Wagner Books

Human All Too Human and Daybreak can be considered as volumes one and two of the same work. As Nietzsche said in Ecce Homo, a careful reading predicates a full understanding of his later polemics. Here, the bombast is not yet as evident but the seismic rumblings of the will to power, the eternal return, the death of god, the over and last-men all are all foreshadowed in Nietzsche's grand, classical deftness and precision of thought. Nietzsche's largest printed work, HAtH has perhaps the broadest and best sustained discussions of nearly every topic of importance to thoughtful and reflective thinkers. This, together with Dawn is a great place to begin reading Nietzsche.

In response to some of the prattlings below-only those who do not know the first thing about Nietzsche think that he was at all anti-Semitic. He wrote clearly, very clearly, against that and against nationalism. In one of his books he stated that Germany should not admit any more Jews inside of her borders. Why? Because he felt that the German people lacked an identity, and knew that Jewish people had a very strong identity. He did not think that Germany, weak and unrealized as it was, could stand an influx of a people that he repeatedly characterized as remarkable.

I am somewhat obsessed with Nietzsche, and this book started it all. Do not dive into his later, more well known masterpieces (Beyond Good and Evil, the Genealogy of Morals, The Gay Science) without acquainting yourself with this book. It is an introduction to his style, and there is no better example of his mastery of psychological observations. In this book he comments on all elements of social reality ("no one thinks to thank the clever man for restraining his wit when in the company of those who cannot practice wit" for example), going into love, friendship, the tenor of social gatherings, absolutely everything that is psychologically investigatable. He brings this method to his later books, in which he tackles larger issues, like the history of religion, philosophy, morality, and other things. But it all starts here-his later critiques of Christianity and everything else are far more understandable after a thorough acquaintance with his psychological method, first and best presented here. If you are at all sensitive and introspective, this book will move you to tears more than a few times.

If you like aphorisms and philosophy, this book will become one of your bibles. If nothing else, it's just plain fun to read for his incredible wit. Of course you have to put his ideas in the context of the period in which he wrote and understand that he has his own odd prejudices, but the brilliance of his understanding of the human condition really shines through. The biggest mistake any reader could make is to think Nietzsche was an anti-semite---far from it. He was anti-neanderthal. In this book especially the reader sees his low tolerance for received wisdom. This book is nothing less than part of the origin of Western psychology as practiced today. It also represents the demolition of science and philosophy polluted by the received Western theological framework. Some of the best parts are when he skewers religion. You have to love his style even if you do not agree with his pessimistic disgust for piety. This is the kind of philosophy book you need not fret over, unless you harbor wishful thinking about a supremely benevolent deity. Instead of making an elaborate argument about the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin, as preceeding systematic philosophers did literally and figuratively, Nietzsche bends the pin and throws it in the trash. I wish I had read this before his Genealogy of Morals, as knowing his thoughts here would have made that book far more interetsing and understandable. I highly recommend philosophy students first approaching Nietzsche pick up Human, All Too Human to start their study. And if you are religious and want to bolster your faith, well, you should stay far away from this book.

O.k. So I have a minor in philosophy and Nietzsche was one of my inspirations to pursue this as a degree in college. Nietzsche deals with androgony. In more modern terms, men and women are crossing over the line of androgeny with their jock image. They are getting more and more androgynous you can't distunguish between even basic differences between the sexes anymore. While my philosophy professor and classmates dismissed Nietzsche as "not being a first rate philosopher," he does have his points about god and androgeny. This is part of our changing world and in philosophy class I did make my points.

if you want to have your moral foundations knocked out from under you, read this book - and then build upon the ruins - Nietzsche's, in my opinion, most accessible work, as his aphoristic style floats over many different topics - don't stop here however, i recommend Kauffman's "Nietzsche, Philosopher, Psychologist, AntiChrist" as a starter if you find the complexity and diversity of Nietzsche's thought to be overwhelming or incomprehensible - he's frequently ambiguous and contradictory but it's more a positive trademark of his works and shouldn't dissuade one from further readings.

Everything a woman needs to know about how to achieve a beautiful, buff body before and after babies! Packed full of information for women and how to understand and overcome self sabotage.

I've had the opportunity to work with Michelle and she is absolutely amazing. The information you will find here in her book is priceless!! I highly recommend this book to women who are interested in getting in shape and staying in shape!

Easy read, fantastic information, revolutionary concept! Michelle hits it out of the park--It's about time someone developed a concept that works WITH a woman's body. I can't wait to let my inner BUFFMOTHER out!!

I have had the opportunity of training with Michelle in the past, and was amazed at my results!! This book is invaluable to women everywhere, as it contains ALL of the information she gives to her personal training clients (for $1200), yet it's in the palm of your hand.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone out there who is ready and willing to challenge themselves in order to see the person inside of them they've always known was there, yet haven't seen in a while or never had the opportunity to let shine through. Her results speak for themselves!!! 13 months after giving birth to her 3rd and 4th child (twins by c-section) she was in incredible shape. This book is a MUST READ!!!

I've been part of Michelle's BUFFMOTHER Rally Room for over two years now. It's a place with an amazing positive force. I have applied much of what Michelle teaches into my workouts over the years and have seen some Great Results and I'm currently training with her personally and can't wait to see how I can change even more!! I knew she was writing her book over the years and couldn't wait for it to come out.
When it did, I was so impressed by the book that I bought 5 more as gifts for my daughters and girlfriends. To be able to understand and work with your hormones is SO valuable!! She has a way of writing that really helps you to understand the cycle and the reasons we feel the way we do at certain times of the month and then how to work with those times in our eating and workouts. Why not work WITH your Hormomes instead of Against them!! Also in the book she shares information to her Rallyroom, her supplements and how you can Build a Better Legacy for yourelf.

This book is excellent and everyone interested in Tarot needs to read it. Although it is written for the Thoth Crowley deck with specific references to symbols as they appear on the cards in that deck, I find it quite applicable to most other decks, as well. The discussion of each card is thorough and well written so that beginners will have an easy time with this book and yet be able to give themselves advanced readings through the use of the multi-leveled interpretations offered in the text.

I've been a professional Reader for over 25 years and am very well-read in the field. I can say with all sincerity that this is by far the BEST book on Tarot that I have ever read!

This book has the clearest interpretations I have ever used for the Thoth deck. It has an entire section in the back about each of the symbols in the cards which is tremendously useful. Another great feature is the quick reading "Yes/No" information for each card. The multiple level information on the trumps is great for understanding how a particular one could come up in a reading. And my favorite part of all is the "Questions to Ask" section, because they illuminate the cards so thoroughly. Simply a superb book.

Awesome book! Suzzane definitly knows her material.
She is an incredibly gifted psychic.

"Integral Tarot" speaks for itself - integrating the Tarot into our lives on all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It is important to note that the foundation for Suzanne's work is the Thoth Tarot, by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris. While the majority of the information contained in this book will also apply to the widely popular Rider-Waite Tarot (by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Coleman Smith), to have a work of this depth devoted specifically to the Thoth Tarot is a definite bonus for readers who use this deck.

Each card is presented with astrological and archetypal associations, upright and reversed interpretations, questions for the Seeker to ask themselves when the card comes up in a reading, the yes/no determination for each card (this was a new and exciting addition to Tarot interpretation for me!), quotes, the body aspect (for the Trumps), the Path (for the Trumps), Self Help (for the Trumps), positive and negative qualities (for the Court cards), and affirmations (for the Pips, or numbered cards).

There is a section called a catalog at the back of the book that discusses the major symbols found in each of the 80 cards (the Thoth Tarot has three versions of the Magus, or Magician)that is quite helpful in incorporating esoteric content into a digestible format.

There are also sections on timing, health, and yes/no/maybe cards, along with a very helpful page that lists cards associated with death, legal issues, long term potential, pregnancy, school, and change.

There is a section devoted to the upright and reversed meanings for each of the cards, as well as a section devoted to in-depth spreads.

I found this material to be well presented, easy to understand, true to traditional meanings for the Thoth Tarot, and gifting the reader with a myriad of ways to put the Tarot to work in their own lives.

Even though I'm studied Tarot for years, I found Suzanne's methodology rich and informative in ways that surprised me.
She has integrated the science and art of symbology and made it accessible and useful.

I'm the mother of an 8-year old daughter diagnosed with OCD. This book opened up new doors for us in treating this disorder. It has been perfect for her, and she actually wants to sit down with me to read it. I believe that giving her obsessions/rituals an actual name and introducing her to a child who struggles with similar issues is a major step in our road to living triumphantly over OCD. I strongly recommend What to Do When your Child has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to go along with it--I ordered both and, along with my Bible, they have a home right next to my bed and already have worn pages!

We were told by a Doctor, who hadn't even met my son, that he thought my son may have OCD. He was referred to the Child Mental Health offices in our local town and there was a 14 month waiting list! I decided to see what I could do as a Parent and I bought this book. I left it on the table and my son picked it up and read it - his initial reaction was "do you think I have OCD", I replied by telling him that I was interested in the subject as I didn't want to label his condition. Since reading the book he has come along leaps and bounds and his teachers said there has been a remarkable improvement in his confidence and his anxiety has gone!

We got this book the weekend my kids were going to their grandparents. I read it on the way to their house and it captivated their attention, both of them (ages 3 & 5). They listened to every single word intently and quietly. They loved the story of the boy and riding his bike up and down the worry hill. It is quite long though and my voice got a litte sore reading aloud for so long. At the end of the book, my son asked, "mommy who's book is that?" and I said "It's yours". He asked if he could write in it. The pages are black and white pictures like a coloring book. I told him he could color the pictures but not to color over the words so that I would be able to keep reading it to them. Unfortunately at Nana & Papa's house there was an accident involving water and the book so only half the book made it back. The cover was torn off and everything. I was so mad! I will probably re-order the book just because he enjoyed it so much.

The book was OK but not great.

It was overly simplistic and not too meaninful for a teenager or parent. It really only skimmed one aspect of OCD, compulsion, and did not address at all the cause of the compulsion, obsessions.

May be more meaningful to younger children...

As a clinician specializing in the treatment of OCD, I highly recommend this book as a resource to clinicians and families with a child with OCD. I've used in in my practice and found it to be a wonderful resource. Clinicians can buy several copies and loan them out to their clients or recommend that their clients get this book.

Larina Kase, PsyD, http://www.TheSuccessfulTherapist.com

The best thing about this book is that throughout the story you're never really sure which side Kane is playing for, and the fact that he's a barbarian and smarter than everyone else in the book at the same time makes him all the more interesting.

1) I label this is dark fantasy. The main character is not a good guy and thus does things that most "protaganists" won't do.

2) I got hooked on Kane from the Wagner book Dark Crusade. Kane as a character does carry the entire story because he is so good at everything...and believably so.

3) I like how this book reveals a little about Kane whereas Dark Crusade didn't say much of anything. Kane's mystery still stands even after this read making you want more in order to truely understand who he is and where he comes from.

Fun read. Wagner is great with action scenes and creates a wonderfully likeable "bad guy" type character here.

Karl Edward Wagner's character Kane is a great blending of Moorcock's tragic hero Elric, with his sorcerous powers, and Robert E. Howard's Conan, with his enormous physical strenght and skilled swordsmanship... Kane is a great hero, with some of the best sci-fi stories I've ever read- and I've read just about all of 'em... Give Kane a try- especially Bloodstone, Night Winds and Death Angel's Shadow...

When a strange bloodstone ring is accidentally unearthed from where it has lain for countless centuries, it marks the reawakening of an evil of elder Earth. And when that ring falls into the hands of the mystic warrior Kane, it marks a dark day for all of mankind. Kane, with his vast experience, is playing a game, a game that only he sees the end of, and even he might just have miscalculated.

Karl Edward Wagner (1945-94) was an American author of some of the finest horror and fantasy literature to have been written, and one of his most interesting creations was the man Kane, an undying warrior and scholar. Overall, I found this book to be a positively gripping read. I found the setting to be quite interesting, and the characters to be absolutely fascinating. If you like such fantasy literature as Robert E. Howard's Conan, then you will love this book. I know I did. I highly recommend this book.

I don't like swords & sorcery, but I read the Kane stories over and over again. Why? Imagine what Conan would be like if he had brains, class, and a believable reason for being so tough. These are rip-roaring adventure stories that still manage to make you think. And Kane is one of the most colorful and fascinating characters you'll ever read about. Piecing together his history from a hint in one story and a clue in another novel is an adventure in itself. And Wagner is a writer of such gifts that he can make you like and empathize with a character who is as much villain as hero. It's a shame these books are not easy to find, but trust me, they're worth the effort.

In this slender volume, Fr. Lee not only provides a neat summary of Wagner's epic, but an ample and insightful look at the political and philophical underpinnings of the opera's genesis. His discussion of Schopenhauer's influence, albeit a surface treatment, never overwhelms the reader. Nor does the discussion of the leitmotives bog the reader down and detract from a lively and personal narrative. Highly recommended.

I found Father Owen Lee's interpretation of Wagner's Ring concise, beautifully written and coherent. I was utterly mesmerized and could not put the book down until I had read it.

Father Lee's book is essentially a fleshing out of some radio commentary given on the Ring cycle. While it is a short book and a quick read, it is insightful, deep, and well worth study and discussion.

There is no single 'correct' way to interpret Wagner's giant gesamtkunstwerk, one reason why so many books of interpretations and analysis of the pieces struggle for shelf space. This one makes a worthy addition to the pile.

Readers new to the Ring will find the synopsis and discussion of each opera informative and most valuable in getting them started to a basic understanding. Those more familiar with the Ring should find much to think about and compare with their own or other interpretations.

Supplemental to the text are suggested recordings, short reviews of additional books worth investigating, and a brief list of some of Wagner's more well-known musical motifs. There are more complete such lists and references available, but again for the novice these will all be of great help.

I found Lee's book informative, fascinating, and useful.

This little book is an excellent introduction for folks like myself who have tried for years to make sense of the cycle. The narration gives a plot synopsis followed by the author's view of the meaning behind the drama. I have always been fascinated by Wagner's Ring Cycle though I do not know German. I have been very intrigued by the music. Well this book gave me a tiny little bit to get me going.

Much of Father Owens' analysis may not meet with everyone's interpretation of the cycle but it does make one think.

There is a section at the end that contains written music. My knowledge of reading music is very scant so I just ignored that section. It is not germane to the narrative because one can get these examples by listening to the work. For good examples get An Introduction To Wagner's Der Ring Des Nebulungen by Deryck Cooke on CD. Mr. Cooke's CD gives audio examples that one can appreciate without knowing how to read music.

to one of the most multi-layered works of art in existence.

I have wanted to see this opera series for over 20 years, ever since I saw an opera properly prepared by a Wagner fanatic. Finally, I was in a place where I could, so I turned to the various preparations that I could find.

This short book was indisputably one of the best, and it doesn't shy from bold pronouncements and interpretations. Lee is a classical scholar of great learning and brings together a huge range of sources in this 100plus-page book.

First, he gives a synopsis. Then, he interprets it, with full awareness that the reader may disgree. While the content is covered by other reviewers here, I wanted to say that this added immensely to my experience of this uniquely complex work of near-modern art. Plus, it is aimed that at erudite admirers, but to those (like me) desperate for an anchor as I approach the unique intensity of Wagner.

While it relies a bit too heavily on depth psychology, which places this interpretation at a certain time, it is never dogmatic and addresses many of the other philosophical ideas that underlie it. This is my only caveat. Truly great works of art are re-interpreted by every age, and this one will be too. In addition, it cannot be the only source one approaches - you need to listen to the music as well, so this is one supplement.

Warmly recommended.

This is a replacement for myself and I bought extra copies for my daughters. The book is very well done with easy instructions and even beginners can follow and get a fabulous finished product.

Another wonderful Leisure Arts collection! This book really does offer something for everyone. Many Afghans are worked while holding 2 strands, which always makes for quick rewarding projects. There are also several strip/motif patterns that are good choices for working on the go. Sophisticated Swirl on page 66 is especially stunning, it will impress your friends and you because it looks very complicated but is actually very simple!

Delightful book, lots of large hook with 2 strands of yarn patterns, as well as mile-a-minute patterns. Easy to follow directions, and quite a few standard type patterns for the traditionalists among us. You won't be sorry if you purchase this one. All crochet.

I'm a casual crocheter. I love this book! It's got a great instruction section at the back and lots of variety in the afghans. I like that there's a full color of each item and the instructions right next to it. No searching to find what you need. You can lay the book open and see the instructions and the picture at the same time.

This is my only crochet book. I actually use the patterns to springboard ideas for dish clothes.

I really enjoy this book. There is a variety of styles, sizes and pattern types to try out. Also, the book tells you the yarn weight and gauge, not the brand of yarn, so substitutions are easy. The only draw back is that there isn't any rating system as to the difficulty of each pattern - a careful reading is necessary before starting any project.

This is an invaluable companion tool to possess alongside your Bible for defending the biblical doctrine of an Unlimited Atonement of Christ Jesus. John D. Wagner has done the body of Christ an immense service in editing this treasure of a book.

John Goodwin (1593-1665), a Calvinist-turned-Arminian Puritan, defends the biblical doctrine of Unlimited Atonement utilizing both Scripture, church history, and logic. He leaves no stone unturned, but covers the subject in an exhaustive style. He even quotes from the likes of Luther, Melancthon, Chemnitius, and Calvin himself, demonstrating from their own writings the presence of a Universal Atonement, highlighting the fact that though Christ's sacrifice is sufficient to cover each and every individual, even intending (p. 129) to cover all people, His redemption will only be applied to the believer.

In an age when the false assumptions of Calvinism is growing, this book stands as a beacon of hope, exhorting every believer to preach and teach the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1.29). What John Owen's 'The Death of Death in the Death of Christ' is to the Calvinist, so is John Goodwin's 'Redemption Redeemed' to the Arminian. No other book I have read covers the doctrine with such thoroughness and clarity.

John Goodwin, in his classic work Redemption Redeemed, presents us with a thorough examination of the doctrine of Unlimited Atonement, and should be a staple in any Arminian's library. Redemption Redeemed could potentially have the same sort of impact on Christian thinkers as John Edwards' Freedom of the Will, and if not, it should (in my humble opinion, Goodwin blows Edwards out of the water). The work is detailed and covers a broad range of Bible passages and relevant subjects. The language bears some of the seventeenth century style and therefore will be difficult for the average modern reader, but take your time and it will pay off. There is a lot of content, so I'll note a few examples.

In chapter 2, Goodwin focused on passages which state that God desired to save or propitiated for all men. At the forefront is 1 Timothy 2:1-6, where for example we read that "he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (verse 4). What is especially handy here is that he not only did he provide a solid interpretation of this passage, he addressed specifically the various arguments of Calvinists that "all men" doesn't mean "all men." He demolished the interpretation of "all men" as "some of all sorts of men" thoroughly, an argument which is still frequently used today by Internet Calvinists. An aside, one observation you will walk away with from this book is that there is nothing new in Calvinist arguments, and folks like Goodwin already dealt with and refuted many arguments centuries ago, which are still propagated today.

There are many other relevant passages that Goodwin drew from, including many which I never thought of as supporting Unlimited Atonement until now. Chapter 5 started with the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, Matthew 22:1-10. As you may recall, the parable outlines a situation where a king's invitation to a banquet gets rejected by his friends. As a result the king instead invites average people off the street. The original invitees were symbolic of the Jews who rejected Christ and the gospel. Goodwin noted from this that as the king intended the banquet for his friends, God intended His grace to be for Jews first. Entailing from this, Christ died for Jewish people who would go on to reject Him. If this is the case then Christ died for people who wouldn't be saved, and therefore He died for all men. Now initially, it doesn't seem to logically follow, but think about it for a moment. If Christ died for one person who would ultimately be condemned, why would he not die for all others? Since God is not partial, one has to conclude that either Christ died only for the elect, or for all people. Since Christ died for some who were not elect, we are left with the only alternative, that He died for all people.

Goodwin was careful in his definition of Unlimited Atonement, neither providing a definition agreeable to Calvinists nor sliding down the slippery slope into Universalism. He spent a good portion of Chapter 6 explaining why the Arminian doctrine doesn't lead to Universalism and then refuted Universalism itself.

Redemption Redeemed is clearly an excellent work. There is much more that I haven't covered here, but I hope this review has whetted your appetite for a good, solid defense of the Arminian doctrine of Unlimited Atonement.

This excellent work is the most comprehensive treatment of Atonement Coverage I have seen. Not only does it encompass the broadest scope of Biblical texts in an exegetically accurate, responsible way, but it cites commentaries and works of theologians from Calvin and Melanchthon to authors contemporary to Puritan John Goodwin. These citations show that the L of TULIP is unfounded, both in careful Bible scholarship and by the observations of these noted scholars themselves.

I heartily recommend this work not only to those sympathetic toward "God so loved the (literal population of the entire) World"; "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World (literal earth's population)" viewpoint. But also those disposed to "God so loved the (representative segments in the world) 'elect'"; "Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the (savable, atonable sectors of humanity) 'elect'."

Goodwin, a rare Arminian Puritan, admirably defends unlimited atonement. Goodwin primarily argues from scripture, but he also provides some arguments from reason and church history. Goodwin's primary scriptural arguments are based on passages saying Christ died for the world, passages saying Christ died for all, the universal offer the gospel, passages saying Christ died for those that ultimately perish, and passages saying God wants none to perish. Goodwin then clearly explains what "unlimited atonement" does and does not mean. Goodwin finishes up with giving solid reasons why Christ died for all and reviewing the historical position of the Church on the issue.

Goodwin provides a unique level of depth on the issues. For example, he goes over the word "world" in great detail, and then reduces multiple Calvinist interpretations of passages like John 3:16 to absurdities. Goodwin covers multiple Calvinist counterarguments to all of his arguments. Through detailed explanations of his position, and contrasts with Calvinists views from multiple angles, Goodwin crystallizes the Arminian viewpoint on the extent of the atonement.

Along the way of accomplishing his mission of defending unlimited atonement, Goodwin gives the reader some real gems. Among my favorites were Goodwin's explanation of the will of God as well as his explanation on conditional election.

Goodwin's style is similar to most Puritans and as such Redemption Redeemed is a tough read. One could use Redemption Redeemed as a reference tool. There's a comprehensive index of scripture references in the back. But my advice would be to put the work in and reap the full reward! It's well worth it.

It should be obvious to any objective student of the Word that the Calvinist doctrine commonly known as Limited Atonement did not come about through an inductive exegesis of the Scriptures, but instead through a rigid system of deductive logic imposed upon it. Although I have read and reviewed other books on this vitally important subject, I appreciated the fact that Puritan John Goodwin treats some passages not usually considered in some of the more modern works, and that he comes at it as a contemporary of the scholastic John Owen. Overall, it becomes blatantly and wonderfully obvious that God has indeed woven the doctrine of General Redemption throughout all of His Word!

In spite of the sometimes-heavy Puritan style of writing, I have to give this work a high rating for the following reasons:

As with all points of the Calvinist T.U.L.I.P., we find, and Goodwin reveals, that their "horrible decree" of Reprobation is always lurking in the shadows. Since, in their logic, God has in eternity past "decreed" that the vast majority of the human race were to be created by Him as already damned, and that that even "pleased" Him, why should Christ pay the ransom for their sins? This scholastic presupposition inexorably drags them to this end in spite of any normative interpretation of the many verses of Scripture involved. This error has forced Calvinism to become more philosophic and systematic than the Bible allows. In fact, Owen's notorious work "The Death of Death" is shown to be based on a faulty premise of "double payment".

Evangelism 101
Most importantly, and thus the importance of works like Goodwin's, is the sad and practical result of this doctrine: Limited Atonement deadens hearts to the fact of God's love manifest throughout the Scriptures to all sinners without exception. As Goodwin so aptly points out, "In all these Scriptures, with their fellows, evident it is that salvation is held forth and promised by God unto all, without exception, that shall believe; yea, that it is offered and promised unto all men, upon the condition of believing, whether they believe or no. So that, upon such declarations of the gracious and good pleasure of God toward the universality of men as these, the minister of the gospel, or any other men, may with truth, and ought of duty upon occasion, say to every particular soul of man under heaven, "If thou believest thou shalt be saved," even as Paul saith that he preached Christ, "warning EVERY man, and teaching EVERY man in all wisdom, that we might present EVERY man perfect in Christ Jesus" Colos. i.28. Yea, this apostle, saith, that God "now commandeth all men every where to repent, " Acts xvii. 30".

Goodwin's quote of Melanchthon puts it this way, "It is necessary to know that the gospel is a universal promise, i.e. that reconciliation" with God "is offered and promised to all men." And " it is necessary to hold fast against" any "dangerous conceits about predestination, lest we fall to reason thus, that this promise belongeth to some few others, but doth not belong unto us. But let us be resolved of this, that the promise of the gospel is universal. For as the preaching of repentance is universal, so the preaching of remission of sins is universal also. But that all men do not obtain the promises of the gospel," i.e. the things here promised, "it ariseth from hence, that all men do not believe."

This explains why, historically, Calvinists in general have always been so detached from missions and evangelism. Any objective study of men like Carey and Spurgeon reveals that they were at best "non-conformist" Calvinists and consequently persecuted by many of their own "brethren".

In addition, in chapter 8, Goodwin lists 32 noteworthy fathers of the early church, including St. Augustine, along with various synods and councils, which all held to General Redemption. Although this is not in itself authoritative, as their writings were not inspired, it is nonetheless interesting to note that this was without a doubt the view held by the vast majority in the church from the Apostles to even past Calvin's day. However inconsistent Calvin's teaching may have been in the conception of Limited Atonement, it was in fact, as Goodwin states, Calvin's disciple Beza who gave birth to it, and the Synod of Dort who fostered it. For those who call themselves "Augustinians" it should be rather ironic to note that part of St. Augustine's attack against the Pelagian error of his day was "to hold that Christ died not for all men" (p. 285). According to St. Augustine Limited Atonement is Pelgianism!

One last note, non-Arminian readers should be aware that Goodwin repeatedly states that a believer, although once saved, can lose his salvation. Statements like "...salvation is never conferred upon any man but upon his believing and continuance in believing unto the end", and believers must "believe perseveringly" bear this out (e.g. pg. 191).

For those who are looking for further biblical studies on General Redemption, please be sure to reference THE DEATH CHRIST DIED a Case for Unlimited Atonement by Robert Lightner, Did Christ Die Only for the Elect? A Treatise on the Extent of Christ's Atonement by Norman Douty, and the mediate position advocated in Getting the Gospel Right: A Balanced View of Calvinism and Arminianism by C. Gordon Olson (esp. Chap. 16).

American Wildlife Art by David Wagner belongs in the library of any one interested in the representational art of North American Wildlife. This book gives the entire history of the genre and does so with thoroughness and authority. In fact, this book could easily be the text for an entire semester class in the art history of wildlife art. Honeycombed with beautiful images to support the text, the book gives the viewer a look at rare illustrations from the past as well as those from modern Master's. Two sections that I found particularly fascinating was the introduction by Robert Bateman on the "state of wildlife art today" and the thorough section that deals with Carl Rungius. American Wildlife Art is one of a kind.

David Wagner has long been recognized as the leading expert and art historian on the wildlife art genre. For the first time a totally comprehensive work has been done on the entire history of this popular art form. David spent 15 years researching this amazing book, which is truly a work of art in and of itself. A must for a collectors, artists, gallery owners or anyone else interested in the field.

The Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is always looking for books to add to our library about wildlife art. American Wildlife Art is the most comprehensive book on the subject that we have come across. It is thorough in its scope and fills a gap in the history of wildlife art in the US, because the information is comprehensive and all in one book. More than just facts; it gives an historical context for this genre of art that is actually interesting to read. It is a large book and cannot be read over a week-end but the information it contains makes it a must-have tome for any library. We have chosen this book as the textbook for our program. It serves as both a reference and adventure story helping students see the role that wildlife art has played in forming our national perception of our wildlife heritage...and the pictures are pretty terrific too.

David Wagner did much of his research in our small public library. Now that his book has been published and in our collection, I am pleased to say that it is checked out almost continuously, and for good reason. American Wildlife Art is a wonderful example of excellent research, exceptional writing and breathtaking illustrations. Although I am neither an art historian, nor an artist, I do recognize and appreciate beautiful art, and good writing presented in a clear, concise, interesting manner. This is an exceptional book written by an author who obviously knows and loves his subject. I highly recommend it.

In the interest of full disclosure, the author is a friend who wrote the introduction to my own book and curated my one-man traveling exhibition. That said, no one is better equipped to write this book, and the finished product is a testament to his deep knowledge. The entire history of wildlife art on the North American continent is here, beginning with the first European invasions and the work of such early Euro-American artists as the 16th-century Jaques Le Moyne, to Robert Bateman and the other 20th century artists whose work served as a foundation upon which was built the marketing phenomenon that is contemporary wildlife art. Between those bookends, I'm at a loss to find anything missing, from the explorer-artists like Catesby and Audubon, through the naturalist-illustrators like Fuertes and Jaques, the sporting artists and everything in between. The stories are rich in detail, describing the trials and motivations that shaped the works that would inspire future artists and movements. Throughout, the book is illustrated with plates that are well selected and well reproduced.
- Carel Brest van Kempen

This book is amazing. not only is it a good reference book for beginners to experts, it contains valuable references to sources outside of the book. McMullen makes no attempt at completing a thorough "UNIX bible." Rather he usese this book to illustrate the basics and use references and tools to find more information in addition to this book. I think that that aspect is what makes this book indispensible. The "UNIX for Dummies" is not as good as this one

This is a great review for any beginner who really knows nothing about UNIX. It's not boring and "text-bookish", but it's also not stupid and sappy, which is something that sometimes with books for beginners. Highly reccomended!

From this book's inner jacket (A Quick Reference guide and a Command Reference guide) to the reference information provided at its end, this book provides an excellent introduction to the world of UNIX. Even "seasoned" UNIX users can pick up a few facts from here, like the "history" of UNIX, the numerous UNIX operating system "flavors," and even troubleshooting common system problems.

But there's much more here. There are chapters devoted to topics like the different UNIX "shells" (and their descriptions), file manipulation (along with opening, editing, saving, and printing files), working with the X Windows system, UNIX text editors like vi and emacs, and even how UNIX and the 'Net are intertwined with each other.

One more thing I liked about this book (besides the wonderful diagrams and screen captures) was the attention paid to describing various UNIX commands and their options. That really helps to "de-mystify" this operating system.

Even though I'm more of an "intermediate" UNIX user, I've searched for a long time for a good introductory UNIX book. I'd say this one definitely fits the bill.

Everybody likes easy to read books and I also assume that learning UNIX is not necessarily has to be a struggle. This book stood up to my expectations almost perfectly: it is very well written and clearly expressed work. It does not overwhelm with technical details and does not press too much. It is VERY descriptive and takes you snoothly from subject to subject. I also followed an advise in someone's review and purchased "UNIX Essentials" DVD that is complete unix course recorded. These two nicely complement one another. You watch it and you read it. If you didn't catch it from the first try you watch it again and read it again. In two months I found myself confident to that extend that gave advises to our system administrator and he accepted them because there were subjects that he wasn't completely sure. What I can say, in three month I passed my first interview and got a job! Sure it is a way to start and there are much more advanced reading, however these two provide you with the background !
I can't overstate how much I have learned from them. Don't be naive, though. You will have to learn and memorize many things. The fact of owning neither book nor DVD will not make you knowledgeable, but if you will work it trough, trust me, you will surprise many people around!

I have formidable experience with different books on UNIX and related subjects and this one would be in the list of my favorites. It is very well written, very articulate; it goes into many subjects with great attention to details and so on. For a first time UNIX user, it may be used with Linux and UNIX for a beginner training suite, 4DVDs + 2CDs includes 4 Unix Academy Certifications ed.2008.
Highly recommended.