Burnett Books

Perhaps the most difficult of Rudolf Steiner's written works, "Anthroposophy; a Fragment" rewards a careful study. The work on the 10 senses is articulate such that the reader can begin to explore these modalities directly.

Equally significant to any of the content of this work is the struggled style in which it is written. Steiner never finished writing this work (or at least was never satisfied enough to publish)primarily because of the difficulty in finding a language which could hold this highly particular and objective description of phenomenological research.

The introductions are both helpful, especially Robert Sardello's preface which stands on its own as a significant step towards a new psychology based in a revisioned phenomenology. For those interested in reading an example of a highly individualized articulation of some of the perceptions which Steiner points to in this work, I would recommend reading Robert Sardello's groundbreaking work in spiritual psychology, "Love and the World".

This book devotes a chapter to each major thinker. The largely sympathetic overviews are both accurate and a pleasure to read. An excellent introduction.

I'm still in the process of reading my copy of this book. I purchased this copy as a gift for friends. The book shows a great deal of work and preparation.

I am, one by one, buying the entire series of "Best American Short Stories", getting as many in hardcover, firsts, as I can. The short story is a sadly overlooked genre of fiction in todays world of the blockbuster novel. The short story is like a slice of life...a sliver of life...just enough to introduce you to people, to get you involved in their everyday problems or joys, and then you must say good bye. Forever.
It's powerful stuff, and these are some of the best.

I LOVE this book! We just bought 5 more copies to give as gifts!
It has breads, sandwiches, and soup recipes. All flavorful and healthy! My copy is so worn from use and notes I will be ordering another! This should be reprinted, it should do better at this time with people going back to basics for health and money!

I had not realized until this year how much we are living in an age after Archilochus. The philologists of Germany at the time of Nietzsche's education had such exalted views of Archilochus that one of their experts, Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Mollendorff in a reply to Nietzsche's first book, THE BIRTH OF TRAGEDY OUT OF THE SPIRIT OF MUSIC, complained, "As unbelievable as it might sound, Mr. N. has the audacity to compare Archilochan poetry with folk songs . . ." FUTURE PHILOLOGY! A REPLY TO THE BIRTH OF TRAGEDY BY FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE, English translation in "New Nietzsche Studies," Volume 4:1/2 Summer/Fall 2000, page 10. Further research by me indicated that the footnote on page 11 of that journal, which indicated that when his girlfriend's father "refused to grant her hand in marriage to Archilochus, he retaliated with such venomous satires that it is said that both the father and daughter hung themselves," might understate the number of people who hung themselves. This book helps translate the popularity of Archilochus into modern English for today's scholars, with a good bit of attention for the few other poets who retain enduring interest for real folksingers and their fans. Please love these people in spite of their faults, and try to appreciate the soundtracks if you ever go to movies, which continue to base plots on the themes covered in this book.

A Little Princess follows the story of Sara Crewe, a young girl whose mother died when she was a baby and who has been sent to bording school. She has the finest clothes and toys and anything she wants but isn't spoiled (the story is a fairy tale, by the way). She imagines herself as a princess and wants to be kind wise and just. She does good deeds as her way of "scattering largess to the population." This results in her being the social butterfly of the bording school and earns her the animosity of its queen bee. All this changes in an instant when her fortune is lost and she becomes a scullery maid in the same boarding school. She works all day, sleeps in an unheated attic, and is underfed. She now imagines herself as a princess in disguise, and continues to try and do good deeds for anyone less fotunate. But now she has another identity too - a soldier, like her father, who must live on rations and bravely face each day.

I didn't find this book to be overly sappy and sentimental, but it got close to the borderline at times. There were plenty of discussions of dolls and lacey dresses and ribbons. I read this as an adult. I guess these are supposed to appeal to little girls who want to have a little princessy playground and so would love to read about ribbons, but I think descriptions of lace would have put me off as a child as well. Like I said, these only get borderline sappy, probably because Sara soon becomes penniless and enters the lower class. As a scullery maid she experiences hunger, phsychological abuse from the bording school mistress, and a grinding work schedule. This is not sugar coated for the children, but it isn't the focus either. The focus is on Sara's internal thoughts, her relationships with her few loyal student friends, and what she thinks of the neighbors and the new people she meets and things she sees. So even though there is all this poverty it is there as a setting and not because the author has an axe to grind. Even the ending is fairy tale, but partly bitter-sweet. Strangely enough, this book came across as realistic.

This is a children's book, but functions as a book for adults as well. For example, the estate agent's diplomacy in getting Sara hired by the bording school after she is found to be penniless has some subtlties that are going to be more real for older readers.

I recommend this book to all. It is a children's book that works for adults too. It skirts the border of sappy, but for me didn't cross over at any point. It was a good story that I read through quickly and did not get bored with or bogged down by.

Barbara Burnett Smith has again produced a work of art in Celebration in Purple Sage. The characters are real, the settings believable, and anyone who has ever lived in small-town Texas, (or small- town anywhere!) can identify with Jolie Wyatt. Don't start this book if you don't have time to finish it, because you won't want to put it down

The author purposes to equip Christians with insight into the presuppositions of differing worldviews (Secularism, the Traditional Religionist, as well as Hindu, Theravada Buddhist, and Islamic) across the religious spectrum to unearth underlying assumptions and thought patterns so that Christians may effectively perceive, understand, empathize with and so be effective communicators of the Gospel message. Burnett himself comments, "The book was written to provide thinking Christians with a way of understanding the underlying thought patterns of communities. In so doing I trust that a deeper understanding and respect for all people will result" (7). Burnett also desires readers to understand how worldviews clash and morph into differing systems, as well as to re-enforce Christian readers with their basic worldview assumptions in light of competing philosophies.

Burnett achieves this goal by careful research and much missionary experience. Practical illustrations, pertinent quotes, and aptly organized categories fill his descriptions of various thought systems. He also fulfills his purpose by relating how worldviews and thought systems come into existence, as well as showing their syncretistic nature among other beliefs.

Burnett introduces readers to the arena of worldview study by describing and defining worldview, and he also gives missionaries research tools so that they may know their own worldview and so have the ability to explore others' more objectively. Burnett inaugurates his exploration of worldviews by relating the presuppositions of the western mind through an exposition of Secularism. Then he describes the traditional worldview, a polar opposite to the western mind, and how it operates within a supernatural world that includes spirits, witches, charms, shaman, and magical rites. The world of the traditional religionist, according to Burnett, is not segmented into natural and supernatural; all of life exists within the reaches of supernatural power and beings who affect daily life.

By describing the substance of various philosophical categories, all of which together form a paradigm for reality, Burnett uncovers each worldview. These categories include: the cosmos, the self, knowing, community, time, and value. Accordingly, Burnett relates each category to the major world religions and gives readers insight to how the members of each navigate their existence.

The author also describes motivations for social change and the process of conversion amidst those changing societies. Burnett defines, illustrates, and differentiates between New Religious Movements and Sects and Cults, each of which are results of a spiritual deficit or dissatisfaction within a community. Here he describes the New Age Movement as a flight from Secularism and the Neo-Pagan as those seeking a return to traditional beliefs and practice.

In Clash of Worlds Burnett has written an applicable explanation of worldview as a field of study and has provided excellent examples through his own research. Particularly favorable are the categories of reality through which he relates the underlying assumptions of each worldview. Seeing religious behavior through those lenses proves fruitful, and will no doubt help many in communicating Christ.

Burnett begins by describing the Secular worldview, and this greatly increases objectivity in reading the following chapters; it helps readers to see their presuppositions. Burnett includes a needed section on worldview change and conversion; these help Christians see spiritual co-factors which contribute to transfer of worldview.

While the author's research method and presentation of material is practical and insightful, he poorly explains the diagrams included to help readers understand phenomena. Sadly, these illustrations need illustrations. Some diagrams are obtusely abstract, and so further exposition may have provided deeper understanding. This blemish is one small tick on an otherwise well groomed dog.

I have not read this book yet, but I will comment on the Classic Starts series as a whole. I am on my seventh Classic Starts book as a bedtime read aloud to my eight year old and I purchased this one to try with my five year old daughter. This abridged series has captured my son's attention beyond my wildest dreams. It is so exciting to read Swiss Family Robinson, Robin Hood, or Robinson Crusoe and have him beg for "one more chapter, pleeeease!" The series does a great job of simplifying the stories just enough for easier comprehension, without over-simplifying and "dumbing down". Thanks to Classic Starts my son has a passion for the classics and has now asked for the unabridged versions to see if he has missed anything!