Baker Books

A decent batch of stories, at 3.43. This is more than you can say for the book itself though, being one of those cheesy overwide size for some reason trade paperbacks with flimsy cardboard covers that warp and damage in five seconds, not to mention the cheap paper. Completely not worth close to double your mass market price, these things.

In general, it seems that the Company stories are better when there are actually active field agent types up to stuff in them. The more peripheral variety are just not as interesting, so you end up with too many average tales.

Gods and Pawns : To the Land Beyond the Sunset - Kage Baker
Gods and Pawns : The Catch - Kage Baker
Gods and Pawns : The Angel in the Darkness - Kage Baker
Gods and Pawns : Standing in His Light - Kage Baker
Gods and Pawns : A Night on the Barbary Coast - Kage Baker
Gods and Pawns : Welcome to Olympus Mr. Hearst - Kage Baker
Gods and Pawns : Hellfire at Twilight - Kage Baker

Magic poo dirt definitely no fluke.

3.5 out of 5


Broken Bobby ball looper bagged.

3 out of 5


Company cop watch crazy killer compromise.

3.5 out of 5


Flatland picture tech.

3 out of 5


Botany monopoly Frisco misery.

3 out of 5


Media baron longevity.

4 out of 5


Mystery not berry real, but game commences for more than usual fee.

4 out of 5




3.5 out of 5

While it didn't further the main plot of Mendoza and Alec, I still enjoyed this book, and it fits in well. I loved reading it. :)

The beauty of the universe created by Baker is that the characters may appear in any place and any time (after their own birth). In these seven stories we see Literary Preservationist Lewis, Botanist Mendoza, Facilitator Joseph and others in a range of times and locales. A recurring theme is that they carry out the will of the Company without always knowing the reasons for the assignments and often with any particular joy. Such is the life of these immortal cyborgs, serving the entity that created them.

Personally, I think the short form is Kage's strongest area and this is some of her best.


To The Land Beyond The Sunset.
Mendoza and Lewis in the New World of the seventeenth century

The Catch
Concerning the Company's early and imperfect efforts to create an immortal

The Angel In The Darkness
Set in 1990s Los Angeles - a cyborg watches over family members

Standing In His Light
The life of the painter Vermeer - and the desires of a cyborg for something different

A Night On The Barbary Coast
Set in early San Francisco Joseph and Mendoza on an errand for the company

Welcome To Olympus, Mr. Hearst
Set in 1933 at Hearst Castle. Joseph and Lewis on an errand for the company

Hellfire At Twilight
Lewis on an errand for the company


Does it sound like the cyborgs spend a lot of time running errands for the Company? You are correct.

For those of you who read "The Company" novels, but avoid "The Company" short story collections because you dislike short stories, I highly recommend that you read ALL of the books. The short stories have many important clues that flesh out the many sub-plots, characters, their backstories and motivations in the novels. Without the short stories, you are missing out on a much richer experience.

For instance, in this last collection, I wonder about Mr. Hearst! (Intriguing, isn't it?)

As always, I can't wait for the next installment!

The most recent couple of novels in the "Company" universe have been a little bit disappointing to me - in fact, in my review of one of them, I stated that it would have been a better book had it been short stories. Well, in this book, Baker proves she is still really good at the stories! I was much happier with these than I had been with the "Machine" books.

The stories in this one mostly involve Lewis. There are references in the stories to things that have happened in the earlier novels; the stories are best enjoyed if you've already read "In the Garden of Iden" although you don't have to have read the rest of the novels - that one will provide enough background. That's not to say you shouldn't read the rest of the earlier novels - all four of the first four Company novels are great!

The first story, "To the Land Beyond the Sunset," contains allusions to a particular disaster that happened to Lewis in another book. The indigenes in this story are very funny. (The dust jacket illustration is probably supposed to refer to this story, but it's not accurate.)

The third story, "Angel in the Darkness," is the one that will provide you with some background about how the Company universe works and who are these cyborgs, anyway?, if you haven't read the novels.

The last story, "Hellfire at Twilight," may particularly appeal to readers of Georgian and Regency romances, who will be familiar with the idea of Hellfire clubs.

Several of the stories have already appeared in magazines, particularly Asimov's, but I didn't mind; I enjoyed re-reading them.

All in all, her best in a while!

We received this book as a gift when our baby girl was born. I love this book. The verse is very sweet and simple and describes emotions that will be familiar to a young child. The illustrations depict the emotions with enough detail that a child can start to recognize them. Very few children's books these days have illustration this nice. Highly recommended.

LOVE is an unconditional. This book illustrates the differences between like and LOVE. This is a great book to read to children of all ages. The illustrations are marvelous. Even though the choice of roles may be a little gender biased, the story still depicts and models (for parents or caregivers) the art of teaching love.

Great book, easy to read and really lets your child know they are very loved and very special.

I read this to my niece every time she sleeps over..She goes over to the book shelf and picks it out...along with a few others we read before she goes to sleep...Jessalyn is 3 years old..

My favorite line in this elegant volume is when
the regally dressed Mama fox says to her little one,
"I love you any way you feel, no matter what you do."

How many of us wonder, "Will they still love me, even
though I......." fill in your blank?

How many times we PRAY the important people in
our lives will love us unconventionally and how many
times do we deny ourselves the comfort of a
"Yes, ofcourse I will love you any way... no
matter what you do"?

Read this child to the preschooler in your life
AND be sure your teen-aged children (nieces,
nephews, neighbors, passers-by) are listening
as well. Read it often.

Read it to yourself when you are feeling low -
and allow yourself to be embraced by Mama Fox.

It is a less-than-five-minute investment
in contentment, peace and growth in
unconventional love... and hopefully the message
will carry over into the hearts and souls
of the listeners.

If you have not read any of Brother Andrew's books, start here then proceed w/ the rest. Very insightful. He exhibits a view of the Middle East through Christian eyes that everyone should read. It does not matter if you're Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Black, White, Red, Purple; reading this will change your heart. Brother Andrew grasps hold of the human soul and exposes what GOD's Children are experiencing in one of the most chaotic places on EARTH!

I bought Light Force because I enjoyed another book about Brother Andrew called God's Smuggler. Light Force chronicles the middle east climate through the eyes of Brother Andrew, Palestinian Christians and Israeli Christians, and Muslims, from not long after Israel became a nation through 2004.

This book opens my eyes to the suffering of others based upon race and religion in a captivating way and offers readers an interesting story as well as a fresh perspective on the mideast crises.

I couldn't put the book down.

Light Force is a real eye-opener, presenting the plight of Christians caught in the crosshairs of the Middle East battle. Christians are right to support Israel--obeying God's command to "bless them." At the same time, we should not ignore our brothers and sisters in Palestine who are often lumped in with the worst of the terrorists and jihadists.

Kudos to Brother Andrew for having the courage to share Christ with Hamas leaders and other dangerous men. He's right when he says that this is the only way to change the world.

Fortunately, for Christians, we have hope. Jesus is our only hope for peace and stability in this world.

I would encourage American believers to read Light Force, if only to help them realize that not all Palestinians are terrorists. In fact, most aren't. Most just want to live their lives as we do.

God bless Brother Andrew for his life and work.

In our newspapers, we tend to read a great deal about the Jewish people and the Muslim people--but what about the 15 million Christians who are caught in the crossfire of the Middle East? It's a story the media doesn't often explain. Brother Andrew with the excellent writing of Al Janssen tells a riveting story of the Middle Eastern Church. The faces become more than names but memorable people whose stories will burn into your hearts and minds.

I was very moved to read this paragraph in the book, "The Church was the only hope for the Middle East, not because she had a better program or more political insight. She didn't. What she had was a way to bring people from both sides together based on the work of one Man whose birth two thousand years ago would be celebrated in a few days. His light still shone through believers here in the Holy Land. Many didn't understand the light. Many covered their eyes and refused to acknowledge the light. Others attacked the light and tried to put it out. But surely there are those who realized the bankruptcy of a peace process that had brought no peace for fifty years. For those who were willing, they could see the answer--Palestinians and Jews meeting at the foot of the cross." (p. 313)

I highly recommend Light Force. It is excellent.

In a recent conference, Brother Andrew said that terrorists are not born but made. He adds that they become terrorists because no one cares for their souls. Light Force is a book that prompts its readers to be concerned about the souls of terrorists. It also wants its readers to be involved in the struggles of their brothers and sisters in the Lebanese and Palestinian churches.

Light Force is a fair book that is not marked by any mindless emotionalism. Instead, it reflects a strong commitment to Christ, to supporting God's people in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, to loving both Arabs and Jews, and to evangelizing Muslims.

In four parts, the book introduces a world marked by horror, violence, and death. We see this world through the eyes of Brother Andrew who travels throughout Lebanon and the Palestinian territories seeking to encourage the churches in these dangerous areas. As he travels, he meets courageous evangelical men and women who love God wholeheartedly and serve Him in the midst of very depressing circumstances. This could be the unique contribution of this book for it unpacks before its readers the stories and struggles of many faithful Lebanese and Palestinian evangelicals who are committed to following Jesus Christ. Through their lives and struggles, the reader considers the dwindling numbers of Christians in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, and the escalating influence of Muslim fundamentalists.

Most of the book deals with the Palestinian Evangelical church and its context. It focuses on the contributions of Bethlehem Bible College, the Palestinian Bible Society, the Jerusalem Alliance Church, Musalaha, and the Baptist Church in Gaza. Brother Andrew meets with the leaders of these ministries. He encourages them and inspires them to be faithful in the midst of trouble. He also listens to their needs and through "Open Doors" partners with them in prayer and financially.

Last, the book presents a unique Christian perspective concerning Muslim fundamentalists. On the one hand, they are not mindless, nameless, or faceless terrorists. Instead, they are hospitable friends and hurting people. On the other hand, the authors emphasize that they don't condone any terrorist actions. Their words and actions lift up Christ without demonizing or dehumanizing Muslim fundamentalists. They see that doing the former properly demands a deep and sincere love for all Muslims. Such love seeks to visit these Muslims, hear their anguish, and respectfully present the living Christ to them.

By the time, the reader finishes this book, he or she will be informed, inspired, and prompted to be involved in remembering their brothers and sisters in the Middle East, in reflecting on their eschatological/theological positions in light of the Middle Eastern church, and in responding with love to Muslims, Jews, and Christians in the Middle East.

Yohanna Katanacho
PhD Candidate @Trinity International University

Kyle Strobel is conversant with the emerging church and with the classic church. He has high regard for the greats of spiritual formation books such as Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Since I do too, I felt quite comfortable with this book, but challenged as well.

My Church is going through this life - changing experience together. I would recommend all to see that Jesus is a way of Life and NOT just something to do.

I knew I had to read this book when I read the author's invitation at the very beginning: "This book is an invitation to transformation...It is about a willingness to change our minds, our perspectives, and our vision of life, because how we see affects who we are and who we will become." He speaks about a journey of redemption as opposed to being a Christian who's "arrived". You have to leave your assumptions and presuppositions behind as you seek to be reformed and renewed by the transforming of your mind. The author describes in-depth the informers (tools) God uses to help us on our journey, which are the Bible, the Spirit, and community. I wish I'd had this book years ago, but at least I've read it in time to disciple my 5 children to have "Jesus as a way of life".

There is no shortage of books written to or about the Christian, yet there is a distinct lack of material that is honest, grounded in the reality of the church, and easy to understand without being oversimplistic. Kyle Strobel accomplishes just that. While reading I constantly found myself stopping and saying, "yes, this is it. This is what church and the Christian life is supposed to look like." It is clear that Kyle has thought deeply about these issues, studied them and has succeeded in presenting them in a humble, honest and accessible way. Well done.

In the introduction to this book, Kyle Strobel describes himself as both a "child of evangelicalism" and a "child of the emerging church." Unlike authors who find it impossible to move forward without killing their parents, however, Strobel describes a vision for spiritual formation and church life that is faithful to the best features of both of these perspectives.

Like many emergent thinkers, Strobel is convinced (and rightly so!) that the mere transmission of information cannot bring about the sort of inner change that should characterize the followers of Jesus. He invites us to understand the Christian life as a journey, to receive Jesus as our Lord and Master, indeed, to receive him "as a way of life." As he says on page 50, discipleship is not first and foremost "a call to right understanding" but "a call to right 'becoming.'" Strobel does not, however, reduce the Christian faith to a mere subjective experience or to a program for moral change. Rather, he argues that being formed in the image of Christ is a lengthy process of "worldview re-formation," a process that requires time and commitment. Most importantly, he argues, those who would follow Jesus must remain ever open to divine deconstruction of our assumptions and attitudes. "Jesus will take us on a journey through what we really believe about him, how we really think, and how much we depend on ourselves over him" (219).

This book really challenged me to re-evaluate my own life; I plan to read it again, more slowly, over the next few months. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is thinking seriously about what it means to follow Christ in the 21st century. Its style makes it accessible to laypersons and pastors alike.

If you long for the days when photography, real photography, was black and white on film, then you will love this book. Of commercial necessity it has been years since I maintained my own darkroom and printed my own prints . . but how I miss the magic! This book brings it all back and in so doing opens some new creative channels in my mind as to how to get beautiful prints in the digital age. If you're a purist, you will love this book. If you are a pragmatist you will find ways to correlate traditional methods to digital processing and printing (even though the book does not address the topic of digital at all.) If you are serious about b/w get this book then work with your own shots and in your own workflow until you can emulate the look of this master.

In this third part of Adams' technical writings, you'll find a guide to go from what a camera recorded (it talks about a negative, but can be well applied to a digital raw file) to a fine print delivering "what you saw and felt" to the viewer.

Even if it applies to B&W, I find that much of the content can be applied to color work if you think a bit more about it - mostly now, in the digital age with separated luminance and chrominance controls.

You'll also read some good ol' kitchen recipes about developers and toning... These will be less and less useful, but can bring back the smell of the darkroom to your memory ;o)... And quite often, the principle that based the recipe can be applied to another media.

A reference, whether shooting film, digital or glass plates (and of invaluable interest for the two former).

Ansel Adams is the master of photography, black and white, but still photographic principles and concepts have been throughly tried and tested by him and he teaches you so much in his series starting with "The Camera" and ending up with this book which focuses more on the final piece. The 2nd book in the series is also so very crucial because it outlines and describes his "Zone System" in great detail. A must have for any avid photographer and a great shelf reference for any professional. Now go out and shoot.. waste some film for crying out loud and get some awesome shots :)

The book is excellent. Although these techniques are not widely applied today, with appropriate experience and thinking this knowledge can be applied and transferred to modern software like Adobe Photoshop. It can help relate modern and classic photography printing processes (traditional vs computerized).

One little remark would be for the publisher. The paper the book is printed is gloss with quite a high reflectance index. This results in making reading the book at certain angles quite impossible for your eyes.

In this book, Adams said Expression is more important than reality, idea more important than fact, the print more important than its subject. For it is only in the print that such magnificence can be unfailingly orchestrated. Those words made me think that what is good photograph. The book opens with a thoroughly enjoyable, albeit brief, history of photography before getting down to explain printing techniques.

The majority of the text concentrates it's efforts in educating the reader in the art of B&W photography. This book tells readers that what are good prints making techniques. After reading this book you will feel like that your printing skills are very improved. The reader will see many wonderful pictures as examples, that will surely create a better impression as to what type of pictures Adams takes.

My son and I, yes I, enjoyed this book. My little guy is 8 and it really held his attention. D.C. understands siblings and how they relate to each other. As a mom I was reading it with mom thoughts. I felt like D.C. really captured what family dynamics are realistically. She creates for "tweeners" suspense in the story that pull them along to want to find out what will happen next. The twins keep us wondering what kind of mischief they'll get into next. Their little sister has amazing insights that really make you think. This is a fantastic book for families to read together and definitely a must read for any tween! Enjoy!

I loved this book! I am an adult, reviewing a book meant for like 9-12 year olds and I found myself immersed in the storyline, wrapped up in the mystery and following Brad and Charlie as they try to figure out who is stealing their grandpa's cows. This would make a great read-aloud book with your kids because it would keep you as entertained as them! Grab a copy and enjoy!

Where Do Cows Hide? by D.C. Stewart is about two twin boys, Brad and Charlie, and their little sister, Zoey, who visit their their grandparent's ranch in Oklahoma. The excitement begins when the Parker children arrive and find some mysterious things happening on the ranch. Bulls are missing, strangers are lurking, and how does one strange lady from church, Miss Lily, seem to always know what they are up to?

The Parker kids are typical kids. They don't always get along and their little sister Zoey does what little sisters do best. She annoys and bothers her brothers as much as she gets the chance. Regardless, the twins are up for the challenge and adventure they run into as they seek out the answers to the mysterious events in their paths. As they work together they also pick up some godly lessons. Reverend Reed speaks in church about how God hears your prayers no matter where you are and Miss Lily reminds them to be respectful when they are in God's house.

I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to share this one with my little guy when he is older. Similar to the Hardy Boys series, I think D.C. Stewart has created a wonderful story and I look forward to see what else she has in store.

What happens when identical 11-year-old twins spend two weeks on their grand-parents'cattle farm? Oh, the usual lizard hunts, pasture exploration and creek bed adventures would make for a nice story. However, D.C. Stewart adds a bit of a twist, because when Brad and Charlie arrive at the farm, they find out that their Grandpa is dealing with the mysterious disappearance of his cows! Can the boys help? Well, their younger sister Zoey might prove to be even more helpful...if the boys will just listen to her!

D.C. Stewart has written a delightful adventure for the young readers in your life. She incorporates the realistic agitation that exists between siblings, and she even captures the parents' and grandparents' agitation when the children disobey or ague over something trivial. Yet the boys persist in their clue-gathering adventure, because they have figured out who the rustlers are! They just have to figure out a way to tell their grandparents before their parents return to take them home!

This book would make a great Summer read for the children in your life, and it could also be used as a read aloud story for a long trip. If the young readers in your life are stirred to adventure by the great outdoors, then you want to check this story out! You can purchase a copy here today!

Brad and Charlie Parker are less than excited when their parents announce a change in vacation plans. The twins start voicing all kinds of objections before they even found out what the plans were. When they discover that their parents are going to Hawaii with out them and leaving them with their grandparents for three weeks, their dismay turns to excitement. If only their annoying little sister, Zoey, didn't have to go along.

When Brad and Charlie arrive at their grandparents' ranch, they discover that someone has been cattle rustling, and they are missing three prize bulls. The twins are convinced that they can catch the rustlers, but their grandfather is stern and won't even consider letting them try.

When the boys overhear strangers talking in the barn, they know they've stumbled upon the rustlers. But who are they? And how can they solve this mystery when they are thoroughly confused.

WHERE WOULD COWS HIDE? is a real cute story geared toward boys ages 8-12. My son would have loved this book when he was a tweener. Girls will enjoy this story too, but the focus is more toward boys. The setting and the mystery are both attention grabbing and it held my interest to the end of the book even though I figured out who the rustlers were right away.

The writing is not perfect. Point of view isn't consistent, and sometimes it changes in the middle of a sentence. Brad and Charlie are all-boy, nothing sissy about them at all. I enjoyed reading this story, and know that boys (and girls) will appreciate WHERE WOULD COWS HIDE? for their summer reading. [...]

As others have mentioned, this latest print of the Apostolic Fathers is accessible, readable, and great as a tool for keeping up your koine. All of the standard works are included (1&2 Clement, the Shepherd, Barnabas, Martyrdom of Polycarp, the Didache, etc).

Reading the Fathers in the koine offers the reader extraordinary opportunities not only to gain an appreciation of the language, but also of the literary and vocabulary diversity of the various authors. The Greek print in this book is very clear and easy to follow. It's an outstanding reference work for patristic research, and is an affordable starting point in building a quality patristics library.

Holmes does a good job of addressing current patristic scholarship, though one wishes his engagement with it was more substantive than alternating between 'intriguing' and dismissively 'speculative'. In particular, Hill's recent work on Polycarp is commendably referred to by Holmes, but not as substantively as one might have hoped.

However, such wishes do not really detract from what this book gives us. This book keeps the focus on the actual patristic writings, rather than getting into the kind of scholarly back and forth that can take the focus off the writings themselves. The corpus given to us here is great stuff, and waters the mouth of the reader to delve further into the patristic history and engage the kind of scholarly works that Holmes cites. Highly recommended.

WARNING: Amazon has inexplicably conflated together reviews from several editions of this work. Be sure when comparing and contrasting you note carefully which edition is under review. Mine below is the latest green hardcover with gilt lettering pictured in the product description.

This handsomely-bound hardback edition truly has everything you could desire. Despite it's light weight and manageable size (5.25 x 7.5"), it is eminently readable, due to the clear Greek and English font and thin but high-quality opaque paper. This newest edition includes all the writings of the earlier Lightfoot edition: 1 & 2 Clement, Ignatius (7 letters), Polycarp (to the Philippians & Martyrdom), the Didache, Epistle of Barnabas, Sherpherd of Hermas, Epistle to Diognetus, and fragments of Quadratus & Papias, as well as updates to notes and translation. Great for those interested in early church history, quotations of canonical New Testament literature, or a chance to practice reading Koine Greek outside the N.T.

This book contains the works of the early church fathers who helped build the foundations of what would later become the worlds largest religion. The development of the church between the apostles and latter church fathers such as Augustine or Gregory of Nazianzus is often overlooked by those studying the early church. This collection focuses mainly upon writers that occurred within the first or second century after the apostles. The epistles and books range from the solid and orthodox works of Clement to the obscure and mystical Shepherd of Hermas. Many of these works were originally included in the canon of Scripture, and it is interesting when first exposed to them to try to discern why they didnt make the cut later in church history. Another interesting question that arises from these readings is whether or not the writers were inspired, and also how much of this teaching can we take as true and authoritative. A prevalent theme in some of the works is apostolic succession, a theory that the Catholic church later latched onto in order to justify many of its questionable actions. Other theological disputes are discussed such as the allegorical interpretation of the Scriptures or the meanings of visions of the final judgement. Overall the book presents several primary sources of early theological doctrines from one of the most important (but often overlooked) eras in the history of the church.

Kudos to Holmes and Baker House for giving us a hard cover of texts New Testament Greek learners need! Nothing else in koine Greek, besides maybe the LXX, is as helpful to NT Greek students because the vocabulary and the syntax of most the Apostolic Fathers is extremely similar to the NT. This means if you know the NT vocab, you can read large blocks of this text without having to look up words. Of course, having the English on facing sides is essential since we want to be able to check our translation and not have to refer to other books. Hermes and Didache in this book are probably EASIER than say the Gospel of John, so this book is helpful even to beginners, while other texts like Ignatius and 2 Clement provide some challenges for advanced students.
And the format of this book is near perfect. I panned the second edition simply because my paperback fell apart and was hard to hold open. This edition lays flat and feels great in your hand. It uses thin paper so the book is small and portable and yet the font size is still fairly large. The only thing I don't like about the third edition is that the font is a little smaller than the second edition, whose font was perfect, and this font is a little different, not quite as pleasing on the eye Also, the second edition had pure white paper whereas this edition is somewhat yellow. Still, you can't have everything. The font on this text is probably bigger and nice than say the Loeb Classical Library, and here you get all the texts in one volume which is only a little bit bigger than Loeb. This is a must have for NT Greekers!

I have only used small sections of this book so far but it is a fantastic resource. It contains up-to-date critical information about the texts themselves and any historical information about authorship, dating, etc. I did notice that the translator tends to make things gender inclusive that are definitely not so. I am generally in favor of this as many Greek words use masculine nouns to refer to a mixed gender grouping, but this translator translated gender specific words (such as aner)to include everyone. That makes the translations a little less useful for academic work. Nevertheless, it is an excellent resource for anyone with a working knowledge of Koine Greek and an interest in 1st and 2nd century Christianity.

The works of A.W. Tozer force the reader to think. His essays are original, unorthodox, sometimes profound, provocative, and frequently brilliant. These are well written, logical commentaries. Christians of all denominations will benefit from Tozer's insights. Highly recommended.

Im a "Born again Christian for 14 years now. Of all christian books that i have read, The Pursuit of God is the only book that make me cry. By reading this book, you will convince that God really exist. A.W. Tozer is really a modern day prophet of the living God.

AW Tozer is a man of God who was self-taught (many times on his knees before the open Bible) and not seminary trained, because he could not afford to go to seminary. But his learning was through the Spirit of God and his diligence. And this book, "Best of AW Tozer (vol.1)" IS indeed great summary of Tozer's spirituality (Thanks to Warren Wiersbe who compiled and selected these chapters from Tozer's numerous books). In this book, Tozer teaches us in sum:
1. What is essential Chrisitan life? He talks of believers' NEED for genuine love for Christ and His Return. For example Tozer accurately points out, "Another reason for the absence of real yearning for Christ' return is that Christians are so comfortable in this world that they have little desire to leave it... in these times of religion has become jolly good fun right here in this present world, and what's the hurry about heaven anyway?" (p.57). Such words challenge our heart of hearts. And there are more words like this in this book.
2. What is proper knowledge of God? He does not mean merely doctrinal or theological side of it (though he emphasizes it elsewhere in the book), but also experiential walk with God and seeking Him. He said, "[holy men and women] want to taste, to touch with their hearts, to see with their inner eyes the wonder that is God... The evil habit of seeking 'God-and' effectively prevents us from finding God in full revelation. In the '-and' lies our great woe. If we omit the '-and,' we shall soon find God" (pp. 17,18). He is right. And there are more helpful, challenging, and edifying articles in the book.

Those who read this book will not be disappointed, because Tozer redirects believer's focus onto God and God alone.

This volume is actually the second "Best of"... look closely at the picture (top). I just received it.

The Un-apologetics ~ is a characterization based on the fact the Tozer states quite strongly that he will not apologize, water down, or oversimplify God's Word... It provided great direction for me. I love the essay on worship.

This takes some of Tozer's most memorable work and condenses it for easy reading in short sessions. As always, Wiersbe make learning and studying a joy!!

This is a very well-documented guide for any service firm. It's also very well written, very insightful and very well researched. It's real deep, complete and full of advice and wisdom from several great minds. I run a corporate reputation consulting firm in El Salvador and this is the most advice-rich book I've encountered in the last five years. I also recommend "the trusted advisor" by David Maister and specially "Managing the Profesional Service Firm" also by Maister.

After reading this book, you'll need to place it alongside your desktop dictionary, Thesaruas and Ron's first book "The Professional's Guide to Value Pricing. This is how strong of an impact their message has made on me.

After reading the first two editions of Ron's book, I didn't think he would be able to improve much on the message of switching to Value Pricing. Boy, was I wrong! He and Paul Dunn have done an amazing job of getting the reader to think differently. As with the radical theme of trashing the timesheet in "The Professional's Guide to Value Pricing", they do a masterful job of convincing you why the old "Revenue Equation" must be replaced with the forward-thinking "Profit Equation". They go on to introduce other new topics not found amongst professional services firms such as developing your Intellectual, Structural and Social Capital, emphasizing effectiveness over efficiency and of course Value Pricing. As is typical of Ron's writing style, and complemented by Paul, their reasoning for making this paradigm shift is well supported and well reasoned.

I've been using practicing Value Pricing for about 5 1/2 years now and I can tell you that it works. In my own firm, I've slowly begun implementing some of their new concepts but with a new perception. I'm convinced these principles will work for me and they can for you as well.

After reading this book, you'll definitely want to keep it handy as a useful reference guide!

Ron Baker is doing for the professional services firms what Columbus and Pythagoras did for the "Earth is Flat" proponents! "Paradigm-shifting" has become so over-used in our culture, but it is not mere hyperbole when describing this book. The work is quite thorough, implementing excerpts, quotes, and philosophies from dozens of well-respected scholars, economists, and management consultants. The work reminds me a lot of Tom Peters' seminal book, "In Search of Excellence" in the way in which the author sprinkles in so many great examples from other successful organizations and industries. In addition, he has many real-world examples (from firms around the world) of professional services firms that have successfully tranformed their practices. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to any professional who is trying to transform a professional services organization or who is wondering if there might be a more effective and profitable way to run a professional services firm.

I first read this book about 2 years ago. I keep it within arm's reach of my desk and refer to it often, still.

I've read one reviewer who stated that this book was the modern almanac of best business practices. I agree completely.

I run my own small law firm. We have implemented many of this book's practices with great success and profitablilty. Primary among them is fixed fee agreements. Yes, we are a law firm that has trashed its time sheets, due in large part to the inspiration and impetus of this book. And, we will never go back.

An earlier reviewer suggested that this book would be more useful for CPA's and not for lawyers. I disagree. Though I'm certain the message of this book is critical for CPA's, I think that any person in law firm leadership must read this book. I think it is particularly suited to small firms and solos who will have the ability to immediately take action in implementing these ideas and making them a reality in their practice.

However, if you are one of my competitors forget everything I said above and do not touch this book. My firm and my family will thank you.

The Firm of The Future coordinates both the theory and practical application of pricing concepts AND business service models in such a complelling manner that Baker & Dunn give Professional services organizations permission to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

While the Firm of The Future is geared to the legal and accounting professions the message and vision is applicable to Advertising agencies, Consulting Organizations, Marketing service firms and professional service providers of all shapes and sizes.

Cost plus pricing is short sighted and intellectually flawed.The intense pressure on increasing billable hours and driving down costs is destroying the creativity and core capabilities of Professional Service companies.Baker&Dunn explain the flaws of cost plus and hourly schemes and identify a road map which outlines how to move a professional services organization and it's customers to a healthier, happier, more productive and more mutually profitable business process

A great read---Inspirational and practical


Tom Finneran
Executive Vice President
American Association of Advertising Agencies

Anyone seeking to navigate the corporate world (or life in general) should consider reading Glimpses of Reality by Baker. Admittedly, I don't normally read fiction, but the stories in this clearly written book are all "true-to-life". It would have been great to have had the author's perspective when I began my first corporate job over 12 years ago. Perhaps I would have saved myself from a lot of unnecessary, self-created stress. I suspect that most readers of this book will not only see a bit of themselves (or at the very least someone they know) reflected in these stories, they will also benefit from the author's gift of perception.

This book flows from topic to topic like a river in springtime. Ms. Baker's recounting of her experiences and interactions had me many times nodding my head and saying, "I know exactly what she means". Her insights and advice were welcome and never heavy handed. A truly enjoyable book.

This collection of stories were cleverly written and with superb clarity. The introduction was enlightening and instantaneously piqued my curiosity. Focusing on societal influences, and life's uncertainties; the book gives an explicit glimpse into how people deal with and adapt to life. It also, delved into how our culture, the media, and celebrities govern our standard of living. How we live up to those standards can fill us with astonishing gratification or immense trepidation. Clearly, the message is to attain success and happiness one must retain a resilient mind, body, and soul.

Glimpses of Reality is an honest, powerful view of life in a world dangerously side-tracked by lies. Through flowing, real-life vignettes, Ms. Baker bravely examines widely embraced myths about money, power, relationships, and other subjects that affect us all. Everyone in search of a more fulfilling life should read this book!

Baker presents an entertaining and witty discussion about some of today's greatest social challenges: drug addiction, marriage and relationships, aging, and commercialism. As Baker peeks into the lives of others through stories and vignettes, she achieves something special--the reader journeys to a place of "personal dialogue" where the discussion quickly turns to an examination of personal values, behaviors, and choices.