good, but...

...ive never been the type that can sit and concentrate on something so dull! its good value for money but i bought this in conjunction with the Driving Test Success dvd rom and it kept my interest a bit better than this book.

A very worthy addition....

To say that I was exited about getting my hands on this book is an understatement. And now, after having browsed through it a few times, I'd certainly say that I'm not dissapointed. John Wrights style is informative, engaging and witty, and the descriptions of plants (both edible and some poisonous species) are detailed and accompanied by excellent photographs.<br />Although the handbook only covers a selection of the many edible species in the British Isles, it describes some of the more worthwhile species and would make an excellent introduction to someone new to foraging.<br />This book is a worthy addition to the River Cottage Handbook series and will also compliment some of the classic tomes such as Roger Phillips 'Wild Food' and Richard Mabeys 'Food for Free'.

very very helpful

this is a fab little book if you just want to get practising! there are loads of questions and it gives you really good hints and tips in the answers section. highly recommended.

Bad science - Good book

Bad science is at its heart very simple. Ben tells us the way science should be done (and should be reported) and then shows us how it can be done (and is reported) and the contrast is quite startling. But it is the way that Ben carries this off that is special, best shown in his own words.<br /><br />Ben is reviewing Brain Gym, which tells school children to make a C shape with their fingers on their chest to stimulate the flow of blood through the carotid artery to the brain and so improve concentration. Ben writes,"Children can be disgusting and often they can develop extraordinary talents, but i am yet to meet any child that can stimulate his carotid arteries inside his ribcage. That is probably going to need the sharp scissors that only Mummy can use".<br /><br />This section comes from p14. As the book continues Ben gets clearer, more to the point and even more outraged while the sense of humor gets sharper and sharper. A really good book that is worth buying for the smile and understanding of 'true' science that it will leave you with, although these are perhaps small compensation for insight it gives you to the darker side of science and how it is reported.

A book to be shared

A very logically explained book of facts that could improve your life. After reading it myself I gave it to my sister and she is finding it really useful as well.

Can't review the book because we HAVEN'T RECEIVED it YET!!!!! Shoul have bee dilivered btween 23rd and 29th July !!!

Can you please look into this and let me khow whats happing?????!!!!<br /><br />Yous,<br /><br />Sinéad Conry

Please Please Please try reading better atheists

Although I am a Christian, I was agnostic when I read this book (around two and a half years ago). Even then, his arguments seemed unsatisfactory.<br /><br />Richard Dawkins' book, The God Delusion, is one that seems attractive to many people whom have not really read or discussed the issues that it raises (normally, either theists who have never thought about their religion, or atheists who have never properly considered Christianity). Dawkins' arguments are all based upon the presupposition that you do not need to understand any theology to be able to destroy the idea of God. This presupposition is slightly crazy, as (one of many reasons) Christian Theology is one of the most complex things man has ever written (many of the West's finest thinkers for the last two thousand years have been theologian, St Thomas Aquinas for example), and the idea of Love being the Ultimate truth is something (to my memory) Dawkins never really discussed, and he seemingly ignores the fact that one of the most important Christian things ever written is that God is Love.<br /><br />I urge people not to buy this book, and instead to read some of the great atheist and theist thinkers, read Nietzsche (particularily Beyond Good and Evil) and Hume as critics or Christianity, for they are probably the two greatest ever, or if you are not able to understand their arguments (I found Nietzsche's writing style hell at first to read) then read introductions to them. Also, to really understand it, read Christian writers (don't start with any really important original scholars, Aquinas, Barth, Calvin, Augustine, etc), particularly modern ones such as Herbert McCabe, David Bentley Hart, Josef Pieper or Nicholas Lash, and then you should have a good opinion. One really good read is Dostoevsky's the Brothers Karamazov, with his criticism of Salvation being another one of the most profound attacks upon Christianity ever. But please, do not read Dawkins, for his criticisms are so easily rebuked that they are ignored by most Scholars, whereas Nietzsche's (for example) are ones that have been debated fiercely ever since he wrote them. <br />Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future (Dover Thrift)

One of the best browse buys I've made

I found Simon Singh's 'Fermat's Last Theorem' a bit of a page turner which either makes me a right saddo or an intellectual genius. When I saw this book on one of my frequent browses I thought that sounds right up my street so bought it (it had good reviews).<br /><br />Absolutely loved it, it is a romp through the history of maths in bite sized chunks which investigate certain aspects, e.g. sequences etc.<br /><br />That man Euler was a genius wasn't he?<br /><br />Alex Bellos has a very good way of writing, easy to read and sprinkled, sparingly, with a bit of humour too - thoroughly enjoyable. I'll even forgive him for saying 'math' once (well twice if you include a quote but that was from an American and we all know they can't speak English) and a typo in the logarithms section (can you spot it?).<br /><br />Well done on an excellent book.

Bomb Disposal: Is PTSD the inevitable cost of surviving this role?

I was interested to read this book having seen the author speak in a short TV programme in a very clear, modest and detailed way about his experiences in Iraq as a bomb disposal officer. The book did not disappoint. It gave a very clear explanation of his interest in following his father into the Army and showed how his upbringing prepared him so well for such a career. His father showed him how important commitment and thoroughness were as values to live by.<br /><br />His own interpretation of commitment to his career was to volunteer for what was the most dangerous role on offer. It is also the most protective role, of others, that a serviceman can volunteer for. In that regard Captain Ivison's book shows how the protective bond that soldiers develope leads some to that capability of taking on the most dangerous job going, even when the odds are so heavily stacked against you, that some might be tempted to say"you are mad to do this".<br /><br />But, what do we, who look on as civilians from afar know about this? It is hard for us to understand it when we are befogged by political controversy over the Iraq and Afghan wars. We can learn in this book that the Services give their 100% and more in the tasks they are set by Politicians. We will realise when considering this account that they deserve the same degree of scrupulous honesty in the decision making that preceeds the order to go to war. Likewise we realise that they deserve to be supplied appropriately and to do less is damaging and hurtful to their best efforts.<br />Above all this book is a very personal account of one man's suffering of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. How it developed in the author is outlined in a gripping and frightening account of the run up to the most challenging task he faced in Iraq. You are left exhausted by his description of how he felt psychologically after he left his colleagues, to whom he had been so inextricably joined. His story shows that despite the Services and their Medical Teams awareness of PTSD there remains a hesitancy to respond to a hero's cry for help. We come away from this book and ask"Could I ever risk myself for others as this man did?" No, will be our reply.

Learner Drivers

This book is a must for any learner drivers, it is easy to understand and learn........

Very Useful Book

If you are a student than this book is worth its wait in gold. Covering just about every topic about being a student you can imagine it will guide you through how to study to the best of your ability<br /><br />Whilst there are bound to be some chapters you feel there is no need to read it is an excellent reference book to help you overcome any problems or doubts you may experience as a student<br /><br />Clearly written and easy to understand, you have no need to strain your brain in order to read it

Serious about becoming a non-smoker? Read this.

This is the first ever review I have written on book; I am writing it only because this book really deserve it. I have been a smoker since 14 and tried to give up on numerous occasions with no success. <br /><br />My friend recommended this book to me when I told him I was trying to give up smoking; although I was bit skeptical at first (who isn't about self-help books) I did went ahead and bought it. <br /><br />I read it in all one go (I recommend reading it in one go - it's an easy read) in 02 Feb 2007 and put down my last cigarette that day and haven't touched a cigarette ever since. <br /><br />I have to admit I did get cravings for about a week but it was very mild. Every time I get a craving I re-read a chapter from the book and the cravings goes away. I am glad I found this book at the age of 24 while I have lot of life left ahead of me. This book helped me recognise my ability to control my self which I used to stop alcohol (almost 3 years tee total).<br /><br />This is a life changing book and I recommend that anyone who wants to stop smoking to buy it and more importantly read it.<br />

pure brilliance

Everyone should have a copy of this book. It is, on the whole, easy to read, captivating and thoroughly interesting! Highly recommended. If you don't love it straight away then keep revisiting it and you will eventually get into it!<br />

Successful Meditation

This book was recommended to me by a Clinical Psychologist who, prior to Pain Management Clinic, was helping me to cope with severe pain. Although at times the book was a little 'heavy going' it is very useful to now have on my bookshelf for referral. The CD which accompanied the book is extremely helpful - I use 'Body Scan' every day and am now moving on to other forms of meditation. Although this form of help has not made the pain disappear, it has certainly helped me to cope much better. I find it invigorating.

A must buy for PGCE Upper Primary students.

There's nothing much to say apart from it's a book we were told to buy. It has all the basic information you need and it very useful.

The Perfect Puppy

A great read if you are thining of getting a puppy! It has certainly made me think twice looking at all the work involved and realize I now need to do a little more research into the type of dog I get and be prepared for sleepless nights for a while! <br /><br />I will however be putting the book into practice at some point in the future!

Disappointing! Not much evidence, just ranting at the creation mob.

For someone who views evolution as a fool's gold, I took this book on merit to see if Dawkins had a valid case for evolution and to see the evidence. For a book of over 400 pages I am very disappointed with the content. Dawkins just doesn't have the courage to write purely on the scientific and leave god or religion out of the equation. Chapters 1,2 and 3 are just a rant aimed at the creationists mob. Upto now no evidence presented. In another chapter Dawkins write's a story and then admits it's just the work of fiction to get over a point! I would rather just see the evidence Richard. Another chapter we are introduced to a monty python song. I don't know what Dawkins is trying to achieve here but it just goes peared shaped. Maybe he misses his innocent student days thinking about what he might do when he gets bigger and grows up. As for evidence for evolution? There's not much here to blow one's trumpet! A computer program written by Dawkins? Someone's having a laugh. The photographs are very nice, but it's all rather just an opinion of what might of happened. A lot of the material in this book has already been used in the god delusion. I would of loved to see more evidence to justify the belief in evolution. Quoting thats it's natural selection all the time just doesn't do it! If you are pro evolution then this book will leave you asking for a refund because it doesn't offer anthing new. If you are a creationist then this book will reinforce your view that Dawkins is a religionist. For anyone else without a creationists agenda, this book will not change your view about the beginning of life on earth. A very disappointing book and Dawkins should be ashamed of producing such rubbish. For readers of science, avoid at all costs!

Must HAVE to pass CSCS test

I was generally in impressed with amazon of the handling for my order for this book. This is why<br /><br />1.) I recieved the book one day Prior to estimated delivery date which is tomorrow.<br />2.) The packaging was good in the cardboard sort of box.<br />3.) The descriptiom of the book is what new which i got it was in best condition not in battered or anything like that.<br /><br />For the book.<br />1.) It's a must have for the cscs test it properly detailed it covers alot 26 modules.<br />2.) It's very straight forward read and questions.<br />3.) There is also contains heating,ventilating,air conditioning and refrigeration test questions and many more.<br /><br />I hope my review was helpful