Kudos to the editors for compiling such an impressive group of scholars. The individual contributors offer when read on their own standout scholarly papers that most importantly are also digestable for the interested layperson like myself. This is not to say it is a casual read and it is clearly academic in tone. Some sections and authors were more preferred than others but this may be due the collections admireable breadth of scope. There is however a nice uniformity of quality and purpose through out this collection in it's efforts to elucidate the "origins and the evolution of apocalyptic and millenial ideas and movements in the four major religious traditions... from the pre-modern Islamic era to modern times." Part 1 Origins, was of most interest personally. After finishing the introduction by Abbas Amanat I emerged as if mind on fire. It is clearly not meant to be read in one sitting, but after the intro if you have any passion for the material at all you will be moved to continue. While I was hooked in the intro and most enjoyed the Origins section I found for myself that the true rewards from this rare and comprehensive comparative collection is when taken as a whole. I can truly say this is a gem of a book in the fascinating and important study of Millenialism.

An innovative, eclectic approach in educational research is reflected in this excellent book.

Compiled and edited by David Bridger (with the assistance of Samuel Wolk), The New Jewish Encyclopedia presents an comprehensive and alphabetical discussion of topics, places, names, and events central to Jewish history and identity. Offering a library's worth of Jewish knowledge in a single, 541-page volume, The New Jewish Encyclopedia is superbly written, organized, and illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Presenting a vast wealth of history, folklore, and faith, The New Jewish Encyclopedia is a core addition to personal and academic Judaic Studies reference collections.

This book is one of the rare resources in which the reader can examine the critical role in which the news media play in the formation of American foreign policy. The theoretical section of the book sets a very strong foundation for the case studies to follow in the second section of the book. All chapters are extremely critical of the impact that the news media have on the American foreign policy decision making. The book is designed for both graduate and undergraduate level in the field of media and/or foreign policy. The editior has provided an exhaustive critical review of the literature which is a common thread through out the chapters. A must read for all students of international communications/relaations, foreign policy, and political communication in general.

Known as the man with the "golden tongue," Eban recounts his years in Washington and at the U.N. as Israel's first envoy, and later as foreign minister. As the saying goes, he has been there, seen it and met with everyone who is anyone among the world's leaders in Israel's formative years.

Luigi Pirandello was one of the greatest Italian writers, certainly one of the best of the twentieth century. At the age of sixty-eight, he met the beautiful and vivacious Marta Abba, a lovely young actress. Though he was old enough to be her father, Pirandello fell in love with Marta, and she remained his muse, his confidante, and his emotional focus.

His letters reveal the many facets of his personality. Some readers might be a little weirded out by the intensity of his feelings for Marta (especially since she never entirely returned them), but many years in the future it's clear that even if she didn't exactly return his feelings, she did care about him, liked him, respected him, and appreciated his feelings about her. "To me he was like a god," she is quoted as saying, even though she got to see all his flaws. And Pirandello's feelings are not those of a dirty old man falling for a much younger woman -- he's revealed, even in old age, as being a very passionate and intense person.

In his letters, he often talks about making her a famous actress, and how the two of them would reform the theatre. The foreword written by Benito Ortolani includes his descriptions of meeting Marta herself, in the 1980s, and what she had to say about "the Maestro." Unfortunately there aren't any pictures.

The relationship between Pirandello and Marta was a unique one, a mishmash of unusual feelings. Definitely worth the read.

A controversial book, Amanat's Resurrection and Renewal is by far the best critical, historical account of the early Babi movement up to 1850. The study avoids the usual pitfalls of enagaging in the excessive pietism and platitudes associated with the Baha'i apologetic and hagiographical sources as well as the largely biased and polemical rhetoric and diatribe used by Babism's orthodox Muslim detractors against it. By doing so the author finds a happy medium that is objective as well as being sympatheic. A must read for any serious student of nineteenth century Iranian history and post-Islamic movements.

Abbas' photos of the everyday scenes of Mexican reality strike an emotional chord within the viewer. It is as if a creative magic compelled and inspired the photographer to capture and convey the life and energy within the mundane, juxtaposing powerful images of the contradictions of Mexican society. While the photos are arranged by themes associated with death, they overwhelmingly breathe and speak of life. Introduction by Carlos Fuentes.

This book was spectacularly well-researched. I learned more from reading it--and came away with more amusing anecdotes to tell my friends-- than I have from my eleven years of subscribing to Rolling Stone. The author really knows what he's talking about.

Highest Recommendation. This is the most remarkable Holocaust book I've ever read.

The author, Abba Kovner, recounts the story of the Holocaust through the eyes of a large, richly described group of characters. These people jump off the pages in all their various costumes, ideologies, hopes and pain. They are mostly Jews, but there are also a few righteous Christians who help them.

Kovner doesn't judge the victims. Those who resisted are not better than those who did not resist. The German murderers are described too, as are their willing helpers in every country and numerous other people who did not murder but were coldly indifferent. But after reading the book, my overwhelming impression is not of hate of the murderers but of appreciation for the victims and their hope, love and humanity.

The book's design is very striking. The pages resemble pages of Talmud with the text in the middle and commentary placed around it in the margins. In this case, the story is in the middle, and the margins contain real victims' poems, comments, last wills and testimonies, historical explanations, songs, and more.

This is a book to read and savour, and also to study.