Francis Books

Book in very good condition when arrived, was new when purchased. Cost was a little high at 62.00 dollars. Received in a timely manner.

This book has some excellent introductory material if you want to learn about soil microbiology. It is nicely organized with chapters (check the table of contents). A very good improvement over the previous edition in that it talks about some of the recent technology such as metagenomics. I would not recommend it as a reference book for graduate students, but a very good intro text book for grad and undergrads.

I was a graduate student in soils and forestry when I took a class in soil microbiology that used this text. It is essentially the gold standard for soil micro texts. It isn't overly technical, but it includes a thorough analysis of the basic concepts needed to understand most aspects of soil microbiology research and application. The book uses mostly agronomic examples, but there is enough variety of ecosystems to make it useful for those working in forestry, grasslands, and almost any type of soil. Those interested in detailed discussions of molecular microbial methods or biotechnology may be disappointed, but for the general student looking to understand what those billion microbes per teaspoon of soil are doing, this book is the best introduction out there.

This book was everything I expected. It came to me quickly and I was very pleased with the condition of the book.

Joyce Morgenroth's work, aptly titled Speaking of Dance, allows us the pleasure of actually hearing the voices of the choreographers and, in a very real sense, seeing their work. This simple integrity of purpose may be a large part of what makes the book so eminently readable. The author signals us with her first introductory words, "Watching dance..." that we are in for a journey from audience point-of-view. Then, Morgenroth neatly take us to the source, her interviews with twelve well-known choreographers. What different sources they turn out to be!

Speaking of Dance lets the choreographers tell their stories with the full flair of their personalities. I get who they are without being spoon-fed. They speak in their twelve highly individuals styles, just what you hope for from contemporary titans in the dance world. (No doubt much clearer sounding than some of them actually articulated before Morgenroth edited for us.) In speaking they let us into their world. How much each captivates is illuminated almost as much by how they present themselves, perhaps who they are, as by what they have created on the floor...and, in some cases, off the ceilings, on the walls, with the music coupled with each artist's internal vision. In every case I learn

I like this book alot. In the introduction, we hear the voice of Joyce Morgenroth, author and interviewer. An auspices start. The writing is smart and lively. Morgenroth loves dance, has a keen eye for details, and lots of questions.Through the intro, her energetic and easy writing makes her feel close... and she is willing to take us along into the kitchens and lofts to speak with dancemakers about the alchemy of choreography.

First stop, though is a short history of modern dance. We get facts but Morgenroth concentrates on the catalysts that led to explorations. She places each of the artists in the book in context.

The interviews start with a short bio but the heft is the voice of the artist. The pieces are spontaneous and intimate and also well-structured. The artists' stories of their histories are funny and human. No matter how well known, it is clear that each artist is still deeply involved with the process of making work.

I teach dance compostion and after reading Speaking of Dance realized what a priceless resource this is for young people making art. We can't give them a formula, just tips and the courage to get out there and try.

This book supports that idea completely.

Have you ever wondered why it's the Franciscans in their long brown habits with rope ties who lead you along the Via Dolorosa, The Way of the Cross in Jerusalem, the most sacred of Christian sites and Christian moments?

In this excellent narrative of St. Francis coming face to face with the Muslims, Frank Rega (a Phi Beta Kappa and Woodrow Wilson scholar) traces a great and controversial moment in Christian history--the meeting of Francis of Assisi with the Sultan al Malik al Kamil, one of the most important leaders of Egypt, Palestine and Syria, in the hot summer of 1219, during the Fifth Crusade. Questions come to mind immediately: what on earth was Francis doing on a Crusade? What was his plan? his hope?

Strangely enough, there are probably many Christians, many Catholics, who are not aware that a crucial meeting took place between Francis and the Sultan. Those who knew Francis, as well as scholars and intellectuals through the centuries, have written tomes opining and debating the reason for Francis' bold venture into the enemy camp during a lull in the heated battle at Damietta, Egypt. But march in he did, with the might of his faith and one companion! He expected he would most likely be martyred. He was not. Instead....

This is Rega's entry into the debate. Francis, who had renounced the world, reduced himself to rags and the most austere living, and who loved every soul and creature on earth, joined the 5th Crusade "in a courageous attempt to preach the Gospel. . . in the Middle East," writes Rega. Standing in his beggarlike habit, Francis began to speak, and because of the simplicity of his arguments and the confidence he exuded, the Sultan was willing to listen to Francis' words. These are gripping moments, and one feels Rega's passion for the subject in his driven narrative, as he shows a Francis many of us have not met before. Along the way, Rega clarifies every question and possibility put forth by theorists, especially today, who "reduce this saint to a glorified social worker, nature lover, or 'the first hippie.'"

Much took place in those few days--or maybe they were more than a few; it is not known--resulting in the unprecedented gesture of the Sultan giving Francis a permit of safe passage to travel "without hindrance" anywhere in the Sultan's domains. Hence, a special relationship existed between the two men, which resulted in allowing the friars to eventually obtain custody of the Christian shrines in the Holy Land. The Sultan also eventually released 30,000 Christian prisoners and negotiated a peace with the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, in which he returned Jerusalem to the Christians, with Muslims keeping their holy sites. This was the period in which the first Franciscans came to Palestine to care for the
Christian sites, and they are still there today!

When Francis finally returned to Italy, he went on to another great Catholic moment on Mt. Alvernia--receiving the stigmata, the Crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. This is one of the many dramas in his life that could stand out as the moment he stepped into history. Part of this book is an essence-biography, highlighting the heart and soul of the man whose love for Christ held no room for compromise, and who ultimately reformed the Church. The better to understand why he went to the Middle East.

One of Francis' most passionate disciples was Clare--beautiful, wealthy, patrician--who escaped her pursuing family to follow the impoverished Francis' path. Only 18, if she had any vanities, she left them completely in a gesture of renouncement, letting Francis cut off her glorious blonde hair, and giving up her beautiful clothes and jewels for the rough Franciscan habit. These two figures captured the imagination of Christian Europe, and not by halfway measures. . . .

Rega's research goes back to 13th-century volumes. He asks the polemical questions about Francis' mission and offers his own answers at the conclusion of the book. Although intensity of Faith and Belief has faded in much of the world in our time, St. Francis remains relevant and is still an ambassador for Christ and the Gospel, a blaze of love for all souls, everywhere.

St. Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims by Frank Rega is very well researched and written. I found it pleasant to read, as well as very informative. The book explained in great depth the story of the conversion of the Sultan and also gave a greater insight into the character of St. Francis, his own background and conversion. The book also showed St. Francis' respect for all humans. In his desire to convert the Sultan, St. Francis never treated him with disrespect. His goal was only to teach him about Christ and draw him closer to God.

Saint Francis was a peacemaker, but he also recognized the importance of bearing arms in special circumstances, such as in defense of one's country. Being a parent of a son, serving in Iraq, and also a Franciscan, I truly delighted in being reminded of St. Francis' great love for God, his desire to unite all people, regardless of race or religion, and his ability to bring peace to troubled areas. I think all who read this book will acquire a greater love for St. Francis, as well as a true appreciation for his humility and respect for humankind.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace!

When one thinks of Saint Francis of Assisi, often what comes to mind are images of a soft and weak man immersed in a pacified landscape, full of birds and bunny rabbits who are awestruck at every word that falls from his lips. However, reality frontally challenges this limp-wristed portrayal.

This is evident from Frank Rega's controversial new book, Saint Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims. The author successfully dispels many of the myths spread about the saint's persona. He states: "To reduce this saint to a glorified social worker, a nature lover, or `the first hippie' is a great disservice to his true heritage."

On the contrary, Mr. Rega paints the true picture of Saint Francis: a saint of prayer, courage and action, who, contrary to the claims of many modern biographers, actually supported the Crusades.

The second section of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims proves this contention. This part stands alone, for those who are only interested in reading about the saint's correspondence with the Muslims. However, it is sandwiched between two other sections, which recount the saint's life before and after his missionary journey to the Middle East. Together, these three sections make up an informative and highly readable biography of the Seraphic Father.

The book's main thrust and most interesting section deals with Saint Francis' true position in face of the Muslims. He felt a tremendous desire for their salvation and even risked torture and death to bring them the Gospel. However, he explicitly denounced Islam as a false religion that leads to damnation.

Thus, addressing himself to the Sultan, Saint Francis said: "If you do not wish to believe, we will commend your soul to God, because we declare that if you die while holding to your law, you will be lost; God will not accept your soul."

This contrasts with the false idea of ecumenism commonly promoted today. The author explains: "Saint Francis' dialogue with the Sultan was a dialogue of conversion to Jesus Christ, not a dialogue of finding common ground in order for the two religions to coexist peacefully."

Mr. Rega also refutes the misconception that Saint Francis was opposed to the Crusaders taking military action to regain the holy land. While the saint wanted the Muslim's conversion above all, he felt that war was justified if they did not accept Christ and adamantly held to the regions they had stolen from Christian hands.

Thus, when the Sultan argued that the Crusaders were not following the Gospels which taught that one should turn the other cheek when offended, he quickly rejoined quoting Our Lord's words taken from the same discourse: "if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee."

Saint Francis explained:

"Here He wanted to teach us that every man, however dear and close he is to us, and even if he is as precious to us as the apple of our own eye, must be repulsed, pulled out, expelled if he seeks to turn us aside from the faith and love of our God. That is why it is just that Christians invade the land you inhabit, for you blaspheme the name of Christ and alienate everyone you can from His worship."

Mr. Rega's work is filled with evidence to support his own Crusade against those revisionists who would like to paint a less virile Saint Francis. He decries those for whom Saint Francis: "was not a bold Christian evangelist, but a timid man, whose goal was to have the friars live passively among the Saracens and `to be subject to them,' rather than convert them to the True Religion."

This book is a must-read for those whose minds have been sullied by the effeminate portrayals of Saint Francis that have been widely circulated. It can serve to shatter this false impression and reveal the true spirit of a great saint.

I found this book by accident and haven't even finished it yet, but what a pleasure to read! Chesterton's logic and humor are delightful and the way he is always looking at the "big picture" of Christianity is wonderful. It's a good thing it has footnotes to explain some of the references to British politics. He writes as though to non-Catholics (which I am) who know very little about St. Francis (other than he preached to the animals) and next to nothing about St. Thomas Aquinas. If you like Chesterton and are remotly interested in these two saints who were in many ways opposites of each other, buy and read this book.

Legendary Christian philosopher GK Chesterton wrote concise semi-biographies of St. Francis and St. Thomas Aquinas in 1923 and 1936 (the year of his death), respectively. Those years saw him convert to Catholicism, crystallizing a journey taking him from early appreciation of St. Francis in poetry and essays, to the depths of Oscar Wilde's nihilism to the freedom of orthodoxy expressed in that book and in his classic "Everlasting Man."

For their contrasting both saints' lives, drawn differently as silhouettes of Sancho Panza and Don Quixote (to name one of Chesterton's first, richest allegories in the Aquinas book), both books could with editing meld into the single volume Ignatius Press published. Both used Chesterton's mix of allegory, paradox and common sense eloquence making each of his books a re-discovery. Best of all, in Chesterton's words, both saints "reaffirmed the incarnation, by bringing God back to earth."

Chesterton writes each saint's biography inside out, seeing the major events of both lives through the prisms of their times. He shows both refuting their near-assigned destinies: born "on the hem of the imperial purple," Aquinas asks to be a begging friar and winds up arrested, imprisoned, and even tempted by his family. Born a successful merchant's son, young Francis Bernadone renounces his possessions (including his father Peter), takes poverty and dependence as a lover and walks into the woods in a hair-shirt, taking every existing thing as his family, every day as one without history, and finally writing his life philosophy in "Canticle of the Sun."

Loving the poor, having and wanting nothing, both depended on and thanked God for everything. Francis begged for the worst crumbs and traded down with beggars, using the remainder rebuild churches and lives. Aquinas appreciated his gift senses as windows into God's beauty and reality, refusing to separate earthly process from heaven's factual logic. His "Ens" philosophy, stemming from his need to draw Aristotle's influence back to Christ, filled volumes and stood as the easiest theory to understand and accept of how the world works. (Chesterton's image of the child at the window watching grass makes it simpler still.)

The same can be said of Chesterton's humorous to miraculous anecdotes attributed to St. Francis. These range from Francis' attempts to convert the Sultan of Damietta by throwing himself into fire, creating a snow angel substitute family to refute temptation, to receiving Stigmata (which Chesterton defends with stiletto-sharp apologia). Chesterton also shares part of Francis' relationship with St. Clare, from which formed one of three religious orders he'd inspire. After Francis' death, without his guidance, these would splinter into heresy before the Papacy wisely reigned its passions against what Chesterton referred to as "the staleness" of a new religion.

Benito Mussolini, who hijacked his country's proud religious and secular history to gain power, once said, "The history of saints is mainly the history of insane people." Chesterton's sketches of Thomas Aquinas and Francis of Assisi counter by saying both these sane, logical saints, mistaken by their times for poison, were medicine because they were antidotes. They stood and yet stand against changing 20th-21st century fashions and facelessness. Few Chesterton writings bring his enduring linguistic and logical gifts to such high yet focused purpose and proof. These books, economically and ideologically joined, make essential reading for followers of Chesterton, Catholic apologetics, and Christian history.

St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Francis make for quite a contrast--St. Thomas was one of the greatest brains of the Catholic Church, and St. Francis had one of the greatest hearts. Chesterton has a knack for putting ideas and people into the largest possible context with the least amount of details. These biographies, though short on specifics, put across the essence of each man's character and his impact on the world. Chesterton's writing style in both is more poetic than his essays and even some of his fiction.

"And for him [St. Thomas] the point is always that Man is not a balloon going up into the sky, nor a mole burrowing merely in the earth; but rather a thing like a tree, whose roots are fed from the earth, while its highest branches seem to rise almost to the stars."

"He [St. Francis] devoured fasting as a man devours food. He plunged after poverty as men have dug madly for gold. And it is precisely the positive and passionate quality of this part of his personality that is a challenge to the modern mind in the whole problem of the pursuit of pleasure."

Chesterton piles on insights like these on page after page. Chesterton paints a very personal picture--after reading these biographies, I felt as if I really knew who these men were, how they spoke, how they thought, how they might have talked to me.

One caution--these works may not be the best place to start. In my case, I didn't know much about St. Francis to begin with. Since Chesterton doesn't provide many historical details, some of his references (e.g., to his miracles and famous sayings), were hard to follow.

I found "States of Matter, States of Mind" to be an insightful compilation of the known interpretations of "matter" and forces as perceived through our limited senses and through our more highly sensitive laboratory instruments of detection. Allan Barton has done a wonderful service to all that may come across this work. One is taken through the maze of interpretations of the multiplicity of the patterns of existence - into the Classical/Newtonian - through the Quantum - and then out into the future of perception.

I keep this work close by as a reference when I do my own research and writing. I highly recommend this work to all who endeavor to perceive "reality" in its true form.

Michael Spirit

Barton has written a book that should be compulsory reading for all budding university physcists and chemists and their teachers. He deals with models, analogies and other conceptual aids that are used in describing nature. His non-mathematical text captures very essential ingredients of science which are usually omitted in textbooks proper. Is it obvious that students understand the implications of model simplifications and unspoken ideality assumptions ?. How is reality added and model enhanced ? One of the nice features is that the book really deals with various sorts of matter: not only solid, liquid and gas but also surfactants, thin films, foams, aerogels, adhesives, gels, ceramics, glasses, liquid crystals, ........

States of Matter is a beautiful critique on the models we use to understand our reality. The text is really humbling stuff -- not because I thought I "knew", but rather because it highlights that we can barely know what we don't know. This leaves us to publish an understanding of our reality that may, of course, be rigorous and functional, but at the same time must be continually subject to even total collapse as we move closer to the truth. In whole and in part, I've found compelling analogies in this book that can be practically applied across disciplines -- business, literature, etc.

I consider myself fortunate to be the first to review this book. The title aptly indicates what the book is about: Statistical Modeling and Analysis for Database Marketers: Effective Techniques for Mining Big Data. The author provides in a Tukey-esque manner a collection of solutions to common problems facing database analysts, model builders, and marketers. The book can uniquely serve as a textbook, a how-to guide, and a reference source depending on the reader's statistical training and database marketing experience. Moreover, the author actually goes where other authors provide lip service: he creates the marriage of the "old" statistical methodologies with the new machine learning influence by introducing machine learning methods specifically tailored to database assessment of optimal model performance. The book's illustrations involve real problems, real data, and better solutions. This book is a keeper!

I predict that Dr. Ratner's Statistical Modeling and Analysis for Database Marketers: Effective Techniques for Mining Big Data will be on every database marketer's bookshelf. Dr Ratner has put together an assembly of chapters that provide an indispensable resource for the daily problems facing data analysts and model builders in the database/direct marketing community. In each of the seveenteen chatpers Dr. Ratner addresses a typical problem and discusses the common solution. He points out unknown working assumptions or weaknesses of the latter, and then offers better solutions, which require basic knowledge of EDA/data mining. Dr. Ratner's writing style is unique as he makes familar concepts new, and new concepts familar. Thus, the book is easy and enjoyable reading. I specially like chapter that blends statistics with the machine learning, such as the introduction of the GenIQ Model.

This is a must have introductory book for the practitioner using data mining to build predictive models in industry. While it does have a few snippets of SAS code, it is a conceptual book that explains the "why" and the "how" of practical model building. (If you want SAS code buy "The Data Mining Cookbook" by Olivia Parr Rud.) It dispenses of with the antiquated notion of the "true" model of classical statistics and econometrics, and shows how to arrive at an acceptable model that yeilds good predictions. As practitioner's, this is what we care about most. Among other things, it gives good explanations of: (1) the EDA paradigm versus classical statistics (2) Tukey's bulging rule for transforming variables (3) variable selection, though there is no mention of clustering to eliminate redundant variables. It discusses some of the weaknesses of automatic variable selection methods (4) smoothed scatterplots and logit plots (5) decile analysis and using bootstrapping to derive confidence intervals for cum lift.

The book shows you how to use logistic regression, OLS, and CHAID to build predictive models. For those interested in Genetic modeling, it has a clearly written chapter on the subject that explains how genetic modeling can be used to create new variables that can have more information than either of the original variables.

While this book does not cover everything, and is definitely not the last word on the subject, it is a solid first word. In particular, the book does not cover splines, shrinkage techniques such as model averaging, ridge regression, ..etc. For treatments of these and similar advanced topics see Frank Harrell's "Regression Modeling Strategies" and Hastie, Tibsharani and Friedman's "Elements of Statistical Learning".

This well-written and well-organized book, edited by English architecture and urban design professor Randall Thomas, provides a cohesive overview of the current state of theory, techniques and practices for the nascent field of sustainable urbanism. Urban designers, architects, planners, developers and others involved in the design of the built environment are the intended audience for the book.

The book is organized into two parts. The first part, comprised of ten chapters, describes the concepts of sustainable urbanism, including principles and background of urban planning, transportation issues, landscape and nature in the city, building design, energy and information, materials, water, and waste and resources. The second part is a series of European case studies, showing best practices of sustainable urban design and building construction. The case studies are well-illustrated with black and white photographs, diagrams and line drawings, including construction details of such things as wall sections and chimney stacks, and provide useful information for design professionals.

In his introduction, Thomas describes sustainability as being about "poetry, optimism and delight," and that energy use and CO2 figures are secondary concerns. Thomas recognizes the importance of contextual design beyond the building envelope and focuses his argument to inspire, rather than prescribe, sustainable solutions for the block, neighborhood, city and regional scale, though many of the case study examples seem to be focused on solutions for the building.

Sustainable Urban Design is one of several books on the topic that have come out within the last couple of years and is a good complement to Douglas Farr's Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature, Mike Jenks' Future Forms and Design for Sustainable Cities, and Matthew Carmona's Public Places - Urban Spaces.

i am enjoying shopping with Amazon, since i started working with them i am just trust what i get,...

This is a very well researched book - very informative and is now on my recommended reading list for my studio design course. Thoroughly recommended for anyone interested in this field.
My only quibble is that some of the illustrations are a little too small to read easily.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking growth in their spiritual life. Father Haase has combined the best of St. Francis and Thomas Merton to produce a very helpful, thought-provoking book. Chapter One, "Abba!,Father" talks about God's unconditional love for us. Fr. Haase quotes Merton: "We need to see good in ourselves in order to love ourselves. He(God)does not. He loves us not because we are good, but because He is." This is just an awesome thought!!

Read this book slowly and then read it again. There is so much in this book that I want to remember, that I found myself making notes in my spiritual journal several times during my reading. I now have to find time to read several of Thomas Merton's books that are quoted in this book.

I would also recommend "The Gift of Peace" by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and "The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims" by Brother Lawrence.

Father Haase uses his life experiences to allow the reader to touch Jesus' words. Profound insights, enlightening. Thank you Father Haase for sharing your life with us.

"Calling on the century-spanning kindred spirits of Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton as interpreters of the familiar words of the Our Father, Albert Haase takes us home. SWIMMING IN THE SUN brings the warmth, the intimacy, the majesty of our loving God face-to-face with the reader in a wonderful and unforgettable way. Rarely have we judges experienced so much wisdom, beauty and inspiration presented in such a short delightful book. It's very satisfying to go swimming with St. Francis and Thomas Merton with Father Haase as lifeguard."....The Judges of the 1994 Catholic Press Association's Catholic Book Awards, First Place for a First Time Autho

I picked up a copy of Michael Gibson's wonderful book at the largest exhibtion of Symbolist Art a few years ago in Toronto, and found it to be an excellent and thoroughly accesible introduction and overview of this fascinating and haunting art and the period of the "fin-de-siecle". The reader from AZ wants to know if there are any "better" books on the subject-- perhaps-- Phillipe Julien's classic "bible" of Symbolist Art, THE SYMBOLISTS and the follow-up, DREAMERS OF DECADENCE. In the early '80s Rizzoli/Skira published SYMBOLISTS AND SYMBOLISM, and in the '90's, Rizzoli published THE SYMBOLIST GENERATION, and Abrams published, THE SYMBOLISTS. All of these titles are beautifully produced, lavishly illustrated hardcovers that are unfortunately hard to find (and in good condition at a good price). Mr. Gibson's book seems to be readily available (in hc and pb), and it is truly a vaulable addition to anyone's art library, or to anyone curious about this beautiful school of art.

This book is fantastic! Seemingly hundreds of gorgeous paintings including lots of discriptions of the paintings and their meanings. Beyond that, the book puts the art work in historical perspective with an explanation of the life and times of the people who created the paintings.

Want to know the greatness of this work, just open to pages 94 and 95. Opposite each other on the two pages are the following: "The Angels of Night" by William Degouve de Nuncques in which "angels kiss in a ghostly, supernatural park" and "Satan's Treasures" by Jean Delville where "luxurious bodies lie sleeping among the seaweed and coral as Satan, with a dancer's agility, bestrides and takes possesion of them."

In my opinion, symbolism in art is one of the most interesting topics in the world. This book is a fitting tribute to the topic.

I owned this book in hardback a number of years ago and somehow lost it (probably loaned it to a friend). I was so glad to find it again. This book has great color pictures and a wide variety of well-known (and obscure) visual Symbolist artists, with an overview of other Symbolist art as well (music, poetry). I highly recommend this book over any other on the subject. If someone knows of a better book, please let me know!

Walking through Francis and Edith Schaeffer's lives via this book is challenging, encouraging, and edifying. Edith Schaeffer does an excellent job showing God at work in their own lives and through them in others. Definitely worth the effort to find a copy!

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is influenced by the writings of Francis and Edith Schaeffer.

It isn't a "fluff" autobiography for she is quite honest about their trials and tribulations. However, it is a fascinating story of how L'Abri came to be formed.

It reads like a good novel, which happens to be a true story.

The Tapestry is an extended autobiography of how the family of Francis and Edith Schaeffer came to be and grew over time. It starts with select ancestors, moves to their childhood time, the meeting and marriage of Francis and Edith, goes through their time in St. Louis, founding L'Abri, international ministry, up to shortly before Francis passed away in 1984. Edith goes through major events and relates many of the little episodes in their lives that shaped them.

For me, having read some of Francis Schaeffer's books, it was eye-opening to see the events that shaped his life and the trials and struggles their family went through. It's so easy to put these well-known Christians on a pedestal, but reading about the outbursts of temper and deep doubts of Francis Schaeffer reminded me that his fallen humanity went along with his keen mind.

Not every little story is as interesting to the reader as they are to Edith. One may also be sorry that there are so few photographs in the book of things we might like to see. The books of Francis Schaeffer are seemingly mentioned in passing, though they have been a major influence to many. Nor is L'Abri a supreme over-riding theme. What the book is about, and does well, is show the theme of the "Tapestry" of their family that God wove together over time.

I highly recommend this book for those with any interest in the Schaeffer family as it goes through their personal background and development that drove much of their work.