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Fourth Procedure
Sharky's Machine
Airframe
The Lost World
No Safe Place
Dark Justice
Monster (Alex Delaware Novels (Paperback))
Angle of Impact
Hellfire Club
Timeline
In Dark Water (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Escape the Night
Puzzled Heart
Congo
The Andromeda Strain
Standing in the Shadows
The Broken Hearts Club
The Broken Hearts Club (Conrad Voort Novels (Paperback))
Cookie Cutter
Hart's War: a Novel
Hart's War
The Analyst
The Analyst
Monitor: The Story of the Legendary Civil War Ironclad and the Man Whose Invention Changed the Course of History
A Perfect Crime

Litigation by the Numbers, Fourth Edition

Average customer rating:

litagation by the numbers
excellant book for corporate counsel and admin
Quick and Easy Reference
This book should be part of every Litigation Library

Litigation by the Numbers, Fourth Edition
Julie A. Goren
Manufacturer: Lawdable Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound

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Torts & Personal Injury Law (The West Legal Studies Series)
Essentials of Contract Law

ASIN: 0974936103

Book Description

The essential civil litigation handbook devoted to the "HOW TO's " of California procedure. The California Code of Civil Procedure, California Rules of Court, and Judicial Council forms are combined so that the reader learns for any given task: which form to use, how to complete it, and how and when to file and serve it. This step-by-step litigation handbook is used by attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries both as a quick reference and as a training tool, and has been adopted as a text by several California college paralegal and legal secretarial programs. Additionally, law librarians of numerous California county law libraries keep it on reserve to help self-represented litigants. Updated at least annually to reflect new rules and forms, the book contains over 390 pages explaining the various phases of a California civil case. Chapters include: Appearance by Plaintiff (preparing the Complaint and all required forms, filing and serving by all allowable methods); Filing and Service (filing and serving documents throughout the case); Default by Defendant (entering a default and obtaining default judgment); Appearance by Defendant (preparing, filing, and serving answers and cross-complaints); Motions (preparing regular motions, discovery motions, ex parte applications, demurrers, and motions to strike); Discovery (setting up depositions of parties and non-parties, preparing, serving, and responding to requests for admission, interrogatories, and requests for production); Settlement and Dismissal (notifying the court of settlement and dismissing the case); Pre-Trial (preparing case management documentation and subpoenaing witnesses); and Judgment and Enforcement (placing liens on real estate, noticing judgment debtor exams, obtaining costs of suit).

Customer Reviews:

litagation by the numbers.......2004-04-09

This books has helped our students enormously! It serves as a guide for them in the learning proces as well as goes with them to the workplace along with the updates and gives them a real edge as a new employee in a law office setting. Some say their boss (the attorney) uses the guide too!

excellant book for corporate counsel and admin.......2004-04-09

With this book we have saved hundreds, probably thousands of dollars in legal fees. It guides you (even if you have no legal background) through the process, form and necessary schedules needed for civil legal procedures and litigation.

Highly recommended!!

Quick and Easy Reference.......2004-03-30

I have been teaching paralegal study courses since 1992, and have used a variety of other texts and resource material during those years. Litigation By The Numbers is a much better teaching tool than other publications previously available. In
fact, it is the best text currently on the market. The book is well organized allowing students, legal secretaries and paralegals to quickly reference forms and state procedures.
The chapters are thoughtfully organized and easy to understand. Each chapter is compact, allowing the reader to quickly find state forms and answers to procedural questions such as filing and service deadlines. Students and legal professionals will find the book to be a handy and quick resource for tasks most common to a law office.

This book should be part of every Litigation Library.......2004-03-23

I highly recommend Litigation By The Numbers to anyone who is involved in civil litigation in California. It has step-by-step instructions on how to take a case from filing all the way to enforcement of a judgment. There are numerous easy to understand illustrations. The book brings together the applicable Code of Civil Procedure, Rules of Court, and Judicial Council forms. It takes a very complex process and makes it simple and easy to follow. The book is well worth the price.

Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, Fourth Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)

Average customer rating:

A Morbid Classic!
practical, detailed and helpful
Practical Homicide Investigation, Fourth Edition
Practical Homicide Investigations
Practical Homicide Investigations a Great Tool

Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, Fourth Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)
Vernon J. Geberth
Manufacturer: TF-CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives
Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, Seventh Edition
Crime Classification Manual: A Standard System for Investigating and Classifying Violent Crimes
Spitz And Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation Of Death: Guidelines For The Application Of Pathology To Crime Investigation
Forensic Pathology, Second Edition (Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations)

ASIN: 0849333032

Book Description

Renowned for being the definitive source of homicide investigation, Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques emphasizes essential procedures, combines detailed techniques with instructive case studies, and outlines the foundation on which to build a solid, prosecutable case. The book features two new chapters along with major revisions of those from the previous edition. In addition it contains 675 photos and illustrations - including 300 new entries that incorporate depictions of wound structures and procedures that portray exactly what to do and how to do it. All illustrations are presented in full color, including new medical-legal drawings for instruction and courtroom testimony.

Customer Reviews:

A Morbid Classic!.......2006-12-03

Talk about a disturbing book. This one will probably give you nightmares if you haven't desensitized yourself to violence yet. If your denial mechanism is in disrepair, you'd probably be best to avoid this book which is the "Bible" of crime scene investigation techniques. Extremely graphic photographs of murder and suicide victims along with a compelling forensic text with such chapters as 'The Homicide Crime Scene Search,' 'Estimating Time Of Death,' 'Modes Of Death,' 'Suicide Investigation,' and 'The Autopsy' makes this one of the most informative and disturbing books available. Highly Recommended!

practical, detailed and helpful.......2006-08-29

In this appropriately named "Checklist and Field Guide" Vernon J. Geberth distills the complexities of criminal investigation into a series of helpful checklists and charts. The reading is informative (though not always engaging) and he provides a necessary resource for law enforcement personnel as well as a helpful guide for authors writing books involving criminal investigation or police procedures.

Practical Homicide Investigation, Fourth Edition.......2006-07-06

Book Review: Practical Homicide Investigation, Fourth Edition
Author: Vernon J. Geberth, CRC Press, 2006

The latest edition of Practical Homicide Investigation, starts with reemphasizing the basics of homicide investigation, expands upon the coverage of practical methods of solving your murder cases and adds new information that addresses some of the newest, most crucial innovations of homicide investigation that will help us in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their surviving families. Even if you have memorized the first three editions, the 4th Edition of Practical Homicide Investigation needs to be on your "must read" list if you want to be an effective murder cop.

The textbook opens with the five components of practical homicide investigation and demonstrates the investigative strategies to be a successful homicide investigator. The addition of the color photographs to the 4th edition is a great compliment to the text, especially the coverage of wound structures and crime scenes. The images will help any investigator recognize and evaluate the potential significance of various wounds that you will encounter as a homicide investigator.

In this business, we all recognize the impact of DNA technology in our cases. The new chapter on DNA technology explains the science in a manner that murder cops can understand and utilize when evaluating homicides and the evidence associated with the cases. Being able to evaluate and understand the importance of this evolving forensic field can save you time as an investigator, prioritize the analysis requests for your forensic examiners to avoid delays due to examination requests backlogs and possibly save the lives of future potential victims as well.

The new chapter on equivocal death investigation is another worthwhile addition to the homicide investigator's bible. The fact that the deaths are equivocal means that the homicide investigator must use advanced tactics in reviewing the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The case studies in this chapter demonstrate the importance of evaluating all of the components of practical homicide investigation to ensure that wrongful deaths are not overlooked.

My favorite chapter in this latest edition of Practical Homicide Investigation is the chapter on Profiling and Investigative Assessment. The expanded coverage in this chapter reinforces the importance of behavioral evidence at the crime scene and how to utilize the collection of this "intangible" evidence in your overall homicide investigation.

The new Practical Homicide Investigation textbook could be called "4th Addition" rather than "4th Edition" as you will see when you read it. You will find newly added cases and updated information throughout the pages from cover to cover.

When you finish reading the last chapter of the 4th Edition and think that you have finished the textbook, you flip the page and find a newly revised glossary of the terms and definitions related to homicide investigations. This glossary is not only a great resource for your understanding of the terminology, but will enhance your ability to properly document your investigation in professional, well-written reports. Another important benefit of the glossary will be recognized after the arrest of the perpetrator(s) when it is your time to testify. You will be able to discuss your case in a manner that will demonstrate to the people in the judicial system, especially the jury, your dedication to your profession and to the victims of crimes. Reading and understanding this book will give you the confidence to ensure that homicide victims will get what they deserve - a thorough investigation by a professional, dedicated investigator.

I have been a PHI disciple for many years and as I read the 4th Edition text, I could hear the words of Vernon Geberth, "Follow every lead to its ultimate conclusion." - "All murder cops are cold case detectives." - "Remember, do it right the first time. You only get one chance." These directives will act as cues to keep you focused as you investigate any death cases.

All of the great additions to the 4th Edition of Practical Homicide Investigation lead to the most remarkable point of all which is that Lt. Commander Geberth took the time to improve his book for us. It demonstrates his perpetual passion for the profession of homicide investigation and is why he is known internationally as "Mr. Murder." Even though the author's name is followed by the word "retired" in parenthesis, the truth is that Vernon Geberth may have retired from NYPD, but he has never retired from the business of being a murder cop. The fact that he continues to revise the Practical Homicide Investigation textbook is a testament to his dedication to solving homicides and an example that all of us in the business should strive to achieve.

Larry Thomas. Assistant Director, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
KBI Special Agent in Charge - BTK Serial Killer Task Force

Practical Homicide Investigations.......2005-09-26

Excellent reference book..I am a criminal investigator. The timely manner I received the product was appreciated.

Practical Homicide Investigations a Great Tool.......2005-09-10

This book is a great tool for Criminial Justice students. It has help my wife greatly. Amazon's prices are much cheaper than the school bookstore.

Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests Fourth Edition

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Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests Fourth Edition
Alan Wu
Manufacturer: Saunders
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics
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Practical Diagnosis of Hematologic Disorders, Fourth Edition

ASIN: 0721679757

Book Description

This new edition of Norbert Tietz's classic handbook presents information on common tests as well as rare and highly specialized tests and procedures - including a summary of the utility and merit of each test. Biological variables that may affect test results are discussed, and a focus is placed on reference ranges, diagnostic information, clinical interpretation of laboratory data, interferences, and specimen types. New and updated content has been added in all areas, with over 100 new tests added.

Handbook of Parametric and Nonparametric Statistical Procedures, Fourth Edition

Average customer rating:

Comprehensive and With Examples

Handbook of Parametric and Nonparametric Statistical Procedures, Fourth Edition
David J. Sheskin
Manufacturer: Chapman & Hall/CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Randomization Tests, Fourth Edition (Statistics: a Series of Textbooks and Monographs)

ASIN: 1584888148

Book Description

Featuring more than 500 pages of new material, the fourth edition of this classic handbook provides up-to-date, in-depth coverage of now more than 160 statistical procedures as well as both theoretical and practical statistical topics. This edition presents new material on multivariate analysis, medical statistics, and regression diagnostics. With decision tables to help determine the appropriate statistical test and a standardized organizational format for each test, it also covers log-linear analysis of contingency tables, trend analysis, Levene and Brown-Forsythe tests, the Jarque-Bera test of normality, confidence intervals, and exponential and Poisson distributions.

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive and With Examples.......2007-04-24

If you are looking for a comprehensive book that explains virtually every statistical procedures and testing, you simply have to have this book. It covers everything from simple t test to Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and others. Simply put, it's very readable and encyclopedic. Every chapter is illustrated with at least one example on how to compute the test.

The format of each chapter is as follows:
1. Background / Motivation to do the test
2. Sets of equations pertaining to the test
3. Sets of examples to illustrate the author's point
4. How to interpret the test
5. Any special cases of the test plus examples
6. References

Note that you won't find any proofs for the equations presented in the book. The appendix contains the table needed to perform the statistical analysis.

Here's partial list of tests covered in the third edition:
1. z test (Single-sample, two independent samples)
2. t test (Single-sample, two independent samples, two dependent samples)
3. Chi-Square Test for Population Variance (Single-sample)
4. Test for population skewness (Single-sample)
5. Test for Population kurtosis (Single-sample)
6. Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test (Single, Matched-pairs)
7. Kolmogorov-Smirnov Goodness-of-Fit (Single-sample, two independent samples)
8. Lilliefors test for normality
9. Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit test
10. Binomial Sign test (Single-sample, two dependent samples)
11. Runs Test (Single Sample)
12. Frequency test, maximum test, coupon collector's test, gap test, poker test, mean square successive difference test (for serial randomness).
13. Hartley's F-max test, Cohen's d index, Omega squared / eta squared tests
14. Mann-Whitney U Test
15. Siegel-Tukey test for equal variability
16. Moses Test for equal variability
17. Chi-Square test for r x c table
18. Contingency coefficient, Cramer's phi coeff, phi coeff, Cohen's kappa, Yule's Q, etc
19. Fisher exact test
20. McNemar test
21. Single-Factor between-subjects ANOVA
22. Kruskal-Wallis (one way) by ranks
23. Jonkheere-Terpstra test for ordered alternatives
24. Bowker test for internal symmetry
25. Stuart-Maxell test for marginal homogeneity
26. Van der Waerden Normal Scores test for k independent samples
27. Single-Factor Within-subjects ANOVA
28. Multiple t test, Fisher's LSD, Bonferroni-Dunn, Tukey's HSD, Newman-Keuls, Scheffe, Dunnet tests
29. Friedman Two-way ANOVA by Ranks.
30. Cochran's Q Test
31. Between-Subjects Factorial ANOVA
32. Pearson product-moment correlation coeff
33. Spearman's rank-order correlation
34. Kendall's Tau
35. Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance
36. Goodman and Kruskal's Gamma

Though it's nice to have the table in the appendix, I would prefer the book to contain the formula to compute the distribution itself. It would be very valuable for engineers who need to perform the test in computer programs, because not all distributions are available on the internet, like Tukey's HSD.

But this is minor enough. I wholeheartedly give this book a 5-star rating.

Manual Of Perioperative Care In Adult Cardiac Surgery Fourth Edition

Average customer rating:

Great Job Bob!
Manual of Perioperative Care in Adult Cardiac Surgery
Fabulous Reference

Manual Of Perioperative Care In Adult Cardiac Surgery Fourth Edition
Robert M. Bojar
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Cardiology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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The Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Pocket Survival Guide
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ASIN: 1405104392

Book Description

Extensively revised to cover recent advances in cardiac surgery, the fourth edition of Bojar's Manual of Perioperative Care in Adult Cardiac Surgery remains the gold standard for management of adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

The easily referenced outline format allows health practitioners of all levels to understand and apply basic concepts to patient care—perfect for cardiothoracic and general surgery residents, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, cardiologists, medical students, and critical care nurses involved in the care of both routine and complex cardiac surgery patients.

This comprehensive guide features:

Detailed presentation addressing all aspects of perioperative care for adult cardiac surgery patients Outline format allowing quick access to information Chronological approach to patient care starting with diagnostic tests then covering preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care issues Additional chapters discussing bleeding, the respiratory, cardiac, and renal subsystems in depth, and aspects of care specific to recovery on the postoperative floor Completely updated references Extensive illustrations, including NEW figures depicting operative techniques 14 helpful appendices covering order and flow sheets, protocols, commonly used drug dosages, and procedures Practical and accessible, the Manual of Perioperative Care in Adult Cardiac Surgery is the essential reference guide to cardiac surgical patient care.

Customer Reviews:

Great Job Bob!.......2006-07-21

This book is a must for anyone taking care of cardiac patients. I had older editions when a resident and fellow. Am an attending now and picked up the new edition as its a good little reference book. Still use it to brush-up on stuff before 'pimping' residents and fellows!

Manual of Perioperative Care in Adult Cardiac Surgery.......2006-03-06

This is a very good reference text for anybody working in the area of cardiac surgery. I have worked as a nurse practitioner in cardiology for 5 years and recently switched to cardiac surgery. I have found this to be a very succinct text. I can quickly find the answers to my questions. I would highly recommend it. I am a little hesitant to leave it at work as everyone from Drs to the nurses in the CVICU have been picking it up and reading it.

Fabulous Reference.......2005-01-06

This book is an absolute must for anyone working in the cardiac surgical field. It covers all the bases, preoperative assessment, anesthesia, the operating room, intensive care monitoring, and post operative complications. The book also has numerous diagrams and pictures of equipment and procedures. There are several helpful charts and EKG tracings. The book is set up in a very easy to read outline form. If you work in cardiac surgery, whether you are a nurse in the ICU or operating room, a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, respiratory therapist, medical student or a doctor, this book will provide you with all the insight you need to manage the cardiac surgical patient.

Making Sense Of Search And Seizure Law: A Fourth Amendment Handbook

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Making Sense Of Search And Seizure Law: A Fourth Amendment Handbook
Phillip A. Hubbart
Manufacturer: Carolina Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Constitutional Law | Law | Subjects | Books

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Not a Suicide Pact: The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency (Inalienable Rights)
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Letter to a Christian Nation
Little Miss Sunshine

ASIN: 1594600635
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

Fourth Amemdment law is both fascinating and inspiring -- as it deals with a fundamental human right, the denial of which was one of the leading causes of the American Revolution. But this law can also be extremely confusing. Thus the reason for this book: to make sense of this subject. In a single volume, Hubbart restates the content, organizational structure, and principled basis of Fourth Amendment law -- as laid forth by numerous U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the subject -- so that it is understandable and coherent. The work concentrates on U.S. Supreme Court caselaw, relies heavily on the historical background of the Fourth Amendment upon which much of this law is based, and cites to relevant treatises and leading federal and state court decisions. It also briefly discusses the theories of constitutional construction that the Court has used in reaching its decisions.

A wide variety of professionals (such as judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers, police legal advisors, as well as teachers and students) at the law school, undergraduate, and law enforcement levels will find this book extremely useful.

A Guide to Federal Agency Rulemaking, Fourth Edition

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A Guide to Federal Agency Rulemaking, Fourth Edition
Jeffrey S. Lubbers
Manufacturer: American Bar Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Electronic Evidence and Discovery Handbook: Forms, Checklists and Guidelines

ASIN: 1590317068

Book Description

A concise but thorough resource, the guide provides a time-saving reference for the latest case law, and the most recent legislation affecting rulemaking.

Essential Orthopaedics and Trauma, Fourth Edition

Average customer rating:

A mediocre book.

Essential Orthopaedics and Trauma, Fourth Edition
David J. Dandy , and Dennis J. Edwards
Manufacturer: Churchill Livingstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Essential Surgical Skills with CD-ROM
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Acid-Base, Fluids, and Electrolytes Made Ridiculously Simple (MedMaster Series)
Physical Examination of the Spine and Extremities
Surgical Recall (Recall Series)

ASIN: 0443072132

Book Description

The 4th Edition of this user-friendly text presents a concise introduction to general orthopaedics and orthopaedic trauma for all anatomic regions in both adults and children. For each injury or disorder, the authors review anatomy, presentation, diagnosis, clinical features, treatment, and where appropriate, complications.

Customer Reviews:

A mediocre book........2002-05-03

This book is OK if you like books which are easy to read.
But I believe it uses too many words to tell too little. If you are a student at a serious university, it might just not be enough to pass the course.

The American Supreme Court, Fourth Edition (The Chicago History of American Civilization)

Average customer rating:

Very good book
A concise history of (the top of) the "least dangerous branch"
A true must-read
Excellent Summary of the Supreme Court's History
McCloskey book

The American Supreme Court, Fourth Edition (The Chicago History of American Civilization)
Robert G. McCloskey , and Sanford Levinson
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

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The Dynamic Constitution: An Introduction to American Constitutional Law
A History of the Supreme Court
The Choices Justices Make
The Hollow Hope: Can Courts Bring About Social Change? (American Politics and Political Economy Series)
Constitutional Faith

ASIN: 0226556824

Book Description

First published more than forty years ago, Robert G. McCloskey's classic work on the Supreme Court's role in constructing the U.S. Constitution has introduced generations of students to the workings of our nation's highest court. In this fourth edition, Sanford Levinson extends McCloskey's magisterial treatment to address the Court's most recent decisions, including its controversial ruling in Bush v. Gore and its expansion of sexual privacy in Lawrence v. Texas. The book's chronology of important Supreme Court decisions and itsannotated bibliographical essay have also been updated.

As in previous editions, McCloskey's original text remains unchanged. He argues that the Court's strength has always been its sensitivity to the changing political scene, as well as its reluctance to stray too far from the main currents of public sentiment. Levinson's two new chapters show how McCloskey's approach continues to illuminate recent developments, such as the Court's seeming return to its pre-1937 role as "umpire" of the federal system. It is in Bush v. Gore, however, where the implications of McCloskey's interpretation stand out most clearly.

The best and most concise account of the Supreme Court and its place in American politics, McCloskey's wonderfully readable book is an essential guide to its past, present, and future prospects of this institution.

Customer Reviews:

Very good book.......2006-07-03

Good work in field of political history,especially history of American Supreme Court.

A concise history of (the top of) the "least dangerous branch".......2006-01-23

There are a surprising number of ways to approach and review this book, given that its original length was only 160 pages, give or take. True, Sanford Levinson, Robert McCloskey's disciple while a graduate student at Harvard University, has added approximately 100 pages to his mentor's text, covering the 45 years of constitutional jurisprudence that has developed since the book's original publication. Even at 260 pages, though, you'd think more narrative would be required adequately to tell the full story of one of the three co-equal branches of the federal government.

The length of the book, I would argue, is both its strength and its weakness. First for the weakness. I believe the book loses some explanatory power by neglecting the development of internal doctrinal developments in the Supreme Court, purely as a matter of constitutional law. For example, G. Edward White in The Constitution and the New Deal and Barry Cushman in Rethinking the New Deal Court (both of which I highly recommend, by the way) have put forth compelling (though not water-tight) arguments that stress the development of constitutional law over decades as a way of understanding legal change in the 1920s and 1930s. Also, McCloskey, outside of his treatment of John Marshall (which is really, really adulatory) does not show how different justices have brought personal proclivities or intellectual strengths and weaknesses to bear on their efforts to change, or maintain, the law. There is no discussion of the often fascinating game of coalition building in the Supreme Court, except the passing mention of such giants in this regard as Joseph Story, Felix Frankfurter or William Brennan.

But to a certain extent this is merely criticizing McCloskey and Levinson for writing a book they never intended. For what it purports to accomplish this book does an excellent job, all the more so for its brevity. The prose clearly and succienctly anchors the Supreme Court as a political institution struggling to maintain its institutional place in the American government and its voice in the construction of public policy. The authors argue this has been done most effectively when the Court decides cases within general political parameters deemed acceptable by the majority of Americans. It is not, therefore, usually a counter-majoritarian institution.

The Court has failed, conversely, and cost itself valuable institutional and political capital, when it oversteps those parameters. The most notorious examples of the latter include the Dred Scott decision, the series of holdings from 1934 to 1936 when it categorically shut off President Roosevelt's attempt at socio-ecoonomic reform, and the Bush-Gore litigation of 2000.

The Court has been more successful when it cogently articulates its adherence to the Constitution's "fundamental law" as ultimately compatible with a given political era's view of popular will. Thus, for example, the gradual development in the first three generations of the nation's history of the power of judicial review, the federal government's power over the states, and the protection of private property all fit within the acceptable political interests and values of the time. The nation's majority, after all, (pace, Sean Wilentz) wanted the Supreme Court to discern objectively the Constitution's fundamental law, and desired a strong national economy to spread the benefits of market capitalism. Or so McCloskey and Levinson argue.

This is a great book for political scientists and legal historians and lay readers interested in the interface between law and politics. It puts the kabosh to tiresome, relentless arguements that the Court can, or should, separate itself from politics. Everyone loves judicial review so long as their ox is not GORED (pun intended). McCloskey and Levinson make a great point that judicial review (and sovereignty?) is needed for a healthy democracy, PROVIDED the Court behaves responsibly and within the consensus of a specific era's interests and concerns.

A true must-read.......2005-09-23

McCloskey's book is about the institutional history of the Supreme Court and its development vis-à-vis the other branches of government. The text is beutifully written and original, full of insights, compelling arguments and interesting analysis. Constitutional law, political science and history criticism at their best. A true must-read.

Excellent Summary of the Supreme Court's History.......2004-08-23

Robert McCloskey has written an excellent book about the History of the Supreme Court. Throughout the book, he has discussed landmark court decisions that have influenced United States history and the structure of the judicial branch of our government. Little was written about the structure and function of the Supreme Court by our forefathers in the U.S. Constitution. It is for this reason that the judicial branch is the weakest branch of government. For example, the number of justices has changed several times in U.S. history. McCloskey describes how the Supreme Court was designed, how it developed and what it has become today. He unveils how politics played an important role in the history of the Supreme Court. It was surprising to read about how important U.S. history and politics have been in shaping the court as we know it today. Furthermore, McCloskey illustrates how conservative the court has been in making decisions and how unpopular decisions affected the status of the court. In some cases, the Supreme Court even rendered decisions just to save itself. The court's decisions may not have always been widely accepted or even considered correct. It is for this reason that the Supreme Court has struggled to maintain its power, respect and legitimacy from the time of it conception.

Overall, the book was an easy and interesting read as part of a Constitutional Law course in the Political Science Department at the University of Chicago. I believe the book and my professor did a great job of describing the history of the Supreme Court.

McCloskey book.......1998-08-07

As I read the McCloskey book, I was deeply impressed with his explication of the matter-of-fact ways by which our Supreme Court has gained and maintained respect, power, and legitimacy. However, there is one main criticism. As McCloskey candidly admits in the preface, "...my aim is to see the Court as an agency in the American governing process, an agency with a mind and a will and an influence of its own" (McCloskey, , 1994, xvii). Operating under such an assumption, it is not surprising that his argument becomes schematic and implicitly rejects historical contingency as a dominant explanation for the development of the Supreme Court. As result, his book is primarily useful in helping us to understand the actions the court takes during well-defined periods, such as the life-span of its members. Nevertheless, I think a somewhat unseen strength of this book is its pragmatic advice for members, as opposed to students, of the Court. In particular, ! when McCloskey explains with such precise detail how and why the "brethren" were able to "conquer a judicial empire" (McCloskey, 1994, pp. 23) his peculiar word choice makes him fit well with Niccololo Machiaveli, who in a passage from The Prince, (with similar motives?) writes, I hope it may not be considered presumption if a man of low and humble condition dare to discuss and lay down rules for the government of princes.....[but] if your Magnificence will read and study [them] carefully you may obtain the summit of greatness which fortune and other qualities promise you (Machiaveli, 1947, xiii~xiv).

Does McCloskey's work contain an equivalent "recipe for greatness?" And if it does, how do we evaluate it? These are the two main questions I will focus on and attempt to answer. From my reading of McCloskey, I firmly believe that his study, although undoubtedly multifaceted, was at least partially intended to be pedagogical. Above all he was concerned with pol! itical and social stability and he felt that the Court oug! ht to be a "vital actor in the epic of American constitutionalism" (McCloskey, 1994, pp. 148). Yet for him, exactly what the court did was less important than how they did it. His concern was for the Court to be a successful and independent part of government and much of his work can therefore be understood as a set of guidelines by which the Supreme Court can effectively play its role. For the most part, his interpretation of the Court's history served as the source for his "blueprint to greatness." For McCloskey then, a completely natural corollary of heeding historical lessons was a Court whose decisions have "maximum impact." Yet it seems that professor McCloskey's "historical guidelines" tend to support a theory of Constitutional interpretation that many conservative and liberal purists would be quite unwilling to embrace. He appears (unknowingly?) to have fashioned a rather odd ethical theory whereby all judicial decisions are evaluated in terms of their stra! tegic effects. Indeed, all this talk of "strategy" and "decisions with maximum impact" brings to mind the image of a military press-briefing where a general refers to retreats as being "tactical" and dead civilians as being "corollary casualties." More to the point, there seems to be little room for moral courage and social sensitivities in the McCloskey formula. For example, concerning the landmark case of Dred Scott v. Standford (1857) his major criticism was that the Court did not "learn the lessons of its past successes and failures" and that it should not be touching such a "political hot potato" (McCloskey, 1994, pp. 60). One might have expected him to strongly denounce the decision (which held among other things that Negroes were not intended to be included "in the category of citizen") as constitutionally preposterous or at least immoral, but professor McCloskey does not overly concern himself with such ephemeral particularities. Essential! ly, his approach manifests an implicit concern for long! -term procedures over short-term substance--tactics, strategies, and end results are his chief concern. Just as a military strategist, he avoids focusing too much on individual cases and attempts by induction to detect a grand pattern in the Court's history. Through this historical mode of analysis he connately lays down a set of practical guidelines so that the Supreme Court, in Machiaveli's words, "may obtain the summit of greatness which fortune promises." Philosophers have a certain designation for these sort of cold and rational calculations: Legal Empiricism. In spite of my heartfelt objections to empiricist legal philosophy, intellectually I must concede that there is a certain political reality involved in Supreme Court adjudication that many court-observers are hesitant to squarely confront. In particular, members of the Supreme Court face a somewhat unique dilemma in that the legally and morally right decision may often bring about the wrong resu! lts. As John Stuart Mill suggests, decisions which are not based upon deduction from past experience may only be presently advantageous and thus a violation of "transcendent expediency" (Mill, 1979, pp. 22). In this sense, I think professor McCloskey would agree that the greatest sort of lessons the Supreme Court can learn are historical and thus transcendent.

Average customer rating:

the ending was foolish
Awesome, engaging, unique
Let down
Oh! The Irony!
Gave me a lot to think about

Fourth Procedure
Stanley Pottinger
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345402308
Release Date: 1995-12-30

Amazon.com

The best elements of legal, medical and political thrillers are combined in this frightening novel. Congressman Jack MacLeod is haunted by an episode from the past. Now the police have found evidence linking him to the death of a man in his district. Jack's life spins out of control as strange medical data starts showing up in morgues and operating rooms.

Book Description

"A MIND-BOGGLING MEDICAL THRILLER TO END ALL MEDICAL THRILLERS. IT MAY BE THE MOST TALKED ABOUT POPULAR FICTION OF THE SEASON."
--Kirkus Reviews
An accomplished attorney prepares to argue a life-and-death case before a hostile Supreme Court nominee....A leading surgeon answers an emergency call to assist an operation in progress....And in a Washington, D.C. morgue, a medical examiner examines a body that has been tampered with. . . .
"HARROWING."
--New York Newsday
Congressman Jack MacLeod is haunted by an episode that changed his life forever. Now his life is about to explode again: the police find evidence linking him to the strange death of a man who lived in MacLeod's New York City district. . . .
"THE BREAKNECK MOMENTUM WILL KEEP THE PAGES TURNING."
--Elle
Suddenly events spin out of control. Backroom deals made by powerful politicos threaten to destroy Jack's future. And, in the shadows, a plan so outrageous and unthinkable it will smash every assumption about the limits of the human body is nearing its shocking conclusion. . . .
"A CHILLING MEDICAL THRILLER."
--Vanity Fair
Combining the best elements of explosive courtroom drama with groundbreaking medical technology, THE FOURTH PROCEDURE takes the reader beyond the boundaries of today's medicine to an all-too-plausible scenario of a frightening future.

Customer Reviews:

the ending was foolish.......2006-04-16

The ending was foolish. I liked the book until maybe the last four chapeters then the book just went down hill. I will not spoil the ending for anyone but come on how can you write a terrific first 3/4ths of a book and then fall flat on your face. I started reading the book in highschool then graduated and lost track of the book but when I found the book again I remembered every detail and was thristing to finsh the book but when I did I wish I hadn't. I should have keep the mystery a mystery.

Awesome, engaging, unique.......2005-12-31

This book is one of the better thrillers available. I recently reread it and it stands the test of time. It has a unique premise. You won't be disappointed.

Let down.......2005-05-02

Starts beautifully and the prose remains brilliant throughout.
However somewhere along the line the author seems unsure whether he is writing a medical/legal/crime or science fiction novel. The characters have little flesh and blood and evoke little deep emotion. The events fit together too smugly and the conversations are often awkward. And the pseudoscience spoils it all. Forced male pregnancy to make men rethink their views on abortion? A long shot and unfortunately one that fails badly.

Oh! The Irony!.......2004-04-06

There is not much of a medical thriller here as the novel revolves around the pro-life - pro-choice debate, pitting Jack McCloed, a pro-choice Congressman, his live-in Significant Other, and surgeon Rachel Redpath against the new Chief Justice, Abner Titus and his pro-life allies against one another. Where Pottinger excels here is toward the end when the parties are forced into a reversal of roles revealing the ironic potential in the lives and staked-out positions of these characters. The author, an old "Wahsington hand" does not deal as well - I should say, as realistically - with the Washington scene, as witness the seeming lack of fall-out for Jack when his past misdeeds are revealed. Nor do his characters seem to be real; had they been more realistic, or better drawn, they might have evoked a deeper caring from this reader. Their childhood traumas seemed too coincidental, their stances on the single issue of the book too stark, especially the pro-life characters. Pottinger might in fact be charged with writing a pro-choice tract here. What is missing is the suspense angle as the outcome began to telegraph itself early on. In fact, given the book's length (562 pp in paperback) one had to wonder if and when the thing would ever end. But, it was, for all that, a fairly quick and easy read. Good for planes and trains, but short on thoughtful introspection.

Gave me a lot to think about.......2003-05-24

I love books that keep me thinking after I've read them and this was one of those books.

Although it is tagged as a suspense novel (and there is suspense and mystery), I thought it was more on the lines of giving us insight into a subject we all have an opinion on...abortion.

The book gave me positive insight into both the pro-life movement and pro-choice, although...I think ends up being much more sensitive to the pro-choice side.

The book also has some great stuff about women's right...a beautiful speech at the end. Makes me wonder if the author wrote the speech first and then wrote a novel around it so he could get the speech published.

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