When someone, today, mentions Edith Stein it is very often in a religious context. This is because of her deep faith that yielded with her conversion to Christianity and, at the end with her martyrdom. (She died in a gas chamber during the Second World War.) Therefore, when we talk about Edith Stein we often forget her as a talented philosopher of a very lucid philosophical mind, which she always tried to melt with her deepest religious convictions. The book Knowledge and Faith is just one of such books that brings to us sharp insights in such philosophy-faith relationship. This is why this book starts with an inspired and intelligent dialogue between philosophy and theology ( incorporated in characters of Husserl and Aquinas) and ends with her philosophical essays that cannot be divided from her theological stands. It is very important book, not just to understand Edith Steins work but to clarify some important points between philosophy and faith.

When someone,today, mentions Edith Stein it is very often in a religious context.This is because of her deep faith that endeavoured with her conwersion to Christianity and, at the end with her martyrdom.(She died in a gas chamber during the Second World War.) Therefore, when we talk about Edith Stein we often forget her as a talented philosopher of a very lucid philosophical mind, which she always tried to melt with her deepest religious convictions. The book Knowledge and Faith is just one of such books that brings to us sharp insights in such philosophy-faith relationship. This is why this book starts with an inspired and intelligent dialogue between philosophy and theology (incorporated in characters of Husserl and Aquinas) and ends with her philosophical essays that cannot be divided from her theological stands. It is very important book, not just to understand Edith Steins work but to clarify some important points between philosophy and faith.

This book will encourage the faith of Christians and will also give honestly seeking, open-minded, intellectual non-believers something to think about.

Join the exciting saga of L'Abri Fellowship, begun in Switzerland by a Christian family who pray for every need and depend on God to provide and to guide.
-->How do these ordinary people love and teach the international truth-seekers who drop by constantly?
-->What happens when they are ordered out of Switzerland for "having a religious influence"?

If you are a seeker of truth, or a believer in Jesus, or even just frustrated with the world, please read this book - or arrange to drop by!

more info about L'Abri Fellowship: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Swiss_LAbri/

Simply one of the best Regencies I have read and my standards are Mary Balogh and Loretta Chase. Amanda, elder daughter of the Amberly Assortment (most of whom have different fathers), has known scandal all her life but did not plan to marry the scandalous scoundrel, Viscount North, whom her mother tried to compromise by sending to her bed. North is an enigma throughout the book which makes for great plot suspense. He is the consummate rake and yet something does not ring true. He seems to attempt to seduce Amanda, even knowing she is chaste and after having agreed to help her capture Sir Giles, but never quite goes through with it. One is left with the feeling he is bored with it all, having done it before. But North has never met anyone like Amanda and she so intrigues him that he cannot let her get away and he pursues her, fighting himself all the way. The totally surprising ending makes the book several cuts above the (sometimes) regrettably Regency fluff from other authors. Definitely, Edith Layton is an author I will seek out.

The daughter of a scandalous Countess, lovely Amanda Amberly had shied away from the clutches of those who expected her to follow in her mother's footsteps-until a tempting twist of fate flings her into the arms of the most notorious rake in the realm.

Does a great job of entertaining the reader from start to finish. The characters and plot are superb.

Every parent knows that children depend on certain books being read to them ritualistically nearly every evening at bedtime. This was for a very long time one of those books for my daughter and me. The story is delightful. Miles lives in a swamp and loves to play music. But his mother hates his music, and chases him away from the house whenever he plays. Going further into the swamp, he finds a number of others who also can't play their music at home, and they form a swamp band. As they are playing, they are overheard by an alligator, who instead of eating them, invites them all onto a riverboat to play for the alligator ball! They go, they play, are a bit hit, and are about to become a bigger hit, because the main item on the menu that night is Swamp Band Soup! The band escapes.

The illustrations are just extraordinary. My daughter's favorite were the two pages that showed first all the alligators going onto the riverboat, and then the two pages that showed them all dancing at the alligator ball to the Swamp Band singing their song "Mama Don't Allow Any Music Playing in Here."

I have recommended this book to other parents, and they all report that their kids loved it just as much as mine did. This book is best suited for children between the ages of two and six. Good story, great illustrations, and it helps if you can come up with a nifty little tune to go with the lyrics of the song.

My kids love this book -- each of them, in turn, has been enthralled by the story of Miles, the little badger whose saxophone playing is too awful for his mama to allow it in the house, but who lands a gig playing for some hungry alligators. By dint of his clever and melodious playing, Miles saves himself and his band from becoming the soup du jour, and mama hears the swamp lullaby he's playing and says, "Oh, how nice..." The pictures are richly colored and amusing, and this should take its place among your favorite books.

This auspicious debut mystery will please readers who enjoy an academic or library milieu and abundant literary allusions. The ingenious plot involves a group of eccentric English-department faculty members, a handsome FBI agent, plagiarism, thefts of valuable books from the library, and, of course, Mark Twain. It's a well-written, literate novel, and the two sleuths, amateur and professional, are likable, intelligent characters. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequels.

Skom's first in her three-book series. I read this awhile ago, long before I anticipated the publishing of another Skom mystery, and I was immediately wrapped up in a teriffic whodunnit. I reread this book, and I reccomend the avid mystery-lover jump on it right away!

Only National Geographic could chronicle the triumphs and the tragedies of mankind, as well as the awesome wonder of nature. This thick volume features award-winning photography combined with detailed accompanying text.

For those of us unable to travel to such exotic locations or live during the time periods profiled, this monumental book offers such an opportunity.

This purchase is money spent wisely.

A masterpiece collection from the masters of photography. A well compiled selection from the archives of NGM...this book is truly value for money. If you have espace on your coffe-table, buy this...

I liked the way this book is organized into chapters, each of which details a different relationship in an 'interview' format. That way I could read one chapter in a sitting and have a clean start the next time I pick up the book. Also, 'Older Couples' contains a lot of wisdom for younger readers on topics ranging from communcation and sex, to religion and finances.

....I am 68 years old and was widowed last year. I am not presently in a relationship, but found this book to be helpful in other ways. The interviews with older couples were enlightening for a person who is trying to sort out issues from a 31-year marriage which was filled with the usual complications, but also with love. The loss of my husband was a terrible thing for me. It left me with little hope about the future. This book helped me in two ways.

First, it helped me to sort the good from the not-so-good in my marriage. The couples dealing with resentments, with the lack of affection in their families, with differences in their upbringing, with the problems of impotence and of alcohol were inspiring. The book details the problems and the solutions. Second, it gave me hope for the future.

Each chapter is divided into clearly marked sections with themes such as HEALTH CHANGES WITH TIME...AFFECTION LASTS and questions such as "How they found each other?" or "What were your previous relationships like?". The writing is straightforward and unadorned. The authors present many older couples whom they interviewed. They were able to explore a variety of relationships and the difficulties inherent in them. The resolutions of the problems would be helpful to anyone who is in a relationship. I recommend this book to anyone over 50 who thinks that life is over and to couples who need guidance.

Okay, *I* may think it's boring and *you* may think it's boring, but my child ... loves this little book. It is frequently the one he chooses to have read to him, perhaps because each page is interactive.

One, of course, must pat the cat. Then you can extract money from the ATM and later put it into daddy's wallet. You can imitate mommy making a list, scratch and sniff the gingersnaps, help Neddy and Martha see-saw and play peek-a-boo, and squeeze the little bear before going to bed.

It is a fun, quiet little book that your child will enjoy. And you will too -- not because it's exciting, but because the time you and your child spend looking through it will be happy and peaceful.

At first glance, you may not be impressed because the illustrations are a little dated. However, it is a great interactive book for toddlers. My daughter loves this book (and that's what it's all about). We also have Pat the Bunny. I'm buying Pat the Puppy tonight.

This book presents an interesting tale and lesson for those who do not adhere to the concept of "to thine own self be true." The novel is set in late Victorian-era (1890s) Ireland, alternating between Dublin and the countryside. The main characters are Anglo-Irish, ruling class, aristocracy and gentry, and the novel focuses upon their relationships to eachother, both real and perceived. The title character, Charlotte, is an unmarried, middle-aged woman who behaves differently with each person with whom she interacts. She is romantically interested in Mr Lambert, an old (and married) friend, and does much for him, including lending him money. She behaves another way with Sir and Lady Dysart, and with their son and heir Christopher (respectful, accommodating). She has far less patience and love for young, beautiful Francie Fitzpatrick, a distant relative who is sent to live with her when Francie's family falls upon hard times financially. She (quite rightly) perceives Francie as a threat, and treats her poorly from the moment Francie arrives at Charlotte's home. Charlotte is outright mean and cruel to servants, Lambert's wife (who is supposed to be a good friend), tenants, and anyone she ranks as below her socially.
Charlotte is not the only one who hides her true nature. Mr. Lambert married for the income his wife brought to the marriage, but pays no attention to her, obviously does not love her, and openly courts Francie and displays jealousy and anger when he notices the mutual attraction between Francie and a young British army officer. He acts respectful to Christopher Dysart's face, but privately despises him and talks about him behind his back. He uses Charlotte--borrowing money from her, being friendly with her (which Charlotte interprets to mean something more than mere friendship), yet privately acknowledges to himself and others that he is not attracted to Charlotte. He also embezzles money from his employer's estate to pay for his horses, drinking, and gifts to Francie, without so much as a single thought that what he is doing is not only morally wrong but is a crime!
Francie is perhaps the most honest of all of the characters in this Irish tragedy, but even she is not entirely honest, not to others nor to herself. I find it easier to excuse her because she is a teenager in a difficult situation, has extremely limited options, and acts accordingly. She is honest about her growing feelings of love for Gerald Hawkins, the British officer, but he does not reciprocate that honesty--he is engaged to another woman (who will bring money to the marriage) but does not tell Francie. When she learns about his fiancee and realizes that the love between them is not enough, she breaks off her relationship with Gerald. Francie also receives the attentions of the socially-challenged (shy) Christopher Dysart, but she turns down his marriage proposal. A huge fight with Charlotte ensues, and she returns to her family in Dublin.

After Lambert's wife (conveniently) dies, Lambert follows Francie to Dublin, and makes an offer for her (in marriage), even though she has no money. He is physically attracted to her youth and beauty, and she, seeking to escape the hopeless poverty she faced with her family in Dublin, marries him even though she does not love him. It is this marriage, which set Charlotte over the edge, and she seeks her revenge upon him in a manner true to the saying "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
This Irish tragedy could have been averted had all of the characters displayed greater moral turpitude and honesty with both themselves and with others in their lives. The novel presents an interesting glimpse into a society which places a value upon people relative to the class into which they are born, and illustrates how unhappy people are when they marry for money instead of love. The characters are dishonest because the society in which they live values and rewards dishonest behavior and superficial values. Physical appearance (beauty) is valued above integrity, love, kindness, etc. One of the reasons Lambert is so taken with Francie is because she is young and beautiful, even though they are not a good match. Francie receives most, if not all, of the male attention because of her physical appearance, and has a greater chance of marriage than Charlotte, who is not physically attractive.
The novel is well-written, the characters well-developed, and, even though I found none of them to have any redeeming characteristics, the story was compelling to the end. Highly recommended.

everything you hope for in a classic. complex characters, interesting plot, the story pulls you along and it makes you think. when you are finished you feel you have gained something.

I bought this book for a 5-year-old, but the adults love it as much as he does. The idea is that skunks are great, and their smell is the best part of them. The rhymes are hip and irreverent and silly, and the drawings bring the book to life. My brother-in-law and I could not stop quoting the line "Skunks with purple mohawks, dude!" to each other--it made us laugh every time. I can't wait to get the other two books by this author (Bugs! and Slugs!).

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a sense of humor, but I think it would be especially good for kids (especially boys) who think they don't like poetry.

Artist Lynn Munsinger contributes her hilarious drawings to Greenberg's consideration of the skunk and its possible attributes. Zany and hilarious scenarios include the idea that "skunks make superior sprinklers for watering your grass/Pump their tails several times, spray insects with their gas." The ideas for a skunk's use get zanier as the rollicking rhyme continues throughout.