Open Books

I believe Hans-Georg Moeller is the greatest writer on the subject of early Daoism and the Daodejing I have ever read. From Legge, Waley, and Ta Kao to W.T. Chan, Lau, and Wu to the new crop of translators and interpreters (Chen, LaFargue, Pine, Henricks etc.), I have just about read them all. I have also studied the work in the original Chinese. As of this writing there seems to be about 2,000,000 English translations of the Daodejing. Since the 1970's (with the exception of Henricks and a few others) there has been a steady decline of scholarship in regards to the Dadejing. As of late, the nonsense that that passes from both academic and amateur interpreters is dumbfounding. What sets this new translation apart from the pack is Professor Moeller's unique interpretation of the work. "Finally" someone has peeled away the layers of both oriental and occidental obfuscation to reveal the core truths of this ancient book. If you are looking for a copy of the Daodejing that will teach you how to become a Daoist Sage in 81 easy lessons or that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, this is the wrong book for you. If you truly want to know what the writers of this classic were attempting to impart, by all means read it.

Written by experienced psychotherapist and expert marriage-family counselor Lynne Whiteley Novy, Daring To Know What You Want And Other Simple Truths is an inspiring collection of very brief yet memorable vignettes on the subjects of Daring, Wondering, Choosing, Trusting, and Knowing. Invaluable lessons of self-improvement, and timeless true tales combine to put one's life in perspective (such as the hardships endured by Buddhist monks who run daily marathons in the bitterest conditions in their search for enlightenment), make for a rewarding and compelling read. Daring To Know What You Want is an excellent and recommended addition to any Personal Growth reading list.

pretty mathematical in the treatment of various communications aspects. good comprehensive coverage of key basic areas.

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This is the best discussion of death ever written by a Western philosopher. The author has an exceptionally clear grasp of the fact that I can see my consciousness either as contained within the world or as the container of the world. It is unfortunate that he cannot decide which of these views has metaphysical priority. For the knowledge of immortality is the knowledge of the metaphysical truth that the world is contained within my consciousness.

This was a magnificent and fascinating exploration of how the various ideas and theories that we always considered to be so fundamental to special education, have done nothing but send us off in the 'wrong direction'. I was impressed by how the authors mananged to squeeze so much into such a small book. The range of intellectual traditions and concepts they draw on is quite dazzling! This book should be read by anyone with an interest in education, whether special or not.

Democracy of the Dead: Dewey, Confucius, and the Hope for Democracy in China is an impressive attempt at dialogue between Confucianism and American Pragmatism on the subject of fostering democratic reforms in China. It is both a history of philosophy text, highlighting Dewey's thought and subsequent Pragmatist scholars, liberalism, and Confucianism, and a polemic about the limitations of liberal thought in China. Although some acquaintance with the texts interpreted by the authors is recommended, the authors' synopses are trustworthy and ably and judiciously given. There are also generous quotes and and a and a nine-page bibliography provided.

Admittedly, I was skeptical about the authors' project, which seemed like a desperate attempt to bridge two subjects, pragmatism and Confucianism, that are both equally unprofitable, with a popular item in the news, China. I wanted an appealing interpretation of Confucianism, that would allow me to understand the cultural divide between east and west more easily. I was also interested in any study about pragmatism, which, as the authors also argue, deserves more respect. Last, I wanted a framework to understand Korean and western dialogue, since Korean interpretations of Confucianism are also relevant to Chinese reform historically, and are also a factor in Korea's relations with western countries. The book satisfied my demands more than satisfactorily.

Some readers may be angered by the authors' use of Deweyan Pragmatism to criticize traditional liberalism, but the authors have good reason. Dewey did have a small role in Chinese educational reform before the Communist Party assumed control in 1949. Dewey, and pragmatism in general, are both better exemplars of distinct American realities than liberalism. Also, using pragmatic terms, the authors couch Confucian concepts in a way more palatable and approachable.

The authors argue, that a Confucian interpretation of democracy is possible. This Confucian democracy is useful as a tool for political reform. And then, by using Deweyan thought, it is possible for Chinese and American reformers to share ideas for reform in both countries. The book, therefore, is ultimately a practical one.

The authors eschew nationalistic and philosophical bias, which is necessary for productive dialogue. This is not a book that celebrates western values over eastern ones. It has relevance also in Korea, yet, ironically, it will not convince Americans of the need for reform in their own country, especially if readers refuse to abandon implicit faith in liberal thinking. This is not a book about dead things, but a very lively, well-written, timely offering..

This book presents the course design process-clarifying values, determining goals and content, structuring the course, preparing flexible learning opportunities, deciding goals and objectives for units of study, selecting teaching strategies, and assessing. The last chapter is about implementing a new course. References, index, and a page of information about The Society for Research into Higher Education are at the back of the book. This is a very scholarly, academic book. It is well documented and incorporates research findings. It focuses on strategic decisions that need to be made before a course is developed and provides realistic advice for designing courses. It is not about teaching techniques. This 6 by 9-inch book has relative small print. It has very few figures or tables. Most pages are filled with words. This is a good book for a scholar of education who likes verbiage.

The book "Desktop GIS: Mapping the Planet with Open Source Tools" is an excellent resource for students and instructors in the field of GIS-- or the interested amateur cartographer. Most courses in spatial analysis and map-making are taught using expensive, proprietary software packages that are only available at universities or large consulting firms. Open source GIS software, while widely available, is not well known or used outside of a relatively small circle of power users. Getting up to speed on open source GIS applications used to require a tremendous time investment reading documentation, and asking questions on mailing lists or IRC. This time investment was a series limiting factor for many potential users of open source GIS software.

"Desktop GIS" fills this long-standing gap in the form of example-based and task-oriented documentation. The format of this book should appeal to a wide audience, as it can be used as a flip-through reference or can be read cover to cover for a more comprehensive overview. Already I have leant this book to colleagues seeking more information on QGIS, GRASS, and R integration. This book, and others like it will certainly empower interested users to answer spatial analysis questions and make beautiful maps- without being tied to expensive annual license costs.

This book is about the suffering Christians undergo at the hands of people the Devil has influenced, in the past and in the present, in Africa and other places where the Bible is not well-known.
This book increases your awareness of suffering and persecution among Christian all around the world, and also helps you prepare for persecution and suffering yourself. Brother Andrew will help you to understand why God allows Christians to suffer persecution, where persecution comes from, who the target of persecution is, what the benefits of persecution are, and how Christians everywhere can be prepared to stand strong in their faith in the midst of even the most terrible persecution and suffering.
"Those who seek Jesus will suffer..."