Summaries Books

The "Writings of Thomas Jefferson" is an outstanding book...

Not a classic book, though: it is a compilation of many of the letters that Thomas Jefferson wrote during his long life.

My only regret here, is that many of these letters, are reply to other letters.
And it would be great to have, in either the same book, or another books, the "Letters to Thomas Jefferson" to better understand the topic, the whole story! Ideally, and easy cross-reference would be available!

There are a few letters, that I especially recommend to my friends, but it is better if you find them on your own!

I hold Thomas Jefferson Writings in such esteem, that I offered several copies (four so far) to my friends.

Thomas Jefferson is also a great bridge between European and American philosophy, wisdom... or lack of it!

This book, should be on your bookshelf, next to:

Montesquieu "Spirits of Laws" (Also "Causes de la grandeur et du declin de l'empire romain")
Rousseau "Du contrat social"
John Locke "First and second treatises of tolerance"
Edward Gibbons "Fall and decline of the Roman Empire"
And a few more, "golden nuggets of knowledge of recent US/Europe history".

At approximately $10.00 I expected a little more material than this 32 page, index card size book, provided.

Mr. Jefferson was a brilliant man. I enjoy reading his works and appreciate this opportunity to gain insight into his logic and thought process as it evolved throughout his lifetime. His intellectualism and that eternal curiosity about his world place him head and shoulders above those men of his time. He bought Louisiana upon the suggestion of Thomas Paine and our nation spread westward as a result. He no doubt made major contributions towards the creation and founding of this nation. Thousands of accolades for his brilliance and achievements are in order. I'm not putting him on a pedestal, there was a dark side. He did own slaves. He was however in many ways morally and intellectually bound by the time he lived in. His thoughts regarding the mentality of slaves scream racism. His solution was to abolish slavery and export them back to Africa. He believed most would never fit in to American culture based on their resentments against enslavement and the racism they endured from white society at the time. His letters to American Indians in which he addressed them as "My Children" and assured them of his eternal blessings belied the fact that their lands were being taken away from them and they were being forced to be assimilated or slaughtered. He did not foresee the industrialization of America and wanted to leave manufacturing to the Europeans to preserve the American way of life. In short, Mr. Jefferson was all too human, who no doubt would be appalled at the antics of modern day Republicans and Democrats.

I have this book (I checked the IBSN#). It's 32 pages of quotes, and that's it. No papers, no index, etc. I think the other customer reviews are innacurate in that they are probably about an entirely different book.

So about *THIS* book, I love it. It's got the well-known quotes like "Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." and lesser-known quotes like "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."

It's not a scholarly work. It doesn't have citations to explain where the quotes came from, but it was exactly what I was looking for.

If you are a fan of Liberty, this book is a must buy.

I will never be able to write a suitable review for this book - the scope of what lies between it's covers is far too great to do justice to in a review, and I am vastly inadequate to the task in any event. So, the one I write today comes from the heart - as one of the "posterity" they speak of as they went forward in their remarkable undertaking. As one of those they "did it for."

The constructive writing of the "Articles of Confederation" was especially intriguing. The pesky issue of slavery presented an immediate and daunting problem early on within the erection of the articles of confederation. It forced an issue never dealt with before, from those educated, mostly wealthy men who would "free themselves from oppression" but had obviously never before seriously considered the oppression of others - or that it would present so large a problem in the overall picture of establishing Independence "for all". They struggled with it, agonized over it; and as can be imagined, could not agree over it. It was spell-binding to watch the process unfold - not from the pen of the "historian" but from the rapidly evolving mind of the Rebel himself - because no matter how you view it, these brilliant men were elitists within their own, considered themselves to be conceived in somewhat of a Royal Nature, too, while at the same time viewing the Crown itself as a symbol that could not longer be tolerated. The "free labor population" (Benjamin Franklin himself would have been categorized into this second group early in his career) presented essentially the same problem to them as did the slaves in the proportioning.

As a result, they found themselves dealing with their own consciences too, something that may have been a unique concept for most of them - an exercise much needed of themselves as they extended their own quest for Independence and found themselves having to deal with "all of us" into the bargain. They knew they would have only "one shot" at establishing the best of it; and amazingly they were honest and earnest in that Quest. (try that today with the political assortment we have now)

In the "republican legislature" and "revisal of the law" section of this original accounting, the struggle for the distinct separation of Church and State is one of the most important conquests ever undertaken; uprising from a birth in the human mind; and clearly demonstrates the chasm of thought processes that existed between Jefferson and other honest, though less broad-minded men who still clung to the "status quo" and did not possess the courage, judgment or the vision to want to support the concept which became a cornerstone of our Constitution.

The 'original papers' poignantly illuminate the intimate, internal working of the mind of Thomas Jefferson for the reader as nothing else can, something the "historical accounting" written by others somehow leaves wanting in the translation. To read the words straight from the mind and the pen of the "original", uncensored language, spelling, phrasing and all - is an experience anyone interested in keeping the torch of the Forefathers burning will enjoy.

This book highly recommended.

Mr. Green makes history enjoyable, even to those who may have originally thought that they didn't like history. Upon reading this book one quickly realizes that history is indeed alive with intrigue and heart-ache. Join the ranks of those who have read and been changed by this book

The typical visitor to St. Simons Island heads straight to the beach. But the vacationer's stay would be greatly enhanced by a quick detour to the local bookstore to buy a copy of this excellent book, which makes for easy beach reading. Mr. Green has made history come alive by highlighting the lifestyle of the island's pre-Civil War residents and by portraying its surprising significance to John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church. Mary Green's illustrations enrich the text by portraying both the beauty of the island and the strength of character of its early residents. The net result of the "Green team's" efforts make those who come to the island realize that it is more than just a pretty place

This book is one of the most superb pieces of literature to be bound. It is historically accurate and gives great views of the Island's origins. Gramps Green and his pictorial artist could not have done a better job, it is truly a work of art.

St. Simons Island, Georgia, is one of the most beautiful vacation and resort areas in the U.S. The Island is steeped in history. This book is an ideal way for vacationers to feel the tradition that lives on the Island

A superior book! The author presents the history of this island in a glorious fashion. The artist is superb. Recommended reading for everyone.

First, I'll say this is a timeless classic. Even though it's from the 90's (and on cassette), I still re-listen to this program every 6 months or so, and I have my staff listen to it also. It's simple, easy to follow, and in seminar format (not a narrative), so it doesn't matter if you can't listen to it all in one sitting.

It's a live presentation, fun to listen to, and it's a concise yet very full presentation of 50 ways for you (and your staff) to improve their communication skills. It's not cheesy or cliche - he simply gives you power words/phrases to use, sabotage words/phrases to avoid, and helps you construct vocabulary and imagery that makes an impact.

I'll add that I also have a book version of this, and the audio is much better. It's easier to follow, and better to hear him *enunciate* what he's talking about, instead of trying to interpret it on the written page.

I need to also add that the full title of this program is: Power Talking Skills -- 50 Ways to Say What You Mean and Get What You Want.

(I'm not sure why the Amazon page doesn't display the full title). I give this a full 5-stars.

great ideas, easy to use, practical

In the tradition of "How to Win Friends & Influence People", George Walther has written a great little book on communication skills that we all should try to master. The tips contained are simple and easy to incorporate. A very practical and useful book, all things considered. 5 big stars!

As an Advanced Toastmaster Gold, the book has help me and my fellow Toastmaster club members to develop communication skills. As a supplement to club activity, this book will help a person achieve their goals. Buy this book and join a local Toastmaster club and develop your communication skills.

So you want to win friends and the respect of your enemies? You've gotta read "Power Talking". Walther communicates his brilliance through examples you can use in your every day conversation. I first read the book in 1992 when I was in door-to-door selling. I learned from the book ways to phrase questions that led my prospects down the trail to customerhood. In the back of the book there is a huge summary of sticky and embarrassing real life chances for you to use your new Power Talking skills. He tells you exactly what to say, and having said them all many times, I've got to tell you, they work. Invest in yourself. Go back to the order page here on Amazon and get your copy today.

Max Gerson M.D. cured more than a few terminal cancer patients with food. Some people who were supposed to die 50 years ago are still alive. This is probably the most important book on medicine published during this century

This is a book that America's "cancer industry" would like to keep under wraps. Within the pages of this technical treatise, you'll find complete how-to details that thousands of seriously ill cancer patients have used over the years to give their bodies the power to heal their cancers. Using a powerful juice therapy and natural diet of organic fruits and vegetables, the Gerson therapy has saved the lives of men and women that traditional medical establishment called "terminal." Even if you're not sick, this book belongs on the shelf of every serious health seeker

I have heard Charlotte Gerson speak and have read many of the testimonies of healing in this book. I am convinced that raw foods and juicing, plus elimination of toxic foods are essential in maintaining good health and healing from all disease. It makes so much sense that our diets are killing us, but I have heard so many doctors say that it doesn't matter what we are eating. Listen to Max Gerson and what his patients have to say!!!

This book is an excellent weapon in our fight against cancer. One of the alternate therapies to put in the powder keg in the battle against cancer is diet. The author of this book has been called a genius by many. Diet can be a powerful weapon against cancer because of diet's effect on our immune system.

I will be reading this little gem over and over again as long as there are children living under my room~it is really that helpful! What a blessing that it is also easy to understand and in a compact format that I can carry everywhere, because truly I do. (((((HUGS))))) sandi

Laurio knows whereof she speaks! What an indispensable tool for those who seek to understand and implement Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, child-rearing, life. Mason's Original Home Schooling Series is a goldmine, but our 21st century minds sometimes need a little help in the translation. Written by one who clearly knows and loves her subject, this modern English summary clarifies difficult passages and condenses big ideas into user-friendly portions.

This book contains easy to read summaries of all six books of Charlotte Mason's six-volume series, arranged chapter by chapter. This is not a free interpretation of the method, but a page-by-page re-wording for those who want to know what's in the series, but don't have time to read all six books to find out. It's great as an introduction to CM, or as a preview before reading the entire series, and useful for homeschool libraries or Dads who want to understand the method Mom is using with the kids.

This book is a homeschooling 'must have', yet, I found Charlotte Mason Summaries to be a good source of information not only regarding schooling, but in child rearing as well. It is a good source of information for all parents, even if they aren't homeschooling. The way the book is summarized, it is very easy to understand. I would recommend this book not just for a homeschool parent but for any parent.

We all have a list miles long of books we'd like to read. But who has the time? That's where Compact Classics comes in. In two pages you'll get enough info to speak intelligently about any number of the greatest pieces of literature ever. Read this book and come off erudite, not just a trivia buff.

Are you short on time but love to keep up on your reading? This is the book that gets to the bottom line. Everything you ever wanted to know about classic literature, famous quotes, trivia and leaders of our time is neatly packaged in a concise format in this book. Every professional bookcase should have one.

I was given this book my a friend and found it to be totally fascinating. It is filled with interesting and useful quotes and stories (much of which I have never had time to read, or have forgotten about). It is all here in compact form! I have shared this book with my son and best friend and also have used the quotes whenever I want to put something in words that are profound and meaningful. GREAT READING I KEEP IT MY BRIEFCASE!

This aptly named "portable library," is well suited for any setting: home, office, or school. From the quotes (finding out who really said that) to the two-page summaries of all-time favorites such as 'Swim with the sharks without being eated alive', '1984', 'Anna Karenina', 'To Kill a Mockingbird', and 'The Joy Luck Club'. It also includes the rules of America's favorite sports, assorted trivia, and grammar guides. This book is a joy to read for recreation, and an invaluable tool for business or class.

An excellent, superb introduction for devouts of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady. Very well structured, its doctrine is trully Roman Catholic. I expected a more elaborated text, more theological (Mariology) but the book is, as it states, a "handbook" with essentials. Some graphics and photographs would certainly help piety. Even though, I highly recommend this publication for those who want to ever glorify Our Lord and the Mother of God.

If you are looking for a comprehensive book of Marian prayers and devotions this book is for you. A blend of ancient and modern this book is one I keep at my nightstand. If you take Vatican II seriously when it asked for a true renewal of devotion to Mary you will find this book very useful. It also contains some lesser known prayers and devotions that deserve greater circulation. It is a solid readable work.

All the "Essential Handbooks" are great (I also own the Lenten Handbook and the Catholic Handbook). They are very prettily typeset and all have lovely covers. The prayers include some you are bound to know, plus many, many new ones. I like that there is a good mix of short prayers and longer devotions. Includes such info as what the Miraculous Medal is, what the Militia of the Immaculata is and where Mary's shrines are worldwide.

This handbook tells you just about everything you need to know about Mary from a Catholic Perspective. The major sections are: Mary Today, Mary in the Scriptures and Early Writings of the Church, Mary in the Liturgy of the Church, The Image of Mary Through the Ages, Marian Prayers, Marian Litanies and Aspirations, Marian Novenas, Devotions to Mary, Glossary of Important Terms, Marian Shrines Worldwide, and a liturgical Calendar of Mary. The appendix contains a few texts from the Catechism regarding Mary.

I learned a lot about Mary. "Mary Today" covers the official Catholic teaching about her, including excerpts from papal encyclicals from John Paul II. "Mary in the Scriptures and Writings of the Early Church" details where the Church has seen Mary in the Old and New Testaments, as well as a few stories about Mary in the spurious New Testament Apocrypha. "Mary in the Liturgy" explains the major Marian feasts and even optional liturgical celebrations related to Mary. "The Image of Mary Through the Ages" looks at how Mary has been viewed in all eras of Christian history, from the Apostolic days until today. The chapters with prayers, litanies, novenas, and devotions are very thorough, including even the earliest known third century prayer to Mary. Most every popular prayer is included, including many rarer ones. The glossary is useful. The shrine list is helpful, although being worldwide, it is by no means exhaustive. The liturgical calendar covers worldwide Marian feasts, and there is a feast of Mary for almost every day.

Overall, this is a very helpful book that explains what the Catholic Church believes about the Mother of the Son of God. It is not meant as an apologetics tool per se. You won't find detailed proofs of the Catholic Church's claims. There are other books for that. As a newly confirmed Catholic, this book deepened my admiration of the Virgin Mary and gave me a greater appreciation of her character and actions in the Divine plan. It also opened my eyes to the importance of Mary in salvation history. For non-Catholics reading this book, the beginning of the book reminds us that any devotion to Mary must lead us closer to Christ. This book will tell you what you need to know about Mary.

If you are smart and diligent enough to get it, this is your book. Trust me that this man knows what he is talking about. Readable format, great organization, engaging subject matter, "How to read classical tibetan" has it all. Coming from a master of classical tibetan and all-around great guy, this book is where its at.

Craig Preston's book _How to Read Classical Tibetan_ (Snow Lion, 2003) examines a short passage (about 30 long lines in all) of the tract "The Great Treatise (or exposition) of the Stages of the Path" (Lam-rim Chen-mo) by the 14th century teacher Tsongkhapa (Btsong-kha-pa), founder of the Gelugpa (Dge-lugs-pa) school of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the course of the introduction and ten chapters the author goes through the long and short titles of the tract and then the 30-line passage, breaking the text into phrases and analyzing them grammatically from word to sentence level. He does this by means of well laid out labeled diagrams in which phrase-level structure is represented by boxes containing the parts of the phrases, which may be simple strings of text or nested boxes of the same type.

He includes a full glossary of the words in the text at the end of the book, and repeats the items occurring in each phrase in the section on the phrase, obviating the need to be constantly flipping between the phrase and the glossary. As far as I could tell he does not customize or enhance the vocabulary items for the individual phrases but copies them verbatim from the glossary, including the different roots of the verbs and the variants of the mutable particles (kyi, tu and so on) each time.

He intentionally focuses on the grammatical structure and literal meaning of the text and does not get into philosophical issues, though he does include, at the end of each chapter, with translations though not analyses or special notes, extracts from a commentary on the section of text in the chapter.

As a total beginner myself I cannot evaluate the accuracy of the book, but it appears to be carefully edited, and the grammatical analyses and translations all seem reasonable to me. He uses the Tibetan alphabet throughout and rarely if ever includes any transliterations. I think this is appropriate. The Tibetan alphabet is easy to master and anyone studying the language should learn it at the very outset.

He also, following Joe Wilson in his _Translating Buddhism from Tibetan_ (Snow Lion, 1992), uses opaque and confusing terminology for the cases (1st case, 2nd case and so on). This terminology derives ultimately from the Sanskrit grammarians and refers to the Sanskrit cases (1st case = nominative 2nd case = accusative 3rd case = instrumental 4th case = dative 5th case = ablative 6th case = genitive 7th case = locative), and does not really fit Tibetan. I would have been happier if he had used the simpler and more descriptive system of Nicolas Tournadre, _Manual of Standard Tibetan_ (Snow Lion, 2003) - a very good book BTW, with an extremely clear and thorough explanation of modern pronunciation (standard Lhasa dialect) - or even avoided the notion of case altogether and simply dealt in terms of the various particles (kyi, kyis, la/r/du etc.) as is done for Japanese (ga, wa, o, no etc.).

The work is clearly aimed at beginners. I would guess that a motivated student could work through the whole book at a chapter at a sitting and be done with it in a couple weeks. I can see it being useful for someone in the early stages of studying Tibetan on their own who wants to read some real Classical Tibetan with a good amount of hand-holding. The only prerequisite I can see, apart from the ability to read the Tibetan alphabet, is a level of comfort with basic grammatical concepts and the activity of detailed word-by-word phrase-by-phrase grammatical analysis.

Preston's book is a great text for self-study.

I particularly appreciate that he used Dzong-ka-pa's page and half Summary of the General Path as the basis of his translation training. This summary is at the end of the three-volume set that has been recently translated as the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. Each volume is around 350 pages. This Summary is, I think, Dzong-ka pa most concise prose writing on the Buddhist path from the beginning clear through to Buddhahood. Although this book is meant for language students I found the basic philosophic text delightfully essency.

This book is best read after having studied Joe Wilson's Translating Buddhism from Tibetan. These two books were written using the same style of grammatical analysis. Wilson's book goes through letter writing and pronunciation rules and then uses paradigm sentences which illustrate the grammar in detail. Preston has taken the next step which walks you through an actual text so you can see how these various paradigms show up in action.

Preston takes each of the pithy sentences of the Summary and breaks them down into clauses and phrases, boxes them, and then clearly labels the parts with both the vocabulary and their grammatical use. Each word in every sentence is labeled with its syntactic function, what type of word or particle it is and its lexical meaning. You are not left guessing about any part of the sentence. He also gives you the English translation below each of these detailed structural outlines. The text is interspersed with helpful philosophic information too. For instance, when the text mentions the ten virtues and ten non-virtues, Preston inserts a list as to what these are.

There are many details that one needs to memorize to learn grammar, I was overwhelmed at times, but remember that there are a finite number of details. For anyone wanting to be able to read or translate accurately this is a critical body of information you need to know. In the early pages of the book Preston lays what he calls the eight basic building blocks of Classical Tibetan syntax. These are the basic elements of any sentence, the subjects, objects, verbs and such.... The rest of the book illustrates how these parts are glued together by particles.

Although this book was written using a Geluk text, grammar knows no partisan boundaries. I am now reading a root Kagyu text and I see that the same grammatical structures apply. This book will help you read any of the Tibetan Buddhist literature.

As far as I know there are no other books written for students who are just starting to read Classical Tibetan. As a language student I found this book immensely helpful.

Hi guys, well i've been living in Nepal for the last 4 years and i can tell you that learning tibetan (and by this i mean really know it) its really hard, but i found that wilson's book is actually great not only coz it does work but also coz it provides you with the tools to do it... its the best next thing just after learning tibetan from tibetan grammarians

so what i would suggest is...
get wilson's book, then if you are completely new go through the whole book, coz it provides basic concept on Buddhism and lots of vocab (all really useful)... if you are a bit more experience then learn by heart apendixes 4 and 5 which deals with verbs, and clases which are a primordial part of tibetan (but for some reason some "serious" books dont even mention them... oh by the way tibetans do study tibetan talking about cases)...then move on to...

Craig preston's how to read classical tibetan... which if you don't know by heart appendix 4 n 5 is rather useless... but otherwise excellent to show how to make the complex sentences (pages long at times) into short and readable clauses or sentences... besides it also completes wilsons lack of talk or not wanting to talk about transitive and intransitive verbs (which they also exist in tibetan and are of great importance when trying to get across the right meaning)

last but not least... in my experience there have been tons of mistranslations all over the place even by "famous" translators... thats why i recommend Tony Duff's excellent Illuminator dictionary...

until the day that someone explains tibetan grammar the way tibetan study it and understand it these are the tools for anyone who is serious about learning tibetan, and when the time is right go and get teachings on tibetan from a tibetan grammarian... then the whole world is open to you... once again i think these are the best for whats outer but once you see the real thing you wont go back...

PS. by the way, the presentation on the cases its as its shown in the tibetan way specially if you memorize wilsons approach... why do people say that easier is better??? lack of diligence i guess... to become a translator is not easy specially when it comes to Dharma coz there is the danger of corrupting the teachings which it would be terrible for everyone... please study hard whether you find it hard or not... is for all sentient beings sake...

This small book is the best source of spiritual food one could ask for. Each short chapter, approximately 2 pages each, is perfect for a short meditation. I recommend this book to everyone. Applications for everyone and every situation.

When I first started reading this pocket sized book the initial pages seemed kinda fanatical but the book isn't fanatical at all. It's truly inspirational and all one has to do is reserve four minutes each day to read a chapter. It helped me realize how close God is to me and how I can get closer to him!

This little book is breath taking. It was introduced to me by a friend of mine. He was given a copy by a friend of his and so on and so on. Luckily, there is a the "Paulina's" Book store in Miami that has these books in stock and we all would buy their inventory and give them out to whomever God inspired us to give them to. In my opinion, the best way to read this book is to ask God to speak to you and run your finger across the book and open it whereever your finger stops. No matter what, the reflection will be exactly what you need to hear at that moment. Sometimes it scolds you, sometimes it rewards you etc. After a while you realize that God actually speaks through this book. If it costs $1000 it would be worth it. (Amazon don't get any ideas). God Bless.

This is an excellent book to use for meditating first thing in the morning before getting lost in the busyness and stress of the usual workday.

I was given this book when I was in high-school and never paid much attention to it. Twenty five years later I remembered this book and searched long for it. The Pauline Media of the Sisters of St. Paul Store carries it here in San Francisco. Right now, I need more copies of this book to give out to friends who I know will appreciate it. I couldn't believe Amazon carries this book too.

What is amazing with this book is as you read a chapter, it feels as if the Lord Christ is talking to you so kindly, patiently and with great love ---- making things clear in your mind, guiding you and comforting you. As you read, it feels as if the Lord is reading your mind, knows how you are feeling at that moment --- it's like having a friend, a loving parent sitting beside you verbalizing your thoughts and feelings -- and just clearing your thoughts and anxieties. After reading a chapter, one is ready to happily and bravely meet what's around the bend.

If you are not up to going through Berkof's full 900 page Systematic Theology, this is the volume you want. It is a broad, brief and succinct summary of most of what is found in the big book. I recommend having both and using this smaller version as a type of index. As you read, if you come across things you want to study more fully, you can dive into the main volume. Berkof is an excellent resource for anyone looking into the reformed faith.

This writing by Louis Berkhof is of the best systematic theology to be found, even if it is brief. Berkhof, as a Calvinist, brings glory thru Creation and Redemption history to God in this accurate summa of Christian doctrine.

'Since God not only created the world but also upholds it, we naturally pass from the doctrine of creation to that of divine providence. This may be defined as that work of God in which He preserves all His creatures, is active in all that happens in the world, and directs all things to their appointed end. It includes three elements, of which the first pertains primarily to the being (divine preservation), the second to the activity (divine concurrence), and the third to the purpose (divine government) of all things.' pg 55

Short, but to the point and sound.

It is very concise, clear to understand.
Especially, "Question for review" was good for summary.

Berkhof's is widely acknowledged to be the best brief systematic theology written in the middle part of this century. It is reliable, balanced, concise. While free of lots of technical excusions, Berkhof was very well versed in the broader theological discussions, both classical and contemporary. As Dutch Reformed, he is more Kuyperian and less rationalist than most Anglo-American reformed theologians who preceded him. Still great for an elder training course, or for a college student preparing for seminary.

For something even more basic for interested laymen, try J I Packer's Concise Theology or R C Sproul.

For something a little older and longer, A. A. Hodge, Outlines of Theology. Of course, Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is irreplacable.