I think that this book is wonderful! I am a student of Dr. Anthony York's and we have utilized this book in our classes. The Bible As Literature discusses the Bible in a manner that helps the reader actually read what is/was written without all the religious jargon. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about "The Bible" or to anyone who thinks they "really" know what the Bible states.

It is difficult to separate the literary and religious aspects of the Bible, but the authors' focus is on the book "as literature" and in the space of 357 pages (in my copy of the 4th edition - 432 according to Amazon.com), they cover literary forms and strategies, historical and geographic settings, the major components of the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha and Pseudoepigrapha, and issues concerning the text and its translation. A valuable final chapter considers the religious use and interpretation of the Bible. Although the book is concise, it manages in its 18 chapters and 3 appendices to be comprehensive and is consistently readable. I find the sensible, scientific approach credible and while it frequently causes me to reflect on my religious beliefs, they are not seriously undermined by this liberal approach. I do not know of a better introduction to the Bible.

This book is great. I have Dr. Anthony York, one of the authors of this book,in class, and his book is wonderful. It really helps to see the various opinions of the bible. It is also great for people who want to study the bible as literature and not from a religious stand point.

Saw this book on the counter of a wonderful new tea shop in Boston, and stayed for two hours reading. The comprehensive coverage of tea, history, ritual, and legacy is just terrific. The text is only surpassed by the well chosen photos, paintings and images. Flammarion needs to bring back this extraordinary tribute to tea!

This isn't a review in the strict sense of the word, I would just like to say that if there is any way to nag Flammarion until they reprint it, I'm in it. I would LOVE to own it, now I have to check it out from the library...

a pity that this book runned out of stock. a must for every publisher to keep freshly onPress

This is a fascinating, well written book about the John Walker spy ring. The author does a great job giving the gory details about what it was that this guy did and how he finally got caught. It is amazing how a simpleton like Walker can get into a position of such authority. A breach of security on this level can really affect the lives of the young men and women serving in our military, to say nothing of our national security. I am not sure they can really come up with an appropriate punishment for a guy like this. The book also gives you insight into the workings of the KGB and the details about how these espionage operations work. You will enjoy it.

What a scumbag, if spying against our country was not bad enough, this complete waste of a man drags his family and friends into it. All for like $ 1 per page, how did someone this dumb get into the position he was in to do so much harm? The story is very interesting, I could have even written the story and it would be entertaining. Luckily that did not happen and the author did a great job. He constructed the details and time line very well and easy to follow. The explanations of what info Walker was giving out was also presented well. If you are interested in this area then I would suggest getting this book, it is well worth the time and money.

I don't need 1000 words on this one......It's so damn good that I called in sick for 2 days (of course I was'nt sick). But no...literally folks, this is one of those "can't put it down" type books.....Bill Goldstein ...... billgold1@visto.com ................

I'd love to get some e-mail opinions on this

I find this history of philosophy very fun and interesting to read. Without forgetting the importance of ideas Kenny also gives a background in the corresponding culture and society.

Jesus and Freud are unusual but very interesting choices and especially the part about Freud I find very good.

Given the importance of the ideas of Hume for twentieth century philosophy it is a little bit strange to give Hume 6.5 pages and Kant 21 pages. But Kant is an important but difficult philosopher and perhaps one should be grateful for every help one can get when it comes to understanding him.

As a student of theoretical philosophy in the analytical tradition four things makes me very happy:

1. Stoic logic is mentioned and explained.
2. Not just the Monadology of Leibniz are treated but also Leibniz as a great logic mind. Maybe one day Leibniz will be remembered more as a great logic mind that inspired Russell and others, than as the builder of the sometimes strange and weird feeling system of monads.
3. The logic and logical analysis of Frege and Russell are given one chapter.
4. Twentieth century philosophy is exemplified not with Sartre or Heidegger as with some Norwegian history's of philosophy, but with Wittgenstein.

Anthony Kenny is, in my opinion, a first-rank philosopher. He is also a very good writer. He writes in a nice conversational way, yet has a remarkable skill at knowing, and sufficently explaining, those areas that will give the average reader a bit of difficulty. I bought this book yesterday and have made my way through quite a bit. Kenny's background gives him a particular competence at writing a history of philosophy (he first studied Aristotelian-scholastic philosophy at the Gregorianum in Rome, then analytical-linguistic philosopy at Oxford University). I already have a degree in philosophy (w/ honours), and I only wish it had been at the feet of a master like Kenny (btw, he is now Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford U., formerly Master of Balliol). We are in Dr. Kenny's debt for anything he writes, especially with this latest work.

Anthony Kenny's magnificent new history of philosophy is a remarkable achievement. The book is accessible yet sophisticated, concise yet comprehensive.

Its main weaknesses are Kenny's sometimes surprising and dramatic editorial decisions and his periodic idiosyncratic application of twentieth-century analytic philosophy. Also, Kenny provides no references for the quotations he uses. Happily, these flaws take away little from the stupendous success of Kenny's history.

The book consists of twenty-two chapters occupying 345 pages, followed by an afterword, suggestions for further reading, and a comprehensive index. The chapters, which range from "Philosophy in its Infancy" to "the Philosophy of Wittgenstein," include detailed discussions of nearly all canonical philosophers, brief discussions a few non-canonical philosophers (e.g., Hypatia, Bonaventure, Marsilius of Padua), and numerous extremely helpful discussions of the interaction between western philosophy and many non-philosophical figures and institutions. Philosophy students of all levels will benefit from this book, and their instructors will find much to admire and enjoy in it.

This is must reading for all people raised in the south!!
It is also insightful for those of us that have moved south!
It is reflective and will draw you into retracing your childhood adventures.
Humor,excitement&mischief are sprinkled with moral truths to live by!
A must reading for all!
Get a feel for southern living as you have never known!!!

Ya'll buy this book now!! A must have for everyone.

Ya'll buy this book now!! Some of the best writing I've seen in a long while. This book has strong characters and settings so real I could picture them in my mind. The author is a superb storyteller, very reminiscent of Mark Twain. A thoroughly wonderful reading experience this book is a must have for everyone young or old

Very Funny and very southern!

This book is a jewel. The writing style is clearly fromsomeone who has really lived the Southern life. The messages in thebook are wholesome and do a great job of entertaining. After reading the book, I wanted to go back to my home state of Alabama and drink an RC Cola with my best friend. Good illustrations. I would recommend this book to kids from 6 to 106!