Since Berkeley is best remembered as a philosopher and it is therefore highly likely that anyone interested in this is interested in that part of Berkeley's collected works, that is where I will focus this review.

The most important work of Berkeley is "A Treatise Concerning the Principals of Human Knowledge [Part I]" (there is no part II - the partial manuscript for it was lost while Berkeley was travelling). "Principals" has two principal sections: one epistemological and the other metaphysical.

In the epistemological section of "Principals", Berkeley argued that when we use words to describe entities which we literally cannot imagine, we block our own understanding - "that we have first raised a dust and then complain we cannot see." We can use words to stand for a multiplicity of different entities (such as "triangle" to stand for all possible triangles), but that an abstract triangle, one that is "neither oblique nor rectangle, neither equilateral, equicrural, nor scalenon, but all and none of these at once", (here he was quoting Locke) is an impossibility. The significance of this is subtle, but critical to his argument since he came back to it again and again throughout his works to differentiate between meaningful and meaningless words.

Having laid out a differentiation between meaningful and meaningless words in his epistemological section, Berkeley then proceeded to the metaphysical section, in which he attacked the idea of matter, principally as expounded by Locke. Berkeley argued that matter is a meaningless word, signifying nothing that we can imagine. He argued that all of the properties that materialists ascribe to matter are either perceptions (non-existent in the absence of a perceiver) or utterly meaningless. Thus, Berkeley argued that a theory of matter to account for our perceptions was a meaningless proposition. Our perceptions of the world (our ideas of it), however, still required an explanation. To this end, Berkeley argued the things we perceive are ideas that are put into our minds by God. They differ from things that we imagine by our lack of control over them, and in their consistency and vividness - properties that are the result of their being the product of a mind other than and vastly more powerful than our own. In this argument, Berkeley felt that he had discovered a powerful counter to atheism, that his theistic idealism could account for the world whereas atheism, with its dependency on matter, could not.

"Principals" did not meet with the acceptance that Berkeley had hoped for it (to say the least), so he presented his metaphysics again in a more accessible form in "Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous." "Dialogs" is easier to read, but not as good a source as "Principals" for really understanding Berkeley. In either form, the critical side of his argument against matter had and has great force, even if his proposed alternative has never attracted many adherents.

Berkeley also presented his metaphysics again in less detail in two other works: the fourth dialogue in "Alciphron; or, the Minute Philosopher" and in "The Theory of Vision, or Visual Language, Shewing the Immediate Presence and Providence of a Deity."

"Commonplace Book - Berkeley's notes from 1705-08." is a collection of short notes that Berkeley jotted down while he was working through his philosophical ideas and preparing to publish them. "Commonplace Book" itself was never intended for publication but is of interest in understanding how Berkeley's thought developed.

Berkeley also wrote on scientific matters, consistent with his views as laid out in "Principals", on vision in "An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision", (which he actually wrote before "Principals" which he hoped would soften the audience for the presentation of the full theory in "Principals" and also in "De Motu" (On Motion).

Berkeley also wrote on mathematics, again consistently with his philosophical writings in "The Analyst; or a Discourse Addressed to an Infidel Mathematician" and the follow-on works "A Defense of Free-Thinking in Mathematics" and "Reasons for not Replying to Mr. Walton's Full Answer". "The Analyst" - an attack on the foundations of Newton's calculus, set off a furor in British mathematics that lasted a century.

"Alciphron" alluded to earlier, was a work of Christian apologetics, and was Berkeley's longest work. It is not without interest today, but it has not aged as well as his other works mentioned above.

"Passive Obedience: or The Christian Doctrine of not resisting the Supreme Power", was a work of political philosophy. It is not at all connected with his other philosophical works and was regarded as dangerous and somewhat subversive.

The last work of Berkeley that deserves individual mention is "Siris: A Chain of Philosophical Reflexions and Inquiries Concerning the Virtues of Tar-Water and Divers Other Subjects Connected Together and Rising From One Another", a curious (to put it mildly) work on both "tar-water", which Berkeley held to be a panacea, and metaphysical speculation inspired by reading classical sources (if you don't know what tar-water is, don't worry - you can get the recipe in "Siris"). "Siris" was written near the end of Berkeley's life. The metaphysical speculation in it did not constitute an abandonment of his earlier ideas, but it did not strike me as at all developed - he was going somewhere new but had not yet arrived when he wrote it.

Apart from his intellectual endeavors above, Berkeley also led a full life and was an active Anglican clergyman. He travelled, wrote on purely religious matters, and also wrote in support of social justice and tolerance. These works round out the man, as does "Life of Berkeley", Fraser's biographical essay at the start of the collection.

The collection is not without its flaws. Chief among these is that "De Motu" is left in Latin and untranslated both it and "The Analyst" really require more extensive introductions to be easily understood by a contemporary reader. Douglas Jesseph's "De Motu and The Analyst", Volume 41 of "The New Syntheses Historical Library" is a highly recommended supplement to the "Works".

So what do you get for your money?

Volume I:

Life of Berkeley - by Fraser.

Commonplace Book - Berkeley's notes from 1705-08.

An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision.

A Treatise Concerning the Principals of Human Knowledge [Part I].

Three Dialogs Between Hylas and Philonous.

De Motu - this is in Latin and is NOT translated.

Volume II:

Alciphron; or, the Minute Philosopher.

The Theory of Vsion, or Visual Language, Shewing the Immediate Presence and Providence of a Deity.

Volume III:

The Analyst; or a Discourse Addressed to an Infidel Mathemetician.

A Defense of Free-Thinking in Mathematics.

Reasons for not Replying to Mr. Walton's Full Answer.

Siris: A Chain of Philosophical Reflexions and Inquiries Concerning the Virtues of Tar-Water and Divers Other Subjects Connected Together and Rising From One Another.

Three Letters to Thomas Prior, Esq., and a Letter to the Rev. Dr. Hales, on the Virtues of Tar-Water.

Farther Thoughts on Tar-Water.

Volume IV:

Arithmetica Absque Algebra Aut Euclide Demonstrata - this is in Latin and is NOT translated.

Miscella Mathematica... - this is in Latin and is NOT translated.

Description of the Cave of Dunmore.

The Revelation of Life and Immortality.

Passive Obedience: or The Christian Doctrine of not resisting the Supreme Power...

Essays in the Guardian.

Two Sermons Preached at Leghorn in 1714.

Journal in Italy in 1717, 1718.

An Essay Toward Preventing the Ruin of Great Britain.

Verses on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America.

Notes of Sermons Preached at Newport in Rhode Island and in the Narragansett country in 1729-31.

A Sermon Preached before the Incorporating Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts...1732.

The Querist, containing several queries, proposed to the consideration of the public.

A Discourse Addressed to Magistrates and Men in Authority.

Primary Visitation Charge Delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Cloyne.

Address on Confirmation.

A Letter to Sir John James, Bart., on the Differences Between the Roman and Anglican Churches.

Two Letters on the Occasion of the Rebellion in 1745.

A Word to the Wise: or, an Exhortation to the Roman Catholic Clergy of Ireland.

Maxims Concerning Patriotism.

Appendix: The First Edition of the Querist.

General Comments:

The books are very well produced. Cloth bound, acid-free paper, burgundy colored, with a simple and elegant design. All in all, this is a handsome edition that will physically grace your library.

Fraser's commentary and footnotes are helpful and abundant (note: this is a reprint of a 1901 work, so there is of course no commentary on how Berkeley has been read in this century).

The only thing I would have wanted different than what I got would have been translations of the Latin essays into English.

Insofar as Berkeley the philosopher, he is one of the major philosophers of history, and one of the clearest writers. He is also often scathingly funny.

This cookbook is not only a beautiful book to look at, but it is full of easy, tasteful recipies as well as easy decorating ideas. The planned menus are a huge help in organizing everything from a party to a family dinner. It is a great taste of the South and its hospitality.

Thom has fictionalized a true story with such powerful description that one forgets the fact that most of the details are imagined. They are, however, totally believable, and even though the reader knows the ending (she finally makes it home), the book is difficult to put down. Every footstep of the journey is vivid. The author also manages to portray the Indians as human beings in spite of the gory details of the massacre. Mary Ingles was a fourth great-grandmother of a friend of mine, and this makes the book more immediate for me. My own great-great grandfather was survivor of a Shawnee massacre in the same area 20 years later. I am astounded at the courage and endurance of these brave people who were our forebears. As a writer, I was amazed at how many different ways Thom describes weather, terrain, pain, and terror. Mary's decision to give up her baby to the Indian girl was a selfless, practical act, and her mental and emotional strength kept her from descending into a morass of romantic, sentimental, blubbering guilt. This book should be required in American history courses as adjunct reading material. It tells us what a history book cannot--the human side of the early development of this country.

I've read this book three times and teach it to my twelfth grade English classes. Mary Ingles is an inspiration of the possibilities of endurance of the human spirit. Victim of a brutal Shawnee attack in the summer of 1755 she is force marched from Virginia to Shawnee, Ohio while nine months pregnant giving birth on the trail. She is sold into slavery and taked to the area near Big Bone Lick State Park in Kentucky. Together with an old Dutch woman she escapes and begins a 1,000 mile trek home through unknown and hostile wilderness. In 43 harrowing days she goes from 125 pounds to under 80 pounds as she faces the elements, starvation, wild animals, hostile Indians, implacable nature, and a companion that turns cannibal. The reader shares the agony of the journey with Mary as she must go the final miles on her hands and knees. The most amazing thing about the story is it is true. Like his other historical novels Thom has done his research and he makes the history come alive for his reader.

As a West Virginia resident and one that lives near the Ohio river, I find myself thinking about Mary and her journey home. I find myself wondering what the river looked like to her. This is a fantastic book. I have passed this book on to several people and they all tell me that they can not put it down.
If you read this book you will find yourself asking, "what is going to happen next".
What is so remarkable is that this is a true story. I found myself crying when Mary left her newborn baby behind. The perils she and Gretel endure are unbelievable. I would hope that I would be able to persevere as she did in such trying times. I don't think a man could have done any better.
West Virginia history classes need to teach about this wonderful women and not focus so much on learning the counties. I could not believe that this story takes place in our beautiful state and had never even heard of this woman.
The Hallmark channel showed a TV movie based on the book but played lightly on the hardships and was not a true adaptation of the book.

I have used this book many times in designing the corporate headquarters compnent of organizations. It is one of a very few references available on this particular issue to consultants in organization design. As a Value Based Design consultant, analyst, researcher and advisor on value creating systems I must take issue with the previous reviewer and strongly recommend this book to actual practitioners.Goold happily steers us away from mathematical reductionism and provides some great examples of how economic value can be leveraged as diverse means of generating it are discovered in the corporate portfolio. Like Jaques caution not to throw the hierachical baby out with the bathwater,Goold provides an antidote to the view that corporate centres add no value. As companies become more process based and self organizing, insights such as those provided by the author into managing such complexity will be invaluable.

This books title should be: "Parenting Advantage: Non-quantifiable benefits of british conglomerates in the 1980's".

I ordered this book because I excpected to find an advanced mathematical textbook on strategic analysis, shareholder value and real options. Therefore I was disappointed to find out, that it does not contain a single formula and ignores all the progress made by shareholder valuation techniques and real option theory.

It is based on verbal organizational theory and sociology, not on microeconomic theory and transaction cost theory.
It is based on an INTERNAL point of view, not an EXTERNAL point of view, and fails to analyze quantitative competetive advantages. Its framework is very academic and descriptive, no step-by-step-imlementation plans, no mathematics. Just interviews with british conglomerates and quotations from academic papers.

However, the book taught a valuable lesson, it did not intend to teach at all: The popular EVA/Economic-Profit-Models for Share-holder-Valuation-Management were first applied by british cong-lomerates like BTR back in the late 1960's. The misapplication of EVA/economic-profit-models in british companies and their resulting loss of competetive advantage is a cautionary tale against the abuse of simplified shareholder-Valuation-techniques.

With all due respect towards the authors, I see few hands-on-applications for their work. Sure, I do not question Goolds integrity or experience. He must have invested months of work in his book. His book was stimulating to read, but how can it help a consultant, who sits face-to-face in front of an angry customer, who wants to see quantifiable results for his money ?.
I share Mr Goolds scepticism aginst an aggressive 'financial control style', but to falsify EVA/Economic-Profit-Models
it takes more than anecdotal evidence, it takes stochastic data.

This is an excelent book based on practical knowledege and very clever tools to evaluate different strategies in a multibusiness company.

Poisoning in Dogs and Cats

This book is based on approximately 15,000 requests for information made to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service(VPIS) in London, England and the appropriate clinical replies made thereto. It is intended for a veterinary professional however is written so that anyone can benefit from it, with occasional reference to a medical dictionary. It is important to note that the majority of useful information relates to a substance a cat or dog is known to have ingested. Thus, if you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic dose of something it is imperative you figure out what that something was. Forget the television and movie presentations of "we'll send the blood to the lab" (to discover the toxin). By the time a few months have passed by your pet will have been deceased a few months. Some hints can be culled from the symptoms associated with various poisons however one it would take a while to go through all the poisons to ID by symptom.

Reading this book should give you an idea of what substances to consider while trying to determine a possible poison. Some poisons are more specific to England such as "Yew Tree" (remember those English longbows from Robin Hood? Yew Trees) or a bite from an "adder", a snake not native to our soil. Other poisons common to the USA are ignored such as rattlesnake, brown recluse spider, black widow spiders, etc. There is an insufficient reference to plants. Among some things that should be there are: English Ivy is said to be toxic to cats but not dogs; oleander and castor beans are lethal to most mammals. Also missing are anything resembling a picture, drawing or diagram. But this lack simply adds to the dry British style. All in all this is an excellent book for someone whose best friend is a dog or cat. This should help fill in some gaps on how to best watch over and take care of you dog and/or cat friend.

GIFT SUGGESTION: If you are looking for a gift for a Veterinarian or veterinary professional this is probably something very few of them would have already obtained for themselves. Veterinary professional are overwhelmingly optimistic and cheerful people. They seldom seem to associate the words "poison" and "pet" unless the pet owner brings it to their attention. My many contacts with these very fine folks is that they have only a very limited grasp of poisoning in dogs and cats. This book would go a long way in "bringing them up to speed". If your gift to the veterinary profession saves one dog or cat you will not have lived your life in vain.

WARNING: In the off chance a fiend who seeks to poison a dog or cat is looking for a "how to" book I would strongly suggest you pass up on this book and spend your fiendish money on psychotherapy. Should someone poison a pet and purchase of this book is discovered by the authorities that would constitute "specific intent" and would thus mean being sent to a dreadful place (prison) for years where dreadful people would do very nasty things to you for all the years, days and moments of your sentence.

Campbell was a prolific writer, writing thousands of pages in various books and articles. The Christian System was his attempt to put his thoughts and arguments within one volume. The Christian System states the philosophical assumptions upon which he sought to restore biblical Christianity. There are, however, a few of these assumptions which must be examined in light of the effect they have on how the Christian Churches/churches of Christ perceive the Bible and their hermeneutic in interpreting it. Perhaps the most important philosophical assumption which has influenced the present day Christian Churches/churches of Christ, is Campbell's view of the Bible.

Campbell's view of the Bible as a collection of "facts to be believed" is born out of a Lockean philosophical perspective, where reason is seen as the sole arbiter of truth. If then, the Bible is a collection of facts and if human reason is all one needs to understand these facts, then there is little need of a clergy to "interpret" the Bible. It has also lead to a leveling of the Scripture to "facts to be believed" has resulted, in later years, in the reducing of all facts to equal importance, a proposition that Campbell himself would have vigorously opposed. Campbell believed that if the ancient form of the church were restored, then Christian unity would be achieved. Restoration of the church, for Campbell, was to be found in polity. When unity is based primarily on polity it tends to lead to division and stagnation because the church exists within a changing culture. An alternative is to based unity on principles, not patterns.

One can readily see the influence of the recent American Revolution on Campbell as he describes the Kingdom of God in terms of King, constitution, subjects, and laws and territories, but if unity is found in establishing the government of Christ, then we also inherit the bureaucracy which accompanies any government. It is the nature of any government to grow in size and of control of its constituents. Conspicuously absent from the Christian system is an analysis of the function and mission of the church. Campbell had an extreme distrust, if not paranoid view of the clergy. This is reflected in his analysis of the "offices" of the New Testament church in which he states that the leadership of the Christian community is composed of bishops (elders), deacons and evangelists. He goes on to say that the church is to be governed by the elders and deacons, while the evangelist holds a subordinate office, "Evangelists, however, though a class of public functionaries created by the church, do not serve it directly, but are by it sent out into the world and constitute the third class of functionaries belonging to the Christian community." (What does one do with Eph. 4:11-12 where the risen Christ appoints evangelist to lead the church?)

It is easy to see where the restoration heirs of Campbell would have set up a hierarchy where the evangelist (or preacher) is a third class citizen; the first being the elders, the second being the deacons. The role of evangelist, which Campbell saw as a church planter, was later viewed as the preacher; thus, the elders are the pastors and the pastor is the evangelist. Roles are confused, lines of authority are unclear and the seeds of conflict, stagnation and decline are sown. There is no "office" of deacon in the New Testament; in fact, the very term "office" in itself is not a New Testament word or concept.

Campbell was a son of the Enlightenment, and as such, he saw reason as supreme in the discovery and understanding of the "facts of the Bible. It is because of this that Campbell believed the role of the Holy Spirit was limited; so much so, it would be said that the operation of the Holy Spirit was the same as the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit according to Campbell was to be found chiefly in the words and arguments of Scripture, ". . . and since the Spirit himself ceased to operate in all those splendid displays of supernatural grandeur, by still keeping the disciples of Christ always in remembrance of things spoken by the holy Apostles, and by arguments derived from the antecedent blessings bestowed, working in them both to will and do according to the benevolence of God, he is still causing the body of Christ to grow and increase in stature, as well as in knowledge and favor with the Lord."

This failure to recognize the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, reducing His influence to argument and the written Word has robbed the church of the very power it needs for renewal; thus, in many Restoration churches, even the mention of the ministry of the Holy Spirit beyond the written page is cause for concern. It is ironic that may Christian Churches/churches of Christ are ignorant of Alexander Campbell for his influence still predominates their thinking: the distrust of clergy, finding restoration in patterns rather than principles and the limitation of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

To Pastor Bob:

First where is the term "clergy" found in the New Testament -- what about "laity". Keep looking.

Office in reference to Elders and Deacons -- I Timothy 3:1

Eph 4:11-12 -- Eph 4:11-12
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ

Pastors are Elders -- they oversee the flock I Timothy 3.

"Clergy" aren't to interpret for us.

I think our "pastor" (which means elder) Bob needs to study the Bible for himself instead trusting so many "clergy" to interpret the Bible for him.

TO THE BOOK:
This is a book for those who want to understand what it means to do the will of God (Matt 7:21) not the precepts of men (Matt 15:9). Christianity (and life for that matter) is based on Authority -- and the one with all the authority is Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18). This book is great. You will come out with a knowledge of God's plan of salvation like you have never had. I could type for days about the information in this book, but I won't. My only complaint is that I didn't buy it sooner.

Thanks -- Buy it

Alexander Campbell lays out his understanding of the "Christian System." He covers the entire spectrum of theological issues dealing with a person's salvation. He covers such topics as "What God does" and "What humanity must do," as well as providing thought provoking allegories to further elucidate his point. A must read for any who come from the Christian Church / Churches of Christ tradition, or any who what to look at the primer for the tradition that insists on the Bible as it's book for all doctrines.

Terry A. Johnston's book opens our eyes that the War between the States was anything but civil. The letters in this volume feature the plight of the Campbell brothers...on opposite sides of the conflict. Alexander Campbell's letters are especially important to our understanding of the war, because of their brutally honest portrayal of what the war did to a family caught up in the strife of the times....and more importantly how the war plagued the relationship between a husband and his wife. Johnston is meticulous in his editing....and provides the reader with very detailed notes to keep the story moving along....and easy to understand. This is an enlightening look into what the Civil War did to one particular family, and I highly recommend it to all who have interest in the war.

As the elected historian for the 79th New York National Regiment, I highly recommend this book. Real historical works are not embellished to please the common masses, like some folks obviously want. No one can read Dyer's Compendium and think it is an exciting book, and the Official Records are not for those who are just used to junk books and who are looking for a good "bed-time" story. Terry Johnston's book takes the letters of the two Campbell brothers regardless of their content, and he presents them as is. He gives us an insight to the everyday wants and the lives of the two men. The letter that James sends his brother Alexander through the lines after their regiments met at Secessionville, South Carolina, speaks volumes about how soldiers felt about duty in the Civil War. Mr. Johnston's footnotes are well-researched and highly informative. The layout flows and is well done, but what do you expect from a university press, which are notorious for their very high standards. The 79th New York has suffered a lot of insults with the recent printing of a very atrocious book, but Mr. Johnston's book honors the men of the 79th and he tells the truth about the soldiers using their own words. I did not find the book to be dull or boring, but to be interesting and full of insight. This book will last as a reference work long after the mass market books have faded into oblivion. If you are a real historian and know good books you'll like this work.

A well-edited collection of the letters of two brothers who fought on opposite sides in the Civil War and very nearly met in combat on one of the battlefields. This book has received much good press in the Civil War publishing community with good reason: concise, informative, and dramatic, it's everything you would want in a book of this nature.