Bloom is the editor of this book of essays concerning the poetry of John Milton. Students or casual readers of the book will both profit from and enjoy them. Milton was a great poet,and should be understood on his on ground, on his on terms, and the essays will facilitate such understanding.

Please do read Abdiel Agonistes review, but keep in mind that his view is biased by his religious beliefs; and his misconceptions of great poets such as Whitman and Goethe as well as his scurrilous (and discredited) view of Modernism should be taken with a grain of salt.

John Milton's reputation has unjustly suffered a diminution during the last two centuries. The romantics, repulsed by his religious theme of the earthly pilgrimage of the soul, corrupted his poem by maliciously interpreting Satan as the hero, despite Milton's unequivocal condemnation of Satan and his equally lucid characterization of the repentant Adam as the true hero. T.S. Eliot and those who ape his opinions also find Milton the man and his religious beliefs repellent. The poets of the modern era deride Milton because, in general, they have abandoned religious belief and turned to vague forms of idealism, as in Whitman's Democratic Vistas, and to the creation of idiosyncratic ersatzes, as in Poe's Eureka. John Keats's Endymion and the Hyperion poems fail as much because of their superficial content as their poor structure and execution. In Auden's analysis, "the modern problem" hamstrings the romantics as much as Yeats or Pound. Milton never suffered from such a malady and hence the envious detestation he has received from minor poets who are unquestionably his inferiors. Milton possesses a serious vision of history and humankind that could only achieve full expression in the most demanding form of poetry--the epic. But most poets of the last few hundred years have not found themselves entrusted with such a vision. Much to the contrary, they excel in every imaginable type of turpitude and triviality that the human mind is capable of producing. Like Yeats they have often thrown together every decadent principle or superstition that has ever happened along. This sorry state of affairs has become so common in postmodern poetry that anyone who would attempt to restore epopee to its glorious heights of noble seriousness and serenity would find ranked against him every academic hack and, as Milton phrased it, every "libidinous and ignorant" poetaster who has "scarce ever heard of that which is the main consistence of a true poem."

Milton knew the "consistence of a true poem," and both Paradise Lost and many passages scattered throughout his prose attest to it. In The Reason of Church Government he surveys the abilities of such masters as Homer, Virgil, Job, and Sophocles. Along with the modern loss of belief in God has gone his high and serious belief in the office of the poet. Equally banished from the modern conception of poetry is all respect for positive values, morals, and virtues. The story of twentieth-century literature is the abuse and misguided replacement of such healthy standards with the perversions of modernism and postmodernism. In brief, "the modern problem."

Unlike in the work of Jacques Derrida and his academic flies, the "presence" of God is a reality for Milton. Here in the abstract Milton gives us what throughout Paradise Lost he has been dramatizing--the "principles and presuppositions" to which Adam, representative man, must obediently submit, not merely in Eden, but for the fulfillment of his life during his journey on the earthly plane. In Satan, Milton presents the picture of the rebel, almost a type of the Renaissance hero Benvenuto Cellini, who through pride usurps power and whose fundamental actions and motives have their most appropriate modern analogue, as many have observed, in the archvillains Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. Such men fully embody the will to power that the nihilist Nietzsche, as Thomas Mann put it, glorified. Such totalitarian dictators were the inevitable product of the romantic fascination with Satan, as though he were a hero and not an arrogant aspirant after power. Such cultural confusion reveals itself in Goethe's Faust as well as in Nietzsche's Thus Spake Zarathustra.

Such errors in judgment, such fundamental confusion of values, mark the modern era and set it off from the spiritually healthier times of Dante, Langland, Spenser, and Milton--healthier only in terms of possessing to a degree a unified spiritual vision that provided universal standards with which to confront the damnable deeds of their day. Far from the banal optimism of the modern era, as in Whitman, they know that the long hard way of man is through suffering and turmoil and that the assurance Michael gives Adam about future generations abides eternally: "Doubt not but that sin / Will reign among them." Despite Freud's "freeing" man from sin, the twentieth century proved to be the most sinful in history, precisely because the unique spiritual reality of each soul and its fundamental limitations were denied. The violent, arrogant, insidious deeds of the archvillains of modern political nihilism alone account for the suffering and deaths of hundreds of millions of people, while much of the so-called intelligentsia of the West and East defended or prepared the way for the slaughter. Whereas Virgil denounced war except as the last resort for establishing peace, modern poets have often ignored the inhumanities of our century--save for those like Pound whose totalitarianism abetted the brutalizing of millions of innocents and the early Auden who approved "the necessary murder." Here at the end of the twentieth century when humankind still stands technologically capable of destroying much of the vast expanse of the globe and much, though not all, of its population, here when a more trustworthy political form has yet to be securely established to channel the will of the citizens of the international community, epopee must again take account of the social domain and man's earthly journey through these immense atrocities. For by faithfully treading the dark way of horror, by weighing the modern loss of belief, humankind may begin to regain the path in the twenty-first century, and, like Dante's persona, attain the highest summit of peace and glory.

This is an excellent book for individuals interested in helping people via technology. The topic is not only about counseling via a distance (not in an office, face to face) but also about the history of learning via technology. Learning and counseling cognitively are very similar and have similar technological uses. The editors do a good job of presenting information on theory, practical issues, phobias against technology use with people in need, as well as implementation issues. A wide variety of topics for people interested in all aspects of distance learning and communication. You can pick and choose the chapters that are relavant to your interests or I recommend reading the whole book to see how other fields are using the same types of technologies for different issues.

Unreadable. This endless poem is so stuck in the "old time religion" that it is totally irrelvant to modern readers.

I was confused by other people's reviews on this book and I'm sure other people have been as well. This is NOT John Milton's epic, but actually a collection of historical criticisms on this work. I ordered this book by accident, basing my decision on other people's comments, but luckily I was glad about what I found. So if you want a perspective of famous views on Paradise Lost, buy this book. But if you want to buy John Milton's classic (which I would recommend as well), buy another book.

This is arguably the single best work ever written in the English language -- or in any language. Milton sets out to 'justify the ways of God to man' - could there be a bigger task? And comes darn close. The story of God and Satan, Adam and Eve, Paradise Lost is the epic of mankind. Written in blank verse, it is thick and a bit tough to get through at first -- but as with all things, perseverance pays off and soon you'll be loving the verse.

Don't just read it once, though. This is one of those books that is better studied than read -- and there are lots of things you'll get the second, third, fourth time through that you won't the first.

Everyone should read this. That'd be a step toward Utopia.

And yes, I am Generation X.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a story about two best friends at the Devon Boarding School. The two boys Finny and Gene are also roommates. Finny is a very talented athlete, and Gene is a very good student. During the book Gene builds up jealousy inside and realizes he is really a savage underneath. On the other hand Finny is a very innocent and kind boy. It is summer at Devon, a very innocent world, away from the war and all the bad things in life. Gene begins to have epiphanies that Finny is trying to ruin his grades so that he can be a good athlete and Gene won't be good at anything. This builds up jealousy inside of Gene. That summer Finny starts the summer suicide society, where people jump off a tree limb into the pure water of the Devon River. One day they are making the jump together and are both standing on the tree limb when Gene jounces the limb, and Finny has a tragic fall onto the bank of the river where he breaks his leg. This ruins Finny's athletic career. Then Finny begins to train Gene for the Olympics that he won't be able to attend. The teachers are telling all of the boys they will soon have enlist in the army and go fight in the war. All of the boys are beginning to turn into men and lose their innocence. Finny is so innocent that he will not be able to survive the fall from innocence. Then Gene realizes that there is a potential for evil in the human heart and that's where his own evil and wars come from. When he goes off to war he really has nothing to fight for because he has realized his own evil and, he realizes where it comes from.
The book has good round characters that almost seem real. Finny is a round character. He is so innocent he is almost too good to be true. He also is very kind to everyone. Gene is also a round character. He has many characteristics and is much like a real person, for instance he has the potential for evil just like we all do but, he has a good side too. The theme of the book is the potential for evil in the human heart and soul.
There is a war motif throughout the story. The Devon River represents innocence and they are innocent when they jump into the Devon, the pure clean river. In the end Gene jumps into the Naguamsett River, the dirty river, this is like his fall from innocence. In the beginning Devon School is like the Garden of Eden before the fall from innocence, then when war hits the school it's not an innocent world anymore.
I liked the book however; I felt all the meanings could have been talked about a little more. I like the theme of the book. It really made you think about human nature and the potential for evil in the human heart and soul.

I read this book as a sophomore and I found it to be very sad. I found their relationship sad, because Finny had no idea how much Gene hated him. He wasn't a bad guy. He was just being himself. I hated this book because everything in it was depressing. I hoped that it would get better, but it didn't. I know that this is basically a classic, and I must admit the symbolism is intriguing, but I can't stand books like this.

I read the book, "A Separate Peace", by John Knowles and it was pretty good. It involves two main boys going through high school during World War II. One of the boys, Phineas, is superior at everything that involves sports. The other main character is Gene Forrester. He is great at school but just okay in sports. These boys are roomed together in their prepatory school named Devon and they are best friends. Gene starts thinking Phineas, also known as Finny, is trying to hold back him from doing so well at school so Finny can be the best at everything. So Gene starts this hate for Finny and ends up creating this horrible accident that ruins Finny's life forever. In then end it shows that Finny never would have even dreamt of ruining Gene's life or try to decieve Gene. He will always be innocent. It shows that there is always some darkness lurking in the back of Gene's mind but never once has this darkness entered Finny's mind. Gene trys to go and tell Phineas the truth that he created the accident but Finny won't listen to him he can't believe that a person could ever do this to him. Another character in the book is Leper Lelliper that likes to find these great things in life but makes sure he takes his time and doesn't rush it. He decides to go look at a beaver dam then go and help the WWII soldiers out by shoveling snow from the tracks. The most amazing thing that Mr.Knowles did in this book was the sybolism of a tree and Finny. He says that the school, Devon, is like the Garden of Eden and the tree the boys jump out of for fun is like the Tree of Knowledge. (You should be thinking of the Bibles story of Original Sin with Adam and Eve.) And when Finny falls from the tree it is like mankind falling from innocences. And the mans fall from innocence is saved by one innocent life. WOW! I think this man is awesome for creating this sybolism so beautifully but he doesn't force it on you he makes you think. I would give this book to anyone.

I used this text for Honors Biology as a high school sophomore and the material was presented in a complicated fashion that makes it hard for a typical reader to understand. While I am generally a good student and can grasp new ideas quickly this text was complicated and in my opinion needs a lot of teacher aid in explaining, especially for first year biology.

I used this book in my Biology PreAP class, PreAP meaning prerequisite to AP Biology, and managed to always get the highest test scores in class(although I do get the highest scores in all my classes)! Its topics cover the cellular processeses almost as in depth as AP Biology and will no doubt build a strong foundation when entering AP Biology. And although it maybe very in-depth for a typical high school freshman--its actual targeted audience are gifted students at the sophomore level--especially when it comes to its most complicated subject of Biochemistry, it should come as simple and quite obviously logical if read carefully. Its biggest strengths are in the evaluation questions, which help you to build an effective writing strategy and study guide when it comes to writing those lengthy scientific essays in AP Biology exam. Of course, this book alone won't guarantee you a 5.0 in the AP Biology exam(as you do have to get a new book for AP Biology), but it is the book that will guide you to that goal!

Collecting baseball cards evokes memories of crisp wax paper; the assault of a preadolescent nose with the aroma of sickly sweet, often stale, powder-sugar coated bubble gum; the thrill of your first Ted Williams card of the year; and of clothes-pinning your sixth Pedro Ramos in your bicycle spokes. In stark contrast, Bloom's book portrays collectors in the angry, white man role; discusses the collector1s insecurities about their rapidly declining social position as white men in American society; their disturbing attitudes toward blacks and women; and their apparent inability to get a date in high school. Why is Bloom saying such disparaging things about the people who collect baseball cards? Bloom is an assistant professor of American Studies at Dickinson College. He spent some time in the late 1980s and early part of 1990, attending baseball card shows in Minnesota. His observations at the shows, sports card shops, interviews with hobbyists, and secondary research, form the basis for this adaptation of his doctoral thesis. At times, the book suffers from a stifling academic tone. Baseball card collecting can evolve from a children1s hobby to an adult1s business. Other authors have written recently about the tension between collecting baseball memorabilia for the sake of nostalgia or as speculative investments. Because it is readily enjoyed irrespective of age, collecting memorabilia is one way baseball is transferred from one generation to the next. But the hobby took on an entirely new dynamic during the Reagan years. Many American boys collected cards, and in the economic boom of the 1980s, price1s escalated, and collectors found (if mom hadn1t gotten there first) treasure troves in long-forgotten, old shoe boxes. Unfortunately, many believed, including Bloom, that the newfound wealth corrupted the hobby. Bloom1s typical adult collector is white, male, and lower-middle class. In turn, Bloom blames these card collectors for failed marriages, deceit, deception, the manipulation of children, the exclusion and derision of women, and distancing the races. But is the assertion valid that adult collectors are sexist, merely because the majority are male? Similarly, are they racist because a majority are white? Is the fact that Mickey Mantle1s 1952 Topps rookie card sells at a higher price than Willie Mays1 1952 card, justifiable evidence of racism among the collecting enthusiasts as the author brazenly maintains? The impact and social ramifications of collecting baseball cards appear to be stretched beyond the realm of plausibility to make an alarming, though questionable, point. Is it possible that collecting bits of cardboard, emblazoned with the images of childhood heroes, can really be the cause of this much social discord? But the author has missed a critical point. Bloom states that the cards, in and of themselves, 3are of no real consequence2. Most collectors would vehemently disagree. Baseball cards derive their value by resurrecting the reminiscences of the collector1s youthful heroes. There is a collective social memory which envelops the collectors and their cards. The fact that trade guides indicate that selected cards may have some extrinsic value is nice, but for the majority of collectors, not paramount. The same native affinity does not permeate collecting spoons, stamps or coins, or even football or basketball cards. The fact that these collectibles are baseball cards matters a great deal.

As a baseball card collector for over 20 years, I have read countless articles in countless publications about baseball cards and card collecting. Almost every one of the has focused on either the financial aspects of the hobby or on how great it is to be a collector. John Bloom has written a thought provoking and academic book which examines WHY we collect.

While I do not agree with some of the authors positions, specifically about race and homoerotocism, I feel that they are well thought out and presented. His description of the MCC, a card collectors club, is very similar to my own experiences in the two clubs to which I have belonged in the past, and offers a unique look at the pettiness and power struggles that often arise in these organizations.

Many collectors and hobby writers came out very strongly against this book, but I think that many of them looked at Blooms' conclusions as an attack on the hobby of card collecting. They are not.

While the academic tone of the book can make it difficult to read at times, the insights that it offers and the fact that it at least makes the reader THINK about the nature of collecting are reason enough to read "House of Cards".

Bloom's well-researched study of baseball collectors in the 1980s is a wonderful text for studying and teaching about masculinity and popular culture. His book raises important questions about the crisis of masculinity in the latter part of the twentieth century, and the ways that popular culture practices like baseball card collecting both challenged and, ultimately, shored up traditional gender boundaries between men and women. Bloom's work also focuses extensively on the issue of nostalgia, particularly the idealized memory of 1950s American boyhoods. An accessible and engaging tone makes this a fine text to use in popular culture classes or in gender studies classes.

What can be better than reading the three greatest books--"The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Two Towers," and "The Return of the King"--ever written? Having a leather-bound volume with all three together is better. If you are a fan of the books or you have a loved one that is, this is the best edition to own. It has a big fold-out map in the back for reference, all the references you can think of, and a really neat red leather cover. I have had this edition for 20 years and it's still in excellent condition. Well worth the cost.

Outside of The Bible, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is simply the best book written in all of time. On a scale of 1 - 10 it is a 100. Nothing in any genre has ever been written better. Originally designed as a six-book, three-volume work, the wonderful people at Houghton Mifflin Company have published the books in an awesome one-volume, leather-bound collector's edition for easy reading (and many re-readings). I am only sixteen, but I am constantly reading, and let me tell you now that nobody beats Tolkien; and nothing beats The Lord of the Rings! Read this book and join the largest group of fans to ever walk the earth.

The story is just as beautiful as it was years ago when I read it for the first time. It needs no further review.

For those who are looking for an attractive, permanent edition, this is it. The fifty Alan Lee paintings are gorgeous, and the more you look at them the more you realize how carefully Lee put them together to remain faithful to the vision and the detail of the text. It's obvious he loved the books as much as the rest of us do. A keeper.

For teachers or trainers who use film to bring variety and excitement to the classoom, Prof. Champoux has written two useful film guides, one with a focus on management and the other on organizational behavior. Both have similar tables of contents and it is unlikely that students who have purchased one book would feel their money was well spent in the purchase of the second volume. Additionally, students may feel cheated by the formatting decisions made by the author and the publisher. Each book could easily be reduced in page numbers by at least half with no loss of content.

With these reservations considered, Champoux does provide a useful service for the reader. A few examples will serve to demonstrate the value of his work.

In Chapter 3 of the Organizational Behavior text Champoux reviews the 1970 Jack Nicholson film, "Five Easy Pieces." The category for this film is Quality Management and the scene Champoux uses to illustrate a breakdown in customer service is the now famous roadside restaurant confrontation where Nicholson attempts to customize his order with a waitress who advises him that he can't make any substitutions for any items on the menu. At first Nicholson attempts to use reason with the waitress in order to get the food he wants to eat, but when reason fails, his anger and savage wit combine in one of the most memorable putdowns ever filmed.

Champoux makes it convenient for the viewer to find the scene with fairly accurate tape start and stop times listed prominently before his accurate description of what the viewer will see. He then asks three open ended questions which seem obvious at first, but in reality are difficult to answer. Teachers will find it easy to add their own questions such as: Is the customer always right? Our conditioned response is yes, but the scene Champoux gives us requires us to think more deeply about this question. More than this, Nicholson is a difficult customer. How does a person in the service industry work effectively with such people? Students will be eager to discuss such questions and instructors will discover many teachable moments stimulated by the interest generated by the film clip.

As mentioned, this guide has been formatted into a workbook and always after the questions for discussion is a page for analysis of concepts or examples and then a place to write personal reactions to the film clip. All the content mentioned could easily have been formatted on one page and students can use their own notebooks or learning logs, which they are likely to do anyway, to record their observations.

With these reservations noted, I am still able to recommend this book. Prof. Champoux shares with us his years of experience watching popular films. The eighty-two films cited in the text are divided into twenty-five chapters that correspond to topics that students will find in the typical organizational behavior text like perception, motivation, and leadership. As in the Five Easy Pieces example mentioned, his selections are appropriate, entertaining, and thought provoking. Students and teachers will discover in Champoux's book many good reasons to bring a thoughtful attention to their next film viewing.

This is difficult reading. Bloom covers a lot of ground, ranging from Freud (a major subject) to the Kabbalah to Romantic poetry to Nietzsche to Heidegger to Hegel to Poe to Browning to Homer to Yeats to linguistics. He is concerned with misprision, crossings, precursors, psychoanalysis, the Hebrew and Christian bibles and other religious writings, just to name a few subjects. He does not hesitate to let the reader know when he does not agree with other critics (and this is often). Not recommended for anyone who is not a serious academician.

While studying John Steinbeck I came across this book and was glad to find a book that treats "In Doubious Battle", "Of Mice and Men", and "The Grapes of Wrath" together in one volume. I was, however, totally disappointed. The book consists of several abstracts of essays that are available elsewhere in full. The selection of essays does not seem to make any sense and the essays are not commented. The aim of author seems to be to make money out of other people's essays. If you want to learn something about John Steinbeck, do not buy this book! Look for essays elsewhere and look for other books. There are better ones!