Open Books

After buying 3 other guide books about Spain, this is the best of the bunch. Deep detail on off the neaten path destinations that are not even covered in any other books, well written, and a great travel asset. Highly recommended for those looking for a real special trip.

David W. Tulane

I'm going to Southeast Asia next month. I wasn't quite sure how to pack, so I consulted various travel guides: Lonely Planet, Moon, Insight Guides, etc. Open Road's Thailand Guide was the only one to give me detailed, practical informatin on what to bring.

I was given this book by my children recently after I had told them how much I enjoyed travelling the great roads we have in our country. I'm glad they chose this particular book because it's been one of the most enjoyable I've ever read. Not only is it historically relevant in describing how we developed from pastoral backwoods areas to a system of large cities and suburbs, but it sheds light on many unknown facts of that 200 year journey. For instance, I did not know that our present day Interstate Highway system-something we take for granted when we drive to see grandma a few states away at Christmas time-was originally proposed by President Roosevelt in 1937. He envisioned it as a pattern of roads which would facilitate the movement of men and equipment during the World War which he knew was imminent. Neither did I know the extent to which Huey Long, the populist governor of Louisiana in the '30's, used the construction of roads throughout his state to enlist support from the common people. ("Every Man A King" was his slogan.) So successful was Long that historians say he might have seriously challenged Roosevelt in 1936 had he not been assasinated. Patton points out the fusion of good highways, recently invented air-conditioning and reliable vehicles enabled the entire southern portion of the United States to prosper during the last half of the 20th Century. It was a combination of these three factors which moved us from a predominantly backwards area stretching from Atlanta to Los Angeles into becoming the nation's prosperous Sun Belt. It is this region that has attracted so many new residents and has "driven" the emerging high tech commercial engine which is fueling the unparalled prosperity of our country. From the opening of the first road in America, the Natchez Trace, dedicated in 1803 by Thomas Jefferson, to the 99.9% completed Federal Interstate Highway system, Patton takes us on a journey at once both informative and nostalgic, winding down the roads where the orange-topped Howard Johnsons sat, and out past all the Burma Shave signs lining the roads splitting the wheat fields of Nebraska. I urge all who are interested in learning how the American road evolved to read this book. As a 1951 Ford ad in the book pointed out: "Today the American Road has no end; the road that went nowhere now goes everywhere....on that road, the nation is travelling beyond the troubles of this century, constantly heading towards a finer tomorrow." True then, truer now.

I am rather impressed with this book and its originality. It is perhaps best in this case, not to judge a book by its cover. As you can see, it is a rather 'rushed' cover, and does not reflect the mood of the poems within the book. It is a cheerful atmosphere and the poems have a longlasting effect on ones mood. Do not believe the many critics of Stephen Pain, buy this book and a startling read will be had by all.

My 6 year-old son found this at a local book store and was immediately enchanted. We read it as a bed time story, with him producing all the sound effects found in each screen. It is a small-format comic book that mirrors the movie. I enjoyed it as well and hope to find more of this genre for him to enjoy that aren't necessarily Manga style art (which I'm not crazy about). Amazon doesn't seem to have some of the titles advertized on the back of the book (many comic-book versions of Disney movies), so I'm off to find them elsewhere. Your child will love this - and, actually, so will you.

The Open Season (Look and Find) Book is a good addition to others of the find and seek type such as the 'Can You See What I See? The Night Before Christmas' book. We enjoy them over and over again. You will enjoy this one in any season. ~ The Boss

What a fun brightly-colored calendar! My daughter is sooo happy with it, it is super-fun to look at in a kids room. Highly recommended for that 'Open Season' fan in your life.

Is there still a place for mission in the late twentieth century? By what authority can we speak about God and the Christian message in our pluralist world? Newbigin brings his original and thoroughly biblical thoughts to these questions. He places missions in a Trinitarian context: Mission is the proclamation of the Kingdom of the Father, sharing in the life of Jesus, doing the work of the Spirit. He discusses the ideas of the school of Church Growth, of liberation theology and John Hicks (from "the myth of Christianity"), and develops his theology of mission in discussion with these voices. I have one reservation, and that is his discussion of election. Election, in Newbigin's view, is - and is being limited to - being called to witness. I cannot see how with this limitation he can avoid the danger of Pelagianism, which he rejects earlier on in the book. (This topic, however, is developed more extensively in "The Gospel in a Pluralist World"). Overall, though, an excellent read.

Munro explores the nature of the dark secret, hidden from all but the reader, in these tales of fascinating and absolutely normal people. These stories are great for busy people; wonderful and short, they are great before-bed reading. Savour and enjoy!

This wonderful book is full of many beautiful and inspiring images. Paintings, drawings, lithographs, silkscreen, photographs, among other mediums hold the thoughts of artists such as Pollock, Warhol, Matisse and others. A truly wonderful little collection of ideas.