the door gently for you and your kid. The 3rd chapter covers all the physiology and does it so easily. The rest of the book surprised me with the emotional and mental changes. My daughter has requested I read the rest of the book aloud to her. I read it first and wished I had had this book as a kid. Dobson says that about 85% of pre-adolescent kids willing and desiring to talk to the parents close down communication after the onset of puberty. Do the right thing for your kids before it's too late.

This product was bought for our oldest, the first to reach this age. It was all we hoped it would be and was a great jumping off point for a conversation that we were a bit unsure of how to start. It was very well received and we intend to use it with the next four or more if God continues to bless us. This was a very tastefully done approach to a very tender subject. And it leaves just the right amount of room open to add or not add more if the child is ready. This was just what we were looking for.

We used the Preparing for Adolescence book for our Disciple Now with 5th and 6th graders. We went through this book over the weekend. The social issues that we discussed are appropriate for students. The author writes at a level that students can understand.

We will use this again for sure.

What parent is prepared for the roller coaster ride of adolescence when their first child starts "growing up"? I thought I wouldn't have to think about it until my child was 13! Ha! The moodiness has already started -- at 10!

I enjoyed this book by Dr. Dobson, a well known & trusted author. The book helps the parent see this phase from the child's perspective and is written in a style the child can relate to. It assists them in trying to make sense of it all. It offers the child a preview of what to expect as radical physical and emotional changes begin and suggestions of how to handle them with practical common sense and their faith. The section addressing the "facts of life" is respectful, frank and thorough, but only offers age appropriate "details". It is appropriate enough for a 10 year old.

The book cover-to-cover may not keep the attention of a 10-12 year old who is accustomed to reading "action" type books, but if they are searching for answers, it's all there. Whether you buy the book for guidance as a parent, for your child to read, or as a tool to open up discussion on these topics, it is a worthwhile purchase.

I listened to this entire CD series with my son on a road trip to the Michigan Dunes. All I can say is that I wish that I heard this material when I was 13. Growing up is tough and Dobson handles sensitive topics like, deep insecurities, lack of identity, sexuality, emotions and conformance with the wisdom and experience of a clinical child psychologist who could also be your father sitting down with you at the kitchen table. Thanks Dr. Dobson!! My son loved it!!

This book is a great way to introduce your kids to some basic weather info and langauge. I would say it is for 3 1/2 and up -- nice rhyming with a famliar character.

This series probably counts as my toddler's first real science books, which is saying a lot for a very young person. This book is a hit, along with the one on butterflies. Recommended.

My grandson was very happy with this book. He loves reading books by Dr. Seuss and knows when he comes to Grandma's house a new one will be waiting for him. The book was presented as "used" but it looks brand new! Delivery time was as promised. Only negative comment for all the used books I have purchased thus far is that the postage charged has been far more than the book.

I think this is one of the best of the books in Cat in the Hat's Learning Library. In this book, the rhymes are crisp and interesting. Some of the concepts introduced/covered include: meteorologists, weather maps, clouds, evaporation, condensation, snow, rain, thunder, lightning, tornadoes, and climatology. This book covers a lot in the simple and effective Cat in the Hat style.

I bought this so as to be able to assist my son with Spanish. The book is supposed to be accompanied with a cd, but it was not included. Good luck trying to convey this discrepancy to Amazon, however.

it is a great way to learn spanish. i recomened it
dude dude

This book teaches you a lot about spanish! It is a must buy!

I have used many textbooks before, but this one is definitely one of the best. WHen combined with the accompanying laser disc series, CD-ROm and listening series, it is out of this world. I highly recommend it to the serious Spanish student!

I used this book through an independent study high school program, and I do not recommend it for anyone who wants to learn Spanish on their own.

I think the reason the teacher chose this book to teach us with is because you get to listen to all the nifty audio cd's that go along with it. It is nice to hear native speakers talk; it gives you a feel for how the language is really used.

This is the only thing the book is successful at, however.

I did not like the way the book presented information at all. It was too unclear; the real "lessons" where hidden away in sidebars and end-of-the-chapter notes that you might skip over, not knowing that the real information was presented there.

I also did not like how the book gave you the English approximation instead of the literal translation. Ideally, the book would give you both, but if I have to choose between one and the other, I'd take the literal translation, and then decide on the English approximation for myself.

The book would be much better if it only gave you the Spanish lesson up front instead of being "cute" and hiding it in clever activities. If you have a really good Spanish teacher, you might learn something from this book. I'm only grateful that I audited a real Spanish course before taking this one.

This book I read in christmas and it has been a very good help for me to write the end of a book I am working with. In fact if you write a beginning you have the end. That's what the books says. Now I have given the book to two in my writing group and they also think it is excellent. I never saw any other book on this subject.

I have always been told I'm a "good writer" and I have always wanted to "write" (specifically, make up stories and put them on paper. And despite starting with Aristotle's Poetics in high school, I guess I just didn't get it. Even so, I have spent most of my adult life in jobs that were dependent on writing and reasoning skills but, despite the number of stories in my head, never knew what to do with them.

So thank you, Nancy Kress for telling me how to go about writing a story. It could be that I'm just dense, but the reading I've been doing lately (like Noah Lukeman's "The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile" and "Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published" by by Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunato, both excellent, five-stars from me, at least) has been positively enlightening. And "Beginnings, Middles, and Endings" is one of the best. Frankly, it's hard to rave too much about this book, because there's no much to rave about. It's clear, crisp, orderly, incredibly organized (especially when you consider that she's dealing with what is essentially how to tell a story, no small task in itself). But even more, is enormous fun to read and leads inevitably to that great AH-HA! moment, somewhere in pages 84 - 87.

In general, the two series "Elements of Fiction Writing" and the Writer's Digest books on writing fiction are excellent and, in addition to being downright enlightening, are just pure, huge fun. For the first time in my life, I feel as if I know what I'm doing. Too bad it took so long, but there I was one morning, standing in front of the mirror lost in the thousand yard stare when all of a sudden my writing focus burst out at me like a super-nova. And ever since then, my life has simply made sense. Now THAT'S a mid-life crisis.

This book is terrific for people who are just starting to try to write. It breaks down every initial stumbling block of the craft into small pieces in ways that are easy for inexperienced writers to understand and model. For more experienced writers, it might be useful to see the mechanical process for things one already understands (even innately). However, this is not a stunningly useful book for writers with more than a little experience.

I read "Beginnings, Middles, and Ends" right after reading the (in my opinion) horrid "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy" by Orson Scott Card, which seemed to me to be puffed up drivel. Ms. Kress's book was like a breath of fresh air. Her suggestions are helpful, her examples are wonderful without being self-promoting. She has a number of self-guided exercises that were basic and also, as a plus for beginners, build up writing confidence. If you are a beginner, or even intermediate writer, I would suggest not bothering with most of the books on the market on writing and read Ms. Kress's book first. I am a published writer of dark fantasy writing my first novel and found it extremely helpful. Highly recommended.

John Irving once commented that his experience at writing workshops & conferences taught him things about writing (e.g., voicing) that he would eventually have picked up anyway, but that he saved a lot of time by not having to learn it the hard way. That's the way I feel about Nancy Kress's wonderful Beginnings, Middles and Ends.

First of all -- and this matters -- Kress is a world-class writer of fiction herself. She's famous in the science fiction community, and she deserves to be. So when she, of all people, gives clues about creating good plots, one should listen. She's that marvelous (and rare) combination, a stunning writer who can also teach.

This book uses a very methodical approach, speaking of the different parts of a piece of fiction separately and specifically addressing how they interact. Each chapter really deserves to be read several times, as the attitudes she recommends for writers can solve problems all by themselves. At the end of each chapter is a set of exercises that significantly improve one's ability to interpolate the lessons.

Much of what she says in her book I was beginning to discover on my own, but to see it put into print solidifies and sharpens my view. Personally I was writing several different stories over the time during which I read the book, and I found that it helped instantly. I'm actually stuck on one or two stories right now, and I'm going to dive back into the Kress book to see how she can help me; I know she can.