Mr. Jones, an economist and former associate editor of Forbes magazine, looks at the institution he has spent his lifetime studying from a religious perspective. The study is brief, but comprehensive - it covers the three aspects of capitalism Jones sees - capitalism the good, capitalism the bad and capitalism the ugly. While free-market exponents ignore the latter two, socialists ignore the former - this book provides the complete picture. It also is filled with interesting quotes from many Catholics such as G.K. Chesterton and Pope John Paul II. Good religious critique of economic systems.

After being Sherlock Holmes's fan for nearly 20 years, to me, this book is still considered as one of the top 3. I loved the story from the beginning page to the last word of the book. It's a wonderful book to read for readers at any age!

I have the ninth edition (1989) which does not credit Michele Sadler. This is the most enjoyable and informative overview of the topic I have yet found. It covers everything from the shapes of the tea kettles to the landscape design surrounding famous tea rooms.

The book is interesting in that it discusses many particulars of the tea ceremony and its equipment, but balances this information nicely with many anecdotes which convey the "feeling" of the tea ceremony. The book also provides the reader with valuable historical insight about the development of the tea ceremony.

An important feature of the book is that the index contains the Kanji characters for the items listed.

I did not give the book a five star rating because it has black and white plates which do not adequately convey the colors of the tea bowls, and because many particulars of the tea ceremony could have been given more comprehensive treatment.

I have, however, re-read my copy several times, and I think that it is well worth adding to your book collection.

I devoured this book on a long-distance plane trip recently, and was amazed at the relevance of this collection of ancient, Chinese poems to modern life. Covering the time mostly between 900 B.C. and 1200 A.D., the themes these ancient poets deal with are the same most of us contemplate driving to work in the morning (if we turn off the radio), or lie with as we drift to sleep at night.

I found the poetry a little slow at first, but it gets more and more interesting the further one reads. I recommend it for the middle aged or older reader, or for anyone else who has time and inclination to seek the examined life. Food, romance, long-distance marriages and friendships, gender discrimination, the joys and frustrations of military service, the joys and frustrations of bureaucracy, fidelity, infidelity, births, and deaths, humor, sorrow -- it's all there, and speaks to us through the millenia.

A great collection at a bargain price!

"The Nahuatl expression "chipping away on earth" refers to the way long-sustained activity can develop skills and achieve great things. It makes an appropriate title for a volume commemorating the translators of the Nahuatl texts of fray Bernardino de Sahagún's sixteenth-century Florentine Codex or General History of the Things of New Spain. Anderson and Dibble's multi-volume publication is the largest philological undertaking seen in the realm of indigenous languages of the New World in modern times, and upward of three decades passed between its first inception and its completion. When these two anthropologists began their entreprise in the late 1940s, they met with little understanding or encouragement from fellow practitioners of their discipline. Ethnohistory barely existed, and indeed it could not flourish until some of the basic texts necessary for its practice were available and understood. In the decades that have followed, New World ethnohistory has gained great momentum, partly as a result of Anderson and Dibble's efforts, and their philology has drawn the admiring attention also of historians literary scholars, and art historians. Among this large audience, their feats are legendary.

The volume comprises twenty-seven pieces (plus two introductory essays), by as many authors, divided into five sections. In the first, Anderson, Dibble, and Norma Mikkelson, who was closely involved at University of Utha Press, reminisce on various stages of the Florentine Codex project. The following sections are devoted to: aspects of the work of Sahagún; Mesoamerican philology beyond Sahagún; various substantive aspects of Nahua cultural history before and after the conquest; and some facets of the history of the Nahua subregion of Tetzcoco....

....A collection of this type, when it is as well done as the present one, and represents as good a cross-section of authors as this one does, can serve as an introduction to the field for the nonspecialist, or even as a way of keeping current for the specialized scholar. It also represents an opportunity to discuss the field's evolution...."

More a history of Christian metaphysics than metaphysics itself, the book is admirable in many respects, the last chapter notwithstanding. Trace presents an excellent overview of the evolving relation of Christian beliefs to that special class of thinkers known as 'intellectuals'. Early Christianity developed largely on non-intellectual premises. But as it grew in a relatively hostile environment, the need for reasoned defense against rival religions grew apace. Early church fathers were instrumental in synthesizing Greek metaphysics into a fairly coherent apologetics. Not until the middle ages (circa 500 AD) did the church subsume European intellectual life, while from that time to circa !4th century, the European intellectual climate was controlled by the Roman Catholic Church through monasteries and then universities. Gradually, however, reason came to exercise a greater and greater independent role, consigning religious belief to articles of faith, unto the present day when scientific materialism has largely replaced last traces of Christian belief among respectable intellectuals. Trace's narrational account of this 2000 year period is both lucid and edifying.

In a lamentable final chapter, however, Trace sheds all appearance of impartiality. He plumps for a hazy return to Christian belief as foreshadowed in the works of Dostoevski, Kierkegaard and Karl Barth. Partisnship is certainly acceptable among historians, yet Trace utterly fails to make his case for what appears to be a kind of sentimental recidvism. As an historian, Trace succeeds admirably:; as a theologian, he does not.

Arthur Miller gives a nice outline to CivPro with clear examples and explanations for the terms. Don't expect it to be a party listening to the monotony (it IS CivPro), but if you need simple instruction and a very structured lecture, this is the tape/CD set that may help you.

This book is valuable reading for those who would like to understand the Genesis for racial animosities and problems that still occur in both the North and the South today. It also provides a familiarity with the actions and motives of the true historical Ku Klux Klan in contrast to the misguided bigots who preach racial hatred under the guise of the neo Ku Klux Klan of today. Film and theatre students will find this book interesting as the basis for D.W. Griffith's acclaimed film classic "Birth of a Nation". If possible locate an unabridged copy of this classic book.

I am in the process of reading the entire 33 volume series of Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte. He is one of the most likable characters in fiction. This book takes place in Victoria not far from the Ocean Road. It has a less exotic tone than many of the others such as This Bone is Pointed since it is by the sea and not in the outback and does not involve any aborigines. However, there is a gentle tone as he develops the character of the old woodworker. You will find out what it is like to be fitted for your coffin. (I probably should disclose that I am fascinated by Australia and have a dozen Australia guidebooks.)

I really enjoy The Three Investigators Series. The characters are great, you can really get into thier attitudes. It is great that the books follow them from when they were young up until high school age. The mysteries are unique and it is not always obvios who done what, which is good in a mystery book. A huge plus is that the books are very humorous, which I personally love. I recomend that all young people read these books, they are great for parents to read to their kids as well.