Anne Francis Books

I became fascinated with the work of RAWA about six months ago. I had never heard of the organization before and although I knew the Taliban was a terrible regime, I had no idea that pre and post Taliban rule there was this wonderful underground organization working to promote independence for women, hope and peace for the country. I have read quite a few books on Afghan's women's struggles, and many books with a focus on RAWA, and I have to say this one is by far the best book written on the organization of RAWA. Anne Brodsky spent much time in both Afghanistan, and Pakistan, observing, interviewing and living with supporters and members of RAWA. None of the other books I have read on the subject get as deep into the underground workings of this incredible group of people. Unlike some of the other books I have read by authors that have visited with RAWA members, Anne Brodsky has a journalistic style of writing, where her personal opinions don't over dominate the book. She is very objective, and writes much like an observer, which I really appreciated. I highly recommend this book.

From its opening pages, describing the mobilization of RAWA members to clandestinely record, at tremendous personal risk, the Taliban's public execution of a woman, Anne Brodsky's book affords the reader a gripping account of a remarkable, dedicated group of individuals. The shocking footage of the burqa-clad figure toppling to the ground after a rifle-shot to the head was subsequently seen by audiences the world over; that it was seen at all was entirely due to the courage and determination of the members of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan.

Each chapter of "With All Our Strength" carries as its title a verse from poetry written by the extraordinary woman who founded RAWA - Meena, murdered at age 30. This apt touch presages the exceptional degree to which Brodsky fashions her narrative from the words of RAWA's members. Unlike so many other writers and journalists who have ventured of late into this geographical and political territory, Brodsky does not project herself front and center into her tale. Instead, she serves as a witness - an attentive, informed, empathetic one - who helps put the RAWA phenomenon into cogent historical, political and sociological context. No mean feat, given the complexities of the modern history of this region, as well as the sheer number of voices she interweaves into her narrative. What's more, while contributing to the central story of RAWA's rise and ongoing struggles, these voices also emerge, distinctly and movingly, as those of individual women who have made difficult choices and extraordinary sacrifices in the effort to create change.

These days, with the Bush Administration taking credit for bringing freedom to Afghanistan, it is vital to recognize the dedication of the RAWA members who militated for democracy and women's rights while the U.S. was supporting the forces that coalesced into the savagely misogynistic Taliban. It its parts and as a whole, "With All Our Strength" portrays the bravery of individuals and the power of collective action in the face of evil. Profiles in courage, indeed.

I first learned about RAWA and the deplorable situation for women in Afghanistan several years ago in a pre-9/11 magazine article. I was horrified by what I read about the Taliban and the unimaginable restrictions on and persecution of Afghan women. I wanted to help, and I was excited when I learned about RAWA and what they were doing to help the women of Afghanistan. Since then I've searched for more information on RAWA, and this book was the answer. Ms. Brodsky's book is well researched (she spent time in both Afghanistan and Pakistan with RAWA members and was the first writer to be given such unrestricted access to them). In her book I learned information about the history of RAWA, their organizational structure and operations (which was fascinating to me), and their struggle to overcome enormous obstacles with limited funds. Most mesmerizing for me, though, were the author's many excerpts of interviews with members of RAWA, both new members and those who have been with the organization almost since its inception. After reading this book, I was so impressed with the members of RAWA -- with their strength and courage, their fierce determination to better the lives of the women of their country, their great personal sacrifice, and their total devotion to their cause that I am sending a monthly donation to them. (Ms. Brodsky is donating all of her profits from this book to RAWA.) This book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about RAWA or to anyone interested in feminist issues or resistance movements.

I really liked Anne Brodsky's book because you can tell that she really got in there with the women of RAWA to tell a true story about them. As it says in the book, many tell tales of RAWA, but they make them one-dimentional. In other books and publications, it felt more like a story of heroines, instead of real women who are actually sticking their neck out and seriously risking their lives to help people. Not just women, people. This was a very good book and I think it was great that she spent time there with the women.

I have been a supporter of RAWA for four years, and thought I knew a lot about the organization, until I got my hands on this book. All of the questions that I have had over the years have been answered here, and then some! Brodsky's analysis and background information fill in the gaps for me in ways that nothing else has to date. I have read many books on Afghanistan, Afghan women, and even the other recent books that focus on RAWA, but this book is my best source yet. For anyone interested in helping this magificent organization, this book is a MUST read. I have given this book to family members and friends as gifts so that they may understand why RAWA is so important to me. I urge everyone who is even remotely concerned with women who resist to read this book. You will not be able to help but love RAWA and their spirit of resistance and strength. I thank Anne Brodsky for this enormous gift of information. Her contribution is truly in the spirit of RAWA, and I cannot encourage enough people to read it and to help these valiant women in their life-changing, tremendous work. If ever an organization deserved the attention of people all over the world, this is the one!

I bought this book because I am interested in all facets of the business world. To my great enjoyment, I found it to be an excellent glimpse into business from a new and unique angle. It is an indispensable text for women and men alike.

It is always nice to find a book which does what it sets out to do. It's even better to find one which not only accomplishes it's goal, but does it well. This book does it very well! In a clear, yet informative manner, this book provides the reader with insight into the issues faced by women in family businesses. Then, it helps the reader move from understanding to practice, in a way which is quite accessible. This book is particularly relevant to women in family owned businesses, but is also a useful text for anyone working in, or with people working in, family owned businesses. I highly recommend it.

This is a wonderful, helpful and insightful book for women in business. It's an essential read for women who want to rise in the workplace--and for those who would like to help women do just that!

This book, the first of its kind, is a no-nonsense compass for women in business and the consultants and therapists who work to help women succeed. Excellent!

Leí este libro hace algunos años y lo he venido ocupando de manera reiterada en mis clases y como referencia.
Es estupendo por su claridad, la pertinencia de sus ejemplos.
Permite estructurar el pensamiento de manera lógica y crítica.

Desafortunadamente el libro Critical Reasoning in Ethics es menos bueno, los ejemplos son vagos y se pierde en posiciones especulativas.

Este es muy recomendable.

Jesús Serrano

This is an excellent text for learning critical thinking. The book as a whole is well organized and very clear, and each chapter contains numerous well-designed exercises. Many of the exercises are taken from the arguments section of the Law School Admissions Test, so if you are planning to take the LSAT, this would make an excellent prep book.

This is a great book from a great Doctor! Buy and read!

Loder and Marcus edit a solid review of the current thinking in migraine evaluation and treatment. The book seems to be most appropriate for physicians and other healthcare professionals interested in migraine, as well as savvy patients interested in learning more about their own headaches. Despite the title, I believe that much of the text applies generally to both female and male patients, and then has an excellent review about specific issues with women. There are also chapters dealing with sociological and psychological factors specifically in female patients.

The book starts with a general review of migraine headache pathogenesis and patient evaluation. The bulk of the book is on migraine treatment in general, and as related to specific female patient groups; adolescents, menstrual migraines, migraines in pregnancy, migraines in menopause, and migraines with oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy. There is an excellent diagram in chapter six, the kind that medical residents would copy for those little private notebooks that they always carry around, that shows which medications are appropriate during each phase of the headache. There is a chapter for non-medical approaches to migraine treatment including biofeedback, relaxation therapy, and other alternative therapies.

This is the kind of book that you would read through fully, and then keep in your office bookcase to reference when you have a tough patient waiting in the exam room. The book is a quick clincial consultant, and there is also a CD-rom version enclosed with the book's text, figures, and charts.

Overall, a good idea for anyone that has to treat migraines.

This is a most interesting introduction to the thinking of Antonio Negri, who has emerged as one of the more provocative thinkers of our time.

The book is conceived as a series of conversations around approximately 50 entries in a Negrian lexicon, divided into 26 chapters, each of which refers to a letter in the alphabet.

There is a mixture of biographical anecdote and conceptual excursion that makes for compelling reading. Those wishing for insight into Negri's personal journey are offered a candid account of his activist 1970s and 80s in Italy and his exile in France. Readers wishing a relatively accessible introduction to Negri's more substantial works are introduced to most of the key concepts in his thinking (empire, multitude, biopolitical production, singularity, kairos, resistance, ...) In the first half of the book, Negri deals with the "lovely paradox" of self-defeating growth which capitalism has wrought upon itself. In the latter half of the book, Negri develops his alternative of a radical democracy based on a voluntarist, Spinozian materialism.

I'm slightly puzzled as to why Negri has chosen Anne Dufourementelle as his interlocutor. Sometimes she is right on the ball, coaxing Negri into very personal observations or a sophisticated line of argument. At other times the interviewer leaves interesting tangents unexplored or indulges into psychoanalytic hobbyhorses (on which Negri has not a lot to say). But I admit that thanks to the sometimes surprising twists in Dufourmentelle's interview tactics, themes weave their threads across the whole length of the book, creating a coherent, multifaceted image of Negri's thinking and biography. Definitely recommended.

I can't believe with all the buzz around Hardt and Negri that no one has reviewed this little book of interviews. This is Negri at his most accessible, talking about his history, both the personal and political and about the ideas that went into Empire, the book that made a splash in lefty intellectual circles some years back.

The book is organized alphabetically, starting with A for Armed Struggle. Appropriate since Negri served a serious prison sentence for his alledged involvement in the Red Brigades, the left wing terorist organization in Italy in the seventies and eighties (he denies the charges in the book).

This is a great place to start with a very important thinker whose writing tends to be rather difficult. Check this out, and if you think he's maaking sense, get Empire.

Dr. Primavesi spoke recently at a seminar on the Future Faith, and her view is grounded in a provocatively new and thoughtful understanding of theology as an earth science. I was privileged to hear her speak and found that it was easier to absorb what she had to say in lecture than it was to absorb what she has written in this excellent book. Perhaps that was because there was so little time to go back over what she said where with this book I found myself review the material several times before I was satisfied.

And there is no end to interesting concepts, ideas and models to keep one interested. One of the first "ah ha" moments was when Dr. Primavesi stated that "The acceptance of this 'truth within situations' by scientists today means, for them, that 'the epoch of certainties and absolute oppositions' is over." She then goes on to point out that we are "inside the truth" and not separable from it, so that all we can do is define a truth from within the situation. This of course applies to not only our science, but our understanding of our evolutionary processes, and our theology. She sees that human language, that vehicle we use to communicate ideas, thoughts, and experiences, anthropomorphizes all that we try to verbalize. Thus we cannot avoid the appearance of separation of ourselves from our environment.

As she moves on into the religious aspects of our struggle with good and evil, Dr. Primavesi states that "The complexity of interactions in our world is such that their outcomes, their effect-explosions, can never adequately computed, represented or predicted by us. This realization lay at the heart of Darwin's dissatisfaction with the insufficiency of human reason as an instrument for understanding the universe." And she concludes that even today, with all our scientific progress, we underestimate the issue of our being in this world and what we do to it, ourselves, and our progeny as we live our daily lives. We fail to look at the whole complex system as one interdependent system.

Sacred Gaia presents us with a model that affirms life as a continuous gift and points out the implications of such a model for religious understanding of our existence. A most profound and engaging book.

Biologist and theologian Celia Deane-Drummond has written, 'Gaia should not be allowed a place as a form of theology' (1992:283). Anne Primavesi's latest book shows just how worthwhile it can be to ignore this advice.

Primavesi has written a first-rate theological reflection on the significance of humanity's place in the universe, thoroughly embedded, that is, is the processes of evolution. At the same time, however, she is able to critique Darwin's political biases in the light of more recent systems thinking, and to relate the controversial 'Gaia hypothesis' about the earth as a living system, to a more general and wide ranging discussion of the implications of 'autopoeisis'. In less than two hundred pages, the author suceeds in covering a wide range of important material, much of it rarely considered by theologians. For those lacking confidence in their knowledge of systems science I would recommend reading Fritjof Capra's 'The Web of Life' in conjunction with this book. Primavesi's organising principle of 'selfScape/socialScape/poeticScape/earthScape' is imaginative and helpful.

'Sacred Gaia' goes much further than, for example, Rosemary Radford Ruether's 'Gaia and God' in taking seriously the specific ramifications of the Gaia theory for theology. However, if I have a criticism, it is that there is no mention of the problem of testing Lovelock's claims in a meaningful way. In other words, Primavesi seems more interested in appropriating 'Gaia' as an attractive idea than as an accurate description of how life and the planet really interact. I am among those who are also strongly attracted to the idea, but it doesn't clarify matters to understate the difficulties of verifying certain features of systems theory.

All told, though, this is a sophisticated, highly engaging and groundbreaking book.

Testimony of Hope: The Spiritual Exercises of Pope John Paul II
Excellent spiritual reading especially in preparation for Easter. This book will become part of my permanent library, one I'll want to reread. I can understand why Pope John Paul II invited this author to give a spiritual retreat. Van Thuan is truly a priest's priest.

Every year, Pope John Paul II selects a preacher for a course of Spiritual Exercises for himself and the Vatican's Roman Curia. For the Jubilee 2000, he chose Vietnamese Archbishop Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan.

I originally read Archbishop Thuan's exercises by way of Zenit - the News of Rome. As compelling as those accounts were, the book is even better. Archbishop Van Thuan's experiences, as a prisoner in Communist prisons for 13 years, and his insight on faith are true food for a hungry soul.

Testimony of Hope is the complete text of those Exercises. Archbishop Van Thuan's description of isolation and abandonment, and his secret for finding hope in despair makes for moving and uplifting reading.

I guarantee that readers will be moved by the 22 meditations. Archbishop Van Thuan offers light amidst the darkness. The book is a quick, easy, and inspirational read.

I was excited from the time I opened the package. The volume has high quality photographs printed on gloss pages. The photographs represent a broad spectrum of works by superior funrniture makers. The comprehensive text explained the obvious and not so obvious distingtions in form, format, style, constrution approach, and a host of like details.

I took the volume with me to Marc Adams School of Woodworking for a Philidephia Lowboy class with Allen Breed. The pictures aided in layout and construction of the item. Class members were impressed with the quality and quanity of the photographs. This book is well worth the price.

"Gaia's Gift" brings together many threads of modern knowledge and great issues of concern such as threats to earth integrity and unjustice between nations and individuals. These are placed in the context of a critical history of religion, especially the Judeo-Christian tradition. The organization and prose make these potentially difficult and complex analyses relatively easy to follow and remember.

As I am a scientist with no formal training in Theology or church history, Primavesi's books have helped me to understand why the scientific findings that are so compelling to me are rejected by a large proportion of society. Furthermore, why I should be concerned to increase social consciousness of the impact of religion on civil and social practice.

On the other hand, many of my scientist friends dismiss all religious belief and practice with scorn. "Gaia's Gift" would help them to understand that impulses of awe, joy, and thankfulness are fully appropriate as we accept our gift of life that has been prepared by earth and the web of life throughout deep time and in the present.

Anyone interested in Elisabethan music and especially keyboard music from that period should read this excting novel!