Bridges Books

Bridges joins commentators such as William Galston (Liberal Purposes) and Ronald Beiner (What's the Matter with Liberalism?) in probing the weaknesses of modernist liberalism. Taking his bearings from John Rawls's Political Liberalism, Bridges criticizes Enlightenment-based metaphysical foundations for individual citizenship and autonomy because this universalism has implicitly denigrated particularistic cultural ideals and worldviews. More importantly, it has lessened both the intelligibility of liberal ideals to particularistic cultural communities, and also the possibility that these communities will "succeed in discovering within their own local cultural traditions motivational resources supportive of the pursuit of the civic good." Bridges suggests that we "de-totalize" the concept of civic freedom by recognizing that it applies only to a part of life. Civic freedom requires individual commitment to particularistic life ideals, and also the affirmation of their possible revocability both by oneself and by others. The tension between simultaneous commitment and detachment provides the space for civic freedom, and it is this narrative imagination that it is the task of civic education to cultivate. Bridges incorporates creativity as well as intellect in this thoughtful and provocative project.

The Culture of Citizenship is provocative, path-breaking scholarship. In it, Thomas Bridges presents liberal political philosophy as in retreat from its traditional confidence in the 'modernist rhetoric of pure theory.' Instead, Bridges argues, figures such as John Rawls are inching toward a 'rhetorical turn' toward context, culture and history, a direction this book seeks to accelerate. To this end, the book explores the often surprising and deeply challenging implications this rhetorical turn holds for the philosophy of politics and culture.

Dancing With The Devil is an adventure lover's delight. From Africa to Canada, Jazz searches for adventure ... and peace. Returning to her home because of her father's death, she tries to come to terms with her life there when she was a girl. But there are secrets she isn't willing to face. And a whole part of her life, she's cut out.

Danger follows Jazz. Romance beckons as well, but which man should she choose? It all ends on a remote ranch in a deserted copper mine. Where Jazz faces her past and finds her love.

When Jazz gets word of her father's death, she and her friend, Pete, make a daring, dangerous escape from the tiny, war ridden country where they are working. Barely getting out alive, the danger should be over, right? It is only beginning.

Returning home, Jazz learns that her father's death was a bit mysterious, and soon finds herself the object of a stalker's attention. Gifts, such as roses and a kitten, begin appearing out of nowhere, and there are some break ins. Fortunately, Pete follows her home and is there to reassure her and protect her.

Things start to turn romantic with Pete unexpectedly, and deadly with the stalker as it becomes obvious to him that she does not return his "love". Murder and violence are now what Jazz is being given. When an innocent child is put at risk, Jazz must face the past and her fears to confront a familiar enemy. In a showdown that for some reason reminds me of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Jazz meets the greatest challenge of her life.

***** Suspenseful and taut, this novel is well worth the time and money. Ebooks often have little known authors that are worth discovering, and such is the case here. Jazz is a heroine that is easy to cheer on as she finds love and danger. Not perfect, she has weaknesses, which make her easier to relate to and more believable. Pete is a loveable hero, though not the alpha male that often populates the position. again rendering him more realistic. This is a story that could be real. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

This is a superb work, chock-full of insights and intelligently organized by topic. Here's two key examples of frequently occurring dilemmas sorely neglected elsewhere: (A) Defending a suit contract as third hand, you can either cash a high card in a side suit, setting up a winner in dummy, or you can underlead your high card to give partner a ruff. Which should you do? In practice, either may be correct, depending on the context of the entire hand. Kantar gives a COMPLETE autopsy of exactly what to think about in order to make the correct choice. (B) Defending a suit contract as third hand, you hold ATxx in a side suit. Dummy hits with a small singleton in that suit. Kantar points out that you KNOW declarer is going to lead that singleton through you sooner or later, probably sooner. Do you fly in with the Ace or duck (smoothly)? The latter is more often correct, but not always. Here too, Kantar gives precise guidance on what to think about in order to choose the correct defensive play. The well over 500 tips in the book are loaded with good advice such as "When declarer doesn't dare lose the lead and is guessing which finesse to take for the fulfilling trick, cover NOTHING."

Humorous and in language that I can really understand.

This book is a heart-warming, couragous story. I found myself smiling and by the end, shedding a few tears! What a great story about life, relationships, feelings and more. A must read for anyone!!

The thing about cancer is that only a person who has it knows how hard it really is to take care of the problem. It's not like you get to pick if you have it or not, it just happens.

In the book DEFIANCE a boy about 11 years old finds another lump on his side, He gets real scared, trust me if I had cancer and I found a lump on my side I would be worried too.

The one big mistake someone with cancer can do is not tell anyone and let it get worse. I know how hard it must be for the parents because they worry all the time. My grandma has lung cancer, and she dosn't even smoke. It's real hard to just leave them alone but you have to learn to and that is what this whole book is all about really, he wants his mom to leave him alone about his problem but is comes back and he just doesn't want to go through it agian. I wouldn't want to eather.

Toby meets someone who helps him make the right choices in the end so he soesn't make dumb ones, like not getting the treatment he needs for his cancer. he just wishes he could be a normal kid and that is what put this book together, the choices he made, and how he made them.

Firma consultora en ingeniería civil básicamente en obras públicas: puentes, vías y canales

For US practice, this is perhaps the best single book on bridge design currently available. The author should be commended for putting forth a Herculean effort to assemble so much information for the benefit of others. The only major weakness is that, like nearly all books on bridge design, the coverage of substructure design is quite limited.

Nevertheless, every bridge engineer should own a copy of this book. Moreover, if you are prepared to buy only one book, this is the one to buy. Since the book is unfortunately out of print, if you can find a used copy at a good price, grab it!

Tina Leonard has written a truly entertaining story. Cody and Stormy are characters that will steal your heart away and the citizens of Desperado are a hoot a minute. Loved it!

Stormy Nixon is in Desperado, Texas to select a site for filming a horror movie. The mayor and townspeople are in complete agreement that a movie made in Desperado will be good for the town. However, it's Cody Aguillar's ranch that's needed and Cody is the one resident that's saying "no". You see Cody took one look at "oddly named, lopsided looking" (she has three earrings in one ear and one earring in the other) Stormy and decided Hollywood was not setting foot on his land.

As the story develops it is very clear that Cody's problem is not with Hollywood but it's representative, Stormy. With her "purple colored hair" and flamboyant clothes, Stormy represents disruption to Cody's peaceful life. To Stormy, Cody represents something she's never known, love and security, two things she so desperately needs. Stormy is fighting demons from her past that overshadow any possibiity of happiness with a man like Cody.

From the moment these two wonderful people meet there are fireworks! Add in two hilarious town characters, a colorful mayor from the neighboring town and a shy teenager named Mary and you have the makings of a story that will have you laughing, crying and sighing! The people of Desperado will leave you longing for another visit to their wonderful town.

I enjoyed this book. The story of Amanda and Lexington is sweet and captivating. The story is an adventure as well as a love story. I highly recommend this book.

Another of the classic series of lesbian literature, the Lex and Amanda series by Carrie Carr should be on every collector's bookshelf. I recently read and enjoyed - for the second time - the entire story. In this first of the series, Realtor Amanda Cauble's car plunges into an overflowing creek. Rancher Lexington Walters subsequently rescues her and takes her home. To make a long story short, they fall in love while Lex deals with stolen cattle and a bad relationship with her brother.

Because of this wonderful series, Carrie Carr is one of the more widely-published authors in the genre. Lex and Amanda are easy to love and it's a joy to watch their relationship grow as the series develops.

Nothing is ever what it appears to be when the Devil is in the details.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS is the first novel in a new series of mysteries by Ariana Overton. Overton's previous credits include the paranormal Glass House trilogy (GLASS HOUSE, A GLASS DARKLY, LOOKING GLASS) and time-travel novel TAPESTRY. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS introduces FBI agent Jake Daniels and his "dream team" of scruffy but savvy investigators: psychologist and Daniel's childhood friend Dr. Martine "Marti" Joyner, former San Francisco policeman M.M. "Sam" Quigley, and strip club owner and computer whiz "Tigger" Tiggs.

When we meet Daniels he is well on his way to drinking himself out of a pension, the agent haunted by the murders of his wife and partner, both victims of serial killers during the past two years. His career in a nosedive, the FBI assign Daniels to the northern California community of Santa Rosa to stop a maniac who has butchered five women since Valentine's Day. The FBI claim apprehending "The Holiday Killer" is Daniels' last chance to rescue his career...or so it appears. Daniels knows one agent has already been dismissed in disgrace from the case for failing to stop the Santa Rosa murders; he is not too blitzed to realize the FBI expect him to fail to justify their finally firing him.

What neither Daniels or the FBI could have counted on was his uncovering evidence suggesting The Holiday Killer may have had a hand in his wife's murder.

Daniels' efforts to discover the truth are complicated by Santa Rosa Police Chief Hartigan and the local coroner, Dr. Russell, who resent the FBI agent...or so it appears. Neither will help him any more than is necessary, and Daniels suspects they may even be trying to sabotage his investigation. If it weren't for his own team of investigators and two token Santa Rosa policemen assigned to help them, Brian Denton and Cameron Parker, Daniels' task would be hopeless. Meanwhile an aggressive television journalist, Connie Braxton, is determined to get the scoop on The Holiday Killer's identity...or so it appears. Her commitment sometimes seems to border on the pathological. She will do anything to uncover The Holiday Killer's identity, including jeopardizing the career of one of Daniels' team by seducing him.

Overton has created an intriguing cast of characters for THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, as well as weaves an intricate plot in a fashion that is entertaining and easy to follow. She will not lose you or bore you, though the book does start off slowly, much in the manner of Tom Clancy novel. Like Clancy, though, once Overton's characters and situations have all been properly introduced and set in motion, her novel will carry you away.

Be warned, this is a rough book that deals with sexual perversion and mutilation. To her credit Overton does not dwell on every seamy or gory detail, as other authors are wont to do; however, she does not shy away from them. Daniels' team is pursuing a clever and elusive homicidal maniac, after all. But Overton, a mature authoress, makes certain that her novel's suspense and tragedy are as real as its blood. She is to be complimented for that, as well as her gift for juggling suspects and plot twists with the adroitness of a street busker. At one point or another almost every character in THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS falls under suspicion of being The Holiday Killer. Even Daniels! That is one neat trick, as is Overton's ability to create reader sympathy for Daniels in her novel's early pages. It is not easy to feel sorry for a drunken protagonist who has lost confidence in himself, but Overton succeeds. What's more, when Daniels does defeat the demons that haunt him, awakes from his melancholy, and dedicates himself to stopping the maniac, he establishes himself as a hero worthy of challenging the devilish and daring Holiday Killer.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS is a thrilling launch to a new series of mysteries. Ariana Overton is going to win over a lot of new fans and please a lot of old ones with this novel.

Buried in the myriad pile of details lies the answer to Sonoma County's serial killer. But when those sworn to uphold the law impeded its enforcement, even FBI agents find their path blocked. As each holiday brings another gristly murder, the citizens clamor for an arrest. Yet the Bureau doesn't believe that they have serial killer, despite three victims, with the same signature on the kills, in the past three months.

The Holiday killer almost ruined a good field agent's career because he couldn't solve the case. The Behavioral Science Unit profiler says he can't help any more without new information. Yet the FBI is no closer to solver these gristly crimes than a year ago when the case came to their attention. Now agent Jake Daniels, whose career is already spiraling downward, has been assigned to the case.

Jake also carries the baggage of his past. His partner was killed by a serial killer. His wife was tortured and murdered while he watched, unable to come to her assistance. Now the FBI has taken him from a desk job to the field, assigning him to a difficult case just to keep the investigation going, not because they faith that it will be solved.

Author Ariana Overton presents a gristly, brutal serial killer with the clarity and insight that has become a trademark in her work. With eerie attention to detail, Overton creates the clues and the red herrings that keep the pages turning. Even as the surprise conclusion seems to leap out from the novel, the reader will be on the edge of the seat. Further, her meticulous attention to detail also creates vividly realized characters. Very highly recommended.

The mere fact that this book has been through many paperback editions since it first appeared as a hardback published in London by Seeley Service in 1921 is on its own a powerful testament to its enduring fascination. This edition is the latest in a long line, and this reviewer hopes that it will never go out of print.

What is the secret of its popularity? First, it is an eye-witness account by an acutely sensitive and intelligent insider, which many would argue is one of the best kinds of history. Based mainly on his diaries, it depicts not only the political situation of Japan, but also the social conditions of a society on the threshold of an enormous change: the Meiji restoration.

The eyes are those of a sympathetic European - as he would have probably described himself - who was able to master the Japanese language in a time when there were hardly any text books available, and who later became one of the foremost japanologists of the 19th century. (Of course this is to say nothing of his subsequent career as a top British diplomat and theorist of international law.)

A copy of this book is money well spent!

Ian Ruxton, editor of Sir Ernest Satow's Private Letters to W.G. Aston and F.V. Dickins: The Correspondence of a Pioneer Japanologist from 1870 to 1918 (Paperback) and several other Satow-related books which are also available on amazon.

If you are interested in Japanese history this is a great book. It gives a firsthand account of events between 1862 and 1869 from the perspective of a foreigner, which covers the very important period of Japan opening to foreigners and the overturn of the shogunate. Sir Ernest Satow was witness to many of the important events that formed modern Japan in his function as a translator for the British Consulate. The book reports his various travels through Japan as an official, his interactions with members of the different Japanese clans, negotiations between the foreign representatives and the Japanese government, including the first audience with the Mikado granted to foreigners. The book makes history come alive and fills it with real-life people. It also shows firsthand the difficulties of foreigners in understanding the very different culture of Japan, at a time when there wasn't even proper teaching material to learn the language (not even a dictionary) to make this process easier. A great book for anybody who wants to further his or her understanding of Japan.

A book full of the common sense reality of the struggle to preserve your land and (what do farmers do again) grow food to feed people. Having grown a lot of food in my earlier years, the author communicates the closeness a farmer feels to the cycles of nature. Farmers are the original environmentalists. A great non-judgemental review of the effect of the spread of non-farmers into her world. People move from the city to the country and then citify the country.

Dirt Under My Nails: An American Farmer And Her Changing Land is the engaging memoir of Marilee Foster, a fifth generation farming woman who devoted herself to a world of fertile soil, looking after turkeys, reveling in the change of seasons and much more. A solid, inspirational book about enjoying a hands-on closeness to nature and the joy of farming as a way of life, Dirt Under My Nails is a very pleasant read and highly recommended for anyone who has ever worked the land or contemplated doing so.