Works Books

I struggled with the concept of second innocence (still do); however, the premise is that we can maintain or recapture a sense of wonder, delight (whatever you want to call it) throughout our lives. And it is this sense of wonder that keeps us growing and allows us to become truly wise. I'm old enough to know wisdom when I see it and young enough to appreciate that innocent wonder in children. Izzo takes us through various aspects of our lives and shows how a sense of wonder keeps us young while allowing us to truly grow older with grace.

Author writes about rediscovering the wonder and joys of life. Based on his own experiences including death of his father, first love, a family suicide and other compelling stories, Izzo cheers you on to reconnect with and learn from your own life stories. It can be difficult at times to maintain optimism and grace in a world filled with cynicism but Izzo's inspirational book certainly helps you down the right path.

At first, this book seemed to me to be trite, full of little aphorisms and such. By the time I reached the end, I finally understood the underlying message. As with our personal relationships, what counts in our daily living ARE the little things. The author presents this insight with a gentle hand that matches the mood of the message. Thank you, John Izzo, wherever you are.

"John Izzo has written yet another fantastic book that has profound impact on the reader's daily life. Upon finishing the first reading, I turned the book over and began reading it all over again. A few weeks later, I picked it up and read it a third time and I just could not stop talking about it! This truly is a book that will not stay on a bookshelf for long.
Written in such a way as to remind us what we already know, but do not practice, Izzo's simple views on life can help the reader realize the full potential of their lives. His compelling stories are useful tools to view our own lives, jobs and families with more kindness, while discovering the peace that was always within our grasp.
A rich, thought-provoking book such as this could very well make the world a better place - one reader at a time." ~ Lillian Brummet, co-author of the book Trash Talk - a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)

Just wanted to thank John for writing inspiring words that convey wonderful foundational thoughts and feelings. I too am a great believer in an abundance mentality and try to live and act in the "now" every day.

If the population of our world would take the time to slow down enough to contemplate and realize that we all (most?) really want the same simple things from life, what a great place this world would be.

Yet another outstanding book from the Chivalry Bookshelf, the ultimate source for literature on Medieval martial arts.

Translated from the Fechtuch of Sigmund Ringeck of Bavaria, Tobler provides us with a modern interpretation of this significant work on fencing. The book is heavily illustrated with photos to demonstate the techniques. Ringeck's original text is translated into English, supplemented by Christian,s modern interpretation.

The text begins with basic skills in use of the bastard sword, and also features instruction in use of broadsword and buckler, unarmed grappling skills, and armored combat.

This is an astoundingly high quality text, a series of lessons in battle-skills from across the centuries, presented in a manner that is useful to the student in our time. Sigmund Ringeck would be quite pleased to see this portrayal of his work, still inspiring students of arms half a milennia after his day.

What can I say besides this is a great book. It really helps understand Ringeck's work. Get this book if you are interested in German Longsword fighting. Though if you are starting off I would recommend the excellent book Fighting with the German Longsword, also written by Tobler.

This book also works well with Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Art of The Longsword by Lindholm and Svard. Same material but some different interpretations.

If you are interested in this book go to the publisher's website. It's in stock there at the regular price, not this inflated used market price at Amazon.

This book is essential for anyone interested in doing medieval swordsmanship. Tobler has done all the hard work for you, he has interpreted the moves perfectly. There is very little guesswork left up to you, each move has many pictures showing every subtle change in position. Easy to follow and the pictures are very clear. A great book, none better.

`Western martial arts are every bit as sophisticated as their Asian counterparts. The German martial systems incorporate both armed and unarmed combat, with and without armor, on foot and on horseback, using daggers, long and short swords, bucklers, shields, falchions, and spears and poleaxes.'

In Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship, Christian Henry Tobler has done an outstanding job of introducing the reader to the skills and methods of the Germanic man-at-arms.

The book is broken down into five major sections:
>> Longsword Techniques
>> Sword & Buckler
>> Wrestling Techniques
>> Armored Combat
>> Mounted Combat

Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship is an interpretation of the teachings of Master Johannes Liechtenauer and of the later work in the 15th Century of Sigmund Ringeck, a descendant of the Liechtenauer school and master-at-arms to Albrecht, Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria.

While there were, of course, no photographs in the 15th Century ~ Christian Henry Tobler has filled Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship with hundreds of photographs demonstrating the techniques of the masters. He has made an accurate interpretation of the techniques described in the writings of the masters and displays that described in photographs.

Each photograph is clear and in sequence allows the reader to learn the techniques of the masters. These techniques are highly effective and the more one practices, the greater insight one gains into the secrets of the masters of arms of the 15th Century.

The book concludes with a glossary of terms well-worth learning to improve understanding of this text and others related to it.

I found Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship to be an absolutely indispensable reference for the student of Medieval Swordsmanship and Western Martial Arts.

I first bought Mark Rector's _Medieval Combat_, but I didn't feel I truly grok'd many of the illustrations in that book until after I read this book.

For the most part I think that Mr. Tobler's interpretations of Ringeck's verse are dead on target. But in many cases, it seemed pretty nebulous what Ringeck meant - not that surprising considering we are trying to take a very abstract description of a full-sensory 4d event - verbal, and put back all those lost details.

In those cases were I couldn't figure out for myself what Ringeck meant, Mr. Tobler's work seemed at least internally consistant, and well thought out.

Again, excellant.

I'VE KNOWN OF AND ENJOYED "SHELTERS, SHACKS & SHANTIES" SINCE MY GRANDFATHER GAVE ME THE ORIGINAL EDITION, WHEN I WAS A MERE PUP.
A LOT OF THE ITEMS HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY "FIELD TESTED" (SUCH AS THE "TRICK" OF MAKING A BOG-SHANTY FOUNDATION OUT OF A BRUSH-MAT!) AND REALLY PROVEN TO "WORK" IN THE WILD, OVER A YOUTH FRITTERED AWAY PLAYING "SASQATIL," AS THE THE GREYHAIRED ELDER INDIANS CALLED HIM.
AS A YOUNGSTER I THOUGHT NOTHING OF GOING OUT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS WITH 25-30 POUNDS OF GEAR, FEASTING ON FISH AND CORNPONE AND SLEEPING IN A SIMPLE BEARD-INSPIRED STICK-SHACK TO KEEP THINGS "CIVILIZED."
EVEN THE BOG-SHANTY WAS BUILT, AND DAN BEARD'S SUGGESTION FOR MAKING A STONES-AND-SOIL HEARTH FOR COOKING WAS TESTED AND FOUND PRACTICAL! (YES, YOU CAN COOK ON AN OPEN HEARTH, IN A POLE SHACK, ATOP A WOODEN FLOOR, BUILT ATOP A 7-FOOT-THICK PAD OF BRUSH, WITHOUT MAKING AN ASH OF YOURSELF!)
THE TRICKS AND TIPS REALLY WORK, IN "THE REAL WORLD," AND THE ADVANTAGE IS THAT ALL OF THESE STRUCTURES UTILIZE SUCH SMALL STICKS & TIMBERS THAT THE SO-CALLED "GREEN IMPACT" IS TRIVIAL; SUCH SAPLINGS AS ARE USED ROUTINELY DIE AS THEY ARE CROWDED OUT BY BIGGER TREES, AND THE THINNING-OUT FOR BUILDING MATERIALS FREES UP WATER AND NOURISHMENT FOR THE MORE ESTABLISHED TIMBER.
SO LONG AS SOMEONE DOESN'T GO BONKERS AND TRY TO BUILD A HAMLET IN A HECTARE OF TIMBER, AN OCCASIONAL SHELTER, SHACK OR SHANTY SHAN'T STRESS MOTHER NATURE, UNDULY!
EVEN IF YOU NEVER BOTHER WITH SUCH PRIMITIVE CONSTRUCTION, EVERYTHING YOU'LL READ ABOUT WAS SOLIDLY BASED ON HOW THINGS WERE DONE BY "PREHISTORIC PEOPLES," GOING BACK AS FAR AS YOU CARE TO LOOK!
YOU'LL CERTAINLY GET A VERY NOVEL HANDS-ON INSIGHT INTO HOW EARLY PEOPLES HAD BUILT THEIR DWELLINGS, AND THE BOOK'LL BREAK KIDS OF THE TIRESOME MYTH THAT "ALL INDIANS LIVED IN TEEPEES." (GIVE ME A BREAK!) JUST MAKE SOME OF THESE SHACKS FOUR OR SIX TIMES AS WIDE, AND ONE OR MAYBE EVEN TWO HUNDRED FEET LONG, AND YOU'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD VERSIONS OF THE LONGHOUSES OF THE IRIQUOIS CONFEDERATION!
THE BOOK'S ALSO GREAT FODDER FOR FUN FANTASIES AND DELIGHTFUL DAYDREAMS, AND DOZENS OF IMAGINARY DEEP-WOODS OUTINGS, AS WELL AS BEING A WONDERFUL RESOURCE TOOL FOR WRITERS WHOSE OUTDOOR WORKS OCCASIONALLY TURN THEIR BACKS ON EDDIE BAUER & CO.
ENJOY!

I was looking for ideas on simple structures for the homestead. The book is a bit dated, but you have to go back to find simple, uncomplicated ideas. We have grown so accustomed to specialized fasteners, tools and other hardware. Building a simple shed can be expensive when you have to buy materials. We have an abundance of raw materials and this book provided some ideas towards cost effective structures.

This book is great! I would recommend this to anyone 12+, because the shelters are quite hard to build. It is excellent for boy scouts. I got this for Christmas and in my troop were starting on plans already! Great for any wilderness lover and I recommend all the related books!
1/16/08

I know that most people will find this book to be anything but "green" however, I found this concept to be perfect in a world that sometimes forgets what it is like to be young at heart. Some of the shelters are not safe and one should always supervise young children who if left alone will build forts and such, yet there is a certain allure about thinking you are back in time and surviving on your own wits. Great ideas for survival campouts or if you like getting out "there" and just might once or twice get too far out "there" and find yourself in the need of an overnight shelter. Loved the book and will use or adapt many of the detailed plans.

This book is great! I would recommend this to anyone 12+, because the shelters are quite hard to build. It is excellent for boy scouts. I got this for Christmas and in my troop were starting on plans already! Great for any wilderness lover and I recommend all the related books!
1/16/08

In my book, "Astronomical Symbols on Ancient and Medieval Coins", I devote an entire chapter to the eighth Crusade. The political events of the time, the celestial omens that were seen in the heavens and depicted on coinage of Louis IX and that of his brother Charles of Anjou, combined with the influence of Charles of Anjou on Louis IX, all came together as the basis for the decision by Louis IX to land at the Bay of Tunis for his final crusade.

As part of my research, I read numerous books on the history of the period, and I found that Runciman's book, "The Sicilian Vespers," was especially useful. There were many items of interest in his book that added to my understanding of the history of that time.

Marshall Faintich

Herein, outstanding British historian Runciman explains in considerable and fascinating detail the story of the Sicilian Vespers, and its profound impact on the history of Christendom. What comes across most dramatically to this reader in Runciman's wonderful account is the love of intrigue and political striving of the 13th century Papacy. Here, we see the several Popes of the period acting as petty Italian Princes in their attemtps to further their own secular power. And the upshot of these attempts came to be a profound weakening of the unity of Western Christendom that ultimately fructified into the Reformation of the 16th century.

Another amazing aspect of the story Runciman herein records is the stunning skill and subtlety of Byzantine diplomacy. At the time, the Byzantine, or Later Roman, Empire was yet reeling from the devastation of the hideous Fourth Crusade. And, yet with little remaining military power at their hands, the Byzantines managed to avert what would have been another disasterous Western "crusade" from destroying Constantinople. Here we see also a natural alliance forming between Aragon, later Spain, and the Orthodox East. One could make a good case that this was also the natural alliance that so frustrated Napoleon's design, when he was harried by guerrila warfare in Spain, and by Holy Russia's Biblically courageous defense of Mother Russia.

We strongly recommend Sir Steven Runciman's excellent work to all who would understand this very important, but little discussed, background to modern European history. God bless.

Sir Runciman once again delivers informative historical narrative that is thorough and equally entertaining. The political intrigue of the 13th century, involving virtually all of the Mediterranean powers, provide just the detail needed to grasp the causes and affects of the Vespers revolution. Sir Runciman deftly weaves the varied characters and their roles together into the story that pulls the reader in and keeps their attention. There are a confusing array of political players in the drama but Sir Runciman's story-telling style helps avoid confusion and makes the intricate connections required to better understand the period. Very well done and a wonderful addition to any library.

What an excellent history. It's a careful, economical but thorough recounting of events among a huge array of far-flung characters. It's not difficult to read, but rereading helps fix the cast in the mind. (The index is excellent, but a list of characters would have been helpful, although that sort of user-friendliness would definitely have been at odds with the book's Cambridge gestalt.) Sir Steven is very sparing of analysis and conjecture, so that when he does essay a mild synthesizing comment, it is all the more powerful and organic, having grown from the "objective" account and selections of incident. His final thesis -- that the medieval papacy foundered during this period due to its cautious, conscious decision to eschew centralized surrogate command (through the Hohestaufen empire) in favor of decentralized partitioning (the original balkanization) that fed and inculcated a nationalism that was ultimately much more debilitating to papal power -- is both startling and inevitable. Besides the masterful overarching view of European history, the book also is fascinating and illuminating about Sicily in particular, and its polyglot zealotry.

Runciman's writing is absolutely amazing in this volume which treats of Europe in the mid-to-late thirteenth century. I devoured this book in a matter of days, fascinated as I am with Sicilian history and culture. Runciman gives a fantastic view of the Kingdom of Sicily after the fall of "The Kingdom in the Sun", or the Norman Kingdom based in Palermo. From the benevolent king William the Good to the villanous Charles of Anjou, Runciman presents all of those occurances which led up to the Sicilian Vespers, or the systematic destruction of French power over the Sicilians on Easter Monday, 1282. A must-read for all those interested in the history of Europe in this era.

I was amazed at the speed of delivery, i had expected a paper back copy and received a hard back copy, it was well packed and in pristine condition. I am very pleased with the service i received.

As a non-religious person (I had a Buddhist and Christian upbringing but grew to be non-religious in my adult years), to me what is most moving about the life of Gladys Aylward in war-torn China is how she persevered in her efforts to integrate herself into a new culture in a foreign land, at one of the most tumultuous times in history, while still maintaining her own faith and managed to convert others to her religion by first grasping others' perspectives and understanding their experiences. Somehow she lost her cultural baggage (literally and metaphorically), got over it, and quietly learn the locals' ways of life by interacting with them on a personal level rather than positioning herself as a high-and-mighty missionary preaching to the ignorant natives. Mentored by an experienced missionary with a no-nonsense attitude, Gladys learnt and grew to love and respect the local ways of life, with an open-minded freshness that came from a curious mind and a generous personality. The contrast of Gladys' warmth and integration with the local culture with another older missionary who never learnt a word of the language despite decades of living in the country is startling. Aylward showed genuine Christian humility and from a timid and clueless parlour maid grew to become an assured and resourceful woman whose virtues shown through to all who came across her, so much so that she was given a Chinese name signifying 'the virtuous one'. This is the part of this small book that I most enjoyed - she really is a 'small woman' in the best sense of the term, by leading others through her quiet example.

The Japanese's bloody intrusion into the tough-yet-idyllic existence of this rural community is honestly and harrowingly rendered, the cold-blooded cruelties of which constrast sharply with, and overshadow, the narrative on the budding romantic relationship between Aylward and the Nationalist general. Here she reminded me a little of the character Maria in the Sound of Music - one whose love of God did not prevent her from loving and being loved by a man, even in the throes of war.

All in all, an epic tale of a woman's life in a foreign land, how she grew to love her new-found life and how she was loved and respected by all around her in return. The major feat she pulled off towards the end, taking 100 orphaned children with her to safety while playing cat-and-mouse with the Japanese army, did not seem so improbable when one sees how she has grown and developed under the grace of God in spite of the unexpected turns in her life path. This is a small book that would be appreciated by anyone with an interest in experiencing life in war-torn China beyond the official statistics and male-driven narratives, as well as by people who are looking for a heart-warming story about the fortitude of the human spirit in the face of adversity, with the heros being an unassuming woman and her orphaned children. Above all, this book would be loved by both religious and non-religious readers, for this slim volume depicts the humble story of an unpretentious missionary whose spiritual grace crosses language, cultural and religious barriers. An absolute gem.

This is the story that the movie The Inn of the Sixth Happiness was based on. After I watched the movie I wanted to read the book & I can say the book was just as great if not better than the movie. The book is a very plain, simple appearing story, but let me say it packs a powerful punch...so don't judge this book by it's cover!

This is a true story of an insignificant English maiden who went to China to tell the Chinese people of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Alan Burgess weaves a masterful tale, including harrowing escapes, a clash of cultures and customs, extreme poverty and deprivation, amidst an enchanting background of picturesque cities tucked in the misty mountains of Northern China, official Mandarins on palanquins, and the dusty mule trails that tie it all together.

There is even a love story of Gladys and a Nationalist army officer tucked in between the bombing of her town and the marching of 100 children refugees over treacherous mountains to Sian (Xian) in search of an orphanage to care for them.

You'll not be able to put this book down, and you'll laugh and cheer for the glorious work that God does through this determined and hardy woman.

If you are interested in China and the missionary experience, this is a book you must not miss. It is extremely easy to read, you'll finish it in no time!! If you have read about China this book may give you insight into one of the most remote corners of the country. It is also a story of incredible bravery and sacrifice to others.

I always believed the missionary effort in China had been quite hopeless, but reading this book made me see the way one "small woman" influenced so many lives, leaving a lasting impression and truly changing people for the better through patience and above all, a lot of intelligence.

Excellent choice of subjects (small living creatures) and excellent photography. The editing, printing, and text are very good. Makes an interesting and attractive coffee table book that becomes a content book when you pick it up. And, a reasonable price. Highly recommended.

Dr. Naskrecki's photography and the reproduction of it has created a book full of rare jewels! He is an entomologist with an eye for beauty and humor...all in the persuit of science. This book should be shared with children that they may learn what magic can be found behind a leaf or under a stone. His writing is concise and informative. This book is for everyone who appreciates what we have been given on this planet!

I bought one for my nephew's birthday. After looking at it, I had to buy another for a different nephew. The photos are MAGNIFICENT!!! Very enjoyable.

I want to join all other reviewers in praising this book as one of the most beautiful books on animals, period! Simply put, this book defines the word "magnificence". A must have for all nature lovers. Get this book along and "Rainforest" by Thomas Marent and you'll be amazed of the wonderfull creatures that inhabit this world. This awesome book is well worth the few bucks it costs. Save the rainforests, before it is too late!!!

This book is outstanding... Period! The work that went into this book results in a standard that will be incredibly hard to beat. Even though this is a serious work in natural history I certainly WOULD recommend this as a gift for a younger child, because they would be thrilled with the photographs all by themselves. Fun to read, this book is primarily a book of nature photography. And Oh, what photographs... the book would be worth every penny just for the photos of these small animals. If nothing else have your local library obtain this book.

My husband and I enjoy the song of the cricket.......we didn't understand that so many varieties of crickets existed... Having the photos in front of us while listening to the cd songs is a very good feature. My husband finds listening to the cricket songs relaxing also. I would certainly purchase other quality items from the people who created this....probably birds or just cricket songs. Now we know more about the world we live in.

This book has provided hours of fantastic entertainment for the family. We love looking at the pictures, listening to the sounds and then trying to identify the crickets that we find.
This book should be in every family's library. Get your kids outside and play!

This book and included CD was the answer for learning all the insect sounds on my field recordings and nocturnal adventures. Good pictures for seeing what you heard really looks like, as well as good descriptions with the general range of each species noted. Excellent quality recordings on the CD.

As other reviewers have stated, this is a remarkable resource for insect identification. I would like to comment on the quality of the images. I found that a remarkable effort and attention to detail that went into these images. In far too many books the conversion of images from digital to print looks like the author doesn't know or doesn't care how his images look. For Lang Elliott this was not the case. He meticulously ensured that the printed images have remarkable depth of field and colors. I found any number of them to be remarkable pieces of photographic art. I felt guilty for only paying $13.57 for this book.

I have long wanted to know what insects I am hearing every summer and now have a chance of knowing which ones they are. The imagery is fantastic. The range maps will be a blessing to my students as they try to determine what type of katydid or cicada and so on they have nabbed for their bug collection.

The audio CD is great too! The only drawback there is that the holding compartment in the back of the book is poor. Right after I got this book I was taking it to school and the brand new CD fell out of the pouch and onto the pavement. Now its scratched and I don't know what to do. I usually make a backup of all my CDs right away but failed to do so with this one!

This book came to my attention when I wrote in my blog about the microphone I positioned in my backyard. I use it to listen to crickets and lots of other creatures out back, sometimes all night long.

Don't be thrown off by its simplistic sounding title. This is a an excellent work and worthy part of the evangelical Christian library. In fact, I discovered it while perusing the Harvard Divinity Library. Here in a single volume you will find accurate, readable summaries of major Christian traditions, This includes, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Liberal, Neo-Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Wesleyan-Arminian, Dispensational, and Liberation theology. This is extremely beneficial because most introductory texts either present only one perspective positively, or they argue for a perspective in conversation with liberal or neo-orthodox scholarship. Here we have each tradition standing on its own, presented from an evangelical but neutral perspective. This approach leads to a quick understanding of complex distinctives of the various traditions, and it intentionally avoids scholarly debate about them.

In addition, you will find a section introducing theology and its various sub-disciplines as well as one summarizing major theologians, theologies and terms. As an instructor, I would consider this an ideal text for adult education, including college, first year seminary, and church education programs. Highly recommended.

This is one of the books I would never take it off my bookshelf. Survivor's Guide serves as a great reference for seminary students or simply students of the Bible to the historical development of theologies and denominations. The analyses in this book provide an in-depth yet an effectively broad view of how world views are created in different contexts. I find many chapters insightful.

"Survivor's Guide" provides an incredible overview of what theology is and why I should care. It offers an overview of so many of the major issues that have been struggled over, including those that are still debated today, and it does so without getting bogged down in details. If I want details, Dr. Sawyer has provided a bibliography at the end of every chapter that points me to more resources. There is also a brief (1/3 - 1/2 page) biography on lots of important figures in church history, plus a dictionary (37 pages) of terms. I couldn't ask for a better book to get me started!

Definitely a good book for someone without a seminary degree (like me).

When conservative Christians theologize, the words used to describe God are often unfamiliar (lots of "omni-'" and "-ological" words) and the tone can be smug. Then, if the listener is knowledgeable enough to challenge the speaker with the insights of post-modernism, or Thomas Kuhn's thoughts on scientific paradigms, or Karl Barth's beliefs about the nature of the Word of God, the conversation often ceases. Comfortable in the assumptions and language of Enlightenment thinking, conservative theology is too often unaware of these more current trends in thought.

Dr. Sawyer's book The Survivor's Guide to Theology provides a primer for those wishing to interact with these newer realities while maintaining the historical truths of Christianity. The first six chapters and Appendix 1 should be required reading for all people who wish to speak thoughtfully about God and the Bible. Within these chapters we are confronted with discussions about epistemology, the sources that should inform our assertions about God, the tendency of theologians to become locked into old paradigms, and a suggested methodology for answering theological questions.

Add to this foundation the survey of major theological systems, important theologians, and a dictionary of theological terms, and this book prepares the reader to interact with the present after understanding the past. Dr. Sawyer's degree in Historical Theology informs these sections with a concise directness that helps the reader quickly understand the vocabulary and background of theological inquiry.

This book is not for those who wish to protect their current understanding of God, humanity, and salvation. It is a call to the uncomfortable task of wrestling with God as Jacob did. Finding that we cannot win the fight by completely understanding these issues, we nonetheless receive blessing in the process. It is, in my opinion, a valuable companion to anyone wanting to grow as a Christian thinker who takes the Bible seriously.

The Survivor's Guide to Theology
By M. James Sawyer

For anyone desiring to get their arms around the concept of "theology," Jim Sawyer's The Survivor's Guide to Theology is a must-have. Beginning with a brief overview of what it means to be a theologian, Dr. Sawyer walks the reader quickly, yet thoroughly, through the maze of epistemology, sources and authority in theology, and doctrinal taxonomy, to a hardening of the categories of theology and why theologians seemingly "oppose" new knowledge. He concludes the opening half of his Guide with a short review of the many divisions of theological study.

The second half of Sawyer's Survivor's Guide focuses on nine (9) different theological systems--from Eastern Orthodoxy to Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism to the Reformed Tradition (i.e., Calvinism) to Wesleyan-Arminian Theology to Dispensationalism to Liberalism to Neo-Orthodoxy concluding with a discussion on Liberation Theology. Throughout his discussion of these nine traditions, Dr. Sawyer presents a very fair, accurate and well-balanced discussion of each theological system--all in an irenic manner that so characterizes this very capable and well-respected scholar.

Dr. Sawyer concludes his Survivor's Guide with a short presentation of significant theological and philosophical terms, as well as a section of biographical sketches of major theologians and philosophers. This allows the reader to walk away with a true sense of accomplishment in grasping the critical issues associated with the study of theology, an understanding of the key Christian theological systems and traditions co-existing in the world today, and a useful understanding of the theologians who helped shape and define those systems and traditions throughout church history.

The Survivor's Guide to Theology by M. James Sawyer should be included in the personal library of every serious student of Christianity. Personally, I find my well-worn copy of the Survivor's Guide sitting on my desktop far more often than I find it on the shelf. I believe you will also.

This cookbook is actually very beautifull. Havent tried the recipes in it yet, it was a gift for my mom. She really loved receiving it. It took a little longer to come to my house than i expected, but i did order it right around Christmas, so i guess that can be expected. I cant wait to try the recipes. The pictures are georgous!!

This book is so charming. The artwork is lovely and the recipes are good too. It's a book to use and treasure for years to come.

I bought this more for nostalgia, so in that case it gets 5 stars for pictures and memories. Most of the recipes are modern, yet impractical. There are a few that I would say are great heirloom recipes, but that's all.

Anything by Tasha Tudor is a work of art! Her illustrations, and down to earth practicality, is revealed -- upclose -- in this delightful book! This is the kind of book you can give a little girl of any age -- even 99!

Tasha Tudor's cookbook makes you long for the past when your grandmother taught you how to make the perfect pie crust. Ms. Tudor's own illustrations add to the charm of a book that reminds you of happy times spent in the kitchen. Her recipes and personal stories encourage you recreate that time with your own children and grandchildren.

Tax This! is an extraordinarily valuable book. It is well written and filled with informative information for all taxpayers. Nothing short of brilliant, this book provides an exceptional roadmap to dealings with the IRS.

This is an excellent resource. Shipped quickly and in great condition!!! Thank you.

This is good, solid advice for dealing with the IRS. The authors credentials make it very valuable because he comes from the "other side" and can tell taxpayers how the IRS really works. He truly is an "insider."

His book is not a lot of hype on tricky loopholes, but very solid advice for dealing with what can be a very frightening situation. I've interviewed Scott for my Internet radio show, EverydayWealth Radio, and found him to be a very conscientious caring resource for dealing with tax issues. I recommend this book and his other resources!

"Tax This" is a great resource for individuals, small businesses, and self-employed persons, like myself. From the general IRS and tax system information to the rules for dealing with an actual IRS audit, this book has all the information you'll need. The section on how to handle IRS Penalties and Notices and the the chapters on negotiating with the IRS were very informative and designed to save money. If you are currently involved in an IRS audit and want to know how to defend yorself or if you simply want to know some strategies for reducing your odds of being selected for an IRS audit this book is for you. I would recommend it for any taxpayer.

If you're faced with an encounter with the IRS, I would highly recommend getting this book for starters. Most tax experts will tend to steer you in one of two directions: knuckle under or fight the IRS up to and including jail time (for you, not the expert.) You need to understand what your options are before you seek outside help because all too often the outside help has an agenda that is not in your best interests.

This book does an outstanding job of laying out realistic stategies and options for helping you with tax issues and for working with, rather than against, the IRS to obtain the best possible outcome. It offers a refreshing change in the tax literature. By offering well-grounded, honest advice in a well-written fashion, this book should be in the hands of anyone seeking to resolve a tax problem without "giving away the farm" to the IRS.

Learn what your options are and how best to work with the IRS and you'll save yourself a lot of grief and a lot of green.