Product Description
Skillbuilding combines the unique pretest/practice/posttestdiagnostics with the power and flexibility of the microcomputer, allowing you to individualize your instruction—even in a group. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Buyer beware
I ordered the book with ISDN 0028019369 as it was indicated this is the book and disk. After receiving two copies (the first being unacceptable), I found the disk mentioned is a data disk and still does not contain the software. According to the copyright page ISBN 0028019350 = text only, ISBN 0028019369 = text w/ disks, ISBN 0028019377 = software -- no mention of text. This book may best be checked out in-person to determine which book you want and then order verifying the ISBN.

Excellent, but . . .
I just received my Skillbuilding book and the drills are excellent, just what I need.But the book refers to "the "Skillbuilding software"which I think would be even more helpful.Where is it and how do we get it?

Book Is Top Notch!
Anything by Dr. Klemin is top notch!Excellent for Keyboarding/Typing clases at all levels. ... Read more

Product Description
Ragnarok appears to have come for the gods of Asgard, and only Thor and his Avengers allies might be able to stave off that fate - but will the Thunder God be Asgard's savior, or the architect of its downfall? In search of new wisdom, Thor must repeat the ordeals of Odin - and the price may be too terrible for even an immortal to pay! Beset on all sides by treacherous foes from his past, the God of Thunder leads the tattered remnants of the forces of Asgard on a desperate quest, as the Realm Eternal burns. Collects Thor #80-85. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A must read Thor story.
I know this story came out years ago but for some reason I could never find it anywhere so I just now got around to reading it and I was not disappointed. This story is pretty epic and great step forward for Thor as a character. It is the end of the Aesir and also the end of who Thor used to be. Through the hard choices he makes and the loss he suffers throughout the story, you see some serious development in this longtime Avengers mainstay. Reading this will also make you appreciate the new run on the series more as you get the skinny on why Thor is rocking the Thousand yard stare and seems overall more zen and mature.The only complaint you could make is that you might want a little more from the story but really just because it's so good and brings up lots of interesting plot points that would be great if given more development. As it is though this is a great read supported by some pretty decent artwork.
PS: The new Nightmare on Elm Street is pretty damn boring 20 minutes into it.

He Deserved a Better Finale
Thor Disassembled is ok at its best points.In comparison to all other Thor works I've read(Simonson, Fraction, Straczynski) this is by far the weakest.In an attempt to set up and deliver, Thor Disassembled aces the plot, but misses the entire mood and soul of Thor.

I'll leave the rest of the review with a pro/con display.

Pros:
*Great history lesson on Mjolnir if you haven't seen it before.I felt that was extremely beneficial
*Story for the most part works.The pacing is solid, and for the most part I retained interest the whole way through
*Climax was grand.
*Cameo appearances do well
*Fight scenes are awesome.The panel for panel smooth flowing choreography was impressive.

Cons:
*Bad bad artwork.Really cartoony. And the cover makes Thor's hammer look like a toy.It didn't fit Thor the whole way through.It looked more like a cheesy 90's cartoon network show.
*Felt largely disconnected from every Thor series.The characters all felt fake to me.
*Dialogue was Thor's worst.Everything was literal and boring.I felt Oeming bastardized the Shakespearian language.
*Thor is not Thor.Whether you read Simonson or Straczynski, this Thor does not feel like either of those.This guy sounds like a brainless douche who always acts before thinking.

So, anyway Thor's ending(or new beginning) was a shame.It should have been a lot better, but it was straying to far off the original path.I felt like I was reading someone elses Ragnarok and not Thor's.It has its good moments, yes, but for the most part it was a let down.Luckily, the stories after this rock way harder and deliver on phenomenal levels.If you chose this as a starting point before Straczynski, just know that it gets way better than this.Also check out Fraction's work, including Secret Invasion: Thor.That story alone is 100X better than this one.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS
I wish to heaven that I had listened to the negative reviews.This is a terribly executed story.I know, it's a Thor story about Ragnarok, which by all rights ought to be totally awesome.After all, Thor is at his best in stories set in Asgard, with the other gods.So the epic battle at the end of the world ought to be pretty sweet.

Well, there are no epic battles in this book.There are about a thousand scenes where Thor arrives at the aftermath of an epic battle, and there are some uninspired fight scenes...but no epic battles.

And don't get me wrong, I'm not all about fight scenes.I'm more about dialogue and character development.Sadly, there isn't much of those things either. This is almost certainly the worst comic that I have read in years.

I will say this for Thor: Disassembled: It provided me with one great moment.See, I didn't want to put this turkey down and walk away without finishing it, so I struggled through a morass of unrewarding reading in nearly physical pain, and when I finally reached the blessed end, I felt immense relief.

Really Bad!: Buy Thor Vol 1 Instead
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK

I bought this book after buying Thor Volumes 1 and 2, because I wanted to read the story of Ragnarok, which sets up the (far superior) later books.

The artwork is OK but not terrific. For example, sometimes Fenrir looks cool and scary, other times he looks almost like Goofy from Mickey mouse.There is a key two page spread with a maniacally laughing Loki in the middle which is cliched and executed amateurishly.

The writing is truly bad: stilted, awkward dialogue. Corny scenarios.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK

3+1/2 stars====An epic ending to one of Marvel's keystone titles
And so, the saga of The Mighty Thor come to a close. At least, the Asgardian universe created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby way back in the 1960s has been obliterated, seemingly for once and for all, as Thor himself brings about the one, true Ragnarok, twilight of the gods, super-armageddon.

Writer Michael Avon Oeming cleverly deals with the fact that Marvel's Thor has dealt with multiple Ragnaroks over the years, explaining to readers that Thor and his compatriots (spoiler alert) have been caught in a vast cosmic joke for countless millennia, and that the Ragnarok story isn't the world-ending finale we'd all been lead to believe, but rather a sideshow staged of the amusement of some uber-gods who toy with the Asgadians for reasons of their own. Thus, a newly-cosmic, ever-heroic Thor brings an end to their torture by making Ragnarok real -- and allowing every godly friend he has -- Sif, Balder, Hogun, Volstagg, et. al. -- to die, for reals and forever.Also, one by one, fall his greatest mythical enemies: Ulik, Loki, Surtur and all the classic baddies of years gone by.It's a big event, and a reasonably engrossing story... Thor himself (spoiler alert) appears to have survived the destruction of his reality, but has put himself in suspended animation, somewhere out there in the mega-universe, so we will doubtless see him resurrected at some point.But the official word from Marvel is that this is the for-real end of the old Asgardian paradigm. An interesting way to close out a title that has gone through long, long periods of stagnation. Rest in peace, Norse pantheon. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews) ... Read more

Product Description
Presenting photographs of his buildings, as well as plans and drawings, this work examines the the life of Renaissance architect Palladio. It traces his rise from his time as an apprentice stonesman to the construction of peerless villas that are associated with his name: the imposing Malcontenta and the aristocratic Rotonda. While the buildings are discussed in terms of their importance in art history, Palladio's career is also defined against the backdrop of the dramatic events and personalities of the age.Amazon.com Review
This comprehensive volume on the most influential architects in Western history is meant to be, in the words of its author, "user-friendly." Bruce Boucher suggests that Andrea Palladio might "fit comfortably into a suitcase or a backpack for a trip to Vicenza," the city west of Venice where the 16th-century architect Palladio lived and where most of his villas stand.

For art historians and architects, Boucher effectively synthesizes the more than 30 years of research that has been accomplished since James Ackerman's seminal 1966 work on Palladio. Boucher's style is balanced and highly readable. In discussing the architect's bridges, he paraphrases Palladio's advice that "an even number of piers should be used because nature endows every creature with an even number of legs to support its weight." "This last observation," Boucher writes, "is typically Palladian in its appeal to the natural world as a justification of what was simply an aesthetic preference."

Thanks to the extraordinary photographs of Paolo Marton, you will find yourself dreaming of an Italian vacation even before you begin reading Boucher's text. Marton's pictures make the exteriors of Palladio's villas, churches, bridges, and palaces look as if they were appearing before us, bathed in fresh spring light and set against a startlingly blue sky. His interior exposures are minutely sensitive to shadow as well as to light, and Marton precisely captures the soaring, airy volumes of Palladio's incomparable spaces.

This perfectly designed book also includes photographs of the original floor plans and elevations, as well as several helpful addenda, such as maps showing the locations of Palladio's buildings, a glossary, and a chronology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Architecture is all around us, but few ever pay attention to the men behind these constructions
Architecture is all around us, but few ever pay attention to the men behind these constructions. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Andrea Palladio: The Architect in His Time" looks at the man who revolutionized western architecture during his long life in the sixteenth century (he was a master of the arts and a true Renaissance man). "Andra Palladio: The Architect in His Time" covers his life and the inspirations for his craft, enhanced with photographs of Palladio's work. A seminal coverage, "Andrea Palladio: The Architect in His Time" is highly recommended for community library Biography and Architectural Studies collections.

A must-read for students of architecture and the Renaissance
Architecture, no matter how interesting, can be a rather dry topic to read about. For that reason alone this book is worth having, since the writer Boucher deftly handles the material in an engaging and fluid style. However, the real strength of this tome is the way Boucher is able to get into the head of Palladio without ever resorting to speculation. This is accomplished through analysis not only of Palladio's as-built works, but also early versions of the plans and designs, rejected proposals, and a study of the architect's own vastly influential book, the Quatro Libri. Boucher chooses to discuss his structures by type (religious, villa, palazzi, civic) rather than chronologically, which requires frequent checking of the chronology section in the back to follow along. Although this format requires a bit more mental investment on the part of the reader, in the end it is a more illuminating way to understand Palladio's creative genius.

My only complaint about the book is the lack of modern ground plans. Boucher relies on Palladio's own woodcuts but few of these accurately reflect the actual buildings. Ground plans are usually the least colorful part of an architectural discussion, so having to rely solely on one's mental images for these passages is too abstract. The illustrations are good, especially considering the difficulty of photographing architecture in the cramped quarters of certain northern Italian cities, but I didn't find them to be as spectacular as did those who wrote the editorial reviews above. Nothing wrong with the quality of the photos, it's just that they are often printed small or taken from (necessarily) oblique angles. It is also recommended that one has at least a rudimentary understanding of classical architecture to get full value from this book. Scholars and informed fans of classical and Renaissance architecture are sure to benefit the most.

... Read more

Product Description
A brilliant new guide to understanding the origins of codependence and the path to recovery by a nationally recognized authority on dependency and addiction.

In this fresh new look at codependence, Pia Mellody traces the origins of this illness back to childhood, describing a whole range of emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and sexual abuses. Because of these earlier experiences, codependent adults often lack the skills necessary to lead mature lives and have satisfying relationships.

Recovery from codependence comes from clearing up the toxic feelings left over from childhood and learning to reparent oneself by intervening on the adult symptoms of codependence. Central to Mellody's concept is the idea of the "precious child" that needs healing within each adult. She creates a framework for identifying codependent behavior and describes an effective approach to recovery that includes both therapy and self-help processes. Designed to be used with her new workbook for codependents, Breaking Free, this is a powerful tool for understanding the nature of codependence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

Recovery Offers Hope!
This book was for me the first time I really started to understand the contention in my marriage and my own anger. I am now a recovering addict and I feel hope for healing.

Read it in less than 7 days!
I haven't ever read a self-help book this fast ever.Really, really good for those of us who struggle with relationships.

Life is hard enough
A brilliant book to help anyone better understand themselves and partner. A honest and challengingprocess of rescuing each other from toxic relationship situations.My psychologist recommended i read it to stop dancing the same Damaging routine over and over again with my partner. It was time for us to finally accept the addiction, face the music and free our mind, body and spirit frompre-existing rubbish cluttering our whole person. So far the strategies are working for our whole family.

Recommended to all my sponsees
I've been in recovery for sex and love addiction for 14 plus years.When I first read this book, about 12 years ago, it blew me away.I've recommended to people ever since and their reaction is nearly always the same..."Oh my god,now I understand why I have such pain and difficulty in relationships!"
While the book will explain the addictive nature of love addiction in the first couple of chapters, it is but a tool to move beyond the shadowy existence so many of us live, to a full life of love, joy and fulfillment. There is a 12 step group that has helped me along this road. I could not have advanced with out the support of other addcits in recovery.If you are serious about getting off the treadmill, you'll find that group. Hope your journey is as rewarding.

speaking from my success
i was one of those people who was addicted, but did't know it...then came this book.It was both a blessing and a curse.A curse because i realized i had a problem bigger than myself and comming to terms with an addiction is not easy(which is why admitting to your problem is the first step). A blessing because it let me know that there was help.It identifyed my every symptom, my every emotion and my every devestation.
Most of the book describes what love addiction is,how it is developed, and the various ways in which it ruins your life with out you even reliazing it.The author gives lots of examples,many including her owm experiences.I give the book 4 stars for beeing such an important eye opener and teaching me so much about this emotional illness.The reason i don't give it 5 stars is because the "work-book" in the end is not enough to help you break the addiction on it's own.If you are really interested in moving past your addiction i would recomend adding to your collection her book + workbook "facing codependence".even in this book she will tell you that at the heart of the addiction is codependence, which you need to overcome.
Love addiction is most of all Painfull and isolating.Your relationships go so wrong so fast that it really takes a toll on your heart...to be honest there were times when i thought that i must have been born wrong,that there was something so inately wrong with me that i was destined to only find heart break.I had decided to not even try anymore because there was no point when they all ended the same:with my heart crushed.
In order to encourage others to get help i will admit that in the past my longest relationship lasted 5 months(most averaging about 3) and only the first month was good because after that a very intense hell would break loose.I felt out of control.But after Pia's help and with my persistence to get better i have now been in a HEALTHY,LOVING, relationship with someone for more than a year :0)and emotionally i am more stable than i have ever been in my 26 years of life. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (16)

a must have!
This book is full of useful and easy to understand examples for every stage of writing.

thank you the book is perfedt
thank you the book came on time to give as a christmas present. it was in perfect condition. i would recommend your company to anyone.

A Must Have For Every Student
This was a required text for an undergraduate English course I took a few years ago. This is one of the only college books I didn't sell back to the university bookstore. This book has helped me through all of my English, history, political science, psychology, and sociology classes. Just about any class where writing an essay is required this book helped me.

There is an extensive amount of information on MLA style in this book. However, this book covers APA, CSE, and Chicago documentation as well. Now you understand how it not only helped with my past English classes, but it helped with numerous other classes as well.

This book is much more than just a resource for the various styles of documentation. I would suggest this text to any student or writer. It is an awesome resource and helps students with many areas of writing. A must have for any high school or college student.

The Everyday Writer
There were no problems with this product although it was fairly slow in coming. However, it was within the specified range so I can't complain.

The Everyday Writer
It covers all the writing styles and is a must for children in JH or High school and a must for those going to college at any age. I know I will keep it on my bookshelf long after I'm done with college. ... Read more

Product Description
Richly illustrated large HB saga from classic for little ones. ... Read more