Ethics Books

This excellent and well-researched book follows the history of Christian reflection on the human embryo. Focusing mostly on abortion, although also discussing some of the issues arising from IVF and embryo research, David Jones traces the history of thought about the status of the unborn through the Jewish tradition, Greek and Roman thought and Christian theology through the ages.

His wide-ranging research and masterful summaries of the various positions set out the groundwork for an understanding of the issues. His book shows that Christians have generally been fairly consistent in their outlook over the centuries but issues such as the "soul" and the moment at which an embryo becomes a human being are deeply complex and still very much under discussion.

An excellent resource for those interested in ethics and the theology and history around them.

This is a very detailed account of the status of a human embryo throughout history. It does a good job of giving a detailed account of different thinkers throughout the ages and their impact on the Christian view of a human embryo. Often I think it can be too detail oriented and does a rather rushed job on getting all the facts to mesh together. But overall I would consider this a good read for those looking to dig deeper into the Christian tradition of the fetus.

Dr David Jones has provided a thoughtful and scholarly contribution to the debate on the status of the human embryo, an issue which has renewed significance in contemporary bioethics. The Soul of the Embryo is a meticulous and exhaustive investigation of Christian reflection on the embryo, drawing upon a rich collection of theological, legal, scientific and philosophical sources over the centuries. The book clarifies Christian teaching on the subject, and unquestionably succeeds in its aim of illuminating the origin and deeper meaning of human existence. It is a significant and highly recommended work which should have universal appeal to all with an interest in ethics at the beginning of life.

This valuable book is a much needed corrective to the seemingly endless and fruitless misconceptions about traditional Church teaching on the status of the embryo. By adopting a historical approach to the question of the moral status of early human life, Jones outlines, with cogent argumentation, the consistency and care with which the the Church has approached ethical problems at the beginning of life. As well as demolishing some misconceptions about past thought on the status of the embryo, Jones deepens our understanding of what questions are at stake when considering the nature of personhood. The book, by looking at these questions historically, philosophically and theologically, gives an object lesson in how to use different resources in a mutually enlightening way.

This well-written and engaging work should be required reading for all who are interested in seriously debating bioethical problems at the beginning of life.

A timely contribution to the Law. Without soul we are nothing. The pain and loss many lawyers are confronting and the open hostility in the law by consumers has to change. This work is a start of a journey to renew the law's soul. Best Practice may be the bridge between the lawyer and the consumer thereby helping to heal the soul of the law? I would welcome comment on this point.

A timely contribution to the Law. Without soul we are nothing. The pain and loss many lawyers are confronting and the open hostility in the law by consumers has to change. This work is a start of a journey to renew the law's soul. Best Practice may be the bridge between the lawyer and the consumer thereby helping to heal the soul of the law? I would welcome comment on this point.

This book is a must read for anyone who ever contemplates the law or being a lawyer. Especially for anyone thinking about attending law school! Sells, along with Thomas Moore, relates the imaginative language of Archetypal Psychology to the mainstream in this insightful discourse.

A must read for lawyers and law students. Wow! I first read Benjamin Sell's extraordinarily crafted "Soul of the Law" -- part anthropological study, part social commentary, part psychological self-help book -- as a young lawyer fresh out of a judicial clerkship, while searching for a firm job. It blew me away! What a grim portrait of the legal profession; of lawyers; of our legal system. Grim...Yes. But very telling! Had I read this book prior to enrolling in law school, I probably would never have went. With three years of my life invested, and a hundred-or-so grand in education loans to pay back, I deduced that I had no choice but to land that firm job. But the lawyer of today does not have to let his career consume him, the book ultimately teaches us. Purpose and fullfilment are, believe it or not, out there...maybe. "Soul of the Law" conjures the queries: Is it the dysfunctional profession that breeds dysfunctional lawyers, or did the egg come before the chicken? How do these undeniable professional dysfunctions impact the American justice system? Is the profession on a slippery slope to hell, or is there hope? Can a lawyer today lead a quiet, normal, happy life in spite of the profession's dysfunctions? If you're a lawyer, real "Soul of the Law". You'll relate! If you're a law student or a candidate for law school, you'll run for cover!

A sourcebook that has daily implications. Used and read on a daily basis. I dont think you will outgrow the concepts available for you to try it on yourself and anybody else.

Each element is relevant and challenging, complete in its description and yet flexible enough for you to experiment. I plan to have it as a constant companion.

I find this book immensely helpful as a resource for the 77 NLP Patterns, and also because of the NLP introduction at the beginning.
L.M.Hall outlines the different levels at which we process information highlighting the truth about sub-modalities. He then goes on to describe, "The Mechanism of Change" and how the magic works.
With each pattern he provides an explanation of when to use it and precisely how.
An excellent resource for those who, like me, need all the patterns in one book.

Those of you who missed the 1st edition of this excellent book, there is now a second chance to pick up this modern classic.

The premise of the work is that many NLP books are available that contain, within extensive "padding", only a few patterns, some books just one or two. Hall achieves his goal of separating the wheat from the chaff admirably with all the objectivity of a Haynes car manual leaving this pragmatic work refreshingly academic yet accessible. Like a cookbook it is reference driven allowing the practitioner access to these powerful patterns without the contingency of having to wade into battle against the author's literary aspirations.

What are these patterns?
Most of these patterns are primarily action orientated, simple exercises to be run through step by step with regard to specific ends. The other few are, more fundamentally, explanations of NLP assumptions, such as the principle of well formed outcomes.

Hall begins by introducing the reader to an overview of NLP and levels-of-processing that is indispensable, as within the instructions to the patterns he falls back on a few technical concepts with out further explanation, such as "test and future pace".

Then we come the patterns themselves, organised roughly according to their level of processing, the book allows you to easily select a pattern for your goal. Included patterns are; collapsing anchors, resolving internal conflict, chaining states, becoming intentionally compelled, responding to criticism, healthy eating, spinning icons.....

The second edition adds to the first; some simplification of the procedures and a little more detail as to the cognitive / behavioural mechanisms used in the patterns, and a deserved revision of the introduction. In the first (and second) edition Hall asserts that there may be as many as 200 distinct patterns and surely some that haven't been invented (or should that be discovered?) yet. So I was expecting some new patterns in the 2nd ed. but it's the original 77.
I don't know how I would start to define the distinction of a unique pattern (as opposed to a variant) anyway. I find it unlikely that at a computational - cognitive level there are 200 modes of action, so it's safe to assume the all of the building blocks are here for you. Hall hints that, a list of patterns touted as "exhaustive", would promote dogma and stagnate inventive development, through his legitimate assertion that all the patterns are largely prototypical and are easily extended and adapted.

Without being overly complex, this book is dense.

I bought this book recently, and even working on the first pattern, I noticed a significant mental shift, when I ran the pattern through my own neurology. I have used that pattern many times, and just feel very calm. It could also be called the Law of Attraction pattern.

A complaint of many NLP books is that they are difficult to read or the concepts are difficult to grasp. I can assure that this book is not difficult to follow, if you have a basic grasp of NLP. I highly recommend it.

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Fr. Pinckaers' book is a wonderful overview of Christian ethics, calling for a renewal in the methodology of moral theologians. I've found it to be good, though laborious, spiritual reading. He gives an overview of Christian ethics, followed by a history of the study of moral theology from the age of the Patristics. He also covers Ockham's nominalism and how it destroyed the traditional Christian attitude towards morality. Finally, he studies the virtues, freedom and natural law in the tradition of the Fathers and St. Thomas Aquinas. Not leisure reading, but good foundational reading for those who wish to study theology.

Have you ever been to a class on Morality or Ethics at a Church or School, and you were basically told a bunch of "do's and don'ts?" Fr. Pinckaers finally revealed to me why so many leave the Church and why so many are bored with Morality. He traces for us a brief history of Ethics and Morality and shows how people like William of Ockham and Immanuel Kant destroyed morality by focusing on the Commandments of God instead of the Virtues of God. God is now viewed in modern society as a mere law giver, arbitrary and exacting; whereas in ancient and medival times, climaxing with St. Thomas Aquinas, God was viewed as Father and Laws were regarded as Virtue builders loving instructions to His Children. This text is being used at one of the greatest universities in America, Fransican University of Steubenville in Ohio, in several classes. This is just to attest to its truth, beauty and goodness, which i discovered when reading it as a hobby. I'm 19 years old, i was 18 whenever i purchased it, and i can honestly say that this book will open your eyes to the truth, and you will love every minute of it. Do's and Don't melt away and become What More can i do for you Lord? Get this book now for a more Scriptural, more Scholastic, more Thomistic, more Catholic, more real view of Morality and Ethics, centered around the Sermon on the Mount.

I must concurr with another reviewer that this book is truly excellent in explaining authentic Christian ethics. I am 29 years old and a 2003 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) and can attest to the splendor of this wonderful presentation. If ethics and morality even slightly interest you, then buy this book!!

Fr. Pinckaers book presents a lifetime of research into Catholic Moral Theology from the Patristic era to the present, especially focusing on the atmospher after Trent, and the problems posed by the Protestant Reformation, and Modern Philosophy.

Pinckaers shows us that many manuals of moral theology, while presenting orthodox doctrine, present the wrong reasons for that doctrine. Many books while claiming to follow St. Thomas and his brilliant Virtue Theory, actually are closer to Kant imperative: that virtue is following the Law for the Law's own sake, rather than for the sake of virtue.

As a result many books rely soley on the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) rather than look at them as part of a whole, in light of the Sermon on the Mount.

Pinckaers makes a terrific contribution to Catholic Moral Theology, and examines in great detail the works of Scripture, St. Paul, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and the protestant reformers Luther and Calvin. The book is also not filled with overly technical language. It is written in such a way that an athiest who has never heard an iota about Catholic or Protestant Moral Theology could pick up the book and understand it. Pinckaers is the most emminent moral theologian of our day.

Before I get to my review, can someone out there tell me why this book is out of print? I paid over $100 for it. It was published by a small press here in Austin, and I even called them about it. If you have answer, please write me at .

Some fans of Rand have said that if _Atlas Shrugged_ is ever made into a movie that it should be "updated"--i.e., the passenger train industry should be replaced by passenger airplanes. I think it would quite foolish to tamper with _Atlas_ in such a way. It could also be said that the story of "Atlas Shrugged with Airplanes" has already been written and actually happened.

That story is _Southwest Passage_ by Lamar Muse. Muse was the founding CEO of Southwest Airlines up till 1978. The book also includes many details about his personal life and his other adventures in the airline industry before and after Southwest. The best parts are his years with Southwest, and Muse is rightfully proud of all the things his little airline has accomplished since his departure from the company.

It all started when Herb Kelleher and Rollin King were talking in San Antonio. They decided to start an airline that would simply operate in the triangle formed by Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. In 1967, they got started and immediately found themselves challenged in court by the established carriers of the time--Texas International (based in Houston) and Braniff (based in Dallas). As a result of this "business harassment" (a term used by several judges), Southwest's first flight didn't take off until 18 June 1971.

Southwest was not the first intra-state carrier. Their inspiration had been the California-based Pacific Southwest Airlines which had started in 1949, and they took many of PSA's best ideas. But just like PSA, Southwest was free from the federal regulation of the Civil Aeronautics Board. (See www.catchoursmile.com for the story of PSA.)

In 1972, Muse made a critical decision which set the tone for much of the company's success since that time. Losing money at the time, Muse decided that the best way to raise money was to sell one of their four planes. Maintaining the same staff and scheduled with three planes, Muse then challenged his team to turn (completely unload and reload) planes in TEN MINUTES. It worked, and Southwest still turns planes faster than its competitors today. They have also never furloughed an employee.

Southwest has always viewed its greatest competitor as the automobile and still does today. The stats in this book show this story. Southwest didn't take much business away from the other airlines. Southwest got people who had never flown before to fly.

Muse also tells about their expansion into other Texas cities and more of the other dirty tricks engaged in by the entrenched competitors. Dallas and Houston also did what they could to make life difficult for them. It seems as though Houston has given up, but Dallas (their home city) still probably would rather see Southwest leave town even today.

Then there is the interesting part of federal deregulation. Muse gave a great speech on the subject before Congress. Most of the established carriers (such as American) bitterly opposed deregulation. Only United Airlines favored it.

Southwest is one of America's great business success stories. In terms of passenger numbers, Southwest is America's #1 airline for domestic flights. Their stock price has even outperformed Walmart's during its 35-year history. Southwest has turned a profit every year since 1973 and is the only airline which gets an A credit rating from Standard and Poors. Their leaders have shown that the best way to get rich is to treat employees with respect and dignity and to give customers great service. The good guys won.

Unfortunately, the book has no photographs. It seems to indicate that Muse didn't take many or that many people didn't want to give him any for the book. Maybe he just didn't ask.

I also love this cover.

In making a reservation on Southwest's website last week I noted that they are pushing two books about Southwest, one being "NUTS" and the other "THE SOUTHWEST WAY." There was no mention whatsoever about "SOUTHWEST PASSAGE", one of the best business books I have ever read. Could it be that the true story about Southwest in its early days during which the course was set for its 32 years of profitable operations, as told in SOUTHWEST PASSAGE, is so totally different from the tales told in the other books by the airline's current executives that SOUTHWEST PASSAGE has been blackballed? I know nothing about the authors of the three books, but I do know that Lamar Muse was there on the scene and can prove everything he says in SOUTHWEST PASSAGE while the authors of the other two books were probably still just gleams in their fathers' eyes.

This book was very interesting in relation to the history of several airlines. It covers Lamar and his stints at Trans-Texas, American, Southern, Central, Universal, Southwest, and even covers some of Muse Air. Too bad no pictures were included.

There's been a lot of blather written about Southwest, including _Nuts_ and _The Southwest Way_. My opinion is that most of these books are written by people who don't know much about the airline business and who are trying to push their pet management theory. I'm a professional airline analyst, for what that's worth.

Muse was actually there and made it happen as the first CEO of Southwest.

Is it a perfect book? No. Muse is opinionated, and you're definitely getting his side of the story. But he's up front about that and doesn't pretend otherwise. It's also as much about him as it is about Southwest, but that's interesting too. He's had quite an eventful life, and his prior experience is totally relevant to what happened at Southwest and why. I think he'd be the last to claim that he's lead a perfect existence.

He also quotes liberally from the letters to the board of directors that he wrote every month. These are valuable historical documents, and one hopes that Muse preserves them by donating them to a transportation library somewhere.

Muse isn't a professional writer, but his language is direct and to the point. The book is informative, easy to read and entertaining. Even if it wasn't, it would still be worth reading, given his critical role in the birth of Southwest.

One day, someone will write a serious business history of Southwest. When that happens, Muse's book (and hopefully his letters to the board) will be key source material. In the meantime, this is probably the single most interesting book on the foundation of Southwest.

The ethics and other writings of Spinoza are the works of pure genius. With the utmost logic, Spinoza shows point by point what is meant by God and how he operates. Spinoza shows that what is meant by God is reality itself. This agrees completely with the definition of God given by God himself in the Bible, who said "I am who am." God is reality itself. To say that Spinoza proved atheism by this book is to beg the question. Everyone who is intrested in knowing who and what God is, should read this book. He also shows what our relation to God should be. One of the greatest books on philosophy ever written.

Curley does a decent job of translating Spinoza, although his penchant for identifying the Latin vocabulary with English cognates, almost without exception, sometimes lacks sensitivity to the content at hand. Both his introductory essay and selection of texts illustrate his peculiar, if not intriguing, analytical interpretation of Spinoza. For beginning readers of Spinoza, these issues will certainly not obstruct the view of Spinoza's extraordinary system. Advanced students who have not mastered their Latin, should consult Shirley or, dare I say, Elwes, for additional perspective on Spinoza's ideas.

This literally wonderful introduction to one of the world's great philosophers by one of his major English translators can be a revelation. It concentrates on The Ethics, the work in which Spinoza lays down his thoughts on God and emotions "geometrically." Spinoza took time out from this, his major work, to write the Theological-Political Treatise-a work which, by showing the Bible to be an historical document tied to its time, helped usher in the modern, free state with its separation of church and state, freedom of speech and freedom to worship. Spinoza's ancestors were persecuted in the Spanish Inquisition, moving to Portugal and then to Holland, which showed more toleration; yet Spinoza's own beliefs, based on the universality of reason, the proto-scientific philosophy of Descartes, and the political requirement for freedom to understand the universe without autocratic nincompoops who didn't know what they were talking about, led him to be excommunicated from the Dutch community of Portuguese Jews when he was 24. The Theological-Political Treatise meant at first for a small circle of Dutch Protestant friends, was a key document in the 17th century and that eventually led the civilized world (e.g., the founding fathers of the United States) to realize that, since biblical interpretation depended on a knowledge of history and language, correct understanding of the Bible and God demanded reason. Knowledge of God, as the early, non-institutionalized Protestants realized, was accessible to the individual without clerical interference. It could not be monopolized by a priestly caste but was available to any reader of scripture. Spinoza takes this radical idea one step further, showing that it is not monopolizable by any one sect and, indeed, that it is accessible through inner reflection without even reading the imperfect historical document known as the bible. Spinoza's God is Einstein's God, an awesome, rationally necessary being who does not interfere personally in human affairs. He is far too big for that. Indeed, "He" is impersonal, infinite in comparison to man's finitude. Spinoza argues, not always completely persuasively or without contradiction, that God can be intuited from first principles (he is a "substance" with "infinite attributes") as formally as Euclid could deduce that all triangles add up to two right angles. Ironically-due to the importance the Treatise had as arguably the most important single document in safeguarding the future of freedom to worship and the separation of church and state-Spinoza in the Ethics argues against freedom. Everything we do is necessary, since God, who includes all space ("extension" in Cartesian thought) and thought, is rationally constructed. There is no room for probability, choice, or non-causal factors. (This may be why Einstein to his death doubted that "He...plays dice"-i.e., the intrinsic statistical factor in quantum physics.) In a famous letter (# 58, to Schhuller for Tschirnhaus, included here) Spinoza argues that a thrown stone "while it continue[s] to move....is conscious only of its striving, and not at all indifferent, it will believe itself to be free, and to persevere in motion for no other cause than because it wills to. And this is that famous human freedom which everyone brags of having, and which consists only in this: that men are conscious of their appetite and ignorant of the causes by which they are determined." Although what appears to us as evil is made inevitable by this deep suggestion that free will is an illusion unbefitting of the real God (whose manifestation as thought and extension, the spiritual and the physical, are the two of his infinite attributes most accessible to us) accessible to reason, Spinoza adds (p. 269) "what of it? for evil men are no less to be feared, nor are they any less destructive, when they are necessarily evil."
Spinoza argues that primitive religious ideas and poetic language mask the beatitude of a God almost, but not quite coterminous with nature, who is far too great to be made in man's image. He is based on necessary principles, such as the sort intuited by Einstein in the thought experiments that led 100 years ago to the relativity of space and time and the convertibility of mass and energy-to nuclear weapons and the Nobel Peace Prize. We are part of nature. Although I take issue with Spinoza's (and Descartes', whom he was following) claim that nature never acts "for the sake of some end" (p. 198)-because the second law of thermodynamics clearly leads systems to end-states of equilibrium-it is fascinating to see how this deep prejudice-a tonic against superstitious humanity's earlier over-reliance on the concept of divine will-comes into nature. And I agree that final causes play no role in a truly infinitely existing being, as Spinoza posits of God (p. 198): "That eternal and infinite being we call God, or Nature, acts from the same necessity from which he exists. For we have shown...that the necessity of nature from which he acts is the same as that from which he exists. The reason, thereofore, or cause, why God, or nature, acts, and the reason why he exists, are one and the same. As he exists for the sake of no end, he also acts for the sake of no end. Rather, as he has no principle or end of existing, so he also has none of acting. What is called a final cause is nothing but a human appetite insofar as it is considered as a principle, or primary cause, of some thing." God-manifesting to our limited senses as Nature-is not to be taken personally. He is too great for that. One of the great documents in the west, key to understanding the progress of both religion and science.

This volume of excerpts from Spinoza's writings, selected and translated by Edwin Curley, provides a surprisingly accessible overview of the life and thought of rationalism's greatest "saint." Curley's translations are crisp, clear and accurate, and his selections well-chosen. The reader unfamiliar with Spinoza and with no background in philosophy is advised to begin with Roger Scruton's _Spinoza_ volume in the Past Masters series, also available from Amazon, and then move on to this extremely helpful volume.

Hackett generally produce very good editions of the works of the major Western philosophers. This edition of Spinoza includes his 'ethics' and other key works, including his essays on theology and philosophy and his 'Theological-Political' treatise.

Spinoza is rightly said to be a pantheist, in the sense he didn't believe in the transcendant God of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. In fact Spinoza is bitterly critical of all three of these religions (especially Judaism and Christianity) because in his view they made preposterous and ridiculous claims which could not be supported by reason or science. For this, he was hated as an 'atheist' by Christians and Jews and was excommunicated from his family synagogue (he had been born a Jew).

But, at the same time it is perfectly correct to call him a 'God-intoxicated man', and of the great modern Philosophers between Descartes and Kant, he offers in my view the most profoundly beautiful religious and philosophical image of the cosmos and all that is in it.

Spinoza believes there is ultimately really only one and only one reality, which he calls God. God in Spinoza's view is a single, perfect, eternal and infinite Being, of which our universe is but one 'mode.' God because of his infinity has infinite modes, or infinitely many ways of being existent. We, or rather our universe and our minds, are simply two modes of this perfect substance which is Reality.

Spinoza's grand thought comes close to the One of the Neo-Platonists or the Brahman of Hindu philosophy, and he would probably read the Upanishads with some delight (though he would attack Hindu religion). In a way the way we see the world is an illusion, including our belief that we have free will. Spinoza is also a rigid determinst, and he constructs a fascinating examination of the human mind and its inner drives and motives which in many ways anticipates Nietzsche and Freud.

For Spinoza, the highest happiness in this life is to love and contemplate God. For Spinoza, this love is not emotional but intellectual. He felt it was absurd (as Christians believed) that God was like a personal father who loves us and favours us with his providence; but it was the highest and most beautiful thing to love God, the most perfect thing, with the mind. Indeed because our own mind is one of God's modes, a part of us is eternal in this sense and by contemplating God and our mind, we partake in the eternal.

Spinoza also wrote a brilliant critical study of the Bible, pioneering the method of scientific historical criticism which would later dominate 18th and 19th century Christian scholarship and would pave the way for our modern concepts of scientific history, which are applied to all things including sacred texts. He showed many flaws and absurdities of the time, and also believed Moses could not have written the Pentateuch in the way as traditionally believed.

Unfortunately Spinoza's philosophy was not without its flaws. In some ways his agressive criticism of religion and the mystical accelerated the hostile break between science, philosophy and religion which proceeded in the 17th century onwards and was effectively complete in the West by the 20th century. While striving for unity in every aspect of his thought, Spinoza had a rather cold and bleak view of nature and of animals, feeling only humans mattered morally and creatures could not feel real pain. And, his somewhat dogmatic approach to philosophy paved the way for Kant's extreme reaction against metaphysics, and its pretensions to know All.

Yet Spinoza has had a very important influence on many great Philosophers and even scientists such as Einstein. Indeed, Einstein himself probably had Spinoza's God in mind when he said 'Science without religion is lame' and 'The Lord is subtle, but not malicious.' Today his most important legacy is his comprehensive vision of all things as a single unity, a view which we can use today in our contemplation of ourselves and our relation to Reality.

Another Amazon reviewer has commented on the excellence of this edition, and the great convenience of having all of Spinoza's work in one volume.
Spinoza is generally acknowledged to be one of the major Western philosophers. Will Durant said of him that he was the only great philosopher who actually lived in accordance with his teaching.
My own somewhat mixed feelings in regard to him relate to the fact that he was the first great Biblical critic, the one who seemingly showed so many contradictions in the text. And that he too was driven from the Jewish community of Amsterdam.
My theological quarrel with him is based on my own belief in the Biblical personal conception of G-d. This conception was of course denied by Spinoza who saw the Divine as in some sense the Nature of Nature itself. Spinoza was God- intoxicated in the way that a latter day student of his , Einstein was, in that he saw in the very structure and laws of Nature, the Divine itself.
Most complete works of great intellectual and literary figures contain much which no one will ever read except perhaps scholars in the field. Spinoza does not have a vast opus, but most of his readers will know him through only one small work, the work which gives the essence of his philosophical thought, "The Ethics' My guess is that few read the theological work today, or even Spinoza's political thought.
Nonetheless a complete works is a wonderful opportunity for any reader. One can find little corners of insight all one's own. One can skim through and come upon hidden treasures in ideas. This is especially so with Spinoza.
A ' complete works ' of this kind is thus likely to be a very valuable edition to the library of anyone concerned with philosophy , wisdom and the understanding of the history of human thought.

I heartily recommend this edition to every true Spinozist, for several reasons. First, it contains every significant work by Spinoza, even his Hebrew grammar and his study of Descartes' philosophy. Second, it is a surprisingly compact book, considering that it is nearly 1,000 pages long. Finally, and most important, Samuel Shirley's translations are delightfully readable. The book is ably annotated, with a short introduction.

The paper flyleaf is fragile, so if you are going to carry the book around with you, I suggest investing in a cover for it. (This book is not cheap, after all, and you must protect your investment.)

Scholars, students and those who just plain love philosophy should be overjoyed at the release of this volume of Spinoza's collected works, the first in English. The Shirley translation is excellent, easy to follow, and much smoother in general than E.M. Curley's Cartesian-anchored exposition. Until this volume came along I was using three different editions of his collected works. I cannot describe the pleasure of having all Spinoza's works at my fingertips. It pays to be able to consolidate.

The Hackett edition is study, the pages quite thick considering such a lengthy volume, and sewn with thread, ensuring a lasting product, especially comforting considering the price asked. Still, it is a bargain when compared with the Curley edition published by Princeton. Volume Two of that edition has not even been published, though Volume One has been out for quite some time. If you love Spinoza and want to consolidate your collection into one volume, you can't go wrong with the Shirley translation.

This book reviews all the major issues related to job stress and gives very practical, concrete ways to cope. Anyone who experiences job stress could benefit from the knowledge and advise contained in these pages. I highly recommend it!

I have always felt a lot of stress in my job and could never feel that I was very calm at work. Dr. Arden provides numerous tips on how to cope beginning with yourself and then your job environment to help alleviate stress. I have used some of his tips and have now felt more relaxed at work.

This book helped me learn to deal with the stress of multi-tasking. As a teacher I have to deal with parents, administrators, as well as students without being overwhelmed This book gave great hints about how to cope with it all.

This straightforward book helps readers understand the overwhelming feelings associated with anxiety and the working environment. It has more helpful coping strategies than most books of its kind on the market. The book contains a wide range of topics: causes of anxiety, coping with attacks, nutrition, psychological approaches, relaxation, holistic and pharmaceutical treatments. The short chapters make it agreeable to busy schedules. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to make a positive change in his or her life.

I found this book really interesting. It holds no punches on what's happening in the workplace. It confirms a lot of what I've seen. Best of all the book offers a great deal of advice on many many subjects. Each piece of advice is set up in what the author calls, "Tips". There are over 80 of these, and I found these insightful and of help at work.

You can't go wrong with the conversational tone and the stories...many of them are very funny personal stories about the author. If you work, you should read this book.

Swapping Lies! is an excellent addition to my list of "must-haves" business books. I'm keeping this on my desk so that I can reference the "tips" throughout the book.
This book is both serious business advice and very humorous anecdotes of business life. The book is an easy read and it is written in a conversational tone that held my interest throughout. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the stories. I highly recommend this book.

This is a great workplace behavioral guide for today's employee. Marc's writing style provides a near individualized instructional guide for all levels of employees. His broad experience and keen insight allows Marc to provide the ethical guidance so badly needed in todays work environment. This book has great educational value for management and non-management personnel in the range of small to large work environments.

This is a great book for helping management be aware of what could be happening by employees. Funny as well as helpful in todays workplace security needs. An easy read.
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The "Honest Truth" (or, more accurately, Reactionary Bias) does not sound as much against homosexuality as he does unsafe sexual behavior, which many, many gay men do not engage in. Heterosexuals do a lot of stupid stuff too, but we do not blame heterosexuality, we blame the self-destructive behavior. What HT fails to explain in his review is this: How do you account for all the gay men out there (myself included, HELLO) who are not promiscuous and risk-taking in their personal lives? I'd like to here the "honest truth" about that! Oh, and by the way, what makes straight people always think they're such authorities on gays and lesbians? If you want to find a real expert, look no further than an actual gay person. What a concept.

I am a gay ordained minister of the gospel, and this book helped me accept my homosexuality. It is suberbly written and researched. A must for anyone coming out, and a definite must for any minsiter workign with the gay community. God bless the author.

I am a gay ordained minister of the gospel, and this book helped me accept my homosexuality. It is suberbly written and researched. A must for anyone coming out, and a definite must for any minsiter workign with the gay community. God bless the author.

I got this book for my birthday one year after finding it on the shelf at a bookstore. Being a part of the minority group of gay Christians, I was intrigued. The "target audience" for the book is for homosexuals and their loved ones, but it really could be read by anyone, and I think it should be. McNeill offers theology on living in fear, guilt, shame, anger, and living with pathological faith and the importance of maturing spiritually. I think any Christian can relate to any (if not all) of these topics, and not just struggling gay Christians. It's the kind of book that you may want to read with a pencil or pen in your hand so you can underline parts that are important to you. (That's what I did.) This is a caring, humble, and comforting book, and one that I highly recommend and cherish.