Anderson Books

The space adventures and worlds envisioned by a classic DC Comics series edited by Julius Schwartz and written by Gardner Fox and John Broome is revealed in SILVER AGE SCI-FI COMPANION, a consider of the series stories of Strange Adventures and Mystery in Space which includes reviews of complete series and behind-the-scenes insights on writers and artists alike. Any Silver Age comics collector, library catering to them, or science fiction fan will relish the plot synopses and insights.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The Silver Age Sci-Fi Companion is up to the standards of most TwoMorrows fare - expert coverage with interviews of the living comic book creators who were there when this stuff was all created. A lot of these comics were before my time so it was a great exposure to concepts that I had never known of (such as Space Museum or the Atomic Knights). There's even a look at which books were reprinted and when. This book provided me with days of reading enjoyment.

If you ever wondered where the inspiration came for these superheros and a bit of comic history, buy this book.

All of the comic history-related books TwoMorrows Publishing puts out are worthwhile, but this is the best one yet. Author Mike W. Barr really goes the extra mile here and it shows. Not just a dry recitation of facts, Barr weaves together interesting factoids and makes connections where you least expect it. Wonderfully illustrated with vintage art, there are plot synopses of the biggies like Adam Strange and the Atomic Knights but also obscure DC sci-fi creations like the Faceless Creatures (!) and Super-Chief. More fun than a visit to the Space Museum. Go out of your way to get this one. A+.

Book was delivered fast and I found it a good quality product. Would recommend purchasing from them again.

This book was begging to be written for the longest time. Thank goodness Randy went ahead and did it. The book fills a void in soil science by linking soil formation and geomorphology, an obvious connection. It is well-written in terms of organization and style. I can tell that Randy certainly enjoys studying soils, as his enthusiasm pours off the pages. Not only that, but he and his co-author clearly have the knowledge and background to put forth such a work.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in soils, but especially for a college-level text book for any soils-related course.

The subject matter is geared toward providing an understanding of soils and landforms from an earth systems perspective rather than agronomy. I'd buy this title over P. Birkeland's work, though I have both. Extensive bibliography.
Downside: given the technology now available for reproducing clear b/w photos, students and researchers deserve better. Don't soils have color as well?!

It's hard to imagine a soils textbook that is an easy read, but this is it. The authors have a way of making dull material interesting. The writing style is very smooth and flows well. Kudos to them.

Simolke, Duane. "New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio: Stein, Gender, Isolation", toExcel, 1999.


Amos Lassen and Literary Pride

One of the topics that interested me greatly when I was in graduate school was Gertrude Stein and the theories of gender that we associated with her writings. I was mad for Gertrude Stein and my library of first editions of most of her work are somewhere that Katrina took them. Frankly I have been so busy that I have not thought about Stein for a while. In the process of reviewing I cane across Duane Simolke and it emails with him, I discovered that he had researched Stein and had published a book about his research. He was kind enough to send it to me.
His approach to Stein differed from mine but we both discovered some commonalities in reference to gender. Simolke's book deals primarily with the relationship between Stein and Sherwood Anderson and his analysis of "Winesburg, Ohio" relates to Stein and gender roles and gay subtext among other themes. "Winesburg, Ohio" was published in 1919and deal with the industrialization of the small town and how it affected the lives of the people. He shows the influence Stein had on Anderson's writing as well. We learn the motivation for the writing of the book as well of the homoeroticism of his other works. He gives us, basically, an outline for the writing of a short story.
Simolke brings fresh outlooks on the works he writes about. And as he explores the sexual subtext of Anderson's writings, some of you may be surprised at what he found. Within the sexual subtexts, there is no writing about sex per se but rather with human contact.
The book is refreshing, interesting and educating. I have always loved books that take on established works of literature and look at them with a new and different slant. As I read "Winesburg" the novel. I was amazed at how much I have missed. Its relevance is especially important today when we hear about the way immigrant workers are treated and we may compare that a bit to the way industrialism overtook America and changed the way we did everything. It is also interesting to note that this industrial takeover has been overtaken, itself, by the technological revolution, which owes a great debt to the industrial takeover which preceded it.
Perhaps I have scared some of you by going off on a literary tangent. That was not my intention. Rather, I think the importance of gender roles is so pervasive today that it would do us all a great deal of good to see how it has been treated historically. It's an easy book to read, clear and concise and it opens your eyes to a new way of thinking.

What a pleasure to read a dissertation embracing the poetry and passion of simple language as well as the art of old-fashioned story-telling exemplified by the often underrated Sherwood Anderson.

In seven chapters Dr. Simolke (whose lyrical collection THE ACORN STORIES was clearly influenced by Stein and Anderson) examines themes of alienation, sexuality and gender in Anderson's masterpiece WINESBURG, OHIO.

Bringing fresh perspective to Anderson's best known work (considered by critics to be a forerunner of modern fiction with its focus on "real folks" and small town America of the early 20th Century), Simolke candidly explores sexual subtext.

In "More Than Man or Woman" he writes, "I call attention to all this terminology because Anderson transcends those societal perceptions of gayness; his use of gay themes has little to do with sex and everything to do with human contact."

Do we need still one more analysis of the work of another dead white guy? Yes, most certainly, when it is as refreshingly and unabashedly enthusiastic as Simolke's. Criticized as being sentimental and outdated, WINESBURG becomes relevant again in this unapologetic and insightful re-reading.

Stein, Gender, Isolation, and Industrialism New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio
by Duane Simolke
Reviewed by Joe Wright
This book is the work of Dr Simolke. It served as his doctoral dissertation. It shows the relationship between Sherwood Anderson, his work and Gertrude Stein. In Dr Simolke's own words, "I consider Gertrude Stein, gender roles, the machine in the garden, feelings of isolation, and attempts at communication, as they all relate to Sherwood Anderson's masterpiece."

Of course the masterpiece he is talking about is the story cycle, Winesburg, Ohio. Published in 1919 about a small town in Ohio becoming industrialized and what that does to the lives of the people of Winesburg.
New Readings would be a great companion to go along with Anderson's Winesburg. It gives you not only the history of Mr. Anderson, but also the history of his stories. In Chapter 4 Men and Women, Dr. Simolke talks about how Mr Anderson's 1923 novel Many Marriages was banned by many libraries and book stores due to the fact that the book mainly focuses on nudity and sex.
If your a tried and true fan of Gertrude Stein or Sherwood Anderson New Readings is a must have!

Pour yourself a little brandy, pull your chair up to the fire, and read Duane Simolke's Stein, Gender, Isolation, and Industrialism: New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio. Better yet, dust off your copy of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, and then read Simolke's remarkable explication of Sherwood Anderson, the influence that the great Gertrude Stein had on his writing style, and the equally important effect of turn-of-the-century industrialization on Anderson and the stories he tells. In this straightforward, yet literary accounting of Anderson's Winesburg narratives, you will come to a fuller understanding of what motivated Anderson to write his story cycle, what part homoeroticism and homophobia played in the story "Hands" and "The Untold Lie." This work should be required reading in any college course involving the art and craft of short-story writing as well as in courses on Sherwood Anderson, himself. I found the greatest pleasure in reading a while from Simolke's work, then reading from Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio. Simolke's book is a great reading guide, as well as a thoughtful and measured reading experience all by itself. ---Ronald L. Donaghe, author of Uncle Sean

Although this book (really more like a booklet) isn't very long, it provides excellent details about the Ingalls family. Particularly interesting were the details on Carries life. While Laura was remarkable, in ways I think Carrie was even more so. She was a printer by trade and traveled the State of South Dakota working on different papers owned by a Mr. Senn. She also held down a homestead before finally marrying a mine owner who lived at the foot of Mount Rushmore.

It also contains some pictures of family members that I have never seen before (esp. of Charles and Carolines parents.) I highly recommend this book to Laura Ingalls Wilders fans and it is such an easy read that children will enjoy it.The only disappointing thing about the book is that it is so short.

I enjoyed this booklet on the Ingalls family. There is always so much written about Laura. It was great hearing about Carrie and Grace, and their lives. It is interesting that Carrie had such a career in the newspaper business, then married in her 40's with an already made family! I think that Laura's sisters are pretty remarkable in their own right. It was great to hear about them.

Although in a short, booklet format, this is one my favorite Little House resources because it contains many things you don't find in other bios. I especially love the pictures of Laura and Mary as children (it's neat comparing them to Garth William's illustrations)!

You will also love to learn what the future held for sisters Mary, Grace and Carrie.

I would wager this little booklet is essential addition to any Little House collection.

Although this book (really more like a booklet) isn't very long, it provides excellent details about the Ingalls family. Particularly interesting were the details on Carries life. While Laura was remarkable, in ways I think Carrie was even more so. She was a printer by trade and traveled the State of South Dakota working on different papers owned by a Mr. Senn. She also held down a homestead before finally marrying a mine owner who lived at the foot of the Black Hills.

It also contains some pictures of family members that I have never seen before (esp. of Charles and Carolines parents.) I highly recommend this book to Laura Ingalls Wilders fans and it is such an easy read that children will enjoy it.The only disappointing thing about the book is that it is so short.

a force to rival even economics tag team huber and stephens!

As a policy analysis grad-student, I couldn`t help but like this book. In a field where so many authors stick slavishly to what they can PROVE empirically, Esping-Andersen dares to ask big questions and think big thoughts. Interpreting the welfare state from a nineteenth centuryesque political economy perspective, he provides real insight, and defends his Marxist-inspired interpretation with flair and not a little bit of style. Not only that, but his exposition is clear and (dare I say?) kind of fun to read. If you want to understand why all rich western societies spend a BIG chunk of GDP on the welfare state, this is a great place to start

This book blew me away when I read it. In fact, I read it again as soon as I finished it. This book is thoroughly documented to support the author's point. Whereas John Stephens focused more on total spending on welfare state programs, Esping-Andersen pointed to the crucial role that ideology plays in the structure of the welfare state. The structure of the programs often being more important than the total amount of money spent. Anyway, I don't need to recount the details of his argument. This book was a paradigm shifting, enlightening experience. I understand the world better because of this book. I think you will too.

Esping-Anderson suggests that two questions drive the debate regarding the welfare state. On one hand, authors like T.H. Marshall seek to examine the interaction of class and social welfare, while Esping-Anderson seeks to explain "the causal forces behind welfare-state development." In brief, the author suggests that three independent variables lead to specific welfare regimes: the nature of class mobilization, class-political coalition structures, and the historical legacy of regime institutionalization (29-31). The nature of class mobilization is important in that the way classes mobilize lends to the amount of power it can wield in pursing in its goals. Likewise, the type of class-political coalition structures assist in shaping the political will of various classes in that the coalitions help shape the political capital of various groups. Finally, the historical legacy of regimes is important in that it establishes the strength of weakness of class structures.
The neoliberal welfare regime argues that a free market will abolish class and inequality, while state intervention only strengthens issues of class. The neoliberal model argues that democracy and universal suffrage "would be likely to politicize the distributional struggle, pervert the market, and fuel inefficiencies" (10). In reality, however, the neoliberal regime, through the capitalist system, tends to commodify labor to such an extent that people were unable to survive outside of the market. "Stripping society of the institutional layers that guaranteed social reproduction outside the labor contract meant the people were decommodified" (21). This leads to a difficulty in class mobilization as workers are now nothing more than a commodity to be traded between industries. As such, they are unlikely to gain the political power to translate "mobilized power into desired policies and reforms" (16). Because the neoliberal regime is so reliant on market forces, the state will not intervene unless the familial or market institutions fail. Esping-Anderson refers to this structure as a residual or welfare state. Such a state is characterized by means-tested social assistance. This often punishes and stigmatizes recipients of social welfare and ultimately creates a system of class stratification, particularly between the middle class who relies on market social insurance and the poor who are reliant on state-sponsored social insurance programs (23). Generally, the benefits offered by the neoliberal regime are quite small, as social welfare is seen as a cause of poverty and unemployment, and may lead to laziness and "moral corruption" (42).
The conservative model disagreed with the idea of laisez-faire economic policies. Esping-Anderson suggests that the conservative ideal "was the perpetuation of patriarchy and absolutism as the best legal, political, and social shell for capitalism without class struggle" (10). The conservative paradigm sees a more authoritarian state as better for everyone, as opposed to a more chaotic system based on free markets. As such, the corporatist model created its first social policies because the corporatists saw liberalism democracy and capitalism as destroying the old hierarchical structure. In sum, the conservative ideology does not want to see people starve - commodification is morally repugnant. Rather, they want people to "subordinate self-interest to recognized authority and prevailing institutions" (38). This idea is characterized in the modern social welfare regimes in that it is still reliant on many of the precommodification institutions. Rather than having people be slaves to the market, the corporatist model makes people reliant on the state.
Lastly, the Marxist, or Social Democratic model argues that the accumulation of capital disowns people of property. This leads to deeper class divisions. Additionally, social welfare initiatives like those posed by the neoliberal and corporatist model, according the neo-Marxist paradigm, in fact is more conducive to ensuring class divisions in the name of stability, instead of actually addressing need (55). The Social Democratic model expands on this premise, arguing that by bringing social policy into the parliament, workers will have less dependence on the market and employers. This, coupled with a strong coalition between labor and other groups, farmers perhaps, leads to a system of equality and socialism through the exercise of political power.
Although Esping-Anderson specifically concentrates on the factors leading to various welfare regimes, he does touch on retrenchment, or the repeal of some social welfare initiatives (32-33). As Esping-Anderson argues, and Pierson reiterates, the theory posed by Esping-Anderson should not only explain the emergence of particular types of welfare regimes, but also their subsequent decline, particularly Esping-Anderson suggests that the "class coalitions in which the three welfare-state regime-types were founded, explain not only their past evolution but also their future prospects" (33).

My 5 year old loves this book. She was able to read this with very little assistance. She loved saying "No!" for Joe. Fun to read and listen to. The illustrations are hilarious, also.

My kids laughed histarically when we got this book from the library for my six year old to practice reading. My four year old also wanted to read it himself. The text is simple enough for them to repeat after I read it to them. They love this silly book so much I'm going to buy one for them. It is definately a keeper!

I disagree that this book can be scary for little ones. I used to read this book to my now 16 yo brother when he was 2 yo. He had it memorized and just loved it! It was his absolute favorite book. I found it again and now I'm ordering it for my 6 yo daughter.

My children loved reading the creative attempts to escape going to bed. Adults can also relate to the young frogs antics. The illustrations are very expressive and the vocabulary is great for an early reader. This book is one that will be read many times.

"To Love Again" by Christine Anderson is a powerful story about love, trust and second chances. It reminds us of how hard it is to clearly see what is right in front of us. With our busy lives and our own self interests we loose sight of what is important and make judgments based on our own perception. Her characters are real everyday people just like your friends, family and probably even yourself at times. This story is inspirational and direct. It is about choosing the right path even when it is the more difficult one. It is about learning to trust in something greater than yourself...to have faith when all seems lost. It is about learning to love again...

To Love Again, by Christine Anderson is a sensitively written novel. It deals with many powerful issues such as marriage, parenting, human frailties and faith. Ms. Anderson cleverly blends these issues into a fast moving, enjoyable story. Something for everyone.

"To Love Again " by Christine Anderson is a beautiful well written love story in which a married couple finds themselves in a crisis.The story touches on the trials and tribulations which all married couples with kids can identify. Christine Anderson tells the story with real life dialogue I find myself frquently using with my own children. It also provides married coulples with a renewed outlook and evaluation of their own relationships.It gives hope to those in need and inspiration to persevere.

To Love Again by Christine Anderson is a story that anyone who is married and has children will want to read. Nurturing a marriage while raising kids is a delicate balancing act and this story is an inspirational reminder to all. The characters are believable and the dialogue is real. As you read you will realize you have had the same thoughts and the same conversations. Give yourself a few hours because once you begin you won't want to put it down. When you finish you will be filled with hope and a renewed spirit!

This is a collection of the Target: 2006 Storyline of the UK Transformers comics. I enjoyed this graphic novel alot. Although, neither this or 'Fallen Angel' can ever be better than the last issue's of the US comic(by far my favorite). Pick this up if you have already read this US comics (if not get those first).

This book collects the opening story of the UK comic's long-running Galvatron saga, which came to an end with the last issues of the US comic.
This is a companion piece to Transformers: The Movie, as the plot interweaves with that of the film. Here, Galvatron jumps back to 1985 in order to improve his situation in the future, with disasterous results.
Simon Furman, well into his stride as writer by the time of this plot, threw away the Transformers rulebook. By using the Movie characters, Furman was no longer shackled by the US comic continuity, and let loose. Hardly a page goes by without some shocking event, or an event that makes the fanboy in you sit back and go "that's cool!".
The art is spectacular, showing up the art of the US comics, and fully conveying the intensity of this storyline.
This is complex, mature and astonishingly well-executed stuff that you really shouldn't miss.

This is the best Transformers comic book story ever told! Target 2006 was written by Simon Furman, with Art By Jeff Anderson, Will Simpson and Ron Smith! But the Best UK Transformers artwork is done by Geoff Senior! Ultra Magnus, Autobot Leader of 2006 travels back in time to 1986 stop Galvatron,Cyclonus, and Scourge from creating a weapon of distructive power that could destroy the Chaos-Bringer Unicron! These characters came from the epic saga of Transformers the Movie! on the back of the book it says "In Target 2006, Arch-Decepticon Leader Galvatron travels back in time to lay the foundations for the future destruction! With Optimus Prime missing, feared dead. Cybertrons greatest Hero, Ultra Magnus maybe Earth's last hope! These Books reprint Transformers UK #78-88! Highly Recommended!

"Target: 2006" is the story arc that fully propelled the UK Transformer comics into the limelight; talk to any Transformer fan, and they'll probably tell you that the UK stories were vastly superior to the US comics at the time. "Target: 2006" is a testimony to this.

The story is quiet different from the US staple, and introduced many characters that the US readers never got to meet: Ultra Magnus, Springer, and the Wreckers, just to name a few.

Basically, Galvatron goes back in time to create a machine of mass destruction and then use it against Unicron in the past; from there, Galvatron will be free of Unicron's influence, and can rule the Decepticons without his interference.

Highlights of the storyline include the fight between Galvatron and Megatron, the introduction of Ultra Magnus, and Starscream's betrayal of both Megatron and Galvatron.

The art is very accurate to the toys, except when it comes to Ironhide, Ratchet, and Bumblebee, who are all drawn to reflect their cartoon versions.

This book is great for both young and old Transformer fans.

This book does a great job of intertwining historical occurrences with curriculum theory and current educational trends. Good reading. Also the guest lecturers add a nice touch.

It has been said that we cannot fully understand a text unless we know about the whole culture from which it emerged. This book provides that background understanding for those who would study the many and varied texts in the field of curriculum. As an instructor of graduate level curriculum students, I have used this book to provide the type of context that is not available in any other source. It is extremely accessible without oversimplifying a very complicated field. My students appreciate the comprehensive review of scholars and their texts with the opportunity to "sample" many of them in the primary document excerpts. They have also commented on the manner in which the reflective questions actually do make them think (unlike those in many other texts) and get them to focus on issues they may have missed otherwise. In addition, the "varied tales" sections drive home the realization that the study of curriculum is inextricably linked to the study of broader social issues. This is a book that I will continue to use and use again with my classes.

Turning Points walks us through a historic journey in curriculum field in a unique way. I like the way it combines interviews, documents, social history, and curriculum ideas.

It's a great book that encompasses historic issues and current issues (e.g., high-stakes testing and international issues). It's not just a static text. Rather, it is a dynamic conversation between the authors, the great scholars, and the readers.

An excellent choice for curriculum researchers, educators and students.

This was a groundbreaking book when it was first released several years ago as it astutely combined interviews, documents, social history, and curriculum ideas. This NEW edition brings better formatting and, more importantly, additional content related to high-stakes testing and international issues. It is incredibly reader-friendly and captures the history of curriculum thought and work from 1950s onward.

A member of our congregation shared this little book with me and it was like water in a parched land. I found Vawter's book insightful and inspiring. He reminds us all that our world and our society often seek to de-humanize and separate us from one another. The call of the gospel is to be more fully human and more deeply caring for one another. In other words, Christians are called to bring healing and good news into a world that is broken and hurting. Unfortunately, Vawter notes, the Christian church is all too often devoid of such "uncommon graces." This is a reminding of who we are, and a call to live out a grace-filled life, for he sake of other believers, and for the sake of the world around us. Great book.

Rating: 4.25 STARS

Introduction:
Dr. Vawter, a Baptist pastor, writes a compelling Christian-living book (primarily for Christians) from his pastoral and conciliar experiences about the "uncommon graces" of: Gentleness, Attentiveness, Loyalty, Candor, Mercy, Kindness, and Repentance. The last part of the book talks about how a Christian can nurture these "uncommon graces" in the chapters of: building community, establishing "circuit breakers," and living the Golden Rule.

The plethora of personal anecdotes makes this 191 page book a very fast read. I found "Uncommon Graces" at my local public library in San Jose. Published in 1998 by Navigator's publishing arm - NavPress.

Author:
"John Vawter is senior pastor at Bethany Community Church in Arizona ..." starts the backup description. In addition, the last page of the book is dedicated to informing the reader about the extensive evangelical work of the author and the backcover lists his academic credentials (M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and D.Ministry from Bethel Seminary). Reading the personal family anecdotes one learns a lot about Dr. Vawter (sometimes more than I wanted to know) - about how deeply honest, self-critical, yet impulsive and one "who always wants to win" he is. I have to say, I was surprised by Dr. Vawter "brag lists" of accomplishments at the end of the book, but looking at the content of his book I feel that he has a caring and loving heart, and candidly wants Christians to be transformed into Christ-like believers and true followers of Jesus Christ. Dr. Vawter, is also the author of 2003's "Hit by a Ton of Bricks (Family Issues)" book from Family Life Publishing.

Content:
While the book's subtitle is "Christlike responses to a hostile world" one learns from the early pages that while living in a society that is "in-your-face," and "where the spirit of the age always finds its way into the church" (well noted by Francis Schaeffer), Dr. Vawter's book is directed towards churchgoers than the world. As he states, too many churchgoers are obessed with a list of sins, while tolerating a list of "safe sins" and thus the church today seems to need a support group, an AA for the Arrogant and Abrasive.

The following are some excerpts, my nuggets of wisdom that I took from this book on Christian living:

GENTLENESS chapter

* "If grace has become a rare commodity in our day, it is perhaps because we have forgotten Paul's warning in Romans 12:2: 'Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God's good, acceptable to him and perfect.'" (pg. 22).
* "A more troubling attitude is also at work. It says, 'If you don't agree with me, you're my enemy.' As Christians, one way we do this is by putting our general preferences, our personal convictions, and our most important doctrinal positions on an equal level. As a result, if someone doesn't see eye to eye with us on every single cultural, economic, political, moral, and theological issue, we think we have the right ot be belligerent toward them." (pg. 23)
* "I've known far too many Christins who are like this. Their lives seethe with anger, which they try to explain away as conviction. After years of seeing this kind of thing happen in churches, I've come to a surprising conclusion: Anger is not the root problem - dishonesty is." (pg. 23)

ATTENTIVENESS chapter

* "This is just the opposite of what the brother of our Lord tells us in James 1:19: 'Be quick to listen, slow to speak.'" (pg. 38).
* "Most of all, we miss out on the hidden depths and fascinating stories that exist in the lives of people all around us." (pg. 39)
* "Of course, it's easier to make snap judgements based on stereotypes than to engage a person in thoughtful conversation. It's hard work to understand someone else's point of view. It takes time and energy, things that are in short supply in our fast-paced society." (pg. 39)
* "This ongoing self-awareness of sin and a willingness to change are necessary for the continued growth of Christ's life in ours (1 John 1:6-9)" (pg. 43)
* "The battle cry of God's people should ot be confused with the cry arising from the world. Ours is not 'victory through intimidation' but 'transformation through service.'" (pg. 44)
* "We bring people into that kingdom by serving their needs. And one of their greatest needs is to speak what is in their hearts to someone who has a heart to listen." (pg. 44)
* "Listening displays the opposite of selfishness because it makes another person more important than ourselves." (pg. 44)
* "Admitting our limited understanding, especially in regard to spiritual truth, is a mark of humility." (pg. 46)
* "We need to realize that communication is, at best, an imperfect science." (pg. 48)
* "'Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.' (Proverbs 26:4)" (pg. 50)
* "We also miss a perfect opportunity to proclaim the gospel, because most people will learn more about the love of Christ from our attentive silence than they ever will from our 'expert' opinions." (pg. 50)
* "Whether we are listening to support someone else or to find guidance for our own lives, we need to learn how to put all that information in perspective. To do tha, we must be willing to negotiate." (pg. 52)
* "During His life on earth, Jesus repeatedly demonstrated that compassion could change people. Jesus recognized sin for what it was, but He never lost compassion for the sinner." (pg. 54)

LOYALTY chapter

* "I am reminded of the words of Solomon in Proverbs 18:24: 'A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.'" (pg. 57)
* "'You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love' (Galatians 5:13)" (pg. 59)
* "Loyalty can grow in our relationships only if we are also willing to cultivate intimacy." (pg. 60)
* "In his wonderful little book 'Secrets,'Dr. Paul Tournier says that having secrets is an important part of being human. When we share them with others, those same secrets have the power to strengthen relationships as few other things have the power to do. Intimate friends are the ones with whom it is safe to share such secrets." (pg. 62)
* "The stronger our commitment to loyalty the greater differences the relationship can endure and the greater growth it can experience." (pg.64)

CANDOR chapter

* "'An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips' (Proverbs 24:26)" (pg.74)
* "Practiced with love and discretion, candor strengthens rather than weakens relationships." (pg.74)
* "'Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body' (Ephesians 4:26)" (pg.77)
* "The third reason we're reluctant to be candid is our need to win. I've observed, particularly among leaders, that the truth is not always important as the triumph." (pg.77)
* "The real benefit of living a life of candor is that you can stand the heat of examination and be proven a sincere person. And the people who really matter respect you." (pg.79)
* "Solomon observed, 'Better is open rebuke than hidden love,' and 'Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses' (Proverbs 27:5,6).
* "When our candor is balanced with courage and compassion, it's not up to worry about the responses to our candor. Truth eventually wins out, even if it takes a long time to do so." (pg.84)

MERCY chapter

* "If we judge others by their coarse words and harsh reactions without looking beneath the surface to the wounds in the soul, we won't be following the example of the Great Physician Himself." (pg.91)
* "'See to it that o one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many' (Hebrews 12:15)" (pg.95)
* "It is important not to confuse mercy with sympathy. It is not a feeling but an action. It moves. It motivates. It makes a difference in people's lives. But to make the difference, mercy sometimes has to be blunt." (pg.97)
* "A desire for justice, ..., cannot be used as a defence for refusing to show mercy. ... The difference between the two is this: Justice seeks responsibility for the offense, while mercy seeks restoration for the offender." (pg.99)
* "Jesus made it abundantly clear that forgiveness is not some alternative therapy with a high success rate in dealing with victimization. Forgiveness is not an alternative but an imperative." (pg.100)
* "Romans 12:18 says, 'If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.'" (pg.101)
* "Extending mercy doesn't always bring peace. Even when it does, the peace process is seldom easy. ... So much of the time we're so self-absorbed that we can't even see the needs of others, let alone meet them." (pg.101)
* "While extending mercy comes at a price, failure to do so exacts a higher price." (pg.102)
* "I've talked about many concepts in this chapter: Letting go of the past. Showing mercy. Serving others. ... But there is no better example than Jesus Himself." (pg.103)

KINDNESS chapter

* "Kindness is an attitude of graciousness, a generosity of heart. But it doesn't stop there; it leads to 'acts' of kindness." (pg.106)
* "Is is sobering to recognize that if we don't show kindness, then we are distorting that reflection - and therefore distorting the very image of the Almighty." (pg.107)
* "'With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be' (James 3:9-10)." (pg.109)
* "We should be consistent. We shouldn't act one way in public and another way in private." (pg.110)
* "If we want to be like God, we have to be consistent in our kindness. And that means being kind even to our enemies." (pg.110)
* "Defending the truth is a noble thing. But 'obeying' the truth is nobler." (pg.110)
* "' ...Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just asin Christ God forgave you.' (Ephesians 4:31-32)" (pg.111)
* "One thing it tells us is that not all anger is wrong. 'In your anger do not sin,' wrote the apostle Paul. 'Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry' (Ephesians 4:26)" (pg.112)
* "Sadly, kindness is in short supply for the very people who need it most - even in the church." (pg.114)
* "Don't get me wrong; the convictions of Christ demand that we stand up for truth. But the character of Christ also requires us to weep over Jerusalem - or Washington - not overwhelm those cities with vast armies of indignation." (pg.117)
* "Unfortunately, people like Christ are a minority, not only in society but in the church." (pg.117)
* "The word that God speaks is most often spoken through the lives of people ... As we think about reaching our communities for Christ, we must realize that one of the greatest ways we can touch people is through kindness." (pg.118)
* "Kindness is not a character quality buried deep in our lives that we have to excavate. It's not something we build one brick at a time. It's organic, something that grows within us. More accurately, it is 'grown' within us by the work of the Holy Spirit." (pg.118)

REPENTANCE chapter

* "...We need to quit playing games, quit ignoring the warnings we receive, quit blaming others, quit judging others - and take a good hard look at ourselves." (pg.124)
* "When we rush to judgment, we disobey God and fail to further His kingdom." (pg.126)
* "All too frequently, the church is the scene of such exchanges. ... The truth is, I don't [have all the answers]. I don't know what you do with people who refuse to admit they're wrong. ... In Proverbs, he [Solomon] tells us not to waste our time with a fool (26:4), that a fool will not listen (23:9), that a fool will not change (17:10), and that a fool will not grow (18:2). If a person refuses to come to grips with an obvious weakness, sometimes it is best just to walk away." (pg.130-131)
* "I think we should be all asking God to develop enough humility in us that we are willing to listen to what people say ... Responding to and growing in the truth should be the issue - not winning." (pg.131)

BUILDING COMMUNITY chapter

* "We [Baptists and Evangelicals] stress personal salvation while forgetting that the biblical view of redemption includes both individuals and groups. We teach that spiritual growth emerges primarily from personal study and prayer, but we forget that a mature faith includes accountability, which requires other people." (pg.137)
* " 'On the other hand, I thought about what I often see in the church and in Christian circles, and that made me sad. Sad that people not in attendance are criticized. Sad that people who show up and disagree are demeaned. Sad that people - Christian people - attach each other instead of help each other ... in the church there is a lack of humility and little need to depend on God' [words of a friend of Vawter, father of a heroin addict daughter]" (pg.151-152)
* "If our Christian community is to be a place where we are submitting to each other, we need to grow in our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. We need His help." (pg.152)
* "First, we need to keep a check on our attitude toward other people ... Second, we need to remember that we speak with more than just our mouths." (pg.153)

ESTABLISHING CIRCUIT BREAKERS

* "Why is it that so many people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ live lives that are so offensive? Why is it that so many people who claim to be Christians are themselves so unChristlike?" (pg.155)
* "A mark of maturity is our willingness to listen to outside voices, to people who point out something that may be a problem in our lives ..." (pg.160)
* "Let's follow God's example and start looking beyond people's faults to their needs. Let's extend the same amount of grace and love to others that God has extended to us. If we will do that, the Holy Spirit will use us as circuit breakers in their lives." (pg.163)

LIVING THE GOLDEN RULE chapter

* "'In everything do to others what you would have them do to you' (Matthew 7:12). In many ways, that rule sums up the uncommon graces." (pg.171)
* "John [a fraternity brother of Vawter] captured the essence of the Golden Rule in the phrase 'mutual respect.' The apostle Paul captured it in other words: 'Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others' (Philippians 2:4)." (pg.174)
* "Living the Golden Rule is where our faith puts on its walking shoes. With one foot we trust. With the other we obey. And that's how we walk with God." (pg.179)

Conclusion:
I whole-heartedly recommend this read for anyone interested in growing spiritually as a Christian and being more Christ-like. While the book has a lot of gems (read the excerpts above) I feel that it was a very light and fast read. After being used to reading meaty and contemplative booksfrom the likes of Bonhoeffer, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Thomas A. Kempis, Philokalia, I found this a very light read, theologically speaking. It almost felt like pop-psychology mixed with personal stories and compared with Bible verses. Nevertheless, even though Dr. Vawter did not focus on the 9 fruits of the spirit of Galatians 5, he did an excellent pastoral job writing about Gentleness, Attentiveness, Loyalty, Candor, Mercy, Kindness, and Repetance.

Uncommon Graces is an uncommon book. It is one of those rare offerings that brings together wisdom, insight, biblical integrity, freshness, and creativity, and presents it with clarity and economy. This is no dull laundry list of Christian duties. It will both challenge and excite the reader. It was a real joy!

Dr. Vawter's book is a wonderful review of the all to often forgotten social graces of gentleness, attentiveness, loyalty, candor, mercy, kindness, and repentance. It is pleasant to read and filled with personal examples taken from his own life's experiences.