Average customer rating:
- Unbelievable In This Day and Age
- Real Life Horror
- No good ending here
- Lack of remorse in Oklahoma
- Had it been a work of fiction I would have given it 1 star...
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The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
John Grisham
Manufacturer: Doubleday
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0385517238
Release Date: 2006-10-10 |
Amazon.com
John Grisham tackles nonfiction for the first time with The Innocent Man, a true tale about murder and injustice in a small town (that reads like one of his own bestselling novels). The Innocent Man chronicles the story of Ron Williamson, how he was arrested and charged with a crime he did not commit, how his case was (mis)handled and how an innocent man was sent to death row. Grisham's first work of nonfiction is shocking, disturbing, and enthralling--a must read for fiction and nonfiction fans. We had the opportunity to talk with John Grisham about the case and the book, read his responses below. --Daphne Durham
20 Second Interview: A Few Words with John Grisham
Q: After almost two decades of writing fiction, what compelled you to write non-fiction, particularly investigative journalism?
A: I was never tempted to write non-fiction, primarily because it's too much work. However, obviously, I love a good legal thriller, and the story of Ron Williamson has all the elements of a great suspenseful story.
Q: Why this case?
A: Ron Williamson and I are about the same age and we both grew up in small towns in the south. We both dreamed of being major league baseball players. Ron had the talent, I did not. When he left a small town in 1971 to pursue his dreams of major league glory, many thought he would be the next Mickey Mantle, the next great one from the state of Oklahoma. The story of Ron ending up on Death Row and almost being executed for a murder he did not commit was simply too good to pass up.
Q: How did you go about your research?
A: I started with his family. Ron is survived by two sisters who took care of him for most of his life. They gave me complete access to the family records, photographs, Ron's mental health records, and so on. There was also a truckload of trial transcripts, depositions, appeals, etc., that took about 18 months to organize and review. Many of the characters in the story are still alive and I traveled to Oklahoma countless times to interview them.
Q: Did your training as a lawyer help you?
A: Very much so. It enabled me to understand the legal issues involved in Ron's trial and his appeals. It also allowed me, as it always does, to be able to speak the language with lawyers and judges.
Q: Throughout your book you mention, The Dreams of Ada: A True Story of Murder, Obsession, and a Small Town. How did you come across that book, and how did it impact your writing The Innocent Man?
A: Several of the people in Oklahoma I met mentioned The Dreams of Ada to me, and I read it early on in the process. It is an astounding book, a great example of true crime writing, and I relied upon it heavily during my research. Robert Mayer, the author, was completely cooperative, and kept meticulous notes from his research 20 years earlier. Many of the same characters are involved in his story and mine.
Q: You take on some pretty controversial and heated topics in your book--the death penalty, prisoner's rights, DNA analysis, police conduct, and more--were any of your own beliefs challenged by this story and its outcome?
A: None were challenged, but my eyes were open to the world of wrongful convictions. Even as a former criminal defense attorney, I had never spent much time worrying about wrongful convictions. But, unfortunately, they happen all the time in this country, and with increasing frequency.
Q: So many of the key players in this case are either still in office or practicing attorneys. Many family members and friends still live in the same small town. How do you think The Innocent Man will impact this community and other small rural towns as they struggle with the realities of the justice system?
A: Exonerations seem to be happening weekly. And with each one of them, the question is asked--how can an innocent man be convicted and kept in prison for 20 years? My book is the story of only one man, but it is a good example of how things can go terribly wrong with our judicial system. I have no idea how the book will be received in the small town of Ada, Oklahoma, or any other town.
Q: What do you hope your readers will take away from The Innocent Man?
A: A better understanding of how innocent people can be convicted, and a greater concern for the need to reimburse and rehabilitate innocent men after they have been released.
Book Description
John Grisham’s first work of nonfiction, an exploration of small town justice gone terribly awry, is his most extraordinary legal thriller yet.
In the major league draft of 1971, the first player chosen from the State of Oklahoma was Ron Williamson. When he signed with the Oakland A’s, he said goodbye to his hometown of Ada and left to pursue his dreams of big league glory.
Six years later he was back, his dreams broken by a bad arm and bad habits—drinking, drugs, and women. He began to show signs of mental illness. Unable to keep a job, he moved in with his mother and slept twenty hours a day on her sofa.
In 1982, a 21-year-old cocktail waitress in Ada named Debra Sue Carter was raped and murdered, and for five years the police could not solve the crime. For reasons that were never clear, they suspected Ron Williamson and his friend Dennis Fritz. The two were finally arrested in 1987 and charged with capital murder.
With no physical evidence, the prosecution’s case was built on junk science and the testimony of jailhouse snitches and convicts. Dennis Fritz was found guilty and given a life sentence. Ron Williamson was sent to death row.
If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you.
Customer Reviews:
Unbelievable In This Day and Age.......2007-09-30
I read this book thinking it had to be another Grisham work of fiction because if the story were true, America is in trouble.
This story is riveting, fast-paced and shows how truly horrible our justice system can be for those who can't afford a "Johnny Cochran".
I couldn't put this book down. The more you read the more you can't believe it really happened. Thank goodness for the pictures of the people in this story, it really brought home the fact that it's a true story.
Excellent job by Mr. Grisham.
Real Life Horror.......2007-09-29
"The Innocent Man" is a chronicle of Ron Williamson (former minor league baseball star), his life and ordeal as he was wrongly accused of murder and sentenced to death row as a result. He was forced to suffer this horror for 11 years until finally the system began to work for him, but only through the diligence and persistence of attorneys assigned to him years later, Mark Barrett and Barry Scheck, his loving mother and persistent sisters, in particular, his sister Annette. The cruelties and disrespect by the officers and District Attorney Bill Peterson that were inflected on him were horrifying. The shabby police work and "junk science," as well as the district attorney's expert witnesses (a majority of them picked from men and women serving time for horrendous crimes themselves) and brought to the stand to testify against Ron, was not only incomprehensible in itself but the fact that the Judge allowed their testimony to stand and control a man's life sentence is abominable. Ron's hometown of Ada, Oklahoma completely turned on him and he was proven guilty without a shred of hard evidence as was his friend, a respected 7th grade Science teacher, Dennis Fritz, merely by association. The book goes on to tell Ron's sad story as only it can be told by such an esteemed author/attorney as John Grisham. I would highly recommend everyone read this true story; it is a real eye opener as to how our justice system can go astray with the wrong people serving in our trusted government positions.
No good ending here.......2007-09-27
I seldom read Grisham but found his first non-fiction work hard to put down. The story of Ron Williamson has no happy ending. Not for Ron nor the young woman who was so brutually murdered.
Grisham does an excellent job of drawing us into the story. If you have never experienced justice (or lack of) in a small town you need to read this book. Had Ron lived in New York City or even Dallas he may have gone unnoticed wandering the streets and babbling like a mad man. But not in Ada, OK.
Lack of remorse in Oklahoma.......2007-09-26
This story had a tremendous impact on me. I support the death penalty but was abhorred to see how flippantly it was applied in Ada Oklahoma. Read this book first and then log onto District Attorney Peterson's web site to read his defense of his actions that were the subject of the book. The first thing he displays on his website is the American flag. Then he has a lengthy and tedious defense of all the minor points in Grisham's novel. He provides statistics on the probability of innocent people being convicted of felonies as if this excuses him for almost sending an innocent person to his death. Peterson tries to blow off Grisham as an anti-death penalty advocate. I truly fear for the soul of Mr. Peterson and the good people of Ada Oklahoma - a bit of remorse and repentance for what they almost did to an innocent man would help them when they meet their Maker. Hiding behind the American flag might help now but certainly not later!
Had it been a work of fiction I would have given it 1 star..........2007-09-18
... but it's not. It only looks like fiction in bad taste. Instead, this truly happened as described.
I'm not summarizing the story as the editorial reviews and most reviewers before me are quite descriptive.
May I just say that I think that every judicial system has its share of faults and flaws, but what's revealed in this book is simply astonishing and unbelievable from beginning to end. I can only hope that it rattles a few consciences whilst increasing awareness to prevent disastrous consequences for those involved.
As it always happens when I read J. Grisham's books, I've appreciated and enjoyed the clear and well structured narrative, even more so on this occasion. Being a real-life story, I'm sure it must have been quite a task to extrapolate all the relevant facts from all the interviews and paperwork generated by this case during the years, in order to present them clearly to the readers.
Unless you already know the epilogue, try not to peek at the photographs published right in the middle of the book. Some are quite revealing for the yet-to-be-read rest of the story. They don't actually "spoil everything" -in fact, whatever unfolded after turning those pages kept me on the alert and as incredulous as ever- but I still think it would have been preferable to print them at the very end of the book.
A part from that, "The Innocent Man" is highly recommendable.
Book Description
Praise for the First Edition of Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials
"An excellent book, providing a discussion of the clinical trial process from designing the study through analyzing the data, and to regulatory requirement . . . could easily be used as a classroom text to understand the process in the new drug development area."
-Statistical Methods in Medicine
A complete and balanced presentation now revised, updated, and expanded
As the field of research possibilities expands, the need for a working understanding of how to carry out clinical trials only increases. New developments in the theory and practice of clinical research include a growing body of literature on the subject, new technologies and methodologies, and new guidelines from the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).
Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials, Second Edition provides both a comprehensive, unified presentation of principles and methodologies for various clinical trials, and a well-balanced summary of current regulatory requirements. This unique resource bridges the gap between clinical and statistical disciplines, covering both fields in a lucid and accessible manner. Thoroughly updated from its first edition, the Second Edition of Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials features new topics such as:
* Clinical trials and regulations, especially those of the ICH
* Clinical significance, reproducibility, and generalizability
* Goals of clinical trials and target population
* New study designs and trial types
* Sample size determination on equivalence and noninferiority trials, as well as comparing variabilities
Also, three entirely new chapters cover:
* Designs for cancer clinical trials
* Preparation and implementation of a clinical protocol
* Data management of a clinical trial
Written with the practitioner in mind, the presentation assumes only a minimal mathematical and statistical background for its reader. Instead, the writing emphasizes real-life examples and illustrations from clinical case studies, as well as numerous references-280 of them new to the Second Edition-to the literature. Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials, Second Edition will benefit academic, pharmaceutical, medical, and regulatory scientists/researchers, statisticians, and graduate-level students in these areas by serving as a useful, thorough reference source for clinical research.
Customer Reviews:
Most complete reference on the topic.......2006-09-07
I own several books on clinical trials and this one is my favorite. It is biblical in its treatment of the topic and always seems to contain what my other books don't.
There are a few strengths that are particularly worth pointing out:
1) Makes many references to regulatory guidelines.
2) Excellent coverage of the various trial designs.
3) Good sample size chapter.
4) Several chapters on how to practically implement a trial.
Other options include:
-Piantodosi (Clinical Trials: methodologic perspective): my second favorite, not as comprehensive as Chow and Liu
-Freidman and DeMets (Fundamentals of Clinical Trials): a bit too superficial but very well written
-Pocock (Clinical trials: practical approach): a bit dated and superficial
Customer Reviews:
A disappointment only because it could be so much better.......2006-04-19
Plainly stated, this is a terribly edited book. Although the authors made it clear at the outset that they are not scholars, that fact is no excuse for the decidedly sloppy, bloated, and ambiguous prose that nearly scuttles this second effort. Far too often, the authors muddle the articulation of their theories and techniques by infusing the prose with vacuous, ungrammatical, and utterly impenetrable fustian. Indeed, any educated person will quickly realize that this book is in need of major editorial intervention.
The sad aspect is that the authors have compiled some excellent ideas and are doubtless highly qualified authorities on the subject. I harbor no doubt that that the theories contained in the book are, in and of themselves, well worth the considerable purchase price. That said, the effort that has to be expended to parse the disjointed, repetitive, and circuitous prose clogging the pages is so great that it renders the book less attractive than it ought to be.
The techniques discussed in this book are so useful and relevant that this volume ought to stand apart as one of the premier practitioner manuals. The content is that good. Make no mistake: these men are good trial lawyers, and they know what works, but a large amount has been lost in translation because these gentlemen are far more proficient at trying cases than at writing books. There is no shame in that fact; certainly, all lawyers have strengths and weaknesses. Nevertheless, there was simply no excuse for not committing this book to the hands of a capable editor. The authors would be well advised to call Bryan Garner and have him polish this book before the third edition is released. With someone like Garner at the editorial helm, this book would finally attain its rightful place at the top of the literature regarding cross-examination.
The best keeps getting better.......2005-01-03
This review is intended as a review specifically of the second edition of Pozner and Dodd's _Cross-Examination: Science & Techniques_ (released 12/2004). Some of the reviews listed for this edition appear to have been duplicated by amazon.com from reviews of the first edition in 1993.
My entire practice was transformed some years ago when I adopted the authors' cross-examination-centered method of case preparation as set out in the first edition of their book (Roger Dodd, by the way, is a co-author of the second edition as well as the first edition). Not surprisingly, because the authors' method enables the lawyer to master case facts quickly and efficiently it is as helpful in negotiating settlements as it is in actually trying cases. I will not say that the techniques are necessarily quick or easy--I can recall spending eight hours laboring over questions for a major cross examination that took exactly one-half hour in court--but it produces stunning, consistent, results.
How does the second edition differ from the first edition? Well, the authors appear to have noticed that computers have been invented. The first edition's defiantly Luddite tone emphasizing the usefulness of manual pasteup of criss-cross charts and such has modulated into a respectful acknowledgement of such things as outlining programs and databases. Second, the authors provide many more examples in the second edition of the uses of the methods in complex civil litigation, as opposed to felony criminal trials. Also, although this book is not, and does not pretend to be, a primer on discovery management in document-intensive cases, its presentation of the concepts enables the reader at least to envision how the systems might be applied.
In addition, when I read the first edition I found the amount of information in this book simply overwhelming. Perhaps because the text is not quite as densely crammed into the page, or perhaps because I have been studying this material for years, with the help of a hilarious audiotape of a Pozner and Dodd lecture, the second edition seems less overwhelming. I noticed that the authors' quirky turns of phrase have been somewhat smoothed out, alas ("sliding off" objections is now described as "dealing with" objections); simultaneously, a number of minor, annoying typos have crept in, mostly errant commas and subject-verb disagreements.
One additional comment about the physical book--it is printed on heavier paper than the first edition. This is a Good Thing. The first edition was on very thin paper, almost like a bible, which made the pages almost transparent; I nearly wore them out. The second edition is more durable and more readable.
The verdict: probably not worth replacing your first edition with a copy of the second edition (unless you never bought the pocket part update on "The Crying Witness," worth the price of the new volume). But if you don't own this book, and you fancy yourself a trial lawyer, what are you waiting for? There are Only Three Rules of good-cross examination, but the Only Three Rules are just the beginning of a durable analytical structure adaptable to all trial work.
Eureka they've got it!.......2004-12-08
Pozner and Dodd's book contains techniques not found elsewhere. I won two hotly contested employment trials for big money in the last 4 months, as a relatively new trial attorney.
If there is one thing better than using these techniques to prepare for and conduct cross at trial- it's watching your adversary fumble the cross making every mistake in the book (this book!)
The writing style is tedious at times, but their essential advice on "only three rules" and the one area per notecard preparation method are invaluable and will save you loads of time!
A Complete but Complex Critique.......2001-11-12
Pozner & Dodd present a very well-organized protocol for conducting cross examinations. The core of their advice is perfectly sound. I highly recommend reading chapters 3 ("Developing a Theory"), 9 ("The Chapter Method"), 10 ("Page Preparation"), 11 ("Sequences"), 12 ("Only Three Rules"), 17 ("Loops"), and 18 ("Trilogies").
Other chapters include useful information, but the authors unnecessarily complicate the practice of cross examination. Few practitioners would have the necessary time to devote to preparing cross examinations as Pozner and Dodd recommend.
The book contains a highly detailed table of contents. You can almost get the full benefit of the book by studying the table of contents.
The Bible of Cross-Examination.......2001-01-12
I found Pozner and Dodd's book the best money I've spent since graduating law school. As a criminal defense practicioner, I live and die with cross. The preparation and presentation skills taught in this book work wonders in the courtroom. The first case I tried after reading this book not only resulted in an acquital based purely upon my cross, but the judge congratulated me later by saying "great cross." Believe me, the price tag is the best money you'll spend.
Amazon.com
Mississippi is not widely known for being first in anything; in fact, Michael Orey notes in Assuming the Risk, the state ranks last or near last on an embarrassing array of scales. And yet, he writes, it was in the courtrooms of this disparaged Southern state that a pioneering team of lawyers led the way in a politically controversial crusade against the tobacco industry. Mississippi was the first state in the nation to sue cigarette manufacturers to recover smoking-related health care costs incurred by the state's Medicaid program. The fierce legal battle resulted in a multibillion-dollar settlement and eventually led to hundreds of billions of dollars in fines levied against the tobacco industry when other states followed suit.
Though decidedly pro-plaintiff, Assuming the Risk is not another vituperative rant against the Evil Empire of Big Tobacco: Orey does not shout and stomp on his soapbox. Instead, the veteran legal journalist and Wall Street Journal editor coolly focuses on the objective facts, presenting the who, what, where, and when of a complex and contentious litigation. His well-researched and detailed narrative spotlights the key figures in this real-life morality play--the mavericks, lawyers, and whistleblowers--including one particularly revealing chapter on Jeffrey Wigand, a former research scientist for the tobacco firm Brown & Williamson, whose decision to break a confidentiality agreement by speaking with 60 Minutes investigative reporter Mike Wallace became the subject of the 1999 film The Insider. --Tim Hogan
Book Description
Mississippi is not widely known for being first in anything; in fact, Michael Orey notes in Assuming the Risk, the state ranks last or near last on an embarrassing array of scales. And yet, he writes, it was in the courtrooms of this disparaged Southern state that a pioneering team of lawyers led the way in a politically controversial crusade against the tobacco industry. Mississippi was the first state in the nation to sue cigarette manufacturers to recover smoking-related health care costs incurred by the state's Medicaid program. The fierce legal battle resulted in a multibillion-dollar settlement and eventually led to hundreds of billions of dollars in fines levied against the tobacco industry when other states followed suit.Though decidedly pro-plaintiff, Assuming the Risk is not another vituperative rant against the Evil Empire of Big Tobacco: Orey does not shout and stomp on his soapbox. Instead, the veteran legal journalist and Wall Street Journal editor coolly focuses on the objective facts, presenting the who, what, where, and when of a complex and contentious litigation. His well-researched and detailed narrative spotlights the key figures in this real-life morality play--the mavericks, lawyers, and whistleblowers--including one particularly revealing chapter on Jeffrey Wigand, a former research scientist for the tobacco firm Brown Williamson, whose decision to break a confidentiality agreement by speaking with 60 Minutes investigative reporter Mike Wallace became the subject of the 1999 film The Insider. --Tim Hogan
Customer Reviews:
Insightful!.......2001-09-19
Michael Orey begins his thorough examination of the courtroom battles against big tobacco by examining Horton v. American Tobacco, the Mississippi case that launched the mid-1980s barrage of legal attacks on big tobacco and led eventually to U.S. settlements of more than $200 billion. As they read about the assault on Brown and Williamson, cinema buffs may feel they are revisiting The Insider with Al Pacino. The book combines a walk-through of the day-to-day legal procedures and motions with a look into the lives of the major players. This well-written volume presents the tobacco case like an engrossing true-crime story, although some readers may find it has too much detail to hold their interest. We [...] recommend this fascinating book to most general readers. But while executives searching for principles to apply to their own companies may find themselves captivated, they won't find much here that is generally applicable.
Great!.......2000-07-27
It may seem paradoxical to most that for trial lawyers are not afraid to lose a case. Every trial is a learning experience. You learn about your opponent; you learn about yourself. You try a losing case over and over in your head at night. You learn from your mistakes. You learn from the opposing lawyer. You become obsessed and through it all you learn how to win.
This is the true story of some country lawyers in Mississippi who launched a holy war against Big Tobacco. They were unlikely Davids battling a Goliath.
The country lawyers looked like easy pickings to the big firm lawyers from the big cities. The silk stocking crowd would bury them in paper, bankrupt them in endless discovery, and outdazzle them in court, if the bumpkins ever got that far. These champions of nicotine had never lost a case. The clients had never paid one dime to any tobacco victim. They were the chosen ones, selected to keep the streak alive, to bring home the scalps of the piteous Mississippi lawyers.
Trial lawyers know that a lawyer who has never lost a case has never tried a case. Undeterred by the myth of invincibility of the tobacco industry these dreamers were able to use the industry's incredible arrogance on itself to bring it to its knees. In short, the truth got out, and the rest is history.
If you are a law student or a young lawyer thinking about trying cases for a living, read this book. This is how its done and how you can sleep at night.
Superb Story With Little Heroes And Lots Of Lying Everywhere.......1999-09-14
What an interesting recording how Lawyers violate their own standards of conduct just to win. The book shows how documents about Tobacco were stolen and then how the person who stole them was paid $1.8 million by the very Lawyers he helped to win billions for in fees. Yet, I wondered what those same Lawyers would have the same tactics used against them, how they would feel. But the cause was to show that smoking Cigarettes is evil and not good for our health, yet we already knew this and making the companies admit it was a victory. So in the end whenever someone is being sued and if we applaud those breaking ethics and the laws in pursuit for justice, then we encourage bad behavior. In the end when we celebrate this kind of action how far can murder, threats of murder and destruction's of families will be justified in pursuit of justice? Billions have been made, billions have been won, but by whom and for whom? No one should be proud of their actions as described in the book and if they are they can wonder later what will happen when others use the same tactics are them. What is tragic is Society knew shortly after the Native Americans gave Tobacco to Columbus that it was deadly, but people wanted it, and used it, so the governments created Sin Taxes to help discourage it. It did not work back then and it will not work now. People will be free to do what they want and nothing will stop it. At the same time, no one should begin to smoke or smoke but how do you stop it. The book is a great read. I recommend it highly but read it without smoking if you can!
Book Description
Phillip E. Johnson offers a reasoned and scientifically sound evaluation of the support for Darwinism--from fossil records to molecular biology.
Customer Reviews:
Naturalistic Evolution - a fundamentalist religion - natural select breakdown - fossil problem.......2007-09-28
The case against evolution examines the logical errors in the theory. Evidence does not create law. There are man made laws and there are divine laws. Divine laws can only be discovered and not created. 1 Cor 15:38-39 38. "But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body". 39. "All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds". All life has a spiritual pattern. Each life form operates within a sphere of glory and intelligence. A flower does not evolve into an elephant. Breeders can produce specific traits in offspring. However, no new species have been breed that can survive outside their original sphere. The resurrection is proof that evolution is false. Christ was the first fruits to overcome death and receive a glorified and exalted body of glory. It is impossible for a lesser sphere to evolve into a greater sphere of glory. D&C 130:22-23. 22. The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." 23. "A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him." Life came from older sphere and was brought to earth during the creation. Life did not evolve. The earth was organized from existing matter. Scientist claim the cosmos may be 12 billion years old and the elements the product of super nova stars. The elements are eternal and the elements can neither be created nor destroyed. Jesus Christ was the creator of many worlds. D&C 76:24. "That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters of God." A spiritual transformation must be in place affecting life forms before Christ's second coming to withstand his glory. Evolution can't and will not address what would happen in the presence of a being of glory. Evolution must maintain a narrow scope for its explanations. Evolutionary explanations must be incremental and malleable enough to predict small naturalistic changes resulting over millions of years. Any cataclysmic change can't be predicted or explained and should be avoid. Naturalistic evolution is a political, economic, and social tool. Evolution destroys morality and does not acknowledge Christ's resurrection and atonement. Evolution does not answer the question, "What is the purpose of life?" Evolution doctrines can't be falsified until a substitute theory is in place as a working solution. Evolution can't explore the non- verifiable data nor can it explore all the possibilities. Evolution can't prove entropy. Evolution is improvable because it is incomplete. D&C 101:24 "And every corruptible thing, both of man, or of the beast of the field, or the fowls of the heavens, or of the fish of the sea, that dwells upon the all the face of the earth, shall be consumed." Adam was the first man on the earth. All major civilizations start after the flood. Prehistoric man has limited about of physical evidence and could fit all on one table. Evolutionist have created a fantastic fantasy about the origins of man, yet are unable to demonstrate the common ancestor from which man came. Adam was created in the image of God and not ape. "Evolution in the Darwinist usage implies a completely naturalistic metaphysical system, in which matter evolved to its present state of organized complexity without any participation by a creator." Darwin conclusion that "mutability" provided the mechanism for all life is parasitic. Evolution can't create higher life forms. Mechanized evolution has not demonstrated life. Evolution accommodates to make the theory fit fossil evidences.
Evolution is a hypothesis a not a fact. "Scientist were believed to formulate theories in order to explain pre-existing experimental data, and to verify their theories by accumulating additional supporting evidence. " "In scientific practice the theory normally precedes the experiment or fact finding process rather than the other way around." A problem or question must be posed for discovery and explanation." Evolution insists on Logic positivism demanding verifiability. Evolution scientists are fanatics, desperate not to be wrong, and look for the breakthrough fact that will vindicate them. Popper believed that science began with an imaginative or even mythological conjecture about the world. Evolution is a fundamentalist religion. "Whenever science is enlisted in some other cause - religious, political, or racialistic - the result is always that the scientist themselves become fanatics."
The fossil problem is that the fossil records do not prove gradual change. The history of fossils suggests 1. "Most species exhibit no directional change during their tenure on earth. They appear in the fossil record looking pretty much the same as when they disappear; morphological change is usually limited and directionless." 2. "Sudden appearance. In any local area, a species does not arise gradually by the steady transformation of its ancestors; it appears all at once and fully formed." Therefore, one can conclude the theory of natural selection is not a fact, as an explanation of species origination and morphological directions.
Engaging read!.......2007-09-27
This is a great book and should be required reading for those studying Darwinism in school.
Christian Biologist says Oversimplified.......2007-06-19
This book is preaching to the choir... and oh, by the way, I'm in the choir, as a Christian... but the biologist in me found this much too simplistic. Of course, I've studied evolution at the graduate level and Mr. Johnson's background is in law. Johnson makes some good points, but doesn't have a full-orbed understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of evolution. This book doesn't really help or hurt the case for God.
3 1/2 stars - Mostly Uninspiring........2007-05-24
To begin with, as other readers have said, this book does show it's age. Having read many interesting books discussing both sides of evolution recently, this fell a bit flat for me for one reason.
In the first few pages of the book, the author takes the time to inform the reader of his personal beliefs and religious background. He goes on to say that he is not arguing in favor of Intelligent Design but merely examining and questioning the various aspects of "Darwinism". The problem arises when the author builds a case for his point, a case that is well executed and insightful, and then leans on the crutch of a "Creator". To me, that smacks of ID and refutes one of the few positive things I might have taken from a book of this nature.
NOT A RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALIST ... JUST ASKING.......2007-05-10
I admit it - I've always thought some aspects of the whole evolution idea didn't seem to hang together. Phillip E. Johnson questions all of it in this book, which obviously has been controversial. But why not look at all the claims of evolution and ask for the proof? Does everyone who questions whether one species can really turn into another, or who doesn't believe life began by chance in some primordial slime have to be labeled a "creation science" religious nut?
Johnson says the fossil record does not support the "transitional" species that should have been found by now. Others say the fossil record does provide examples of these. Hard for us non-scientists to sort that one out. Johnson raises the issue of macro-evolution vs. micro-evolution. Can a new species appear sudenly, or are changes made very slowly over the centuries, in line with the uniformitarianism thinking of Darwin's day? Johnson does not think tiny changes over time can really account for the changes in the animals on earth going back to the beginning, as demonstrated through the fossil record.
I was disappointed that Johnson says nothing at all about the most controversial species change - that of human beings. In the infamous Scopes "monkey trial," the main bone of contention was the idea that man and monkey were relatives who both descended from a common ancestor. How and when did human become human and not simian? When I was a kid, we used to make jokes about "the missing link." No one talks about the missing link anymore, but if I'm not mistaken, no transitional creature between human and our common ancestor with other primates has been found.
I think the strongest part of this book is Johnson's contention that science has become a religion for many who buy into the total evolution theory. Science is supposed to be about testable hypotheses, but evolution is argued mainly from logic. We cannot travel back millions of years to see if chemicals coming together in some swamp became alive. We cannot watch the process of a dinosaur turning into a bird, even though the fictional Paleontologist in Jurassic Park believed the one species was the ancestor of the other.
It is obvious that some scientists are so wedded to their atheism that they start with the concept that all life is accidental, without purpose, the result of natural selection. Clearly, the concept of natural selection works within one species (animals that change color to match their environment and conceal themselves form predators, for instance), but Johnson rightly asks how one species becomes another. It's not ok to ask a dedicated evolutionist: What if you are wrong? But it is ok for them to ridicule any suggestion that there is a purpose behind the universe, that life is more than a chemical reaction, and humans are more than relatives of apes. Strict evolutionists cannot prove their claims, yet maintain that it's all true. Evolution does make some sense, and does have some evidence to support it, but absolute proof is not obtainable. Evolution is a theory, not a religion.
And speaking of religion, fundamentalists are entitled to have their say, but should not promote "creation science" (which is no science at all). I DO want to see children learn about Darwin and his ideas about evolution, which have been so influential, but I also want to have future generations that ask questions, think for themselves, and ask for proof about anything they are told they must believe. Johnson may be wrong in much of his criticism, but I applaud him for making a rational case against insistence that evolution, like any religious belief that is without proof, is a fact.
Book Description
Learn rigorous statistical methods to ensure valid clinical trials
This Second Edition of the critically hailed Clinical Trials builds on the text's reputation as a straightforward and authoritative presentation of statistical methods for clinical trials. Readers are introduced to the fundamentals of design for various types of clinical trials and then skillfully guided through the complete process of planning the experiment, assembling a study cohort, assessing data, and reporting results. Throughout the process, the author alerts readers to problems that may arise during the course of the trial and provides commonsense solutions.
The author bases the revisions and updates on his own classroom experience, as well as feedback from students, instructors, and medical and statistical professionals involved in clinical trials. The Second Edition greatly expands its coverage, ranging from statistical principles to controversial topics, including alternative medicine and ethics. At the same time, it offers more pragmatic advice for issues such as selecting outcomes, sample size, analysis, reporting, and handling allegations of misconduct. Readers familiar with the First Edition will discover completely new chapters, including:
- Contexts for clinical trials
- Statistical perspectives
- Translational clinical trials
- Dose-finding and dose-ranging designs
Each chapter is accompanied by a summary to reinforce the key points. Revised discussion questions stimulate critical thinking and help readers understand how they can apply their newfound knowledge, and updated references are provided to direct readers to the most recent literature.
This text distinguishes itself with its accessible and broad coverage of statistical design methods—the crucial building blocks of clinical trials and medical research. Readers learn to conduct clinical trials that produce valid qualitative results backed by rigorous statistical methods.
Customer Reviews:
Clinical Trials: A Methodologic Perspective Second Edition.......2007-05-29
This is an excellent book. It outlines the important issues of clinical trials well. It is understandable and thorough. A must for anyone who is interested in actually doing trials. Not a good book for a brief, superficial overview.
presents clinical trials issues and methodology clearly.......2000-09-07
This book is very unique. Basic statistical concepts are clearly presented but only those concepts that are important in clinical trials. The author presents all the issues with clinical trials including ethical issues with some historical perspective. Principles of randomization and statistical design are clearly presented. It offers discussion of Bayesian techniques and meta-analyses, cross-over designs and group sequential methods (interim analyses). For statisticians doing clinical research like myself, this is a valuable reference source.
The best start in clinical trial.......2000-05-23
The amount of knowledge and the scope of this book are the exact need for the first contact with clinical trials. Yet, it is not a simple or superficial text. Instead, it not only will guide the reader through the basics of trials (and there is so much that is not basic in it) but the author points the reader to hundreds of papers and books that are landmarks. I regard this book itself as one of these landmarks!
Most up-to-date and thorough cover of Clinical Trials.......1999-01-14
Covers many aspects of trials (particularly facets of design and analysis)not yet covered by other books, eg randomisation with minimisation, and meta-analysis of trial results. Readable, applicable, practical, good references, well structured.
Book Description
With our nation's urban schools growing more segregated every year, Susan Eaton set out to see whether separate can ever really be equal. An award-winning journalist, Eaton spent four years at Simpson-Waverly Elementary School, an all-minority school in Hartford, Connecticut. Located in the poorest city in the wealthiest state in the nation, it is a glaring example of the great racial and economic divide found in almost every major urban center across the country.
The Children in Room E4 is the compelling story of one student, one classroom, and one indomitable teacher, Ms. Luddy. In the midst of Band-Aid reforms and hotshot super-intendents with empty promises, drug dealers and street gangs, Ms. Luddy's star student, Jeremy, and his fellow classmates face tremendous challenges both inside and outside of a school cut off from mainstream America.
Meanwhile, across town, a team of civil rights lawyers fight an intrepid battle to end the de facto segregation that beleaguers Jeremy's school and hundreds of others across America.
From inside the classroom and the courtroom, Eaton reveals the unsettling truths about an education system that leaves millions of children behind and gives voice to those who strive against overwhelming odds for a better future.
Customer Reviews:
A new classic on the state of urban education in the U.S........2007-07-25
This book goes beyond simply explaining what the challenges in urban education are -- it shows where they came from. With a detailed history of the Supreme and Federal Court decisions since Brown v. Board of Education, Eaton illustrates how segregated and isolated schooling has been perpetuated and gotten worse in the last 50 years. Her analysis does it in two ways: first, by focusing closely on a high achieving Hartford class of students in their third and fourth grade years (the Micro view) and by showing how the Macro problems -- the legal history -- have enabled the complete ignoring and disempowerment of American cities.
In so doing, Eaton tells the story of Sheff v. O'Neill -- a landmark Connecticut court decision on the vastly segregated and unequal state of schooling in the Hartford area. She explains how the legal team put the case together, the data they collected, their Constitutional interpretations, and their battles to win....
If you are from Connecticut, interested in schooling or in school law, this book is perfect for you.
Compelling and Powerful.......2007-05-04
Can separate ever be equal? Over and over again, we seem to be coming back to the same question our country has struggled with for decades. Countless court cases later, Susan Eaton describe in heart breaking detail, the inequities in the school lives of the children in room E4- a room found in every urban area in this country today.
Public education continues to fail miserably. Eaton's ability to weave the details of the court ruling and efforts by civil rights attorneys with the every day life in the classroom is stunning. Anyone who cares about education in this country today must read this book. It provides a compelling roadmap of where we've been and where we are headed if something doesn't change.
An Eye-Opener.......2007-04-19
Susan Eaton has produced an exceptional, deeply researched book. It's by no means without an agenda, but it's no Swiftian polemic, something to which a wealth of footnotes and references will attest.
Eaton grabs you by the wrist, pulling you through the torturous folds of the Sheff v O'Neill court case. She forces the ugly machinations of a typical large-city public school system into the fore, giving a vivid account of the harsh inequity of Connecticut schools.
Eaton makes a compelling argument against district boundaries, with their rigid, segregating forces. She tells of an entrenched system of De Facto segregation, arisen over the past fifty years, here to stay--unless, of course, the slumbering giants (our public schools) wake up to their own mistakes. They did in 1954, when Brown forced them. Perhaps they will again.
Every school district board member should keep this book on their desk.
A Great Book for All Teachers.......2007-03-29
Susan Eaton clearly explains the current state of urban education, particularly in Hartford, Connecticut. The book is wonderfully written in two interwoven narratives. The first traces the seemingly unending legal proceedings surrounding education in Hartford. The second contains what I feel is the true spirit of the book. Eaton tells the reader a story in language so plain and clear that any teacher will feel the overwhelming, systematic, and largely ignored challenges facing `the children in room E4.' Yet, the story also tells us of an amazing educator and her students. Eaton brings to us those everyday student-teacher exchanges that give us hope; hope that our curious and intelligent children will be blessed by dedicated teachers. `The Children in Room E4' inspires me as a new teacher. Lastly, it reminds me that while the state of urban education nationwide is dire, the challenges of where one teaches can be overcome by the kindness, compassion, and relentless energy of a great teacher.
The Children in Room E4: American Education on Trial.......2007-03-22
It is an excellent book that provides a detailed insight of the culture and public school environment of Connecticut. I would definitely recommend this book to educators, administrators and parents.
Book Description
A comprehensive desk reference, this book provides an easy-to-read guide to the practical skills and methods required by project managers running clinical studies. The author uses a framework based on seven core themes: goals, budgets, time, resources, measurement, communication and training to present a solid review of how modern management theory can be brought to bear on the specialist demands of clinical trials. Coverage includes the R&D process, CROs, the Clinical Study Team, and QA audits. The book includes true-life case histories as well as a comprehensive overview of drug development processes and trends that are driving change. It is a resource for anyone who wishes to sharpen their study management skills.
Book Description
This newly updated edition of the benchmark guide to computer-assisted clinical trials provides a comprehensive primer for prospective managers. It covers every critical issue of the design and conduct of clinical trials, including study design, organization, regulatory agency liaison, data collection and analysis, as well as recruitment, software, monitoring, and reporting.
Keeping the same user-friendly format as the original, this Second Edition features new examples and the latest developments in regulatory guidelines, such as e-submission procedures and computerized direct data acquisition. The new edition also reflects the increasing globalization of clinical trial activities, and includes new information about international standards and procedures, including the Common Technical Document and CDISC standards.
This step-by-step guide is supported by handy checklists and extracts from submitted protocols. Experienced author and consultant Phillip Good incorporateshumorous yet instructive anecdotes to illustrate common pitfalls. Based on the proven industrial formula of planning, implementing, and finally performing essential checks, the book's three sections-"Plan," "Do," and "Check"-includethe following material:
* Should the trials be conducted?
* Put it in the computer and keep it there
* Staffing for success
* Designing trials and determining sample size
* Budgeting
* Recruiting and retaining patients and physicians
* Data management
* Monitoring the trials
* Data analysis
* After action review
* Exception handling
Executive and managerial professionals involved in the design and analysis of clinical experiments, along with clinical research associates, biostatisticians, and students in public health will find A Manager's Guide an indispensable resource.
Praise for the First Edition:
". . . readable, informative and at times witty . . . never stops being concise and well written . . . a book worth a read . . ."
-Statistics in Medicine
"The book is very prescriptive and full of lists and tables with which to guide managers in making effective decisions in using computer-assisted clinical trials in pharmaceutical studies." -Technometrics
"This book is must-have reading for anyone in the business . . ."
-Clinical Chemistry
Customer Reviews:
Must-Have Reading.......2003-09-03
"This book is must-have reading for anyone in the business..." (Clinical Chemistry, Vol. 49, No. 7, 2003)
Recommended Book.......2003-01-23
"The book is very prescriptive and full of lists and tables with which to guide managers in making effective decisions in using computer-assisted clinical trials in pharmaceutical studies." (Technometrics, Vol. 45, No. 1, February 2003)
Book Description
There has been substantial growth in the use of data monitoring committees in recent years, by both government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. This growth has been brought about by increasing recognition of the value of such committees in safeguarding trial participants as well as protecting trial integrity and the validity of conclusions. This very timely book describes the operation of data monitoring committees, and provides an authoritative guide to their establishment, purpose and responsibilities.
- Provides a practical overview of data monitoring in clinical trials.
- Describes the purpose, responsibilities and operation of data monitoring committees.
- Provides directly applicable advice for those managing and conducting clinical trials, and those serving on data monitoring committees.
- Gives insight into clinical data monitoring to those sitting on regulatory and ethical committees.
- Discusses issues pertinent to those working in clinical trials in both the US and Europe.
The practical guidance provided by this book will be of use to professionals working in and/or managing clinical trials, in academic, government and industry settings, particularly medical statisticians, clinicians, trial co-ordinators, and those working in regulatory affairs and bioethics.
Download Description
There has been substantial growth in the use of data monitoring committees in recent years, by both government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. This growth has been brought about by increasing recognition of the value of such committees in safeguarding trial participants as well as protecting trial integrity and the validity of conclusions. This very timely book describes the operation of data monitoring committees, and provides an authoritative guide to their establishment, purpose and responsibilities. Provides a practical overview of data monitoring in clinical trials. Describes the purpose, responsibilities and operation of data monitoring committees. Provides directly applicable advice for those managing and conducting clinical trials, and those serving on data monitoring committees. Gives insight into clinical data monitoring to those sitting on regulatory and ethical committees. Discusses issues pertinent to those working in clinical trials in both the US and Europe. The practical guidance provided by this book will be of use to professionals working in and/or managing clinical trials, in academic, government and industry settings, particularly medical statisticians, clinicians, trial co-ordinators, and those working in regulatory affairs and bioethics.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Guide.......2006-12-27
All or almost all significant clinical trials involve Data Monitoring Committees (DMCs; also known as Data Safety and Monitoring Committees; DSMBs). These bodies provide independent oversight of the safety and operation of clinical trials. This book is a well organized and clearly written discussion of the operation of DMCs/DSMBs. Very practically oriented, the book discusses virtually all aspects of DMCs/DSMBs from their rationale to the nuts and bolts of running committee meetings. In addition to being comprehensive, this book is distinguished by the liberal and appropriate use of numerous concrete examples to illustrate many of the issues that come up in the operation of a DMC/DSMB. This book should be read and owned by anyone serving on a DMC/DSMB. Anyone heavily involved in clinical trials should be familiar with the contents of this book.
Books:
- The Meaning Of Life
- The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't
- The Origins of the British: A Genetic Detective Story
- The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design
- The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution (Great Discoveries)
- The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution (Great Discoveries)
- The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary Edition--with a new Introduction by the Author
- The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
- The Structure of Evolutionary Theory
- The Tinkerer's Accomplice: How Design Emerges from Life Itself
Books Index
Books Home
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- Peace Like a River
- MATLAB: An Introduction with Applications 2nd Edition
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- Where the Bodies Are: Final Visits to the Rich, Famous, & Interesting
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- Lachlan McIntosh and the Politics of Revolutionary Georgia
