Gregory Books

The Mass Never Ends!
For a Life Long Catholic,this book is a must read in order to revitilize your faith and perseption of the intent of the Mass which for most is an every Sunday rutual.

This new book by author and publisher, Gregory Pierce, is a joy to read. It is packed full of powerful reflections on how the Catholic Mass supports and sustains us in carrying out our mission "to help bring about the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven." Pierce makes the vital connection between our celebration of the Mass and our life mission.

The Mass provides us with all we need to carry out what Pierce calls our "mission impossible." We are not alone in this difficult mission of bringing about God's kingdom. Our celebration of the Mass within our respective communities supports us in our work, encourages us when we get discouraged and provides a constant reminder "to do the good that presents itself."

In fifteen short and easy-to-read chapters, Pierce tackles the topics of vocation or mission, the Mass as a sending forth, and the spirituality of work. Included are a mini-story and questions for reflection and discussion at the end of each chapter.

Pierce's writing is clear and down-to earth with delightful touches of humor. For example, regarding the Fall of Adam and Eve, he writes "The first couple of beings off the assembly line were slightly flawed." One of the most exciting parts of the book for me is Pierce's translation of the dismissal, "Ite missa est", at the end of Mass. Instead of the lame-sounding dismissal we often hear, Pierce's lively rewording jumps off the page: "Go, what are you standing around for? Get out of here. You are being sent forth to do something. Go do it!"

"The Mass Is Never Ended: Rediscovering Our Mission to Transform the World" is a refreshing look at the Mass and our Christian mission that will be of great benefit to a wide audience of individuals and small groups. I strongly recommend it!

Very highly recommended reading, especially for young adults seeking a meaningful reason to become active in their Catholic church and those older Catholics fearing that the Church has diminished commitments to social justice, "The Mass Is Never Ended: Rediscovering Our Mission To Transform The World" by Gregory F. Augustine Pierce (an experienced book editor, as well as the president and co-publisher of ACTA Publications), examines the Roman Catholic Mass with respect to its connection to the remaining 167 hours of the week. The purpose of this beautifully written and spiritually inspiring book is to encourage the reader to renew a dedication to the Christian mission of community and spirituality in the home, in the workplace, and in the community, thereby creating a continuing connection to God resulting in their enjoying richer and more fulfilling personal and professional lives.

The main thesis of this new work by Gregory Pierce is that the Mass of the Catholic Church provides everything we need to be happy, holy, and fulfilled in our lives: a mission worthy of our lives, a community to send us forth, and a spirituality of work. These three embody the 15 chapters of The Mass Is Never Ended, each of which closes with a short "story about" that synthesizes the topic and questions for reflection and discussion.

The mission we share was given by the Father for Jesus to begin, then by Jesus to the first disciples and all who, by virtue of their baptism and confirmation, follow them. Pierce defines the mission as "no less than to transform the world into a place much more like the way God would have things." He then turns to the question of "how?" sharing answers he has discovered in the Mass. The liturgy assures us that bringing about the kingdom is God's job, not ours and that "Jesus never intended that any one person or any single group of us would be able to pull off this mission." Throughout the Mass, we are reminded that our work is acceptable, our failures are forgiven, and we are being sent forth once again so that God may use our collective efforts to accomplish the mission. Tracing the Latin word for "Mass" to a military term from which the word "missile" also derives, Pierce makes the point that the words of the dismissal, however humdrum they may seem, propel us, "like a cannonball," back into our workaday lives. Armed with the sending forth and the promise of re-gathering in a week or less, we approach our work, whatever it is, aware of our mission.

The book's final section on the spirituality of work provides concrete ideas and examples that support the author's argument that it's almost too simple. "Stick close to the Mass," he writes "Allow it to forgive you, to prepare you, and to send you forth. Leave the church as if you had been shot out of a cannon, embrace your mission to make this a better world, and develop your own spirituality of work to sustain you."

Pierce's latest work has much to offer individuals, RCIA groups, retreat planners, and small church communities. Appendixes contain a litany of work, a Eucharistic Prayer that emphasizes "sending forth," and synopses of books and movies that shed light on the spirituality of work.

I was all prepared not to like this book...
but by the time I was 3/4 through...it won
me over. It's really very good...no wonder
Corso inspired his famous friends.

Mindfield is an expansive retrospective of poems by one Gregorio Anuzio Corso. This guy is one of the original Beats. He was part of the original seven of Ginsberg, Kerouac, Burroughs, Huncke, Holmes, Cassidy and Corso. Corso wrote an excellent collection called Gasoline which is generously represented in this book. This volume also includes poems from Corsos books for New Directions. Poems like Bomb and Marriage are Beat classics. Long Live Man should be retitled Long Live Corso! Corso never attained the level of noteriety of Ginsberg, Kerouac or Burroughs but there is work in this collection that will really make you wonder why. Shorter poems like Italian Extravaganza and I Am 25 really hit the spot. (amazingly Corso can still pull off I Am 25 at readings even as he reaches the age of 70) This is American poetry by an American original. It would be great to see Corso garner the recognizion that he has so long deserved.

If you like Ginsberg, you'll undoubtedly love Corso. If there is to be any collection that represents his art, this is it. I found out about Corso through a Professor at the old College I used to attend while I was writing some of my own work, and practicing with the art of poetry. For any writers and readers of poetry, if you want something out there, stretching the boundaries of form, if you want beat poetry at its heart, this is the book for you.

this book is an absolute dream for those of us who were not able to join Kesey and the Merry Pranskters first hand. And after reading Electric Koolaid it was nice to hear first hand what went on. I loved this book. ---young but still on the bus

Long live Stephen and his mineral fact-filled mind. Stephen B. Castor weaves a passionate and hypnotizing tale using his cunning and ingenuity in this exciting epic. I especially liked the part where he said "rock rock rock, rockrockrock!" These proverbial words really reached deep inside of me and changed my emotional state. Before, one might have compared my status to that of a hopeless stray kitten stumbling about the streets of brooklyn, drenched in rain and tears of sorrow. Now, I find myself overwhelmed by a sensation of bliss, or possibly even sublimity. I am a new and better person because of Stephen B. Castor. Thank you Stephen for all you have done. We salute you!

I must say that this book is difinitive in it's completeness and revelence in Nevada. The authors have done a marvelous and thorough job of data collection and presentation. Nevada's mining scene has changed dramatically from the early 70's when I was an undergraduate in Geology at the University of Nevada, Reno. This book ties that scene with today's mining activities, and is complete and extremely useful for those foraging in Nevada for mineral and mining history and for collectors as well.

Patrick M. Walker
MS Geology - UNR

This is a book from GOD. Stephan B. CastorBoBastor, the master of disaster, has truly written a gem here. WE cannot compare to his geological PROWESS. all must bow before the bearded, exquisitely handsome face of stephen. WE must put his picture up across the country on walls, grinning at all the people as if to say "Hello world! I like rocks!how about you!?" Stephen is God. we shall go into the places of worship and place idols of Stephen upon them. we will carve his face onto Mount Rushmore. ALL HAIL STEPHEN!!!!!! He has led us through the dark ages, and heles us get through the cancelation of the show "Growing Pains" He will give those with him the power to breath fire and grow a really hot red beard. BOW TO THE MASTER OF ALL EROSION, OF THE MOUNTAINS, OF YOUR LIFE, AND BOW TO THE MAN WHO'S PET IGUANA SPIFFY WILL DETERMINE WEATHER YOU GO TO GEOLOGICAL PARIDISE IN THE AFTER LIFE, OR BURN FOREVER IN THE FIRE OF ASTROLOGICAL HELL!!!!(geologists and astrologers are mortal enemies.satan is in the face of every astronomer)

This book is a gift from God. It touched my heart to the very core. Stephen B. Castor Bo Bastor, Master of Disaster, has really given us a gem here. I say that the handsomely stubbled face of Mr. Castor should be placed upon the gleaming slopes of Mount Rushmore so his visage can beam out to the mountains around with an expression that just says "Hello World! I love rocks! what about you?" His romantically red beard should be placed on posters everywhere, so all may wonder at the vastness of it. I want to be Stephen B. Castor. I want all sceintific reasearch from now on to be devoted to a machine which can make me into stephen B. Castor. I am going to get plastic surgery to make me look like him. He is God. We should have his face placed on each and every religious figure in THE WORLD! think you have been touched by God? well, it was Stephan B. Castor, IN DISGUISE. yes, in order to preserve his secret identity, Stephen B. Castor must disguise himself. but we know your secret now, Mr. Castor! ALL HAIL STEPHEN!!!!!

on NY architecture.

The entire collection is a MUST for every lover of NY.

This is the New York people fall in love with, the iconic Art Deco skyline, the great skyscrapers of the 20's and 30's. When you see pictures of the skyline of the late 30's you can't help but be impressed by the awesome beauty of the all the spires. The modern skyline today is full of mediocre "modern" skyscarpers and post modern pretenders, I mean have you seen the pictures of the proposed Freedom Tower of SOM's David Childs, the very definition of bland; 1,776 feet of boring. As for this fantastic book, it's perfect; the images are well presented and the text scholarly, really an education on NYC architecture between the Great Wars. Highly Recommended.

This is an encyclopedic description of New York as I remember it from my student years. The numerous neat clean photographs and drawings present an idealized city. But what is additionally fascinating are the rich background histories that illustrate the social and economic complexity of Gotham. I enjoy this book at two levels: one, as a valuable artistic document, two, as an encapsulation of the memories and fantasies of my youth. I bought a sport coat at Finchleys; I lived in the Greenpoint Housing Project; I wanted to work or live in those buildings; I wanted to draw like those architects and engineers. I loved these last embodiments of Art Deco construction and the grand civic projects.

This history presents New York from the viewpoint of the upper crust and the insulated, the planning was grand and well funded. The slums, the dirt, the menace of some streets and the ethnic tapestry are ignored. Just as memory tends to purge the unpleasent, so does this book, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.

When people talk about New York's Golden Age, they're usually referring to the late 1800s, but I would argue that New York's true Golden Age was the 1920s. With over 800 pages, this tome is difficult to handle, but nevertheless, it covers New York at its peak of glory, and is the best of Robert Stern's books about New York architecture (e.g., New York 1880, New York 1900, New York 1960). Especially noteworthy are the beautiful b&w photos, averaging more than one per page. There are also approximately 40 floor plans, although most page space is given over to text. The authors give attention to both exteriors and interiors of the era's buildings. Each chapter covers a specific type of building, with a special emphasis on Rockefeller Center, the 1939 World's Fair, 57th Street, and the works of architects Kahn, Walker, and Hood.

Klasko and Shea take the complex issues of today's managed care environment and present it in a way that is understandable and fun to read. This book is a "must read" for anyone serving on hospital boards!

I was amazed by the story line, the gripping tale, and the way in which Klasko wove his knowledge of both business and medicine into a compelling story. If Doctors don't get it after reading this book, they never will.

There have been few books that attempt to look at the nonclinical side of medicine with any creativity. This book by Drs Klasko and Shea takes a science fiction approach that acts as a perfect backdrop for lessons about how to handle the changes in medical care. The concept of getting abducted by aliens is how many physicians view the current scenario. I applaud Drs Klasko and Shea for attempting to mix this "Star Wars" type plot with an optimistic message for people involved in medicine

This book creatively combines science fiction and medicine (which are not as diametrically opposed as one might think). The authors have successfully explained the monumental changes that have occured in the health care industry over the past 15 years in an informative yet entertaining way. I found this book to be thought provoking, intriguing and extremely enjoyable. It really is a "must read" for anyone currently (or thinking about) working in health care. Drs. Klasko and Shea present a realistic and, thankfully, optimistic outlook on the evolution and future of health care. It is a remarkably well written book that will draw readers in and leave them wanting for more. Hopefully, a sequel is in the works!

An excellent book about the criminal mindset and how to protect yourself in a dangerous world.

I was a little troubled by the authors' emphasis on protecting children from sexual predators through explicit training programs. Police see such awful things every day, I know they want to help. However, in my opinion it is necessary to tread cautiously when teaching children to distrust people. Before any such program was given to my child, I would want to see at least some evidence that the program worked in reducing the incidence of sexual victimization among children who received it. I think that teaching children that they are in danger whenever they go anywhere alone, as many programs do, is pointless and harmful. My own husband is terrified of letting our ten-year-old play outside or walk to school unsupervised because "something might happen." Hundreds of kids at his school are driven there, even though they live within a mile of the school, because parents are so fearful. This is setting kids up for a lifetime of overdependence and obesity. The research I've seen on the subject suggests that the most effective programs for protecting children do not mention molestation at all, but focus on building social skills and teaching children to speak up for themselves when they have a problem.

PREDATORS: WHO THEY ARE AND HOW TO STOP THEM examines the lives, circumstances and modus operandi of predatory criminals, from their motives and methods of stalking and attack to lifestyle changes and techniques which will reduce the possibility of becoming a victim. In a world increasingly haunted by such predators, this book will provide invaluable safety keys for both general interest public library patrons and college-level collections strong in social issues. The authors point out those who commit crimes prey on the weak - and that a best defense is to appear strong and difficult. An outstanding safety guide.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book explains how you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim. The authors provide an understanding of how the criminal mind works and why the criminal may or may not pick someone as a victim. The book uses past crimes as examples and tells what the victim could have done that may have reduced their risk of becoming a victim. In the first example, the victim was a housewife who was raped by a criminal who lived nearby. She was watched by the criminal for 6 weeks. He knew that she and her husband maintained the exact same schedule every day. If the housewife and her husband had altered their schedules a few times a week, the criminal may not have chosen her as a victim. In finding the perpetrator of a crime, the investigators start by analyzing who the victim is and from learning this, a motive and suspects emerge. This is called "Victimology" and it is the foundation of all police investigations. I recommend this book highly. It is well written and very informative.

Title: Predators: Who They Are and How to Stop Them

Authors: Gregory M. Cooper, Michael R. King, Thomas McHoes

Summary: This book takes readers through the mindset of predatory criminals--their motives, various plans of attack, and way of thinking--and then teaches simple lifestyle techniques that will help reduce the risk of becoming victimized.

Criminal behavior specialists Greg Cooper and Mike King provide expert analysis based on real-life cases, in addition to moving insights from victims and criminals themselves. The authors make the point that the people who commit these crimes aren't much different from the predators of the wild, preying on the weak and unsuspecting. What makes these individuals more dangerous than their instinctive wildlife counterparts, however, is that they consciously choose to inflict their will on the more vulnerable members of their own species.

To protect our loved ones and ourselves requires that we truly educate ourselves about the predators who live in our society and then take appropriate action. This excellent, in-depth study will help readers lead safer lives.

Review: Television news, cable networks, and others are constantly bombarding us with how to protect ourselves. Commercials run on radio and television promoting the latest advances in home security systems. You can even purchase video cameras embedded in teddy bears, so you can spy on the babysitter to make they are only raiding your refrigerator, not your jewelry case.

But what many folks don't know is that a pair of dirty shoes can acts as a deterrent to a criminal.

Brad Morrison is a rapist who attacked 75 women across 11 states. Here is something this serial rapist had to say about how he selected a house.

"There were all kind of things that would make me say, 'This isn't the right place.' Like, if they had a dog, then forget it. Even a small one makes to much noise. If I saw a pair of construction boots, for example, out on the porch or on the landing, I walked right on by."

Predators: Who They Are and How to Stop Them is full of information from the attackers, rapists, and molesters themselves. There are chapters on Victimology and how to find ways to reduce you chance of becoming a victim. There are also sections on crimes against children, the elderly, and kidnapping.

But don't think that this is just another volume full of "lock your doors, make sure you install dead bolts." There is real information, gathered from interviewing real criminals, that many folks may have not thought of before.

This is one of the most fascinating books I have read on the subject of crime and crime prevention. I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough.

Gregory Riley establishes in "Resurrection Reconsidered" a chronologic flow of the belief systems from Hellenistic Greek and ancient Hebrew times down to the Christian Gnostic writings of Thomas. Prof. Riley here comes across with more specific references and demonstrated cohesion between one time period's influence on the next than his prior work "The River of God". He well establishes the Greek Homer/Plato immortal soul concept as the forerunner and influence for the Gnostic Thomas group's position regarding physical resurrection. He also shows the difficulty of lack of hard factual evidence to determine exactly what an everyday ancient Hebrew believed concerning the afterlife and the variety of fates the Hebrew Bible presents: no afterlife in Job, resurrection of the righteous only in Daniel, global resurrection in Isaiah, and then a review of the Christian scriptures which is just as, if not more diverse. He shows Paul's statements like 1Cor. 15:44-52 and 2Cor 5:8 discussing resurrected spiritual bodies at odds with the physical bodily resurrected Jesus of John 20 and Luke at Acts 26:8 as examples among others: "why is it considered incredible among you if God does raise the dead?" He goes on to demonstrate the John/Thomas follower controversy where the Thomas writings are in direct contrast to John/Luke. As the Book of Thomas declares "woe to you who hope in the flesh, in the prison which will perish." Riley also well establishes how this question is "far too simplistic to substantiate" by viewing it as a mere contest between "Jewish belief in a physical resurrection vs. Greek immortal soul doctrine. The controversy continues down to this day. This work has a lot of information and is well researched for it's 180 pages.

Riley's book portrays the Johanine and Thomas communities in conflict over the doctrine of bodily ("fleshly") resurrection. Bodily resurrection was a radical idea, strange and even repulsive to people reared in the widely prevailing Greco-Roman tradition, which viewed the soul as separate and distinct from the physical body in which it is held prisoner. Only the liberated soul continues to exist after death, while the body decays away. The Thomas community took that traditional view, which placed it at theological odds with the writer of the Gospel of John and the developing Christian orthodoxy.

Why did early Christianity insist on the doctrine of bodily resurrection? (1) Judaic legacy: The idea could be found in some OT Scripture. (2) Justice: The soul should not be judged alone for the sins of the body, especially as sin arises from the desires of the body; reward or torment for the deeds of the body should be experienced by the body. (3) Unity of persons: The resurrection of a person must be, by definition, an embodied resurrection, because a person is a unity of body and soul, not separable into an evil physical body distinct from a good spiritual soul. (4) Humanity of Jesus: It is part of the proof that Jesus was truly of human flesh, before and after crucifixion.

Riley analyzes parts of John's Gospel as a polemic aimed at the Thomas community, particularly in the way their spiritual mentor, the disciple Thomas, is portrayed. He is the disciple who never seems to understand and, in particular, he is the faithless doubter who demands to touch the wounds of the resurrected Jesus. When he finds he is able to do so, he capitulates completely, demonstrating to the Thomas community that the risen Jesus had a palpable, physical body. Thus, John's literary Thomas serves to provide the refutation of his own community's beliefs.

The book is a bit too narrowly focused, lacking a final chapter to tell us how the dispute proceeded past the 2nd century. Looking at Erickson's 'Christian Theology,' it looks like orthodox Christianity eventually came out somewhere in between, with some version Paul's idea of resurrection into a new "spiritual body" becoming widely accepted. This is not a disembodied soul, but neither is it a body of ordinary flesh. It is imagined to somehow derive from the physical body, but without being a mere resuscitation. While it retains its identity, it is transformed in composition, perfected, perhaps intangible, and eternal. People might differ about whether that mostly vindicates the community of John, or of Thomas.

This is an eye-opening, basic primer on the various views of resurrection among the early Christians: was there a spiritual or fleshly resurrection and why? The views of Jesus, Paul, and the Gospel of Thomas (spiritual resurrection) are contrasted with the position of the Gospels of John and Luke and Ignatius of Antioch (fleshly resurrection). Chapter One is a must!

This book contains erudite material stated in straightforward terms. Contra William Lane Craig's published contention that the concept of resurrection in first century CE Palestine entailed physicality, Professor Riley demonstrates in no uncertain terms that the cultural milieu was thoroughly Hellenized and that original Christianity was closer to believing spiritual resurrection of the soul than fleshly resurrection. The author carefully traces the pre-Christian spiritual concepts of resurrection and their impact upon canonical and noncanonical literature. Highly recommended.

First rate analysis of martyrdom in early modern Europe. One of the few historians who are comfortable with issues of faith. A welcome breath of fresh air in the academy that often just doesn't get it when it comes to relgion.

I find Mr Gregory's Salvation at Stake to be a fair and fresh look at early modern christianity. This book is thoroughly researched and the author's conclusions are backed up with volumonous historical data. Mr Gregory invites the reader to view the martyr's perspective from the inside as he guides us to explore the deep religious convictions and unmatched faith of the many christians who made the ultimate sacrifice. He fairly challenges other historical points of view and presents his arguments in a clear and easily followed manner.

Brad Gregory argues that the collective dynamic of martyrdom helped shape the character of early modern Christianity (Brad S. Gregory, Salvation at Stake: Christian Martyrdom in Early Modern Europe (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2001), p. 6). Therefore, Gregory attempts to explore the meaning and significance of Christian martyrdom among Protestants, Anabaptists, and Roman Catholics during the Reformation era. Gregory's book aims at analyzing (utilizing both nominalist and essentialist categories) martyrdom during the Reform era (cross-confessionally) in order to arrive at a better understanding of early modern Christianity.

Gregory begins by examining the conceptual prerequisites which provide the framework for the significance of martyrdom in the early modern era, beginning with the idea of martyrdom itself in late medieval Europe. Although the Western church was essentially free from the opportunity for martyrdom during this period, Gregory argues that the concept had been preserved especially through the canonization of the more ancient martyrs and the popular devotion to the passion of Christ (in addition to the execution of those deemed heterodox by the institutional church).

Gregory next turns to examine the readiness of authorities to kill those they deemed heretical. He argues that the civic and ecclesiastical authorities viewed religious heterodoxy as a danger not only to the soul of the individual, but a serious threat to the eternal destinies of others as well. Therefore, although Gregory argues that the goal of the enforcement of orthodoxy was corrective, the danger was viewed as substantive enough to warrant the death penalty for the recalcitrant (and Scripture itself was brought to bear to justify this extreme penalty).

Why were people willing to suffer death for their beliefs? Gregory analyzes the motivation of Catholic, Protestant, and Anabaptist martyrdom by carefully examining both the words and deeds of the martyrs (Gregory, p. 97). How does Gregory reconstruct the religious sentiments of the martyrs he examines? Gregory turns to the published prison letters, songs, and confessions of faith authored by the martyrs. He concludes that these people suffered death willingly because they believed in the ultimate veracity of their beliefs (i.e., they believed they were divinely revealed). Further, because they were truths with eternal ramifications, the temporal consequences (including the penalty of execution) for holding them were relativized by the martyrs (Gregory, p. 105). The martyrs of all three traditions saw themselves in historical continuity with the martyrs of the biblical record and the early church, and they identified with the plight of the unjustly persecuted, and most especially with Christ. The social context for the readiness to die was formed by friends, family members, and fellow partisans who encouraged the condemned and exhorted them to steadfastness.

Gregory then examines the final conceptual prerequisite for martyrdom by examining the way in which the various ecclesiastical traditions interpreted, memorialized, and publicized their martyrs. Although there were some differences among the different Protestant traditions (especially among the mid-century martyrologists), the Protestant traditions closely associated martyrdom with the doctrinal beliefs of the persecuted. They also interpreted their afflictions as one of the principle marks of the true church, which flowed from their conviction that preaching the true Gospel attracted persecution (and they offered an alternative reading of the Christian past in this regard). The Protestant martyrologies were the primary means of memorialization, and they effectively "put a human face on doctrinal controversy," and thus, they integrated abstract theological debates into the popular arena (Gregory, p. 176). The various Anabaptists groups interpreted martyrdom as the expected result of one's commitment to Christian discipleship (Gregory, p. 249). Unlike the widespread Protestant tendency to memorialize through the written publication, Anabaptist groups memorialized their martyrs principally through lyrical verse (although their tradition is not devoid of published martyrologies - but even in these, songs were often central). In contrast to both of the previous ecclesiastical traditions, Roman Catholics tended to interpret their martyrs (Gregory primarily examines the Henrician Catholic martyrs) as defenders of what early Christian martyrs had helped to establish (Gregory, p. 267). Additionally, they looked to these recent and "unofficial" saints for intercession and moral guidance. Roman Catholics memorializations also tended to emphasize visual representations of their martyrs more so than their Protestant or Anabaptist counterparts.

Gregory concludes his book with an examination of the controversialists - those who concerned themselves with the denunciation of rival martyrological claims (although this phenomena was limited primarily to the Catholic and Protestant communities). Because there was such a close connection between doctrine and death, the criteria employed by the Controversialists to discern true from false martyrs was fidelity to Christian truth.

Gregory's book represents an impressive achievement in bringing together the martyrological source material of the Reform era for an extensive analysis. He does not shirk the difficult problem of the competing martyrological claims of the era, but rather analyses each on its own terms, in its own context, and as each developed. Additionally, he offers an able (if somewhat limited) refutation of poststructuralist metaphysical and epistemological theories, and he rightly dismisses reductionistic historical methodologies that vitiate the very possibility of understanding historical difference - lucid insights that were much appreciated from his introduction. On the other hand, this reviewer would like to suggest that Gregory's optimism concerning the general historical reliability of highly charged ideological documents may be unwarranted. This reviewer was not convinced of the general historical reliability of these highly partisan sources - although Gregory's argumentation was clever (if ultimately unpersuasive) in this regard. It seems difficult to avoid the conclusion that early modern martyrologists did, in fact, use religion in deliberately manipulative ways, especially since there are contradictory accounts of martyrdom from divergent traditions (and this seems true even if Gregory's claim is true that this is the exception rather than the rule). It seems to this reviewer that the only time the reliability of these documents can be taken for granted is when divergent traditions agree in their accounts - and Gregory admits that documentation of this type of agreement is scarce (Gregory, pp. 20-21).

This quote makes the point of this fine historical investigation into 16thC martyrdom: "Eternal salvation was at stake even without martyrdom." 21stC culture (even those who would identify "themselves" as Christian) cannot idenity with this at all. Neither could 16thC saints with ours, as Gregory writes: "The prospect of doctrinal pluralism horrified and disgusted them. They preferred a world in which truth did battle, come what may, to one swarming with ever-proliferating heresies."

This very fine written account of Protestant, Anabaptist and Roman martyology in the early modern period gives one great insight into this very different world of committed believers in a time when governing rulers held orthodox vs. heterodox seriously, even at times serious to the point of captial punishment for non-repudiation of false doctrine. What strikes the careful reader is the amazing research and documentation that is here presented at a reasonable price for such a record. Thanks to the publisher for the notes tied to page number for those of us who like to see the documentation as we're reading easily, conveniently.

His introduction and challenges to modern mind and academia is outstanding and worthwhile just for this beginning which this reviewer amens!

One will grasp much more about this time by this read. Neat to learn that Luther wrote first hymn in honor of martyr.

One of the best reads for me in quite some time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. As a resident of Los Angeles, who on occasion frequents some of the locales referred to in this book, I can guarantee you that Hinton is right on the mark with his descriptions of Santa Monica Canyon. The characters, John (an artist who is desperate for male models to "sit" for him) has friends who go in search of men who might be willing to do so. As it happens, John discovers Mark on Santa Monica Beach. Mark is long involved with a famous movie star (Edward) who works very hard at keeping his private life private. Mark agrees to sit for John wanting to have the painting done as a gift for Edward who is off making a film on location. Well, as you might well expect one thing leads to another and I don't want to spoil the story for you...read this novel! Hinton's characters are terrifically well written (they actually compete with some of the characters created by Armistead Maupin). This is one of those novels you really don't want to end. I personally think that this book would make a beautiful screen play, it would clearly compete with BBM (SMC has a far better storyline). My casting: Mark, Jake Gyllenhaal; John, Matthew McConaughey; and Edward, George Clooney. Thanks Mr. Hinton for one terrific read, and if the screenplay ever comes to fruition I'll be the first to buy a ticket (and I am not even a movie watcher).

I absolutely loved this book. The characters in this book seemed very real to me and since I'm really into werewolves,vampires etc this had a special appeal to me. It seems as alot of the characters had changes in this book, Chay's mother, Chay himself and a couple others. When the guys were changing into werewolves I could picture them in front of me transforming into the canine creatures. Kudos on this book. I hope Larry writes a sequel or more books

I have read all of Greg Hinton's novels and each of them reveals interesting lives of unusual characters struggling to connect or stay connected in some way. This was Hinton's first book that I could not put down. From the first few pages I was immediately pulled in to this hidden alcove along the Southern California Coast, "Santa Monica Canyon." The character driven story weaves an emotional mystery with occasional vignettes from the colorful past of this former artist colony of famous painters, sculptors and writers. We see that Santa Monica Canyon is more than a backdrop for the lives intersecting here. It is also a reflection of characters from its past that seem to reveal themselves during a summer in "Santa Monica Canyon."

A very enjoyable book.

John Moore is an aging, emotionally and artistically stalled painter living in the hills of Santa Monica Canyon. He strolls the nearby Will Rogers State Beach looking for potential "sitters" to pose for him, searching for a distinctive "look" that can spur his creative juices and help him make his deadline for an upcoming art exhibit.

When he spots Mark Ormond, he is intrigued by the younger man's seemingly guarded self-assurance, which he would later find out comes from his long time relationship with a closeted famous actor, Edward Bloom. After Moore approaches him, Mark agrees to sit for a portrait, planning to give the portrait to his lover as a gift, with hopes that it would stop them from growing apart, which was Mark's fear. Mark is also somewhat attracted to John Moore, and is afraid of the feelings that being with him seems to bring. In time, he learns more about Moore, Bloom and - ultimately - himself, in a summer of discovery, self-examination and new directions.

I've been a fan of Hinton's novels since "Cathedral City". While his novels are not exactly page-turners, I envy his ability to concisely portray complex, flawed characters in a manner that makes them both endearing and somehwat maddening to the reader. This is apparent in "Santa Monica Canyon" as well, which I recommend highly to those who like character-driven novels. Five stars out of five.

As a manager and chief instructor of a flight school, I found The Savvy Flight Instructor to be one of the best tools around to help instructors understand the real world of flight instruction - in particular handling customer relationships and creating a professional demeanor. I now ask each instructor applicant at our school for a "book report" on this book as a part of their employment interview, and we've made it required reading for our customer service people as well. This book is an absolute gem. I wish I'd read it when I became an instructor 22 years ago.

I recommend the book for it's insightful view into promoting not only yourself as an instructor - but also the flight school at which you may be working. There is a lot of common-sense type information, however there are even more 'tid-bits' of into that one would not even have thought about. It really altered the way I think with regard to marketing. Once you read it, you'll definitely want to be sure your fellow instructors (and flight school owners) get their own copies !

As a Flight Instructor, you probably can't wait to do something else. Maybe night freight in a Baron. Maybe right seat in a Beech 1900. But have you ever stopped to consider, in your rush to leave Instructing, that you might be missing a huge opportunity not only to improve your piloting skills, but to improve yourself on a personal level and to MAKE MORE MONEY?

Are you hanging up on customers who call your school without getting a name and number? Are you sitting there waiting for the customer to come to you? Are you sick and tired of staring out the window on days with low ceilings, moaning about what a tough life the CFI lives? Are you fed up with driving an 81 econobox with 240,000 miles on it? Are you sick of eating Ramen noodles for dinner and with sharing an apartment with 3 other guys who are just as poor as you are?

You can MAKE MORE MONEY in Flight Instructing. The reason you are poor and not flying enough is because your piloting skills alone are just a foundation for your instructing career; now you need to be open to learning about how you can make sure those skills are earning what they are really worth, which I guarantee you is more than $24 a flight hour. If you don't believe me, find the December 1998 issue of Flight Training Magazine and read page 6 very carefully; it's time you opened your eyes and learned about selling, about business, about supply and demand, and about how you can play a part in making the job of the CFI into the Profession we all say it should be. Then, buy this book and start learning.

Sincerely,

Jeff Packer, CFII

Mr. Brown, a Master CFI and columnist in the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) explores flight instruction *as a business*. Viewed another way, The Savvy Flight Instructor picks up where the FAA's Fundamentals of Instruction left off.

In addition to discussing how to successfully build a career out of flight instruction, Mr Brown presents a marketing plan: how to position yourself, where to find prospective students (and how to advertise), determining how serious they are, closing "the deal" and maintaining "customer satisfaction."

Having worked with over 25 different instructors in the last five years, I found the customer satisfaction (and projecting professionalism) sections are wonderful. These should be required reading because too often we forget that students *are customers* - they need to feel important, should have their expectations set accurately, can be recurring customers, AND are the best form of advertising. We're not competing amongst each other as much as we are against other ways to use disposable income (e.g., a $6000 jjet-ski).

Finally, Mr Brown offers specific suggestions for flight schools. Some of these are no-brainers like "keep the airplanes well-maintained," but there are some more subtle ideas like incorporate a formal ground school (often overlooked), set expectations on how students will be billed (instructors are prone to not bill for time; this also encourages more efficient planning) and incentives for instructors to minimize burnout.

This is a great reference for the career instructor as well as the CFI building time for his or her airline job.