Dictionary Reviews

One of the best reference sources for those baffled by the complexities of international relations. I highly recommend this book for the serious undergraduate or graduate student and the ardent current affirs buff. This is undoubtedly a trusted and reliable reference source, one you can turn to to gain an increased understanding of IR. Written in highly readable manner, this book certainly doubles as a complete idiots guide to IR.

The specialized and highly referential language of serious studies in international relations and foreign policy demands a great deal of the unschooled student of these subjects. This is why I strongly recommend this companion resource. Evans and Newnham have written a necessary and highly readable guide to the events, terminology, and ideas that form the basis of studies in these and related fields today. The entries are arranged alphabetically with each topical mini-essay extensively cross-referencing its contents. An ambitious reader could easily spend hours bouncing randomly throughout the book following down ideas and phrases marked in the previous entry. While not intended to be read from cover-to-cover, it is a pleasant and informative exercise, because the entries are coherently developed essays with no shortage of detail. First published in 1998, Penguin should now consider a revision. After the events of September 11th, 2001, it seems a bit odd to read an entry on terrorism that is even a bit shorter than one on the Olympic Games. Perhaps a new edition of this fine book will note President George W. Bush's commencement address at the United States Military Academy at West Point (June, 2002), and how it evolves the notion of America's Cold War reliance on deterrence and containment to a policy of pre-emptive deterrence as seen in the military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Just like the Penguin Dictionary to 20th Century History, and many other manuals in the same series, this book is extremely precious - if not indispensable - for all those studying or needing to have some grasp of international relations and international history. It is of great use for scholars, who may need to refresh their knowledge on one or the other subject, the details of which they might not remember just off their head. While it is also of crucial use to beginners, who may wish to approach their study of international relations with the aid of this truly comprehensive book, offering information and explanations in a rigorous, yet truly easy-to-read, fashion. The entries are dense and concise at the same time, ensuring maximum time-efficiency, thus enabling a speedy and smooth look-up of information. The coverage is of course excellent, covering the globe, and every topic under the field. All in all, it is a book that cannot be missing from the personal stacks of anyone working in this field.

How on earth I ever managed to enjoy Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels before reading Anthony Gary Brown's wonderful dictionary is a mystery. Brown's book is a must have for all those who wish to get the most out of reading O'Brian's excellent naval stories.

I've been sampling this book for a couple of weeks and I can't tell you how much I've been enjoying it! For a fan of the Aubrey/Maturin books its almost as good as having a new POB come out! I think of someone I want to look up, then by the time I've read that entry I've been led to another, and then another and I keep stumbling on the most amazing facts and interesting historical stories.While just keeping track of all the names in the books is useful enough, the "enhanced" information - all the details about "real" people and ships and historical events - is the most exciting treasure for me.I can not begin to imagine the hours and hours invested in this masterpiece, though the careful attention to details and proofreading suggest it was a labor of love. All I can say is that I'm very grateful to the author for having written it. It will make reading and re-reading the Aubrey/Maturin books an even greater delight, and for me at least, it will lead deeper into the historical literature behind the series.Every bookstore in the country should stock this on the shelves next to the Aubrey/Maturin books so new converts will have it in hand right from the start.

Anthony Gary Brown's "Persons, Animals, Ships and Cannon in the Aubrey-Maturin Sea Novels" is a wonderful resource for anyone who loves the nautical fiction of Patrick O'Brian. The depth and breadth of research evident in this companion volume to the Aubrey-Maturin series is truly awe-inspiring. Every "proper name" reference -- no matter how slight or obscure -- has been diligently tracked and, where ever possible the historical reality behind the fictional is revealed. Characters I had assumed to be merely creations of Patrick O'Brian's imagination are shown by Gary Brown to be based in actual persons. Whenever Stephen Maturin speaks of an obscure botanist or philosopher, Brown has explained who he or she was and what was the significance of their work. There are many, many hours of delightful browsing in this volume for any Patrick O'Brian fan.

As a medical editor I am always looking for new references, and I found this book to be very useful. It provides the trade and generic names of drugs as well as the common and Latin names of herbal remedies. It also lists the indications for use, the approving agencies, and dosage information. Its small size and use of shorthand and abbreviations (clearly explained at the outset) make it much easier to use for quick spelling/style/information checking than the large, heavy Physician's Desk Reference (PDR).

I believe most editors will find the information on herbals to be the most useful, however, because as the market for alternative and complementary treatments expands, more and more authors are writing about the use of these remedies. Most reference books are not current enough to keep up with this trend, and thus a great deal of editing time can be wasted on searching for the proper spelling, genus & species name, or indications of a given herbal. This book provides all of this information in a short dictionary-style entry.

Overall, this book is very well organized and comprehensive but small in size and thus makes a great reference to keep by your desk.

Drake/Drake "Pharmaceutical Word Book" is one of the greatest drug references for medical transcriptionists. This easy-to-use guide is superb for those unfamiliar with which (brand-named) drugs require capitalization and which (generic) do not, the names of most available herbal medications (certainly used by more patients now than in the last few generations), and even lists experimental/investigational medications. Since I do primarily imaging transcription, I find it especially handy for nuclear medicine drugs used in my work, such as 99mTc (33 types of technetium isotopes alone listed here).

Four appendixes complete this nearly 700-page book: one involving sound-alike drugs, another of useful abbreviations and dosages, a third of therapeutic drug levels, and a fourth containing the most widely prescribed drugs.

Handy, concise, and used daily by all with whom I work, I highly recommend this great little book for any medical transcriptionist who transcribes medications.

I am a Medical Transcriptionist and I just love this book. It is more informative than the others. We actually fight over this book at work! Its great for information on any drug there is! Its better than the PDR hands down. It has everything you need to know and the price is just right!

This is an indispensible book for writers and for anyone who loves words, but only if you're looking for something from A to O, since Random House dumped the project. Hope may be on the horizon, though. As reported in William Safire's On Lanuguage column (NYT Mag. 6/29/03), the National Endowment for the Humanities came up with a grant of $325,000 over two years to keep J.E. Lighter's project going, and Oxford University Press picked up the challenge. Oxford is now working out the contract details with Random House.

Volumes I and II comprise an impressive, indispensable reference for writers, word junkies, and the just plain curious. But where the devil is the danged, long-over Volume III!? There's lots of slang after the letter O. This outstanding reference, unfortunately, is still imcomplete. The publishers ought to be ashamed of themselves for getting us hooked, and then not delivering on the promised final volume.

I am an avid collector of dictionaries, and this is one of my favorites. It is an invauable reference, and fun to browse. The definitions are clear and, from my experience, accurate. The attempt to find the earliest references is impressive -- certainly the best of its kind, but it is not 100% accurate. No work of this type, which breaks much new ground and works so often from primary sources, could be completely accurate, but it it provides an invaluable foundation for future slang etymology. A truly awesome work. I check back monthly for volume III.

I'm an American slang bug and that's why I'm just chafing at the bit to browse next volumes of this undoubtedly the very best and most comprehensive and authoritative complete on-going dictionary of slang. A lot has been already said and written 'bout this work hence I'm lost for new words of appreciation. On the other hand, however, dear editors, mercy on us, you can't just now dump this big project halfway thru editing thus leaving us, all American slang lovers throughout the English-speaking world in the lurch. There's a glitter of hope, as I heard, to cooperate with Oxford University Press. OK! Go ahead and good luck then but let these words be soon followed by real actions. Sincerely Alex

Spectacular work, but....It is now 7 years that I have been waiting for this dictionary to be completed. I am now hearing that the third and last volume may not see light at all. The mere thought that Random House has brought its customers into a stupid situation like this is shocking. Not only it's a huge disappointment to its customers, but it's also a great loss to American lexicography. Does Random House think that this fiasco can me mended in the not too distant future? May we readers and customers expect a reply from Random House? What the hell.

According to a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal by Jennifer Ordonez (Sept 7, 2000), this dictionary may never get beyond the letter O. Random House have stopped work on the editing because of the cost, and linguist J E Lighter has stopped delivering the text because of a row over royalties. Ambitious dictionaries don't make a profit for publishers, and Random House says it only commissioned a one volume work originally, way back in 1984. But it has made some money. The article points out that the cult best-seller "The F-Word" is in fact an extraction of a single entry from volume 1 - published under project editor Jesse Sheidlower's name after Lighter refused to have his name used. One of the reasons Lighter has stopped giving material to Random House, says the article, is that he's worried they'll try and do the same thing with "the S-Word" and he doesn't want to be remembered as the F and S guy. You can read the whole article at wsj.com if you have a subscription.

This is the kind of book you can read a little at a time, picking places at random, and have an "inspiration" each time. Whether you happen on an established Saint, a "Servant of God", "Venerable" or "Blessed" person (all explained simply in the forward to the book), you'll be captivated by the short biographies of these people.

The variety is exceptional: familiar names you may want to refresh your memory on, and you're sure to find several brand new stories, as well. From many countries, all walks of life, and all centuries, the aquaintances you make here will renew your faith in humanity, and boost your own hope for the world. I found quite a few, too, who challenged me, and reminded me that I, too, am called to live a life for others.

Vocabulary is suitable for older high school students, young adults and adults; those folks would have to re-tell the stories for younger readers.

I'm thinking of making this my "book for Lent"--it will fit into the few minutes I can steal morning, waiting for appointments and before falling asleep. And what better company could I find for the long Lenten journey?

Cynthia Cavnar has made a valuable contribution to present-day readers whether they already are fans of the saints or newly interested persons with a desire to learn more about those Christians who have gone before us establishing the rich tradition of the church. She has done much research and does an excellent job with a balanced and believable presentation. She searches for the "truth" about the saints, neither neglecting nor overemphasizing their humanity as well as their spirituality and the mysticism surrounding their lives. This book is informative and inspirational. It can be a valuable resource for all church related educational programs as well as spiritually rewarding for the individual reader.

Cindy Cavnar does it again! She has a knack for finding the most unusual,inspiring facts about the saints, particularly tales of their everyday lives that often mirror our own. Her ability to weave accurate information and fascinating detail into short, easy to read anecdotes makes the book consistently enjoyable.

You can spend hours browsing trough this encyclopedia. Of course you will recognize many of the classic. Yet you may be surprised at the multitude of great films that you missed. There are better descriptions and stills than you find in most of the genre magazines.

Contents:

THE EARLY YEARS: Innocent Beginnings (1895-1919)
THE TWENTIES: Dark Visions and Brash Adventure
THE THIRTIES: Mad Scientists and Comic Book Heroes
THE FORTIES: Science Fiction Eclipsed

THE FIFTIES: Science Fiction Reborn
THE SISTIES: Science Fiction Respectable
THE SEVENTIES: Big Budgets and Big Bucks
THE EIGHTIES: Science Fiction Triumphant

I am not going to bore you with the list of my favorites but I challenge you not to fine one of yours.

This really has to be recognised as a monumental reference work. The sheer breadth of material found and reviewed by Hardy is extraordinary. I will be using this book for years to come.

A treasure chest that covers all sf movies from 1895 to the present. If it's not in here, it probably wasn't made--everything from Mexican quickies starring popular Mexican wrestling champions to Hungarian space-vampires to the late 1950's "The Colussus of New York" (a film I had been trying to find the name of for 30 years). And it's stuffed with pictures--about 450 b&w and color.

This book is wonderful. I recommend highly to anyone who does orthopaedic/rehab dictation. I ordered a copy for my partner who had little medical terminology knowledge and she has found it more than beneficial. It is extremely well cross-referenced and an asset to any transcriptionist's library. Thanks Stedman!

This is a wonderful book for any medical transcriptionist! I started working for another orthopaedist and he's a bit more "progressive" than my other clients. This book is invaluable! I highly recommend it!

I am a medical transcriptionist for several doctors offices and a hospital. I transcripe dictation from Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, orthopaedic and Rehab from doctors and therapists. This book has everything I have ever needed so far and I am ordering one for a fellow transcriptionist for her to add to her reference books. The sample reports included, tables and anatomical illustrations are fantasic. This one is a must! Thanks for making my job easier!

A friend bawt it as a goin away gift - Notfawnuttin but its been wicked awesome fa helpin these Midwestern people undastand wat I'm sayin. You guys got a bubbla around here or wat?

I had this book sent from home when my new friends in ohio said I had a accent, I never thought I did. I showed them the book that I never thought was comleptly true, they laughed and relized it wasn't just my speaking funny or making up stuff. I can't help it if they don't know what qauhogs, cherrystones, or steamers are. This book is fun to read as a rhode island resident but even better when you move out of state.

My family and I have recently moved to western PA. What a culture shock to learn that I have an ACCENT! Your book tells the story of that accent better than I can explain it, so we are buying it by the gross and handing it out as a translation tool to all our new neighbors. It has gone over really well. It turns even the most "slow" PA parties into a laughing riot. Thanks so much for putting the humor in our "RI vernacular"

I teach Russian at the high school level.

The Schaum's Russian Grammar outline has the clearest explanation of the difficult subject of Russian motion verbs that I have ever seen.

The author, Dr. James Levine, divides the Russian subjunctive into The Conditional (260) and The Subjunctive (262). I think this approach is very helpful for students because it is less confusing.

The discussion and exercises of the difficult Russian Indefinite Pronouns (134-136) was well-organized and highlighted when the particles "to" or "nibud" should be used.

The text is careful to use a vocabulary that is remarkably consistent with what students are learning in their main text.

The explanations and the exercises in the text can be used as a supplement to a regular text. Many high school and university texts today have video and audio materials, but the grammar analysis is not as developed as it might be. This modestly-priced text is an excellent way to bridge this gap. The grammar explanations are clearer for an English-speaker than the Russian-published texts.

The rules for Russian grammar are very carefully and logically explained; the words are accented; and the exercises have an answer key that is helpful for students studying independently.

This is the best Russian grammar book on the market.

I have been studying Russian independently for two years now, and this is the best book I have found. It explains all aspects of Russian grammar very clearly, and is perfect for all levels of study. If I had one book other than my dictionary (I recommend Katzner for American students, Oxford for English), this would be it.

As I am currently studying for my university Russian exams, this book is an absolute goldmine for practice exercises and simple explanations into noun endings, cases, numerals, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc. Very helpful!