Open Books

Jaki is an historian of science possessed of a brilliant intellect, but he is also a brilliant and entertaining writer, and wickedly funny, to boot. This short book is one of my favorites of his. In it he treats, in about 100 pages, the radically different views of man held by scientists and theologians down through the ages. If the subject sounds a little dry, in Jaki's hands it is not (and I am no theologian or philosopher, just a simple liberal arts major). He has a wonderful gift for the vivid and telling anecdote -- for a few well-chosen descriptive strokes and quotes that bring an historical figure to life on the page. That is the surface pleasure of the book, with its deeper pleasure the elegance and force with which Jaki sets forth his larger thesis. Recall he is an historian of science -- with a gifted historian's ability to perceive telling connections and patterns within the shapeless mass of facts that make up the historical record. And like all great historians Jaki has, too, a marvelous literary gift for conveying his opinions and conclusions in language that imprints them on the mind in a powerful and persuasive way.

To sum things up, here's a nice quote from a 1984 review of the book by M.D. Aeschliman: "Only a hundred pages long, Jaki's 'Angels, Apes, and Men' is the distillation of a lifetime of profound learning; it is a magisterial book that by its sure and eloquent command of scientific history and philosophical rationality joins what errant and transgressive minds too often put asunder, the worlds of matter and mind, of physics and metaphysics, of science and religion."

If you are new to Jaki, the place to begin is with his masterwork, The Savior of Science. But if you are already familiar with the man's work, "Angels, Apes and Men" will not disappoint. It offers Jaki in top form, and a real treat for the Jaki fan.

THis was a great book to evaluate the pros and cons. It was well organized, informative and very helpful.

Nice overview of the Bible as it pertains to animals. Some of the content reviewed includes Bible Zoologists, and man and animals before and after the fall.

Dear Fellow Readers,

I recommend this book highly for the average Canadian/American looking for the truth in the world we live in. This book is highly inspirational and wont leave you bored. I am a teenager and yet I find this book fascinating. This book will change your life guaranteed. The book is well worth its short 347 pages. The language is extremely easy to understand for even a weak reader. This book changed my life for the better and it can help change yours. If you are afraid of change, this book is not something to fear. Give it a chance just like any other book. The book is slightly bit older then school text books but is still extremely useful.

I recommend this book to all. I would buy this book for everyone if I could but it's up to you to read it. I gave it 5 stars and would have given it 10. Read this book. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy Reading
William K

This is one the best books in general when it comes to teaching music to children. Down to earth info that children can get a grasp of.
Plus, it's FUN for students as well as the teacher!!!

I've bought this book 3-4 times through the years, have "loaned it out" just to go buy it again. One of the times, I went to Mr. Lowell Roger's residence (he had retired) and purchased it there.

Yes, it's great!

A review by John Stott, a reader in Vancouver, Canada:
I am an ardent reader who reads many books over the course of a year. When I saw "Around the World in Sandals" with its catchy aside, "tales of discovery and discomfort," my curiosity piqued and I happily purchased a copy.
I am fascinated by the cultures, terrain and mystique associated with interesting off-the-beaten-track areas of the world, as I'm sure many others are as well.
The book will give you a life-like insight as to what it would be like if you were to undertake the kind of adventures that the skillful authors relate in this most wonderful account of their travels. Be prepared when you enter this volume to be completely swept off your feet on a journey you'll not soon foget.
So well conceived and executed is this book that you'll smell, taste and see all the wonders that Russell and Penny experienced at every step of the way. You'll even feel the bumps of the vehicles they travelled on, and the heat and humidity - just as though you were right there along with them.
You, prospective reader! Put your feet up and let yourself be whisked away on an adventure you won't forget. I guarantee you'll wish this wonderful adventure would never end.
To Russell and Penny: Please, please sharpen your quills so you can sweep us away once again on another magical carpet of adventure and discovery.

The Art and Science of Mental Health Nursing: a textbook of principles and practice.
Ian Norman and Iain Ryrie (Eds)
Maidenhead. Open University Press.
Aug 2004 p847
ISBN: 0 335 21242 5 (pbk): ₤24.99
ISBN: 0 335 21588 2 (hbk) ₤80.00


I must admit to a certain bias in advancing a review on this book. Having been professionally socialized during one's early formative years on Stuart and Sundeen's excellent `Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing' I am loathed to refer to other key mental health nursing texts, especially those that highlight `principles and practice' with some coming way short of the benchmark already set. Those prejudices were soon dispelled as this edited paperback copy soon propelled me into an impressive and comprehensive array of perspectives on contemporary mental health nursing by many excellent contributions.

The two editors-Sir Ian Norman-Professor of Nursing and Inter-Disciplinary Care & Head of Mental Health Services at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery and Iain Ryrie, Head of Research at the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health have assembled an excellent cast of eminent clinicians and academic contributors to illuminate and illustrate newer developments in mental health nursing thinking and practice from UK policy and service perspectives.

The book is divided neatly into five sections each providing particular emphasis to aid the student nurse or practitioner on various aspects of mental health nursing. Part of the beauty of the book is that each of the sections is succinctly and coherently considered to add to the debates and discussions on what is considered challenging within current practice. The collections of questions for reflection and discussion which follow each chapter provide an excellent resource for teaching and learning either for individual or group levels. Annotated bibliographies and well stocked reference lists add further to its richness.

One shortcoming if one has to quibble with, has to be the minimal attention given to an effective review or to the consideration of ideas from gender and cultural perspectives on mental health and ill health. One feels that the attempt made on these issues have been cursory to say the least.

Generally the book is easy to read. Most points are well illustrated with abundant bullet points to make the materials exposed palatable to the eye and mind. Focus has been maintained throughout to the needs of current professional practice and should be an excellent purchase for all mental health nurses and a very good read for other professional groups.

Part one (1) provides a context by highlighting the past and clarifying the contemporary with regards to changing views and ideas about psychological distress, mental health nursing and legal/ethical frameworks.

Subsequent parts from two to four (2-4) delve into the practicalities for everyday nursing situations under such headings as: Interventions, Applications and Core Procedures thereby suggesting a basis for anyone looking for evidence based practice with several user based vignettes.

Interpretations of several policy and service issues have been highlighted with succinct recommendations for mental health nursing which the reader could easily understand and adopt into practice. These include key UK NHS initiatives enshrined under the guise of the NHS Plan which include NICE and NSF. There is even a section on the `economics of atypical antipsychotic' (p319) as if to remind the reader of the sometimes harsh realities of modern economics on health care especially one that relies at times on the use of pharmacological interventions to alleviate mental ill health and distress. Perhaps there is a challenge in there too for the mental health nurse practitioner.

A challenge too has also been posed albeit at a brief level towards the entrenched positions adopted by the subjective-objective camps to reconsider their positions and adopt multiple views and arrangements thereby laying the foundations for the consideration of user focused and user sensitive care that views `capable users...who are well informed about mental health and mental health services at the centre of their care..." (p 103). Impressive stuff indeed.

Part five (5) headed by Steve Onyett sets out to explain and interpret the `team' concept, perhaps quite significantly espousing the current predilection for collaborative working in the many arenas of mental health care and which the mental health nurse is called upon to be an active member of. The remit for education within this sphere has been raised with some interesting observations made on "professional self-determination and diversity of role... thus placing an imperative for lifelong learning and the interdependent nature of education and training" (p811).

The editors' end with a final chapter in discussing several reflections by attempting to revisit their objectives for the book as based on the three themes of "national policy, service user expectations and professional diversity". They have achieved these objectives by a considerable margin where the argument for an integrative approach to mental health nursing have been equally aided and abetted by their well chosen contributors.


Roland S Kandiah
RMN, SRN, DipN, Cert Ed (FE), BEd (Hons), MSc
School of Mental Health & Learning Disabilities
University of the West of England (Bristol).

"The unique feature of Mandala geometric thread design lies in the fact that each pattern is a set of points, called vertices, located very carefully on a closed conic curve such as a circle or an ellipse. The vertices are then connected with straight lines according to a strict numerical progression, resulting in an impressive finished thread design."
Two and three dimensional designs with and without nails.

This teaches you how to make people learn, not how to teach! I am a doctor, this is about Primary School teaching - best book I have ever read for learning to help students and doctors to learn! Go on, break out of your silo you doctors! Brilliant stuff - read it on one night and change your teaching forever

Sixteen essays by contributors who add a dose of philosophical reflection into the Atkins diet controversy will appeal to both pro and con diet readers. They come from practitioners of the diet, those not on it, and those who want little to do with it. It's more philosophical observation than diet plan - but any interested in Atkins and philosophy alike will find here an intriguing ability to link philosophical thinking to modern culture.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch