Source The Books

I've owned both editions of this wonderful little book. This little gem is for the person who doesn't have time to slog through all sorts of prescriptive grammars. It's handy, well organized, and easy to use. I own a lot of grammars, being both an author and an English teacher, and this is the one I turn to first.

Author of:
Nasty

"Nate Jepson (a.k.a. "Nasty") is a solid entry into the P.I. hall of fame." - Publisher's Weekly

A good friend who must really love me gave me this book when I headed to grad school. It answered all of my APA citation questions and many of the little grammatical quandries one encounters at 3 a.m.
I only wish I had the budget to buy this book for all of my high school students. Every young writer should have a guide like this to tidy up their work. Alas, at about $50 a pop, with a school of 350 students, this book is out of our range. If you can pick one up used or can afford a new copy you won't be sorry.

As one of Andrea's former students, I've had to read this book and use it extensively. Not only did it get me through her class, but every class I had after that (and I've had a large number of English and History classes). If you're looking for a book to help you with MLA style, Professor Lunsford covers everything you can possibly hope to draw info from, including lectures, interviews, and even MUDs online.

This book is an ideal tool for anyone who has to write for school, work, or as a hobby. The easy access tabs and extensive menus help you find what you are looking for quickly and the spiral binding lets you lay the book open while you type. The coverage of the writing process and argumentative writing really set this book apart. Anybody can write up grammar rules or documentation standards, but Lunsford's coverage of writing at the start of the book is wonderful. Buy this book and don't sell it back to the bookstore, this is a keeper. Also, for the teacher that wants one for every student, try "Easywriter" which is the smaller version of this text that only costs about fifteen bucks.

The Everyday Writer is a wonderful asset to any college English student. It contains all the essentials for writing term papers. I suggest that everyone who needs help in English should pick up this book.

It's a book for my masters program, I have no opinion, it's a requirement.

An essential book for every American both young or old, male or female, Democrat or Republican. A delightful discovery on the need of God and guns (or perhaps swords) in the United States and the intolerance of a government in charge of all but answerable to noone. An undeniably perfect fit for todays culture.

Discover your roots from the men that gave their lives for the signing of the Constitution; true heroes. Their resolve was unquestionable and the love for country without reproach.

They brought us so far. We've walked away. Read it and weep. BK

The Federalist was an astonishing political document. Written for public consumption during the debate over adoption of the U.S. Constitution, it combined immense learning and sophistication with shrewd insights into the nature of politics in a republic. It's an essential text for anyone interested in American political history or constitutional theory. In fact, the Federalist should be essential readingt for any educated American: it remains an unparalleled example of realistic political analysis being placed in the service of political ideals.

After more than 200 years, the Federalist has lost little of its relevance. The sections on judicial review and Presidential nominations, for example, could have been written about current controversies over judges. Likewise, the discussion of Presidential war powers, or the emphasis on checks and balances as essential to the preservation of liberty, are eerily topical in an age of pre-emptive war and one-party control of Washington. Even when the analysis is wildly dated -- as with the Commerce Clause or slavery -- the reader can see how far Constitutional doctrine has wandered from the "intent" of the Founders.

The Federalist is also superb as literature: the writing is droll and eloquent, once you get used to the long, convoluted sentences. The introduction by Benjamin Wright is excellent and helps to place the text in political and intellectual context. I don't know why I wasn't forced to read the Federalist at law school! Six stars.

Note: Contrary to one review below, God is hardly mentioned in the Federalist, and then only as a rhetorical flourish. The Federalist has countless references to ancient Greece and Rome, but none to the Old or New Testaments. It is a thoroughly secular document. Religious nationalists and other conservatives should actually read it.

When you read this, you can't help but wonder where all the great minds have gone. This assessment of basic human rights and freedoms should be required reading for all kids, and repeat reading for adults with any appreciation of history and/or politics. Its lessons and statements are universal, and should not be examined as simply a part of US history, but rather how the lessons may be applied elsewhere in parts of the world that are still stuck in the Dark Ages.

We want our founders to be demi-gods and our original texts to be divinely inspired. For an example of this nonsense, please see the first review on this page.
I want to offer a vision of The Federalist in historical context. I will argue that to see it thus enlarges its greatness will allowing us to admit its faults.
In many ways, the developments that led to the Constitution of 1787 started as soon as colonists reached our eastern shores. We had at least 150 years of experimentation in writing charters and in representative governance behind us by 1787. After the Declaration of Independence the States either wrote new constitutions or reaffirmed old charters. The national government wrote the Articles of Confederation and we lived under that from 1781 to the late 1780s.
The Federalist should be seen as part of that ongoing development. More specifically, it should be seen as part of the ratification debates in New York. Largely written by Madison and Hamilton, these papers reflect the compromises that the founders made in regards to the Constitution. Madison had wanted the President to have a veto over any state laws. Hamilton had favored a President for life during good behavior (read #78 in re the appointment for life of federal judges to sense the fervor that Hamilton felt for the benefits of lifetime tenure). Neither man believed in the necessity of a Bill of Rights. Madison eventually saw the political necessity of such amendments. During the first United States Congress he wrote up the Bill of Rights and guided them through passage. This way he could make sure they did not grow too numerous.
As a whole then The Federalist should be seen as rhetorical and political arguments for passage of a Constitution that the authors had some doubts about.
Of course, as Publius they could express no doubts. Madison, Hamiltion and Jay used this pseudonym which was a typical rhetorical device of elite writers at the time. (See Saul Cornell's The Other Founders for a nice discussion of the variety of rhetorical strategies used by writers during the ratification debates.) The idea was that hiding their identities would allow readers to focus on the quality of their arguments. As a result, there are many passages that can strike the modern reader as duplicitous because Publius pretends to know nothing of what went on during the convention. Madison and Hamilton, of course, were instrumental throughout the Constitutional Convention.
Publius works his explication of the need for the Constitution by critiquing the Articles of Confederation then by going thru the new document, article by article supposedly answering all objections. His counterarguments are largely of two types. In the first type, he will state a political principle so "obvious" that any "candid" reader will instantly agree to it. Publius then builds his arguments from there. The famous paper #10 is one such chain of argument. Or Publius will demolish the arguments offered against the Constitution by pointing out that the article objected to is contained in some or many of the States' constitution and have resulted in no such problems. Many of these arguments are justly famous. Number 10 is very much worth reading. (Although I still find it curious that when Madison asserts that a man's property holdings has a great influence on the way he thinks it is celebrated as political realism but when Marx says much the same thing it is decried as class warfare. But that's just me.)
But the reader really does get a sense at to how much thought went into the various checks and balances and the competing claims of the states and the new national government. To me this is where the glory of the book lies. We as a people thought our way out of the failure of our first experiment in nation building. We avoided civil war (for a while) and did not become the victims of foreign manipulation. We don't have to make our founding fathers and mothers demi-gods. In their fully flawed humanity, they dazzle aplenty.
Finally, it should be noted that The Federalist as a piece of political rhetoric avoided some issues entirely. The main problem that most Anti-Federalists had with the proposed Constitution in re jury rights had to do with the following phrase: "such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed" (Article 3, Sec.2, Para. 3). Whig thought at that time insisted on juries being as local as possible. Blackstone stated that jury trials should be held within the county of the crime. This guaranteed that local knowledge of the crime, the defendant and the victim would be maximized in the jury pool. Trying cases in distant jurisdictions or without juries had been some of the main provocations of the British prior to the revolution. Men like Patrick Henry saw that phrase in the Constitution as a clarion of the tyranny to come from the new national government. The Federalist does not speak to this issue at all. Instead, Hamilton focuses on arguments about whether jury trials are guaranteed for civil cases and even has Publius argue that maybe we should limit jury trials a little because juries are so bad with complicated issues, blah, blah.
Should all Americans read this book? Yeah, probably. Are we the worse if they don't? Again, probably yes, but what we really need as a people is more of a sense of our history. I would rather have more people read a good series of books on our history as a whole (I recommend the Oxford History of the United States as one excellent ongoing series).
But if you want to get to know two great minds at work on political issues that are still relevant then this is your book. Forget Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau. Their philosophies are antiquarian in a way that Publius is not.

T. Lindsay Baker has written the definitive guide to windmills. This book is thoroughly researched and is more than just your typical coffee table coverage passing as a field manual. With extensive footnotes, manufacturers appendix, history and individual model coverage, Baker provides the scholarly coverage windmills deserve in the development of the US, in particular the American West. The settlement of this country, both real and myth, would be significantly different without the development of the windmill as it was.
James Grooms

Among windmillers, this book is known as "the bible". For more information than most people need, this is the one to own.

The book is very well done with lots of pictures and information. A true tribute to our unsung Giants of the Past. Most stand in fields or yards, unnoticed, broken down and/or grown over...showing both signs of age and of neglect. Yet, with a little TLC they could once again be productive... capable of producing a mesmerizing effect on the soul or energy if needed. They actually serve a multitude of purposes if only people would take the time to care for them, they would give plenty back in return. They are our only remaining Giants of the Past and they deserve our respect and acknowledgement. This book does just that and, hopefully, it will make its readers take notice of these great Giants and their needs and many uses. They were meant to serve us and would once again if only we'd let them.

I purchased this book for my Dad and he loves it.

A Field Guide to American Windmills is the most thorough book available on the subject of American windmills. Baker has painstakingly researched the histories of dozens of American windmill manufacturers, photographed surviving examples of each, and finally provided a silhouette drawing of each model to aid the 'windmill spotter' in identifying them. This book is a must for anyone interested in American history, rural heritage, or who just likes windmills.

Founding Character: The Words and Documents that Forged a Nation opened my eyes to the whole picture of our origins. First, I hadn't read the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution since college. And, the original draft of the Declaration by Jefferson? It was never mentioned in high school or college, so I missed its relevance altogether!

Then there is the Treaty of Paris which I know see in a whole new light - it's the formal recognition of our country after all. And, I had never read the full text of George Washington's farewell address until Founding Character; what an eye opener!
The significance of a peaceful transfer of power every four to eight years now seems trivial, but it really isn't.

But, the most eye-opening part of this book is the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms; written a year before the Declaration of Independence, this resolution from the Continental Congress called for armed resistance to the crown. I had completely missed this in my history studies.

This is much more than a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, with the additional content, this is a complete picture of the character of our nation at its founding.

If you are tired of the tiny pocketbook edition of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and want a version with more substance, then Founding Character: The Words and Documents that Forged a Nation is the book for you!

Not only do you get the Constitution and the Declaration (both final version and Jefferson's original version), but you also get the Articles of Confederation, The Treaty of Paris (a very important document where the United States are recognized as a nation by England!), as well as the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (never included in other books, but oh so important!) - a document from the Continental Congress that predates the Declaration by a year!!

This is a book that I have given to each of my teenagers as well to take off to college!

I found this book "Founding Character:The Words and Documents That Forged a Nation" to be outstanding. In todays climate of Red States vs Blue States and the Division that the last election has wrought, it was uplifting to read the words that
formed our nation.
I highly recommend this book for every American whether they are liberal or conservative. It gives you pause , makes you think and appreciate what we have today.

I really like this book. It almost has everything you need. If the editors had included "Common Sense" it would have been perfect. Still, though, it is the best all-in-one reference I have found.

Found this book while doing a search for the Constitution and was pleased to find that it had everything in it I needed for my American History class. Saved me from having to buy a couple other books.

This book is intended primarily for serious students of history. It discusses the foundations of historical research--what kinds of questions do historians ask, what constitutes evidence, what makes a source reliable, and the epistomology that underguards historical inquiry. The language is somewhat dense at times and examples are frequently pulled from European history, a not always felicitous choice for students of American history. Still, the reader leaves the book with an arsenal of questions that he can use in tackling his own research questions or in critiquing the work of others. I am still searching for the brief handbook that will provide the amateur historian with a guide towards writing honest, vital, and accurate local histories. To the best of my knowledge, it does not exist.

Finding the right sources for a book, article, paper, or project is much more difficult than it seems. Every subject generally has a large list of material available for use. But in order to generate a significant contribution to this field, historians need to sort out the reliable sources that fit their topic. From Reliable Sources helps this process by producing a "guideline" to finding the best material and how it can be put to use. This book is a useful guide to the various techniques professional historians have devised for analyzing sources. It gets across the point of finding the best sources in order to produce quality historical scholarship.
The critical analysis of a source is the first step to this process. What follows is whether or not the historian believes that the source is reliable. An important message conveyed by the authors is that no source is perfectly reliable. This leads to the limitations faced by historians today, such as change and causality, and how they deal with them. Its significance to historical writing is vital because historians today use different methodologies than their predecessors. Historiography is a daily changing profession where scholars and historians continually struggle with finding the right sources.

History writing is usually considered to have begun with the Greek Herodotus in the 4th century BC with his efforts to distinguish between myth and verifiable stories and that has been the basic problem of writing history ever since. In his history of the Gallic Wars Julius Caesar celebrated the military power of the Romans, along with his own formidable talents as a military leader. Livy fed Roman chauvinism with a history that celebrated eight proud centuries of the Roman past. Thucydides, Polybius, Sallust, Plutarch and Suetonius each brought their own approach or treatment of characters. Augustine portrayed history as an enactment of God's plan. Others wrote accounts to convince readers of the justice of a cause while Guibert of Nogent painted Mohammed in the worst possible light, not caring if the tales were true but only if they helped his case. Matthias Flacius Illyricus's chief purpose was to demonstrate that the Roman Church's claim to be the direct heir of first-century Christianity had no historical basis. Medieval historiography was designed to serve Christianity and in the Middle Ages historians entered the service of lords, monarchs and the state where their primary task was to create glorious pasts, fabricate evidence or select information to give legitimacy to the elite to whom it was offered.

Leopold von Ranke is credited with the founding of the scientific method of history writing but even so he betrays an unclerical ideology and a commitment to the national state so historians must always consider the conditions under which a source was produced, the intentions that motivated it and the reliability of that source. They must also consider the historical context in which it was produced - the events that preceded it, and those that followed, for the significance of any event recorded depends as much on what comes after as it does on what comes before. Had the Boston Tea Party of 1773 not been followed by the American Revolution, it would have had considerably less significance than historians have since given it, and the very same newspaper report of the uprising, in the very same archive, would have had a very different status from the one it actually acquired. Thus, historians are never in a position - and should never imagine themselves being in a position - to read a source without attention to both the historical and the historiographical contexts that give it meaning.

Recording history today has become more complicated because we have such a wealth of information such as television recordings, audiotapes, and videos from the man in the street and not just the written word. This book was written as a guide on how to handle this overload of information and to provide ethical ground rules so that we have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But the deeper underlying significance of this book is something that all of us must reflect on because we receive viewpoints from different sides of a conflict or different political views and we must understand that any report may also have a hidden agenda or bias. We may not have received the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If we then go back in history, our beliefs may be founded on the "truths" handed down to us by the victorious faction and may not truly reflect the real truth. As the authors point out: "It is thus one of the primary responsibilities of the historian to distinguish carefully for readers between information that comes literally out of the source itself (in footnotes or by some other means) and that which is a personal interpretation of the material. For the literal content of a citation - what is transcribed from the source itself - historians have no ethical responsibility; for the meaning they impart to that material, of course, they are entirely responsible."

History used to be a subject that one could view as somewhat ancillary, as an interesting subject but one that was not really needed to function in the modern world. One could dispense with studying history and still maintain a proper perspective of world events. Any inaccuracies in the reporting of world events were the responsibility of reporters, and historians were viewed in general as occupiers of an ivory tower. They were held to be trustworthy because not much weight was assigned to their scholarly activities.

In general, this attitude about history and historians is now considered to be a mistake. Because of some very volatile and dangerous events in the early twenty-first century, the study of history should be viewed now as one of the most important, if not the most important scholarly activity. One can easily observe the enormous weight that is placed on events of the past, due in part to the ideological agendas that are deeply embedded in contemporary politics. And some historians have chosen to use historical analysis to justify a political agenda, or have acted as sycophants for the institutions that host them. It would be fair to say that some historians are now viewed with extreme skepticism, and many are therefore looking into the historical record and seeking answers on their own. These historical auto-didactics are hungry for tools of analysis in which to study and interpret past events.

This short book gives an introduction to these tools, and any reader, whether of the afore-mentioned type or not, will gain a lot from its perusal. It gives much insight into how historians view and find sources, and is primarily written for non-experts (such as this reviewer) in historical analysis. Philosophers and economists will also discover how the study of history also intersects to a large degree with their own fields.

There is a wealth of information in the book, and many questions are answered as well as raised. Some of these include:

1. What is the nature of historical interpretation? Can historians put themselves in a position where an historical source can be read without giving attention to the historical context that give it meaning?
2. How can an historical source be characterized?
3. Are historians ethically responsible for the content of their works, and if so, to what degree?
4. Is there any value in oral records for historical analysis? In interviewing?
5. What impact has information technology had on historical analysis?
6. How are archives useful for the historian, and does a given archive, taken to be reliable, expand or shrink with time?
7. Will the advent of software to analyze historical texts eventually result in the automation of historical analysis?
8. How do historians assess the accuracy or authenticity of sources?
9. Does the interpretation of an historical document always involve the determination of its intended meaning?
10. Should "firsthand" reports of events always be taken as true?
11. How do historians compare different sources relating to the same historical event?
12. The authors refer to `reasoning by interpolation' or `by analogy'. What exactly is the nature of this kind of reasoning?
13. When can a historian claim that his analysis is correct? Is there a way of quantifying the point at which enough evidence has been collected?
14. Can participants in events claim any special insight into these events over and above what can be obtained by an observer (an historian) who is not, or has not, participated in these events?
15. Can historians view events and documents from an apodictic point of view, i.e. free from bias and any implicit assumptions?
16. Should historians focus on what people did in the past rather than what they thought or felt?
17. Should historians concentrate on deducing the motives of the people in history from their visible actions?
18. The authors point to the use of fields such as psychology to study the "feelings in history." Could the relatively new field of cognitive neuroscience be used to do the same, or even more generally to study the motives, decisions, and mental limitations of people in history? One could view this use as a kind of "historical neurocriticism" and its use could possibly shed considerable light on how people, through their cultures, construct meanings of their experiences and make history.
19. The authors refer to human life as being "too complex" to be analyzed with historical models. What notion of complexity is being used here, and given current methods for dealing with complexity in model-building, would these be of any assistance in the study of history, especially those that attempt to understand to what extent events are caused by human actions?
20. Should historians focus more on studies of "popular culture" and not on "learned culture", i.e. should they analyze historical events in terms of what has recently been called "people's history?"
21. What is the difference between a `linear' theory of history and a `cyclical theory', and is the former always more optimistic than the latter?
22. Can technological innovations and development be used as a reference of time for historical change, i.e. as a kind of clock or calendar in which historians are to delineate events? Such a calendar would not necessarily be a linear ordering of events like the ones that are currently used. In periods of rapid technological development, time will be more compressed than in periods of slow technological development. History could thus be viewed as moving more quickly in the former than in the latter.

The trouble with studying history is that it is exceedingly boring in many respects. Unless you are a graduate student of history or just a real history buff, you probably have better ways to spend your time. I like this book a lot, and I only say that because this book is a good, solid introduction to the issue of sources. Oh my goodness, sources. How many biased books are there on every imaginable subject that come to faulty conclusions based on an obvious lack of in-depth research? Anyone can "research" a subject by cherry picking sources and then drawing a conclusion based on someone else's research which is often a compilation of opinions. No one will admit to doing this, but it happens frequently.

What I particularly like about this book is that it approaches history from the standpoint of evaluating sources critically. Certainly history is just a compilation of facts, but how reliable are those facts? No one alive today knew George Washington personally, so how do we really know anything about him? That depends on the nature of the source. We have diaries of first hand accounts. There are letters that he wrote. We know what he looks like based on portraits painted of him. We also know what other people said about him. The problem is that we have to interpret all that information. The key is compiling and evaluating sources. This book addresses many different areas of that and gives various methods for evaluating the credibility of a source. There is a certain amount of critical thinking that goes into such an evaluation and for many people a source is only as credible as the honesty of the person from whom it originated. This usually involves personal attacks and questions about a person's character. This book goes beyond that into other methods of corroborating evidence.

I keep this in my personal library next to other standard books on the subject of researching and writing about history. This book is not about writing history as much as it is an introductory book on researching and evaluating sources. The overall tone of the book is definitely college level. It is probably a bit much for undergraduate history students except for history majors who plan to do a lot of history research. It is definitely suitable for graduate students.

I occasionally refer back to section II (Technical Analysis of Sources) and Section III (Historical Interpretation: The Traditional Basics). Both sections combined are contained in pages 43 through 87 which is not a whole lot of reading. Section II covers a broad range of topics including "Source Criticism: The Great Tradition." I particularly like that part, and I refer back to it on occasion. This subsection covers the analysis of a document from whether the document is an original or a copy down to "The Trustworthiness of the Observer."

Overall, this is an excellent book for the history student, the historian and the history buff. I plan to keep it for the long term for occasional reference whenever I need to brush up on the basics of source criticism and document analysis.

This is a sexy, passionate story with enjoyable characters - I give it five stars and think you'll want to read it again despite the fact that the hero is a bit of a jerk at the beginning - he does finally come to his senses! Marcus Osborne has some issues with women ... his mother abandoned him, his beloved wife turned out to be a money hungry trollop, a fact which he unfortunately only discovered when he found her in their bed with the pool boy! So when he meets sexy socialite Justine, who flirts with all the men, he paints her with the same brush. But there's something honest and sincere about Justine that keeps shining through his preconceptions ... and soon he's wondering if perhaps he may have misjudged her and that she wasn't just a gold-digger trying to snag herself a rich husband. He's stunned to realize he loves her, and because of how they began their relationship he thinks she only wants him for the fabulous sex! What can Marcus do now? Can he make her fall in love with him so they can be together forever ... ?

Description from the book back cover:

Bad, brazen ... and beautiful! Marcus Osborne thought Justine Montgomery had shown her true colours when she sashayed into his office, seemingly willing to do 'anything' for a loan. The rumor that she was planning to catch herself a rich husband, and that he was her prime target, only served to worsen his opinion of her. Nevertheless, he wanted her ... So he decided to do some seducing of his own - and soon she became his mistress! Only then did Marcus understand how wrong he'd been about Justine. She wasn't a gold-digger after all, and marriage, for money or otherwise, hadn't even crossed her mind. Suddenly Marcus found himself wishing it had ...

The Millionaire's Mistress is my first Harlequin PRESENTS read. As most often, the cover does not depict the story. The main character, Justine, a University student living in Sydney, Australia is 23 years old. She oozes of beauty and self-respect. Justine is surprisingly innocent after being raised in a life of luxury. But, circumstances change. She lives with her mother, Adelaide, and in order to keep their family home Justine decides to open their home to boarders. When she goes to the bank to secure a loan to start up this new business venture she meets millionaire banker, Marcus Osborne who is in his thirties. He has been "around the block" a few times in life. He is a bitter divorcee of the "stuffed shirt" variety. How these 2 people from different parts of the planet even begin a romance is worth the read. I recommend my very first Harlequin Presents!

Back Cover - Justine Montgomery desperately needed a loan, otherwise she and her mom would be out on the street. So she steeled herself to ask handsome millionaire banker Marcus Osborne for help. Marcus had no illusions about the Justines of this world. He could tell just by looking at her that she was a gold digger, out to target a rich husband. Just like his ex-wife.....but Marcus was also glad when Justine told him she'd do anything if he'd lend her money, because he desired her - badly. He'd give her the finances she wanted, and she'd repay him in bed!

Talk about your untrusting jerks.....this one makes a real turnaround as he figures out that Justine is as sweet and trustworthy as she looks and acts. Great read. Very passionate.

This book was awesome. I really enjoyed it. It had an interesting plot and facinating characters.

I have been a fan of Miranda Lee's for the past 2 years. I have collected as much of her work as I can. She writes beautifully. Her characters are smart, intense, complex and very sensual. She writes about things that are very real in the world today. I love her style of writing. Don't let the synopsis on the back of the book fool you this is not a story of a man that takes advantage of a young women caught in a vunerable position. This is a story of to adults that overcome many obstacles to find true love. The characters are smart and they respect each other, as the author always respects the reader.

This is a Wonderful Book, although it burst my Bubble a few years ago. I consider this book to be a *very* important addition to any Occultist or Esoteric Freemason's library.

In 1991, I joined "The Brotherhood of Light," based in CA, (currently going by the name of "The Church of Light") and I thought I had joined a prestigious Occult organization. Their history was documented back to T.H. Burgoyne and the organization was "reformed" by C.C. Zain (aka Elbert Benjamine), but prior to this time period, they claimed lineage from "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor."

The BofL newsletters had pictures of Max Theon, etc., and the organization was supposedly founded upon "The Light of Egypt, Vol. I & II," by T.H. Burgoyne, after a period of time in-which they were supposedly named "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor." However, "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor: Initiatic and Historical Documents of an Order of Practical Occultism," by Joscelyn Godwin, et al, disputes the CofL/BofL connection to "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Light."
With all this Pedigree stuff, I thought I was a member of a Big Deal occult organization.... then, when the internet age hit, I was utterly baffled by the fact that NO ONE took the CofL/BofL seriously.....
....until, I read this book!
Basically, all the bizarre and nonsensical aspects of the organization I had Previously held afiliation with suddenly made-sense.
"The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor: ....," by Joscelyn Godwin, et al, really opened my eyes and saved me a lot of money.
Luckily, I had not sunk much money into the organization--a very small amount, in fact, due to scepticism on a local level.
I strongly recommend this book to Occult Practitioners and Esoteric Freemasons. Waite's "Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry" is also very enlightening in regards to these organizations and "T.H. Burgoyne" and "Max Theon."
Apparently, Mr. T.H. Burgoyne was quite a shyster !
This historical account of "The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor" really helped me out, prevented numerous headaches, and saved me a lot of money.
It seems that "T.H. Burgoyne's" motto of "Omnia Vincit Veritas" was rather self-defeating.

This book really goes back to the beginnings of occultism. I would suggest reading
Paschal Beverly Randolph: A Nineteenth-Century Black American Spiritualist, Rosicrucian, and Sex Magician (Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions)
first, however; as you will get more out of it if you have a context to put it in.
Enjoy!

This book really goes back to the beginnings of occultism. I would suggest reading
Paschal Beverly Randolph: A Nineteenth-Century Black American Spiritualist, Rosicrucian, and Sex Magician (Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions)
first, however; as you will get more out of it if you have a context to put it in.
Enjoy!

The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor has become "en vogue" lately among certain circles of occultists and occult historians. This book, unlike others written by persons of questionable academic reputation, gives a complete and unbiased account of the HBL, its structure, system, and personalities.

Complete and concise, contains several useful documents including sources for high degree OTO materials, this book is a must-have in the library of any serious occultist.

The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor was a fraternal order founded in the 19th century by the enigmatic Max Theon. People like Max Theon are usually described as 'enigmatic' or 'shadowy' and with good reason. But this book goes a long way toward shedding some light on Theon, Peter Davidson, Paschal Beverly Randolph, Emma Hardinge Britten, and others, all of whom had a great deal to do with the channeling of the American current of Magick. The research conducted by the authors' is truly impressive, although it simply left me hungry for more information. (Mr. Deveney has also written a marvelous biography of the mystic and seer, P.B. Randolph.) Read carefully, however, this book provides the background to the secret history of our times.

A Highly Placed Source is a whirling satire. The ride starts with an ordinary moment and swells (ahem) into a giant thunderstorm that zings lighnting bolts at all deserving targets -- Big Media, Big Church, and Pretentious Politicians. Using a mix of sex and schools as its flashpoint (like "The Abstinence Teacher"), A Highly Placed Source plunders the material for humor, exposing self-righteousness and opportunism at every turn. On the day I was finishing this book, the local newspaper published a story about a 13-year-old girl who had prayed to God for guidance on another hot-button issue and had immediately launched a political campaign based on "his" advice and guidance. Somewhere, Michelle Dally must be laughing -- and wondering whether Gail Abernathy isn't about to be sent out another crazy assignment. A Highly Placed Source takes nothing seriously. The skewers are many and they are all piping hot. (Full disclosure here that Michelle Dally is somebody I met recently through writing friends in Denver.)

In A Highly Placed Source, 12-year old Peter Banks declares that God has spoken to him and revealed that a Congresswoman's staffer and a hospice nurse will witness miracles. What ensues is a wild ride through the worlds of politics, the media and religion. Dally takes you deep inside these institutions, then skewers their hypocrisy and self-importance with intelligent glee, reminding me a lot of Tom Wolfe's novels (Bonfire of the Vanities, A Man in Full, I Am Charlotte Simmons--take your pick). Ultimately, she makes the case for infusing society with compassion and understanding. This book made me laugh out loud, and once I started it, I couldn't put it down.

A fantastic book with great humor that thoughtfully engages aspects of both
true and false religious piety in a highly satisfying manner. If you liked John Irving's "The Cider House Rules", you will LOVE "A Highly Placed Source"!

This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think about what really constitutes a miracle.

It's a normal day at Rory Middle School until twelve-year-old Peter Banks finds himself caught between his raging hormones, a voyeuristic bully, and God. This smart and always-funny novel explores what happens when a young boy's earnest prayer turns a nation upside down. When Peter relays God's message that in just seven days miracles will occur to prove His existence, not one institution can resist jumping on the bandwagon. The orbiting worlds of media, religion, and politics collide, leaving everyone to question what faith really means. Biting social satire and characters to love are just part of Dally's whirlwind adventure.

Sharp satire and a winning story about newspaper reporter and a twelve-year old who makes national news and then suffers the consequences. If you ever wanted to know how a 'big story' gets played out on TV and in national newspapers, this is a fun way to find out - but be forewarned, it's not pretty. Both Gail, the reporter, and Peter, the kid at the center of the story, are likable and real. The story includes fictional political and media leaders in Denver that make you wonder who Dally was remembering while she wrote - this would make a great holiday gift for a Coloradan who's interested in politics. A great book that reads fast because you can't put it down.

If I had to get one book for home schooling this would be it. Good practical reviews, humor and a friendly warmth. I have read it from front to back more than once.

This review pertains to the third edition, published in 2000.

At almost 500 pages with its large page size, this book has a lot of information. This is a combination/collection of essays by two homeschooling parents (one now deceased, sadly). The book and product reviews are interspersed amongst essays and stories about their homeschooling experiences and philosophies. There are reviews of books, audio tapes, kits, etc. There are lists of magazines, catalogs, and other publications such as free materials available mostly from government agencies. It is partly a catalog since many of the items may be purchased directly from the authors who are also the publishers and also their own mail order catalog business.

What I enjoyed first was the essays and stories of how they homeschooled and why, and how their philosophies sometimes changed over time. Some of the reviews are lengthy and tell how they used that product and how much their children liked it and why. The reviews I like the most are the longer ones in which pros and cons are both mentioned. The reviews I liked least were the short one sentence summaries that really didn't contain any personal opinion. Overall, the reviews are positive in nature so it can be hard to pick out which book may appeal to me. Since so many items are reviewed I do understand that space is limited and the author has a limit on not wanting to include the reviews that are only negative in nature (although I'd find that equally helpful and it may save me money). The book has a tone of "if you don't have anything nice to say the don't say anything". I also wish there was a bit more commentary such as "this book is strong in this area while the next book is strong in this different area". One example is for different books for preschoolers on topics of shapes, colors, counting, etc. There was some overlap in areas and then the review didn't tell enough for me to decide which of the featured items I would prefer.

Some other negatives: I found it hard to pick out the age ranges for the books; topics are mostly by major subject such as science, reading, etc. There are no headers or footers to tell what category you are "in" when the pages are open. Kits are mixed with books, etc. in some cases which can get confusing. Margins are very narrow and don't allow much room for making notations such as which books I decided to buy. Sometimes it is hard to tell where one item ends and the next begins. Sometimes the organization is confusing such as an entry for a website with good homeschooling information mixed in with book reviews (without some kind of sidebar). The copyright free illustrations can get annoying and sometimes make the book seem overly cluttered.

As the mother of a three year old and a baby, I found this book severely lacking in book reviews for babies and preschoolers. (Despite the authors claiming this book begins with birth-aged materials.) Many books that I have found very helpful for parenting, general reading books, and preschool aged activity books were just missing.

Areas I found of most interest were the reviews of books on history and how to teach reading. These were two areas that I was worried about dealing with as a homeschooling mother. I was glad for the guidance toward the useful books.

Despite my complaints the book has been very helpful and inspiring for me. I have a long wish list made now! Going through the book more than once, I now value this as more of a reference tool. It is worth every penny and I highly recommend it to all homeschoolers especially if you compare the cost of this book to books you may have bought that ended up being useless. The fact that this is self-published by a homeschooling mother is incredible and to be commended.

Many times there were great reviews of books when I have been unable to find reviews online.

I am recommending this to all my homeschooling friends. Would also make a great reference book for teachers and public libraries.

This book would be worth 5 stars for the product reviews. But there is so much more! This "whole earth catalog" of homeschooling is a gentle reminder that homeschooling can be seen as a lifestyle, or even as a worldview, and that education is just one small part of the larger process of building a family and living in the world.

Jean has been there! Even the product reviews are written from the point of view of life experience, and the essays, sometimes pithy, sometimes humorous, sometimes moving, and sometimes all three at once, cover everything from birth to death, an examination of a life well-lived.

This has long been my favorite homeschooling book, and the Third Edition just makes it even better. When they pick up this book, users of packaged learning approaches such as The Well-Trained Mind will immediately discover how much they have been missing!

The Home School Source Book, 3rd Edition, By Jean and Donn Reed

How to describe this one-of-a-kind book? Imagine touring a huge educational supply or book store (from your favorite chair) with a knowledgeable guide trailing at your elbow, a guide whose sole purpose is to help you find materials that work for you. That is how I experience this book every time I open it. I can practically hear Jean or Donn whispering in my ear.

Whether you are a homeschooling parent putting together your curriculum or a parent seeking to supplement a classroom education, this book will ease your journey and open your eyes.

The Home School Source Book is so much more than a resource book --- it is an educational odyssey, a how-to, a philosophy, as well as a resource and catalog, all rolled into one. Many, many materials are thoughtfully reviewed and practical suggestions for using those materials are included. Comments and essays, liberally sprinkled throughout the subject resources, cover a tremendous scope of "life subjects."

What I like best, I think, is that the Reeds assume that readers are thinking people who do not need to be told what to do. So instead of lectures, we are treated to friendly conversations and gentle debates over homeschooling issues of importance to the Reed family, materials they have used, materials others have found useful, all seasoned with surprising facts and interesting tidbits of knowledge. You may not agree with the Reeds, but you will be moved to think about the ideas they present. In the end, that is what homeschooling is all about, isn't it?

I bought this book 5 years ago, and it proved to be one of the best resource books I have ever seen for home schoolers. Not only does it fill every possible need a home schooler could have, but Mr. Reed's thoughts on home schooling and its benefits are found throughout the book, and are quite enjoyable and informative to read. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting vast information, sources and supplies for home schooling.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a realistic look at life on the mission field in Papua New Guinea.

The book focuses on different problems that came up while translating the Bible into the Folopa language; it also shares the interesting ways they were solved. (Ex. Discovering the indigenous words for concepts like love and trust while hiking through the jungle and hunting for bats in a cave.)

"In Search of the Source" is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in missions, Bible translation, Papua New Guinea, or simply learning more about other cultures.

Neil Anderson is a great guy to work with. The Folopa people are great people to be with. The little narrow ridge they live on is hard to get to. The book as well as Carol's book give a good insight into what it is really like in PNG in the Folopa villages. Neil is great to talk to and work with. Him and his wife are great Christian people to be around. It is a great book to read. Enjoy it.

Neil is a powerful speaker with a heart for conveying God's truth. The stories in this book display the power and insights being revealed to people looking for the Truth. Good, easy reading with humor and insight scattered throughout.

Neil's book gave me a look into the life of another culture, as well as to the misunderstandings that come about through cross-cultural ministry. See also his wife's side of the story: "Do You Know What You Are Doing, Lord?" by Carol Lee Anderson.

Not very many modern day people spend over two decades living with the most primitive people on earth in the highland jungles of Papua New Guinea. Neil Anderson tastes unusual "treats," hunts for bats with bow and arrow, deals with medical realities, and translates the Bible into a formely unwritten language. Observing life from this perspective while endeavoring to communicate universal truths in the process, Anderson draws images that stay imprinted on your mind and become a part of your heart!

Like thousands of Americans, I have heard Anderson in person; he is a masterfull storyteller. I've read "In Search of the Source" at least three times since it was first published, and learn new insights each time through. The most amazing thing to me about the main theme, the "bete" of life as found in the unforgiving tropics, is how applicable the same truths are to my own experiences found amongst the stone and glass urban jungle where I live!