Murray Books

Among all of Rothbard's works, Power and Market is my personal favorite. I first read it several years ago and have found myself going back to it ever since. The most important section of the book is his analysis of taxation, about 100 pages long. Every form of taxation is discussed and thoroughly refuted on both practical and moral grounds. Highly recommended!

if you feel a serious need to understand what is being done to you, and your business, by those in charge of the government, look no further! when you are done reading power and market, not only will you be able to criticize, you will understand the situation. by the way, this book reads fresh and new. it could have been written yesterday; and it is that relevance that makes it so special!

This volume is one of the most important economic works of the 20th century. For the most part, the bulk of this work is really nothing more than an extension of the chapter on "violent intervention" in "Man, Economy, and State." Unfortunately the initial publishers of that work balked at the radical views set forth, and therefore forced Rothbard to truncate his analysis. Nevertheless, we are fortunate enough to have this work, in he elaborates on his work in order to offer a complete praxeological critique of *all* governmental action. He classifies government intervention into 3 basic categories; autistic, binary, and triangular, and proceeds to refute arguments for all of them. Dealt with are the more commonplace statist policies such as licensing, antitrust, etc., as well as many generally off-limit areas. Indeed, probably the most startling and important aspect of this work is the lengthy refutation of virtually every significant justification of taxation, from the income tax to the Georgist single tax. Even common "conservative" myths are given no standing, as Rothbard demonstrates that there is really no such thing as a "neutral tax," and that all taxation, however applied, has sharply negative effects on the market economy. In addition to this, Rothbard develops a very stimulating refutation of common ethical arguments against capitalism, showing them to be incompatible with reality and economics. Although by and large the work is solid, I must say that I still disagree on several points with Rothbard's particular vision for a totally free, voluntary society. Nonetheless, we are not very far apart. Altogether, I have to say that this work is a landmark in economic theory, and should be on the bookshelf of every serious radical libertarian.

Power and Market is Murray Rothbard's seminal critique of government intervention in the economy. Originally meant to be part of his magisterial Man, Economy, and State, it was published separately some years later. (For a discussion of this, see Justin Raimondo's An Enemy of the State: The Life of Murray N. Rothbard at 189-194.)

Unlike most Austrian school economists, Rothbard was an anarchist. In fact, he was the twentieth century's seminal figure in anarcho-capitalist thought. This means that Rothbard thought that not only roads and the like, but also national defense and courts could be provided without a state. (See his Society Without a State in the Libertarian Reader, ed. Machan, for a succinct presentation of his views.)

Rothbard starts out this work with a discussion of various types of government intervention in the economy. He divides them into three types: autistic (violent crime), triangular (tariffs, wage and price controls, licensing, etc.)and binary intervention (taxation and government spending). Following this is a discussion of antimarket ethics. There isn't an aspect of government intervention in the economy that escapes Rothbard's scalpel. As a whole, this is certainly an outstanding book. Take Rothbard's discussion of taxation. Many "right wing" economists support the sales tax on the ground that it doesn't discourage savings and investment. But it reduces people's income and thereby reduces savings and investment. It is a tax on income. [pp. 92-93.]

My main problem with this work is the sometimes simplistic discussion of complex problems and the leaps in logic. (I've discussed this is my review of The Ethics of Liberty.) Take for example the issue of immigration laws. "The advocate of immigration laws . . . really fears, therefore, is not so much immigration as any population growth. To be consistent, therefore, he would have to advocate compulsory birth control, to slow down the rate of population growth desired by individual parents." [p. 55.] Even in light of the entire 2 page discussion of immigration laws, I don't see how this follows. In this (and some other areas) the discussion is narrowly economic. Aren't there good reasons to restrict the type of immigrants? For example, if you have a society that is devoted to individual freedom and responsibility, isn't it wise to prevent immigration from those countries that don't support freedom?

If you want to know the essence of Rothbard, purchase this work; Man, Economy, and State; The Ethics of Liberty; and the Logic of Action.

This book takes the best of Murray's works and places them in a sequential reading order that brings home the truths of the Christian faith in a powerful, life changing way. Andrew Murray states Biblical truths in a simple, yet profound way that cut through theological jargon. Truth moves from the head to the heart through his anointed writing. This is a must book for any believer serious about being conformed to the image of Jesus.

This book has, and still continues to change my life! Every chapter is so FULL of rich wisdom and practical application... The section on humilty is OUTSTANDING! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who craves for a closer, deeper and true relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praise God for such servants as Andrew Murray! He was truly, a man of God! God Bless!

He can't. He is superb. He distills to bare essences the way to a Holy life in Christ, but his prescriptions are not easy. If you want fluff, Murray is not the man to read. As with his other books, he holds True Believers to the standards Jesus Himself holds them to. As any Christian knows, this is NOT the easy Way.

Better still, Murray asks the same questions we ask, then, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives the answers. His book, "The Holiest of Holies" is the best book on the New Testament book of Hebrews I've ever read and is the basis for the perfect Bible study. Buy anything he has written and you will hold in your hands a fine literary and spiritual work.

I never considered myself a "cryer." However, this book is blessed and it moves you in a lot of different ways. First, the topic and the promise of the book. Second, the wonderfully worded insights, "catch phrases," and challenges to faithfulness. Finally, the unshakable faith, vision, and comfort Andrew Murray so spiritually calls us to. His words inspire rather than chastise. They make us want to look up, rather than hang our heads. They make us want to BE better! Take this book into your "morning watch" quiet time, read, meditate, take it to heart and enjoy the blessing of the presence of God.

Murray takes us into God's presence like no other writer - outside the scriptures themself.

The latest in the Ed Loy series has the Irish PI looking for a jockey who disappeared years before after holding back a favorite horse so it would lose. It brings him into the midst of deep dark secrets of a prominent horse-breeding and -racing family. Although there isn't enough information to even begin an investigation, such a lack doesn't seem to deter Loy.

Discovery of the first of several bodies opens the inquiry into the many mysteries of the Tyrell family. All this takes place beginning on Christmas Eve and leads up to the four-day Leopardstown Racecourse Christmas Festival. The story is set among the current and past Irish economic and social conditions, with observations on the people and the Catholic Church playing an important role. The plot involves, as usual, the sins of the fathers cast upon the children.

The drama is high, the writing solid. This third in the series is as gripping as its predecessors, and is highly recommended.

In Dublin, Father Vincent Tyrrell hires private investigator Ed Loy to find missing jockey Patrick Hutton. The case is made complex by the fact that his client offers only a name and that Hutton disappeared about a decade ago. Loy wants to say forget it as he figures he has little chance of finding the man, but the fee is too good to ignore.

Loy knows he must tread the streets very carefully as the Halligan family plan to rough him and more because they hold him culpable for one of them residing behind bars. As he makes inquiries on another case involving a homicide that leads back to Father Vincent's brother affluent business mogul F.X. Tyrell, Loy soon finds himself investigating two other related homicides connected to the Tyrell family. Beaten severely and told to back off or else, Loy keeps digging until the trail takes him to the four-day Leopardstown Race-course Christmas Festival.

In his third appearance (see THE COLOR OF BLOOD and THE WRONG KIND OF BLOOD) Loy does what he does best: gets tattered and threatened but keeps on ticking. The story line is fast-paced from the opening request and though filled with neat twists never slows down until the final altercation. Bruised, battered and beaten, Loy still conducts intelligent inquires whose link is F.X. Private investigative fans will enjoy Declan Hughes' strong Irish mystery.

Harriet Klausner

The Price of Blood is Declan Hughes' third thriller set in Dublin, Ireland. Hughes previous novels are The Wrong Kind of Blood, which won the Shamus Award for Best First PI novel, and The Color of Blood.

Private Investigator Ed Loy is hired by Father Vincent Tyrrell to find a missing jockey, Patrick Hutton. Taking the case is easy, but the clues are few. The only thing that Father Tyrrell can offer to Loy is a name-and that the jockey disappeared years ago. Not a good start for solving a missing person's case, and Loy would prefer to let it go. The problem is the money is just too good, and since Loy's bank account is depleted, he really must take the case.

During the investigation of another case, Loy discovers the body of a man who is linked to Father Tyrrell's brother F.X. Tyrell. That mystery leads to other clues, and as Loy usually does, he gets battered and bruised, but doesn't give up digging into the mystery. The trail finally leads to the four-day Leopardstown Racecourse Christmas Festival where Loy finds dangerous people and activities afoot.

I love that Loy is "everyman." and yet he has something that sets him apart from most. He's tenacious, thorough and oh so likeable. Hughes' The Price of Blood is fascinating. It's fast-paced, gives the readers some wonderful twists and speeds on to the conclusion.

If you like PI novels, check out The Price of Blood. I guarantee that you will go out and buy the first two. Hughes is a habit-a good habit.

Armchair Interviews says: Hughes' novels just keep getting better

Irish playwright Declan Hughes's third private detective Ed Loy novel, THE PRICE OF BLOOD peers into the gritty sides of Dublin and families as Loy investigates the case of a missing jockey and a case of vandalism. In a suspense thriller with echoes of Greek tragedy set in modern life, Declan Hughes creates an innovative look into the darker sides of his characters and the underside of Irish horse racing. THE PRICE OF BLOOD is a suspense read full of local color from an Irish author who looks beyond the surface into societal changes and customs as well as into the shocking secrets hidden from plain view, secrets that when spoken can often lead to tragic consequences.

Father Vincent Tyrrell asks PI Ed Loy to look into a name, Patrick Hutton. The Catholic priest and horse racing devotee gives Ed Loy just the name without any other details, refusing to break the seal of confession. Now dying of cancer, the priest's conscience troubles him. Meanwhile, Ed Loy takes on a case, assisting Joe Leonard in catching vandals. As Ed Loy pursues the Leonard case, he discovers a body dumped, a body with some shocking details and a piece of paper that might just relate to his jockey case. When Ed looks closer into the history of Patrick Hutton, the body count increases. Each victim has 2 cryptic tattoos roughly engraved into their skin and certain other details in common which Ed discovers when he comes across a dumped body. While the papers claim the murders are the work of a serial killer, The Omega Man, Ed Loy knows that the clues and relationships just do not fit the serial killer scenario. His investigation of jockey Patrick Hutton takes him into the tumultuous world of Irish horse racing and the Tyrell family where passions run deep and secrets are hidden even deeper.

From the very beginning of THE PRICE OF BLOOD, Declan Hughes takes the reader into an intimate vision of Ireland. Declan Hughes sections the book by date into Advent, Christmas, and St. Stephen's Day, thereby creating a temporal structure that relies on the Catholic calendar and focuses on Father Vincent Tyrell`s world. His moral dilemma introduces this work of suspense, allowing the reader to catch both a glimpse at the depth of this character, as a man tortured by a secret he must keep and also as a compassionate man willing to stand out as he brings Tommy Owens into the fold of his church and protection despite the congregation's displeasure. From the very beginning, the reader feels Ed Loy's ties to his youth and his independence from the Dublin of his past through the interchanges with Father Tyrell. Through the descriptions of the Joe Leonard case, Declan Hughes, takes the reader into Ireland's past and present as characters once isolated from one another by economics, now live in close proximity. Those who once thought of semi-detached housing as low class now are limited to council housing. Now, downcast, Joe Leonard is determined to protect his corner. To Joe Leonard, Declan Hughes juxtaposes F.X. Tyrell, a man for whom horse racing has improved his status and station in life.

As suspense, THE PRICE OF BLOOD delves into the dark side of horse racing, purebreds, and relationships as passions and past histories collide. The closer Ed Loy gets to answering the puzzles, the more surprising twists he uncovers. As St. Stephen's Day approaches with the exciting climactic horse race, even the best laid plans cannot prepare the characters for the shocking conclusions still to come. As with a previous past case, when the culprit is finally revealed, the revelations elicit unexpected actions. Secrets haunt but brought to light, do they bring comfort? Declan Hughes' suspense stands out precisely because answers are not easy or simplistic. Through the depth of the character of Father Vincent Tyrell, Declan Hughes creates a magnificent sense of pathos in his suspense that makes THE PRICE OF BLOOD a unique suspense read.

Declan Hughes is a must read for drama enthusiasts (particularly tragedy lovers) and literature enthusiasts. Father Vincent Tyrell recalls to mind Graham Green's memorable characters while simultaneously upping the ante several notches. While reading THE PRICE OF BLOOD, literature lovers might call to mind OEDIPUS REX and Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN, not so much in terms of plot or characterization where there are both some similarities and differences, but more so for the brilliant way Declan Hughes deviates from these classics. Declan Hughes creates an innovative work of fiction that pays tribute to previous literary classics while all the while transforming them, adding new twists as he places his tale in the suspense genre. The author invigorates the suspense genre with a new vision that will delight, indeed haunt lovers of both suspense and drama.

If you are looking for a light happy suspense read or a quick serial killer whodunit that you can easily put aside with disinterest shortly after finishing it, this book may not be the best choice. If you want a suspense read that glosses over the ramifications of actions or the pain endured by characters, search elsewhere. If you are looking for a unique read and one that stands out from all the books out there, in either suspense or literature, THE PRICE OF BLOOD is brilliant! Although tragic, THE PRICE OF BLOOD is hauntingly innovative --- the kind of book one remembers for its uniqueness.

This is a terrific, pretty light read. The thing that keeps it from getting 5 stars is the fact that nobody followed in Morgan's footsteps to keep it updated. It is an excellent account of early PNW history, but it stops before it gets to more recent events in the region's history.

This is Murray Morgan's masterpiece. I've read most of Murray Morgan's popular histories. Skid Road is more popular, a breezy, easy read that gives great context to Seattle. The Last Wilderness (about the Olympic Peninsula) is my personal favorite, for sheer range of characters and stories, more humanity packed into a book than most novels.

But Puget's Sound has the most depth and detail, from original sources, of any of Morgan's books. It covers each era of South Puget Sound history, thoroughly and with footnotes. Because of that, it reads more academically than Morgan's other books, and weighs much more, too! But if you are a fan of well-written history, there's nothing better than reading a labor of love from an author with great depth and feeling for a region.

Great book. I disagree with comments in earlier review about book being "... a must-read if you want to amuse and/or bore your fellow Tacomans with antecdotes on street names, unusual buildings, etc". This book is a true narrative as the title indicates, with Morgan taking the historical details and breathing life into them, making for both an informative and an engaging read. Although the title suggests Tacoma as a major topic, the book is really a narrative of Puget Sound. Other books of this genre often spend too much time on Seattle and not enough on other places. This book does NOT focus soley on Tacoma - I'd estimate only 1/4 of it is Tacoma. Although Morgan's "Skid Road" about Seattle is more popular, I'd consider this book "Puget's Sound" to be a much better book than "Skid Road" in content, style, and prose. In fact, University of Washington Press just reprinted "Puget's Sound" (May 2003) as one of the Columbia Northwest Classics Series in recognition of its very important contribution to the Pacific Northwest. Great book by a great historian, newspaperman, writer, etc.

It's unlikely this book will be of much interest to anyone not living in the Tacoma area. Just the same, it is a colorful portrait of the city that used to be, the dreamers and scheamers who came so close to creating the west coast's hub city from scratch. The story of Tacoma's rapid rise to prominence, and its equally swift and steady decline is not only facinating, it delivers a valuable lesson on what still happens today when civic cheerleaders go blind with optimism.

This book is a must-read if you want to amuse and/or bore your fellow Tacomans with antecdotes on street names, unusual buildings, et cetera. Perfect fodder for Tacoma's burgeoning barstool-pundit culture.

Finally, an easy to read book that approaches child rearing with love, compassion and humanity in a straight forward and honest manner. Teaches how to be and not to be with every turn of the page. So informative and inspiring is "Raising An Optiministic Child" with it's easy to read format, with it's ample examples and it's encouraging approach. It's not only a guide book for child rearing but a book which inspires, gives hope and guidance and reminds us of how we all need to treat children and each other as well as how we all would like to be treated regardless of AGE! A must have book in every home library and in everyone's reading and learning repertoire.

I'll bet there'll be a lot of parents of children over the age of six who'll curse the authors for not bringing out this book earlier! I wish I'd read it twenty years ago. Still I'm now set up to be a really good grand-parent.

"Raising an Optimistic Child" is streets ahead of anything else written about raising optimistic children (and I've been reading a lot of child-raising books lately). It's clear, intensely practical and very simple to follow. In truth much of the information in the book is useful for people of any age who want to be more optimistic - even people like me in their 50s!

I never realized, for example, that a daily 20 minute walk in the park was the best cure for ADD/ADHD in children or adults. My husband has adult ADD and we tried this out - amazingly it really works!

The relationship techniques that Bob Murray and Alicia Fortinberry lay out (and they should know as they have, according to the book, been happily married for nearly a quarter of a century) are practical, simple and again, are really effective. And not just with children!

I'm giving this book to my mom-to-be daughter. It's the best present I could possibly give her - and her baby!

"Raising an Optimistic Child" has captured the latest and greatest of parenting wisdoms, but that's not all. As a child therapist of 3-5 year olds and a daycare provider of toddlers, I am pleased to say that it has affirmed my intuitions and greatly informed my practice, with children and adults alike.

This book has reminded me once again of the paramount importance of our earliest years, and the caretaking relationships that surround them, in predisposing us to mood disorders later in life. It is a thorough compilation of the key ingredients that make for a healthy human, combining the most up-to-date psychological research, together with all-too-undereferenced ancient wisdoms and some refreshing new "ah-hah's."

Dare I say it? I agree wholeheartedly with most, if not all, of the book, including the authors' de-pathologizing of children and their sensitive examination of the sticky subjects of drugs and over-diagnosed ADD/ADHD.

While very easy to read, the excellent guidance may not be so easy to do. At least the best information is nearly all in one place, as is the optimism to "have a go" at it.

I am so glad I read this book. I can't recommend it highly enough - to parents, teachers, childcare providers, therapists, couples, and adults who struggle with depression and/or other psychological challenges or know someone who does. In short, everyone.

Recently Time Magazine reviewed this book and called it "a fine blueprint for a noble aim: to send out into the world more children equipped to find the beauty all around them." I've just finished reading "Raising an Optimistic child" and I'm determined to change the way I parent my 2 and 5 year olds.

Amazingly this is the only book I can find which is written for parents of kids under six.

The authors - who wrote an earlier best-seller called "Creating Optimism" - eschew the familiar child-centered approach. Rather they take a `relationship-centered' view. What is most important to the emotional well-being of a young child, they say, is the relationships between the adults around him or her, particularly between the parents.

"Raising an Optimistic Child" is solidly how-to. The book has marvelous tips for such issues as work/life balance, dealing with ADD/ADHD, how to select the best child care, how to monitor the sort of media that children are exposed to and how best to work out the problems of blended families or even being a single parent.

At the same time as having a very, very user-friendly style, the authors back up everything they say with really solid research.

I thoroughly recommend this book to all those who are already parents, or who are thinking of becoming parents or are in the position of looking after children.

This is a book for a scholar or a person dipping into Scottish history for the first time. An excellent book about Highlanders and there are precious few books available on the topic. The author has considered vast quanitities of sources; the only books lacking are Gaelic language sources such as those bilingual editions published by the Scottish Academic Texts Society. The author shows a broad understanding of the politics and economics of the period; what is unique is an attempt to understand Gaelic society. The "creach" or cattle raid is explained from a Highland point of view; it's a custom sanctified in the great Gaelic epic "Táin Bó Cuailgne". The format is very appealing as historical events are related to the colourful life of this one honourable man.

This is an elegantly written, thorough, balanced and fascinating account of a deservedly highly admired man.

The author provides a comprehensive historic and social background and a detailed biography. Real history, not the current hip Celtic fashion or Braveheart drivel.

I found the book moving and inspiring. A picture of an honourable, intelligent and courageous man, living his life by the laws of his time; a man who deserves to be remembered.

The film Rob Roy with Liam Neeson, runs amazingly close to this book. If you were inspired by the film, I think you will greatly enjoy this biography.

I'd also recommend John Prebble for his classic works on Culloden and Glencoe and the Highland Clearances.

A fascinating biography. This book inspired the film with Liam Neeson, but is so much more than a glimpse of the incidents chronicled in the film. W.H. Murray has given a well-researched, well-documented look at highland life that enables the reader to step into the shoes (or lack thereof) of the Scottish highlander. Everything from the clan structure, rivalries, English oppression, how to carry a handful of oats dipped in a stream for daily ration; it's all there. Mr. Murray gives us very detailed information on the subtleties of the constantly changing political climate and the MacGregor's sense of injustice.

This book is a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in Scotland, the MacGregor Clan, or Rob Roy himself.

Murray does a great job of telling us about the true Rob Roy MacGregor (versus the tarted up Sir Walter F. Scott rendition to quote an English friend friend of mine)! Murray explains clearly the politics of the time in England, and the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland: Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism); the Whigs and the Torys; etc. He gives a vivid depiction of the Highland way of life from the daily routine to engaging in commerce amongst local Highland clans, the Lowlanders, and England. Let's not forget "abduction" of live-stock for which Rob Roy in particular was well-noted. There is even information on the materials used in the dying of kilt and tartan plaids. The impression one gets is that if the Highlanders were left alone to continue their way of life, who knows how wonderfully it would have evolved and what contributions they could have made to the world. Murray is given extra credit here because he had to re-start this writing while in a Nazi POW camp. A must read for all who are interested in all things Scottish!

Wow! What a book. Although I know very little about Linux as an OS, even less about security and can barely dress myself, I successfully used this book to set-up a secure, linux-based environment for my top-notch anime collection... All in all, I highly recommend this product...

I purchased this book because I had the old version from the Red Hat 6.2 era that was severely outdated. The claim that this guide is a total rewrite is VERY accurate. I found the advice given and the steps provided to be extremely helpful in locking down my linux server.

Perhaps the most useful section for me was dealing with Sendmail. Even with the most recent release, working with the sendmail configuration files is tricky on a good day and downright frightening. I learned a couple of new tricks by following the steps in the guide and now have a better understanding of how the configuration file can be modified to make my email gateway more secure.

I also found the section on RPM's to be extremely helpful. In the past, I struggled with keeping my OS up to date and was actually jealous of the windows users that could "automagically" update their machines. Well, you can do this in Linux too by using up2date or autorpm. Check the guide out on how you can automate this functionality!

While I did find this guide to be extremely useful, it didn't cover EVERYTHING. Heck, that would be impossible given the changing nature of the Linux OS and the thousands of applications or services available but I was really hoping to see more example scripts provided in the appendix. Perhaps this will be covered in version 2.0??

All in all, a very good book and a BEST BUY!

Why does every book on Linux try to tackle too many issues? Let's face it, 700-800 or even a 1000 pages is just TOO much information. If you are looking for a complete and concise guide to securing your Red Hat Linux installation then I HIGHLY recommend picking up this book.

I would rank this as a book that is perfect for intermediate Unix admins but a colleague of mine without ANY Linux experience said she found this book to be a valuable resource in her steep learning curve. The book provides many examples of different configurations and provides great pointers to other resources if you want more information about a particular topic.

All in all, I was VERY impressed with this book and I would consider it a "must have" for anyone interested in securing their Red Hat Linux installations.

The excellent SANS "Securing Linux Step by Step"guide suffers from a
major problem: you can't cut-and-paste the commands from it into your
Linux system! The desire to do so constantly appear while reading the
manual, and I was very eager to try some of the things described
thereof.

The guide presents ultimate hands-on, indeed as step-by-step as they
do. A little of text and a lot of commands to accomplish it! All
configuration "recipes" are supposed to be tested by many of the guide
contributors and reviewers. I have found no inaccuracies of any kind.

Its a pity that there is no way to cut and paste from the book and
click on links too. The guide begs to have a CD, floppy or a companion
site since commands need to be typed on the server.

The book starts from a nice security policy primer and a summary of
security principles, which even touch upon physical security, backups
and other useful operational issues.

The range of advice is wide and covers everything from very basic
passwords security to complicated methods of chrooting various network
daemons for extra security. The complete step-by-step instructions for
chrooting bind and ssh are provided together with several sample
configuration files. Tips on securing many Linux applications such as
Apache, Sendmail, Bind, Samba are also detailed in separate
chapters. Securing Wu-FTPD, however pointless it might be in light of
a flood of attacks, is also described. Its a pity that common
replacements such as qmail, proftpd and djbdns are not covered.

While other books offer more breadth (such as coverage of many
different tools etc), this is ideal for those seeking depth. This
guide would likely not win any literature prizes, but can save a life
of a Linux admin.

Moreover, even if you think you know _everything_ about Linux security
- read it anyway, since you find some new stuff, just like I did. On
the other hand, complete novices will also benefit from it greatly,
since even just typing the command blindly and then reading up on them
and gaining in-depth understanding is no the worst way to jump start
your Linux security expertise. Overall, if you own or administer a
Linux system - get the guide.

Anton Chuvakin, Ph.D., GCIA, GCIH is a Senior Security Analyst with a
major information security company. His areas of infosec expertise
include intrusion detection, UNIX security, forensics, honeypots,
etc. In his spare time he maintains his security portal
info-secure.org

As a lifelong fan of turtles in general and giant tortoises in particular, I was thrilled to find out about this book, and even more thrilled to read it. While there is much here that makes me ashamed of our species, there is also great entertainment, a terrific conservation message, and much to challenge the notion that we have been given, or assumed, "domininion" over the birds and the beasts. Mr. Chambers interweaves the sad fate of these fantastic creatures with the foibles and passions of such historical luminaries as Charles Darwin and a former head of the Rothschild clan. The result is a poignant and masterful portrayal of the magnificence of nature, and the bumbling of those of us who ignore the natural world, as well as the strange twists that befall even those of us who love it. I recommend this book to anyone exploring the history of conservation, those concerned with the future of the planet, and, of course, turtle lovers everywhere. Bravo!

This is a flawless study of how huge tortoises were at first discovered, then eaten, then sold for their oil and shells, bred, and analyzed by a lot of top zoologists, including Darwin himself! Also, a nice look at the human and biological history of the Galopagos Islands, where the author claims that tortoises and their evolution were as important to Darwin's ideas as the more famous finches. One tortoise still living has been said to be a survivor of Darwin's menagerie, and the author studies the geneological background of this large,elderly lady! He is very skeptical that the animal has lived to be over 170, since the 1830's, but gives a strong case of birth in the 1870's, still very elderly in her 130's!! With some nice drawings , and general large turtle history in islands in the Indian ocean ,this book is a fairly easy, and very interesting page turner, especially for so heavy and old a subject!

Paul Chambers writes well. He is also an exceptional researcher and storyteller. I had heard Chambers speak on one of the BBC's NakedScientists podcasts and not only enjoyed his profound knowledge but also his sense of restrained drama.

Yet I picked up this book twice before making the purchase. How could a feminist and museologist find something of interested in a natural history history of the giant tortoise. Something told me to take the plunge and make the purchase. Within the first page I was captivated, Chambers draws us into the scenario of the young Mr Darwin arriving at the Galapagos and being asked by his host, "you will, of course, stay for lunch? [...] I can offer you goat, pig or tortoise?"

As a reader I enjoyed the way Chambers organised each of the chapters, balancing out the stories of the Indian Ocean and Galapagos tortoises, elaborating in careful detail the story of Charles Darwin, Albert Gunter one of the earliest ecology environmentalists, a taste of Victorian collectomania as demonstrated by the fervour of Walter Rothschild and the period of the great scientific expeditions (aka raiding parties) by leading universities of the time.

Interspersed throughout the chapters was a story of the early whalers, trade routes, colonisation, territorial protection and later, DNA modelling.

In essence, this book was a riveting read with a well hammered environmental message. And with numerous mentions of the word 'museum' I now wonder how I could have hesitated to read this book in the first place.

I'm off to read Chambers first book now, Bones of Contention.

I am ashamed. I knew little about giant tortoises except that Darwin had one named Harriet and that there are some that live in the hills of the Galapagos that go into warm volcanic soil to lay their eggs. Had I chanced upon this book before my visit to the Mascarene Islands, I would've given these ancient, magnificent, and awe-inspiring reptiles their deserved attention when I met them.

Paul Chambers has done a remarkable job in recognising the characters of his audience as he has delivered a wonderfully entertaining recount of the discovery, torment, exhaltation, recognition, then conservation of the giant tortoises of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Be convinced that Chambers' knack at story-telling, served by intricate and exhaustive research processes, is that which has made this book a success. No doubt, the history of the giant tortoises is itself a truly fascinating topic, however, it is a long history and Chambers knits it tightly into just over 300-pages.

Complimented with thought-provoking illustrations and guiding maps, Chambers also supplements readers with archived photographs where available and enchanting excerpts from the journals of renowned naturalists including Darwin and Wallace (whom, when you read this book, aren't as significan't characters to the story as you think!).

Chambers has inspired curiosity and instilled amazement in this group of animals that has come so close to being decemated by development. A well-paced read, that is acutely balanced and finely structured, be prepared to journey back into the ages of the sea-faring colonists, and discover as they did, the unique giant tortoises that have for millenia, led a sheltered life.

St. Thomas Aquinas, needless to say, is not easy to understand. In this little guide, which makes nice supplemental reading to get a look "behind the scenes" of the saint's philosophy, Josef Pieper first sketches a biographical outlines of Thomas' life and then delves into the negative element in his philosophy and concludes with the "timelessness" of Thomism, which makes it a perennial philosophy.

This book is primarily concerned with St. Thomas' epistemological assumptions (which were taken for granted, hence the "silence"), what knowledge meant for the saint, and how and to what extent it can be achieved. Pieper tackles Thomas' seemingly paradoxical stance on essences, and whether or not they can be known, for Thomas maintains both that we cannot know God in His essence and that God's essence is His existence.

Pieper shows St. Thomas' beautiful conviction that "it is part of the very nature of things that their knowability cannot be wholy exhausted by any finite intellect, because these things are creatures, which means that the very element which makes them capable of being known must necessarily be at the same time the reason why things are unfathomable" (p.60).

All in all, this book is a fine look at Thomas' profound epistemology, so rarely discussed in philosophical courses today. If you have an interest in the philosophy of St. Thomas, don't pass this one up!

The unifying theme of the three essays composing this book is the paradox that the intelligibilty of things and their incomprehensibility both derive from their being creatures, that is, from their possessing natures that are communications of the ideas in the mind of God. Things can be known only because they are created, but at the same time, things are unfathomable because they are created: "one and the same factor explains both why things cannot be entirely grasped and why they can be known" (pp.95-6). Why is this so? I'll not deprive the reader of the pleasure of reading Pieper's book to find out.

For me, this book ended a long struggle to discover what St. Thomas Aquinas really taught about our knowledge of things. Pieper succeeds in reconciling Thomas's frequent statements that we cannot know the essence of any created thing with his repeated claims elsewhere that our minds are receptive of the forms (i.e., essences) of things.

While my attitude toward Pieper's understanding of St. Thomas's thought is not uncritical, I must concede that he is one of the best and most original (the two are not the same) of twentieth century Thomist philosophers. Unfortunately, he is sometimes (unjustly) put down by scholars as a mere popularizer. Let them read this book and be disabused; Pieper has much to teach them.

My ratings of other books by Josef Pieper: Guide to Thomas Aquinas ****; Leisure the Basis of Culture *****; Scholasticism *****

Pieper, in these three essays, describes what we have to learn from the works and life of Aquinas. The essays detail the scholastic arguements of the day and how Thomas, in the true spirit of open mindedness (his life and method are the definition of this oft abused term) brought some peace ond understanding to the various sides, a very serious matter in his day. The book explains how much of an Aristotilian Aquinas was, and more importantly how much he was not. Mainly by showing how the charactoristics of the Latin Averroists have been unjustly attributed to Aquinas by his detractors - the Latin Averoists (Averoes was an Arab) were whole hearted Aristotilians.

This book is an excellent addition to reading Etienne Gilson's "Unity of the Philosophical Experience" as Pieper gives further explanantions as to the behavior of the Augastinians and Latin Averroists. It could explain also why modern Muslims are so singularly textually dogmatic - it is in reaction to Averroist's attempting to rid religion of faith altogether - and thus the violent reaction in nixing reason and rationalism. It tells how Aquinas circumvented this problem. The last essay also compliments Gilson's book in that it shows what Existentialism has in common with Aquinas, some interesting things, despite some gapping fundimental differences at their very root and conclusion.

The first essay vividly descibes what an attitude of accademic pursuit and teaching should look like. Too many teachers are dogmatic and are only interested in pursuing and supporting an idea that is presently clear in their minds and propogating it, rather than treating the moment as an active pursuit of truth. Thomas was a model teacher and the book is an active discripition of his method.

The book also argues, with supporting evidence and reason, that Thomas' main work The "Summa Theologica" was intentionally left unfinished. Why it was left unfinished is at the root of what Aquinas was all about concerning philosophy and metaphysics - it is a process not a conclusion. Gilson's book describes what a conclusion is, as sometimes philosophers have rejected the idea that they have reached a conclusion, when in fact they have. Gilson effectively defines what a conclusion looks like.

Both are highly recommended books for Teachers, Historians, and Philosophers.

If you want to find a succinct compendium of Thomistic Epistemology then this is a must read. While some of other reviews do a good job describing the details of the book, I will focus on what I believe to be Pieper's true intent. The book should be read once to grow in knowledge and another time as spiritual reading.
Pieper begins with an overview of Thomistic realism and shows the link between anthropology and cosmology and faith and reason. For St. Thomas, human beings are created to love and know the creator. Creation is capable of being known through reason, and leads one to knowledge of the Creator. But, here lies the paradox as it pertains to silence. Pieper shows that while Thomas believes that the human mind can grasp the existence of many things, and since they have an existence they must also possess an essence, the essence of things in themselves cannot be known. Creation is a gift from God, yet, in itself remains a mystery. Why? Because even though the human mind can know a great deal about nature, it seems to know even less about creation. How much more does the mind fail to grasp the utter incomprehensibility of God? Reason is speechless before the infinite gap between God and the human mind. In the silence, Pieper shows that God allows us to gaze into the depth of the mystery of creation and divinity. God creates or speaks creation into being, and it is this Word that holds creation in existence. Via reason, the mind "knows" through a participation in the Word, Jesus. Per St. Thomas, Pieper demonstrates the necessity of faith to truly gaze and contemplate God, a place where reason alone cannot go.
In the second essay, Pieper again refers to the theme of creation. He shows the necessary correlation between existence and truth because if a thing exists, it exists first as an idea in the mind of God. Contra Kant, the mind does not form nature, but is instead informed because nature illumines the mind because God holds it in being. Truth and existence reside primarily in God, but are not separated out but continually in creation. For St. Thomas, creation and nature are divine gifts, which are knowable yet, unknowable. Again, divine speech and silence are shown to be part of the mystery of God and creation.
In the last section, Pieper speaks to the timeliness or untimliness of Thomism. Thomism is timely because of its ability to be placed within a tradition and be adapted. Is this true? Yes! One can look at some of the forms of Thomism: Lublin, Analytic, Existential, and see how they have aided and aid the Church in spreading the Gospel. Because of this, Thomism is timely and untimely. The early Wittgenstein stated, "That what cannot be said should be passed over in silence." Pieper shows in the thought of St. Thomas one should not be silent because one cannot speak, but one does not have much to say when he ponders God and creation. I think it is ironic that Pieper does not mention Thomas' vision of Christ at the end of his life. Tradition teaches that Jesus appeared to Thomas near the end of his life and told him, "Thomas, you have written well of me." In fact, Thomas wrote more than several million words on the topic. After the vision, Thomas stopped writing except when told to do so by his superiors. When asked by a fellow Dominican brother why he stopped writing Thomas responded, "What I have written seems much like straw to what I have seen." The vision forced him to near silence in his writing. If you read Pieper's book, it will give you the reasons why Thomas was so silent.

I purchased this book to augment the Creative Learning curriculum I use in my preschool room and was not disappointed. Simple Signing with Young Children is a WONDERFUL, pertinent, practical guide to incorporating ASL into your classroom. Carol Garboden Murray did a great job at introducing ASL concepts and explaining the basics to someone like me: a preschool teacher interested in adding sign language to our everyday routine. The pictures are great: lots of them and easy to reference. The photos include the person and their facial expression, which is such a key element to learning...instead of just pictures of the hand demonstrating each sign.
The author also does a great job a explaining variations on the signs and how children typically adapt them to their developmental level. Her chapter on Sign Language for Babies is particularly thorough. Because of my background, I was most interested in her chapters for toddlers and incorporating ASL into the classroom. I was so excited to learn songs, fingerplays, and signs for classroom routines (like story time and "five more minutes to play"). There is also an index of signs at the back of the book for easy reference. I cannot say enough about what a great resource this is. Our preschool has currently ordered another copy to keep on hand as a resource for all of our teachers at the center.

In "Simple Signing With Young Children: A Guide For Infant, Toddler, And Preschool Teachers", preschool teacher, special education instructor, early interventionist, parent educator, nursery school and childcare director, and sing language workshop presenter Carol Garboden Murray draws upon her more than 17 years of experience and expertise to write a thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual for parents, teachers, and care-givers to teach very young children how to communicate through sign language. Detailed photographs aptly demonstrate how to execute each sign while written directions provide a methodical and step-by-step guide for educators and parents. Comprehensive, authoritative, and superbly organized, "Simple Signing With Young Children" is the ideal introductory instruction manual and very highly recommended for anyone having to teach sign language to very young children at home, in a daycare center, or a community preschool program.

How great it is to know when the baby is hungry, thirsty or full! Helping children to communicate alieveates so much frustration! Thanks Carol for a great book!

This book is wonderful, not only for teachers, but for parents too. The pictures, and clear instructions makes the book practical, and a must-have for the classroom or at home.