Burton Books

I received what I wanted, for cheap, in a short amount of time. Woo woo!!!

Though written in 1967, it remains one of the best articles I have ever written. Since nobody else rated this piece on Amazon over the past 35 years, I thought I would do it myself. A must read.

The Opera Journeys Mini Guide Series is just wonderful; it's like a "Cliff Note" of the opera, and extremely informative and educational. I particularly like the size; these guides are not cumbersome and fit right into my shirt pocket. The ladies will find sufficient room in their pocketbooks.

The story narrative with the music examples is excellent. I prefer it to a libretto; indeed, it's a much easier way to follow the essence of the story. The essay is magnificent; very well written, not pedantic, and extremely insightful and comprehensible. I congratulate Burton Fisher for a job very well done and Amazon for making these handy, information-laden booklets available. The Opera Journeys Mini Guide Series is a wonderful contribution to opera education and opera appreciation.

My tip: acquire the entire collection because you will be in easy reach of superbly presented opera guides consisting of story analysis, principal characters in the opera, story narrative with music highlights, background, analysis, and commentary.

Heinz Dinter, Ph.D.

'Counselling patients with cancer' is a book I personally found it to be 'fruitful', and a 'reliable supplement' to my practice. It is a 'no-beat-around-the-bush' format in writing, providing direct guidelines and advice to the reader. Written by a clinical psychologist and a psychotherapist in practice, this book focuses on the 'technical skills' on how to provide counselling to patients with cancer. Especially featuring topics, which really interest me very much: such as styles of coping, group therapy, communication barriers, intrapsychic ego defence mechanisms of denial, projection, rationalisation etc., additionally using the tenets of psychodynamic, client-centred and the cognitive behavioural model in dealing with issues to cancer. Moreover, the chapters included on guidelines on counselling in diagnosis and during the prognosis of the cancer. Case study examples are also included to enhance understanding from certain descriptions provided by the authors, as well as advice and guidelines are provided in point format. The information and materials provided in this book are easy to understand and are 'mentally digestible'. It is cross-culturally applicable.

Besides featuring on psychological perspectives in understanding, identifying, accepting, dealing with cancer, this book is also well featured towards social perspectives in dealing family and couple issues.

However, as I had personally read throughout the book, there is a limitation, which I had noticed ......the book features substantial information in children and adolescents in diagnosis with cancer (but I wish that more information would be provided) This minor limitation could perhaps meant that the book primarily and majority focus on patients that are adults. This remark that I made may actually smear the image of the book. But I realised that adults, children and adolescents shares 'similarities' in ego defence mechanisms, regardless of age, race and religion, and I think that as a reader in the field of counselling, that guidelines and features (treatments and advice) in this book are applicable and are well substantially satisfied.

A basic counselling book additionally to completment with this health counselling book in cancer, provides a excellent resource !

Full of useful information, however, the description neglects to let the reader know that the book was written on the Criminal Justice System for England and Wales, not the United States.

This author states in his 1920 preface, that he endeavored not to recount the history of interpreting Galatians, but rather to focus on the useage of the vocabulary specific to Galatians. If that was his primary aim, then he has written a five star commentary. All the way through he gives the Greek phrase or part of a sentence and then comments on the nuances of the Greek vocabulary.

For example, he correctly and insightfully characterizes the use of ENTAKEI in Galatians 1:6 to mean shortness of duration compared to when something was received rather than whenever it happens it is done very quickly.

One can possibly find a 1920 edition like I did (for only $7) in a used bookstore. I don't think this commentary is worth $89 as they are trying charge for it here.

It is worth having alongside Lightfoot and Fung/Bruce. I also think Martyn is worth reviewing if you have time.

It seems Burton has rounded out Lightfoot's historical view of the passages and how they were interpreted historically....by adding depth of insight to the actual words. It's a nice addition to one's study of Galatians. I heartily recommend this as an exegetical aid. If you are familiar with Zerwick's Grammatical Analysis...he is kind of like that but with more detail on each verse. Something you will probably refer to over and over.

Picked up a copy of this book at the trail-head town of Ulverston (birthplace of Stanley Laurel of Laurel & Hardy fame) and set out on the trail. Anthony Burton's narrative is sparse and to the point...his trail descriptions (in text) are so accurate that I found it unnecessary to look at the maps that accompany the text. His attention to detail is remarkable; e.g. "....after crossing the field, look for the large willow tree on your left just behind which you'll see a small break in a stone wall" and so on. I walked alone and found the book to be an excellent guide though you'll need to look to other sources for info about lodging and food in the towns and hamlets along the way. The paperback copy I own got rather dog eared from shoving in and out of my pack, reading it in the rain and so forth. But in my view, that only increases the value and charm of the book which I now consider to be one of my prize posessions. When I need to get away from it all, I just touch its worn pages and transport myself back to a little slice of heaven in Northwestern England.

PS. Best segment of the walk, I think, is Keswick to Caldbeck. Remote, scrubby moors, high ravines; less picture perfect than other areas, more my style. In Caldbeck be sure and go to the free pub (unaffiated with big brewers) a mile or so outside of town. Wonderful Indian food, great local brew (micro brewerey style) and initially gruff, but then friendly locals who eschew the "plastic & corporate" pub scene and revel in being "anti-monarchist"; i.e., they don't give a hoot about the Queen and all the rest of the royal leeches. The guy who owns the (only) wine store in Caldbeck turned me on to it and we not-so-coincidently met there later that eve.

Have fun!

When Lucy Fairchild stomps out of her office after her domineering father announces that he has selected a husband for her, she gets heckled at a construction site. This is more than she can take, and she gets into an argument with the owner.

Jake dares her to go out on a date with him - thinking that this spoiled little princess won't be able to handle being in his world. But Lucy surprises him at every turn.

Jaci Burton is a fantastic storyteller and Dare to Love keeps you glued to your seat from the very beginning. I read this all in one sitting - I could not put it down. The characters are so real and believable. Lucy's initial reaction to Jake is charming and funny. They both struggle with their own issues of insecurity and together they discover a lot about themselves. I am Joyfully Recommending Dare to Love and it is definitely one for the keeper shelf.

Vivian
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I am totally pleased with this purchase. I have wanted to buy this
particular book for quite some time and went with this item because it
costs just about as much for a worn, used copy as for this one which is
in perfect condition. Nothing was damaged in any way and it looked as if
it had never been used. I would gladly buy from this company again in the
future.

Alexander the Great, was born on or around July 20, 356 B.C.E., and is my favorite personality to read about in history. To me he is the whole package general, statesman, conqueror, and philosopher. The smartest man who ever lived, Aristotle, tutored him. Alexander conquered more of the known world than any other figure in history, accomplishing all this before he dies at the ripe old age of 33. Some people called him conqueror and violent overlord. Some other called him civilizer and even God! All of them yet, called him "The Great". He was the first man in modern history that took this name, "The Great"! Even as a young boy, he shows great promise.

Diodorus a Greek historian who lived from 80-20 BCE wrote 40 books of world history. He is an uncritical compiler who used good sources and produced them faithfully. His work is one of the oldest works available and is based on eyewitness accounts. He does a better job than most in explaining the battle scenes, and seems to be more balanced in his admiration and criticism of Alexander then any of the other early biographers. I love his Bucephalus Story, and I recount it here so you get a flavor of the promise this young Alexander shows.

The legend begins with Philoneicus, a Thessalian, bringing a wild horse to Philip for him to buy. None of the hands was able to handle it, and Philip grew upset at Philoneicus for bringing such an unstable horse to him. Alexander, however, publicly defied his father and claimed that he could handle the horse. The bet between Philip and Alexander was that if Alexander could ride the horse, Philip would buy it, if not, Alexander would have to pay the price of the horse, which was 13 talents, an enormous sum for a boy of Alexander's age to have.

Alexander apparently noticed that the horse had been shying away from its own shadow, and so he led it gently into the sun, so that its shadow was behind it, all the while stroking it gently and whispering into its ear, (Alexander seems to be the original horse whisperer). Eventually the horse let Alexander mount him, and Alexander was able to show his equestrian skill to his father and all who were watching. The incident so impressed Alexander's father, King Philip that he told the boy "Look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of you, for Macedonia is too little for thee". He named the horse Bucephalus, which means Ox head, and rode it across Asia, founding a city in its honor in India after its death. This story gives you an inkling about the man.

This book is a necessary read for students of Alexander, I also recommend Plutarch's and Arrian's work, and from contemporary writers, J. F. C. Fuller and Tarn. Most of Alexander's greatest military traits are in the area of military logistics and to understand his genius in this area I highly recommend reading, "Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army," by Donald W. Engels.

As a retired U. S. Army Major, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ancient warfare, and history.