Humanities Books

They say that the squeaky wheel gets the oil, but this book gives well-deserved attention to the other wheels. God's Quiet Things asserts that natural beings and phenomena that don't bark or chirp or thunder are important too for the work that they do, their beauty, and for making our world better. It teaches small children to pay more attention to things that don't grab our attention by the sounds they make.

As a parent, I must admit I LOVE this book. My daughter can get pretty worked up at times and I have always enjoyed using books as a quiet, peaceful and relaxing time for us to share. GOD'S QUIET THINGS is just the book to do this with.

The illustrations include a boy and his cat and are somewhat muted and soft--a beautiful, well executed technique with pastels to heighten the idea of being quiet. To listen for God's quiet things is a good way to open up your heart to God, for He is in them and all things beautiful. "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10a

GOD'S QUIET THINGS isn't a "story" per se, but a journey. Sweetland asks questions, inviting the reader's imagination to blossom and relax which can "send them sailing through the air."

Soar!

An unusual and effective way to introduce nature's silent features as interesting and well worth our attention.

I found this book to be very insightful and thought-provoking. I would recommend this book to anyone due to its cross-discipline penning.

Are your interested in the issue of relating science and religion, but do you have a hard time finding your way in the complex material? Then this is definitely the book for you! I already loved the first edition, but the second, revised and expanded edition, will be a classic...

Summarizing this book is simply impossible, because this is not a monograph on a particular subject, but a text book aiming at giving a broad overview of the field and providing the necessary instruments for further study. The book deals not only with matters of method (e.g. modelf of relating science and religion) and history (e.g. historical examples of tensions between science and theology), but also extensively with theory. The new physics (Newtonian physics, cosmology, anthropic principles), evolutionary biology (Darwinism, human evolution, reductionism), psychology, ecology, science and education, religious diversity, tecnology, and biotechnology are dealt with in detail. Also divine action is given a fairly thorough treatment.

All in all, this book covers most of the contemporary field of science and theology. Having studied this book, you should be able to find your way in science & theology. Truly excellent!

Having had the privilege of studying the course behind this publication first-hand at Exeter, I would recommend the book to any student who seeks a thorough and well-rounded survey of the contemporary debate between science and religion.

Or is it a debate? The authors posit several models of dialogue between these two - usually separated - spheres, and this forms a core feature of this textbook: the opportunity to explore ways in which the two complement and enrich one another.

Therefore as well as being competently yet simply introduced to complex scientific questions (the Big Bang, the origin of life, quantum theory - to name a few), the author allows scope for the reader to see - for himself, and through the eyes of great thinkers, more and less famous - how it is possible to construct a working hypothesis of the inter-relation between God, humanity and the cosmos.

In the later chapters, which are a particularly unique and enjoyable section, we are introduced to the scientifically-influenced theologies of Jay McDaniel's "pelican heaven", Sallie McFague's "embodied God" and Ruth Page's "Web of Life". The reader can enjoy these models, whilst exercising a critical eye, sensitive to the scientific perceptions and phenomena so effectively outlined towards the beginning of the book.

On top of this, other views are outlined, including a section on Islamic theology and creation.

This is a great book for students and all those interested in understanding more of the world about them. It is refreshing to find a theology book which is so world-affirming, without resorting to religious dogmatism: not just a dry textbook, but a competent handbook AND a "choose you own adventure!"

This excellent book is a collection of essays from folklorists and academics regarding the persistence of fairy faith beliefs in the Celtic lands, their diaspora, and related cultures both ancient and modern. The contributions have been well and thoughtfully selected to present a diversity of views and studied regions, so there's likely to be something in there of interest to most people familiar with the genre. There's plenty of discussion of Celtic lore as carried across the ocean, both as cultural curiosity (Canadian Celts using fairy terminology to describe the tangles in their horses' manes, but no longer believing in actual beings) and as living practice (down to a discussion of why some Irish fey could cross the ocean with immigrant families, not being rooted in the soil, and others couldn't). Plenty of the studies are from the original Celtic nations, and there are also excellent comparisons of Celtic and Norse approaches to resident land-spirits; Asatru folks are likely to find that essay of interest. It's solid scholarship which still reads well to the layperson -- I'll be buying a lending copy as well as keeping a reference copy for myself.

Peter Narvez has written a book for those of us who are Celtic and for those of us who wish to see the Other, be it fairy or alien, in a different, perhaps more complete, way. The book is comprehensive to the date of its publication. It offers a number of points for consideration or additonal study. While some essays are stronger than others, and some are clearer than others, in the main, "The Good People" is a wonderful treatment of the Otherworld as it is known in the non-UFO community. Along with folkloric treatments of the Other, Vallee's "Passport to Magonia" and Thompson's "Angels and Aliens," it should be mandatory reading for all of us who are concerned that the debate on extraordinary experiences and alien encounters is too narrow, too full of heat with little light, and too parochial.

Little serious work on the fairy faith has been done in recent times, but this collection of scholarly essays makes up for the lack. As is often the case in this fascinating area of folklore, a few of the essays make you marvel at the enduring and oddly consistent character of the accounts. It gives me a wee chill to read recordings of interviews with Scottish schoolchildren done in the 1970s, and realize that they repeat notions noted among Welshmen by Sir John Rhys fully three-quarters of a century before. An excellent, entertaining and scholarly book that should be in the collection of any folklorist interested in the fairy faith.

Most books on fairylore are collections first published in the nineteenth century or draw primarily from the author's imagination. Those wishing to know more must fall back on scholarly journals that may not be readily available to most readers. This book makes such studies available in an affordable form that you will reread many times. The studies in this book reflect beliefs and attitudes among people of the late twentieth century in communities of maritime Canada as well as Celtic countries. What is most illuminating is the consistency between recent attitudes and those collected earlier.

The writing and the artwork are great. I laughed out loud the first time I read it. I can't think of higher praise than that for a graphic novel.

This is great stuff! Katie shares half a duplex with Halo, the powerful, all-knowing angel and Sprocket, the naive robot--both of whom are continually flabbergasted by her simple human behaviors. Witty, oddball dialogue and gorgeous, black and white art make this a must-have.

I can't believe I didn't find this book sooner!

I can't recommend this graphic novel highly enough. It's hilarious, charming, and accessible. My daughter discovered it when she was about 11-years-old and became cartoonist Kerry Callen's biggest fan. She can't wait for his newest work and insisted on going to a comic book convention where she met Callen and bought a Halo and Sprocket t-shirt.

Callen's wit comes through on every page as lead character Katie muddles through life dealing with her two roommates: Halo, an all-knowing angel, and Sprocket, a know-it-all robot. Talk about Three's Company!

Callen never bothers to explain how this trio came to share an apartment. He just dives into dilemma after dilemma and riddle after riddle presented by the ever-logical robot and spiritually precise angel. Be sure to "Search Inside" this book, because you get a real feel for the humor and verbal paradoxes that Callen comes up with time after time.

Smart and funny. I love it.

As a teacher, I can tell you parents swoon over anything that has their child's handprint on it. This book does all the thinking for the teacher. It has beautifully creative ideas that kids enjoy and parents love. No elementary school classroom should be without it.

Lucy Adams, author of If Mama Don't Laugh, It Ain't Funny

I love this book! As an educator, and now a stay-at-home mom, this book is full of creative ideas for children. Projects are great for keepsakes through the years, too. Great examples are given on each page for the projects, and it shows creativity your child can add to his or her handprint/footprint. I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers.

This book is full of creative images made with a childs handprint or footprint. It gives you ideas for every holiday and season. I have enjoyed using the art projects as gifts or for my baby's scrapbook. When you look back on your artwork it's hard to believe that your hands and feet were ever that small.

I've been using this book for several years as a recommended text in my gerontology classes. It is really excellent. It's quite readable and very helpful for the layperson or the health care provider.

I've been using this book for several years as a recommended text in my gerontology classes. It is really excellent. It's quite readable and very helpful for the layperson or the health care provider.

Originally designed as a text for those who want to work with those over 65 years, this softcover book is a comprehensive, well-referenced guide to issues and concerns of the growing elder population. Chapters cover demographics, theories of why and how we age, how age affects each body system and common illnesses. Also included are discussions of diet, exercise, sexuality, medications, health care, nursing home care and death and dying. Excellent, up-to-date reference. Written by a mother-daughter team (gerontologist and physician), the book provides a lot of information in a format that is easy to understand and presents a holistic approach to successful aging. A third edition is in the works.

This is an incredible resource for oldies. And I do mean OLDIES. This book is invaluable for anyone who wants to find old ballads, folk songs, nursery rhymes and much more. Includes piano line and guitar chords. Great book!

Heritage Songster is indispensable to any and all musicians. Whether you teach, compose, arrange, or perform, this book can be extremely helpful. It is full of songs from a wide variety of styles. It is also helpful because it gives many suggestions about the uses of the songs and whether or not a song is appropriate for certain instruments, groups, etc. I have used this book since college, and it has been well worth the money. Adults, children, students, co-workers, and everybody else will love this book!

For anyone who works with people, whether they are a music therapist an elementary music teacher, or an activity director at an assisted living home, this book will become your best friend. It covers so many great songs that can be used for anyone, from children to geriatrics. I have fallen in love with it.

This book was introduced to me in an English Department meeting held by our county. It was introduced with such enthusiasm, I just had to check it out for myself. The book is WONDERFUL. Lesson plans are included in the book including poetry writing activities and analysis of poetry sorted by literary devices (such as symbolism, imagery, metaphor, etc..)
My students LOVE the selections of poetry in the book -- the "hip hop" selections allow them to see that contemporary song lyrics are indeed poetry and the classic selections allow them to see how "classic" poetry is similar to popular music lyrics today by using the same techniques utilized by the classic poets. I would rate this book an A+ and definitely recommend it for high school English teachers.

It is so hard to educate some children, mainly because of the outside influences of music, television, and video games. There needs to be a way to connect with them in the classroom similar to those things, and now there is. HIP-HOP POETRY AND THE CLASSICS by Alan Sitomer and Michael Cirelli is the perfect teaching tool for English teachers and educators, a resource for teaching poetry. In this well-thought-out book and teaching guide, Alan Sitomer and Michael Cirelli have produced a product which connects the classic curriculum, which may not hold a student's attention, to hip-hop poetry through standards-based language arts instruction.

HIP-HIP POETRY AND THE CLASSICS analyzes the core literary elements of poetry with examples of each term in a chapter-to-chapter format which includes the actual definition of the term, a classic poem utilizing the device, an interpretation guide for teachers, and a student worksheet. It is then followed with a hip-hop example, its interpretation, and a student worksheet and writing exercise. Not only does this set-up allow the student to understand elements such as imagery, metaphors, onomatopoeia, and symbolism, but it clearly shows the correlation between present day and the classics. The book also includes additional resources, learning objectives, and the language arts standards covered for each.

To actually reach and keep the attention of a student is the goal of many educators world-wide and with tools like HIP-HOP POETRY AND THE CLASSICS in place, they will be armed to do so. It allows them to connect to students on their level. The execution of this book is not only flawless, but an innovative and brilliant concept. I'm sure any student interested in hip hop will have no problems at all incorporating what they love about it into a better understanding and appreciation of literature and poetry. I highly recommend this book for students and teachers alike for use in contemporary, multicultural classrooms, in reading and writing programs, and even in home settings.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

WOW, it's about time! Finally, some peeps put on paper what so many of us have know for years -- Hip-Hop is wirtten by folks with mad skillz. This book has got all the artists and is filled with pages upon pages of material that any serious fan needs to know. Off the hook GREAT!!!

if you want to have a ideal about inner workings of russia this book will do.walter g. moss books on russia are well done.

BRAND NEW BOOK FOR A USED PRICE. LOOKED NEW, FELT NEW, EVEN SMELLED NEW. EXCELLENT DEAL.

Now in a revised second edition reflecting the latest research findings and controversies on multiple subjects, A History Of Russia Volume I: To 1917 by Walter G. Moss (Department of History and Philosophy, Eastern Michigan University) is the first of a comprehensive two-volume set that, in addition to the sweeping events of Russian political history, takes note of the everyday life, women's studies, religion, literature, and art of Russia. A History Of Russia Volume I: To 1917 is an expertly presented and thoroughly informative narration recommended for a scholar's Russian History reference shelf, as well as accessibly informative reading for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the historical development of Russia.

This is an informative and delightful set that has information on Hollywood songsters that can be found no where else. Each entry has a wonderful picture accompanying. I have spent many, many happy hours pouring over the entries and learning facts about my favorite stars. This is a must have for all libraries and any scholar of musical theatre or musical film or just popular music of the 20th century. Well worth the money! It is clear that Parrish and Pitts have done their homework, but even clearer that they have a love for the subject matter and it shows on every page. As a songwriter with a love for the field, I use this book constantly.

Film historians James Robert Parish and Michael Pitts's "Hollywood Songsters" have outdone themselves with this handsomely designed three-volume set that is worth every penny. Filled with rare photos, "Hollywood Songsters" has comprehensive, accurate and fascinating entries on over 100 "singers who act and actors who sing." The lives and careers of everyone from A to Z or June Allyson to Mae West are covered in intriguing and fact-filled detail. Who would have thought that such an indespensible reference book could also be a page-turner. Once you start reading this treasure trove of information it is hard to put down because of the insider tidbits and behind-the-scenes facts that fill the well-written pages. As theater and film critic and lover of musicals, I find this a most wonderful addition to my library as well as a great read. The filmography and lp and CD bibliography on each singer is unparalled. Bravo to Mr. Parish and Mr. Pitts!!!

This project has to be a mad labor of love on the part of the authors -- how else / who else would produce a 3-volume directory of singing in the movies? We must applaud and support the authors for this massive work -- I can't imagine it not being definitive -- by urging local libraries to carry it. A database like this should be available to everyone!