Woody Allen Books

This book is provided free to the public through the CCRP web site (they even ship it free). It's a shame someone is trying to make a profit of these books.

This is a great reference on composite materials. It details almost everything that a person designing composites would need. It can be a bit bland to read, but it is full of valuable information. The only thing that it may lack is example calculations for the design of composite structures, but the theory is all there.

This books pulls together, in original papers plus informed editorial commentary, most of what had been tried, and much of what was known about computer architecture in 1971. Gordon Bell himself was an influential architect (PDP-11, VAX), but also a very perceptive critic.

As a student in International Relations, I can easily admit that books about political economics are not always the most "action-packed". Actually, most are downright narcotic. However, Dr. Denemark succeeds in blowing the roof off of this traditional stereotype with his utterly intriguing text. Merely reading his words, the reader can almost hear the fecicious intonnations and quirky mannerisms which make Dr. Denemark a unique attribute to the realm of international studies. I suggest that anyone interested in politics or history read this informative, yet light-hearted text.

Clearly the Easiest Text in Law School. The author explains the law and applies it. The facts of each case makes the rule of law easy to understand. It is important for the reader to keep track of the direction the cases are headed. Also keep track of "bright line" or "case by case" rules. The only supplement you need for this class is the current newspaper headline! Brief each case, and mind your facts!

In this text, Ron Allen once again weaves his extensive preaching knowledge and skill together with him Bible knowledge and expertise. A professor of both homiletics and New Testament, he is ideally suited to teach on the subject of appropriate and useful Biblical interpretation for the task of preaching.

Allen addresses things from the standpoint of modern scholarship in the Bible, and in particular historical-critical interpretative frameworks. 'Strictly speaking, many of the exegetical disciplines are descriptive and not theological.' In saying this, Allen puts forth a thesis that is broad-based - this is a text that can be useful to people of differing theological persuasions conservative and liberal. Likewise, Allen does not shy away from the shortcomings or controversies of the historical-critical enterprise, or any other academic endeavour with regard to Biblical scholarship. A book from Allen's early days of teachings, it shows (when taken with his later scholarship, which is extensive) how remarkably consistent his work has been.

The topics discussed in this book include historical background, form criticism, redaction criticism, structuralism, sociological exegesis, and canonical criticism. These ideas will be familiar to students and graduates of seminaries, Bible colleges, and schools of religion, and no doubt most will already have a notion as to their relative value for Biblical study and interpretation. Allen takes this into account as he develops each theme. 'When a pastor settles down with a text to begin sermon preparation, he or she is seldom a tabula rasa, a blank slate,' Allen writes. In giving key questions, specific scriptural examples, and suggestions for further readings, the reader of most any slant will find useful information and guidance.

Allen devotes a special chapter to the concerns of liberation theology. Liberation theology is not a particular discipline of exegesis, but rather a broader framework of interpretation that has developed in the later half of the twentieth century that seeks to find the liberating voice of God in scripture and church action. Drawing on themes from the Hebrew scriptures and the gospels, Allen shows ways of incorporating liberation ideas into responsible biblical interpretation and preaching.

Allen also gives special attention to looking at the Bible as a work of art. This involves giving attention to feelings and intuitions about the Bible, as well as looking at literary and artistic nuances and devices in the text itself. Key questions are important here, as well as a framework for ensuring responsible answers, and not letting emotionalism cloud good judgement.

The final chapters of the text deal with issues of authority and hermeneutics - these are separate chapters, but in many ways go together as one issue no doubt influences the other in dialectical relationship. Looking at the Bible as a canon of scripture rooted in a particular historical setting, the implications of the relationship between the timeless and the time-specific become clear. Then, drawing largely on Ricoeur as well as the approach of the hermeneutic of analogy, Allen discusses the importance of meaning as well as the difficulties of finding 'true' and 'unalterable' meanings in the text, not subject to interpretation.

Allen includes a compendium of the key questions gleaned from the chapters, a section of endnotes, and an index of scriptural quotations. As a reader, I prefer footnotes to endnotes (this is often a publisher decision rather than an author decision), and I will also issue the loud call for an index (subject, author, key word and concept), which this text lacks, which makes it less useful for scholars.

Overall, this book is a fine collection of ideas and questions for students and active preachers to help develop sensitivity to the various issues involved in interpreting Biblical passages for preaching.

Many of the articles within the book were written directly after 9/11, and address the issues Muslims in America have been facing since around that time. There is a lot of background and cultural discussion as well; such as how heritage figures into the developing concept of Islamic consciousness in America during these challenging times. It's best read along with Muslims in the United States: A State of Research.

The book does a good job a teaching what these objects are, by using a precise and yet simple vocabulary. The text covers a lot of related subjects, including impact with earth, but never goes into catastrophism and sensationalism.

It's not often I review older books but once in a while the quality is such that I break my own rule. (I'm not sure whether that makes me flexible, whimsical or inconsistent. Whatever.) Anne Scott-James writes such lovely smooth prose. It's not at all pretentious; it's easy to read and her words envelop her topic like a comfortable blanket.

She is knowledgeable. She has a lifetime of cottage gardening to draw on and understands the topic right through to her bones. She has also done a generous amount of research into the history of the cottage garden and these together give the book a depth that is seldom found.

So this book, that so easily could be cloyingly sentimental, is actually a historical record of the development of the cottage garden in England. Starting with medieval times the writer shows how a "garden" of a few herbs used for medicinal purposes, together with a few fruit trees grew to become, by Victorian times, a corner of the most idyllic land in all the world. The Victorian cottage garden was unabashedly sentimentalized by poets and artists who would have you believe that the flowers were always blooming and the family was always content. This disguises the truth that a labourers plot of land had to supply vegetables and fruit enough to feed his family, with perhaps a few left over for sale, as well as producing flowers. But the flowers could help the family budget too. As one old man put it "We sold so many bunches of snowdrops in spring that they paid the rates". ("Rates" are local taxes.)

I found this a delightful read and it added a lot to my knowledge of cottage gardening. This book will be appreciated by anyone who is interested in the English cottage style of gardening or in the history of gardens in England.

This book is poignant, shocking, and true.

I've read over a dozen books on the problems of college athletes and college athletics and all the hypocrisy and failed attempts to solve these problems.

What makes this book so fascinating is that it's not a dry study or philosophical discussion. This book is first-hand information. The author actually was a superlative football player at Notre Dame, who turned down an offer from the pros, and immediately entered graduate school and obtained his Ph.D.

Dr. Sack has devoted his professional life to the pursuit of the purity of amateur athleticism in college sports. You won't believe the obstacles he has encountered -- and overcome -- in becoming a true expert on the subject.

If you could own only one book about the power and politics of college athletics and how they have literally taken control over the NCAA, college presidents, athletic directors, coaches, boosters, players, and even the court system, GET THIS BOOK. You will see an old-boys' network that got started over a half century ago, and has created and nurtured a monster that is out of control -- and out of view of almost every fan in the country.

What's in this book, you will never see on ESPN or the mainstream media (sports or otherwise), who genuflect at the cash cow of college sports and refuse to upset the gravy train. If you think that entire major college sport dynasties can't come crashing down overnight -- and the wrecking crew may already be in Washington, D.C. -- GET THIS BOOK.

Bluntly, there is an incredible amount of hype and glitter to college sports. From outward appearances, it seems so strong, so vibrant, so pervasive. Closer inspection shows it's rotting from within and its influence is ruining the lives of college athletes. Dr. Sack doesn't just give you the problems, he gives you the solution, and that clarion call may be the only salvation for college athletics.