Just as I was afraid not to finish the book, (fearing the words within would know, and pound on my psyche in a fury until I agreed to complete my task) I think life is afraid not to obey Christian Abraham.

Usually, life takes us for a ride, and at the very least we do what we can to manage our faculties and maintain a semblance of sanity. After reading this book however, I am convinced at least one of us has discovered life's weak spot, and learned how to control it, while not really controlling it at all.

The author's artful shaping of the English language enabled me for a short time to live vicariously through him, all the while scaring me to death.

I want more.

The Secret Curse Surrenders offers an intoxicating tapestry of startling ideas and searing emotions. A narrative laced with obsession transfixes us and we're obsessed too as we fall deeper into the writer's art.

We experience the creation of art from the journalist's life and the realization that art flows from art, while the artist lives a life ancillary to its creation, and where a man's life is by all accounts private and unknowable, his art lives out it's own existence begetting further art.

Details of the narrator's life, observations on writing, and glimpses into the writer's obsessions, are woven into an enticing and propelling story culminating in a dramatic race to the finish.

I have on numerous occasions since initial reading found myself re-examining with undiminished fascination passage after passage of this compelling and thought provoking book. And I am inspired by the hope that books equally stimulating will be forthcoming from the author.

This book presents a very nice summary of materials required by most MBA courses in general.

Want a secret? This book is perfect to stick in your back pocket while you are at work...

This is one of the best fast references for business decision making and calculations. Rather than looking throught the voluminous texts which are required materials of business schools, this reference book holds all calculation procedures and examples of formula application required in MBA programs. Additional statistics tables are also included. This is a must for MBA students and business managers.

With the secession of the Southern States after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and the subsequent secession of the upper South after firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, reconstruction, or restoration as William Harris claims, was underway. Lincoln upon his inauguration extended an olive branch to his "dissatisfied fellow countrymen" promising them that the Federal Government, nor he, would assail them or their institutions if they agreed to return to the Union. Lincoln did everything in his power as president of the United States to keep the Southern states intact and a part of the United States of America. It was the decision of the Southern states to pursue war and not that of Lincoln.
William C. Harris, a professor of history at North Carolina State University, chronicles Lincoln's many attempts at restoring the nation to avoid war, and eventually to try and shorten the war in his fine work With Charity for All: Lincoln and the Restoration of the Union. (1997) Harris starts out analyzing Lincoln's first inaugural address and points out Lincoln's belief that the Southern states could not secede from the Union. Lincoln believed that the Union was inseparable and thus there was no legitimacy to the Confederate States of America, and their illegal government. Lincoln felt that individuals and not states had rebelled against the United States Government. Thus, Lincoln's task was clear, he had to suppress the rebellion and restore loyal governments in the South. Harris shows how Lincoln never wavered from this theory throughout his work. The states were indestructible and it was his job as president to return them to there "proper practical relationship with the Union." Everything that Lincoln did during his administration focused on this premise according to Harris.
Harris breaks down Lincoln's actions, from appointing military governors, proclamations, and other means that Lincoln employed trying to entice Southerners into rejoining the Union. As stated earlier the first attempt at restoration was during the inaugural address, in which Lincoln made it evident that Southerners had nothing to fear from him as president. Lincoln had no desire to ban slavery in the South, although personally he was opposed to it based on human dignity.
The second thing that Lincoln tried was the appointment of military governors in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Louisiana. In this attempt, Lincoln was hoping that the loyal Union men in these states would reestablish governments that were loyal to the Federal government and the Union. For the most part this proved to be somewhat unsuccessful because these states were partially occupied by Confederate forces. Men such as Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, Francis H. Pierpont of Virginia and Edward Stanly of North Carolina served as military governors at one point or another in their respective states. Pierpont is responsible for the addition of the new state of West Virginia, because most men living in this part of Virginia were staunch Union men and did not own slaves nor support the slaveholding elite. Andrew Johnson served as military governor in Tennessee and later became Lincoln's second vice-president in 1864, eventually replacing Lincoln after his assassination.
Harris goes into great detail about the Emancipation Proclamation in which Lincoln declared that all slaves would be forever free on January 1, 1863 if the states that they lived in were still in rebellion on such date. Harris points out that Lincoln would have left slavery intact if the states had agreed to rejoining the Union before this date. The Emancipation Proclamation was another carrot offered in an attempt to end the war.
Harris continues detailing Lincoln's ten-percent plan in which he stated that if ten percent of the voters from the last Federal election took an oath of loyalty to the Union cause that they would be allowed to hold elections and restore state governments. The politics involved in this process are well explained and comprehensive. Not everyone was in total agreement over the restoration of states that had rebelled. Charles Sumner wanted the states punished for their insurrection, by relegating them back to territorial status. This flew in the face of Lincoln's premise that the states could not secede and therefore were never out of the Union. Harris makes this fact clear, and that Lincoln vigorously objected to this train of thought.
Harris also defends Lincoln's pocket veto of the Wade-Davis bill that would further erode Lincoln's policy towards restoration of the Union by taking power out of his hands, and placing it in the hands of the Congress, this too was totally unacceptable to Lincoln.
There is little doubt that Lincoln's plans for the restoration of the Union was a well thought out policy, however with Lincoln's untimely death and no one sure just what he would have done had he lived, Reconstruction turned into one of the most controversial periods in our history. If the Civil War was the defining point of who we were as a people, than Reconstruction in the hands of Johnson and later the Congress was the wedge that nearly split us apart again.
With Charity for All is a tremendous look at Lincoln's efforts to bind the nation back together in the face of trying circumstances to say the least. Harris has created a magnificent book that is current, comprehensive and thought provoking. His straightforward approach to a sometimes-controversial topic is refreshing and greatly appreciated. Many times historians try to waffle around subjects that are controversial in subject, but Harris is clear in his thesis and never veers from his point of view. The materials that he uses fully support his premise that Lincoln pursued his policy based on the fact that he felt that the Southern states had never really left the Union nor could they do so. With Charity for All is a welcome edition to the ongoing scholarship on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.

Who would have thought that at such a late date, a historian could produce a work that so brilliantly and sharply alters our perceptions of the thinking and policies of Abraham Lincoln, one of the most written-about figures in history? Harris makes the reader realize that previous scholars have not been methodical or rigorous enough in examining Lincon's reconstuction policy. Given Lincon's immense prestige, contemporaries and historians have struggled to make his opinions match theirs. After Lincoln's death, Radical Republicans who bitterly opposed his reconstruction policy keenly felt the need to convince the public (and perhaps themselves) that Lincoln, before his death, had begun to come around to their way of thinking. Too many historians have mistakenly accepted this deceptive assertion. As Harris powerfully demonstrates, Lincoln's reconstruction policies were extremely consistent, and one must also say, very conservative. Due to his desire to prevent anarchy and restore order and stable, "republican" (with a lowercase r) government, Lincoln was willing to allow "loyal" Southern whites an almost free hand in reestablishing state governments, as long as they abolished slavery and granted African Americans minimal legal rights. Contrary to the later assertions of the Radicals, Lincoln evidently never determined to insist on voting rights, or perhaps even full legal equality, for African Americans. (He may have been willing to accept discriminatory "Black codes" or even a slavery-like apprentice system). Given Lincoln's immense prestige, it is more than a little disturbing to consider what the results of his policies would have been if implemented. As Professor Harris points out in his well-reasoned conclusion, however, one should not assume that Lincoln would have stood idly by and let white Southerners brutally and lawlessly reimpose white supremacy, as actually happened. Faced with such a situation, given his undoubted humanitarian instincts, he may well have concluded that only full, federally supported legal equality could salvage the situation in the South, and if he had decided this, he alone had the ability and influence to impose such a policy.

This book is great. It is a must read for anyone who has tested positive for HIV,has aids,or knows anyone who are in either of these situations. All others not in any of these categories, will be touch by the way that Dr. Mahlon Johnson's opens up his heart and shares even the most intimate thoughts and details of his life as he goes about "working on a miracle". He explains in a very understandable way exactly how he waged war on the virus that had invaded his body. He shares how the courage of one person who touch his life renewed his strength and inspired him to continue his battle with the enemy. So much to learn from this book.

I read the book and i think is a extraordinary human review of a patient with aids, he showed to us how difficult is live with this desease and the important role of hope in the course of the desease. Creo que es una obra recomendada para todo paciente con VIH/SIDA.

This collection of short stories is absolutely perfect. They are all classics by well-known writers. I enjoyed reading each and every one of them.

This story is very small but also very touching. It provides a good lesson in helping people and animals and in priorities. I really look forward to reading this book to my class.

Abraham & Family: New Insights Into The Patriarchal Narratives is a compilation of groundbreaking essays from a roster of very impressive men and women who consider that the family stories of Genesis embody turmoil, tragedy, deception, violence, passion, desire, love, and reconciliation that are as meaningful and relevant today as they have been for the past two thousand years and more. Informative, thought-provoking, occasionally challenging and controversial, these essays deeply examine the stories of Abraham and his dysfunctional family who would become the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel, whose stories would have a lasting impact on the history and development of western culture. Abraham & Family is highly recommended reading for Bible study groups, church and synagogue class curriculums, college and university courses, as well as personal, seminary, and community library collections.

This book written in a way that is easy to understand while giving the reader all of the details that he or she needs to truly understand this amazing patriarch who is held in high redard by thise of the Jewish, Christain, and Muslim faiths. Filled with accurate information, helpful maps, and beautiful illustrations this book is a must for thise with an interest in the history of religion.

I found The Long Journey very enlighting and most enjoyable. You forget that you've read this story in the Bible many times.It is as if you never read it before and you haven't, not like this. Many little things become so real. Hagar for instance has always seemed to be just a servant. The book makes her become a real person with a real life and one who loves her child. She would die for her child and almost did. Sarah was always the perfect one and now the realization begins that she was a very real person and not someone who only lives in the Bible.

This is must reading for anyone who is a Bible Scholar.

My husband also enjoyed this book very much and he is definately a Bible Scholar. It is very unusual for him to read and really like a book of fiction. He has been a Minister and Bible Researcher for over 65 years. He is 93 years old and i've never seen him enjoy a book so much other than The Bible. You will become lost inside the pages in an era of long ago. It is an excellent author that can take you to the places and the people that the book is written about.

I saved Abraham for last because he was brought to life inside the book. We always think Abraham had it so easy because he was chosen of GOD. We find out that he was subject to human errors, fear and all the other human feelings and shortcomings that we experience.

A wonderful book whether you love history or just want a good book to enjoy. It is great for either. Thank You, Sylvia Kolenda

I am assuming that the book I am reviewing is Abraham in the Negev by TD Alexander. At the time of writing this of this review, Amazon has failed to note the author's name. Alexander's book is excellent; it shows very persuasively the great weaknesses within the Wellhausen documentary hypothesis, especialy when applied to the narratives surrounding Abraham in Gen 17-22. Important reading for all those involved in the academic study of the OT.