Living History Books

This book is truly a gem among books. It contains stunning photography and i love the way that it is mostly pictures. Most books go on and on about the animals, which leaves less room for photographs. This is an astonishing book, and i highly reccomend it!

I'm glad I borrowed this book thru interlibrary loan first rather than buying it outright. The photos are quite nice but not organized in a way that's very informative or give me a good idea about any of the "edens". There's pretty minimal text which might offer the contributor's views on what they photographed and give interesting backstories.

I suppose its a personal preference and if you want an random assortment of pretty good animal pictures, its not bad at all, but I find it unappealing.

This magnificent book is designed to be the window dressing for a joint initiative by the World Wildlife Fund and the National Geographic Society to classify the entire planet by ecoregions -"geographically distinct areas that are characterized by distinctive climate, ecological features, and plant and animal communities." For more information on this fascinating and important initiative (and to purchase the colorful ecoregions map upon which "Living Edens" is based) check out the website at www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld

Alright, back to the book. While there are many hundreds of ecoregions, the WWF has selected 200 that are highly threatened. They then sent Galen Rowell(dec.), Frans Lanting and David Doubilet - three of the finest nature photographers in the world - around the globe to make a photo-documentation of several of the "Global 200" sites. The result is this astounding book.

The purpose of the book is really to show off a selection of ecoregions in a series of stunning photographs. There is not a great deal of accompanying text. The book is meant to be used in conjunction with the WildWorld website and the WildWorld map that I mentioned earlier.

Buy this book, go the WildWorld website, and begin the most in-depth exploration of our living planet I could have ever dreamt possible. It is a decision you will never regret.

This book is truly incredible!Sometimes,I can`t believe my eyes. The original purpose of this book is to make people care about the ecosystems and why we should not destroy them.But I don`t know if this is a suitable purpose for a book like this one. The splendid photographs makes you forget that and just look at the true beauty of our planet. Over 200 locations and 250 illustrations makes a perfect view of world wildlife. Among my favourites are the mexican deserts,the Pantanal Rainforest and all of the underwater photographs. I am a lover of all kinds of animals,especially fishes. So that`s why the book is perfect for me. I recognize Frans Lanting and David Doubilet since earlier,and I got books by them both. Galen Rowell is new to me,but he seems to be very good too. And when these three photographs together,the results easily become the most beautifull nature photography book ever made!It is pretty expensive,but believe me,it`s worth the money. I highly recommend this to every lover of nature photographs or strong colours. It is truly inspiring.

It would be difficult indeed to over-estimate the sheer beauty of the photographs printed on the pages of Living Planet. Of course the three photographers were off to a great start as the subject matter they are presenting is riveting. There are so many truly exotic (and still unspoiled) locales explored here. And so many diverse, truly impressive plant and animal forms documented.

But these three gifted photographers are superbly inspired practioners and so they are able to elevate the naturally exalted to an entirely new level of organisation. This is accomplished specifically, at least in part, by the use of super-saturated color in combination with consistently fresh and geometrically complex composition. The results, printed with great care by Crown Publishers, are extraordinary!

The photography is so visually stunning that it is easy to forget the purpose of this book which was published by the World Wildlide Fund. Thus the text, which is teeming with information, emphasises not the beauty of what has been captured on film. Rather it focuses on the steadily progressing ecological nightmare as humans-induced species extinction of animal and plant life proceeds around the globe in an unchecked and relentless manner. To quote briefly from the introduction by Walter Cronkite, "Earth is losing one-hundred species of animals, plants, insects and fungi every day. Experts estimate that the world has lost one-third of its biological wealth over the last thirty years." Astonishing facts the sobriety of which contrasts mightily with the visual celebration of life as depicted in this wonderfully elegant volume.

John MacArthur's Our Sufficiency in Christ (1991) is, in many ways, a difficult book to review. It puts on display many of the gifted pastor/Bible expositor's commendable strengths -- but, unfortunately, also his worst weaknesses. The best parts of this book are very strong and convicting, indeed. The worst portions, however, are impossible to ignore, and work to the detriment of the book's message.

In this first major release after 1988's The Gospel According to Jesus made him a best-selling author, MacArthur expresses his concern that the evangelical church is losing its confidence in the sufficiency of Christ to meet the believer's needs. He identifies and critiques six factors that he believes are responsible for this decline: psychology, pragmatism, philosophy, legalism, mysticism, and asceticism. MacArthur's attacks on these elements, which he labels as components of an overarching "neo-Gnosticism," are mixed with defenses of the sufficiency of Scripture. This middle section of the book is preceded by a study on the Christian's inheritance in Christ and followed by chapters on sanctification, spiritual warfare, and grace.

Those two framing sections, as well as the chapters on Scripture in the middle section, are fine and edifying reading. MacArthur is always at his best when he tackles biblical themes; even if you disagree with him on certain theological points, as I many times do, you can appreciate his clearly heartfelt desire to stay faithful to Scripture and the labor he puts into his biblical studies. Chapter 2, on the Christian's inheritance in Christ, is a wonderful study that should encourage many. Chapter 4, on Scripture's sufficiency, is one of the better short treatments of the topic that I've read. The studies of sanctification, spiritual warfare, and grace should be of benefit to many Christians.

But a major part of the book lies in MacArthur's polemics against the factors that he believes are undermining Christians' confidence in their sufficiency in Christ, and it is here that the author runs into trouble. It's not that MacArthur is wrong to be concerned. Certainly, there are many excesses in the evangelical world even today (not to mention the late 1980s and early 1990s, the time period surrounding the publication of the book) where sound theology is deemphasized in favor of pop psychology, marketing-style approaches to the gospel, and other aberrations. The problem, rather, is that MacArthur goes beyond the excesses and wants to throw out the babies with the bathwater.

Consequently, MacArthur delivers overly simplistic analyses of the factors he identifies and is prone far too often to overstatement in defending his claims. For example, MacArthur unfairly caricatures and dismisses psychology as an ungodly discipline based on the theory of evolution. It is also deeply disappointing, to say the least, that he evidently does not see it as a field in which Christians can work for their Lord and Savior. Other caricatures set up by MacArthur ignore church history. Philosophy is portrayed as incompatible with Christianity, despite the fact that both apostles (e.g., Paul at Mars Hill) and important figures throughout church history (e.g., Thomas Aquinas) have used philosophy as a tool for communicating the gospel. The author's definitions of mysticism (as something irrational apart from, and often contradictory to, divine revelation) and asceticism (as a way to earn favor with God) disregard or misrepresent the motives of Christians throughout church history who were very much concerned with faithfulness to Scripture and chose their paths as a means of loving God, not seeking brownie points from Him.

Worst of all, in one case, MacArthur takes a dangerous tack in responding to a letter writer who disagrees with him. A woman whose son-in-law abused and threatened to kill his wife (i.e., the letter writer's daughter) wrote MacArthur arguing that while counseling needs to be grounded in Scripture, professional help is sometimes needed. MacArthur unbelievably goes on to use her in the book as an example of someone who denies the sufficiency of Scripture. Worse, he minimizes the seriousness of what the husband did. It is true, as MacArthur says, that someone who threatens to kill another person is disobedient to God. This is also a case where MacArthur agrees that some help is necessary for the husband -- but he still stops short of advocating professional help. A threat against someone's life demands a different, far more urgent response than the one that MacArthur provides. The reader can only hope that he gave such a response to the letter writer privately.

At the heart of MacArthur's concerns lies a controversy that has run among Christians for centuries: Are Christians in their conduct and ministry not to go beyond what is written in Scripture? Or are things not mentioned in Scripture permissible as long as they do not contradict Scripture? MacArthur apparently believes the former. People from different Christian bodies will disagree. (My own Anglicanism holds that something not mentioned in Scripture is permissible as long as it does not contradict Scripture.)

So Our Sufficiency in Christ is a mixed bag. It contains many valuable chapters, and the Scripture studies are worthwhile. The polemical chapters, however, contain many overgeneralizations and caricatures that reduce the book's value. I have given it three stars because it contains much that is good, but, sadly, a lower rating could be justified based on the book's weaknesses.

In this book the Author reminds us that the Bible provides for the believer 'everything for life and godliness' 2 Peter 1:3, and instructs how to apply the riches of Christ that is our inheritance at Salvation. To be in Christ is to have: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption 1 Corth 1:30. His grace is supplied, we have every spiritual blessing Eph.1:3

The Author shows how major shifts in theology and practice have had various effects on the Church. In addressing Gnosticism, (defined as a heresy that causes people to seek hidden knowledge beyond what God has revealed in His word and through Christ.), John MacArthur shows how these old heresies are troubling the Church today, and are currently challenging the authority of Scripture and the Gospel. Modern believers are mixing God's word with psychology and mysticism. He writes that people don't go heretical all at once,"It is gradual. And they do not do so intentionally most of the time. They slip into it through soddliness and laziness in handling the word of truth.... All it takes to start the road to heresy is a craving for something new and different, a flashy new idea, along with a little laziness or carelessness or lack of precision in handling the truth of God."

This book covers many topics besides the ones we've listed. this book was clearly a great book for christian growth. Your faith will be strengthen. Recommended reading.

What the fictitious Screwtape feared the most was `mere Christianity.' To it he wanted to contaminate with his concoction of `Christianity And.' As long as believers are convinced that `The Same Old Thing' was insufficient for true satisfaction, they would look for supplementary idols to fill their vacuum that only Christ can legitimately fill. And so the search is on. Instead of looking where the answers lie, Christians choose to look elsewhere for alternatives. But the alternates, by their very nature, are inadequate substitutes. MacArthur's thesis is that by denying the absolute sufficiency in all things spiritual that we have in Christ, we have embraced misleading, unsatisfactory, counterfeit and ultimately spiritually harmful surrogates. (pp. 15ff)
We have embraced the modern promotion of psychology, even in its evil step-daughter Christian psychology. We have sought after `how-to' philosophies of pragmatism; mysticism's Deeper Life and Charismatic offshoots; materialistic hedonism's siren of "have the best of both worlds"; legalism's do-it-yourself sanctification; asceticism's deny-every-creature-comfort to become spiritual; Quietism's passivity; Pietism's strenuous activity among other feeble attempts to add to our salvation that which only Jesus can provide. In contrast, MacArthur reminds us of the beautiful balance (Phil 2:12,13) we have in the Divine/Human cooperative of His sovereignty and our responsibility in the area of our progressive sanctification.
MacArthur's position is that Christ's power and person has provided perfect sufficiency for everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3; Col 2:8,9). In addition, His Scripture is totally sufficient to equip us thoroughly in the areas secular and Christian psychologies have attempted to usurp (2 Tim 3:16,17). Good Book, Thomas Hamilton

Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, (2 Corinthians 3:5 RSV)

John MacArthur argues that many local churches and God's followers do not trust in the sufficiency in Christ. The minister believes in the authority of God's word; They believe in salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and as a guide for righteous living. They lose patience in the word and start thinking something else is needed to bring others to Christ. Neither do they trust God's word in their daily lives: seeking other sources to help themselves and others when misfortune and difficulties come in their lives. Something other then God and His written word is sought. Christian ministers have sought the use of secular psychology to help their flock deal with the daily grind. Accepting "the notion scripture does not contain all we need in these complex and sophisticated modern times." pg. 117 It does not end here, but many local bodies seek resources though secular business, the government, politics and entertainment.

(.... traditional counseling from the bible is widely viewed as unsophisticated, naive, and even fatuous.") pg.30 In addition John MacArthur asks the question: "Does God need a psychiatrist"? pg. 55 He replies with a strong no. Psychiatry is part of the world's philosophy and not of God. He further argues that `Christian psychology' is little more then using bits of scripture in secular psychology.

Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ.
(Colossians 1:28 RSV)

See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.
(Colossians 2:8 RSV)

The Bible talks about Christian struggle because of his belief, temptation, and the frailty of the earthly body. God has always used suffering to perfect and purify His people. How else can he demonstrate the sufficiency of His Grace. Jesus came into the world to live as man, to suffer the daily indignities of a man, to be tempted as all other men, and to suffer like a sinner. How are you as a Christian to be Christ like if the believer does not use the same tools used in His daily walk? A symbiosis exists between the believer and God. God is at work in the believer through the Holy Spirit and the believer most strive through his daily life to be holy. The Holy Spirit is your comforter while you as a Christian walk on this earth.

And we desire each one of you to show the same
earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
(Hebrews 6:11-12 RSV)

Suffering conforms our sonship

And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? --"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (Hebrews 12:5-8 RSV)

No discipline, one is an illegitimate child of God. Contentment and joy does come from circumstance but through the Holy Spirit. ` And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit;'
(1 Thessalonians 1:6 RSV)

John MacArthur argues that the Joy of the Lord cannot come from the means of this world nor can the Body of Christ be built through the wisdom of this world. The church is to magnify God. The plain gospel is the power of God unto salvation. All messages should be God centered and not centered on the heart felt needs of man. Let God's word tell man what he needs: repentance, God's forgiveness, and to reconciled with the Father. Church is not there for man's felt wishes. The local body does not exist for the unbeliever. Christians come together for worship, fellowship, edification and mutual encouragement. Paul's goal was not to make the believer comfortable, but to leave him terrified of the judgment of God. Paul did not help a person with their `perceived need', but with their eternal need of salvation.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
(Philippians 2:12-13 RSV)

One is saved through the power of Jesus Christ, but? Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ.
(Colossians 1:28 RSV)

How is the Christian to present himself complete in Christ if he does not flee from sin? It is only through the sufficiency of Christ and the Holy Spirit may the believer withstand temptation. This is how one grows into a closer relationship with God.

"Our Sufficiency In Christ" has the central point that Christ ALONE is sufficient to meet our needs. Although I realize the secular world would scoff at such a notion, there is much truth in the pages of this MacArthur book. The book is a little dated now as he takes a position against the psychological theories that were prominent in the early 1990s as well as the then-burgeoning 'spiritual warfare' movement. I find myself in agreement with much of what he said. But I cannot give the book an unqualified endorsement.

I agree with John that psychology has no role in the sanctification process of Christians. But MacArthur takes such an extreme position in this book, I had to ocnclude that he was saying that no person at any time for any reason should EVER seek psychiatric help. It appears to me to be a denial of mental illness. Yes, I agree that such things as ADHD and mental illness are overdiagnosed. Yet there are professionals to deal with such issues. MacArthur's extreme position - at least as far as the book reads - seems at odds with basic everyday life.

I agree with John's point: psychology has NO role in the process of sanctification. However, psychologists do have a professional job to do. And before you ask, NO, I'm not a shrink.

Enjoyed the chapters on the spiritual warfare movement.

For anyone interested in the religion of pre-christian northern Europe, this book along with volume one is a must have. I would recomend both volumes and the Poetic and Prose Eddas as a starting point to further learning. These four books have become, for me, the cornerstones of a very interesting journey.

This is an extremely well written and useful book for those who are just starting on the path of Asatru. I highly recommend this book. It has good information on the faith and an excellent lingustic guide and a top flight bibliography.

I waited for a long time for this book to come out in print again and the wait was definitely worth it. There's so much information in this book about Heathenism and it's very readable. For those on the Heathen Path or just very interested, this is a must have book.

It seems like ages I've been waiting for the much-anticipated 2nd edition of Our Troth. Volumes one and two are formidable tomes, each approaching 600 pages. It took me a while to digest the first, spending much time cross referencing with other works in my library.

Imagine my surprise when turning the pages in the second volume's chapter one, I thought I had accidentally picked up an environmentalist's manual. While I fully grasp the holiness of our earth and our connection with nature, wonderfully articulated in the first few pages, I can't quite seem to align myself with the contention we MUST seek out the wild, and not merely perceive it, in order to truly understand the troth (page 6). And not just any wild - the wild of our ancestors: wood and lake and sea (pages 7 & 9).

Continuing further into chapter one, I was greeted by an essay needing to be accompanied by Der Fröhliche Wanderer playing in the back ground. It's an Asatru elder's account of his trek in a rugged mountainous region near Phoenix, AZ, which is where I happen to live. On page ten he points out the "noxious" and "foul" attributes of the "mechanical conditions" of the city's "existence." The elder needs to be reminded that our ancestors also existed amongst mechanical conditions of their own making and the detrimental consequences of fires used for heating, lighting, cooking and industry even in small villages are a matter of historical record.

Once you get past chapter one and presume modern city dwelling industrialists aren't excluded, the remaining 563 pages of wisdom and advice are indeed for all kin of the Northern god/desses. These two volumes were a long time in the making, a long time waited for, and now they're here; both are a rewarding treasure for the Tru folk. Though having read both, there's not a week that goes by I don't pick one up for reference or inspiration.

Read 273 onward and some sections before. The Troth claims homosexual rape and Greek boy-love were part of the Asatru culture. How strange! Why do they need to lie? Pedophiles have been a huge problem in Neo-Pagan religions for years. They can move freely, because they know they will never be turned over to the police, small religions tend not to trust the police nor the press. The Pedophiles think that Christian "homophobia" is the only reason pedophiles are "oppressed". Pedophiles become Satanists, cross oover into Wiccan, then cross over into Nothern Heathenism. Now, the Troth has made Greek boy-love part of the Asatru religion. We will be flooded with these people.
I have been an Odinist since 1978. You can't have a public Asatru meeting without 5% or more of the people there being Pedophiles. Creeps who are looking for a religion to justify their sexual desires turn away from Christianity and look for other religions that are "sexually liberal".
Always beware of Neo-Pagan groups, leaders, or indivuduals who talk about Christianity being sexually oppressive and that Pagans and Heathens were "sexual liberals". These people are mock Heathens, who only become Heathen in order to justify their own perversion. The Northen Heathens were family centered. They were not "sexual liberals" at all.
Satanism and Wicca are full of "sexual liberals". And now that certain "Asatru" people are recruiting from Satanism and Wicca, we are being invaded by "sexual liberals".

I found many previously unknown facts about the Apostles, that makes me try to visit some places in a future travel to Europe and the Holy Land.
Although I do not share some opinions with the autor, I found this book better than spected.

The sheer amount of information provides on the apostles in the Bible is amazing. There are many pointers to other places to look for information. I found this to be a good source for a small research paper as well as leading me to other sources.

I bought this book because of the reviews and cheap price.
Two things about this book stand out.1)It's well written.2)There is no bias whatsoever in this book.A prior reviewer complained of Catholic "bashing".I read nothing of the sort.The Catholic church itself was a valuable source of information regarding the location and movements of relics throughout history.
The author has done an excellent job covering many of the legends of the Apostles' deaths and burials.He covers the movement of related relics(bodies and parts).Mr. McBirnie travelled to many of the sites that were rumored to be burial sites.He saw first-hand some of the final resting places.Some of the legends will probably never be proven,others such as Thomas' mission to India are well-known.Whether he agrees with some of the stories or not,he covers them.The subjects are more than the Apostles.Included are; Paul,Lazarus,John Mark and James the Lord's brother to name a few.I appreciate that the author devoted a chapter to a particular individual.
This is a worthy addition to any library.It's available and cheap.The standard other books on the subject will be judged by.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because of it's age.There have been more archaelogical discoveries since this edition was printed.

All other books on the apostles will be judged against this one. This is the definitive account on what happened to the Apostles. Granted, a lot of the material is heresay and legend. But these men lived so long ago that reliable facts about them are few and far between. Sketchy ideas are better than no ideas, and the McBirnie makes it very clear how accurate the theories are. The author delves deep into history to discover the fate of the twelve closest disciples of the lord, and does an incredible job, considering what a daunting task it was.

The Protestant theologian who wrote this 312-page book in 1973 provides a highly readable summary of known information about the life and fate of Christ's original twelve apostles plus a number of other important New Testament characters such as Paul, Barnabas and John the Baptist. The is little or no discussion of theological aspects of each character but rather an effort to gather known facts and references from disparate sources about each man (no female characters are covered) in an effort to provide an account of their probable life story, particularly after Christ's crucifixion. It is particularly interesting to learn about the evidence of travel and missions for the lesser known apostles and explanations and theories about Apostolic journeys to India. McBirnie tries to stay with verifiable facts and sources that are considered historically reliable rather than speculate too much about unknown or unknowable matters.

Following 44 pages of general background on the early Christian era and available historic sources McBirnie provides a chapter each for 19 men in 250 pages. That is followed by an appendix listing New Testament references for each character, five-page bibliography and a seven-page index.

I did not find the author is be as negative regarding relics, etc., as some other reviewer do.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it an entertaining read as well as Christian study reference.

Seeking Truth: Living With Doubt, examines the human nature to seek truth, the human nature to ask, "why?". The way in which people seek truth is broadly broken into science, dogmatic religion, introspective religion and art. All of these approaches are explored in surprising detail with great examples of each of their successes and failures. The underlying premise, which is well-illustrated, is that all ways have failures which tend to be more catastrophic when people follow one particular system without questioning it. This book has great depth which represents the authors' combined knowledge; all of the examples are well-documented with an exhaustively complete set of references and informative appendices. The depth of this book prevents it from being a quick read, but it is well written and reading it is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I would recommend this book to anyone that is concerned about religion, science, and their impact on humanity. This book not only provides a fresh take on this debate but it also introduces examples of problems that we will face in the 21st century to illustrate why this debate is important.

To my mind this book constitutes a valuable part of the on-going science vs. religion debate. Its central thesis is that rational inquiry and mystical (though not conventional) religion, with an assist from creative artistic endeavor, are closely allied in their essential empiricism, as well as in other ways. This is a novel, provocative and useful contribution to the current discussion. The breadth of knowledge behind the thesis is truly mind-boggling, and the lists of readings and references provided by the authors offer interested parties several lifetimes' worth of additional research.

"Seeking Truth" analyzes the insights of science, mathematics, art, and religion concerning the highest realities. That topic will not be explored again in the depth achieved in this volume for quite some time. The authors made the right decision to enter deeply into certain sub-topics by way of appendices. For me, these were a vital part of the book, and I feel it could be recommended based on their strength alone.

I admire Fortney and Onellion for the new twist they give to the modern notion that conventional religion and science are not compatible. But despite their impressive bibliography and the passion of their argument, they did not convince me. Many people live quite comfortably with both, and in the last analysis, it is perhaps only extremists (of all stripes) who cannot.

While I was reading "Seeking Truth," I was also reading "Finding Darwin's God" by Brown University biologist Kenneth R. Miller. He is a devout Catholic without (he feels) compromising his scientific credentials in the least and, to be honest, I think the two books argued one another more or less to a draw.

But you should decide for yourself. Expect to find in "Seeking Truth" both a bracing new addition to a long-standing debate about which Darwin himself felt terribly conflicted as well as a challenging call to do some deep thinking of your own about a difficult and vitally important topic.

In true academic form, Fortney and Onellion compare and contrast three major routes that people use to understand the world: Religion, Science, and the Arts. With religion they focus on the dogmatic western religions meaning Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Those religions are seen as old and invalid ways to find truth and real understanding. On the other hand Eastern and mystic style religions which focus on self-awareness are praised for their expansion of the human mind and their ability to help lead individuals towards an enlightened understanding. As for the sciences and art, the book focuses less on the specifics of their subgroups and doctrine but generalizes the similar goals of finding meaning or truth as oppose to discovering simple facts.

The themed chapters of Seeking Truth Living With Doubt begin by breaking up the history and basis of the different ways to seek truth and what is the guiding principle behind their goals. They continue on to the areas where they all search for truth, i.e. mind and body, the world, and consciousness. The book concludes with a look at the social impact and the outlook for the future for these paths to understanding.

My one caution of the book is to those members of those aforementioned religions who lead a faith based life. To discount dogmatic religions as a valid path to understanding contradicts the open minded point of the book, to not discount different ways to understand the world. Not to say that Seeking Truth Living With Doubt discounts the idea of absolute truth but perpetuates the belief that we have not yet found it.

This book is praise to independence of thought and those who base their life around their own abilities and strive to improve their lives and minds with their own wisdom. This book is meant for students especially for the younger crowd, this book reads much like option reading for an undergrad Religion class. It asks more questions than it answers. I would recommend this book to anyone who believes that the human heart, not a doctrine, contains the path to understanding and ultimate truth.

Bertrand Russell says in one his essays that the capacity for
doubt is one of the traits he most admires in human beings. For a person
like me who was taught in Catholic schools that faith is a virtue and doubt is a
sin, that sentence came as a revelation. I read it 35 years ago,
and it has retained its resonance through the years - my favorite
apostle has always been doubting Thomas.

Seeking Truth, Living with Doubt, by Fortney and Onellion, is the first
book I have read that takes doubt as its single central theme. There
are certainly other works that come close, Popper's The Open Society, for
example, and Hoffer's The True Believer. (In fact this book is the obverse of
The True Believer, in a way.) But Seeking Truth, Living with Doubt is the first book I
have seen that makes the argument, as broadly as possible, that doubt
is good, that all authentic efforts to find truth will always involve
doubt, and that doubt is the characteristic that, across religion, science,
and art, is the only clear signature of honest striving for insight
into the world. Following from this is the idea that ethical behavior
is connected with doubt: the humility associated with doubt spills over
into right conduct, while the arrogance associated with faith leads
to an indifference to the sufferings of others.

The role of doubt in science is not that complicated, it seems to me.
Knowledge in science may be thought of as three concentric circles with
doubt increasing as we go out from the center. The innermost circle
contains those truths of which we are quite certain: the sun will come up
tomorrow, natural selection drives evolution. Just beyond that are the
topics of current research. It contains not certain truths but hypotheses:
dark matter consists of weakly interacting massive particles, cloud formation
will significantly slow global warming. Varying degrees of doubt attach
to all such hypotheses. In the outer circle is ignorance: what happened
before the Big Bang?, what is the organism that would result from an arbitrary
base pair sequence of DNA? We just have no idea.

The point that Fortney and Onellion rightly make is that working
scientists (such as Onellion) inhabit the intermediate zone and
thus live constantly with doubt. In this way scientific
discovery is intimately and necessarily associated with doubt, and
all great scientists acknowledge this.

The role of doubt in religion is of course much more contentious. If truth is
revealed by God, not discovered, then what use has doubt once the
revelation has been recognized by the individual? The answer to this
question in Christianity has been an uneasy and often-violated truce
between reason and faith since the 17th century. One of the best parts
of Living with Doubt is the description of the corresponding situations in Judaism, where
doubt and flexibilty in faith are more tolerated than in Christianity,
and in Islam, where doubt is less tolerated. The authors point out
the consequences: Israel is a remarkably productive country in the sciences;
the Islamic countries are remarkably unproductive.

Fortney and Onellion give a way to reconcile faith and reason:
reject doctrinal religion and embrace mystical religion. In their view,
mysticism and doubt are perfectly compatible, and they give strong arguments
in support. They further assert that doctrine and reliance on
'inerrant' texts is not compatible with doubt. I won't comment here,
except to say that this seems to me to be a rather original, persuasive,
and certainly very simple solution to one of the central intellectual
conflicts in Western culture.

The book has the virtue that, in this respect, it goes beyond Western culture.
Buddhism is a religion that relies more heavily on mystical insight than do the
three monotheistic religions above. Fortney is a Buddhist (or atleast is
Buddhist-influenced) and is able to make the comparison. The assertion is that
doubt is regarded as almost natural in Buddhism and the conflict of faith and
reason is not felt as sharply as it is in the West.

Lastly, the role of doubt in art is treated fully. I enjoyed this
part of the book since it contained juxtapositions of ideas that had
never occurred to me at all. The claim is that doubt is an essential
component of artistic insight. I was not 100% convinced by this. The
romantic conception of the artist as outsider suggests that the argument
is right, but that is not the only kind of artist. I can see the works
of Picasso as arising partially from doubt, but what about the cathedral
at Chartres? In any case, the sections on art were one of the most
stimulating parts of the book, and contained many ideas that deserve
further development.

The organization of the book is loose - rather than trying to make
a single coherent argument, the authors have put together a collection
of short essays, anecdotes, arguments, observations, and ancillary material
(there are 22 appendices!). This is perhaps a consequence of the book
being a collaboration rather than a single-author book. I found this
format to be rather refreshing, and it is certainly one reasonable way
to treat such a huge topic in a short 300-odd pages. If I have a
criticism of the book, however, it is that there are digressions in which
this reader lost the thread.

All in all, there is much that is original and valuable in Living with Doubt
and most readers would benefit from spending a little time with these two
Thomases.

I had hoped for better. The two authors of this book, Steven Fortney, a gifted writer, and Marshall Onellion, a highly respected physicist, are quite obviously both men who share a passion for the truth and a healthy skepticism regarding ideological thinking. Their work promises and promotes conversation among three human disciplines that all search for meaning and truth: Science, Art and Religion. The proposal and the title of the work itself promise much.
There is much in the book that is thoughtful and thought provoking.
The authors ask that devotees in each of the truth-seeking disciplines they name be open to those in the other disciplines and exercise healthy skepticism -- doubt -- about their own preconceptions and prejudices -- certainly wise advice. They offer paradigms from which each can consider the connections to the other. They offer visions of mutual understanding and hope.
All of these are worthy and worth while and of obvious interest to the authors and to readers.
However there is even more in the book that is simply not clearly thought out and provocative.
An essentialist analysis of what they call the "Levantine Religions" (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) was, by the nature of such an approach highly inaccurate. They could have benefited from input from a historian or a theologian. The Christianity, for instance, they describe is one that I have not encountered. They would have benefited from a differentiation between "Doctrinal" and "Doctrinaire", between "Idealistic" and "Idealogical", between "Dogma" and "Dogmatic". They appear to regard most theistic religions as simply ipso facto false, thus dismissing at least half of their possible readership. More often than would be wise, sarcasm and reductionism are employed in their dealing with the 'Levantine Religions.' While they do allow for the mystical strains in each, their clear preference is that these things be, finally, freed from their theistic chains.
I was disappointed. These men could have done better. I hope they consider the possibility of a rewrite and look at their own dismissal of theistic faith with the same healthy doubt they ask of the reader. What could have been a valuable book for those within and outside of the faith communities, most unfortunately, would more likely be used to reinforce the prejudices of each side regarding the other.

I bought this book solely for reference on scanning line art and fonts, but have found that it has much, much more to offer. I disagree with a prior reviewer that this book is only for beginners and that much of the information is out there on the web. I have been searching, without success, for specific directions on scanning line art and fonts and converting those scans into usable art. (Just two chapters in this book.) This book not only gives one specific instructions for this, but goes much further and delves quite deeply into the actual creation of real art from a simple scan. The book also provides a lot of information on turning photos into graphic art. I had considered myself a fairly advanced user of photo software, but this book has opened my eyes to an amazing range of techniques and ideas on image usage.

I was expecting a technical guide to basic scanning techniques, and this book provides that. It also takes one much further beyond mere technical skill and is a wonderful guide to both the creation and use of computer generated graphics.

Enthralling. That's a pretty strong word to use about a technical manual, but this is no ordinary book about scanning. Everything in here is an utter delight. The history and theory of scanning are clearly explained. Yes, it may well start with a scan, but it ends with rekindling your enthusiasm for computing and graphics in a very big way. If you read it with your system booted up and immerse yourself in the chapters, you can see why these guys are so passionate about their work. Wonderful value for money. Apart from revealing hundreds of ways to turn lacklustre clipart and other sources into money-making graphics, it doubles as a handy guide to the features and versatility of Photoshop. This is a tour de force from two very generous authors. Arriving in the same package as Lynda Weinman's excellent "", I can't remember when I was last so happy just reading. Thanks!

I have already reviewed the first edition of this book. There is a second edition with *all new* graphics and more about making art for the world wide web. It is so good that I was moved to come back here and say this... here goes...

This book is the best book I have ever read about scanning. It is also the best book I have ever read about the principles of GRAPHIC ART itself. Everything that I learned formally about graphic design in years of study I found expertly summarised within these pages. This book must be the bargain of the century. Most artists would jealously guard these great secrets, tips and tricks. Look carefully at every illustration (I am still making great discoveries) analyse the appeal, reproduce in your own way and reap the artistic and financial rewards. Real insight freely and abundantly given into how professionals make the grade.

I was graphics-challenged till I read this. The most I ever did with graphics was pretty much to resize them or add a little text. This book gives you a whole range of possibilites with color, texture, cropping, layering, etc. - more than just applying a fancy filter or tweaking the brightness and contrast. Now, based on the wealth of ideas in this book, I look at clip art and photos with a new eye, and have applied the various ideas to make a much wider variety of graphic images. The best thing about this book is that it's DESIGN-centric, rather than SOFTWARE-centric, so it's not limited to what a handful filters might do. Instead it expands your thinking to combine a whole variety of techniques to create something really unique.

I ordered this one. I will return it. Yes, there are very good ideas in this book, but nothing great that you cannot come up by yourself if your are creative. Trust yourself.

There are many references to using photoshop (I am an intermediate photoshop user) that you can find elsewhere, not pertaining specifically to scanning.

Technical discussions on file types, resolution are OK but, once again, if you have read other books, doesn't add anything.

I think that you can find better tips and ideas surfing the Web.

Simply not for me.

I have studied the book of Revelation from several different viewpoints--all of which I enjoyed. However, this study was heart-touching. It made me look into myself and see the relevance this book of the Bible has to my life today!

Ruff shape, but valued what the contence was. Thank you.

This book communicates what the author learned through a personal study of the Book of Revelation in the Bible. After resigning from a position into which she'd poured several years of very demanding service, she undertook this study at a time when her "first love" for the Lord was at a low ebb. Through the study she saw Jesus in a new way and applied many of the lessons of the Book of Revelation to her life. Some of her applications applied to me as well, and they helped redirect my thinking in a healthy way. My top priority should be to maintain an unhindered, uninhibited relationship with my Lord.

I especially enjoyed her exposition of the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:9-20.

Favorite quote: "Are you trying too hard to be Christlike? Are you constantly taking inventory of the `fruit' in your character? Instead of focusing on the fruit and struggling to be loving or kind or good, just focus on your relationship with Christ. Are you maintaining an unhindered relationship with Him? If so, you will bear fruit."

Anne Graham Lotz delivers an excellent study of select passages from Revelation. This will stand alone as a personal devotional, study guide, and will add new light to the companion workbook/group study series. Her insights give better understanding of these last days!

Unlike my thoughts that Revelations was a book that had no value to today's Christian, this book and study changed my whole thought process around this book. It contains the most persuasive reading on the authenticity of Jesus Christ and our position in His kingdom. It is a must reading for Christians and all others who are looking for that glimpse into the eternal life.

Very witty, clever and well written -- a nice packaging of history. I wish it had dissected That Girl and the Mary Tyler Moore show just a bit more, but overall, it was very satisfying. Every bit as good as I had expected from its reviews.

I picked this up by impulse at the library, not sure if I would find myself reading a feminazi diatribe or a tittering prurient exposé. Thankfully, it was neither.

"Bachelor Girl" is an engrossing examination of unmarried women over the decades -- the society they lived in, the choices they faced, and the lives they lived. My adult daughter is reading it now; I insisted on it, after we watched "Mona Lisa Smiles" together and she found the movie's emphasis on getting married too bizarre and implausible. A few chapters into it, she said, "This is the sort of stuff I wanted to learn in my women's studies courses."

Betsy Israel's writing is engaging and compelling; her approach is sensible and even-handed. If more people would read this, (and as a companion book, "The Way We Never Were") perhaps more energy could be channeled toward defining a healthier future instead of wasted on nostalgic delusions.

Betsy Israel's book takes a look at single women in the United States, specifically in New York City. I think because Israel isn't single herself, she's able to approach the subject with more objectivity. She begins at the end of the 19th century, with the "singly blessed," (a great term, I think) and continues through the decades, with the Bowery Gals, shop girls, flappers, Gibson Girls, the Riveting Rosie of WWII (both of the latter being completely made up stereotypes), the career girl. It seems as though single women in America have never fit into one category, even though the rest of society tries to place her in one.

The book gave us a great picture of single women's lives in relation to their married counterparts, though I would have liked to have seen more on the single women of today (conversely, it might have been fun to have seen more on women before the late 19th century). This is an excellently-researched book that makes me feel a little bit better about being single in the modern world.

Great book, fascinating stuff, and the author's a terrific writer. But a couple of factual flubs (Florenz Ziegfeld's Florodora Girls? Jean Harlow died from an abortion?) had me wondering how much else I could trust in the book as "history."

Read it for the great excerpts Israel's found, and for her own well-expressed opinions--but be wary of using this as a history text.

Betsy Israel has written THE book I've been searching for. As a 38 year old single woman, never married, I wondered who the single women pioneers were. Did they stumble into singlehood like I did or was it a conscious decision? Did they decide like me, that having a disastrous marriage was worse than being on my own?

It was amazing to read about other single women, how they lived, the choices they made, and how the media and society manipulated and disrespected them. Two hundred years ago single women were accused of being witches since no one understood why these women would not want to fulfill their duty to marry and produce children. Why are people so suspicious of single women? Not long ago a coworker asked me if I was a witch. I told him I'm a Baptist. He also asked me if I was a lesbian (another common accusation mentioned in "Bachelor Girl".) I love men; I just haven't found one I can live with. Yet. It was great to read this book and know that other women have experienced the same things I've experienced.

People have assumed I avoided marriage to pursue my career. If it weren't for my career I would have been forced to marry the wrong man in order to survive. I love my career, but I did not give up anything for it. I've also learned to fix things around the home I own, I've bought two cars on my own, I have planned for retirement, all things that many single women avoid doing as Betsy Israel points out in this book. However, I know married women who have done the same things I've done because their loving husbands had skills other than fixing things, negotiating deals or managing money. I also know women in miserable marriages who've had to do the same things because their husbands wouldn't do them.

And when I'm feeling unlucky and unloved, reading about the factory worker girls, or shop girls who walked the fine line between their reality and society's perceptions I realize modern single women have it way easier. When I feel lonely I remember the amazing freedom I have that my single predecessors did not have.

I'm so tired of books for singles that are all about dating, finding a man and getting him down the aisle. "Bachelor Girl" has none of that. I read that other book about the rules and like women in "Bachelor Girl" I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair. This book is about real single women and how they made their own rules and tried to live good lives and have a little fun too.

Currently, the number of people choosing to stay single is rising. The 2000 Census shows that 25% of households are singles living alone. It was 13% in 1960. You'd think the politicians would be worried about the rise of singles rather than rising divorce rate or gay marriage, but I'm just happy to have the heat off me a little bit. But why should any of us take any criticism for our lives? Singles are a huge voting block, the politicians should pay attention to us.

The only place the book seems to fall a little short is in regards to the modern single woman. Betsy Israel covers the massive amount of crap we've all found on the Internet regarding singles and it's great to see this validation in print. But Ms. Israel focuses on Ally McBeal and Bridget Jones as archetypes. But for me the archetypes are Claudia on "Less Than Perfect", Lorelei Gilmore on "Gilmore Girls" and Mary Richards. Ms. Israel also gets a little snarky with her real subjects' attitudes. It seems that many of them are responding to their surroundings rather than feeling proud of their own accomplishments. All but one interviewee refused to use her real name. I hope this book will empower single women to always be proud of their lives, make smart decisions for themselves and not let the media or society define who they are.

An inspiring book written by an amazing author. Ok, so he is my dad, but he didn't pay me to say any of this stuff:)

A book like this should be mandatory reading for everyone. Particularly people who represent other people's interests for a living, such as World Leaders, Presidents, Kings, etc., would find it absolutely useful; a kind of constant tool, a compass that keeps them on the right track once and again. This is a book that shows not only Franklin's wit and wisdom, but also his vulnerability, that wonderful human quality, thus making it enchanting and insightful. Buy this book, learn and practice these principles, and enjoy the new breath of fresh air you'll experience in your life.

Great book on Benjamin Franklin's life. This book will make you a better person. Read it and digest it.

I saw this book one day when I was browsing Franklin Covey planners in the mall. It had been awhile since I read something not business related so I thought I'd give this a shot. I'll be honest when I tell you I enjoy a good read but this book took me about one year to read from beginning to end. The first few chapters weren't too bad but then it got into a section about a debate between two philosophers on the definition of virtue and why one should practice a virtuous life. I've never read anything that mentally straining in my life (my degree is in Mechanical Engineering BTW). I enjoy the arts but that one section took me about a month before I could fully digest what the philosophers were saying in the span of less than 2 pages. This one section proved so enlightening that my head hurt for about 2 days after I had a chance to chew on the content. If you had any doubts that the founding forefathers of this great nation were anything but geniuses, this should dispell any and all myths. I must say that I even had to break out the dictionary for some of the diction used in this book in that it was definitely not your everyday conversational english. If you enjoy mental challenges of a higher level and your mastery of the English language is proficient enough to understand the fine nuances of sentence structure and double, sometimes triple meanings, I would recommend this book. If you're looking for something a little more entertaining and easier on the mind, then definitely look somewhere else. But I will admit, when I did finally complete this book one year later, I actually felt a major sense of accomplishment. I guess that makes me just a little more virtuous?

When you look at the cover and the preface, the book may appear to be written by Benjamin Franklin, but that is somewhat misleading. Sure, the essence of the book comes from the writings of B.F., but the editor of the book has also done a great job of putting a collection of writings by Franklin into an excellent structure.

Twelve virtues are identified answering key questions about the source of happiness, how to attain it, and many other important aspects of life. Each virtue is supported by B.F.'s writings. I especially liked the summaries at the end of each chapter that would emphasize the essential points of the corresponding virtue.

This is a very accessible book, and a great companion for anyone who thinks life should be more than pursuing selfish goals and satisfying petty pleasures.

Perhaps, this work is more useful in understanding B.F.'s wisdom than his autobiography, which is another great classic.

I was slightly confused as to why the book was presented to be merely a book by B.F., given that the editor has contributed quite a bit in terms of organization and explanations. Perhaps to improve the sales?

In any event, this is a great work that, I bet, will improve the perspective of anyone who reads it actively.

This is not a perfect book...but it is a book you need to read. "Canaries on the Rim" is an eye-opening look at the sad environmental state of the American West, and at the health hazards that constantly threaten the West's people: nerve gas incinerators, the lingering effects of atomic testing, chemical weapons manufacturers, air and water pollution, grazing abuse, and more.
Every chapter of the book could stand alone as an article on a certain facet of this huge problem, and together the chapters paint a compelling picture of an environmental disaster and the ways to help fight it, ways Chip Ward has tested out personally.
Chip Ward's information is not always accurate--for instance in his chapter on cattle in the West he states that most cattle ranchers in the West are owned by "big operations that function as tax-sheltering investments for even bigger corporations," when in reality small family grazing outfits exist all across Utah and the West. He also repeatedly says that cattle operations have a hard time in the West due to the West's harsh environment, when in reality the biggest enemy of the Western cattle industry has been the government's restrictions on grazing. And he never addresses what would be so much better than raising cattle out at home on the range. ...Cramped feedlots?
Aside from that chapter, his information seemed mostly trustworthy though, almost always interesting, and always food for thought. The book was well-written (though troubled by weird capitalization), often entertaining, and made me want to read his second book, which I just found out about.
If you live in the West, I highly suggest you read this. No matter where you live, if you care about what you eat and breathe and drink, I suggest you read this. It will make you consider what more you could be doing for our world, and it will make you feel as if there's something you can do.
Because there is.
Chip Ward has proved it.

When you enter Utah, the Billboards don't tell you that you've entered the largest environmental sacrifice zone in the country. You have to read Canaries on the Rim: Living Downwind in the West to find that out. Ward details what the Army and other government officials are afraid to tell you. He documents the environmental ecocide that has taken place in the once pristine deserts of the Great American West from decades of uncontrolled military experiments and unregulated industrial pollution.

In his book, Ward describes the attitude and mindset of the people who live in one of the most beautiful, yet most polluted states in America, and the polluters who take advantage of their trust. Home to the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the world, the only nerve gas incinerator in the country, and the largest industrial polluter in America (MagCorps), the people of Utah have been subjected to environmental conditions that boggle the mind.

From atomic testing in the 50's, to open-air biological and nerve agent testing in the 60's, to uncontrolled industrial pollution in the 70's, to the MX missle crisis in the 80's, to chemical weapons incineration in the 90's, the reasons for the skyrocketing rate of chronic illness are not hard to track down.

Ward gives a colorful first hand account of his efforts to uncover the deceipt, corruption, and cover-ups that have plagued the people of Utah. Canaries on the Rim is a humerous tale of the darkness that has compromised the lives and health of Utahns. This is a must read for all Americans, especially those living in the intermountain west.

This book is a remarkable achievement that describes remarkable achievements. First, although this is Chip Ward's first published work, the book is well written and easy to read. It is by turns lyrical, witty, informative, wise, sensitive, and, yes, angry. It describes how the author raised awareness in his community and made a difference despite overwhelming odds. I found it inspiring and uplifting despite the grim topic of toxic pollution. That Ward can keep his sense of humor in the midst of such adversity is amazing. It is a shame this book has not found a much bigger audience.

I loved the book! And Mr. Ward should be commended highly for taking the actions he did, and writing the book to make other people aware of these terrible problems in Utah. It's outrageous! I feel sorry for the people of Utah, and wonder when we will come to our senses.Whatever the answers are to these terrible environmental problems, I think you can depend that each of us will be unpleasantly surprised by some more of these issues in the future, no matter where we live.

"Canaries on the rim" is as much a story of an environmental movement starting in a small town, as it is a story of the evolution of an environmental activist.

Chip draws the reader in with a sparklingly detailed examination of the environmental effects of a single cow in a single canyon. The apathy of local, state, and federal burocrat towards solving the environmental problems he discovers is staggering. The reader is left with the question; "how can someone afford to fight environmental battles"? Shortly after pondering the question of "breakfast cereal for two headed babies" Chip appears to discover that the most important polluters are those with the deepest pockets.

Chip describes the fame and attention he receives and the changes it brings to his life as a bookmobile driver. Chip's acting locally evolves into national action. As he evolves so does his prose. Examination is replaced by name-calling, detail replaced by assumption. In short, he becomes one of the environmental shock therapists he pokes fun at early in the book. Chip sells out and if through some literary device he was able to see it this would be a truly great book.

Tooele County is pockmarked with environmental problems. Stockton, one of Grantsville's close neighbors, has an arsenic toxic waste site where many towns would have a town square. Overgrazing denudes the deserts. For years cancer-causing pesticide overuse, to attack the grasshopper and cricket blooms, was commonplace. Even natural pollution, in the form of effervescing dust and putrid sulfurous stenches from the salt lake's mudflats, attacks human health. But none of these assailants will pay. It may be necessary to go after the deep pockets to try and patch the broken lives left by health problems caused by life in Tooele County. The fight that Chip's environmental battle evolves into may be a good fight. The changes that Chip goes through in giving up a pure environmental battle based on environmental effect and targeting that battle based on political effect would be a good story. However, that story is only inferred in the later chapters of this book.