Western Books

I had this book as a teenager, but my mother made me throw it away along with the rest of my romance novels because she thought they were dirty. For years I felt bad about it and never touched another romance, but the story of "Forget Me Not" always struck a cord in me. This novel is everything I ever wanted in a romantic relationship, and I can say that I have been blessed with this kind of love in my marriage to my husband Edward. Finding this book after almost ten years was a miracle and I will keep it with me always. A great read and a lasting story!

Wonderful characters:
Josephine Whittaker - 25, was married for 6 years - is now free and independant and stranded with no money in the town of her dreams, Sienna, Wyoming. Such a prissily raised lady. No qualifications to land a self-supporting job.
Keeps refering to Beadle's dime novel "Rawhide's Wild Tales of Revenge in Sienna".

J.D. McCall - 28, never married but has visited the "ladies" in the Walkingbars saloon - owner of The McCall Cattle Company ranch [a big ranch]- has no time or interest in a city bred gal.
Suddenly finds his hormones sitting up and taking notice of Jospehine.

Rio Cibolo - 18 year old, blonde full-of-gut-and-glory wrangler. J.D. had to rescue Rio from jail for causing a disturbance. Rio discribed Josephine as "pretty as a thirty dollar pony". J.D. claims he didn't notice.

"Boots" McCall - sixty some years - afraid his is losing his mind - forgets some things - on the outs with J.D. most of the time until ...... - proves to be a friend to Josephine.

J.D. needs a cook - one who can produce a hearty meal on the trail.
Jospehine's qualifications: she is an excellent hostess, has a flair for choosing the appropriate table service for same party, qualified to supervise domistics in a large household - oh yes, she is also a master at archery. [now pay attention to that]. Well she could read couldn't she? All she needs is a cookbook!

Follow the wonderfull progression of the relationships between these characters as their individuality bounces of one another and the story describes their blending together into working family.

Emotions, love, jealosy and hormones all blend to make for a lively story of wounded people. Enough sass and backtalk to keep it spicey.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M even with the PMS

I enjoyed this book quite a lot and thought it was sweet. But having just finished HARMONY, I found this book not as good. I thought that HARMONY was great and I was ready to laugh again.

Imagine yourself as a well-bred city girl, leaving the security of the city after six years of marriage to an abusive husband, and ending up in a crude cow town. Imagine having all your money and worldly possession mistakenly taken. Imagine applying for the job of ranch cook in order to survive and you have never cooked a meal. Imagine falling in love with a man whose own mother abandoned him as a child and who has no time for a fragile city girl. If you can imagine yourself in this situation, you're, Josephine Wittaker, the heroine of "Forget Me Not". On the surface, the book is filled with humor. Some scenes are absolutely hilarious, but under the humor is much much more. The book is about relationships, about people who've been hurt and who're learning to trust and love again. One of the novel's forte is the brilliance of the author's characterization. Each of the major characters is unique in his/her own way. Even the minor characters are not stereotypes, but individuals with their own personality and voice. Boot, the hero's father is a vivid and unique personality and so are the cowboys who work on ranch. Josephine is a fiesty heroine, a woman who has suffered and is brave enough to go after a new life. J.D is strong and silent, afraid to love but when he does he loves fiercely. The story is fast-paced and readers will be sure to applaud when Josephine eventually proves to J.D that she has the grit and gumption to be a rancher's wife. This is the first book I've read by Ms. Holm, but it's definitely not my last

Highly Recommended Josephine Whittaker has read too many Beadle dime novels. Newly divorced, determined to be independent, and robbed of her meager funds, Josephine accepts employment as the cook on a trail drive. There is only one problem: Josephine doesn't know how to boil water. Until four months ago she was worth four million dollars. Now she is destitute and despised by former so-called friends. Dismayed to find the Western town of Sienna unlike the description in the Beadle novel, Josephine squares her shoulders to face reality. The death of her father stamped "closed" on her former life; all bridges to the East burned behind her as the train sped West. J. D. McCall knows to take a pretty woman on a rugged trail drive is akin to folly, but Josephine is the only one who applies for the cook's position. Trail-hands will tolerate almost anything but bad grub. Dressed in a gown of silk, Josephine looks nothing like a cook, but she assures J. D. pan-fried beef is her specialty. By coincidence it is the favorite meal of all the cowboys at the McCall ranch. The way the touch of her hand, the smell of her perfume, the warmth of her smile makes J.D. feel has no bearing on his decision to hire her. What he feels is just an anomaly. He will survive it like all of the other illness he's contracted. At least that's his plan until the first time his lips feel the delicate brush of her mouth. When the sparks die, and earth again begins to rotate, J.D. is a doomed man. Prim and proper Josephine Whittaker lists his heart as her new residence. Josephine's first attempts at cooking prove disastrous. Yet, what is a newly independent woman to do but try again. Determined to earn enough money to settle in San Francisco, she takes the recipe book as her bible. However, nowhere in the cookbook is there a formula to cure the way J.D. makes her feel. His first kiss literally curls the toes in her shoes. The mere touch of his hand and her will-power flies South with the migrating birds. Josephine and J.D. battle more than trail dust on the long journey to the Spring pasture: fears of failure, old memories, and the constant presence of the cowboys play a tug-of-war with the lover's burgeoning emotions. Stef Ann Holm writes an unforgettable novel filled with insight, memorable characters, and picturesque narrative. The original plot moves at a quick pace, but never looses it way. The dialog works to enhance the storyline, and clarifies the images of her characters. Ms. Holm's ability to understand the working of a shattered heart is nothing short of marvelous. Her empathy and insight create a book to cherish. Kathee S. Car

It is a book that can be understand only through thought system of Holy Spirit, where it's curriculum is beyond what our world has to offer. Content of its holy wisdom is well captured in the book "Course in Miracles". Since Course in Miracles is difficult to understand, it is further supported in the book "The Disappearing of the Universe" and "Your Immortal Reality" by Gary Renard which is a must, if you want to save your self 20 years of study and frustrations. Holy Spirit teachings is simple, but our split untrained mind is not.

Do you want a deeper walk with Christ? This is a book worth reading.

St Teresa of Avila considered de Osuna's book The Third Spiritual Alphabet to be a turning-point in her life as a Christian. Mary Giles has made a translation of this 500-year-old work which reveals de Osuna as a kindly, humorous, and utterly serious man of God, much as CS Lewis is for the modern man. Yet the search for a deep relationship with God is the same for the Renaissance man as for the man of the 21st century. This is a book to be savoured, read slowly, underlined, re-read, and cherished. To understand the advice here is not difficult, it is simply difficult to choose to do it. After all, we have much more accessible ways of filling our minds in our century: the television, the radio, movies, the Internet. Perhaps even some of our church services contain more easy entertainment than substance.

De Osuna is a writer who connects things, who relates the known to the unknown by metaphor and simile and nature, with surprising ideas that one feels interiorly, as truths one has always known but never articulated. He is Biblical to the core, and seems to have a photographic memory of scripture, with one glaring error simply showing that he was writing without references! The things he pulls from scripture for our understanding are nothing short of delightful. All scripture references are footnoted by the translator, which is very helpful.

De Osuna requires of the reader total attention and dedication. Yet the task is as exhilarating as any scenic mountain climb. I thank Ms Giles for for her thoughtful and readable work, and I thank whatever powers that be for publishing this book. It is a timeless work.

Of the many aspects of mystical theology Osuna addresses, I particularly like his description of an "inflaming of the spirit." He writes of experiencing "... such sweetness that the soul would like to be consumed... it is exceedingly gladdened in the Lord, [and] its tranquil conscience witness to our feeling of being loved by God..." (p. 71) If you are drawn to such a state, you're likely to appreciate Third Spiritual Alphabet, a gem of 16th century Spanish mysticism with expert introduction by translator, Mary E. Giles.

An early 16th Century Spanish mystic, Fr. Francisco de Osunacontributed six spiritual alphabet's for humankind's spiritualgrowth. The Third Spiritual Alphabet being not only a treatise on love and how to enjoy a recollected life in the midst of the chaos of this world; but as well, the very book that that strong cookie, St. Teresa of Avila, chose to use as her "bible" throughout her intensely productive and deeply committed life. One look at the cover of this paperback with Liam Roberts' excellent painting of this very beautiful priest gives one a clear sense of his own personal struggles and the satisfaction he must have felt in overcoming them. END

I recommend this book to anyone that wants to further his/her
spiritual quest.

I hope that you find this a gem.

I loved this book from Dianna Crawford. I am very cautious about the books I read as I don't want to read anything unproper for my age.(15) This book was exciting and old fashioned just the way I like it. Ike and Annie make a Great couple and i can't wait to read her second series about Baxter and Sabina and the rest. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good Christian read!

this is the first book from Dianna Crawford I have read...I love Dee Henderson so much I am cautious picking up any other author...since I have long since read all of Dee Hendersons books I was desperate for a good story...I loved this book and am right now looking for more written by Dianna..

I have been a christian for a long time but until now i have not gotten into Christian novels, perticularly romance. I read Freedom's Promise by Diana Crawford, and fell in love with the Reardons. I immediatly went to amazon to order the rest in the 3 part series. I have devoured them all and loved every minute. I then went onto the Reardon valley series and am currently on the last book. these are happy ending, christ filled novels. I have come to love Diana Crawford and her storytelling.

For the first time in Annie McGregor's life, she's free. Her years of servitude drawing to a close, Annie hears there's a man in town looking for settlers to accompany him across the mountains into Tennessee country. Could this be the answer to her prayers>
Issac Reardon is on a mission to claim his betrothed--along with a preacher and a small group of settlers--and return to the beautiful home he has carved from the rugged wilderness. He is devastated to learn of his intended wife's betrayal. And now to make matters worse, he's confronted with a hardheaded, irresistible young woman who is determined to accompany his wagon train--without a man of her own to protect her!
Together, Annie and Ike must fight perilous mountain passages, menacing outlaws, and a rebellious companion. As they do, both are shocked to discover their growing attraction, which threatens to destroy the dream of freedom for which they have risked their very lives.
The first in an exciting new historical series by best-selling author Dianna Crawford.

A truly exciting adventure of a young girl seeking to improve her life by moving west from North Carolina into the untamed land soon to be Tennessee. I admired her grit and her faith in God's plan for her life.

All I can say is that this is by far one of the best books that I have ever read on gun rights.

I've had the opportunity to meet Sheriff Mack. His genuine character is reflected clearly in this book. "From My Cold Dead Fingers" is a clear and concise explanation of precisely why Americans need to preserve the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Sheriff Mack tackles the various issues surrounding gun control in an format that is both easy to read and easy to reference. While the book is probably somewhat elementary for those already involved in the struggle to maintain 2nd Amendment freedoms, it is still a good quick reference piece. For those not sure about the issue or even on the other side, the book is wonderfully written so that anyone can understand the pro-gun argument without devoting hours trying to dig through masses of numbers and statistics. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who doesn't already have a copy!

This book is well-written and well-documented. I would recommend that every American (or anyone else that cares about freedom) get this book and read it through. Though the title is provocative, the facts are laid out clearly inside.

Richard Mack's book, in very literate style, exposes some of the disguised movements the liberal left is promoting to disarm lawabiding citizens of their Constitutional Right of self defense. Mr. Mack illustrates several examples of the propaganda being put before the American Public,by the anti-gun crowd, with misleading titles to lure the unsuspecting into a "this must be a good thing" attitude. A must-read book for any American concerned about the slow erosion of our constitutional rights and in particular The 2nd Amendment. ...the right to keep and bear arms...

Sheriff Richard Mack is a legend. He refused to enforce the Brady Bill in his county in Arizona, and filed a lawsuit, claiming that the Feds may not require a local magistrate to enforce a federal law. The Supreme Court upheld his point of view, and struck down the enforcement part of the Brady Bill, which no local law enforcement personnel are required to carry out. Good book, showing his basic understanding of the right to keep and bear arms. It is not a "right conferred by the Bill of Rights," but a pre-existing right that the Bill of Rights simply recognized as being more fundamental to freedom than the creation of a national government. Worth the read.

This book is not only great for travelers, but for those moving to AZ as well. We moved there for Air Force training in Tucson and were pleasantly surprised about the detail in this book. We just didn't have enough time to explore everything in it! Was well worth the purchase!!!!

Great guide, excellent overview with plenty of ideas and options for itineraries. A comprehensive look at travel plans for the state, and also consolidated ideas for itineraries within each sub-region, etc. Good tips on which national parks to visit to help you better implement your time over the vast expanses of (often rough) terrain. Still relevant, grab it for a song!

Frommer's is a comprehensive guide to travel and this guide for Arizona was on target in all areas. We used it for lodging, restaurants, attractions, and even to identify points of interest that we past. Since it was current, it was very accurate as far as recommendations and locations. Maps were useful also.

Being a winter visitor in AZ for over 5 years now, we have found the 2001 Frommer's to be a great guide for celebrations, day trips, and travelling in general. Explanations are great for each landmark, with phone #'s to make reservations and check open times. I always do that because businesses do change their hours seasonally, and from year to year. I an ordering a 2006 Frommer's AZ soon. pmd

We used the 2006 book to find our way around Phoenix, and it was very helpful. I didn't use the maps (pretty good one from Hertz), but the listing of things to do, places to eat, and shopping really helped. Their "finds" came through like a charm with the Blue Adobe Grill in Mesa- a must try!

All in all, what I look for in a guide.

Wonderful book and very helpful during a process that feels dangerous, chaotic and completely crazymaking. The book pointed out several ways to approach the fertility process and helped me focus on the positive. I bought the yoga dvd that these women have made as well and am looking into taking a local course developed by Pulling Down the Moon. It is not only worth the money but the valuable time to read.

Fully Fertile is an amazing book because it challenged and encouraged me to look at my fertility journey differently. It guided me through easy to follow chapters on meditation, yoga, diet, prayer, etc. that give examples and exercises that can actually be done (for those of us who weren't necessarily comfortable with such things before). I was lucky to be part of the pilot program, and would highly recommend this book to all who are trying to have a baby. For an even better experience I would recommend reading this book with a group of women as a book club so that you can have discussions about the different chapters as you are going through. There are resources in the book to help you find practitioners for different services, and information if you are trying to start a group. Fully Fertile is a heartfelt book that is not only good for fertility preparedness, but also for life.

Finally there is a book that empowers and educates women in their own fertility. This book is easy to follow and understand, I learned a lot. The yoga poses and the information about acupuncture and meditation helped ground and encourage me. I'm sure a lot of women (and couples) will be helped by this material.

As part of the pilot program for this book I was so blessed with not only the information and insights that the authors so freely shared, but by the support I feel they gave me during this difficult journey. The enlightenment and encouragment helped me see beyond this desire and discover who I really am. Acupuncture, yoga, nutritional information, meditation and the words of this book allowed me to find balance and peace again. I'm eternally thankful for this book!

For anyone going through the fertility journey, I HIGHLY recommend this book! I have read several books and perused many articles on fertility but this book proved to be the most thorough and holistic. From nutrition to exercise to prayer, it covers every aspect that should be considered while trying to conceive. And even if you're not successful in getting pregnant, the information shared in the book will assist in leading a healthy lifestyle. Thank you, Beth and Tami, for using your gifts and sharing them with others. Namaste.

A superb book - lots of fun - but digestible only in little bites. There is a lot of information in here!

This book is a must read - it was so entertaining and funny, I had pop comming out of my nose laughing! And my friends and I had a great time sitting around the piano playing and singing the composed musice enclosed! We even added a few lyrics of our own to the already hilarious lyrics ;-)
Have Fun!

If you share my growing concern at the musical cross-over tendencies in synagogue songs and how "un-Jewish" much of today's Jewish music sounds, you'll find a charming antidote in Dr. Jack Gottlieb's new and original coffee table book: Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish. Gottlieb's earnest musical detective comparisons and analyses invite us into joyfully playing the "sounds like" game. After we chuckle in consternation, at the Yiddish or liturgical roots of a pop song's pedigree, we marvel at the truism that there seems to be "nothing new under the sun"; especially under the show biz music lights.

Gottlieb loves to make puns and burst bubbles. This effervescently entertaining study is filled with anecdotes, song sheet covers, musical illustrations, photos of composers and performers, and even an accompanying Audio CD to bring home his astute assertions.

Some of my favorites include: Did you realize that -

George Gershwin's It Ain't Necessarity So is kin to the Torah blessing Barachu Et Adoshem Ham'vorach?

The Torah cantillation for Merchaw R'via inspired both Bach's Oh Sacred Head Now Wounded and Paul Simon's American Tune?

Rozhinkes Mit Mandlin prompted Irving Berlin's Blue Skies.... and my all time favorite

I Am A Gay Caballero, I'm back again from Janeiro is both Y'hei sh'mei rabah m'vorach from the Kaddish and Ashrei yoshvei veitecha od y'hall'lucha selah

Are you curious to follow Gottlieb's unearthing of more of these amusing affinities? There are dozens of other examples, some more apparent than others, but all will cause you to "aha!" pause, smile, and, most importantly, think about what we consider immutable Jewish traditional melodies.

Dr. Gottlieb is an engaging author and lecturer (this book began as a touring presentation with him at the piano). He is a published composer of both secular and synagogue music who most recently was honored by The Milken Archive of American Jewish Music when it distributed a CD of his works on the Naxos label. He is also a meticulous researcher, program notes writer, and former assistant to Leonard Bernstein. In all these endeavors it is quite obvious that he is also a passionate lover of all thing musical and Jewish.

We offer kudos to Dr. Gottlieb for this wonderfully endearing study of Jewish melodic ties to mid 20th century pop music and enthusiastically recommend it as both an urbane entertainment and a carefully documented study. Buy it and enjoy!

Over 30 years ago there was a famous ad campaign for a brand of "Jewish rye bread," showing an American Indian eating a deli sandwich, and the caption read, "You Don't have to be Jewish to Like Levy's Rye Bread."

With regard to this book, this was never so true. Anyone who love the "Great American Song Book" spanning the first half of the last century cannot afford to miss this book.

Especially remarkable is that it IS a scholarly book, complete with footnotes and bibliography, but the tone is also so jocular.

The accompanying CD of musical examples alone is worth the cost of the book.

Do yourself a favor - Order this book, but pass on the Most book offered by Amazon.com in tandem. It is hardly as comprehensive and definitely pales by comparison.

Don't be mislead by the title of this book. It isn't glib or lightweight--in fact, it's a brilliant analysis of the subconscious effect synagogue music and Yiddish song have had on our most beloved popular music. When I picked it up (out of curiosity) I found myself mesmerized and couldn't stop reading.

The book is peppered with musical examples that continually evoke "I never realized that song was related to that"! Gottlieb must have spent decades researching this and it seems unbelievably thorough. He doesn't stop at musical analysis; he also includes a good examination of the history behind everything, particularly focusing on the heavy periods of emigration, when most of the (now) well-known Jewish composers came to America. The book made me look at some of the best known popular songs in a new light, yielding a deeper understanding of what went into their creation.

It may seem a little expensive, but you also get a CD packed with great rare recordings that have never been released before (try Bernstein performing Blitzstein's classic "Zipperfly" or Jolson singing "Khazn oyf Shabes" in Yiddish).

Gottlieb decides to pay limited attention to some of the living composers who focus on Jewish themes (for example, Jason Robert Brown and Osvaldo Golijov are only mentioned casually) but I suspect he could write another book on them. Let's hope he does--I would line up to get a copy.

In Genevieve Of Tombstone, John Duncklee has written an original, highly recommended western novel set in the Tombstone, Arizona during the 1880s, a time when the Earps and the Clantons were typical examples of the men who ranged from ranchers and lawmen to gunslingers and rustlers. But in that frontier community there was also a woman of great spirit, toughness and heart called Genevieve. A free spirit whether she was working in a fancy house or running her own cattle spread, Genevieve made her own way in a time when, and place where, men with guns thought they were in charge.

A first rate read: fascinating, trustworthy. It gives a far different picture of Western life than so many of the old school. Daring to enter the mind of one very real woman of Tombstone, the book follows the unique path she takes, both in business and love.

As far as I'm concerned, poetry is the place for wordsmiths. You can run them off the ranch when it comes to fiction. What you want is compelling drama, and Genevieve brings it on a platter. If you want plain prose that rings clarion clear, and reaches into your heart, this novel will do so. Novelized, but taken from a true story, Genevieve of Tombstone speaks truth in every sentence. Don't miss this one if you want the REAL west. Larry Jay Martin, author of Last Stand, Sounding Drum, Shadow of the Grizzly, etc.

A marvelous creation,brimming with passion, honesty, and grit. The reader emerges with that good warm feeling one gets only when having met flesh and blood characters. Genevieve's rise from the bordellos of Tombstone to respectable womanhood sticks in the mind long after the last page.

Duncklee gets better and better. Genevieve... poses a different view of the Old West. Instead of a lament from some gunslinger or cowpoke, Duncklee has used the eyes and memory of a Tombstone whore. Tragedy and triumph, luck and good planning, they're all in the book. Genevieve poses the question "Why hasn't more material hasn't been written from the views of the West's secondary citizens?" More power to Duncklee, I'm looking forward to his next bit of scribblin'. Sic 'em, John.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF MOZART:
INSTRUMENTAL WORKS, UNLOCKING THE MASTERS SERIES, NO. 3
by DAVID HURWITZ - PAPERBACK - AMADEUS PRESS, 2005 - 187 PAGES.

RATED 5 STARS & HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by MOZART ENTHUSIASTS
for NOVICE MOZART CLASSICAL MUSIC LOVERS!

Over the last 20-years as a MOZART AFFICIANDO, I have read at least 50 MOZART BOOKS and would rate this book - A++ and 5 STARS!!!

Founder and editor of an online daily classical music magazine, author DAVID HURWITZ discusses features of Wolfgang Mozart's classical music in general and specific instrumental works to help listeners better understand and appreciate Mozart's special genius. This book is a guided tour of Mozart most popular musical works historical information on each work's composition, and an analysis about what makes each piece truly "noteworthy." This book also explains and examines MOZART'S CHAMBER MUSIC, ORCHESTRAL MUSIC (SERENADES AND SYMPHONIES), and CONCERTOS (PIANO and WIND). The book contains a free MOZART CD with sample BMG Classics recordings of some of Mozart's most famous musical works.

David Hurwitz is fantatically insightful. Himself a composer, he gets to the heart of Mozart. His discussion is the sort that enlightens newbies, and stimulates the professional by going back to basics.
I enjoyed every page of both the Mozart books, and the musical cds were full of well chosen examples.
Roberta Prada, contralto, author of "The Ear and the Voice" in English, with Francis Keeping andPierre Sollier, and translator of J Faure: "The Voice and Singing" with Francis Keeping. Principal of Vocalimages.com, and voxmentor.com

This is the second volume of a two volume series explaining the genius in Motzart's work. This folume concentrates on the Instrumental Works. To listen to great music and to enjoy it is one thing. Yet the professional student of classical music sees/hears/understands so much more than the rest of us.

In this book David Hurwitz, the founder and executive editor of daily classical music magazine, takes readers through Mozart's seven major operas, one part at a time explaining what he sees in each area. This provides an insite that most of us, particularily those of us living in remote areas, can never see.

I never imagines that you could see so much in this music.

The book comes with a full length CD that includes eleven of Mozarts pieces.

Unlocking the vast rewards of classical music takes more than just casual listening - it requires learning some of the basic aspects of music (rhythm, structure, harmony, etc) and a little of the historical context of the composers and his/her predecessors. Mozart is an excellent place to start into classical music for many reasons - one being his highly-melodic music is considered easily "accessible" to the average listener who can appreciate and enjoy it without any musical know-how.

In this fresh and much-needed new series, vetern music-writer David Hurwitz gives us an enticing roadmap to understanding the music of Mozart in a way that most anyone can deepen their music appreciation and enhance their listening experience. The text is friendly, well writen, without complex jargon and analyzes Mozart's music in simple but enough detail to reveal just exactly "what makes Mozart's music sound like Mozart."

Mr. Hurwitz takes the classical enthusiast through the some fifty major works of Mozart's instrumental music, focusing each chapter on one category (chamber music, symphony, concerto, church music). The vocal works (opera, concert arias, masses) are in a separate volume with the green cover. Within each major work, Hurwitz describes the most common musical "structures" Mozart used - such as the all-important sonata form, theme-and-variations, rondos, and the minuet. His "analysis" of Mozart's well-loved piano concertos is quite interesting and helpful, breaking them down into 10 'groups' to help get your hands around the differences in composition and effect of each. The accompanying CD of several movements helps bring to life Hurwitz's commentary of several featured works that are discussed in more depth.

I also appreciated his defense of "delightful music" such as Mozart's from the critical voices that sometimes devalues such music as merely "cute" - while giving elevated status to the later, more troubling-sounding music of the Romantic or Modern eras ... or as he jokingly terms it: "the suffering, Romantic, artist-hero expressing personal misery in their creations." Great music is not only about dramatic tension, disturbing dissonances and individual emotional expression but also about pleasant, happy tones that anyone can enjoy.

Hurwitz' book is one of the "fun to read" intros to Mozart and classical music appreciation and is highly recommended. It should appeal to both the newcomer as well as those with more experience in classical music as it also has great depth and detail. If your interest is to follow in more detail the actual musical scores for several popular works, a similar but slightly more musically-involved book is by Robert Harris' ("What To Listen For In Mozart"). Harris' books are also easy and interesting to read for the non-music major types.

As another reviewer has already pointed it, this collection would make an EXCELLENT intro to the wonders of classical music, as well as a must-have for Mozart fans. Even if you already have these pieces, having it on one collection makes the drive to work a pleasure rather than a chore. Highly recommend.

Gilson brilliantly demonstrates that God's description of himself as "I AM who AM", in revelation to Moses and the Jewish people, is the foundation of western metaphysics - it is the decisive answer to the Greek's search for meaning. It was in this decisive encounter between God and his people that God showed himself to be pure Act.

"Existence is not a thing, but the act that causes a thing both to be and to be what it is. This distinction merely expresses the fact that, in our human expericence, there is no thing whose essence it is "to be" and not "to be a certain thing thing....Since the nature of no one of them (things) is "to be", the most exhaustive scientific knowledge of what they are will not so much as suggest the beginning of an answer to the question: "Why are they"? "If the nature of no known thing is "to be", the nature of no known thing contains in itself the suffient reason for its own existence. But it points to a sole conceivable cause...there must be some cause whose very essence it is "to be". To post such a being whose essence is pure Act of existing, that is, whose essence is not to be this and that but "to be" is also to post the Christian God as the supreme cause of the universe". (page 70-72).

"The true reason why this universe appears to some scienitist as mysterious is that, mistaking existential, that is, metaphysical, questions for scientific ones, they ask science to answer them. Naturally, they get no answers. Then they are puzzled, and they say that the universe is mysterious" (page 128)

For Gilson, Scientists "prefer a complete absence of intelligibilty to the presence of a non-scientific intelligibility"

"Much more common, unfortuantely, are those pseudo-agnostics who, because they combine scientific knowledge and social generosity with a complete lack of philosophical culture, substitute dangerous mythologies (progress, for example, my inference!) for the natural theology which they do not even understand (page 137). This sounds like a remarkable forewarning of what is happening in our culture where science and progress are elevated to the pantheon of the gods. Witness the complete lack of meaningful debate in the UK concering the creation of saviour siblings and human-animal hybrids for experimentation, the latter being put forward simply because there may be some benefits and hence possibly some scientific benefits.

Finally, the question which must always and everywhere be asked is "Why is there something rather than nothing"? (page 188).

Thales of Miletus, whom tradition regards as the first Western philosopher, is well-known for the rationalist view that the first principle is water, and the religious statement, "all things are full of gods." (p. 1) For Gilson, this epitomizes the problems of relating philosophy and religion. How can religious and philosophical statements about God be reconciled? For Thales and the Greeks, Gilson argues that they cannot, but that it is otherwise with the Christian philosophies of Being.

On this basis, rejects the view that Greek philosophy is a rationalization of a religious viewpoint, apparently on the basis that one cannot interpret a world of personal forces in terms of things. However, F. M Cornford and others argued persuasively for the opposite view, and seem to have in great part won the battle. For example, the classic study of the presocratic philosophers by Kirk, Raven, and Schofield, as well as anthologies by Wheelwright and Barnes, begin with a consideration of their religious and mythological predecessors. So, it does not seem one can understand the origin of Greek philosophy without considering Greek religion.

How well does Gilson understand Greek religion? Is it true that "A world where everything comes from without, including their feelings and passions, their virtues and vices, such was the Greek religious world." (p. 13) As E. R. Dodds has pointed out, this did not seem to deprive them of a sense of responsibility. Before criticizing Gilson too strongly, we should remember that God and Philosophy originates in the Mahlon Powell Lectures on Philosophy at Indiana University in 1938-1939, and that Greek thought and religion are not really his specialty. Historical details aside, Gilson always raises pertinent questions.

Gilson aptly states the philosophical problem of God not only for the Greeks, but philosophers generally: "how to identify their principles with their gods, or their gods with their principles." (p. 22) Christian thought concerning the nature of God owes much to Plato's Form of the Good, Aristotle's Unmoved Mover or Self-Thinking Thought, and Plotinus' One, but it is difficult to give them a full religious value, although I cannot agree they have none at all. I may say that Gilson provides a marvelously condensed account of Plotinus' philosophy of the One which may well be basically correct. (Pp. 45-50)

For Gilson, the Greek essentialist philosophies could not help but consider God as a thing. When it comes to Christian philosophies of Being (a controverted subject), Gilson argues that the philosophical God and the religious God can be the same Being. This is a very attractive position considered in itself. I think. But, his historical analysis is less certain. It may be that many Christian thinkers have rendered the cryptic phrase for who God is in Exodus 3:1 as "He Who Is." This, however, has exegetical difficulties. Suffice it to point out that the New Revised Standard Version translates the phrase as "I AM WHO I AM," and offers two alternatives in the footnotes, "I AM WHAT I AM or I AM WHAT I WILL BE." So, while Gilson argues persuasively that religious thinkers such as Augustine and Aquinas, among numerous others, have interpreted this as meaning God is Being, it doubtful whether this a good exegesis of the text.

Gilson is one of the greatest Descartes scholars, but I must forgo discussing his insights in any detail. He cites O. Hamelin for the opinion that Descartes, the founder of modern philosophy, followed after the ancient philosophers as if nothing had happened in between. Gilson has very effectively attacked this view a number of times, especially as to his notion of God.

"Whatever his name, his rank, or his function, not one of the gods of Greek religion had ever claimed to be the one, sole, and supreme Being, creator of the world, first principle, and ultimate end of all things. Descartes, on the contrary, could not approach the same philosophical problem without finding himself confronted with the Christian God." (p. 79)

So Descartes' attempt to philosophize about God apart from religious revelation was doomed to failure from the start. Gilson argues that it is extremely difficult to philosophize about God apart from religious revelation, simply because philosophers must have some pre-philosophical idea of God in the first place. The God of the philosophers generally becomes a thing, a philosophical principle.

Frankly, after Descartes, the book becomes somewhat disjointed, filled with brilliant insights though it may be. I will mention Spinoza, who wished "to achieve salvation by means of philosophy only." His brand of salvation is really available, at best, to a select few, who can understand nature "as an absolutely intelligible reality." In passing, he discusses such varied thinkers as Pascal, Malebranche, Leibniz, Kant, Comte, English and French Deists, Sir James Jeans, who gets several pages, and Julian Huxley. One must remember that the book originated in a lecture series, which must have been brilliant.

Gilson quite sensibly holds that religion is existential, that it concerns our lives. It is not how the universe works, but why, and the ultimate why is, in Leibniz's formulation: why is there something rather than nothing?

"To this supreme question, the only conceivable answer is that each and every particular existential energy, each and every particular thing, depends for its existence on a pure Act of existence."

Gilson goes on to argue that this pure Act must be self-subsistent, knowing, and free, and hence, a person.

Ninian Smart, who qualified both in the history of religions and analytic philosophy, has argued forcefully that too many philosophers who discuss religion know very little about the history of religion. Gilson, however, really knew quite a lot about religion, and his position is quite attractive. Though many of his historical interpretations are debatable, with Gilson's philosophical and literary acumen, God and Philosophy remains one of the best introductions to many of the themes of the philosophy of religion.

i gave this book 4 stars because it has motivated me to pursue more study on Aquinas. as for the book itself, it's far from perfect. i agree with the other reviewer in that, towards the end of the book, Gilson's thoughts seemed to lose structure and purpose. By the last chapter, I was scratching my head trying to figure out what his point was in adding another chapter. it was fairly organized right up to the discussion of the Deists, which seemed to be just thrown in so that no part of natural theology in the modern period would be left out. I could appreciate a few pages discussing the faults with following a strict scientism, which has seduced contemporary thinkers, but to devote an entire chapter to saying the same thing over and over again is just a waste of time. Overall, it was worth reading, but I doubt anyone will be convinced by any argument presented in this book. I think Gilson is preaching to the converted, because i doubt anyone but fellow Thomists and Christians agree with Gilson's assessment of the history of the relationship between religion and philosophy. If you've not familiarized yourself with Aquinas' thought, however, reading this book might challenge you to do so.

Gilson's book is simply a masterpiece! The brilliance of this work is shown in its clarity and simplicity of thought and development of philosophy from the ancient Greeks on. Too often philosophy reads these days have become complex and frustrating, but not with Gilson. A true Christian philosopher, it is unfortunate that a reader might think this work concludes with the idea that "God is dead." This is not the intent of Gilson at all; rather, that of the exact opposite! Find out for yourself...

God and Philosophy is an outstanding exposition how the thought of 'God' has emerged into what Eitenne Gilson has persuaded himself to believe as "HE WHO IS." EG first begins this task by exploring the notion of 'God' in Greek philosophy from Homer's Iliad to Plato and Aristotle. Then, EG explores the early Christian tradition of 'God' from Augustine to Aquinas. Next, EG contrasts Descartes' 'God' with Spinoza's 'God'. Finally, EG investigates the problem and brings to light the error that has been rampant from Greek philosophy to Contemporary Thought of 'God'. The problem has been an existential one. That is, an existential notion of 'God' has been lacking. The error has been utilizing the method of "science" or the "science of metaphysics" in our search for 'God'. This method does not get us any closer to finding 'God' as "HE WHO IS." Lacking an existential notion of 'God' takes us further away from finding 'God' and only gives us a 'God' as an "object of knowledge" (109) but not 'God'. I agree for the most part with EG. Because we have not found "HE WHO IS that which is" (both Being and Essence) we have created a world full of gods. "For when gods fight among themselves, men have to die" (137) - physically and existentially, emphasis mine. Based on man's anthropomorphic grounds in his affirmation of 'God' "HE WHO IS" never was... Indeed, "God is dead!"