This play was recently voted the 36th best of all time, and its easy to see why. It has never been put on in the US, mainly because of its downbeat message and the fact that it relies on something of an understanding of Britain, but you truly are missing out on something special. This play is a political, poetic vision of despair, the endlessness and emptiness of life in poverty. It is a fantastic character study which inspires, moves and is tragically heartbreaking.

If you want to understand Hauerwas' thought on the issues of the day, as well as his method for doing ethics, begin here. The selection of essays for this text allows you to see many facets of Hauerwas' writing. The opening essays attempt to show how Hauerwas goes about doing ethics. They explore the way narratives impact the living of life and what Christian discipleship looks like. The later essays explore particular social issues, such as war, capitalism, sex, and medicine. The introductions and conclusion by other authors help to understand some of Hauerwas' thought. The essays in this book range from complex to simple and straightforward. There is something here for everyone, though some of the essays might be a struggle for those who are unaquainted with Theology and Ethics. Be prepared to disagree with some of the things Hauerwas says. However, if you want a thought-provoking book that deals with the issues of the day, this is it.

This is the collection of essays through which I was introduced to Stanley Hauerwas. I wish I had begun reading him sooner. Hauerwas' arguments are clear and to the point, and some of his comments are jarring; but then, we need to be shaken from our complacency. I like that fact that Hauerwas can combine what is sometimes an abrasive manner with humility. He truly seems concerned not only with whether we think through these problems, but also with whether we properly understand what the problems are that confront us as Christians. I recommend this book to anyone who is concerned with ethics and especially the manner in which Christians should respond to the issues of the day.

Stanley Hauerwas is probably the most influential contemorary Christian ethicist. While prolific, Hauerwas can be frustratingly difficult to read, especially if one's goal is to get a sense for his overall "system." (He avoids this last word like the plague.) This anthology provides an excellent way to learn Hauerwas's approach to contemporary Christian ethics and his views on a range of topics.

John Steffler is a writer with very poetic prose and a wonderful sense of physical and emotional scenery. This novel, about the Afterlife of explorer, George Cartwright, is in it's own category, and it is the beginning of a new tradition of writers. The narrative is engaging and the scenery beautifully set on Newfoundland and Labrador. I highly recommend this novel for it's intensity and depth.

Austin takes the life of John Muir and presents the picture of the Wilderness prophet. He is able to take the events of Muir's childhood and youth and show how the "wilderness" became his saving grace. Muir was able to feel the soul of the Creator while climbing mountains and standing, mouth open, awed by the scenic beauty of the wilderness. Read this book and you will want to plan a trip to Yosemite Park and see what had so inspired John Muir.