Image Books

FANTASTIC BOOK! I purchased this for my grandfather, knowing he would love it being that he has lived in Duluth his entire life. Little did I know how much I would love it, being born and raised there myself but having been gone for many years. I read it cover to cover and couldn't put it down. The photographs and stories are facinating. Kudos to these two great authors!

I bought this book for my Grandmother who has lived in Duluth her whole life and knows the story behind every building, mansion, and important Duluthians and she loved it! She recognized many of the old buildings and names, and she even learned a thing or two from it! She said it was the best book anyone has ever given her and I really enjoyed looking through it myself. I would really like a copy for myself!

The quantity and quality of photos in this book amazed me. Sheldon T. Aubut and Maryanne C. Norton do an outstanding job captioning the photographs, giving plenty of interesting information, but not enough to lose one's attention. Being born and raised in Duluth, I was surprised at how little I actually knew about the city and some of the buildings I knew so well. I couldn't put the book down.... I truly was mesmerized.

Sheldon T. Aubut and Maryanne C. Norton bring the history of Duluth, Minnesota's buildings to life in this book. "Duluth" starts with an early history of the Indian settlements of the Sioux and Ojibwe people, to Minnesota Point and the street car line serving both residents and businesses in the late 1800s.

Then we tour the West Downtown business district with its two-story structures where families lived on the second floor, to the West End now known as Lincoln Park. Continuing on our journey to East Downtown discovering mainly retail with fraternal organizations and theaters built in the 1870s and 1880s to the early government buildings constructed from the 1860s to 1900s and later.

Our hosts guide us through the hills, which rise from Lake Superior for a look at one of the nicest residential areas of the time. Personally, I did not know the city once had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the United States and this wealth produced many beautiful commercial buildings, homes, and bridges.

We then steer towards the East End, an area filled with the period revival homes that were much in vogue. Lastly, the "Streetcar Suburbs" where it was possible to live away from the crowded downtown area and commute, and Skyline Parkway, a roadway near the top of Duluth's hills.

"Duluth" is the perfect gift book for architectural aficionados and those that want to learn more about this area. The book offers a wonderful sampling of the city's significant structures and makes for enjoyable reading about its wonderful historic treasures.

Sheldon T. Aubut and Maryanne C. Norton's 'Duluth, Minnesota' gives an inexpensive look into the history and architecture of this picturesque city. I wish it had been available before my last trip up there last year. I will definitely re-read it before my next visit. The book's easy-to-read conversational style keeps you moving through, and the photographs tell a fascinating story. Very highly recommended for anyone with an interest in this part of the country.

Have you ever read the famous Larry Niven essay: Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex? Basically, Niven wonders if Superman is capable of sex with a mortal woman. After all, we can only assume his reproductive system has its own "faster than a speeding bullet" capability. DC never spends much time on the Superman and sex issue. It's the elephant in the room. However... Jay Faerber has decided that yes, a Superman-esque character is fully capable of having his own offspring, and that's the central theme of this story. What if Superman (or rather a hero with his powers) had fathered several illegitimate offspring? After all, a man of steel probably has a voracious libido. What would these children be raised to believe? What powers would they inherit? These and other "important" questions of the day will be answered in this TPB.

If you haven't explored the Image Universe yet, you're really missing out! Creativity and fun would be the two words I think of when talking about the various original superhero titles available by this publisher. You might have heard of one of its most popular series, Invincible, but if you'd like to capture the same feeling in a team-based book, look no further than Dynamo 5!

Captain Dynamo.... protector of truth, justice and Superman copycats! Also found dead in bed. Unfortunately for Captain Dynamo, his sexual appetite got the best of him and he found himself under the covers with a woman who secretly glossed herself with poisonous lipstick. Heartbroken and jaded, his widow goes through his belongings after a funeral that reads like a "Who's Who List" of the Image superhero roster. She finds his little black book and realizes that he might have several illegitimate children scattered throughout the world. Even though she feels betrayed by the Image Universe's man of steel, she attempts to find these children because she realizes there may be an entire platoon of new Captain Dynamos out there who can help humanity but don't realize the gifts they have inherited.

What she discovers is that each of these children have been given a certain portion of Captain Dynamo's power. One has super strength, one has the ability to fly, one has mental powers, and so on. They represent different cultural backgrounds, different sexes and different economic upbringings, but these young adults who are mostly college age find themselves drafted into the widow's plans. Their interactions read like an episode of a Big Brother reality program. Some aren't as keen on saving the world, and some have problems relating to the group, but as most of them are single children, they form a bond with their other half-siblings and establish a team that learns to work together.

There are various stories collected in this TPB, including a mysterious figure who roams the city and looks to be the next Captain Dynamo. The "family" of superheroes is forced to deal with issues left behind by Captain Dynamo including other jaded lovers, not just his widow. What makes Jay Faerber's creation so fun is that even with some of the adult issues, it reads like a family book, a team that has genuine reasons to fight crime together. The relationship dynamics in this book are for lack of a better word.... human. That's something that can sometimes be left behind in today's comic market that is always striving to build the next big and bad crossover event. With only a $9.99 cover price, you can't go wrong with Dynamo 5 Volume 1. If you haven't had a chance to explore some of the superhero worlds outside of Marvel and DC, be sure to make this your next stop.

I was really impressed with this new book. It's pretty hard to come up with a new superhero concept that can catch on. Most of the best new ideas are really new riffs on old ideas. Basically this book is about a Superman-like hero who cheats on his wife and fathers 5 children with 5 different women, each of whom receives one of his 5 powers. After the hero disappear his wife tries to bring the kids all grown up together to protect the city that he is no longer there for. The story goes back and forth between these very normal half-siblings learning about each other for the first time, and dealing with becoming super-heroes and all that entails. Very enjoyable. Recommended for those who like the comic Invincible.

Thank god Captain Dynamo got himself whacked, otherwise we the readers would never have encountered Dynamo 5, five of his illegitimate children brought together after the unfaithful Captain's death by his widow Maddie Warner. Read this book and meet

SCRAP: Beautiful and alluring graduate from NYU Film school who possesses her dad's super-strength!

SLINGSHOT: Equally sexy and sophisticated heroine with the power of hypersonic fight!

SCATTERBRAIN: Would-be pro-footballer and teenager with the disturbing ability to read minds!

MYRIAD: Smooth talking womanizer who bounced around foster homes as a kid, now possessing daddy's shape-changing ability!

VISIONARY: High School nerd desperately seeking to lose his virginity, with incredible vision powers to boot!

No sooner have these five half-siblings met when they are thrown into battle against their father's old enemies now seeking to take advantage of the power-vacuum in Tower City. WHIPTAIL! THE VEIL! SYNERGY & CRYSALIS! Will they survive these monstrous foes? Buy this book, which collects Dynamo 5 issues 1 -7, and find out. Highly recommended for those who liked Robert Kirkman's Invincible, and for those readers who are tired of having their favorite superheroes recycled.

Gage: "Can I just say that you are fine?"
Bridget: "You do realize that if Maddie's telling the truth, I'm your half-sister, right?"

With the untimely passing of Captain Dynamo, Tower City is bereft of its most powerful guardian. As supervillains eagerly take advantage of the unprotected city, Captain Dynamo's widow, Maddie Warner, in response, gathers 5 young people whom her husband had illegitimately fathered. These kids come from disparate backgrounds and upbringings. Each offspring boasts one of the various super powers which Captain Dynamo had had. Raw in training, dealing with newly-erupted familial issues, and coping with their recently unlocked talents, these five complete strangers will have to do something their old man never had to: become a team player...

In hindsight, I'm a bit surprised no one's come up with this premise before. It's certainly an intriguing one. Published by Image Comics and making its debut in early 2007, DYNAMO 5 is set in the same universe as Jay Faerber's other superhero family saga NOBLE CAUSES. In fact, it was in issue #18 of NOBLE CAUSES that Captain Dynamo met his death at the hands of a contract killer named Widowmaker, who incidentally is still at large and plying her trade. But while NOBLE CAUSES delves deeper into the soap opera elements of its cast, DYNAMO 5 does tend to focus equally on the young folks' personal lives and their thrilling exploits as the Dynamo 5.

This trade paperback, titled DYNAMO 5: POST-NUCLEAR FAMILY VOLUME 1, collects the monthly series' absorbing first seven issues. Really, I can't put it more plainly than this: DYNAMO 5 is just a ripping good, old-fashioned entertainment. Jay Faerber's writing keeps it light yet suspenseful and on point. He definitely knows where he's going with this. As well, there are several corkscrew surprises thrown in to maintain a keen interest. And Faerber fleshes out his characters enough that you get drawn in and want to know more about them. I'm enjoying the relationship dynamics among the five half-siblings, as well as their interactions with the cold and demanding, sometimes maternal but mostly scheming Maggie Warner, who definitely is keeping her own set of secrets. No complaints about the artwork, either. Mahmud A. Asrar is an excellent artistic find; his visual storytelling is bold and dynamic, and will keep you eagerly eyeballing these pages.

I like that the individual talents the kids inherit are pretty diverse. It's a pretty interesting mix. Scrap (real name Bridget, an NYU Film School grad who currently works at a movie theater) has super-strength and is my favorite Dynamo. Scatterbrain (Gage, a popular high school football jock) is a telepath. Visionary (Hector, a much bullied half-Asian high school geek) has wide-ranged vision abilities. Myriad (Spencer, an orphan and a playboy) can assume any identity. Slingshot (Olivia, a highly motivated college student, who's looking more and more like the field leader) can fly really fast. On the surface, these assorted superpowers don't translate to a team who'll simply cow and overpower villains (with Scrap being the only muscle, as it is). It's looking more like precise execution and teamwork are what'll tide this bunch over. Oh, and, naturally, a big heaping of luck. With dangerous supervillains constantly popping out of the woodwork and the shady government agency F.L.A.G. persisting in not minding its beeswax, I'm curious to see how imaginative and clever Faerber will be regarding Dynamo 5's battle tactics and strategies. And, while these young 'uns seem to be handling their angst relatively well, Faerber can't possibly keep them on such an even emotional keel, can he? (The answer is no.)

DYNAMO 5 has got me hooked and has me salivating for each new issue. Most often, at this early stage is when a comic book is at its best and freshest and most inventive, when the writer and artist are the most hyped up and still discovering new things about their creations. So why not get onboard? Seven exciting issues, collected here, and, all I can say is: so far, so very good.

Dynamo 5 vol. 1 is definitely worth the price! A great start to a fun series with interesting characters. It's paced very fast so a lot is happening in few pages. This isn't a slow-burn comic like something Bendis would write. This comic is the equivalent to a summer action movie. A very well done action movie.

That is also what it somewhat suffers from--the pace. It's a lot of characters thrown at you with little back story. Hopefully that will be resolved in future volumes, but as a standalone, the characters are a little thin because of the pace and space limitations. But what is there definitely tantalizes the reader on what's to come.

As for the story, it's not exactly breaking new ground in parts. And with some ideas it felt less of an homage to the BIG TWO publishers and more of a direct pilfering (Lizard Man formula?). While an argument can be made that everything in comics has been done before already, I would've preferred a little more originality.

But all of those are really minor quibbles with a book that is quite frankly heads and tails above the majority of comics out there now. And the concept of splitting a Superman-like character's powers into his offspring is really ingenious. I'll certainly be buying any future volumes that come out.

The Faceless (the first Terry Sharp tale in a long line I hope) is one of the rarest of all birds these days. A graphic novel that manages to create a solid air of mystery around both the characters and what could happen next. Taking an obvious love of horror films to a new level in comics storytelling, not only is it LIKE the classic Hammer films, it creates something new from that stylized mythos. A character obviously crafted with care, Terry is exactly the kind of guy you would expect to find in the middle of a bizarre conspiracy...but cooler! Blended with just the right sprinkles of cool and confusion-The Faceless leaves the reader wanting more. And you get it with the bonus interview and a short "film" that is worthy of it's heritage with each panel. And the art... Adrian Salmon mixes total stylistic coolness with the rare ability (and attention to) actual SEQUENTIAL STORYTELLING that is lost so often in the "hep" world of graphic (design) novels. Excellent character design that doesn't forget expressiveness in both motion and in simple telling details such as facial expressions, it flows well and compliments the story instead of overpowering it. The coloring is simply peerless as well-instead of candy coloring everything and making it look like everything else on the market these days, the mood is set by the colors and the story flows through the art. Neil Vokes provides the startlingly cinematic backup art, complimented well by the coloring of lead artist Salmon.
Overall, a chance to get something that many comics don't bear out of late-pure graphic satisfaction.

Robert Tinnell is indeed one of us...the lurking faceless hordes of "monster kids" who love classic horror films. That he has parlayed that love into the creation of such an engaging and original character - horror film director by day, occult adventurer by night - is a boon for anyone who loves spooky noir-ish atmosphere, historical background (in this case, Midwich Films as a stand-in for the famous Hammer studios) and hints of mind-numbing horrors just beyond the everyday facade of British civility. These hints are what make one salivate for the next Sharp adventure...that, plus the fact that the character is so much fun! Adrian Salmon's artwork is just fantastic...some of the most imaginative use of color and shadings I've seen.

i picked up the faceless at my local comic shop and couldn't put it down. terry sharp is a old school swashbuckling type hero who you can tottaly enjoy and the story has teh right mixture of british cinema and the supernatural.i can't wait for the next one...no one will regret buying this book.

"You were drafted into a war, Terry. A war against an enemy who is nameless. Faceless. They lay low for years, spinning their webs. Makes one paranoid in time - wondering if you've dreamt it all. And then tonight happens. And you realize it isn't all a dream."

I love that. For me, that passage sums up the mood of THE FACELESS perfectly. Subtle. Secretive. It takes its time to weave its magic spell, much like Bava took his time to work his sorcery with some of his films (KILL BABY KILL being the best example of his slow-burn approach to horror). Terry is a enigma. A womanizer. A creative. Arrogant and full of bluster, it's no surprise he has at least one failed marriage behind him. But you like the guy. He's tough. He doesn't mess around and he doesn't suffer fools. And he's larger-than-life, but if twice-as-ugly, at least the ladies don't care. ("Will you be breaking my heart too, Terry?" "Most likely." "Splendid. . .")

Unanswered questions tantalize us. Who are The Faceless, and what, exactly, were the tragedies that Terry was unfortunate enough to witness which pulled him into this nightmare requiring magical protection to survive? We want to know. Peppered with Hammer Films in jokes, and a very pleasing THE DEVIL'S BRIDE vibe running thru it, I am already thrilling at how the circles of protection in basement rooms and freshly conjured marauding demons would translate to the big screen. Perhaps Terry could even meet the Duc De Richleau? Will the J&B flow freely in YELLOW? *CLINK*

I write a blog all about horror from the '60s-'70s, and I'm here to tell you that FACELESS hits the groovy nail on the head. The story is an absolute treat for Hammer fans. The look is spectacularly reminiscent of the colored-gel lighting techniques of Italian horror masters Mario Bava and Dario Argento. If, like me, you have an overlapping love of Hammer and eurotrash, you'll really be in heaven!

Tinnell knows his Hammer. He doesn't just make references or winks; he creates a whole alternate world where "Midwich Studios" cranks out schlocky cult classics like Baron Frankenstein, Return of Frankenstein, Blood of Frankenstein, and Cult of Dracula. We get stars like "Peter Lingham" selecting eyeballs from glass jars in gruesome close-up. I got so caught up in it, I started to wish there really had been a Midwich Studios, and then I had to remind myself--oh yeah, there was! Satanic cults were probably the top horror staple all through the period, so Tinnell's use of them here just ratchets up the groovy factor that much more.

Art-wise, this is Adrian Salmon's American breakout effort, and he clearly understands the stakes, because he goes for broke. I've already remarked on the eye-popping colors, which are the first thing you'll notice on a casual flip-through. Salmon's drawing is just as arrestingly stylized and non-realistic, and it suits the story to a T.

Then we get a mock retrospective article on Midwich by Mark Clark and Bryan Senn, and a mock interview with one of the actresses by Tom Weaver. The backup feature--scenes from Return of Frankenstein drawn by Neil Vokes--alone is worth the price of admission.

I just can't recommend this highly enough!

Excellent ending to an awesome series. I just wish it wasn't over! Couldn't put it down!

I like the way the author writes. Creative imagination and follows scripture very well.

This book, and entire series, is enlightening and movtivational. It is brilliant in its uses of bibilical stories and scripture to create fiction that inspires one's life today. I haven't read such a good series in a long time.

These 4 books were a great read.
They take you through the Bible stories in a very interesting way. I loved the angels in the books, and loved each of their personalities. I hope there are more books to come.

I waited for this book for over a year, and I have to say, it was pretty much worth it. "Final Confrontation" tells the story of Jesus' ministry on earth,along with his resurrection, from an angelic point of view. I found the view points of the various angels and demons quite interesting, especially during his birth and crucifiction.

I did find a few grammatical errors in the book, but other then that, I would definitely give this book five stars. Although I wish that the series would not have ended witht his book, I think that the author, D. Brian Shafer, did a fantastic job in both his writing and accuracy. You've probably all ready read about the life of Jesus through our (a human's) viewpoint. I would reccommend reading this book, so you can see it through a spiritual one.

This is a wonderful book, chock full of amazing photos and lots of interesting information. If you remember the Highlands, then don't hesitate to buy this volume. It's informative, entertaining, and will bring back tons of memories. Kudos to Mr. Garner for this labor of love!

Doug Garner really knows his history of this amusement park. His photos and artifacts
are amazing! A true believer in the joy of the amusement park! Highly recommend.
tons of photos!
Debra

This book was fantastic. It brought back so many memories of spending fun times in the 1960's at the Forest Park Highlands Amusement Park in St. Louis, Mo. I highley recommend it for anyone who was lucky enough to experience the rides at this great park.

What a delightful read! Doug Garner takes us on a nostalgic ride through Forest Park Highlands' by-gone days as page after page explodes with amusement park Americana. Doug's vivid descriptions and extraordinary photographs bring back the wonderfully delicious smell of cotton candy, french fries, and hot dogs; the piercing shrieks of pure joy; and the thrilling roar of the roller coasters which permeated the air on those memorable hot summer days in St. Louis. Amusement park aficionados everywhere will relive the excitement of yesteryear in this informative and entertaining depiction of the birth and death of one of America's great parks. Kudos to Doug Garner for this comprehensive tribute to St. Louis' most famous park!

A lot of us familiar with Doug Garner's expertise have been waiting for years and years for him to finally get to do the book he wanted to do on the Highlands. As expected, he's produced a simply terrific photo book packed with information and details only he would know and that rarity--captions which go beyond just describing the photos to bring them to life and offer rich background information. It's all done with style and verve and for dessert he throws in West End Heights, Suburban Garden, Westlake Park and Chain of Rocks Fun Fair. I have waited all my life to see photos of Suburban Garden, as I grew up a five minute walk from the place, or what little was left of it. Arcadia has come a long way from its early efforts and this book will sell big with anyone who loves St. Louis history, amusement parks, roller coasters or quality bookmaking. Congratulations, Doug!

This is an exceptionally well written theological look at the many roles our Blessed Mother plays in our lives. Scott Hahn uses many stories from his our life to illustrate the great love Mary has for each of us, and the joy we have feel when we open our hearts to her love.
It certainly opened my eyes on so many different levels.

I have read many of Dr. Scott Hahn's books, and Hail, Holy Queen was the first I read, and remains my favorite (at least so far!) Dr. Hahn presents the information in a very readable and engaging style, as always. I would highly endorse this book for anybody who is interested in learning more about the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Based on Hahn's wonderful book, A Father Who Keeps His Promises, we decided to study another in our mothers' ministry group. There are several sites available with discussion questions for Hail, Holy Queen also. We weren't disappointed - this is a great book too! I would recommend this for mothers' ministries, study groups, and just as a personal reading book to anyone, not just Catholics. Hahn has a way of relating to his audience and opening up areas for a fresh view. Thanks to his books, I have a better understanding of God's word and a deeper faith as a Catholic.

Dr. Scott W. Hahn writes like he speaks. He uses wit and an engaging style to drive home essential teachings of the Christian faith. His ability to hold and enlighten an audience is similar to that of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen of a generation or two ago. Likewise blessed with a strong intellect and good judgment in his use of entertainment, Scott Hahn is living proof that dogma need not be presented as dull or overbearing.

Hahn's "Hail, Holy Queen" is an important and lively book. It is important because it presents the ancient and once-universally-accepted Christian teachings on the person and role of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In AD 431, at the Council of Ephesus (the third of the generally accepted early ecumenical councils; the seventh was in AD 787), Mary was acknowledged by the proper title "Theotokos" or "Mother of God" (literally: "birth-giver of God"). Christian theology was still very much in flux and the bishops at Ephesus saw in this affirmation an important piece of the puzzle of how Jesus' divine nature integrated fully with the human in the one divine Second Person of the Holy Trinity. In his book, Hahn teleports the reader back to the fifth century, to a time of rejoicing over this breakthrough insight into the mystery of Christ's Incarnation.

Hahn delivers this and much more in "Hail, Holy Queen." God is not a slave driver but wants us to be in His family, as brothers and sisters "from the same womb" (cf. Greek "adelphos"), through a covenant of persons. Mary has a motherly role in this family, a role that is relationally derived from being the mother of Jesus Christ. She is of course a creature, but a most excellent one at that. Hahn makes all of this very clear -- and very encouraging for the reader who is willing to accept it!

And Hahn's effort is lively, because he does it with panache. Not in the least deadly dull, Hahn mixes in a dash of humor here and there to make his points. I especially enjoyed his chapter and section headings: "Cutting the Unbiblical Cord," "Maternity Warred," "Venerators of the Lost Ark," etc. I thought the Hahn couple's book "Rome Sweet Home" was really good, because I can empathize with it, but this one is even better. As they say in some circles, "It doesn't get any better than this!" Keep up the great work, Scott! Rev. Dennis J. Mercieri

For any Christian trying to understand the importance of Mary in their devotion to Jesus, this is an excellent study. Not only does this book explain what Catholics mean by honoring (not worshipping) Mary, it also explains why it should fit into the lives of all Christians as an ecumenical factor.
This book will answer many bilblical questions about Mary.
Hahn has put an excellent theological study at the fingertips of every common person. It is easy to read and understand.

"Michael Kleper's The Handbook of Digital Publishing is by far the best, and most complete, publication on this subject anywhere. This is the knowledge library of digital publishing. It will always be on my desk and is my reference source. Brilliantly written by one of the, if not the most, knowledgeable experts in this area. A must for everyone in our industry. Well done, Michael."

The Two Volume Graduate Course "We don't even want to imagine how many reviews, rewrites, update cycles were required for this project. For a time we thought the DTP industry would settle down and become almost static and routine. But the jump start of the Web, interactive multimedia and video have again driven people back to the books. We're not certain exactly how it was accomplished, but Professor Michael Kleper has very effectively squeezed a four-year degree course into two volumes.

The Handbook of Digital Publishing is much more than a coffee table book. The two volumes will quickly become dog-eared as professionals continue to refer to them to enhance and expand their capabilities and expertise. Thank goodness there is a companion Web site to accompany The Handbook. The author's biggest challenge is that The Handbook wasn't just a research/writing job...it has now become a career.

The books are heavy to say the least...fortunately there is a lot of substance, so it lightens the load...

Digital publishing is now the foundation of the communication arts. Kleper has done a great job to help users at all levels understand the tools, processes, and techniques for preparing graphics media in the digital era. His two-book set is jam-packed with solid info on crossing the chasm from analog to digital.

Michael Kleper's books are an incredibly complete and competent source of information covering an amazingly broad area. His insights into an industry he has watched from the beginning should be useful for everybody in this business, and his two hefty tomes are certainly the most complete collection ever compiled on the subject.

Highly recommended.

Andreas Pfeiffer, Pfeiffer Consulting

Professor Michael Kleper's two volume The Handbook of Digital Publishing is an outstanding source on the foundations of the digital age of publishing. For those of us involved in some part of Graphic Arts/Publishing/Communications, and today that is just about anyone with access to a computer, digital technology has made accessible much of what was art and technique. Congratulations to Professor Kleper who has contributed a timely, thorough, and readable work. This is not just a collection of terminology and technology but a much needed companion to understand the digital publishing "tsunami" which has exploded as fast as the computer technology which underpins it. Happily, Professor Kleper has a lot of energy for he has opened the door to volumes three and more for those technologies still being created .....

Buy this book!

Healing Images, Healing Words is an awesome book. R.J. Stracensky's comforting words and photos are beautiful. The book is especially meaningful to Ohioans because most of the photos were taken in Ohio. There are also several photographs which were taken in foreign countries. For anyone who needs to be comforted and uplifted, I would highly recommend this book.

R. J. Stracensky's Healing Images Healing Words is a gift to his readers and a gift to share. The author offers both art and inspiration interspersed with his original poems and selections from well-known thinkers and writers. His own photos from a lifetime of careful observation grace the pages making a satisfying and beautifully done package.

From the moment I saw the title and cover photo I was drawn to the book from a pure marketing perspective. But as I began to read through, I realized I was captivated by the beauty and serenity Mr. Stracensky has assembled in a deeply inspirational collection of pictures and thoughts. It is quite apparent that the author has shared a bit of his inner self, inspiring me to self reflect on the world around me and appreciate each element of my day. In addition to his own passages, he has shared the works of others that enhance his photography quite flawlessly.

We all have challenges, but I believe Mr. Stracensky is showing us how to deal with these in his calming words. This will encourage you to take the time to momentarily escape from your adversity and approach life with a positive attitude and discover your inner strength.

But make no mistake; this is not simply for those facing obstacles. It is an opportunity for anyone to break away from the mundane and truly appreciate our daily blessings. Something many of us don't do enough of.

I look forward to the next book!!

Kim

This is a masterpiece of superb quality.....the author, photographer has integrated his talent for capturing the majestic beauty of nature with his spiritual dimension. The result, a wonderful reflection to heal and restore hope. Makes a wonderful "coffee table" book, has touched everyone who has entered my home..Congratulations to this author and look forward to future publications....POB, Avon Lake, Ohio

This is an absolutely amazing collection of picture and verse. Each page is more breathtaking and every line more insightful than the last.
I am in awe at the profound reverence Stracensky captures in everyday images, combining them with truly touching and uplifting verses. The author's own words are particularly inspiring; especially when paired with his own incredibly beautiful photography.
As a daily quick-pick-me-up, or deeper soul-searching, this book is a must-have for anyone (which is everyone) struggling with life's daily obstacles.
I'm buying copies for all my family and friends for Christmas this year!!

The two main players in this volume is Rosseau and Kant, whose mentality is about as different as one can fing in the field of philosophy.

Rosseau has his idealistic notion of The Noble Savage, The Social Contract, amongst other things that one can clearly see is more how he wished the world was than how it actually operated. His ideas are so blatantly wrong even given the knowledge of the times it makes one wonder why he gets so much prominence. It does make for an interesting psychological study of how a social misfit tries to justify being inept for common society.

Kant is where one finds some real meat to chew on, whether or not you agree with him. There's no doubt he created a revolution in Philosophy, but the question remains.... is he right? Is time and space an a priori construct that allows humanity to experience phenomena. Is substance an a priori construct to discern objects from one another? His argumentation for some is solid, like his ideas on substance, which has been largely substantiated through neuroscience. The notions of time and space are much more difficult, and his ideas on these are much more debatable.

The main issue is his severance of the phenomenal world of he experience with the noumenal world which is not directly experienced. He never really sufficiently links the thing-in-itself with the object as experience, which later philosophers jumped on rather rapidly.

His moral theory while claiming to be completely on reason, is really mostly emotive(as Copleston rightly states), essentially saying that do an action only if you would think it justified for another to do the same. Hence, it's wrong to lie because you wouldn't wanyt everybody to lie. While okay, it's not a good enough foundation to really make a solid base. His views on aesthetics and art are fascinating, and surprisingly the most interesting of what he wrote.

Copleston bares his teeth a little more than usual with Kant, which took this reader a little bit by surprise. Now, Copleston was a Thomist, and Kant essentially tried to destroy metaphysics as it was understood by the ancients, so it's understandable. Mostly Copleston attacked Kant because of the philosophers after Kant who took his Critique to its logical conclusion, with ridiculous results. Needless to say, a mindblowing read, and his best since Volume 3.

Copleston has done it again. I have read the first five volumes of this history and just finished the sixth. Though he is a Jesuit (of course a Catholic) his elucidating History, which, perhaps one may think to lean slightly in favor of the Catholic point of view in regards to Epistemology and Metaphysics, among other things, comes nowhere close. He balances his own beliefs, telling the reader at some points, I believe thus and thus, while concurrently maintaining his objective role as scholar and historian of Phiolosophy. He will often make statements like, "if it is in fact true," for instance, regarding the existence of God. Though his own beliefs are ultimatley positive in this respect, he does not forget that he is writing a history and does not sacrifice the beliefs of any given philosopher for his own.


This is just one example among many in this book, and I have done so purposely for the sake of brevity. I do not enjoy reading nine and ten paragraph reviews and rarely will do so. All that needs to be said of a product, with very rare exception, can be done so in three or four paragraphs at most.

If you are thinking of purchasing this product, think no more, but act. If you have read previous volumes from this author, you do not need me to tell you how wonderful this History has been...

Copleston's series, "The History of Philosophy", is quite possibly the best introduction to the history of philosophical thought that has ever been published and certainly the best currently in print.

You will be hard pressed to find a better collection of solid philosophical surveys in one place. The beauty of the series is that Copleston has clearly done his research on each period and each thinker of Western philosophy.

I cannot recommend this series any more highly. It is a must-have collection for anyone who is a scholar (professional or casual) of philosophy, theology or any of the arts.

If this isn't on your bookshelf, it should be!

This book is excellent overall. The author tackles some very
difficult philosophical issues that have been the subject
of much debate over the centuries. He explains how St.Thomas
gave philosophy its charter with important theological and
philosophical arguments. In essence, he argued that God is the
cause or reason for our existence. St. Thomas was a realist
in that he attempted to formulate his arguments through logic.

The early philisophic Christians drew hostility from pagans and theoretical atheists who decried the role of God in the affairs of man/persons.

The Gnosticists spoke of a duality between God and matter conceptually similar to Grecian arguments. St. Anselm sought to prove God's existence pointing to a perfection of creation through the greatness of the deity and wisdom-presumptively Divine wisdom.

Copleston's work is a comprehensive rendition of philosophy
over thousands of years. He tries to cover too much.
In so doing , the author brings a certain "unity" of the
work to the complex subject of philosophy. This concept of
unity is seen in the works of St. Augustine and St. Bonaventure.

St. Augustine was a great theologian and writer of foundational
Latin, literature and grammar. He developed a theory which
postulated that everything would evolve given the passage of
time in the famous "rationes seminales". The author explained
the development of the "university system" during the
Middle Ages. The university provided modern Europe with
grammar,logic,geometry, math, astronomy and other subjects
in the sciences and social sciences. Ibn Sina was a great
Moslem philosopher who lived around 1000 AD. He developed
logic, physics and higher mathematics into practical
applications. St. Bonaventure studied in a Franciscan order.
He perfected programs in philosophy and theology. In addition,
he attempted to unify the concept of man and matter.

This work will benefit historians, philosophers, logicians,
theologists and a wide constituency within Academia.

More than 200 pages of Copleston's Vol. 6 is devoted to the notoriously difficult writings of Immanuel Kant, in effect a book within the book. You will find there a detailed explication of what Kant wrote, what he was trying to accomplish, and why. The discussion is both scholarly and very readable.

I first ordered this book for my son-in-law, because he is such a Charlie Daniels fan. I then ordered a copy for a friend of mine who is going through a rough time in her life right now. Before giving it away, I flipped through the pages, and read the story by Jonny Lang. I am a 61 yr. old grandmother, but I have albums by him. I was just blown away, and had to order a copy for myself.

In the book, How Do You Know He's Real, you'll get an inside look into the spiritual lives of 34 celebrities. Hagberg has compiled testimonies ranging from Kirk Cameron to Rudy Sarzo (former bass player for Ozzy Osbourne). Each story is remarkably different and it's amazing to read how God has worked in the lives of each of these well-known people.

The author has collected very readable stories telling how celebrities have become Christians, and they share their low points and their joys here. This is a welcome peek into the lives of well known people who typically are more secretive.
Ricky Skaggs, Kirk Cameron, Gloria Gaynor, Bethel Johnson (34 people in all) tell about their struggles and their early days as new Christians.
Billy Ray Cyrus tells of singing in his grandpa's Pentecostal church when he was 4, and includes the touching lyrics to the song he wrote "The other side."
Jackie (Jacklyn) Zeman, star of General Hospital, advises that when you are at a crossroads "cry out to God and ask for His guidance."
Al Kasha's story resonated with me; this Academy Award winning songwriter overcame agoraphobia, and talks about how Hollywood is a tough place for a Jew who came to Christ, and how he started a Hollywood Bible study group.
There are stories here for anyone to enjoy and find spirit lifting.

(Hagberg has written a companion book with the same title, subtitled God Unplugged)

How Do You Know He's Real? is a collection of celebrity essays about God acting in their lives. The contributors include athletes, musicians, and actors. Their stories often follow a familiar pattern of fame leading to drugs and alcohol before hitting bottom and being turned around by an encounter with God. That's not to say the accounts are all stock and cliched, but rather that God meets each person in their need--and for celebrities that need will be similar. And many of the tales include growing up in stable Christian homes, but still needing to make personal decisions about God and Christ and how that decision impacted their careers.

The stories are collected alphabetically but Hagberg has provided a topic finder so a reader battling discouragement or frustration can find offerings from Billy Ray Cyrus, Nancy Stafford, Zorro, Gary Burghoff or John Schneider.

Each essay begins with a picture and short biography of the contributor, listing their accomplishments. Following the selection is God's Road Map, a few sentences about the issues raised by the author, with Bible verses for teaching and encouragement.

The essays themselves are as varied as the contributors. Some of them read as if they were written to be given as speeches. Several sound like the writer could be sitting at your kitchen table, chatting over the coffee pot. All of them are honest and share from their heart how God has acted in their life and how they know He's real.

Reading the accounts of God acting in both miraculous and mundane ways reminds us that no matter what a person does for a living, each of us are created beings who need a loving Savior and merciful God.

Armchair Interviews says: Up close and personal stories from celebrities.

I received this book as a gift and once I started, I couldn't put it down. Ms Hagberg has captured the beliefs of these well known and respected celebrities, sports figures, and musicians. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series and can't wait to give copies of this one to all my friends. Order 2!