It was a pleasant surprise to find a modern (1993) release of this book. Fans of Max's other works will enjoy this book because of the thorough introduction by N. John Hall. Many of the writers parodied by Max were familiar to me in name only. By including samples of each writers work and style, Mr. Hall helps us to appreciate the brilliance of" A Christmas Garland."

As the world turns into a global entity, the United States has becomes a bona fide metropolitan nation. The 1990 census painted the picture of this accelerated pace of urbanization in striking numerical colors: Slightly more than 50 percent of us live in the 39 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of more than a million people. By contrast,the mid-20th century census uncovered only 30 percent of the U.S. population living in 14 metro areas with million-plus populations.

But citistate realities don't just apply to the larger regions -- the New Yorks, Los Angeles, Chicagos, Bostons of America, the Berlins, Londons, Hong Kongs, Shanghais of the globe. All metropolitan regions face stiff competition and challenges. Include the United States' metro regions under 1 million people and the count exceeds 80 percent of the nation's people.

To put a human face on this fast-paced urbanization, three members of the Citistates Group -- Neal Peirce, Curtis Johnson and John Stuart Hall-- coined the new term "citistates." In their words, citistates are "not just the center city, but the entire metropolitan region - the 'real city' made up of center city, inner and outer suburbs, and rural hinterland so clearly and intimately interconnected in geography, environment, work force, and surely a shared economic and social future."

The transformation is apparent across the Atlantic, where Europeans have begun to describe their continent as a hodgepodge of powerful citistates -- from Manchester to Stuttgart, Lyon to London, Milan to Marseilles. Like U.S. citistates, these metropolitan regions are making economic and cultural transactions with little regard to their own nation-state governments.

The Citistates Group associates see a shift in thinking from the familiar governmental paradigm -- federal-state-local -- to one focused on function: global-regional-neighborhood.

* Global because critical issues have worldwide implications -- global warming, economic restructuring, rapid global market repercussions.

* Regional because the metropolitan areas, or citistates, share areawide transportation systems, media outlets, medical assistance, goods, services, even crime. Peirce argues that the success of the regional system -- on every measure from workforce preparedness to the quality of the infrastructure -- determines how competitive and successful the citistate will be for all its citizens in the long run.

* Neighborhood because it is on the personal, community level that escalating U.S. social problems can ultimately be dealt with.

Citistates includes six case studies based on Peirce Reports for the leading newspapers in Phoenix, Seattle, Baltimore, Dallas, St. Paul and Owensboro, Ky. These popularly written analyses examine each region's special problems and suggest potential solutions tailored to the local situation. The goal in each series is to identify ways out of a region's dilemmas by tapping civic energies -- forward-thinking talents and skills in business, civic, academic sectors -- to create a more sustainable citistate in the next century.

In his review of the book, George Knight, executive director of Neighborhood Reinvestment, took note of the role of neighborhoods in civic renewal. "Peirce gives full credit to community-based development organizations for revitalizing some of America's most devastated neighborhoods."

The book's wind-up chapter includes an 8-point formula for "citistate cohesiveness and strength." -- Craig Anthony Thomas, Senior Research Associate, The Citistates Group

I was fishing with a couple of Southern boys my age (Gee, Danny-boy, Skitter and Snake), down in Fitzgerald, Georgia when the topic of reading came up. I asked Danny-boy if he reads much. "Na, I don't read no more", he said. "I started readin' once, but it confused me." "I got my life to were its runnin' good enough and if I start readin' those books I just might have to change it".

Douglas Hall, and his book, Confessing the Church, will press you to change, or at the least reevaluate your beliefs. This is a powerful book. It was Roger Bacon who said "Some books are to be tasted, others swallowed and a few are to be chewed and digested". Hall's book is slow reading, for it requires reflection. Confessing the Faith must be chewed slowly, and even then I am not sure if most will digest.

Hall is on the front edge of both Christology and Ecclesiology. Douglas Hall sees the Church as a witness; proclaiming and testifying to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Words alone are not enough to Hall, the people of God, the Church must be found acting or "doing" their confession that Jesus is the Christ. For Hall a Church that does not confess Christ to the world in word and deed is not being faithful to its nature and calling. Christ is the door through which we can achieve a relationship with the living God, each other and the world we live in. He believes that the Church must not only confess Christ to the world but must do so in such a way that it actually makes a difference - standing and saying what must be said regardless of the cost. Hall calls us to confess contextually Christ; ie. to speak about Christ and his presence and power where it needs to be spoken and in such a way that it confronts the evil that propagates and often prevails in our world.

Confessing the faith to Hall is being Christ to this world today.

Douglas John Hall, has given to us brilliant insight on how we as "the people of God" need to profess (actualize) our faith. We are called to be disengaged from the values of this world system to such a degree that the world recognizes us as different - strange. Thus, those who are strangers to God's love and presence, will take notice of our confession and actions. They will see that our faith points to God's character. A character defined by the person Jesus of Nazareth. We are the people of the Christ, and that makes us different. We are not afraid to confront the evil in this world and we call out for righteousness and justice for all.

Where Hall falls short is in two areas. First, he fails to illuminate the character of Christ, the very identity he calls the Church to reflect. And secondly, he calls us to confront the evils and wrongs of this world without expanding on what these evils and wrongs are. Overall, this has been one of the most challenging and thought provoking books I have read.

This book was the best I have ever read. The epilogue left me hanging. I think John Hall should write a Dear Sister 2: The revenge of Trisha. I loved the way it always left you hanging, and it made you think it was Joanna was the killer. I never thought it would be Trisha! I think John Hall should definately write a sequel! Thanks for the best book yet!

Democracy of the Dead: Dewey, Confucius, and the Hope for Democracy in China is an impressive attempt at dialogue between Confucianism and American Pragmatism on the subject of fostering democratic reforms in China. It is both a history of philosophy text, highlighting Dewey's thought and subsequent Pragmatist scholars, liberalism, and Confucianism, and a polemic about the limitations of liberal thought in China. Although some acquaintance with the texts interpreted by the authors is recommended, the authors' synopses are trustworthy and ably and judiciously given. There are also generous quotes and and a and a nine-page bibliography provided.

Admittedly, I was skeptical about the authors' project, which seemed like a desperate attempt to bridge two subjects, pragmatism and Confucianism, that are both equally unprofitable, with a popular item in the news, China. I wanted an appealing interpretation of Confucianism, that would allow me to understand the cultural divide between east and west more easily. I was also interested in any study about pragmatism, which, as the authors also argue, deserves more respect. Last, I wanted a framework to understand Korean and western dialogue, since Korean interpretations of Confucianism are also relevant to Chinese reform historically, and are also a factor in Korea's relations with western countries. The book satisfied my demands more than satisfactorily.

Some readers may be angered by the authors' use of Deweyan Pragmatism to criticize traditional liberalism, but the authors have good reason. Dewey did have a small role in Chinese educational reform before the Communist Party assumed control in 1949. Dewey, and pragmatism in general, are both better exemplars of distinct American realities than liberalism. Also, using pragmatic terms, the authors couch Confucian concepts in a way more palatable and approachable.

The authors argue, that a Confucian interpretation of democracy is possible. This Confucian democracy is useful as a tool for political reform. And then, by using Deweyan thought, it is possible for Chinese and American reformers to share ideas for reform in both countries. The book, therefore, is ultimately a practical one.

The authors eschew nationalistic and philosophical bias, which is necessary for productive dialogue. This is not a book that celebrates western values over eastern ones. It has relevance also in Korea, yet, ironically, it will not convince Americans of the need for reform in their own country, especially if readers refuse to abandon implicit faith in liberal thinking. This is not a book about dead things, but a very lively, well-written, timely offering..

"In essence, in our letters we have tried to embody in our dialogue the prophet Micah's admonition that the Lord requires us to treat each other justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly wt ur God (6:8)." (p. 200)

This is exactly what one finds in this book. Two scholars, Chris Hall (Eastern University) and John Sanders (Huntington College) discuss issues surrounding the nature of God and his relationship with human affairs. Presented in back-and-forth dialogue exchanged via email, this book presents its intentional discussion based upon Christian love and thoughtful understanding rather than reducing theological debate to useless rhetoric and characturization that is often seen in theological disagreements.

This book is a great read for those who are well versed in the issues Openness raises as well as those who are relatively unfamiliar with theological topics of this nature. Both of the authors do a fantastic job of bringing together solid academic with a meaningful, real world, lay understanding. It is obvious that both of these gentlemen have a strong passion for the Church.

Many different topics are engaged in this book - I will not try to recount them here. Know that these authors cut quickly and meaningfully to the heart of the issues, challenging each other to present a solid position. (For those who might not understand, the title derrives from the issue of divine timelessness and impassibility. In other words, does God experience emotion or time...hence, does God have (experience) a future?)

This book will be noted as how theological dialogue ought to be handled. There is pointed argumentation, humorous asides, personal examples, facetious rhetoric, and above all...Christian humility and love.

Both of these theologians admit that they do not have all of the answers, but that they are constantly looking. "Faith seeking understanding."(Anselm)

That is very great book of ecology. Nowadays, Ecosystem modeling is being powerful tool to understand and analyze ecosystem. This book will be help you to study ecosystem modeling.

Most of the Chess world considers the endgame boring. And most of the Chess world never studies it. This book Endgame Challenge can make you an endgame master. Not only with the basic principles, but calculation and visualization too. Endgame problems do just as much as middle game problems do if not more. This fun book will make you work for the answers, but when you find them you'll be pround of yourself and the work you put into them. Find the beauty in the endgame and make the small investment. You'll be happy that you did.

While taking an Introductory course in Oceanography at St.Petersburg Jr.College (FL) I found a copy of this wonderful work in the library. Their acquisition cost was just over $50.00, I see that it now sells for over $100.00, thus I am not sure I wish to buy my own copy. For anyone in the field, it would be a fine additon to their personal library, if one was not in the nearby Public, or College, stacks. While I was particularly interested in the Ecology of Tamp Bay (Fl.) I still found enough basic information which I can related to our Estuary here. I am particularly interested in NEKTON (Blue Crabs and Shriimp) and this text treated them sufficiently well to answer my basic questons. (Net surfers: use your browser on topics such as Estuarine research, Tampa Bay Estuary, etc as a good starting point. This is a fine text, and a scholarly work. It is published by Wiley-Interscience Pubs and certainly carries their fine reputation for worthwhile reading. Those who can handle a modicum of math will enjoy the text, but I rather doubt that the casual reader will ''stay with it'', although it certainly makes a pleasant read, for either an Introductory student, like the undersigned, or for someone who is researching the Science of Oceanography. Too bad it so expensive, it would make a good first year course. As a retired pharmacist, I read many science texts and can only conclude by saying that this one text would certainly fill an important niche in your own personal science library, if you were looking for something on this topic. I guess I will order myself a copy, as I feel that John Day, Charles Hall and W.Mchael Kemp have done a splendid job. Alejandro Yanex-Arancibia brings his vast knowledge of ecology as seen by one from the areas south of the US, in an interesting manner. How would I approve on it? If they ever do an update version, I would love to see chapters on South Pacific benthic organisms, as well as some treatment of life under the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and maybe throw in some information on other extreme environments such as the Dead Sea, and ocean vent tube worms, that sort of thing... Thanks for the opportunity to review this fine text. William R.Bell, RPh, St. Pete Fla. (14Feb1999) You may contact me at '' Squadcar54@aol.com '' *end of text

If you are a 9/11/01 survivor, literally and/or physically, here's just what the doctor ordered for your further survival. Let me tell you, the words of healing and renewal found here should not be missed. If you are sending out an S.O.S., whether to your fellow earthbound creatures, or have already looked up with eyes searching and hands reaching out for an answer to your questions, and to your feelings of lost security, look no further.
Just like September 11, 2001 will always be etched in your mind and heart, after reading this book, you will forever be changed. Don't take my word for it!
Let me suggest his other books as well.
From one once fearful and anxiety-ridden person who has finally found the peace of which I have all along been seeking.
I wish you all a peaceful future.