G Books

My wife Kathy is a counselor with a specialty in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) applied to war veterans. The internship in her master's program was at the local vet's center and she still maintains contact with the people who work there. I had reviewed another Doonesbury book and another counselor who works with vets contacted me and said that she used this book in her treatment programs. She asked me if I knew of any follow up to the story told here.
The premise is that B. D. has lost a leg in Iraq and while he now has a prosthesis and his physical wounds have healed, there are deeper, subtler wounds that are opening over time. This is a chronicle of his actions, denial, his and other's disbelief regarding his problems and his halting journey to treatment. At my request, Kathy also read this book and she has been emphatic that this description is exactly the way it usually goes for veterans with PTSD.
As you read the cartoons, you emphasize with B. D. as he struggles to come to grips with the fact that he has a problem. The people around him find it hard to cope, as they have no understanding of the source of his odd behavior. Finally, he makes contact with a counselor at a vet's center and you are relieved when it appears that he will be able to deal with the problems and live a reasonably normal life.
Once you understand that these problems are real, it makes you all the more shameful when you read and see stories about the lack of long-term care veterans are receiving as they come back from Iraq and Afghanistan. It takes time for PTSD to emerge as a condition; many times it appears nearly a year after the soldiers have been passed through the initial treatment they receive immediately after returning.

Doonesbury has always been cutting edge and great social and political satire. But Trudeau's work has always had a serious, important edge to it. The War Within shows that. It shows the struggle of returning vets.

Received and read "The War Within" last week but find it hard to characterize this one. While BD was the central figure in "The Long Road Home" I think this one has a cast of figures with equally important stories to tell. BD continues his journey but one gets a much deeper understanding of his pain and struggles as well as those of his family.

Adding to the story are his counselor Elias, as skillful and intuitive as any of us could hope to ever be and the ever clever Celeste... an equally skillful counselor in secretarial clothing! "The War Within" will be required reading in one of the classes I teach Spring semester.

Featuring a foreword by General Richard B. Myers (USAF, Ret., Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) The War Within: One More Step At A Time is a unique collection of G. B. Trudeau's Doonesbury newspaper comics that is not only humorous, but also cutting-edge relevant . The strips follow the daily life Vietnam, Gulf War, and Iraq War veteran B.D., whose tour of duty was cut short by a near-death experience, the loss of his leg, and perhaps most shockingly, the loss of his iconic helmet. Far more life-altering than the physical damage is the post-traumatic stress disorder that leaves him increasingly disoriented, hostile, withdrawn, and turning to alcohol to self-medicate. When B.D. is on the verge of mistaking friends and family for mortal enemies, the turning point comes when he overhears his own daughter say that she has become afraid of him. Help comes in the form of the local Vet Center, and the skillful aid of counselor and fellow Vietnam vet Elias. The War Within brims with classic Trudeau wit, yet also reveals the author's resolve to accurately portray the harrowing pressures America's armed forces are subject to during and after risking their lives in the service. Highly recommended. Proceeds from "The War Within" are to benefit Fisher House, a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers.

connecting veterans and those who share their lives with the reality of their struggles, in this easily understandable format, is a great service. "If we cannot learn our history, we are doomed to repeat it."

the quality of the audio tapes is good. makes listening to them easy and interesting... however, with my order one of the 16 tapes was broken and could not be repaired in any such way :( so i lost out on about 2.5 chapters of the end of the battle of Ia Drang. overall the movie is no substitute for the book... Hal tells what really happened at Ia Drang in full detail and one is also able to learn exactly what the vietnamese PAVN and VC troops did in the future to prevent full scale battles like the battle of Ia Drang (not to mention learning about how General Westmorland didn't take heed to Hal's after action report and therefor we suffered more casulties in the future after Ia Drang)... ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ.

The movie was great, but the book (on tape) was much more intense and horrifying. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story on a recent family trip across country. I was surprised when my wife, who is usually not interested in war stories, became immersed in the book. I only wish it was available in CD-Rom format.

I recommend this honest and very straight forward book to all who care to know more about the Vietnam conflict. As a kid who was born in the 1960's, my appreciation of the soldiers who fought and gave their lives has been limited to the various movies and stories of the era.

The authors of this book have done an incredible job gathering information from their fellow soldiers (and in some cases those soldiers families) in order to convey and portray what can only be described as an incredibly poignant account of their experiences.

I know that this will be a story I will one day recommend that my own children read in an effort to improve their understanding of the sacrafices such brave people have made for the sake of our continued freedom.

I wasn't quite old enough to fight in Vietnam, but after reading this book and listening to this tape, it's as though I had been there. The book was absolutely gripping and the tape ... well ... for those of you who saw the recent movie, Joseph L. Galloway is the on-scene reporter. His rough, unpolished voice is PERFECT for this tape. It's Hal Moore's story recounted by the reporter who flew into battle with him. A priceless, classic combination. I've worn out the tape already ... time to reorder. (Hint: Make sure you get the Galloway edition. The CD has a slick Hollywood-type doing the narration. It's not the same.)

The commentary, questions and answers by Vos in this book are very good. I only saw a couple of problems in his comments. Going through the Catechism with my family and Bible Study group using this book as a guide has been a tremendous blessing on all of us and our relationship with God.

This is the book that I wish I had a long time ago. Very well written. Easy to understand. It's written in a "catechism on the Catechism" format. Lots of questions and answers on each question in the Westminster Larger Catechism.

While the Larger Catechism itself is an outstanding work that carefully and succinctly explains our Christian faith, this is a work that takes each question and breaks it down further. Insightful commentary and fitting Scripture citations round out each selection and make this an easy to use resource for quick reference. Highly recommended.

This book is a treasure! Compiled from Vos' articles in "Blue Banner Faith and Life," this commentary on the Larger Catechism lays open an often-underused resource of Reformation theology. Vos proceeds through each question, giving helpful Bible references, and then organizes his comments in a question and answer format. With a little adjusting, we were able to use this for family worship - it took us two years to get through, but what a blessing!

I have a large number of books on Reformed Theology including a number of books which seek to use the Westminster Confession and Catechisms as a springboard to explain the intricacies of Calvinism, but this work is something special. The clarity of thought here is miles beyond anything else I've found. The format is simple: A question from the catechism, the relevant scripture passages identified and summarized in a single sentence, then a series of brief questions and answers on the passage. The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Confession has unfortunately been rather neglected, both in churches and in the written word (Ridgely's two volume commentary is the only other I can think of, and it's much to complex for most readers) but this volume makes all the theological complexities crystal clear. A must read.

The teachings here are mostly beliefs of historical Presbyterian churches and Calvinists. I believe there has been modification in beliefs among certain of the Presbyterian Churches and other Calvinistic religions, softening selected teachings in this book.
The book however, is among those every serious Christian should read, along with The Westminster Confession of Faith, Reformed Baptist of 1689, Book of Concord - Lutheran Confessions. Nothing helps you more in understanding religious differences and truths than to study the history of the Reformation. Today's TV evangelical churches are in serious need of another reformation as people are being misled with doctrines of Freud, feeling good, becoming properous, and entertainment. It is not Biblical (or possible) to make a personal decision to believe as faith is a gift of God. In additon, faith comes from sound doctrine in the form of Biblical scripture, not man's doctrines. The Bible warns of this pitfall, and your soul is at risk if you fail to understand this, 2 Peter 3:15-16. There exists a serious lack of spiritual knowledge and doctrinal discernment. The key to salvation is Grace through Faith, itself a gift of God. Finally, reading and studying the Bible is the most important thing a person can do.

Fantastic.....I am such a believer of this book I now buy it for friends who call me up with relationship break ups and divorces. I refer to it all the time

The well-credentialed authors lead the brokenhearted through the various steps of grief. This book features truly helpful suggestions for navigating the post-breakup storm and for nurturing the self while not seeking revenge on the former beloved.

Highly recommended.

What a great book!! This book is a must for anyone who has lost a loved one. Clear and concise, very well written. It helped me a great deal. Bravo!!!!

A year out from seperation I was still of a mind that one of the most miserable things one human being does to another, is betrayal. This groovy little book took me back to emotions of shock and anger and gently walked me through to a place I now cherish, freedom to do and be the person I am.

Rick Whiteside and Frances Steinberg have written a wonderful guide to getting through some of the most difficult times people face. When Your Lover Leaves You is sensible and compassionate, and keeps you focused on the all-important realizations that not only is there life after a breakup, there are skillful ways of managing intense feelings. I recommend this book highly - it's short, it's focused, and it's practical...exactly the way it should be for people in distress who are looking for smart ways to cope with loss.

I'm crazy about this book. It's filled with common sense and uncoomon wisdom.

G. Gaynor McTigue's Why Make Yourself Crazy is a truly great book. It is full of practical tips that just about everybody will appreciate. I found this book to be both enjoyable and enlightening. Mr. McTigue's unique insight has helped me change my life for the better. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy.

Lessons for Living is a exceptionally well-written book offering simple, practical and usable suggestions for living a happier and more fulfilling life. The book has helped me personally, offering new perspectives on situations in my life that were troublesome. Every single client has given positive feedback on how the book has helped them see problems in a new light as well as provide easy to follow exercises to aid them in making changes in their lives. The book's best feature is the many strategies for tackling long-standing habits that negatively impact our lives. I highly recommend Lessons for Living . . . for everyone.

Lessons for Living is a exceptionally well-written book offering simple, practical and usable suggestions for living a happier and more fulfilling life. The book has helped me personally, offering new perspectives on situations in my life that were troublesome. Every single client has given positive feedback on how the book has helped them see problems in a new light as well as provide easy to follow exercises to aid them in making changes in their lives. The book's best feature is the many strategies for tackling long-standing habits that negatively impact our lives. I highly recommend Lessons for Living . . . for everyone.

There are many reasons for having this book but let me relate to you what only two points did for me:

Gradually I became stressed. I found it hard to concentrate on anything, even the things I once enjoyed -- Even watching a movie became a task. I was too tense to concentrate, which made it hard to remember anything. I avoided people because even talking became stressful. I became so tense at times that I had difficulty breathing.

Then I got this book.

The smile principle showed me that if I smile to others, others smile back. Afterwards I felt wonderfully calm and at peace with the world.

Following that brought about throwing out a thing a day. Y, I tried it. It basically quietens your chattering mind, and reduces 'noise on the brain'.

I can't _stress_ enough how vital this book is for conquering tension, stress, and emotional unrest.

Get it for yourself and feel much better.

I have not found a wild flower that I can not identify using this book. I highly recommend this to anyone that wants to know what that pretty flower by the road is

This is a thoughtfully done book. The photographs are excellent but I found it to be too academic for those who are interested in quick flower identification. I admire the fact that the procedes are designated for a worthwhile cause as the Ozark Society.

I take Mr. Hunter's book with me on hiking trips because there is ALWAYS a flower or tree that I need to know the name. This is an excellent guide for flowers. The clear, crisp photos show you what no illustration can. The detailed descriptions leave no doubt. It has become a goal of mine to photograph each new one that I encounter. If it hadn't been for "Wildflowers of Arkansas" I would have never been able to ID most of them.

As a footnote, if traveling near a statepark in Arkansas, go to their giftshop/bookstore and pick up your own copy--- for the list price. You can still find them and you'll save a few bucks. And while you're there pick up one more of his invaluable resources such as "Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Arkansas".

I never leave home without them...

This is the best book for identifying wildflowers that I have ever used. It works!! The blossom pictures are clear and make matching my finds to the pictures certain. My old copy was damaged. Since I was getting a new edition, I took the old copy to work. My coworkers liked it as much as I do. Several are buying their own copies for home use. This book is terrific!

This is a valuable resource for the naturalist as well as the wildflower enthusiast which describes 600 wildflowers found in Arkansas. Color photographs are provided for 484 flowers. Plants are arranged by family; this may seem awkward at first, but the book is well indexed. A glossary, state map showing regions, and diagrams of plant parts are other helpful tools provided in the book. This book is a must for me while hiking or driving the highways and backroads of my state. The only way Hunter could have improved this resource, is by providing a color guide for quicker idntification.

This is a great read. I can't make up my mind: is it a "page turner" great to read over the summer, or a potential text for my management class. Here is a story of a business man who had a great fall, yet ended up a winner. Inspiring.

Two thumbs up!!! This book is the compeling story of William Fox behind the glitz and glamour of the movie buisness. What makes this book so hard to put down was that it made the reader feel as if he or she was right there with William Fox throughout his buisness deals and career because of all the interesting dialogue. Finally a biography that is not dry and easy to read through!!!

As a long-time film professor (I started teaching university film courses in 1973) I can state that this is an excellent book for movie fans, movie students, and also movie professors--for a number reasons. First, it is authored by someone who is not only related to the subject and therefore has access to stories passed down through the family (author Susan Fox is the great-granddaughter of William Fox, founder of Fox Studios) but has done some serious scholarly research into the facts behind the wonderful stories that she tells (with the writing help of her husband Donald G. Roselinni). Second, the 300 page book has numerous well-written "scenes," set pieces of important history written as episodes in a well-described film script or story--the first chapter, for instance, tells how Fox wowed his early New Jersey investors in his company in 1915 by having Theda Bara come into the crucial meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria and "vamp" their leader,after which they all viewed her killer movie of the day, "A Fool There Was" (the book notes that Fox's publicity flack Sheehan told the investors "She has everyone in America saying "Kiss me, my fool!") So it is a great read, and authentic and scholarly. Definitely suitable for college librarier, public libraries, and personal collections of film books!

As an enthusiast of old movies and the industry that created them, I thoroughly enjoyed this well-documented glimpse into nascent Hollywood, and the human drama of one of its brilliant pioneers. Tracing the career and business decisions of William Fox, or "WF," as he was called by his friends and business associates, revealed him to be a man of boundless energy, visionary inventiveness and tenacious ambition. Even as he is depicted as a calculating entrepreneur who feels driven to stay ahead of his competition via hard-ball financial maneuvering, he is also shown to be a tender man who is devoted to his wife and children.

Most poignantly, Susan Fox and Donald Rosellini, the co-authors, illuminated with precision a fatal flaw within WF, one that ultimately leads to his being forced out of his own company by several of his former friends, business associates and by the untimely onset of the Great Depression. While perhaps not a tragic hero of Shakespearian proportions, we see a fundamentally loyal and forethoughtful business dynamo done in by his trusting of close confidants. As I read of WF's meteoric rise in the cinematic industry, and his expulsion from the inner circle of Hollywood's movers and shakers through means legal and means perfidious, I was mindful of the fact that this book, co-authored by one of WF's granddaughter's, was written from the viewpoint of a loving and wistful progeny who wanted "to set the record straight" as to how WF rose and fell from stratospheric business accomplishment. As an added bonus to reading about the machinations of the early movie moguls, we are treated to photographs of some of Hollywood's leading actors and actresses of this time.

I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it to movie buffs, history buffs and business men and women. The story of William Fox, as related in this book, could make an excellent case study for MBA students as to the potential danger of over-leveraging and the need for rock solid advice from reliable accountants and lawyers.

I especially liked the use of dialogue. It conveys immediacy with the tragedy unfolding and gives the reader the opportunity to be "the fly on the wall" throughout Willam Fox's rise and fall.

Want a visceral take on addiction? Want a first hand account of real world application of Jungian technique? Want a "romantic" account in the imaginative, inventive, supernatural sense besides the usual understanding of the term? This your book

GLB

This is actually an appreciation - not a literary review. I am an alcoholic in recovery and have an immense gratitude to Linda for writing this book. In her book I found answers, or rather experiences I could relate to, so similar and fitting to many issues burning and un-explained within me. My daimon has been enriched and my recovery program enhanced as a result of reading her great work. I have become a survivor (witness) to the road less travelled up the ladder out of the Abyss - I am no longer terrified to visit that void of darkness because I understand the burning issues of Creativity and Addiction parallels and inter-relations all that much better for reading her book. I am able, daily, one step at a time, to unshackle myself as a hostage to my addiction and choose to harness my creativity productively as a result of being a student of "Witness to the Fire". And I am a student of her work still, and always will be, due to my acceptance of my powerlessness over my lifelong disease and my need for every tool I can find to keep me healthy and strong. But I have chosen to let My Higher Power guide my daily existence and can therefore cope and be creative once more. Linda's book is constantly next to my bedside along with my "Big Book" and "My Recovery Book" - in daily use during my prayers and meditations. You helped save my life Linda - Thank You. Colin Tatham

Never have I seen anything quite like this. This is the definitive book on creativity. & When you don't create, ahhh, the ills that befall us. We fall into an addictive pattern trying desperatedly to recreate that atonement w/God. Failing that, one either drinks, or does whatever to replicate that feeling one more time. Again & again. This book revealed the essence alcoholism. Why certain people drink or create. Simple as that. I've reread this one @ least 2x now. Enjoy your journey.

This is a unique and courageous book, as heartening to the artist as to the addict in each of us. It is a marvelously distilled meditation on creativity's darkness en route to the light. Leonard has deftly woven literary, spiritual, and psychological treatments of the dark night of the soul into a seamless tapestry, and found precious meaning in some of the most devastating aspects of human experience. For anyone facing their own darkness, this book is a welcome and comforting companion, an inspiring guide, and a very wise friend.

Should be mandatory reading in any drug/alcohol counseling course. I've read this book 2x and have savored it completely each and every time. I've gained new insights into myself. I finally understood the reaons for which I drank and how barren and empty my soul was for spirit. How badly I wanted to be "drunk" with spirit. And in my inability to replicate that experience, which fed my frustrations and in turn, lead me to drink. Understood the "voices" in my head that were there to punish me for every imagined infraction. Those harmful "parental voices" mocking approval and throwing tibits of love at me. My need to feel the connection to the spirit and the easy road that I took as a young adult. Every time I have re-read a page or two out of this book has always led me to create some form of art in some way.

Freedom of the Will, Religious Affections, The End for Which God Created the World, The Nature of True Virtue, Original Sin Defended, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God...they're all here and much more. These are some of the most influential Christian writings of all time within the Calvinist branch of Christendom. The resurgence of Calvinism and the tremendous rise in Edwardsian studies in both Christian and secular academia make this two volume set of his works an essential addition to anyone's library. With nearly 1000 pages in each volume, there's more here than you will probably ever read. However, because of so many discourses, treatises, and sermons, the print size is very small -- in order to fit all of the material into the two volumes. Also, this is a fascimile reprint of a 19th century edition, so the font quality is mediocre. Other than those drawbacks, this is an excellent set and a great value. The multi-volume Yale collection will cost you over a thousand dollars, while all you'll ever want is in this collection.

In my opinion, the greatest addition to this set is the Memoirs of Jonathan Edwards. This is the closest you'll get to receiving a personal look at his life of faith. They greatly enhance the intellectually-weighty theological works and the inspiring (and likewise brilliant) sermons.

Jonathan Edward's title as "America's greatest theologian" (or simply "America's theologian") is well-deserved. Don't let the "fire and brimstone" caricature dissuade you.

This Hendrickson edition is a remake of the Banner of Truth Edition from 1984 (a 2 Vol. Set). All of the works of Edwards are included.

In this work Edwards' memoirs, sermons, theological treatises, miscellaneous discourses, and short observations are included. Everything and anything written by Edwards (including his most famous works and the lesser known short works) are present. This is the ultimate primary text to own from Edwards.

Brace yourself. Edwards can write some of the most simplistic theological thoughts and some of the most complicated theological thoughts and have one follow the other in a single paragraph. This volume will fill your days with hours of great reading, most of which you will have to reread, and then read again to get a grasp of what Edwards is trying to say. There are certain works, herein, that I have read a dozen times and have yet to fully grasp what Edwards is communicating (though that is no cause to ever stop trying).

Edwards discusses issues such as the human will, freedom, predestination, the attributes of God, sin, original sin, salvation, the Church, marriage, love, time, etc. Even topics that one would never give much thought to, such as indetermination, are included in these pages. Edwards has a way with words that can often times be staggering - to think that someone could write in such a manner. If you are wanting to read Edwards' works then here they are all in one text. But I must warn you that these pages will change your thinking and your life forever!

This is not a review of The Works of Jonathan Edwards, which at any rate is simply outstanding and which nearly every person -- Christian and non-Christian, elder and young convert, apologist and truth seeker, scholar and layman -- would likely do well to read and digest, but rather a note for those interested in purchasing the currently listed, two-volume Hendrickson edition (ISBN 1-56563-085-8).

The Works of Jonathan Edwards is not the complete works of Jonathan Edwards. A couple of the other reviewers must have accidentally overlooked this fact, but it's understandable given the already immense size of the anthology. Nevertheless, all of Jonathan Edwards' most well-known religious works are indeed included: "Resolutions"; "Freedom of the Will"; "The End For Which God Created the World"; "The Nature of True Virtue"; "Religious Affections"; "Narrative of Surprising Conversions"; "Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New England"; "A History of the Work of Redemption"; "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd"; and of course "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."

In addition, there are plenty of lesser known religious works from Edwards' youth to shortly before his death to occupy the interested reader in godly thought and reflection.

Regarding the various sermons and other writings that would complete the Edwards collection, but which are unfortunately not contained herein, for the most part these can be found online via a quick Google search (i.e., only Edwards' more obscure works are not to be found online, as far as I can tell).

Speaking of which, you can view the table of contents as well as the entire work itself online for free too at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, for instance, if you want to see for yourself what's specifically included in this collection before purchasing it. That said, although The Works of Jonathan Edwards is available for free online, in my opinion it is far more convenient to have the printed version, as I'm personally more comfortable reading with a book (whatever its size) in my lap than in front of a computer screen.

Of course, if you want the definitive edition, which would include all twenty-three volumes of Edwards' works published to date (including his non-religious works on varied topics such as John Locke, science, etc.), you will have to purchase Yale University's edition of the same name. But that will cost you an arm and a leg, plus there's a considerable amount of secular academic criticism, which you may or may not find helpful. For example, the Yale volume on "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd" compares Brainerd's original diary with Edwards' edited version of the diary, claiming in the process that Edwards edited it in such a way as to make Brainerd conform to a preconceived notion of "saintliness." However, if you're keen on purchasing the Yale edition, the best available price I've been able to find is at Solid Ground Christian Books, which by the way is an excellent bookstore.

So although the Hendrickson publication is not substantively a complete Edwards collection, it is more than "close enough." Edwards was primarily a pastor and a theologian, and this is what is reflected in these volumes. In my view, then, given the price and content, this compilation of The Works of Jonathan Edwards is the best available edition for those primarily interested in Edwards as humble, faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

Also, about the text and binding. A single page is divided into two columns, so that when you open a volume, there will be a total of four columns facing you (since there are of course two pages to look at when a book is opened). I'm not sure what the font size is, but it can't be more than 10 point. Actually, I'd venture to guess it's even slightly smaller.

Regarding the binding, it is sturdy, but I have a feeling that it may not hold up well with constant reading. The binding is quite similar to other Hendrickson publications, if you're familiar with them (e.g., The Works of Josephus, ISBN 0-913573-86-8).

Finally, I highly suggest looking at The Works of Jonathan Edwards on the Hendrickson Publishers' website before purchasing it. In addition to the photo of the two volumes, you can download an Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf) file of a sample chapter to view (at least at the time of this review). Thus you can get an actual image of what I'm only feebly able to describe with words.

I sincerely hope this helps. And in reading these works, may you be led to study and understand the Bible more fully, since it is the Bible which Edwards himself wholly leaned on in his writings: for the believer, to know and love Him more deeply, and for the one with ears to hear, to come to know and love Him because He first loved you.

Update: The above comments were based upon the Hendrickson edition, but now that I've seen both the Hendrickson edition as well as the Banner of Truth edition I can likewise recommend purchasing the Banner of Truth edition. Although the content is identical, in my opinion the Banner of Truth edition's binding is more sturdy and of a higher quality. However, if you prefer the works with slightly bigger font (eh, then again, the font size is probably negligible), as well as perhaps a more colorful and attractive cover, then the Hendrickson edition might be better. You can find both the Hendrickson as well as the Banner of Truth editions (ISBNs 0-85151-216-X and 0-85151-217-8) at Monergism Books, another fine bookstore. (Personally, I prefer the Banner of Truth edition.)

Also, the following by Dr. David Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his lecture "Jonathan Edwards and the Crucial Importance of Revival" might prove useful to some:

The two volumes recently republished by the Banner of Truth Trust have often been regarded as the Complete Works, but they are not. A man published a book in the 1860's consisting of numerous other things which are not in these two volumes, and there are still more-sermons, letters, occasional remarks, miscellanies and so on. They are all going to be reprinted in the definitive [Yale] edition.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones said that he was "tempted, perhaps foolishly, to compare the Puritans to the Alps, Luther and Calvin to the Himalayas, and Jonathan Edwards to Mount Everest!" (The Puritans: Their Origins and Successors, p. 355). I concur. Nothing in my library holds such a storehouse of wealth, as do these two hefty tomes. Edwards was a brilliant theologian, a zealous evangelist, an astute philosopher, a warm hearted pastor, and an eye-witness (and one of the primary instruments causing) the first Great Awakening. If you want theology at its richest go to Edwards' "End for Which God Created the World." IF you want a passion for souls, read his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." If you are interested in well-articulated philosophy at its finest, peruse "The Nature of True Virtue." If you want biography geared to cultivate godliness in your own heart, read "The Life of David Brainerd." If you want pastoral counsel concerning the state of your soul, you will find nothing better than "The Religious Affections." And if you want to know what a REAL revival looks like, study "A Narrative of Surprising Conversions." (And those works are less than half of what is in here!) If my house were burning, I would probably grab for these two books second only to the Bible. To get Edwards is to get theology. So get Edwards!

Edwards is known for the greatest sermon ever told "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and most people stop at that sermon and don't read further. These two volumes are vast and comprehensive and not for one who wants to casually read Edwards. These two volumes are still in his original venacular and have not been contemporized like I have seen with other works. They include sermons, thoughts and letters that Edwards wrote on various topics, including his two most popular "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and "Freedom of the Will" and many, many more.

It is great to read from a man so dedicated to God's word and wanting to see his cold puritan peers come to Christ.

Do not buy these volumes if you are a casual reader, these works are very deep on great theological issues but if you want to be challenged these would be a great addition to your library.

The only issue I do have is that it is hard to navigate through the sermons, they could have done a better job with an appendix to make it easier to find the info for reference. That shouldn't take away from the content though as you will be greatly encouraged in your study with Edwards.

Readers interested in fiction about prostitution may also enjoy Naked in Haiti: A sexy morality tale about tourists, prostitutes & politicians. It is probably more entertaining than Yama, and perhaps a bit more generous to prostitution.

For some reason I had never even heard of Yama until recently. Just imagine my surprise upon picking this up and finding a spectacular classic. Kuprin does indeed tread that fine line between cheese and morality (both being boorish methods of storytelling) to create a truly human picture of Russian society. If you are interested in the glorification of vice and youthful indiscretions, please reread Burroughs, Miller or Selby. Likewise, if you are interested in moral high ground, stick to Tolstoy. Here, Kuprin deftly defies the clichés to create not only a wonderful illustration of Russian life but a great story as well. This is amazing considering the time period in which it was written.

Alexander Kuprin dedicated this book to the motherhood and the youth. And even though it deals with unspeakable horrors of people living and acting worse than any beasts imaginable, it's at its heart about friendship, love, and devotion. These virtues, most often absent in the world of the riches, are found in what seems to be the deepest pit (yama) of social injustice.
I read this book in high school, lured in by Kuprin's other famous stories, such as "The Duel" (his first success, just as impressive as the later ones), "Gambrinus" or "The Bracelet of Garnets." Back then the emotional punch of "The Pit" pushed me to become a strong believer in women's rights, and helped me to form a solid idea of what a true man is as opposed to the dispeakable "men" portrayed by Kuprin's stinging prose.
Now, as an adult, I firmly believe that this book is a must read for any growing man, so that he learns how to be human in the highest sense of the word, as opposed to "respectable" and heartless "consumers" like so many showcased in this story.
NB: why do the words "a novel of prostitution" appear in the title? It's not in the original and absolutely unnecessary. What should appear instead is "a novel of real life".

This book was widely praised by the Bolsheviks during and just after the Russian Revolution even though the author fought with the White Russians and was forced into exile in Paris at the conclusion of the Revolution. The book was made into a film in 1936 by the Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi.

ALEXANDER KUPRIN (1870 ~ 1938) was a Russian who opposed the Bolshevic revolution and thus found himself an exile in Paris. he wrote strong novels of realism. Yama: The Pit shocked the world with its graphic presentation of life in Russian brothels and the inherent violence prevelent in the underside of Russian urban life. It is a brutal, but honest portrayal and, even through translation, one realizes that Kuprin was a great writer with a strong style.