This is a very important book for everyone participating in the world of fine art today. Not only is "Mirror, Mirror On the Easel" informative to both the student and purchaser of art, but also, it's wry humor of the art scene is a direct commentary about the bizzare world that it is. 'Sure to be a valuable addition to any art critic's self, this book seems all too appropriate too, to be part of the cirriculum in college art classes. Professors and reviewers, please check this one out. Caesar Cirigliano(AWS)is one of the last, great undiscovered painters of the last two centuries. Well alive and in his nineties, he still teaches, lectures, paints, and writes today. I know that this work, although likely to be quite obscure to dummies is a fresh and authentic, yet terribly human, analysis of the artist as a fallen man. And I don't just say that because Caesar is my grandfather. Check out his wonderful satirical illustrations of the likes of Picasso, Mondrian, and others. See Janus Publishing to find out more on the author.

Christopher Dawson (1889-1970) was one the premier Roman Catholic thinkers of this century. Dawson's central concern was the relationship between religion and culture. Dawson drew on an extensive knowledge of history, philosophy, sociology and theology to illuminate this connection from the beginnings of history to the modern age.

Although some of his books remain in print, Catholic University of America Press is printing new editions of his most important works. This edition of Progress & Religion contains a forward by Dawson's daughter Christina (1922-2001) and an introduction by the well-known sociologist Mary Douglas.

Progress & Religion, which came out in 1929, is perhaps Dawson's most important work. Dawson argues that at the center of any great civilization is its religion, and this religion animates and gives it a sense of purpose. This is particularly the case with Christianity. "[T]he victory of the Church in the 4th century was not, as so many modern critics would have us believe, the natural culmination of the religious evolution of the ancient world. It was, on the contrary, a violent interruption of that process which forced European civilization out of its own orbit . . . ." [p. 126.] The Western Church vivified society by breaking with oriental spiritualism and showing that "human intelligence . . . finds its natural activity in the sphere of the sensible and particular." [p. 137.]

It would make an interesting study to compare the work of Dawson with that of Robert Nisbet. Like Nisbet, Dawson was learned in the area of sociology and drew upon an extensive knowledge of sociologists such as Le Play, Comte and Durkheim. They both saw Rousseau as one the chief villains. As Dawson said, Rousseau effected a "new Reformation" and was the ideological godfather of the French Revolution. They both wrote extensively on the idea of progress. However, whereas Nisbet was "pious skeptic" (according to Prof. Gottfried), Dawson was a believer and his work contains a greater sense of urgency. Indeed, some of his writings between the wars were quite prophetic.

This book embodied a number of personal believes that I already had. A collection of short stories which create a thought provoking journey through the circle of life. Buddhism like all faiths, can be brutal and/or beautiful. This book in essence is the element of buddhist faith that I choose. A delicate flower amongst the thorny reality of this lost world. My favorite story is The Perfection of Imperfection.

I am a fan of many genres and had no idea what this book was about until I read the first couple of pages. 24 hours later and I finished the last page with avengence. Davis writes with a plan and gives you bits of information as he builds towards the climax: excellently placed. Do not underestimate the beginning as twists and turns shock you throughout your read. This book is one of the new titles out of the POD (Print On Demand) technology that is evolving. This books proves that quality can come from the vast content being produced. By the way, those of you who like X-Files will love this book. Have fun reading!!

Hi, This is actually the first review I've ever written, but The Christopher Factor by Lindsey S. (Bear) Davis was so enjoyable I felt it my obligation to say so. (I even sent him an email through his website, which was actually how I stumbled onto TheChristopherFactor.com in the first place. There are about one hundred pages of the novel online, as well as some real cool art and music). Dave Jeffries and Vic Donato are the most real cop characters to come along in a long, long time. They talk like real people talk. The relationship between the two is rich, these guys have been partners for seven years and you can tell. I also dug how the story began in 1975. The reader gets a look at what some of the characters looked and acted like when they were in their late teens and early twenties. Then the story picks up 25 years later with all this intrigue taking place in and around Los Angeles. It kept me turning pages from the very beginning. This is this guy's first novel. I guarantee you hear about him in the near future. I 'll even bet The Christopher Factor ends up as a movie!! If you like to read King and Clancy, you'll definitely dig The Christopher Factor. Happy reading, one and all.

I was quite excited to see this book, rather disappointed to read it, although it is a daunting task to undertake. Freedman naturally does not go much farther that the USA with occasional forays in to Europe for her discussions, so it really should be a history of US feminism, but that is expected (after all the US has a World Series for only USA teams!)A good preliminary discussion for those now approaching the debate, a good book to gain a panoramic view the issues of the last thirty years.If you are a well read and informed feminist, there is nothing new or exciting, and nothing in enough detail to make this a must for your shelf.

I think this book would be a great present for any independent high school/college-aged woman in your life who is starting to wonder if "feminist" is a dirty word.

If you're unfamiliar with the history of the feminist movement in the U.S., or even what feminism means, this is a great book for you. Professor Freedman is an engaging writer who doesn't get bogged down in academic gibberish, nor does she insult your intelligence. Not surprisingly, Freedman teaches an "Intro to Feminism" course at Stanford, and therefore if you've taken such a class in the past 15 years, much of the material may seem quite familiar.

Her book takes readers on a whirlwind tour of feminism in the United States. She makes an effort to not fall victim to the first wave feminist tendency of assuming that all women in the U.S. are upper middle class, heterosexual, and white, yet touches only briefly on international feminism and the future of women outside of the United States. While this is understandable, as the book would otherwise be 1000 pages long, perhaps a title clarifying that it is focused on the U.S. would be helpful.