Clarke Books

This lovely book is originaly written for the Prague community of the late 30 ties in order to understand, who are the chasidim, who's population was just in big decline at the time (after WWI). The author, who himself has lived with them for long time, choosed an excelent way of telling all of their stories about the holy rabis in the way they use to do so. But he still remembers that not only chasidim will read it and thus explains nicely what some of the strange words or actions mean and also compares some thoughts to those of Western philosophers. It is just a lovely little book about the richest life with God, lived in the hugest poverty of the medeival ages (but in 1910). It fills one with gray joy and i promise your eyes won't stay dray after the first few pages - but you won't be sad !!

Jiri Langer's "Nine Gates to the Chasidic Mysteries" is an indispensible collection of stories relating to the European Chasidic communities. This text makes an excellent companion to Martin Buber's book on the Chasidic Tales. While Buber's text focuses on many of the moralistic aspects of Chasidism, Langer's helps to explain the spiritual side of the Chasidim. The tales of this book explain the very intimate relation to the divine that was such a part of the Chasidic experience. The text also explores the very tenuous position of Jews in Europe preceding the Holocaust. Langer's book, collected from his experiences after leaving his home in Prague to live among the rural Chasidic communities, was almost destroyed by the Nazis. However, a few copies were salvaged, and survive as a testament to the remarkable and enduring legacy of the pre-Holocaust Chasidim.

In general, we assume the differentiability of functions. But this is the very strict assumption and nondifferentiable phenomena are common. So if you want to drop the assumption of differentiability, I'm convinced that you have to read this book. This is one of the best books.

Of all the scientific or mathematical books that I have reviewed or even read, I would place this book at the position of number one (1) in excellence, creativity, genius, inspiration, intuition, and usefulness. It has inspired some of my own best research and I often cite it in presenting papers at conferences and publishing papers. In my opinion, Nonsmooth Analysis is one of the 20 main research areas in mathematics of the last 5 years (others include rare events/large deviations, solutions of Navier Stokes/Einstein field equations/Schrodinger equation, fractals/chaos/entropy, fuzzy sets/fuzzy logic/multivalued logic/other logics, semigroups/Clifford algebras/spacetime algebras,etc.). Perhaps the most astonishing finding of Clarke et al., book here and in their journal papers (and those of their colleagues), is that equations become inequalities and subset relationships when one goes from smooth physics to disconnected and sharp-bend physics. The latter types of physics may seem difficult to visualize at first, but think of what happens when ice suddenly changes phase to water, or water changes phase suddenly to vapor/steam. Or think of what happens when a runner or a racecar or a plane suddenly makes a 180 degree about-face (runners might be able to do this, but planes can only do it approximately at usual speeds). Ordinary physics and mathematics cannot handle these situations. Other examples are catastrophes, sudden strokes of good fortune, etc. You can see that these are often related to rare events, which I have reviewed elsehwhere. It turns out that the usual mathematics which involves equations becomes inequalities (less than, greater than, etc.) and subset relationships (A is inside B or is a subset of B) in the new situations. Clarke et. al. prove theorems quite rigorously in this area. If you have any hesitation in reading this book because of its mathematical content, hire a reputable consultant or tutor to translate the results into an approximation to ordinary English. If you don't, you'll miss out on opportunities to apply the results to your own area and maybe even your own daily life.

Nutritional biochemistry is here provided in a language any lay reader can understand as it covers the NQI food ratings, which are tied to a food's molecular contents. Dr. Ramsden's eating guide uses a scientific rating system to reveal how nutrition may actually be measured - and provides charts and chapters backing his ideas. Any library interested in nutritional analysis will find this most accessible.

Dr. Ramsden has taken the mystery out of grocery shopping and making wise food choices. He presents easy-to-use rating scales of different food groups by brand names of products we consume on a daily basis such as cereals, seafoods, breads, etc. I refer to his rating list of products when making my grocery list so I know I am making the best choices at the grocery store. He's done the research and presents it in an easy to use format that takes the guesswork out of shopping and eating.

The term "African American" doesn't usually invoke images north of the 49th parallel, but it should. Not only because Canada was the longed for "Canaan Land" of so many spirituals and therefore, the ultimate home of many escaped slaves, nor because Nova Scotia and New France also had slaves, but because black communities have been a part of what we now call "Canada" since the beginning. George Elliott Clarke , an award winning poet, playwright, critic and scholar , is very much part of the literary map of Canada; this book gathers together a representative selection of his essays and reviews published over a decade and demonstrates that African-Canadian literature is not a recent phenomenon. His map covers vast and diverse territory , including the status of African-American culture as a "model for blackness," black and white racial metaphors in Quebecois literature, black women's search for history and more. This is a great introduction for newcomers, and a foundation for students in the field.

The term "African American" doesn't usually invoke images north of the 49th parallel, but it should. Not only because Canada was the longed for "Canaan Land" of so many spirituals and therefore, the ultimate home of many escaped slaves, nor because Nova Scotia and New France also had slaves, but because black communities have been a part of what we now call "Canada" since the beginning. George Elliott Clarke , an award winning poet, playwright, critic and scholar , is very much part of the literary map of Canada; this book gathers together a representative selection of his essays and reviews published over a decade and demonstrates that African-Canadian literature is not a recent phenomenon. His map covers vast and diverse territory , including the status of African-American culture as a "model for blackness," black and white racial metaphors in Quebecois literature, black women's search for history and more. This is a great introduction for newcomers, and a foundation for students in the field.

This book tells much history that is little known about the development of Western Civilization. In addition to the courageous and charitable actions of several key popes, the important actions of notable historical figures are described that give insights into their character strengths. Emperor Theodosius the Great gives evidence of humility and a God fearing temperment. Charlemagne displays a fatherly love for his subjects and a deep personal commitment to the Christian faith.

This book is important because it gives appropriate and due credit to Christianity, more specifically Roman Catholicism, in the shaping of Western Civilization from the time of Constantine to the 20th century. Too many contemporary history books exhibit an animosity to Christianity and its undeniable impact on Western man.

The prose is very easy to read and the subject matter is interesting.

When I first picked up this book, I just expected a brief history of each Pope. I was pleasantly surprised to find a clear and well-written account of the lives of the Popes who saved the Church during great times of crises.


The introductory chapter recounts the problems facing the Church and how nine popes faced these tribulations. Starting with the first Bishop appointed by Jesus Saint Peter and ending with Saint Leo the Great. These men planted the seed of our Church. At this time to accept a leadership role in the Church, you knew that it was only a matter of time before you meet a bloody and violent death. And by Constantine's time we begin to see the difference in the Bishops. Those of the east vying for glory and spouting heresies, while those of the west by in large try to keep the faith. The defense of the trinity and Mary were in the forefront between east and west. True men of Faith stood up to defend against these attacks on the Catholic Church.

In this book we see popes whose aim was to sanctify men. So every man and everything he did, and therefore every nation and king would be live in the fullness of the Catholic Faith. And strive for all nations would owe fealty to Our Lord and to his earthly vicar, the Pope. And in this book we see strong Vicars of Christ. They do their appointed mission from Christ and stand up for our Church regardless of consequences. And took strong stances against those who refused the fullness of the faith. Enough faith in God to march out and face even one like Attila the Hun. These Popes faced invading invasion, heresy, and pestilence among other opposition while trying to perform their duties as Vicar of Christ.

This guide is more informative and easier to use than Hugh Johnsons

If you are going to bring one small guide to a wine shop, this is the one that is the most helpful. Well laid out, with tons of info in a small package. The Johnson guide is good, but this is superior due to ease of use.

I read this at age 12 and I laughed all the way through it. My copy was printed about the turn of the century but the outlandish practical jokes this boy plays on his parents and the local merchants are timeless. However, through it all the boy is endowed with a good heart. He is generally kind to smaller children, girls, and those less fortunate than himself. But for adults that are not up to his moral standards, and they are very loose at times, he shows no mercy. He picks on everyone, his parents, the clergy, shopkeepers, and anyone and anything, that in his opinion deserves it. The story about the loud mouthed parrot that only knows insulting phrases and speaks his mind during a prayor meeting in the boys house is priceless.

I read this book at a fairly tender age at the instigation of my grandfather, a Peck himself, and was charmed not only with the elegant Victorian prose, but also with the absolutely hideous pranks the Bad Boy plays on his poor parents. Thoughts of child (and parent) abuse never entered my mind; all I wanted was to be able to strap my baby sister to a goat and let the pair roam free through the garden. I read it again and again, and demolished my copy; now I have another one. Wonderful book, but don't let your impressionable kids read it, unless you plan to spend your spare time keeping an eye on them, because it WILL give them ideas.

This is a wonderful way to study Benedict's Rule and learn to apply it to today's modern and complex lifestyle. Ms. Vest is able to look beyond the ancient text and pull forth the wisdom of Benedict, making it alive and vital for today's Christian. A definite read for the person interested in achieving a balanced and Christian life.

Though targeted for an audience of Benedictine oblates, or lay associates of Benedictine monasteries, _Preferring Christ_ will find a welcome among any serious seeker on the spiritual journey.

Written 1500+ years ago, Benedict's Rule is still a fresh commentary on the applied Gospel and Christian living. Because of its monastic context, the Rule is often bypased by all but the most intense disciples. Vest has written a beautiful, practical commentary on the Rule that can be applied by anyone looking to live the Good News. Herself an oblate, Vest comments not out of theorhetical platitude, but out of lived experience.

The book is laid out with the text of the rule, commentary, and space for the individual to write their own reflections. (The text of the Rule is a relatively new translation by Dom Luke Dysinger, O.S.B)

If there were superlatives that have not yet been applied to Martin Gardner, then I would use them here. While most know him as an excellent writer of mathematics, many know him as a conduit of knowledge in mathematics, puzzles and magic, a role that has earned him many close friends. This book is a collection of problems, puzzles and other assorted exercises for the mind that were written as part of the gatherings for Gardner (G4Gs). The fourth took place in February, 2000 and unfortunately, also had to include tributes to some who had passed on.
As befits his stature among everyone engaged in the pursuit of mathematics, puzzles and magic, the entries in this book are the best. The range is also consistent with the enormous variety of interests that Gardner has. There are seven sections in the book:

The Toast: Tributes, remembrances of those who have passed.
Tantalizing Appetizers: Challenges for the Reader, a series of quickie puzzles.
Smoked Ham: A Course in Magic, explanations of some basic magic tricks.
Chef's Caprice, some amusing stories that involve wordplay.
Wild Game (and Puzzles), some truly diabolical puzzles.
Mathematical Entrees, some longer papers on mathematics.
Mathematical Treats, short papers with a mathematical bent.

If you are a recreational mathematician or puzzler, then this is a book you must read. For the first time in my life, I laughed when I read a math book.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

Collaboratively edited by David Wolfe and Tom Rodgers, Puzzlers' Tribute: A Feast For The Mind is an amazing compilation of classic brain teasers collected from all walks of science, mathematics, and verbal riddles to test the reader's thinking skills to their highest degree. Each puzzle is not only proffered, but comes with a detailed explanation as to the true nature of the problem, as well as a step-by-step solution. Highly recommended for mathematicians, magicians, and puzzle enthusiasts, Puzzlers' Tribute is amazing, varied, challenging, and fun leisure reading guaranteed to give its readers an itch for pencil and paper to work the problems out for themselves!

Harold Clarke is an amazing man. But before one pretends to know him, it is important to know that he voluntarily relinquished his position as the Chief Justice of Georgia's Supreme Court so that Charles Weltner, the great Civil Rights figure of Georgia's past, could become Chief Justice before he died of cancer.

Such an action is typical of Harold Clarke's character. He is an immaculate man of decency, a true southern gentleman. I will defer the fact that he knew my grandfather and cares greatly for my father and even me. The fact is that he is a hero of Georgia's often troubled judicial history, and I love him greatly.

His book is most worthy of being read. I can promise anyone who reads it that you will appreciate Chief Justice Clarke's simple upbringing and his rise to destiny.

- Jeff Berry

A pleasant trip into the past. Runs the gamut of human emotions: Nostalgia, Humor, Sadness. So very reminiscent of when times and places were simpler. I highly recommend it. Very enjoyable reading. E. F. Howard .