Ethics Books

This book is so engrossing and illuminating it is a must-read for Christians and non-Christians alike. It allows you to delve into subjects that were never touched before such as why things are done the way they are when concerning our ethical choices and values. The conclusion sums the whole book together perfectly when Andrew Fiala states that we must strive to construct universal values that are essential to a good human life without descending into complete relativism. Fiala touches on all sides of the ethical debate, from relativists and nihilists to fundamentalists and humanists. After reading this book I have found I am much closer to discovering the ultimate truth regarding humanity's place in the universe and our views (or lack of) on duality.

The book is very good. I've read it lots of times and will pass it along for others. G.S.

If you are tired of an excessively emotional approach to religion that asks you to turn off your mind, you will find this book to be a refreshing alternative. The author guides the reader in applying clear reasoning techniques in thinking about a myriad of issues regarding Jesus in historic and religious contexts. If taken seriously, this process should enable the reader to become an active participant in an original and legitimate process of critical interpretation rather than being a passive receiver of the culture's religious messages and mandates. These experiences will assist the reader in developing a more meaningful, authentic, and richer relationship to these traditional materials. Highly recommended.

I read this collection of sermons in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. And I wished I could have heard them. This message is powerful (of course! It's got the power of the Creator of the universe behind it!) and practical. These words grasp the hurting soul and show a better way, a way out of pain. No sugar coating or shortcuts here.

In looking for a book to give advice to a heartbroken teenage Christian girl - who had fallen into sexual sin- I stumbled upon this treasure. How refreshing to hear from an African American male on this subject. As a female, we can only give girls so much advice, but when the girls hear it from the male point of view, maybe they will believe what Christian mothers have been trying to say to their daughters for years. I also found the book helpful for parents as well. Have your teen read this book as soon as the issue of dating comes up!

It went from curiosity to a life-changing journey. Dr. Thomas has delivered his soul to people struggling with relationship additions. He delivered his heart and faith to the fiber of my feelings. It was during the second reading that I transformed from teacher to pupil. I have taught teens for years the fundamentals of love God's way. Never have I heard so succinctly the truth God's love His way. Melodramas, relationship additions, sex-capades and stuck on stupid are all spelled with care and honesty from an author with an attitude. His book shook my soul and broke my heart. I knew God was dealing with my own weaknesses, then. When God's uses this author in real time, you know a booklet of this caliber has the passion and power of a preacher at large. He delivered his soul and saved mine. Read it and be changed. It may save your relationships.

his book was excellent. I bought it because someone I love and care about has an addiction to pornography. It helped me understand the situation without exposing me to all sorts of dirty images or ideas. It gets right to the point and it offers hope to people who may be struggling with this problem. It has given me some good ideas about how to help my loved one and I am hopeful that after the read it they will have a great desire to change and more hope that they can successfully kick this habit.

This book provided a straight forward and clear assessment of a challenging topic. I work with many youth and found this to be a one of a kind resource - there is not much out there that tackles this issue for teens or young adults (without being inappropriate that is). I would highly recommend it to anyone who is needing a good understanding of this issue or who works with youth or has teens in the home.

What's the Big Deal About Pornography? A Guide for the Internet Generation

Well written and an easy read on an important topic. This book is an excellent resource for youth and youth leaders and parents. It deals with the issue head-on, explaining why pornography is a problem and how it affects individuals, and what can be done to address the problem. The 12 suggestions for parents are particularly helpful.

As a law professor, I thought I knew everything about schadenfreude, but then I read John Portmann's fascinating book, and it made me think about the terrible things that happen to people who deserve to have even worse things happen to them in a completely new light. Why is it that we feel such satisfaction at the misfortunes of others? Portmann explains, in a wonderfully lucid and elegant style, the differences among the various senses in which we view the bad things that might happen, ranging from comedy through true tragedy. This book is a real crossover between scholarship and a delightful read.

The real title of this study might have been something much less appealing, like, Schadenfreude: It's Meaning, Experience and Social Ramification. Or, The Anatomy of Schadenfreude. That would have seriously limited its appeal to the average reader perhaps. (So it's just as well that the title parallels the recently very popular, but not so good, book called When Bad Things Happen to Good People.)
But, the fact is, that really is the content of the book, and fascinating and delightful it is. The prose style is crystal and orderly, almost like a serious dissertation that went through a top-notch editor (although there is a typo here and there, but who's counting?).
This emotion that has no proper English name is dissected not only in a variety of ways, but also at a variety of angles, revealing unexpected relationships between this pecadillo and our construct of justice. For example, Do we take pleasure in the justice that is served when one who "deserves" it gets his/her comeuppance? Or is it that we take pleasure in the knowledge that we were lucky enough to have been spared the same nasty spill of fate? Is Schadenfreude the same thing as malice? What about the element of anticipation? Even if we may not consciously wish any person any harm, but still find it somewhat pleasurable to discover that so-and-so was laid-off or demoted, are we guilty? Why is that some tiny little part of us "dies" when our friends succeed, and do better than we do?
How is Schadenfreude different from envy, malice, jealousy, and resentment?
Questions such as these and many more are carefully examined by cross-referencing Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and modern scholars of ethics, including John Rawls. Complex theme but Portman is a gentleman scholar, goes out of his way (albeit effortlessly) to make clear all his references.

Why do we (sometimes) delight in the suffering of our fellow humans? Should we fell ashamed of schadenfreude and other "outlaw emotions," as the author calls them? John Portmann has produced an elegant and readable meditation on the significance of the pleasure we take in the spectacle afforded by the misfortures of others. Portmann carefully distinguishes schadenfreude from garden variety malice in the course of his examination of what great philosophers and the world's major religions have to tell us about the subject. Throughout the book, the author comes across as brilliant and compassionate, but never dull or stuffy, even when he argues (in the conclusion) that the satisfactions of mercy can be every bit as great as those of revenge. When Bad Things Happen to Other People is an important contribution to the growing literature on human emotions.

This book discusses a taboo in medical research--self-experimentation. The self-experimenters ranged from the oddball to the dedicated, experiments ranged from shots in the dark to well planed out Gives a glimpse into the courage of these men and women. I highly recommend this unusual and thrilling book.

This is a wonderful book about a nearly wholly ignored aspect of medical research - - doctors who are the cutting edge of experimentation. Hopefully it will be in paperback soon

This is one of the few nonfictional books that I have ever read that I have literally had a hard time putting it down. Dr. Altman not only wrote a book of significant importance about the need for self-experimentation, and the history of it...but he wrote it so well that I wanted to know what and who did the next group of experiments. It also explained a lot of procedures I learned about in medical school, but sometimes without the knowledge of the history behind it complete understanding is impossible. The author also explains quite clearly why we can't use just animals in experimentation, and gives numerous illustrations of physicians and scientists who...surprise!...actually think about others compassionately and are able to put themselves in the shoes of the patients. After undergoing an experimental cochlear implant which failed (in its early days), this book makes it a lot easier for me to explain to others why I undertook such a risk and didn't sue when it failed and made me ill. The book also makes clear the need for both patient and doctor awareness of informed consent...for all patients, including those who are disabled or those who lack a complete education. Dr. Altman wrote a book that should definitely be required reading by all medical personnel in ethics classes. Karen L. Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh, klsst23@pitt.edu

In this book, Prof. Janet Smith collects essays written before and after the issuance of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae in 1968 reaffirming the Catholic rejection of contraception. It is a wonderful collection of essays, with my personal favorite being the incisive and crisp essay by the late British philosopher G.E.M. Anscombe (a woman, by the way) who cuts with brilliance through much of the muddled thinking about birth control. Another outstanding essay is by John Crosby on the philosophical personalism of John Paul II. In addition, included is a translation of the encyclical itself by Janet Smith based on the official Latin text.

The prophetic nature of the Church's teaching against contraception is seen in the current approval by some liberal Christians of the gay lifestyle. This outcome is not surprising because once the ban on contraception is rejected, there is no logical basis for objecting to nonprocreative homosexual acts. Even the liberal Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who favors actively gay clergy, is on record as admitting that the embrace of contraception logically and eventually leads to the approval of the gay lifestyle.

Thus, the defenders of Humanae Vitae have been shown to be right. The Church's ban on contraception is central to Christian sexual morality. That is why the essays collected in this book are more important today than ever before.

As a Catholic I once had my doubts about the Church's teaching on contraception. Later I came to oppose contraception for practical reasons and out of obedience. Then one day I stumbled accross WHY HUMANAE VITAE WAS RIGHT and once I started reading there was no putting it down. The beauty of this work is that it is a collection of writings from a variety of authors each with a unique perspective and each with his own unique style. So then, there is something for everyone. Whether the reader preferrs to hear personal experiences or wants to see it all in a syllogism, this book delivers. This is a must read for anyone who is feeling pressured to disregard the Church's teaching for it shows the wisdom, beauty, and bottom line common sense of the Church's stance.

...my husband decided to not use any method of artificial birth control. It was a struggle for both of us, but this book really put the moral law into perspective. Janet Smith does a wonderful (and very non-preachy job) of explaining what contraception does to a marriage. In particular, the "testimony" chapter in this book was a thump on the head as we read about couples whose marriages improved when they started embracing their fertility as a gift, not a disease. Janet Smith believes contraception makes couples fight each other, and forces a woman to become constantly infertile to accomadate the constant fertility of a man. Thats one of the best reasons given in the book for the use of Natural Family Planning, so that the man must acclimate himself to his WIFE'S cyclical fertility.

This book is a must read no matter what you believe about the Catholic position on artificial birth control. Get the facts.

I wish I had a copy of this book when I was growing up. It has been required reading for all my children as they enter adolescence. It is a resource that can and does make a difference. It gives them the ammo and sound reasoning they need to go against the tide. Do your children a favor and get this book!

I've reviewed many books over 20 years which helps young people understand sex, and I recommend this as the best one because it features real interviews with real teenagers. The title question "Why Wait?" is answered in detail. Superb book for teens, college students, even parents, all ages. Makes an ideal gift from a parent to a child, or a friend to a friend.

I read Why Wait? as a teen and it really helped me to see the reasons why teens have sex, reasons to wait and what was likely to happen to you down the road if you didn't wait until marriage. The thing I liked most about this book is that is shows you why young people are having sex. Many books will just talk about why to have sex or why you shouldn't. This book really explores the issue and gives a lot of good facts to back up the different points that are made in the book. Well worth taking the time to read no matter how old you are or what your feelings are on the subject.

Although the author sometimes goes a little too far into the libertarian philosophy and uses a bit too much religion, in every other way I am in complete agreement with him. When not engaged in his primary job as a director of human resources for a major corporation, Gooch owns and operates a cattle ranch. As someone who once had a hobby farm and raised cattle, I can deeply empathize with his statements about raising cattle.
The theme of the book is to relate the problems of the modern corporate culture to the "simplicity" of herding cattle on a drive. Using analogies between the various components of each area, Gooch describes his philosophy of managing people, loving hard work and having respect for your underlings, whether they are people or cattle. While this may sound demeaning, no one who has ever raised cattle will question the validity of the comparison.
The way to get cattle to do what you want is to engage in gentle persuasion, anticipate their needs and to introduce change reasonably slowly. That philosophy works with people as well. You must understand that they have fears, concerns and feelings and that many of the negative things such as poor performance and lay-offs are the responsibility of management. Cattle have personalities and are not interchangeable parts although eventually you must replace even the best due to sagging performance.
Sound management advice can be packaged in many ways; in this case it is presented with a western flair and a virtual cowboy intonation. Plain speaking, respect and honesty are always the best long term management strategies, as the trail to success is a long one and sometimes you step in what the cattle leave behind.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has managed to weave together a very resourceful book for the business world while capturing the average person's interest as well. His practical advice on people management and moral life lessons can readily be applied to not only the corporate life, but to one's daily life, proving that being ethical and moral are important aspects of both worlds. His clever writing style and wit are refreshing and a delight to read!

My copy of Wingtips with Spurs: Lessons from the Ranch arrived on a Friday and I had read it cover to cover by Sunday. While I was initially intrigued by the title, it was the book's content that I found to be so fantastic. It is truly the first "management" book I have read that offers insightful, real-life advice that I can apply to all areas of my career. Other books of this genre tend to be boring and just focus on a single theme. Wingtips made me laugh and cry--something I didn't think a "business book" was capable of. I would recommend it to anyone in the business of people management. It is ideal for small business owners and corporate leadership alike and I give it my highest rating.

Great Book, Easy to Read. (I refer to it daily). I highly recommend this book if you want to build your own esteem as well as your childs or anyone around you. She gives clear instructions on how to word things in a positive manner to build someones esteem. Easy to read even for mothers with little time.

This is a great book. I highly recommend it. It is easy to read and understand and will help you daily in raising your child. I enjoyed it very much. It will change your life.

What can I say, this book is life changing. If you truely care about the happiness of your children and the world they live in, this book is for you. This book can be use as a daily resource for parentinng improvment and a fun text to help you and your parenting partner to bond, heal and improve your life as a parent.

Wired For Greed: The Shocking Truth About America's Electric Utilities by Joe Seeber and Jim Moore is an ably written documentation of the truths that render monopoly for America's allegedly deregulated power companies. Readers will discover the manipulative tendencies and constructs that enable the electric companies to control their clients. Wired For Greed is a highly informative and knowledgeably written eye-opener with potential to revolutionize the electric consuming nation of America's taken citizens, a highly recommended read.

Although electricity is essential to our daily lives and to our economy, most of us know little or nothing about electric utility companies. According to Joe Seeber, founder and president of a utility audit business, it's about time we end our ignorance. He knows utilities inside and out and claims that they are corrupt, enjoy overly cozy relationships with elected officials, and are out to mazimize profits at the expense of consumers. He illustrates his claims with real life stories that will amaze and entertain you. He also explains why deregulation of the electric utility industry is a sham, something many readers may be discovering now that they are faced with steep hikes in the cost of electricity, despite promises from state elected officials that deregulation would bring lower costs. If you don't believe that a book about the electric utility industry can be interesting, think again. Wired for Greed is fascinating and sheds light on an industry we should all know a lot more about.

Who should read this book?
Curious consumers, elected officials, and procurers of electricity in both public and the private sector are its audience. The book describes the structure and behavior of an industry that affects us all.

Sufficient history is reviewed to provide a framework for understanding the unusual relationship between, utilities, consumers, corporations, regulatory agencies and outside influences.

The electric utility industry has a far reaching effect yet one of which most of us remain ignorant. No more! Seeber and Moore confirm that monopoly is the worst enemy of good management. They unveil the activities of an industry that has maintained control via the sales pitch of natural monopoly, to (self) regulated monopoly, and through deregulation and hope for a more competitive industry. The book abounds with examples of behavior of an industry that is truly "shocking."