Open Books

Although Judy Breck might call it thinking outside the "blob" instead of the box, her book offers avenues for those of us seeking ways out of the failing traditional education system. Ms. Breck's book is part social analysis, part technical explanation, part future scope, and a great deal of data-driven exhortation to leave behind this broken system. She offers sound foundational synthesis of how the Internet is evolving to open truly viable avenues far beyond our state's antiquated models of education. She solidly demonstrates the superiority of these avenues and offers ways to nurture their evolution.

Ms. Breck's work provides a great starting point for those fed up with the factory school model. Whether a front line educator looking for ways around your school's problems, a think tank member tasked with solving the country's educational woes, a parent fed up with the service your child gets seven hours a day at the local educational warehouse, or someone interested in exploring creative and alternative resources for home schooling, this book clearly illustrates the path education in our increasingly interconnected world should take in order to meet the needs of every student at every level and prepare them all to enter modern day society.
K. Webb, Public High School Educator

Speaking as a staunch techno-phobe, this book was a pleasant surprise: fascinating, profound and fun to read all at the same time. Judy Breck is a deep thinker who has brought her vast and colorful experience to bear on the writing of her book, inspiring the reader to embrace a broader meaning of technology. Not content to preach to the choir, Judy reaches out to the technically challenged as well as the technically savvy, sharing her vision of the Internet as a kind of educational cosmos. The book's clever web-like layout models the kind of open learning environment for which Judy is a spokesman. If a book has the potential to depolarize our computer-geek/computer-allergic society, this is it!
-Meryl Danziger, music educator, Founder and Director of NYC Music House

Laurie Olin immerses the novice and intellectual landscape observer in the experience of the British countryside. He reveals perceptions through drawings and writings, engaging the reader in historic as well as contemporary investigations. As an architect as well as a renowned landscape architect, Olin adds his unique slant in a beautifully told story. I particularly thought the pensive recanting of the English landscape experience important enough to require it as reading for my college design class who will travel to England next year.

After reading this book, I went out and bought a sketch book. Now, I'm daydreaming about spending the summer in the English countryside, or perhaps in Italy somewhere. Olin inspires the reader to draw. More importantly, he explains how drawing can help us understand places and the forces that shape landscapes. One learns a greater appreciation of ordinary places and the people who create them.

Charles Hartshorne, demonstrates that most scholars ignored the superior argument of Anselm's Proslogium 3. Indeed, many philosophers and critics never even read the actual text, but only heard it second hand. A student in religion or metaphysics would reap incredible benefits by studying this text, for if anything, it teaches that God is a possibility, regardless of theology or skepticism. Hartshorne, though dense in his language at times, leaves the reader with a richer understanding of life

If my research on the author of this book is correct, the author died on 10/9/00 at the ripe age of 103. His philosophical work must have been widely accepted because he was honored by the Library of Living Philosophers in Vol XX. He studied Anselm for a long time having written his thesis at Harvard in 1923 on the "Ontological Argument Invented by Anselm." The Argument was issued by Anselm at about 1070 AD. So, if one wants to judge Anselm's work on the "Ontological Proof for God's Existence," this book is a great one from a great philosopher. This popular and important 1965 book was printed again in 1991

Anselm shows that we cannot prove that God does not exist beause we cannot conceive of things that do not exist. So, when people say that God does not exist, they are entering a domain of thought that is uncertain. A more certain path lies with reasoning.

For instance, with reasoning, Anselm concludes that God's existence is necessary and that ordinary existences apply only to things found in the universe. I believe that his line of reasoning goes this way: if the existence of things in the universe are ordinary, they either exist or do not exist. In modern science, these ordinary existences would be known as contingent existences. But, contingent has no meaning without its opposite, necessity. Thus, unless contingent eisistences coexist with a necesary existent, a one-sided universe is being conceived. Anselm's line of reasoning seems to move his thoughts into dialectical thinking, panentheism, and an eternal world consisting of God and Nature.

The author shows why nine centuries of refutations produced many errors in comprehending Anselm's writing. For six centuries, Anselm's Proof was simply ignored. But, in the next three centuries, fifteen authors cite the Proof and ten of them accept his proof.

So, this book is important to believers in God.

If you ever wonder how to keep up with the open-source explosion especially with respect to Java tools and technologies, here is one book that could come in your assistance. Very well written, simple to understand and easy to read examples explain various open-source technologies that can take you beyond Jakarta and a bit more. May be next year we can see the 2nd edition that can talk about the advances made in the last couple of years or so :-).

-SB

Many tools were discussed. The Ant tool chapter alone was better than the whole book called "Ant the Definitive Guide". He explains ant in a very gentle way. Good job. You get a good feel of how the industry cranks out webapps with these tools like eclipse,struts,junit,cactus,etc,etc. Good coverage!

This thought-provoking book presents to readers a comprehensive exploration of human physiological and spiritual development through the blending of Christian spirituality with related Jungian concepts. Beginning with the premise that the key to a successful happy life is the fullest possible development of our unlimited potential for love, the author explores each of the seven-year stages of growth and the spirituality enveloped within each. Through identifying opposing attributes of the human psyche, the author depicts these in the greatest Christian symbol of opposite tensions; the cross. Relationships and friendships of the same and opposing sexes are discussed in the light of unselfish loving. The reader is proffered many personal challenges in examining their own personal relationships; however the author suggests that the greatest challenge and truest test of maturity lies in loving our enemies; both inner and outer! It is in the final chapter, "Encounters with God", that the author clearly points to some of the many challenges and changes that must occur in our own physchological and spiritual development to become fully capable of making a complete, unselfish, and truthful commitment to God. The author suggests that as we move forward in our spiritual journey and growth toward wholeness, holiness, and maturity, we develop and discover that our unlimited potential for love and limitless desire to be loved is only fulfilled only in Him who desired us first!

Father Chester (Chet) Michael presents a consise summary of Jungian psychology, Christian spirituality, and spiritual development which is one of those books that you should go back to at least every two months and reread. Don't be fooled by the low price, the book is worth far more than the price charged. This, and his "Prayer and Temperment", are the beginnings of what he has taught for spiritual direction for many years, and are filled with both intellectual insight and years of experience.

and his name is Mihail Marin. The combination of ECO-style columns of variations and in-depth coverage of games, variations and ideas makes this and its companion volume, A SPANISH REPERTOIRE FOR BLACK, the new gold standard in repertoire books. I cannot say enough for the quality of the writing; it has to be experienced to be appreciated.

Ever since I purchased his book Learn from the legends, I had begun to appreciate Mihail Marin as an exemplary chess writer. So, in my drive to broaden my tournament repertoire against e4 I taught I found an ideal starting point to begin with - this book. Reason is obvious for many chess (amateur) players; a dreaded and obscure lines and archaic swashbuckling openings coming regularly to you after 1.e4,e5 moves. After reading casually through this book I realized in what misconception I had been. Handle his instructions, and this book would become one's best friend before beginning a serious study of Ruy Lopez proper. Now, after reading this one, I ordered his Spanish main lines book in a wish of the same high quality as this in the book I am writing about.
Recommended.

If you live in the Midwest or try to photograph it, this may be the best $20.97 you can spend. It is a book of inspiring, panoramic, color photos of rural Illinois. Gary pulls the beauty out of a landscape that most people, including photographers, usually ignore. This book has opened my eyes to the state I live it and given me photographic ideas that I was blind to before.

I grew up in Illinois, but only after I moved away did I learn that the vast midwestern sky is unique. Irving's panoramic photos capture the beauty of the open sky as no others I've seen. Whenever I'm homesick, if I need to see a midwestern thunderstorm, I open Irving's book and I'm there.

This book was great! The eating recommendations were excellent. I was able to travel around Berlin easily and map out what to do and what to see. This is the only book you need for Berlin.

The best part of this book are the five walking tours (with maps). There's a Berlin Wall Walk along the former Berlin Wall, two walks in former East Berlin and two walks in former West Berlin. These walks are a great way to get to know this great city.

The story is one of friendship. One friend shares something very special with her best friend who had always helped her in the past. This new sharing was more than it appeared in the beginning. The knowledge and inner soul of the young character Kathryn show another side to a topic often avoided and not dealt with by readers, teachers, or youngsters. In the end, the sadness is felt by those who can empathize with the main heroine, Kathryn, when she must be happy for her friend even though she is sad for herself - it is a book with so many lessons and topics for discussion that it boggles the mind. To ease your mind, if you are teachers or parents, order the parent/teacher guide it provides excellent literature extensions. Hope to see these wonderful women from Open Minds Inc. in Canada at the next CEC convention. If you didn't hear the author talk - you'll want to at the next convention.

I couldn't believe Kathryn was in a wheelchair. I was so surprised by it that I read all night and didn't put it down until I finished it. I would recommend it to everyone. I am now reading another book about the same character called Whoa, Nellie! and I love it too.

One of my four all time favorite books - I have even purchased it as a gift for friends who read romance from time to time. The story is extremely well paced, the characters much more finely drawn than most romance books, and a fairly realistic story for romance.

I usually prefer romantic suspense but this one too great not to recommend! While Duncan's other books are well written, this is by far her best book and I wish she'd written others. This was written in the early 90's and have not seen anything by her since the 90's. I highly recommend this.

Check out - Blind Spot - Romantic Suspense with environmental theme

I've read literally thousands of romances, but "Beyond All Reason" is my all time favorite. I've read it so many times, I've had to replace my copy several times!

This heartwrenching tale left me stunned the first time I read it. Never had I read a story that pulled me in as much as this one. I found myself rereading it immediately just because I didn't want it to end! I must also admit that I found myself falling a little in love with Tanner McCall myself. Judith Duncan knows how to create a leading man!

Kate Quinn is running from her manipulative, controlling estranged husband. Terrified, she travels from town to town in a desperate attemp to keep her two young sons safe.

The advertisement in the newspaper was a godsend. Tanner McCall needs someone to care for his aging business partner and closest friend. The job requires her to live on Tanner's ranch in the back country. Kate accepts the job knowing that the ranch will be the safe haven that she is so desperately searching for.

When Kate arrives, she is suprised to find that Tanner is not the aging ranch hand she expected. Instead he is young, virile, and extremely handsome. Kate is deeply intrigued by him, but his stony exterior and curt attitude makes it very clear that he wants to be left alone. But Tanner's business partner, Burt Shaw likes Kate and her boys immediately. Kate's two sons become good friends with Burt - this unlikely trio provides comedic relief throughout the novel.

Other characters include a flirtatous old cowboy, Tanner's devil-may care younger brother Chase, and Tanner's childhood friend and manager of the local truck stop/cafe, Rita.

As the story unfolds, Kate learns something of Tanner's tragic past and discovers that his stoicism is his way of hiding his scars.

Kate knows what it is like to be haunted by the past and finds herself wanting to know more about Tanner McCall. The more she knows, the more she falls for him. Tanner isn't immune to Kate either.

Eventually Kate and Tanner face their attraction, but not without difficulty. Kate finds that she is deeply in love with Tanner, but is only able to take it one day at a time. Tanner keeps his feelings under lock and key, but Kate knows that he cares for her. Slowly they let their guards down and begin to form a relationship. When Tanner begins to show acceptance of her small sons, Kate can't help but think of them becoming a family.

Just when things seem to be going great, the road gets very rocky. Kate and Tanner are forced to make some tough decisions that could make or break their future together.

Will Kate and Tanner be able to face their deep rooted fears, bury their painful pasts for the sake of a love beyond all reason?

Read the book and see! I promise you won't be disappointed!!!