Caldwell Books

No, I do not know the author, and yes, it is really not much of a story, but Mr. Caldwell has potential as a writer. Let's critique the book not the man.

Early on, on page one, I knew that I'd finish the book when I read: "...the bayonet standing out haughtily and seeming to shimmer like a shred of quicksilver ready to break up and run in rivulets down the barrel." WOW. I kept reading for the next jewel in his writing. There were others in-between page one and twelve, here's what I underlined on page twelve: "...his thoughts turned to liquid and ran down the walls of his brain..."

Okay it was smutty, but was not full-out distasteful. The man can write, pure and simple. (I was on a "tin can" and severed on two fast attacks subs. I never got as lucky as Terry and Fred but darn if I wasn't looking to. We were young. Remember?)

I congratulate Caldwell on his first published work, AND I look forward to his next. This shipmate can write! Bravo Zulu.

I wish I had read other reviews prior to purchasing this book. I realize that in my earlier, Navy days, the language would not have bothered me and I must admit that I was as much a user of it as the next 'swabby.' If I had been forewarned I would have saved my money for a different book. I wouldn't want anyone in my reading this one. It was factual from the standpoint the many sailors, as well as other military as well as civilians use the language noted in this book, but (hopefully) as we mature we are able to put it aside.

I do not mind fiction, but this is the worst that I have ever come across. This is nothing but PORN. I spent enough time overseas and on ships when I was in the Navy but I never saw anything that comes close to what is in this book, not even in my drunken moments.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. I wish I could rate this a NO STAR!!!!

If you waste your hard earned dollars on this one you need to check in at your local shrinks office. Ridiculously unbelievabe. what a DISA PPOINTMENT!!!!

This tale was more than a work of fiction it was pure #"&^%! I spent over 30 years in the Navy and retired as a MCPO (1990). This representation of life during that period is without a doubt the most ridiculous I have ever encountered. The author reflects so little understanding of what being a sailor is that it raises serious doubts as to his claim of having served in the U.S. Navy. The style is atrocious and is written in the British manner as opposed to colloquial American English. I truly regret enrichening his pocked in any way!

I was very disappointed in Ryries book. Although Biblical theology is not exegesis, it is built directly upon it. Too bad that Ryrie makes little use of exegesis and the exegesis he does is rather superficial and shallow.

The heart of any worthwhile theology of the New Testament should be Christology. The development of a sound Christology based on scholarly exegesis is the keystone to the development of Christian doctrine. The best adjective to describe Ryries Christology is mediocre. He deals with such subjects as the geology, birth, youth and baptism of Jesus, ignoring the best of modern exegesis. For instance, during his discussion concerning the temptations of Jesus he states that this is proof that Jesus could not sin. If Jesus could not sin, how can we find fellowship with Jesus as a man? The very point that the Gospels and the writer of Hebrews make is that although Jesus was able to sin, he did not.

Also disappointing were Ryries treatment of the Christological titles of Jesus. For instance, he gives only superficial exegetical and historical support to show that the title LORD may refer to Jesus as God. The same analysis can be applied to his treatment of the title SON OF GOD. Merely stating that at his trial those who witnessed understood that he was clearly claiming to be divine is not sufficient proof to convince the well-equipped Arian of the deity of Christ.

The role of women in the church, according to Ryrie, is nil. He has completely missed the point. He states that women are to be silent, not to talk nor function in any meaning capacity within the church. He then proceeds to explain I Cor. 11:53 (prohibiting women from praying or prophesying without a veil) as Paul referring to public speaking and not praying or prophesizing within with the church- ho hum. He ignores Acts 11:15, Philip and his four daughters who prophesied. In the same way, he fails to grasp the significance of Phoebe being called deacon in Rms. 16:11. He translates the word deacon as an office and not a service, except where it violates his presuppositions; therefore, if the word deacon is applied to a male he must be an official in the church, and if it is applied to a felmale, she is merely a servant. Perhaps he should look up Galatians 3:28.

If you are looking for a good conservative theology of the New Testament, skip this one and read Ladds, A Theology of The New Testament.

I purchased this as a gift for a relative who had just moved to Boise. She advised that this map was not very useful as the size of the maps was so small.

I assumed this would be a fold-out map but apparently it is in booklet form.

On the cover, the book is stated as being written by Jonathan Swift and Edited by the one acknowledged here as the author. The "Editor" claims to have found an old original manuscript and claims to have edited a by-then mentally deranged Jonathan Swift's writing. The book is actually a pathetic hack peice of writing that in no way correlated, or at least it was taken with great liberty in the "editor's" audacious attempt at passing off his own writing as Jonathan Swift. In no way did he intend to reveal to the reader/buyer (yep, buyer unfortunately) that it was not in fact Jonathan Swift, rather a bad rip-off of the rare success merited to Gulliver's Travels. The only real purpose of the book was to garner attention to the author's own satire, made out as a lampoon of Academia and other subject's he chooses to "expose." I'll just save you the trouble and tell you to not buy it. It has never been published more than the one time, I believe, which does tell you something; far more than the unending publication of Swift's work.

If you are familiar with these books, then you probably already have the best ones. This was another attempt at putting a fictional story together with artwork from 1970's SciFi book covers. The story is not good and the art work, though decent, is not the best. The story is strangely disconnected from the story as well. The initial picture is said, in the story, to be of an alien ship. But you can see clear markings on the alien ship of human writing and references to the "space navy".

If you are a do-it-yourselfer looking to do your own interior work, you will be disappointed with this book. The information is very basic, and it deals only with cleaning and replacing factory items. There is little to be learned here about customizing or doing your own upholstery work. Most of the information is just common sense to anyone who has been doing their own work.

Not a book on how to upholster a vehicle.
Steps basically read as follows.
1.Unbolt part needing repair
2.Purchase new part
3.Bolt part back on.
Not very informative, would suggest Don Taylor books.

I purchased this book after I had already begun stripping the interior in my 1998 Jetta GLX. I was hoping to find some tips on sewing. However, the book explicitly states that sewing is outside the scope of the book, and the author recommends that the reader find a professional source for sewing needs. In addition, the book's focus is on older domestic vehicles, so the author's recommedations that one find "restoration kits" may not be applicable for newer imports. Nonetheless, I found some of the information to be quite useful, such as the types of tools needed for this work, the adhesives used, and a fairly instructional section concerning the refurbishing of the headliner. Its not a true DIY book, but it is a decent guide. If there were fractional stars in the rating system, I would give it 3.5 stars, though I can't make myself give it 4.

This is a book for someone who only wants to buy premade upholstery and install it. Not helpful if you want to sew your
own.

This book just tells you that you should leave it up to someone else to do the work for you they tell you to buy kits but not were to buy kits. Not even worth the money i wouldnt bother with this book all the cars in it are classics anyways.

I bought this book without very high expectations, and I was still disappointed. It is more a pamphlet than book, only 103 text pages of very large print. Rather than offering either a scientific discussion of how the science of geology relates to the Bible, or a scholarly study of how geological events are presented in the Bible, Billy Caldwell throws up his arms and proclaims that nobody knows.

Really, that is his only contribution. Page 12, "God's ways are beyond our ways and it is impossible for us to understand His decisions and methods." Billy cites Romans 11:33 here, which is a consideration of why God allowed sin to exist. This is a clear example of the level Billy has studied the Bible.

Consider these verses;

Psalm19:
1The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge. (New American Standard Bible)

Psalm 85:11 reads, "Truth springs from the earth; and righteousness looks down from heaven" (NASB). The Hebrew word for truth, emet, basically means "certainty and dependability."

The Bible demands believers to acknowledge that God is truthful and forthright. The Bible demands that believers acknowledge the physical creation as an honest testament to God's existence and nature.

Instead, Billy offers up the long discredited "appearance of age" argument. This is the notion that God made the Universe old and worn. It isn't really old- it just looks old (pg. 13-14, 17).

Romans 1:18-23 asserted that the physical universe is a true testament to God's nature.

18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19. because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22. Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23. and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

The "wise" in verse 22 referred to astrologers in particular, and verse 23 is reference to the worship of Roman, and Egyptian gods. Some creationists like to falsely claim these verses refer to "Darwinists," but of course there were no evolutionary scientists 2,000 years ago.

So the "appearance of age" is antiscriptural.

Billy also tells us that "If you took an element and purified it completely, it would probably shine. God is so pure, He shines with atomic love." (pg. 15)

That is the level of Billy's science. Just one counter example will do- carbon. Pure carbon can either be solid black as graphite, or clear as diamond. Neither "shine" at any rate. Billy also claims that there are dinosaurs alive today, citing those two great scientists Kent Hovind (currently in jail for tax evasion) and Carl Baugh (pg. 19). Both Hovind and Baugh claim doctorates from unaccredited mail-order "colleges." By the end of the pamphlet, Billy is frothing that Satan was the inspiration of science, and that demons cause disease. Maybe Billy played too much Dungeons and Dragons and he thinks he needs a 10th level Clerical spell instead of an antibiotic.

I will use this book in the future as an example of how ignorant creationists are and why they will sadly stay that way.

What the author of this book has apparently done is scour the bible for references to geology. He then proposes very imaginative yet completely ad hoc and YEC friendly interpretations of these passages in light of what he deems geological facts as have been determined today. It is his belief that in doing so, the case for his god, the intelligent designer of the universe, and biblical inerrancy is very well made.

Nothing could be further from the truth. To put it mildly, this book is nothing more than a shameless and feeble attempt to hammer natural history into what would be a painfully strained consonance with a literal interpretation of the bible (kinda like saying 5+3 = ice cream). It is so obviously contrived that you have to want to believe this stuff to accept it as fact. There is quite honestly nothing of value here.

To make matters worse, the book is very poorly written. It literally reads as though authored by a college freshman. About the only redeeming aspect of this book, an inevitable fallout of its shortness on content, is its length. At 108 pages, it is a very quick read. If you are like me, however, you will find yourself leafing through much of it. As can be expected of any book on geology from a YEC perspective, it becomes very predictable very quickly.

If the bible is the inerrant word of god, why does the bible contradict itself? In Genesis 1, god creates plants before he creates people. In Genesis 2 (verse 5), he creates people before he creates plants. A major contradiction, and hardly the 'inerrant word of god' the author claims.
I'd give this nonsense zero stars if it were possible.

I'm typically not interested in wasting my time writing reviews of creationist "literature" any more than I'm interested in wasting my time writing reviews of books on Kabbalistic approaches to Holistic Unicorn treatments, but this book requires special attention: it is the most serious affront to cognition that has ever been wrought by man's perverse hands. I'm not kidding. This book reads like the schizophrenic rambling of an institutionalized lunatic. It's chock full of perplexing statements such as, "God is so pure, he shines with atomic love!" and demented ramblings about "creation formulas" and their "reverse" (which Caldwell writes as N=S and S=N, respectively). Of course both are linguistic nonsense and ontologically bankrupt, not to mention that the fact that he considers them to be different betrays a rather... creative... use of the symbol "=". Fortunately, you won't have to pay for this book. Simply sign up to teach an astronomy course, and one of your students will volunteer his/her copy for you. At the very least, it's a laugh riot.

Dark ages geology by an unintelligent true-believer searching for proof of the monotheistic 'intelligent' designer.
Would you hire a so-called 'certified geologist' named Billy for academia, private sector work or public employment if he thought that the earth was only a few thousand years old and creationist geology 'proves' that the bible is THE word of god? Nope. And you would not read nonsense written by the same misguided individual either. Books like these are useful for science readers (of all ages) to critique so that this flavor of Christian idiocy does not have its way with the minds of American youth.
That's not to say that all Christians believe in pap like the material in this book.
Billy needs to get a REAL geology education.

Caldwell's 2nd novel is a wild spin through emotions and continents, jumping genres like a seasoned pro. Dutch Giovanni wakes in a prison, and Serena in a wheelchair, each with memories of another each other, in ancient Southern Italy, where their love was born of a poem. Their combined instincts are all that can save them, in a head-long rush towards one another, while forces combine to fight their re-unification. Thankfully, the author has provided us with their tragic history, circa 79 AD, and thus the believable cross-over is just that, a given. The interesting plot-line, and use of philosophical metaphors attaching significance to the age old question, are mutually thrilling. For those who don't understand the query: "Is my Soulmate out there in the world?" You can rest assured that by the end of reading Caldwell's masterful story, you'll have the urge to go seeking him or her yourself, should you find yourself momentarily single.

Dull, Drab and Awful

This was a good idea for a book, but it was very poorly written. The effect of this unfortunate combination is a boring book not worth the trouble of reading.

There are insipid chase scenes devoid of suspense; feigned scholarly discussions that are lacking insight or purpose and a pointless central mystery plot with no hint of cleverness. The characters are shallow, dull, uninteresting, boring, lifeless and just plain drab and awful. While in some professions these attributes might be considered an asset; in a modern mystery novel they are in fact a real detriment. None of the principal players are at all interesting. The four main characters are not at all likeable and I couldn't sympathize with any of them on any level. Count yourself as lucky if you have none of these manikins for friends.

The historic references to the "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" are the only bright spots in this pathetic book. The reader will have to force himself through a sluggish plot with boring characters and a slow pace to learn a little about this renaissance love story. There is a modern translation of the original book in question. I wish that I would have read the modern English translation of the "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" (see Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream) and never heard of "The Rule of Four".

I have the feeling that "The Rule of Four" is for an early adolescent audience while the serious books are left for the grown-ups.



On the positive side, the cover of the book is a very pretty shade of red.

This was a good idea for a book, but it was poorly written. The effect of this unfortunate combination is a boring book not worth the trouble of reading. I wish that I'd have stopped after 50 pages.

There are insipid chase scenes devoid of suspense; feigned scholarly discussions that are lacking insight or purpose and a pointless central mystery plot with no hint of cleverness. The characters are shallow, dull, uninteresting, boring, lifeless and just plain drab and awful. While in some professions these attributes are an asset, in a modern mystery novel they are in fact a real detriment. None of the principals are at all interesting. The four main characters are not likeable and I couldn't sympathize with any of them on any level. Count yourself as lucky if you have none of these manikins for friends.

The historic references to the "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" are the only bright spots in this pathetic waste of a book. The reader will have to force himself through a sluggish plot with boring characters and a slow pace to learn a little about this renaissance love story. There is a modern translation of the original book in question. I wish that I would have read the modern English translation of the "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" (see: Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream) and never heard of "The Rule of Four".

I have the feeling that "The Rule of Four" is for an early adolescent audience while the serious books are left for the grown-ups.