Francis Books

Challenging fun. Just enough of a challenge but not so much that you can't do it. Fun. Thus saith husband, doer of sudoku

First let me say I have too much Sudoku. I love this particular logic puzzle, and have collected a dozen or so different books of them. A couple I purchased when I was in the hospital and didn't have access to my original book. A few more I purchased because of some interesting variations in the puzzles. The point is, I have no reason to buy more Sudoku books for a long time unless something special about it compells me to.

The I saw this book. Kind of a cheesy way to cash in on a popular book and movie currently out, and the puzzles at hand really relate in no way to The Da Vinci Code. But they did throw in a twist that caught my attention. Basically, working your way through the book, another puzzle is slowly decoded and revealed. I think it's a nice approach that keeps this from being just another Sudoku book. Definitely a nice book to have for any Sudoku enthusiast.

As a Sudoku enthusiast I have a hard time finding interesting Sudoku books. The square grids have become a bit boring so I went on to the variations (circles, snakes, mazes, etc). So when I saw the grids in this book I fully intended it to be one of "those" books that you pick up here and there to work on a puzzle. But no, I too was consumed. It was like reading a book where you couldn't put it down. The codes build and I wanted to know what the next phrase was going to be. I worked on it every morning to wake up my mind and only intended to solve one puzzle...... an hour later and I'm still going! It does get hard so I too would say it's for a more expert solver but it is not impossible. I managed to solve it and sent for my button hoping they would say how many have solved it. Oh well - ENJOY!!

I bought this book for Christmas-2006. I wasn't much into Sudokus but the cover and cultural climate of the time caught my eye and thus I caught on very quickly.

Well, I just received my 'Solved The Code' pin today, along with a letter from Francis Heaney (co-author) who included a personal inscription in the note (Thank You!). I feel - well - accomplished, fulfilled. Whole.

Seriously, the last 6 months have been a blast. I now consider myself a Sudokruiser - one who can solve a grid in minutes. I recommend this book to obssesive/compulsives, like myself. But be prepared to say 'so-long' to your obligations and family as sudokus can be very addictive.

If you can't finish the book and need the final answer, here it is:
The final answer is...

***uh - what the???? **** ahhhhhhhhh!

[Sorry, the author of this message was just eaten by a great white shark - Amazon Editor-In-Chief Whitley Seymore.]

I've done Sudoku puzzles of all kinds and as much as I love them, they have become very easy for me. I can do them in pen. Once I purchased this book there's a challenge at every page, and with no answers in the back of the book the only way you know if it's right is to complete all 200 puzzles. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!

This is a practical straight forward guide to Architecture for the non-architect. Also of use to those interested in building design and architectual history.

Vision is better than a thousand words. This graphic book makes you very easy to understand the architectural vocabulary. Not only good for student but also good for architectural practicer.

My husband bought this book for me when I decided to go back to school to study architecture, and it has turned out to be sooooo helpful. I have used it in every course I've taken; it makes studying for tests so much easier. It has a fabulous index so you can find what you are looking for right away, and the illustrations and page layouts are great. This book is a must for any architecture student. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

As with other materials by Francis D.K.Ching, the illustrations are not only clear and precise but aesthetically pleasing. It is a pleasure to read through the material for a comprehensive understanding of architectural concepts, presented in an historical perspective which clarifies the how and why of modern day building technology. The Visual Dictionary of Architecture
is an invaluable reference for the student and architectural practicioner as well.

This book is really good for architecture students. I do not use the book every day, but when I need it, it proves very usefull. All books from this author that I purchased are really good so far. This one has a lot of details drawings which are great.

It's been a good reference so far and will definitely help with real cases when I'm finally out of school.

I'm a veterinary medicine student & I found this book very useful! it's worth buying it!

If you are a veterinarian and don't have this book, get it! Great client education handouts on cd included.

This book is awesome! Does not go indepth, but has ALL the pertinent information related to specific diseases/clinical signs (definitions, Physiology, symptoms, lab work, treatment, follow up care)all on one page! A VERY useful book so far, especially from a tech's point of view!

Just replaced my 3rd edition, the 4th addition is a bit better has some new information, doseages for new drugs and a CD with Client education handouts.

If your idea of a physics book is a dryly written text filled with incomprehensible equations, you have clearly never read BLACK HOLES, WORMHOLES AND TIME MACHINES by Jim Al-Khalili. Its a highly entertaining book written with humor and enthusiasm. The author also provides a bit of history about the physicists who develop the theories he so clearly explains. Highly recommended.

Astrophysics for those of us who never took a physics class in school. You need not be a genius to understand the majority of this book. It's easy to read and explains complex topics in a relatively simple manner. This book is similar to Kip Thorne's book: Black Holes & Time Warps, but does also go over some information that Thorne's book doesn't cover (and Thorne's book goes over some info that this one doesn't). I place both books about equally in their readability to the common person, and amount of interesting information about our universe. This does a great job of explaining different theories about the universe and why some are more likely than others, as well as faults with various theories. Very interesting, but certainly not light reading!

Al-Khalili clearly explains and breaks down modern physics into plain and simple English. I have not read a more easy-to-read physics book in my life. Although there is one thing that the reader will find annoying in the book. He frequently deviates from the subject matter and goes off on a completely different path that sometimes has nothing to do with what he was talking about. Half the book isn't about Black holes, Wormholes, and Time Machines either but about other areas of physics. Overall though, a very well-written book worth your reading. (assuming of course that you have NO background in Physics!)

Mr. Khalili combines a deep understanding of his subject matter with the rare ability to present it clearly in terms understandable to the layman.

As long ago as I can remember, I have been interested in the way that the universe was created and the way it works. This book has all the answers that I've been searching for these long years. Jim Al-Khalili cuts through the big words and incomprehensible scientific lingo and gets straight to the point. As a student of cosmotology myself, I didn't need to have things spelled out in such a condescending manner, but others who read this book and have low IQ test scores will find it very helpful.

I teach preschool (3- and 4-year-olds) for Head Start. They LOVED this book. In fact, they asked me to reread it to them over and over until i told them we HAD to read something else! The pictures are magical, the words are heartfelt and mesmerizing, and the lessons to be learned are timeless and easily understood by my young readers. And I enjoyed it too! If you have a child who likes fairy tales (and what child doesn't?), this is a fabulous addition to their repertoire!

This is an absolutely delightful book, one I will cherish for many years. Thanks Jack!

This is such a delightful tale! It entertains, teaches us all something, and has wonderful illustration! Mr. Gorfien is truly a terrific new talent. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to step into a fantasy once in awhile. I am going to read it to my grandchildren someday, as it is a timeless story that makes one feel good.

This is a wonderfully enchanting book with very colorful illustrations. I've read it several times now to my children, ages 4, 6, 9, and 11. I plan on purchasing additional copies for my neices and nephews for Christmas. I love how inspirational the book is, it is truely one of the best stories I have read in quite a while. The thoughts of Lirona dancing inches above the ground and Adamina's dragonfly necklace are awesome, the kids really enjoyed those parts. I am also a huge lover of dragonflies and love the beginning of the book where it tells a bit about them. Thankyou, Jack, for a beautiful story that has fast become a favorite in our home!!

I not only find the book intriguing but I find the Author himself just as intriguing. I recommend this book very highly and hope the child in all of us could reach in and Dance with a Dragonfly.
Pauline Hale

This is the third book in a series which you will either love or hate. It is also one of those multi-book series which must if at all possible be read in the right order, which is

1) The Game of Kings
2) Queen's Play
3) The Disorderly Knights
4) Pawn in Frankincense
5) The Ringed Castle
6) Checkmate

The disordely knoights of the title are the knights of St John of Malta. This book also features a battle of wits and intrigue betweem the central character, Francis Crawford of Lymond, and his great enemy Gabriel.

There are two reasons why this series, and indeed the author's similar "Niccolo" series, should be read in chronological order. The first is that the plots are incredibly complicated and if you read them out of sequence you have no chance of understanding what is going on. The second is that many of the characters meet their deaths in ways which are exceptionally unpleasant both for themselves and for the characters who survive them. If you read one of the later books first, advance knowledge of how characters are going to die, and the effect it will have on surviving characters can have an impact on the pleasure you would otherwise have had in reading about them for the first time.

Like the books, the central character, Francis Crawford of Lymond, is brilliant, violent, and extremely complicated. Unlike the books he is very flawed. Lymond is a mercenary with particular interests in Scotland and France, and gets involved in nefarious deeds all over the world as 16th century Europeans knew it. Dunnett brings the splendour, cultural ferment, and violent cruelty of the Renaissance world splendidly to life.

If you are at all squeamish, or do not like having to make your brain work overtime to follow a book, leave this series alone. Lymond's story is neither "chewing gum for the brain" nor a comfortable read. And even if you prefer flawed heroes to knights in shining armour, Lymond may infuriate you from time to time. But if you can put up with these features, these books will richly reward the effort you make in reading them.

There is no middle ground: you will either hate the Lymond series or recognise these books as one of the greatest works of historical fiction ever written. Or very possibly both !

If you are considering this third in the Lymond series, it is fairly similar to the first two. I came to the series having very much enjoyed Dunnett's House of Niccolo series. Having read the first three Lymond books, I do not think they are as good. Mostly, we are constantly being told how brilliant, deep, and charming the protagonist is. Niccolo is supposed to be very talented as well, but Dunnett demonstrates that through the plot, rather than force it down our throats as she does here. It makes it much harder to like or admire Lymond as a character.

There are some other irritating quirks in the writing. In the first of the series, for example, we hear way too many times about the Crawfords' "cornflower" eyes. I wanted to put needles in them by the end. In this book, characters are always saying things "grimly."

Unfortunately, the story-telling is pretty good, so I have to mutter under my breath as I read. Without spoiling the plot, by this point you know to look for the villain, who is pretty obvious. On the other hand, I thought there were more clever bits to the summing up than in the first two books, some of which I had certainly missed. But if you have fantasies about horrible deaths for the hordes of competent, sensible women, the high-strung protege du jour, etc., I sympathize.

The Lymond Chronicles (I've read the first three, have not read any other Dorothy Dunnett - yet) are not for everyone. I have both volumes of the Dorothy Dunnett Companion by Elspeth Morrison, and refer to them often to look up the many allusions to historical events and figures, to music and literature, many of which are unfamiliar to any but the most learned reader. That said, they are incredibly rich and never bog down. As with any operatic work (and these stories are!), one must suspend disbelief (no human being, especially one as young as Francis Crawford, could be so accomplished in so many areas). Reading these books is a roller-coaster ride through great swashbuckling, dark intrigue, hilarity and sometimes tenderness. I am amazed that Dunnett never leaves something dangling, no matter how unimportant it seemed when first mentioned -- except, of course, that The Disorderly Knights ends with two important characters tied to the tracks. I have to go out and buy the next book in the series this afternoon.

I envy you if you are just about to read this book because there are 6 in this series and I have read them all! By this book I felt that I knew Francis Crawford (the hero) intimately. I worship him for being the kind of person we all secretly want to be: incredibly smart, strong mentally and physically, kind (although not apparently so), poetic, musical...basically your Renaissance ideal, yet with enough flaws in him to make him endearingly human. In this third book of the series he meets someone who is seemingly his equal, which brings out his character even more. I can't categorize this book as an "adventure" or "historical" novel because it is all that and much more. Read it carefully (although the urge to flip the pages to find out what's next is strong, it's a real page-turner) and you will be as hooked on Dorothy Dunnett as I am.

Francis Crawford of Lymond is sent by the French King to the Island of Malta where the Knights Hospitallers are threatened by an invasion from the Turks. While there Francis is caught up in the politics of the Knights, in particular one Graham Malett who the reader will discover is not at all what he and his convent raised sister are what they appear to be on the surface. As Dunnett slowly peels back the layers of her story, the reader is taken from Malta to embattled Tripoli and then back again to Scotland as Francis intrigues to discover Graham's hidden agendas. To say much more would give away the whole plot, but be prepared for some memorable moments that will stick with you for long after the book is finished. The scene with the sheep (LOL), the nail biting suspense in Tripoli as they try to defuse the flame before Tripoli is blown to bits and of course the final climax during the sword fight between Lymond and his greatest enemy.

Throughout, Francis Crawford is a fascinating hero, and is as suave, debonair, flawed and fascinating as only a 16th Century version of James Bond could be. This is a complicated tale, and one that a reader has to pay close attention to, if you let your mind wander you may have to back track occasionally as I did. Dunnett is also very subtle (sometimes too much so!) and you do have to wait until the very end when all is revealed during a heart stopping sword fight in an Edinburgh cathedral, and a big surprise for Francis that will have you scrambling for the next book in the series, Pawn in Frankincense: Fourth in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles. Five stars.

Holiness, Truth and the Presence of GodThis is a great book. I bought several to give to those who want to walk closer to the Lord. He puts it simply where anyone can understand It's not boring and preachy. It has enhanced my prayer life. We must leave the familiar, my closet and SHUT THE DOOR (especially for homemakers)and draw close to the Lord I rate this up with Pilgrim's Progress under the Bible. I think this is good even for new Believers. God bless!

Draw closer to God and He will incline Himself to you. It is the Holy Spirit that produces the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control. From these internal fruit comes the outward evidence of His inner work. Works are the result of this closer walk - Holiness is an outward manifestation of the inner work. Francis Frangipane again has been led to write an illuminating work about how God's light chases away the inner darkness. Come and learn how to travel the "Highway of Holiness" from the beginning until you arrive home. Bring your heart before God so that He can show you the way.

This book challenged me in a major way. The gist of the book is that seeking after God is the reason for our existence and for victory in our lives. It relates how we substitute other things for what is important, an intimate relationship with Almighty God. From this intimacy with God springs holiness and victory. Power is not found in religion, doctrine, knowledge or anything other than being in the presence of God.

It appears the human heart is like a many-roomed mansion, and little do we know how dark some of those interior rooms are--if we are even aware of their existence! Francis Frangipane does a great service to the maturing of the Body of Christ by taking us on a trip to explore many of those darkened rooms which are harboring idolatry, pride and hypocrisy, presumption and falsehood, to name but a few of the sicknesses afflicting God's people. The way to health and purity, indeed "wholeness", is by passionately pursuing "holiness" of heart. It is the pure in heart who will see God. Therefore, our goal of Christ-likeness must define our Christian walk, for holiness and sanctification must necessarily precede Kingdom power and the fruit thereof.

I find this to be great reading and right on point if you are serious about improving your walk with God as a Christian. Easy to read, with short chapters that are clear and easy to understand. The author supports his thoughts with scripture. It is one that you can read over and over again and find something new to ponder.

The Kalevala is the result of Elias Lönnrot collecting and commiting to paper the oral traditions of the Finnish people to produce an epic tale.
This translation has captured the poetic delivery of the original Finnish as perfectly as these two opposing languages could.
The poetry weaves the tales of Väinämöinen, an old seer and the younger Joukahainen who wishes to challenge him. This angers Väinämöinen who chants him deep into a swamp, a meadow and a heath!! To get himself out of trouble Joukahainen offers the old seer his sister Aino as a bride. Väinämöinen thinking he has been offered a house keeper accepts. Aino is quite taken with being his bride but Väinämöinen has other ideas and heads North to woo the maiden of the North. He can marry her if he forges a Sampo, which is a magical machine that churns out salt, flour and money! He can't do that but he knows a man who can, his good friend Ilmarinen the blacksmith. He has to trick Ilmarinen into going North but he makes the Sampo. Then the marriage requires another task and so the maiden remains unmarried.

Meanwhile, another character Lemminkäinen decides to go North and try his luck winning the maiden. He is given tasks in order to win her hand, capturing the elk of Hiisi and the swan from the river of Tuonela. The latter task nearly kills him and he gives up.

Väinämöinen is now making himself a boat to head back up North but he runs out of spells so he has to go and find Vipunen, a giant who knows all the spells. He gets his spells, finishes his boat and heads North but he is seen by the sister of the blacksmith and the blacksmith rides like the wind on his horse and catches up with him. The two men make a pact that they will let the maiden choose between them. The maiden choose Ilmarinen because he forged the Sampo but her mother still wants more tasks done and she orders Ilmarinen to plough the field of vipers. Ilmarinen finds this easy with his armoured boots and cape and so the crone of the North sets him the task of capturing the giant pike of the chill north sea without line or net!!Ilmarinen forges himself a giant eagle and captures the pike. Now the old crone is satisfied and the wedding takes place. Väinämöinen makes a kantele from the jaw of the pike which produces sweet voiced music such that tames the beasts and even causes the sea king Ahti to rise from the depths. He and Ilmarinen use the sweet music to soothe the beasts of the North whilst they take the Sampo for themselves and set sail for home. Louhi, mistress of the North casts a fog spell to stop them, which Väinämöinen conjures away so Louhi unleashes a terrible storm which sweeps the kantele from the boat whereupon Ahti the sea king thinks it is a present to him and he calms the sea. The crone turns herself into an eagle and attacks Väinämöinen's boat and in the struggle the Sampo is broken into pieces. Some of the pieces are washed up on the shore and from the fragments Ilmarinen makes amulets and rings thinking that perhaps there is still some magic left in the pieces. Each resident of Kalevala wears a magic piece on special occasions, wishing for a peaceful life.

Now I've just condensed an epic piece into a few short paragraphs...for which I apologise but it's a great tale and maybe this will encourage folk to read it themselves.

The Kalevala has a flow to it that makes the plot/ idea easy to follow. If English is your second language you will struggle with some of its vocabulary. The stories and the essence of this epic poem are captivating. I didn't want to put the book down at night. This is a good way to get to know Finnish culture.

This review is in two parts:

THE TRANSLATION: When it comes to reading ancient literature there are often numerous versions and translations. Unless a story is REALLY good, I only want to read it once. So it only makes sense that one should want to read the best version/translation available.
Thankfully, the Keith Bosley translation of The Kalevala is the most reader-friendly, very much like Seamus Heaney's translation of "Beowulf".
The Kalevala does not rhyme, although there are a few instances of alliteration scattered throughout. Each line is usually a handful of words comprising an even larger sentence, but it's done in a tasteful way so that you won't feel like you're reading a James Joyce run-on sentence like in "Ulysses".

THE EPIC:
The Kalevala bounces around telling tales of several major characters, which is fortunate, considering the length of the work. Without giving anything away, the characters do things like get married, steal precious relics, sing magical songs, go to war and build many more precious relics.

There are lots of good "Chapters" in The Kalevala and I was surprised that a few of my favorites had little or no action in them (according to a guy's definition of action, at least). One of which was the marriage sequence of Chapters 21-24. If you've ever heard the advice, "Don't get married", this is probably one of the sources where such advice comes from.

It is also noteworthy how much influence The Kalevala has had on Fantasy and Metal. If I remember correctly, Tolkien's "Silmarillion" starts off with beings singing things into existence, much like the characters in The Kalevala do.
The Finnish metal band "Ensiferum" has songs that are inspired straight from The Kalevala, such as "Old Man" which refers to Vainamoinen.
There are many other bands in the folk metal genre, that, although they don't specifically cite The Kalevala as an inspiration they clearly have songs that are similar to The Kalevala's oral tradition. Some examples (in my opinion) would be Korpiklaani (Finnish), Metsatoell and Raud Ants (Estonian).

Overall, I liked The Kalevala much more than I thought I would, given its length and I have to admit: I found it more interesting than Beowulf.

There is an elegant, powerful simplicity to this epic tale, no matter what language you read it in. The symbols transcend both language and time. There is nothing contrived here. Such a tale could not be counterfeited by a modern mind.At the center of the entire epic is Vainamoinen, the singer at the world's dawn. Here is the archetype for the wizard- the first and greatest among shamans. Before Merlin, before Taliesin, before Math, before Manannan, there was Vainamoinen, Eternal Seer.Something real and vital carries over even in translation. Reading this book on a cold winter's night you can taste the sea and smell the forest. You can identify with the characters even though they have godlike powers, because they also have trades that they live by (Vainamoinen is a boatbuilder, Ilmarinen a smith, Joukahainen builds his own crossbows, etc.) These Godlike beings lived simple lives close to the earth. And simple wisdom is powerful wisdom. Yet, there is also so much more of the old, deep legends and symbols buried in these lines. You can tell that they were preserved long after the long lines of singers had ceased to know their original meanings.The ancient Finns believed in the power of words, and the greater power of songs. There is still power here. Or as the epic says:

Words shall not be hid

nor spells be buried;

might shall not sink underground

though the mighty go.

I enjoyed this epic story of Finnish mythology. It was a musical, delightful collection of heroic stories that didn't overwhelm me. I could keep track of the characters and what they respresented quite easily.

I was delighted by this book! I hope all Finnish children are exposed to the exciting yet fun depiction of their mythological heritage.

I know that scholars want to read everything and disect the stories for deeper meanings -- which is just fine -- but I can really see this as a set of stories being told to small children while the whole family sat around the fireplace.

In the vein of Dazed and Confused, HERE BE MONSTERS is a vivid ride around the block in the parts of adolescence that parents don't want to hear about. Eight pages in and I want more.

This is well written. I got through the 8 pages quickly and am looking forward to more. Bring it on Mr. Decker.

Francis knows how to take you on a wild ride right from the beginning. I loved the details he weaves into his narrative: can almost smell the spilled beer, feel the heat and the dripping sweat, feel Fleet's angst with his relationship with Marcus and especially, Vaughn. Give me more!!

"Here Be Monsters" launches itself at you and just doesn't let go, drawing you into the intense world of three prep school teammates. Marcus, the starting quarterback, is the focus of attention and gets all the girls. Vaughn is moody and full of anger. Fleet, the newest member of the group, is trying desperately to fit in.

Francis W. Decker starts fast with a late-night "fender bender" car crash. The boys are drinking and so is the other driver, a middle-aged woman in a nightgown. Though no names are exchanged, Vaughn feels a connection with the woman and I'm sure we'll see her again.

The story moves from Vaughn's to Fleet's point of view, and as noted by another reviewer, this tactic seems less than completely effective in the 5000 words we have to work with. Given the solid writing, however, I'd be willing to wait and see if the differentiation becomes clearer. The writing is tense, slightly elliptical, and attention-grabbing.

"Here Be Monsters" is a story of a world unknown to me. If my sons and their friends lived in this world, they did it completely outside my range of reference. To read this book would be, for me, like reading in a foreign language; and it's an effort I'd be willing to make.

In my mind I can't distance this excerpt from yesterday's headlines -- three boys died in a car, 75 miles down a road well known to me, just two nights ago. Icy road, young driver, their lives ahead of them, three families bereft. Too real. Art imitating life. My interest in Marcus, Vaughn and Fleet is tangled up in my mind with my feelings about those three boys from my part of the world.

I'll be wondering how Francis W. Decker finishes what he started in this fine beginning. Best of luck, Francis.

Linda Bulger, 2008

Oh, the sordid memories of high school...

Author Francis W. Decker's novel excerpt of Here Be Monsters opens strong and lets the reader know some good stuff is ahead. This is solidly written with a good hook. It is an R-rated high school tale that made me squirm through every word, though I mean that in a good way. It is fast paced, has great action and keeps moving.

My only suggestions are regarding point of view, in that I'm not totally feeling the change in POV from the first chapter to the second; I think Vaughn and Fleet's voices are a little too similar. Also, I like Vaughn in the first chapter, but not so much in the next.

This opening assures me that Here Be Monsters would be a fun and interesting read. I'm knocking off a half star only because of the issue with POV, so four and a half stars. Great job!

Sincerly,
Brent (B. Billy) Curtis
Secluded Parking - Official ABNA Entrant

For the individual more interested in Christian living than philosophical arguments this is the Schaeffer book for you. This book is very short, I finished in two nights of easy reading. It is basically expanding his thoughts on John 13:34-35

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

I think his main point is that God has given the world a litmus test for whether Christianity is the truth and whether we are truly followers of him. If the world can OBSERVE that we love one another they will know, if not, then they have the right to judge us accordingly. How we deal with conflict within ourselves is the true test. Loving each other through harmony is easy, loving each other when there are disagreements is much harder.

This is an oversimplification of his work, and reading this short book is well worth the effort. Light and short reading with maximum impact.

Though may easily be overlooked as something Christians are and should be familiar with, I still take Dr. Schaeffer's encouragement seriously to love like Jesus loves according to what he commands his disciples at the Last Supper; both those "in the household of faith" and those who are outside, that the world may know that Christians are Christ's indeed. I can not agree more that cold, uncaring, indifferent, unloving, narcissistic Christianity; something that I'm liable to as well; is not only an oxymoron, but also ugly, as Dr. Schaeffer puts it. On a similar subject, pursuing Christian unity; what it is and what it is not; is something that he claims as the other mark of a Christian, and though intuitively is natural when there is a genuine love to one another, but is still worth studying in this little yet practical book.

Schaeffer writes a book here that is challenging and very needed. He simply takes two statements of Jesus on how we should love one another and strive for peace and unity instead of discord and pride, and demonstrates the crucial need to follow these verses. A Christian is supposed to be a bearer of love and peace to every other human being (Christian or not; you can promote peace and show love without sacrificing truth). This book along with his "True Spirituality" are both on the top of my list of messages that have made the most impact on me. All of Schaeffer's work is good but this book is one of my favorites. I second the motion that this is a must read for any Christian.

As with most of Francis Schaffer's books... though written in the 1970's it seems like it was written yesterday. A short but powerful book looking at John 13 & 17 and what he calls is the "Final Apologetic". He basically asks "How will they know we are Christians?" And expounds on that. A highly reflective book. A book we need today. A Must Read.

I first read this book as a young Christian and now am impressed with how many of the concepts I have adopted in my own creed. I detest pop Christian symbols and the urge to define a Christian by market forces. Schaeffer attempts to challenge the reader into not only glimpsing in the mirror, but to really make changes accordingly.