Stanley Books

This book was so helpful with knowing if you're good enough to get into heaven. It addresses the "just be a good person" issue of salvation and I found it very easy to understand and practical. Also very short! Easily read in a couple hours so it's perfect for those who don't like to read ans also thought-provoking enough for those who do like to read. Excellent book!

This is a small book, but it makes a huge impact! Andy Stanley writes with wry humor at times, but he gets to the heart of the matter in a wonderful way. He leaves the reader to make up his own mind, but what he has to say, is something that every person who believes in the "good people go to heaven" theory needs to read.

Good people don't go to heaven...forgiven people go to heaven. There ARE no good people, for all fall short of the glory of God.

Andy explains in detail why this theory, which has been around forever, is so flawed. How do you measure goodness? You can't, because none of us have been given anything to measure it by!

This book is a gem, one of the most thought provoking and enjoyable books I have ever read. If you're already a Christian, use this book to reach out to others. If you're not...well, read it and make up your own mind. Realize that you're banking your eternity on a theory which just doesn't hold up.

I miss the fun I had catching critters when I was a kid, and I always enjoy bumping into the various animals that show up in my garden. But as a recent transplant to Arkansas, I don't always recognize the species. I spotted this book at a local bookstore and took a peek. Then I bought it.

This is the best herptile guide I've seen. It has lots of info, lots of color photos, and lots of species. There are even color photos of larval forms and egg masses. If you have an interest in reptiles and amphibians, you'll find this book useful, even if you don't live in Arkansas. I may never crack open my North American field guides again.

And next time I go hiking, I think I'll turn over a few logs just to see what I've been missing.

This book is one of the most exhaustive treatments of reptiles and amphibians for a region that I have seen. The photography is excellent. I would recommend it for scholar and interested layperson alike.

The concept of "anarchy" has enjoyed a privileged status in each of the two main schools of thought of IR, namely neorealism and neoliberalism -albeit in varying size and nature. I have always believed that this overemphasis on anarchy was unjustified and misleading. I think what is important is not the mere presence or absence of a governmental body at the international level, but rather whether any mechanism exists that functions against Waltz's assertion that "wars occur because there is nothing that prevents them" (1959, 232). In our modern global world, no state except the hegemon can get away with a "fait accompli" that will change regional of global balances of power. This simply means that every state except one has an "impediment" to behave like a "rogue" state. Thus, the absence of a material world government to punish the deviant states does not necessarily create an anarchic international environment, because the practical function of such a government is fulfilled to a large extent by the hierarchical nature of the international system. This is true for multipolar systems where there is a balance of power among major states as well. Throughout modern history, each state that sought a global hegemony found a community of others against her. Thus, balance of power has indeed been an ordering principle in international relations.

I found my inspiration as to the "order" in the international system in the writings of some British scholars. Contrary to the central place of anarchy in the North American theories of international relations, "international society" thinking and its resultant emphasis on "order" has been a tradition in post-war Britain. "The English School" argued that there is a persistent order in the international system alongside "anarchy" and that the preservation of a minimal order has been a common objective of the major members of the international system. Hedley Bull was one of the most influential scholars within the English School. In his The Anarchical Society he defines order in international system as "a pattern or activity that sustains the elementary or primary goals of the society of states," (p. 8). In further elaboration, he lists these goals as 1) the preservation of the system and society of states itself, 2) maintaining the sovereignty of states, 3) maintaining peace, and 4) sustaining the elementary goals of the individual, i.e. life, truth, and property (pp. 16-18). He argues that the maintenance of order is a common goal of states, because -whatever the further goals of states- the existence of a minimal order is a necessary condition to achieve these higher goals. Like individuals, states value order because they value "the greater predictability of human behavior" that comes as the consequence of conformity to the elementary or primary goals of states (p. 7).
According to Bull, "balance of power" is the primary and most effective instrument for the maintenance of international order. It is primary, because it provides the conditions in which other institutions of order (diplomacy, war, international law, and great power management) have been able to operate; it is the most effective, because by preventing the emergence of a hegemon, balance of power helps preserve the existent order.
Two of the instruments that Bull argues states use to preserve international order are particularly interesting. First, Bull directs our attention to the positive functions of war with respect to the maintenance of order. While in the traditional IR literature war is associated with conflict and disorder, Bull argues that war has widely been used by states (in particular the great powers) as a means of enforcing international law and preserving balance of power (p. 102). Thus, for Bull, war is a two-faceted phenomenon: a threat to be limited in most cases, but also an instrument to be used for order-related purposes in some cases. Second, he contends that great power politics contribute to the preservation of international order as well. Bull argues that great powers do so by preserving the general balance of power, avoiding major crisis among themselves, and respecting each other's "spheres of influences" (p. 200). In that respect, the English school warns us that the great power politics is not a wholly "tragic" story.
I think The Anarchical Society made two important contributions to our understanding of international politics. First, it persuasively argued that we are not living in an international "jungle". In Bull's (and my own) view, anarchy is an element of international structure, but neither the only nor the predominant one. States purposively try to limit the negative effects of anarchy by working together to preserve a minimal level of order in order to attain higher objectives. Second, Bull helped us realize that some crucial elements of international politics -war and great power politics-, which are generally associated with conflict, many times play positive roles in terms of the preservation of international order.
An important shortcoming in Bull's approach is that Bull remains quite when it comes to the "nature" of international order. The question of what causes the emergence of different international orders is outside the scope of The Anarchical Society. Actually, Bull admits this point when he says that "we are concerned only with what may be called the `statics' of international order and not with its `dynamics'," (19). Hence, Bull does not offer us a "theory" of international relations.

It was wonderful. I've never read something like that. I advise everyone to read it. Thank you.

This is an extremely good book that contains a series of lectures delivered to lay audience by this great physicist. It reveals the deep meaning behind the mathematical symbols and equations in modern physics. It's incomparable in this regard. The book is very easy to understand. The writing flows smoothly and beautifully. Great metaphors comes out effortlessly, one after another. It is very enjoyable reading.

This book started me on physics, way way back. I wish it were in print gain.

Lane's Lexicon is by far the biggest and most comprehensive dictionary of Arabic terms translated into the English Language. Arabic, the richest language on earth is the Language by which God revealed his Qur'an in order to teach mankind that which we did not know. Only because God has preserved His Qur'an through it's memorisation and committed study at the hands of Muslim scholars and their students the Arabic Language has too been preserved. Modern Arabic still depends on this Classical Qur'anic Arabic for it's basis and point of reference.For this reason Lane's Lexicon is indispensable in the study and translation of Arabic texts.

Just wanted to let folks know that as of 12/2006 Lane's Lexicon can be downloaded FREE as a PDF (legally). The HUGE PDF file is somewhat cumbersome, but considering that you are saving $450 I think it's worth it. Just do a Google search and you are sure to find it.

`The book is site reporting at its best. It is extremely well illustrated with numerous field excavation photographs, artifact plates, historical maps, and South's archaerological site plans, which rank among the most artistic and informative produced. This is an excellent site report and well worth the wait.'

Journal of Anthropological Research, 59 (2003)

`.. a major authority on method and theory in historical archaeology and an expert on the American Southeast, considers arhcaeological conservation, theory building, and historic site interpretation and restoration focusing on 1670-80 Charles Towne, South Carolina, and the Native American legacy that preceded European colonization. His well-documented compendium explicates "the process of historic site development for the education and entertainment of the visiting public", presenting a salient example of historic cultural resource management.'

Choice, 40:2 (October 2002)

Whether making sausages is your craft, or a pastime activity, 'The Art of Making Fermented Sausages' is a quick read that will satisfy all sausage buffs. This book gives you a chance to apply the scientific knowledge and recipes thoughtfully outlined in the chapters to your own kitchen. This is one of the few works that addresses both the skill piece and knowledge piece of an often neglected subject, in an easy to understand manner.

Worth every penny. There are some technical books on making fermented meats but they cost ten times more. This book covers all there is to learn and is simply written. I have made regular sausages many times but I was always reluctant to try salamis. The main reason was a lack of information on the subject. This book has answered all my questions and gave me more confidence.

As a history buff, I think this is a good history of this phase of military intelligence, Also I was there 61-65 and part of the TDY teams to SEA. For my part I wish some of the things happening in SEA were a little more detailed, but the object was then and is now the 67th RTS. Talk about honoring our military this book really shows just what dedicated people can do and how they "get the job done" as the 67th proved. The history is laced with personal instances and incidents that make this history all the more applealing. If you want to know more about the activities in the pacific area of the world, this book will cover the bases and inform you historical and technically. You can see the growth of technology in the military, that preceded that in civilian life. From a history stand point, good book; from one who was there, Great Book. W. (Bill) Harper. Nov 30/06.

This is a most interesting book. It's a detailed report on the activities of the 67th reconnaissance Technical Squadron located at Yokota Air Base, Japan from 1957 to 1971. Much of the book is simply a report of their activities.

Then, once in a while you see a little tidbit of information that I wonder if is still classified. For instance if you search the web you will find that two U-2s were shot down. One over Russia, one over Cuba. On page 131 of this book you find a picture of four 'downed' U-2s put on display by the Red Chinese i the late '60s. I don't know if 'downed' means 'shot down' or 'crashed.' And what happened to the pilots. Perhaps these were Taiwanese craft, so didn't make the US news. I've heard rumors that they lost several.

All in all, after reading this book, a large book, with almost 500 pages and relatively small type, you'll know a lot more about how photo recon really works, or more specifically worked back in the days of film and airplanes rather than digital and satellite.

This is an excellent book with tons of pictures and drawings. I am the inhouse repairman for an apartment building and this is an excellent reference manual... Should make my job much easier. Highly recomend this book.

This book is an excellent instructional book for a novice/starting plumber like me, an IT/electronics person. With the excellent fundamentals, the nice and colorful drawings and the detailed step-by-step instructions, I was able to replace a p-trap, a tail piece and a strainer of a kitchen sink on my own. I attribute this first-ever accomplishment of mine to this book. The book is so simple, so informative, even a 12-year-old can do the job after a few minutes of reading. Highly recommended for aspiring plumbers. How's that for cost-saving from expensive plumbers and boosting your self-actualization and learning a new skill ?

Great songs and music...especially "Brain Power". My students made a real connection with this music. I teach at an inner city school in Tampa, FL. Would love to meet the author. Does he have any other material?

I checked out this book/tape from the library for my children just because it looked interesting. I didn't even listen to it, but when they did, they didn't play another tape for three whole weeks! The book has a short history of each kind of music, and the accompanying tape has an original song written in each style. It is well put together and the tunes are catchy. My kids liked it so much I ended up buying one for them, and I have bought three more for birthday gifts for my kids' friends. I would definitely recommend it!