Thomas Books

Thomas Moore opens this narrative with his preface, reminding us to choose a spirituality being open to multiple possibilities rather than the worrying over the nuances of belief. (xi) Midway through his own Dantean journey, a burned-out professor and workaholic who's been neglecting his family, Slattery wants to recharge his soul and confront his own mortality. DPS "wanted to reimagine my life from the point of view of eternity," seeking to-- as Michael Novak phrases it-- act earnestly but without attachment to the results. (3)

DPS tires of the Church's "Main Street theology," longing rather for the back alleys and haunted corners of facing his mortality straightforwardly. Prayer, he reflects beginning at New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, is not petition but entering a presence. Not that God is there. If we knew he/she/it was, why then have faith? The possibility, not the inevitability, of what he seeks in the divine invites him towards silence. God may take him over, or he may not. Not sure of what he will find, but DPS opens himself to the chance- the readiness is all, I guess, to quote Hamlet!

DPS begins to peer into the dark silence where God may reside, beyond the logos, refusing the manifestation, before the word made flesh. This emptiness preceded the light, the flesh, the world, and us. DPS reflects on the love of poverty, and how this shows the "blessed are the poor in spirit" confronts his own memories of a life lived by his parents grudgingly, under an alcoholic father, a too-thrifty mother, a cowed family. Solitude is a "strong potion" best sipped slowly and rarely. Thoreau's relevant chapter in "Walden"- Of the "subtle powers" of heaven and earth: "We seek to perceive them and do not; we seek to hear them and do not. Identified with the substance of things, they cannot be separated from them." (41) Monks and nuns do not flee the world but face their own mortality and frailty within it; they choose to lessen distraction and limit temptation so as to confront their ultimate silence before God.

DPS writes movingly about the shy foxes and stillness of Big Sur, the bursting grapes and his father's torment as DPS wanders Napa Valley at the Carmelites, and at the Sonoma Zen Center takes on Zendo early morning and the oryoki "eating handout" rituals that are both compelling in what they resemble and awkward for their strangeness for one raised Irish Catholic. He learns to rake the rocks in circles so they enter into one another- the duty he's assigned slows him down, so what takes us fifteen minutes in our world is transformed. "The task was to imagine the process rather than rush to results." (35) I wonder how we would all live if we worked with such mindfulness, and how we'd sustain such wonder after repetition wears down novelty. Which is the whole point of order for a monk, to remain in one place, to do the same things, and not to escape the world but to face his own mortal frailty within it, without escape, distraction, or respite. Blackberries, a deer's severed leg, altitude sickness, cows separated from their calves, and Hohokam petroglyphs all inspire powerful insights.

The book admittedly, for me, did despite its appropriate brevity bog down at times. Most of his prayer-poems I found not to my aesthetic taste, although I recognize his quest. His grappling with his father's legacy encourages his own tender and blunt reflections, but these are often at the level of what one would write in a diary or tell a spiritual director; for more reticent me these confessions feel awkward on his distant page. I admittedly do not seek out inspirational writing when its shelved thus, so my preferences may not be those of this book's target audience. I found this by chance in a library cross-reference. While I learned much from it, there's too little detail about the felt, physical, concrete surroundings DPS stays in for roughly a week at at time for fifteen weeks in all. Minimal descriptions force you into his own mind and spirit instead. This direction left me too detached from experiencing enough of the actual travel he embarked upon during his sabbatical, but other readers may favor his journalistic intent. Fittingly, he admires Merton for the same level of intimacy attained in that monk's notebooks.

DPS learns more about solitude's disturbing and consoling qualities as he makes his way to other fascinating retreat centers and monasteries in the Northwest and then down the Rockies into the Southwest, where nothingness at Nada Hermitage confronts him and challenges him. Charity, patience, and wisdom emerge but there's no Pollyannish transformation or New Age bliss. For that, DPS merits acclaim, as this narrative is realistic. No dramatic, invented climactic moment ends his search. Gradually earned, the lessons he learned must be taken back into the world he "left"; I wonder how he fared afterwards? Terrifying, not comforting, to face this brutal rawness of spirit, as DPS learns well.

(Having visited myself a few of the places listed in the main text and the afterword, I agree that he chose fine retreats throughout the West. I only hope, nearly a decade after he wrote this, that the Catholic establishments can sustain themselves; the ones he lists that I know all have fewer, and more elderly, monks, friars, sisters, or nuns now than when he made his count. Error on p. 137: St Andrew's Priory in California is not a "Trappist Cistercian community" but a Benedictine one. Trappists live in California, but in the north of its Central Valley at Vina.)

This writer takes us on a unforgettable journey across many different places of worship. It's not the belief system he has that's important it's the purity of BELIEF for its own sake. The sheer joy of faith and joy of living this man has is written all across the pages of this work. Anyone who wishes to undertake a pilgrimage should read through this book. This man has a real talent and grace when writing about faith and life.

I read this book about a pilgrimage while I was on one of my own. I went to Spain and walked a sizeable part of the Via de la Plata - a route of the Camino de Santiago. I had previously walked another route nine months before.

This book chronicles a journey, via a beat up truck, to different retreat centers, monasteries and convents by the author. His feelings and emotions are erudite, he wears them on his sleeve, and this is one of the first rules of memoir writing: be willing to bare all. And Slattery does this as he confronts his deceased father, his fears, his past and present.

At times he longs to give up and return to the comfortable minutia of everyday life, a test common to pilgrims. One can see as the pages turn the metamorphosis that he goes through. This is a book, above all, about contemplation, retrospection, determination and hope. He has been living his life partly dead, but through grace finds ressurection. He is not dogmatic, though he is a devout Catholic. He is not preachy, but humble. He is many times poetic, many times candid.

I would be surprised if, no matter your religion or spiritual views, you do not find yourself at the end of this book with almost as many bookmarks as there are pages.

Before I go to sleep at night I read Grace in the Desert. I travel to the monasteries between the lines on the pages. Through the palpable silence, I feel the sacred space creep into my own bones. I too, am healed by the journey.

I am deeply grateful to Dennis Slattery for his profound psychological insights, for his nomadic spirit, and for the poet who so eloquently lives in his soul.

As a mother and a psychologist my pilgrimages are not accomplished on extended retreats or treks, but in the folds and unexpected flows of a busy day. Like many, I turn to spiritual literature of many ilk to aid me in interrupting my preoccupations and orienting me to meditation and prayer. What joy this summer when I found myself riding the wake of Dennis Slattery's Grace in the Desert:Awakening to the Gifts of Monastic Life, a lyrical story of his months spent at different spiritual retreat places. Far from any monastery myself, his intimate prose and sustained narrative reflections allowed me to slow down. They oriented me to the soulful pilgrimage that is available to all of us at any moment if we are ready to forego numbing routine, habitual rapidity, empty diversion, and consumeristic addictions. By placing his feet on the path of the pilgrim and his pen to paper, Slattery shares his gift of pilgrimage: a solo journey becomes food for the community. Leading the way, he invites us in his wake to the realms of spirit and soul for which we thirst.

Dr. Attig's book is an important part of a paradigm shift in our thinking about grief. He has thrown open a door to new thinking about how we can continue to be in relationship to loved ones who are no longer alive. This book is eloguently written with the ring of truth from the lives of real people. An excellent addition to our knowlege and understanding of grief.

This is such an important book that it is required reading in my Introduction to Death and Dying course. It has valuable information, yet it is verty readable. It is presented as a very human book.

Dr. Thomas Attig's book, "The Heart of Grief: Death and the Search for Lasting Love," is an exceptional follow-up to his first book about grieving, "How We Grieve: Relearning the World." Each chapter of "Heart of Grief" begins with a real life situation involving the death of a person and the consequences of that death on those who are still living. His premise is that people who have passed away can still be an important and essential part of one's life. You don't have to get on with your life without them; you can get on with your life with them. Although there is an element of `advice' giving in "Heart of Grief," the book is much more story-telling. It's like a good novel-you can read it for the dramatization of some essential human truths. I recommend it highly.

I'm willing to bet that whoever wrote the editorial review for Publisher's Weekly (above) has never known the crushing agony of losing someone to death that s/he truly loved; or suffered the kind of pain that still drops you to your knees, years, even decades later, begging for mercy. The kind of anguish where you'd gladly give your own life just to make it stop. The kind you bear when you know they are never coming back and there is nothing you can do. I'm very happy for that reviewer. I hope he or she will never know it. But Heart of Grief must be read by those who understand all too well the overwhelming tidal wave of hopelessness that accompanies the loss of a loved one. Where Publisher's Weekly found this book simplistic, I found beauty in its quiet simplicity.

Being of a metaphysical sort, I've read just about all the reincarnation / life after death / love never dies / hypnotic regression / soul mates for eternity / communicating with the dead / type books. I've been spellbound by all of them and will probably continue to read them as they are published because it's a fascinating subject. Besides helping us to understand the process of dying and what comes after, these books pledge that we will someday be reunited. They all assure us that the deceased are still very much alive and well and with us daily, so there is no need to grieve. But they also often come with the stipulation that we must let go so that our loved ones can move forward, and because we want what is best for those we love, we attempt to suppress our grief, no matter how much it hurts us. While the theory seems reasonable, by trying to ignore our suffering, we compound it. We cannot stop the hurt just because we want to. It's not an electrical switch. It's not a water faucet. And it's just not that easy. Grief is complex, binding us with ropes so twisted we cannot seem to find the end that will untangle us.

Heart of Grief shows us that we do not have to let go, and in fact, encourages us not to. With compassion and a comforting voice, Thomas Attig sets forth practical ways to keep and strengthen the bonds of love with those who have died. I found it to be a very spiritually healing and uplifting book that has made a dent in my grief and a difference in my life.

On September 11, 2001, many sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters died. I lost my own son 10 years ago and since that time I have wondered what can really be of help to parents, or other grievers in learning to live with such loss. Now, more than ever, life seems so fragile in this world and the need for understanding grief as important as ever. It is so hard when grief is so great. Our fears of our own mortality spring to the front stage of our emotins nakedly exposed to others. I recently found Tom Attig's The Heart of Grief and it met me right where I was. Using his personal experiences of grieving people, Attig describes a process of learning to love in a new way. He recounts the stories of people's losses and provides a myriad of ways that grievers have found to continue loving the ones they have lost.
Of course, we do not stop loving or forget our loved one. Death does not end our relationshipwith the deceased, but it is different. They are forever gone from this life. Attig suggests that sometimes people fear that when they accept the loss it means they have stopped loving the deceased person. Many people, who are unable to let themselves feel the full impact of their loss, find themselves stuck in wishing for the past and the return of a loved one. Consequently, there can be no real acceptance of the loss. Attig emphaasizes the need to BE SAD because what has happened IS SO SAD. Feeling intense sadness scares many people, so Attig encourages us to find someone to accompany us on this journey, a spouse, a friend, or a professional.
Most importantly, Attig writes that if we do not fully accept and greive our loss, we may have difficulty ever loving again. It is only through acceptance of our losses that we can continue to love those who have died in a new way and to love those who are still with us and love us. The use of real peoples' stories of loss are inspirational and give hope. Attig provides numerous examples and possiblities of ways to learn to love anew. Whether you are grieving a loss yourself or know someone who is, this book is very readable, relateable, informative and comforting. We all will be grievers some day. I highly recommend this book. I has a permenant place of importance on my bookshelf.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. I laughed and I cried. This is written about Laura's walk with God and how show she incorporated her faith in cat shows. Very thought provoking. This is great for new or non-christians. Long time Christians will enjoy this book as well. Just have faith!!!

I loved, loved this book! So will you! Tender, funny, inspiring....enjoy it!

How To Have Purr-Fect Faith is a Christian testimonial from an expert in breeding, raising, and showing award-winning Persian cats. Expressing the author's reflections on what it truly means to have faith in God's unconditional love, and His involvement in everything His creations do, even the daily events of a cat show, How To Have Purr-Fect Faith is a bountiful expression of warmth, spirit, and abiding love. A moving and emotional narrative reflecting the author's deep conviction.

Purr-fect Faith is a wonderful story of Laura's journey of faith as told through her campaign with a national winning cat.
Her writing is interesting and captivating for all persons and was an inspiration to me.
I highly recommend this book.

This book is super. I have read it twice and will read it several more times. The way it is written is just great. Laura has written it in such a way that you want to read it through as soon as you start reading.I found myself not being able to put it down the first time,and just had to read it all the way through,and was glad I did. What an inspiration Laura is for us fellow christian cat fanciers! This book will sell, no doubt. Way to go Laura,for writing down what God had on your heart,and having the Purrfect Faith to go through with it!!

Imagine the thrill I felt when, by accident, I came across Tom Linde's book at amazon.com. I knew Tom when he was in high school and have always wanted to know what happened to him. The reader will find this a story of what a noble man has brought to life. He turned a damaged beginning into a well used life, a life that signifies something: a marvelous story of love, inspiration, courage, and intellect.

I've known Tom since 1973. The book adds a dimension to our relationship that was missing up to the present. His ability to successfully cope with the devastating "horror" of his circumstance is remarkable. His descriptive articulation of this "horror" is what is very new to me and substantially deepens my value of, respect for, and love of this remarkable man. Tom's debits as a human being are similar to many of us and are neither diminished or aggrandized by his unique circumstance. He is truly human, ornery, cunning, at times devious, and genuine.

THANKS, TOM, FOR YOUR WONDERFUL STORY!

I would have to take issue with Dr. Linde's son who says his dad "is an average person, he just works harder at it". He is an extraordinary person who daily faces monumental challenges to live an ordinary life. He demonstrates an iron will and incredible determination in the face of overwhelming obstacles and maintains a beautiful sense of humor throughout.

Dr. Linde possesses a brilliant mind, trapped in a seriously disabled body. He has indeed "worked vigorously to establish a discernible, productive social presence" his entire life, often against great odds. I feel such anger when I read about the lack of accessibility which is afforded him in his own community.

This book answers lots of questions about coping with a serious handicap and is an inspirational journal of Dr. Linde`s life. Praises to his parents and his brother, Dick, who taught him from the beginning that no hurdle was too high and no obstacle to large for him to overcome.

This book possesses humor, culture, education, inspiration - appealing to a broad variety of readers. I highly recommend it!

I highly recommend this book by Dr. Linde. It gives the reader a very clear understanding of what it is like to live with cerebral palsy. But more than that, this book is applicable to readers in all situations who have personal misfortune to deal with. The courage, humor, and personal strength shown by the author are an inspiration to all readers, regardless of whether they are dealing with personal infirmities. This book is a must read for special education majors, and could be helpful in occupational therapy training as well. Also a good personal interest book for the general population.

I'm lucky enough to know Dr. Linde personally, and he is an amazing person. It was interesting to get to read his book and see life through Tom's eyes; to try and understand what it feels like to suffer from such a horrible disease. Tom has overcome his setbacks and propelled farther than many thought he would ever be able to go. Now, through this book, he can teach all of us.
Read this book. Not only is it a well-written book, but it's important for all "normal" people to try to understand what it may be like to be handicapped. Tom's book does that. It can open your heart and mind.

Chuck Swindoll is definitely a gifted writer. There isn't a dull sentence in this book. I've been truly touched by Joseph's life and his devotion to God. However, I do think that this book focuses too much on Joseph instead of God. Swindoll talks of Joseph's integrity, his leadership and how we should emulate him. Of course, when there are great spiritual role-models, we are to look up to them but to emulate them is not our Christian goal. Following and serving Christ is our ultimate goal. Although, Joseph was a great man of God, I felt the book said too much of "Isn't Joseph great?" rather than "Isn't God, who used Joseph, great?"
The book should be read with a grain of salt. Three stars.

The preacher of my church preached one Sunday morning about Joseph, the fellow with the multi-colored coat fr. his father. Before getting into Joseph's life, the preacher told of how Jacob came into Rachel's family, and about Rachel's dad, Laban. Fascinating to me it was. I wanted to find a book to read about "Joseph, etc."--read what an author has penned. Charles R. Swindoll does an excellent job and in an excellent style of writing. I found the book to be a full-fledged account. Joseph's life was awesome.

This is yet another wonderful book in the series. Well worth the reading and study. Have ordered additional copies to give as gifts.

I really like the accuracy of the book. Charles Swindoll is one of my favorite pastors and authors. He didn't let me down with this book.

Although my favorite Joseph book is 'With Joseph in the University of Adversity: the Mizraim Principles', by Dr. Parks, this one is a close second! If you want a pastor's heart in the telling of the story--this one is best! If you want sound principles for everyday life that you or a graduate can use, and really well-organized--go with Parks (if you can get your hands on a copy!). Swindoll does this as part of a series, and it's excellent! These are the best two Joseph books around.

I spent hours online comparing Bibles before buying this one. Even though it's much less expensive then many other Bibles, I find it more informative. With each book, there is extensive background information (historical and on the writer), charts, maps, diagrams, outlines of each book, a concordance, and much more. I love the parenthesis used in the verses, comparing the King James with other versions. I found it helpful during Bible studies. I'd buy it again when this one falls apart!

Mine is the 1950 Revised Edition of Dickson's Indexed Bible by John A. Dickson Publishing Co. The useful supplementary features other reviewers have mentioned so.
For the verses cross reference throughout the Old and New Testament, this is the best and most resourceful out there, better than Scofield, Thompson, Nelson...

However Dickson's does not provide a commentary, my recommendation is going with Bullinger's one-volume (large-print edition is even better) study bible and make a good team.

For readers who like multi-volume set, in addition to convenient one-volume, I recommend Interpreter's Bible Commentary. Each page design is divided into verse, exegesis and exposition. See if you like the current edition or the previous edition copies (mine's throughout 1950s) better.

A meticulous academic set recommended, less known to the public, is the Seven-Day Adventist's Bible Commentary. SDA's is accommodative for non-SDA readers as Ellen G. White's comments are put in separate sections. SDA's design is readers should not have to possess knowledge of Hebrew and Greek to enjoy studying the Bible.

Advanced reader may prefer individual Books shopping, whether one's aim is about `instead of' or `in addition to'. For example, for the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), one may consider Judaism commentary (Rashi, Hertz, Munk, Neusner) to look at the Hebrew Bible the way it was studied by the Hebrew nations; Gospel of John: Raymond Brown 2 vols; Schnackenburg 3 vols; Book of Revelation: G K Beale, David Aune 3 vols, Bullinger.

Like more tools ? Try "Timechart on Biblical History", "Masoretic Text", "Interlinear Bible", Fulton Sheen "Life of Christ", R C Foster "Studies in the Life of Christ".

My advice is always take your time to search and add to your collection/potential to-have list.

I would recommend this study Bible for every Christian. It is, along with the Thompson Chain Reference, the best general study Bible on the market. It will help the believer to dig into the Word on their own. It has the best outlines of all the books I have seen. Though I too use some specialty Bibles too many general Study Bibles, i.e the NIV Study, are so crammed with notes the reader can become distracted. The tools available in this edition of the KJV are there to help us think and understand on our own. Get a notebook, a pencil, and a willing heart and let the Spirit use this Bible in your life.

Many have said this is the best "study" bible ever. I agree. I now own one for my office and my home as well as one for each of my kids and my wife. This is a terrific resource with a real dictionary, topical study helps, many notes before and after the chapters and much more. I especially like that the helps aren't mixed in with the text. You need this help.

RECEIVED THE bible THAT WE ORDERED AND WAS WELL PLEASED IN THE STUDY bible AND WOULD RECONEND IT TO EVERYONE IT IS A VERY GOOD bible TO STUDY FROM IF YOU WANT TO LEARN THE TRUE WORD OF GOD we were also well pleased with the quick shippment and the money that you saved us thank you very mutch RON& NANCY

One Man can do often more than hundred
so-called 'pp'* together.
Devotional Creationist can get me read
his commentary work and appreciate it.

*(profane pros)

i got this study bible for myself at christmas time in 2007. it is written from a creationalist point of view. to counter evolution. all of the hard versus you thought you would never understand are broken down. what i did was i started out using a sharpie highlighter but it bled though the pages. i went to a christian book store to get a bible highlighter it was almost $4.00 just for one color. and when i got it home i could hardly see it on the paper. so i went and bought a set of twist up crayons at walmart. there is 10 different colors. so i would highlight a verse or word that stood out. or i would highlight a verse and the corresponding explaination at the bottom of the page in the same color. let me tell you, this really makes it nice to find a verse quicker and by using the same color on the verse and explaination it really helps to locate the harder versus and their meaning. check out my other reviews on how to really study the bible with just a few products. by using these products over the last 8 months i have learned and reatained more than ever in my life. get 1 or all of these products and watch the bible come alive. i bought 3 of the hardcovers for my relatives. and 2 soft covers for my parents and brother. i like the softcover better it lays open easier, but i bought the hardcovers because they were a little cheaper.
GOD bless you on your journey....................

This is a wonderful edition of the King James Version for anyone with an interest in science. Dr. Morris provides highly readable and eye-opening explanations of many passages - especially gripping when he unveils the science behind such passages as 2 Peter 3:4-7.

The KJV New Defenders Study Bible is just that, a great study Bible.Anyone interested in understanding what the scriptures really say should consider purchasing this Bible. I know I shall enjoy reading this Bible for years to come.

The good;
First let me say I agree with the other reviewers and will tell you this is a wonderful study Bible. I purchased it because I am a fan of Dr. Henry Morris and his work in studying and making available to Christians everywhere strong scientific basis for the literal interpretation of the Bible and creation.
The notes in the Bible with his insights are wonderful and will help you grow in a your understanding of the Bible. The notes are extensive and as one reviewer noted they are the same font size as the Bible text and do take up a considerable amount of the page throughout the Bible. I did not really find this a hindrance at all and in-fact like the fact that the larger font makes the notes easier to read. I also liked the self-pronouncing text and in-text explanations of archaic words, So I think that is really a matter of personal preference.
I would not really look at this so much as a traditional study bible but as a bible with a commentary built in.

The bad;
I did not know Dr. Morris's denominational affiliation and I really did not expect that he would have any dogmatic theological positions in his notes other then his strong stand for a literal six day creation.
But here is an excerpt from his introduction to the Bible;

"The Bible does contain many teachings that Christians have disagrees about, of course, and some annotated Bibles try to take neutral positions on such controversial doctrines. I have thought it best, however, to express my own convictions on these matters, even at the risk of losing some readers who hold other views...Based on this literal and contextual approach, the notes become what one might call Baptistic in ecclesiology, pre-millennial in eschatology, non-charismatic in pnematology, and moderately Calvinistic in soteriology. These are man-made terms, of course, and no attempt has been made to develop formal theological doctrines in the notes. I have tried to be irenic, rather than argumentative, in dealing with such controversial matters, so it is hoped that anyone who disagrees with any particular annotation will still find the other notes helpful and profitable."

As a Charismatic Armenian I do wish Dr. Morris had taken a more neutral position on matters that in my opinion are probably outside of area of expertise as a creationist bible teacher, and had I known this about him and the bible notes I may not have bought it. But I will say to his defense he does not take a very strong dogmatic stand in the notes even though it does become obvious what he believes about certain bible passages. For instance he does not dogmatically say that the spiritual gifts in 1st Corinthians 12 stopped with the Apostles but the notes do reflect the fact that he does not believe they are for today either.

Here is an example of Dr. Morris's notes from 1st Corinthians 12:8
"...No individual would have all the gifts, nor (probably) would any one church. Some would cease with time, others would be added, as needed. They are gifts of the Spirit "as he will" not "as I wish". "

And 1st Corinthians 12:10
"...The word tongue itself (Greek glossa from which we get "glossary"), always refers either to a definite structured language or else the physical organ of speech as used in both biblical and extra-biblical Greek writings (never meaningless noises)."

To me this reflects the misunderstanding of charismatic christians by non-charismatic christians and the gifts of the Spirit.
Modern day speaking in tongues are often in known foreign languages and in our modern times have resulted in people that were present when they were being spoken that knew those languages recognizing them and being converted to the Lord by hearing them. It is not just "meaningless noises".
Additionally, the gifts of the Spirit are indeed given by the Lord as he wills and not as we desire but if we are not open to them being from the Lord in our modern time he does not force them on us either.

I am both a photographer and a "train nut". This book is outstanding!

I'm not a railroad enthusiast per se, but I have to admit I was captivated by the photographic artwork of O. Winston Link. This book abounds with not only great photographs, but Mr. Link has definitely defined Americana of the 1950's through his photography. As a child of the 50's I can definitely relate to the steam locomotives, by the beautiful sounds they made not only at rest, but also by the rhythm of their wheels, and the melodic shrill of their whistles. O. Winston Link is without question one of the greatest photographers of our country, and his photography shows it. This is a great book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in a bygone era.

American steam railroading should go down in history as the most evocative and romantic aspect of the industrial age. Winston Link understood what was happening during the 1950s, and he took care of it. Times were changing, the cheapness of the airplane and automobile were replacing the steam railroad with its giant fire breathing behemoths--indeed the most 'human-like' machines, in my opinion. Link primarly photographed at night using indepedent flashbulbs and reflectors; this way he could control the lighting. This makes his images haunting, yet nastolgic and desirable.

My favorite shot in this book is titled "Highball for the Double Header", one of the last images Link photographed of the railroad, and one of the few in which he used color film at night. In it you witness his mastery for composition as well as symbolism: two articulated steam locomotives being given the all clear by a switchman's lantern, the man being dwarfed by the giant engines and their cloud of steam reaching far up into the night sky--all perfectly illuminated by Link's flashbulbs. A fitting end to Link's oeuvre.

Get this book, you won't be disappointed. Check out the new museum dedicated to his work in Roanoke: www.linkmuseum.org

O. Winston Link, in my opinion, was the best train photographer that ever lived. He knew where to aim the light, how much light to have, and the best places to take photos. Most of Link's photos are taken at night, which enhances view of the massive amount of pure white steam.

This book defines nostalgia more than clearly. Being a railroad and steam locomotive enthusiast myself, I dream about the living in pictures that Link took. In the book, Thomas Garver, one of Link's assistants, illustrates the sounds, details, and reasons for the trains being where they are in each photo.

The Norfolk & Western was the last major railroad in the U.S. to say "good-bye" to steam power. When Link heard of the inevitable decision, he immediately began to "document" the railroad as it was before steam was gone. From about 1955 to 1958, he spent countless hours taking thousands of photos of the steam engines on the N&W. "The Last Steam Railroad in America" brings out some of the best photos he ever took.

I like the photos in this book that pertain to the "Abingdon Branch" of the N&W. I used to live in Damascus, VA, a small town that was one of the major stops on this line. The railroad bed is now a bike trail and I have found every spot that Link stood at in order to take his photos of the Abingdon Branch.

I highly recommend "The Last Steam Railroad in America" to any train enthusiast, photographer, or anyone who has memories of a steam locomotive roaring by their home. It will always have a special place on my bookshelf.

While my major interest in photography has always been the early-20th-century Camera Pictorialists, I've always loved the photographs of the late Winston Link. With their tremendous detail and chiaroscuro, they have qualities few photos have - drama and mood. Link was actually trained as an engineer but made his living as an industrial photographer. Even his commercial photographs had a strong narrative drive; they told the story of his clients' products. Because of his tremendous mastery of technique, Link was able to compose photographs with great spatial depth, and through well-placed illumination, bring them off. Link was long interested in steam locomotives but when a commercial assignment brought him to Virginia, he began a five-year-long project to document the Norfolk and Western railroad, the last steam railroad in america. While he shot the trains of the N & W in daylight - in both black and white and color - it was his night scenes that made Link a cult favorite among photographers. To capture the tremendous size of the locomotives and their ever-present steam, Link carefully composed each shot, blocking in where the locomotive would arrive and placing syncronized flashbulbs along the track to capture a steam locomotive at full cry. Winston Link was an American original who answered to his own muse - the steam locomotive.

Leader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.)--The Foundation for Participative Management and Employee Involvement
Leadership is the "in" topic with top business schools like Harvard and Stanford. It is basically what students get judged upon. In the masses of books on this subject however, no other book goes to the deep roots of the relational approach generating unimposed leadership (the essence of leadership is that it speaks by itself, when it has to be imposed it is called authority).
This book offers a model for developping the skills generating instntly accepted leadership.
It is a must read not only for every student aiming at an MBA but also for every active business man (already gifted or not).
The beauty is that it is pleasant to read. It is not a boring student type of analysis. It is just lively, practical, based on solid common sense, but far reaching.
An added quality is that the style grasps the reader emotionally, and most people read it from cover to cover (a rare feat with business books).

This was the first training and book that I ever participated in on leadership. And, that was 21 years ago! It is still timely and effective. I was impressed in re-reading the book how much of the practices that I had incorporated and made my own. This training and book made a remarkable impact in my life.

If you want the basics on leadership in one bundle - then you want this book. Read it. Use it. Re-read it. Become a more effective and influential leader.

Good, but since I have already read the Parent Effectiveness Training it was a little redundant, and slow moving.

easy to read, we are using it for our class, communication and conflict resolution skills in our team.

I bought this book to use as a reference for a paper that I was writing on the subject of leadership for a communication class. The class had to do with small group communication. As I read Dr. Gordon's approach to leadership, I found that his participative management style was really what I was looking for and a great fit for how leadership can work effectively in a small group. Although the style of his book is definitely written as a "training" book for effective leadership, it has many thought provoking and practical insights that you can apply in many other areas of your life. We all find ourselves in groups throughout our lives in various and diverse situations and circumstances. This book offers some down to earth, common sense advice that you can take and apply when you find yourself as the "leader of the pack" so to speak.

I particularly enjoyed the section on " Doing it yourself - or with the groups help". I think that many people mistakenly believe that you have to use your power and manipulate people to be a good leader and to get a job done. Dr. Gordon shows the advantages of being a facilitator and drawing upon the strengths and resources of all members of the team.

The principles described in this book will not go out of style, because it deals with people communicating with people. Times may change, but leading people will still be the common factor that spans the ages. It can be a great tool for a new leader or for one who wants to brush up on their leadership skills. As a student, I know I'll be referring to it in future classes. This will definitely be one of those books that I'll keep on my bookshelf for future reference.

The commentary is true to the text and serves the reader well.

Peter O'Brien's outstanding commentary on Ephesians completes his trilogy on the Prison Epistles (see his commentary on Philippians in the NIGTC and Colossians-Philemon in the Word series) and, in my judgment, ranks as first among commentaries on Ephesians. Writing from a solid Evangelical stance, O'Brien defends Pauline authorship and wrestles honestly with Paul's majestic, but often complex, letter. While Harold Hoehner's commentary is broader in its coverage, O'Brien brings an amazing depth of insight to the table, and interprets Paul with skill and clarity. I especially appreciated O'Brien's keen eye for biblical-theological connections, which helped draw out many of the Old Testament references which lie behind Paul's letter. O'Brien is excellent with the Greek (though all Greek words are transliterated in the actual text of the book - actual Greek words are in the notes) and almost always has good reasons for his positions. Also, unlike Hoehner, O'Brien doesn't seem tied to a theological system (like Hoehner's dispensationalism, which occasionally slips in) and lets the text say what it says. I've read most of this book as I've preached expositionally through Ephesians over the course of nearly two years, and it is the main commentary I would recommend to others. Hoehner is a close second. The two commentaries together will serve an expositor well. But if you can only get one technical commentary on Ephesians, get O'Brien.

This is a really great commentary on Ephesians. I went through it with a bible study and it was extremely helpful. It is thorough and academic (others are probably more qualified to talk about the scholarship) but also readable and devotional. O'Brien, of course, is solidly evangelical and very well respected in the academic world. If you are looking for a commentary on Ephesians for use in a Bible study or personal devotions, this is the one, provided your group is already fairly grounded in the scriptures and in theology and is willing to invest some time into their study. Other commentaries in this same series (Carson on John etc) are also excellent.

This commentary on Ephesians is a mainstay in my research on this letter by Paul. I am reading and researching Ephesians for the purpose of writing my own commentary for eventual use in a sermon series, and use this book as well as others as a check on my own exegesis. It is highly readable, very insightful, and contains enough detail without being overly simplistic on one hand and overly academic on the other. This was one of the first commentaries I picked up and just read, and found that it read well, unlike some commentaries that are great reference books but just plain hard to read. O'Brien rigorously defends Pauline authorship of Ephesians, and falls squarely within the conservative evangelical camp. The book is technical, with solid exegesis and transliteration of Greek words in the body text with actual Greek in the notes. I would highly recommend this book on Ephesians along with Hoehner and Stott and Bruce. If you can only get one commentary on Ephesians, O'Brien is a good balance of technical and pastoral insight.

Overall, this commentary is one of my favorites. (I'm a pastor who does exegetical sermons from the Greek text).

He interacts with many scholars on a variety of details without getting bogged down. It's easy to read yet gives substantive arguments that summarize well the opposing views as well as explaining his own view.

One issue I would take exception to is his exegesis in Ephesians 2:1 where he labels the phrase 'trespasses and sins' as a hendiadys. The term is probably simply a synonym use-not a hendiadys. I checked with a number of Greek experts who all concur that he is probably off on that point...not a biggie...but I did remember it for some reason.

One issue I really liked was his handling of Ephesians 5:18 ff. Some miss the linkage of the participles which follow 5:18...but O'Brien nails it. His explanations of the Household Table and it's header/title in 5:21 are more convincing than most I've read. I think coupled with FF Bruce on Ephesians and Stott for preaching/teaching phraseology this commentary ranks right up there as a top notch..ya gotta have it...commentary for the 'prince of epistles'. I highly recommend it and still use this book.

The binding on my copy was pretty cheap. The book started falling apart the first time I opened it...and I am seeking another copy. Hope that was just a fluke.

If you are a pastor or bible teacher who works through Ephesians I think you will find yourself referring to this book over and over. Buy it if you have the funds...you won't be sorry if you are a serious student of Ephesians.